What Ails You
Sloan moved swiftly through the Keep looking for the mage, Anders. He found him in the Library thumbing through a book and taking notes. "Pardon me, Anders Ser."
Anders looked up from the book, brow furrowed, "Yes?"
"I was wondering, ser, if you could take a look at the babe, Trelain."
Anders' scowl deepened, "Is he ill?"
Sloan took a deep breath, "I'm not sure ser, he has been different lately. He cries all the time; it is a quiet cry and most disconcerting. At first I thought he might be teething, I have not found any teeth coming in. A healer came and said he could find nothing wrong with the boy but I do not believe it. And I have been told that you are by far the best healer at the Keep."
Anders smiled, "In that case, I better come take a look at the boy, yes?"
"Thank you ser. He is with the King; please I will take you to him."
Anders hesitated a moment before heading off with the soldier. Reaching the room Sloan rapped sharply on the door. "Your Majesty, I have brought the mage Anders to look at Trelain."
Shuffling footsteps were heard inside before the door was pulled open. Maric looked as though he was ready to pass out. His skin was wan and waxy looking, with dark purple smudges below his eyes. His eyes themselves were red and raw looking, lacking any of the normal brilliance of his blue eyes. His hair was pushed back from his forehead, as though he had raked his fingers through it many times.
Anders stiffened for a second before pushing past Sloan and entering the room. "When was the last time you slept?" Anders slipped easily into his healer role.
Maric shrugged, "Not sure, do I look that bad?" he asked with a slight smile.
"Yes," Anders looked around quickly, "where is he?"
Maric brought Anders to the bassinet beside his bed where Trelain lay, sleeping peacefully. The sapphire blue of Anders healing energy filtered over the small sleeping form. After a few brief seconds Anders stumbled back a step, eyes wide.
"What? What's wrong?"
Anders shook his head. "He's not sick. I need to talk with Sareyna and Alistair." He turned to leave when Maric grabbed his arm.
"You will tell me."
"No, I won't. That isn't up to me."
Maric's voice took on a dangerous edge. "I'm your king, you will tell me."
Anders glared back, "That means about as much to me as the news that you're my father. Do what you will; I'm sure Sareyna will understand."
Sloan stood watching them both, not sure what to do, he worked for the Arlessa who was a Grey Warden, but Maric was still his king. Eventually Maric backed off. "He's not sick though?"
"I can sense no physical illness." Anders turned and strode quickly from the room.
Sloan followed Anders from the room. "Ser mage?"
Anders stopped and turned, jaw set, ready for another argument.
"Is there anything I need to do? Any precautions I need to take while you are speaking with the Commander and Lieutenant?"
Anders smiled, "Just keep an eye on him. If he starts fussing while he is sleeping please come get me immediately."
Sloan nodded and walked back into the king's rooms, slightly relieved that the boy was not ill, while being anxious about whatever had agitated Anders.
Anders ran into a furious and red faced Morrigan on his way to the stairs. Zevran was following behind her, a smirk on his face.
"You really don't want to bother them right now, Morrigan."
Morrigan didn't reply and kept marching upstairs, Anders presumed to Sareyna and Alistair's rooms. He followed, a few feet behind them; the air around Morrigan was crackling with barely reined in power, the air around her was distorted with it. Morrigan was apparently a very powerful mage, and he did not want her wrath pointed at him.
Zevran tried one last time before they reached the door. "Morrigan, they really wanted some time alone this morning, trust me."
Again Morrigan did not bother to respond. Zevran looked at Anders and shrugged, falling a few steps farther behind Morrigan. Once they reached the door Morrigan knocked on the door briefly. There were a few noises coming from inside but they did not seem to be a response to the knock.
Morrigan raised her hand and knocked again, she only waited a few beats before trying to open the door. Finding the door locked, a pale blue light swirled around her fingers and they heard a 'snick'. Morrigan pushed open the door, shoving it open. Anders let out a gasp of surprise.
Zevran followed Morrigan in the room his smirk widening as he recognized the sounds coming from Sareyna and Alistair's bedroom. He placed his hand on Morrigan's shoulder "Morrigan, this is a really bad idea. Can you not hear them?"
She jerked away and strode into the bedroom, still angry. Zevran couldn't help but smile when she froze in her tracks. He turned his gaze to the scene before them. All of the bedding was heaped on the floor leaving the couple on the bed completely bare. Sareyna was on her back, one leg wrapped around Alistair's waist and her other ankle on Alistair's shoulder.
Her face was flushed and her hair was in disarray, spread about her on the pillow. Her violet eyes were locked with Alistair's as he moved within her. Arching her back Sareyna clutched the headboard as she moved her hips against her husband.
One of Alistair's hands held Sareyna's hips while the other was wrapped around the ankle on his shoulder. The muscles of his hips and buttocks flexed with every stroke. The pair seemed oblivious of their audience.
Zevran melted into the shadows whispering, "Beautiful." as he moved, unseen back towards the door.
Alistair jerked in surprise at the sound and moved off Sareyna grabbing the blankets from the floor to cover them both with astonishing speed. He caught sight of Morrigan and his surprise finally gave way to anger "Morrigan, how the hell did you get in here?"
"Does it matter?"
"It does when you are breaking into our locked room."
"There is something important that you seem to have left out yesterday, regarding your dreams." Morrigan sneered.
Alistair sneered right back at her, "I don't give a fuck what you think we forgot, you do not break into our bedroom. Get out, now."
Morrigan seemed as if she wanted to argue but the rage she saw on Alistair's face made her reconsider and she turned and left. As she walked down the hall Zevran slipped into his own room, while Anders wandered down the hall towards Sareyna's office.
Sareyna touched Alistair's arm, he was still shaking with rage. He tore his gaze from the doorway and offered her a small smile. "I'm sorry love."
"You didn't do anything wrong Ali, Morrigan was way out of line."
Alistair snorted and got out of bed. "How about a bath?"
Sareyna gave an exaggerated pout.
Alistair laughed and took her hand pulling, her up off the bed, he kissed her gently. "The idea of finishing now just seems very…unappealing." He sighed, "I'm beginning to think I was better off before, when I had no family."
"Oh Ali, don't say that."
He stroked his fingers through her loose hair, "I know, I'm just frustrated. Who breaks into a locked bedroom, when they know people are in it?"
"Especially us?" Sareyna giggled.
Alistair smiled and grabbed Sareyna's dressing gown from the foot of the bed. He helped her into it before slipping into his own. "I'll be right back."
Sareyna sat on the edge of the bed to wait for him to return, she was furious with Morrigan herself. Most of her anger was directed at Zevran though. It was his voice she had heard, yet he had slipped out, or more likely wrapped himself in shadows to avoid Alistair's wrath.
After several minutes of deliberation she rose and left the suite to check Zevran's rooms. He spent a lot of time there cleaning and polishing his weapons and armor. Sareyna stood in the doorway, seeing Zevran sitting on a chair facing the door in the sitting room.
"Querida, how lovely to see you." He purred.
"Don't. I know you were there Zev. Why would you do that?"
Uncrossing his legs he leaned forward. "Morrigan would not be dissuaded, I did try."
Sareyna stood silently waiting.
He sighed, "Why not? You two are never more beautiful than when you are in your natural splendor and intertwined." He smiled, "I wish you could see yourselves." His eyes drifted shut, "breathtaking."
"You're not even going to apologize for violating our privacy?"
Laughter bubbled from him, "Have I ever done so before Querida? Why would I start now? Besides, I do not regret being privy to such a sight."
Sareyna glared for a few more seconds before giving up and returning to her room to wait for Alistair and the bath he promised.
