Alistair was up early, before sunrise. It was a habit that he had started since he was a young boy in Redcliffe. He would be up, feeding the dogs in the kennels, tending the horses in the stables, prayers at the Chantry while he was in Templar training. When he became a Warden, he continued getting up before sunrise to continue his ritual of waking, dressing and train.
As king, he never stopped that routine. Only today was a little different. Today, he would be attending a wedding instead of swinging his sword at a defenseless dummy in the garden. He enjoyed his regular routine; it keeps him occupied and focused. At least he still had a few days away from Eamon and royal business. He was probably the only noble in attendance that enjoyed the open road and sleeping out under the stars.
Well…maybe not the only noble.
He smiled as he looked down from the balcony where he stood, across the Chantry courtyard where he saw the navy blue and silver Inquisition uniform that she wore. Her companions surrounded her, wearing similar uniforms that were red and gold. Isabela held her attention as she talked to the other woman. Whatever story the pirate was telling her, the Inquisitor was finding it humorous. Her gloved hand covering her mouth as she tried not to laugh loudly.
It was strange to see a group of entirely different people, different backgrounds, different races to get along as well as they were. Smiling, he remembered a small ragtag team many years ago that he was with. It looked awfully familiar to the one across the courtyard from him. He missed the comradery that he had traveling during the Blight. Now it was endless meetings, what fork to use and when was it appropriate to scratch himself. He missed just being himself and letting his guard down to relax.
"Busted," he thought to himself when he saw the woman's eyes meet his. She had looked up at the balcony and caught him staring at her. "I am a lecherous sort, aren't I?" Forcing his eyes away, he tried to stare at anything other than her. "I am a bad, bad man," he thought as he ran his hand over his face to wipe away the beads of sweat from his forehead.
There was always someone to help him warm the bed at night if he desired it. That was not the problem that he had. The problem laid that he did not have someone he genuinely wanted to share his bed with. Someone that he could talk to at night when his mind was full of questions, of doubts. Someone that would listen to his concerns, his worries. He needed someone that wanted to be with him, not his crown or title. Just Alistair…the young boy raised by dogs with an unholy fascination with cheeses.
"Don't you look smashing in all your finery and gold crown."
Keeping his eyes focused on the chipped railing of the balcony, he smiled. "I polished it this morning extra special, Solona. I love how it sparkles and blinds people when the sunlight hits it just right."
Solona chuckled as she stood beside him. "Oh, Ali. Such sarcasm so early in the day. That's unbecoming of you."
Turning to face her, he stared down into her lilac eyes. "Such bitchiness so early in the day. It's so you." He surveyed her from head to toe and smirked. "What? No Warden armor to wear to have everyone clawing for your attention?"
The borrowed gown snugged body as she ran her hands down her sides, across her waist. "I wouldn't want to draw attention to myself. This is El's big day, remember." She rolled her eyes, sighing. "Why she'd marry that bore Vael is beyond me." Her lips turned into a lopsided grin as she looked up at him. "Although it is a step up from you now isn't it?"
"And where is your latest pet? Or have you discarded him and found someone else to sink your claws in?" he asked, folding his arms across his chest.
"Shray is in the Deep Roads outside of Kirkwall. I'm going to meet him there when I leave here tomorrow."
"Kirkwall? What a mess that is."
Solona's head lowered as she sighed. "Anders. Justice." Shaking her head, she lifted her eyes to look at him again. "If I knew he was going to do that, I would have opened the Veil and shoved Justice back into the Fade and lock him in."
"Any word of him now?" Alistair asked. "A lot of people are still hunting him down."
"Even if I knew where Anders was, I wouldn't tell you," she said. Her eyes moved across the courtyard to the Inquisition agents as they continued to talk amongst themselves. The Inquisitor was chatting to the Tevinter mage. "Especially the Inquisition."
Frowning, Alistair looked down at her. "What do you have against them?"
Her brows furrowed. "You know she's investigating the Wardens?"
"With cause, Solona." He bowed slightly to look at her in the face. "You can't deny hearing it. It's so loud I want to gauge my ears."
"Yes, I can hear it," she began to say. She wrapped her arms around herself, holding herself tight in her own embrace. "It's so loud sometimes I can't hear anything but it, Ali." Solona swiped at her eyes. "My head is throbbing from the song. Thankfully, it's not as deafening here, almost a dull whisper. That's why I've been staying away."
Pointing at her, Alistair said, "You knew what was happening in the Western Approach, didn't you?"
Solona shook her head. "Not really. I know that Clarel sent orders for me to report to Adamant. It all sounded suspicious not just because I've never liked her, I just had a gut feeling. Something nagging in the back of my head, not just the song."
Taking a deep breath, he reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder. "You're still searching, aren't you?"
She nodded. "I am," she answered. "Nathaniel had a lead in Kirkwall several years ago. He mentioned an elf that was running around with my cousin. When I came through the city was in shambles, Qunari were uprising. We had to get out of there because Wardens doing get into politics." She looked at him and a faint smile appeared on her face after seeing his expression. "Not usually, Ali. You were different."
Pursing his lips, Alistair nodded. "You were saying that you and Howe found an elf?"
She shrugged slightly. "Um…yes. She was part of one of the clans that Duncan tried to recruit from. There was another clan in the Brecilian Forest that he ran into. Something happened to two of their hunters, one was missing and the other came back and later died. From what Duncan told me was the woman had been corrupted by darkspawn blood."
"I remember that. Duncan said that the keeper insisted that the clan move immediately afterwards because of possible darkspawn." He rubbed his scruffy chin as he tried to remember everything his mentor had told him. "There was something else, something about an object that the elf had mentioned before dying."
"That's why I was trying to get to Kirkwall. This elf that's there was part of that clan. She had found an eluvian."
Alistair's jaw slacked. "You mean that thing you saw Morrigan walk through?"
Nodding, she said, "Yes. Rumor had it, this elf was able to remove the corruption from it."
Solona watched as his eyes went wide, his face paled.
"You're telling me that it's possible?" He sucked in a deep breath and held it briefly before releasing it. "There's a chance of removing the taint?"
"I don't know, Ali. That's what I was trying to do until this all started," she said, tapping her finger against her temple. "When the song started and Clarel's orders came, I had to put everything on hold. Then Leli got ahold of me to tell me what was happening, and I came here." She dropped her hands to her side, shaking her head. "I was hoping to talk to Cullen and find out what was going on from him but all he would tell me was to talk to her."
"Like I said, what do you have against her? Evelyn's a good person."
"I don't care if she's a good person or not," Solona said. "She's interfering on Warden business. She has no right."
"Seriously? How often did we get involved with things back in the day?" Alistair questioned her. He held up his hand, lifting a finger. "Bhelan or Harrowmant." Another finger lifted. "Werewolves or elves." A third finger lifted. "Mages or templars."
She pointed at him. "There's no damn way I would have left the templars act the rite of annulment on the mages."
"My point is, Solona. The Wardens get involved more often than they want to admit."
Biting down on her lower lip, Solona's head slowly nodded. "I just don't think some upstart should be trying to get involved."
He chuckled. "Upstart? Seriously? We were like what…nineteen? Twenty? When we fought darkspawn and killed an archdemon? She's only a few years younger than we are now. The woman literally walked out of the Fade, fought a Tevinter magister, just brokered a deal in Orlesian to try to end a civil war. I really wouldn't call her an upstart." He placed a hand on her upper arm and squeezed it. "Admit it. If she was around when we were traveling, she would have joined us." Taking off his crown, he ran his hand through his hair and smiled at her. "If we can take in an assassin and allow him to join us, I think we can trust Evelyn."
Solona looked up at him, nodding. "Speaking of which, Zev sends his love."
"I bet he did." He rubbed his hand up and down over her upper arm. "If you don't believe me about trusting her, speak with Grumpy. I'm sure he'll agree with me. Just don't tell him I suggested it, or he'll prove me wrong."
She lifted her hands to cup his cheeks. Pulling his head down closer, she kissed him on the forehead. "You two need to hug it out. You've been angry with each other for far too long."
"I'd rather run up and give Sten…" He shook his head to correct himself. "Arishok…whatever, a hug. Last time I saw him, he beat the shit out of me."
Taking in a long deep breath, she slowly blew it back out. "Fine. I'll talk to her. Briefly. I need to get to Kirkwall as soon as I can. I want to leave tonight."
The two looked out across the courtyard in silence. Alistair clasped his hands behind his back as his shoulders slowly slumped.
"You really think you found a way to remove it? To end it all?"
"I hope so, Ali." Her eyelids lowered as her head slowly bowed. "If I really knew that day that Duncan pulled me out of the tower that this was going to happen, I probably would have slit my own throat. I really didn't have a choice in it."
"I know you didn't. After seeing Rory and Daveth die, I probably would have taken a blade, too." He shook his head. "The Wardens were good to me, gave me a purpose. But so did the Templars." He sighed. "I loved Duncan. He was my mentor. He taught me like a father should. But he held back too many secrets that even today I still don't have answers." Turning, he looked down at her. "I want my own life."
Solona lifted her eyes to meet his. "Thinking about tossing the crown? Go on the road?"
Lifting one shoulder to shrug, he scoffed as he turned to look back out on the courtyard. "Why not? I did it before."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"May I have a word with you?" Cullen asked as he stood behind Evelyn.
She turned away from Isabela to look at him. Freshly shaved, hair coifed, dressed in a matching navy and silver Inquisition uniform he looked demanding. That was until she met his eyes. They looked weary. His expression matched his eyes, as if he had not slept that night.
Isabela patted her on the arm and winked at her. "You go take care of that. I'm in need of a drink."
"But the ceremony hasn't started yet," Evelyn told the pirate.
She laughed. "That's why I need a drink. You think I want to be sober for that?" Isabela said as she walked away.
Blowing out a heavy breath, Evelyn's shoulders slumped as she turned back to Cullen. "Yes, Commander. You have my attention."
Lifting his arm, he motioned for her to join him as he led the way. With the crowded courtyard, it was difficult to find someplace that they would be able to speak without too many eyes and ears on them. Cullen's best option was to find somewhere that had less presence. Once finding a small corner for them to speak, he took in a deep, clearing breath and finally turned to face her.
"I feel the need to apologize to you," he began to say. "I assumed my decision not to mention the arrival of the Warden – "
"Solona Amell."
Nodding slowly, Cullen released a sigh. "Yes, Solona. I should have mentioned it to you."
Evelyn folded her arms across her chest as she stared back at him. "I understand why you didn't, Cullen. As your former lover and all. You feel the need to protect her. Then again, we're fighting against corrupted Wardens that are influenced by the Venetori and here's someone that may have information that we need and you of all people didn't feel it necessary to share that with me. But, as you said, she needed her rest."
He heard something in her voice that he had never heard before. Cullen snorted, shaking his head. "Is that jealousy I hear in your voice?"
"Maybe a little," she admitted. Her cheeks flushed from embarrassment. Evelyn knew she was acting like an adolescent girl with her first crush.
Cullen's eyes widened, shocked by her honesty. "I…uh…yes." He rubbed the back of his neck with his gloved hand. "I was not expecting you to be so blunt."
"Why not? I told you I don't like being lied to."
"Yes. You have made it a point," he said as he lifted his hand and pointed to his cheek where she had punched him months before. "The bruises are gone but the memory still remains."
Evelyn unconsciously opened and closed her left hand. The pain she currently felt was like a thousand little pinpricks pressing into her skin from her fingertips to her mid arm. It had woken her in the night with pain. "Cullen, let's be truthful about all of this." She squeezed her hand tight to try to ignore the pain. "Maybe with everything that has happened. Me and Sebastian. My father. And now the unexpected resurface of the famed Hero of Ferelden. On top of all of this, I have a fortress full of Wardens that may or may not be in league with an Old Magister who wants to rip open the Veil to step into the Fade and destroy all of Thedas."
Stepping forward, Evelyn moved closer to him until she was only a few feet away. Taking in a heavy breath, she continued. "I thought a great deal last night. It's obvious we both have some issues that need to work out." She tilted her head slightly with a half shrug. "Maybe we might be able to pick up the pieces and try to put it back together again."
"I don't agree with this," he thought as his lips were saying "Yes. That may be for the best."
"We should get back with the others. The wedding is about to begin. I'm sure for diplomacy, we should all enter together."
He watched as she nodded her head slowly as she stepped closer to him. Cullen sucked in a deep breath, inhaling the sweet lavender scent of her bath oils. He wanted to reach out to take her hand, to pull her flush against his body to kiss her but he could not bring himself to do it.
"Yes, Inquisitor," he said with a nod as he followed her to the others.
o-o-o-o-o-o
"The wedding was spectacular, wasn't it?"
"Uh…yes."
"The bride and groom looked exquisite in their wedding attire."
"Uh…huh."
Dorian rolled his eyes when he realized after speaking to her for more than ten minutes, she still did not respond more than a few words. Since rejoining the other members of the Inquisition prior to entering the Chantry, she had been distracted.
"I think the king has taken a fancy to you, cousin," Dorian said as he sipped on his wine.
Her eyes fluttered as she turned to face him. "What?"
Glancing over the rim of his glass, he turned to her. "And he is rather fetching, isn't he?"
Evelyn looked across the crowded ballroom at the king. Alistair was talking to a pair of Nevarrian nobles that had arrived for the wedding. He looked utterly bored with the conversation they were having. The way he tugged at the high collar of his jacket was a clear indication that he was needing rescued.
"Speaking of fetching? Where is that commander of yours?" the mage asked as he began to look around. "I haven't seen him for a while now."
"He is not my commander. He is the Inquisition Commander, Dorian." Sipping her wine, she turned back to him. "I haven't spoken to him since before the wedding." She lifted her hand to push back a stray lock of hair that had came loose from the clip that was holding it back. "We're taking a break."
Cocking an eyebrow, Dorian wore a smirk on his face. "A break? You barely even started, Evelyn."
"Yes." She turned to face him. "He still in love with the Hero. I told him that maybe it is best if we took a break until he knows what he wants. Besides, I'm a little busy right now," she said as she lifted her left hand, waving her fingers. "I like a solitary life anyway."
"Dear, cousin. You are frightfully boring."
"Dull, too," Sebastian said as he approached from behind. He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. "You look well, Eve. Do you have a moment?"
"Thank you, Seb." Wrapping her arm around her friend's, she turned to Dorian. "Can you excuse us for a bit?"
Dorian smirked as he looked around. With a dramatic sigh, he shrugged. "I guess I'll find something to occupy myself with."
"Or someone," she said, patting on him on the cheek with the palm of her hand.
"If I must, I shall persevere," Dorian said before turning to walk away.
The prince turned to his companion and smiled. "You do have some interesting companions," he said before leading them through the crowd to the opened doors of the garden. "I found myself speaking with the Iron Bull earlier this evening and found him rather interesting."
Sighing, she shook her head. "Please tell me it wasn't a debate regarding the Chantry and Qun."
"I have my faith to guide me, Eve," he answered. "It doesn't mean that I do not accept to hear the beliefs of others. It gives me more understanding of those that I hope to rule over or to ally with."
"It does help knowing about those around you. Whether it is Marcher or Ferelden. Human, elves, even Qunari," she said, turning to him. She smiled seeing the look on his face. "Josephine insists that I learn more about those that I work with." She sighed. "She feels that I need to be around more people as Inquisitor to ensure alliances across Thedas where many others feel that I should be hidden away in a cloister to be protected from the world's evils."
Taking both hands into his, he stared down at him with deep blue eyes. "They want the best for you, Eve."
"For Maker's sake, Seb. I'm not an orchid that needs sheltered from the environment."
Nodding slowly, he said, "I am aware of that, Eve. Remember, I took a many of beatings from you growing up. However, given what has happened since my idiotic attempts to regain the throne some may question it."
Frowning, she released her arm around his and took several steps away to put a little distance between them. Wrapping her arms around herself, she looked at him. "I'm not going to discuss my father anymore. I will not give him the satisfaction now that he's ashes, Seb. He doesn't deserve even a mention."
Nodding, he said, "Aye. And Luca?"
Tilting her head back, she looked at the evening sky. The twin moons hanging bright in the starry sky. "I had Varric investigate it for me. He said that whatever was possessing him is now gone. He has some of his people keep an eye on him. They'll notify you immediately if there's any problems."
"And what of Ostwick? Will you allow him to continue to rule?"
She continued to look up at the sky. "He is the rightful heir, Seb." She turned back to look at him. "Max isn't pleased but I'm going to let him rule Ostwick unless he turns into the bastard that the man before him was." Brushing back her hair, she sighed. "If that time comes, then I'll find a way to take control of Ostwick. However, right now, my purpose is to stop Corypheus."
"You will have Starkhaven's resources to aid in the purpose, Lady Inquisitor."
Reaching out, she took his hand and gently squeezed it. "Thank you, Sebastian. I appreciate any help that you can provide. Right now, I need you to continue to work with Ostwick and assist Luca in whatever way you can."
"I will do whatever I can to help him," Sebastian said with a nod. "He may not be keen on it. Luca and I have never seen eye to eye."
She scoffed. "He doesn't have a choice, Sebastian. Having you and Elissa here to rule Starkhaven. Elissa's brother, Fergus, has agreed to assist from Highever. Hawke and Varric have ensured me that Seneschal Bran in Kirkwall will be available to assist with any problems. I also have agents about Markham, Tantervale and Wycome to keep me appraised of what is happening."
Reaching up, Sebastian took his crown off and held it out to her. "Maybe you should be wearing this instead of me. Sounds like you have it all worked out."
She took the crown from him and admired it for a moment. Lifting her hands, she returned the crown to his head and brushed back the stray locks of greying hair off his forehead. "No, thank you. Being betrothed to you was the closest to wearing a crown that I ever will come." She cupped his cheeks to encourage him to lower his head. Placing a soft kiss on his forehead, she smiled. "It looks much better on you, my dear Sebastian."
Lifting his hands, he covered hers that were on his cheeks. He took them together and kissed her fingers. "You do not give yourself enough credit, Eve. But know that I will always be there for you when you call."
"Thank you," she said.
The conversation ended when Fenris approached them. "I'm sorry to interrupt, Sebastian, but you're needed inside. The princess sent me to fetch you, the Revered Mother would like a word with you and she," the elf said. He turned to Evelyn, nodding slightly. "Good evening, Lady Trevelyan."
She nodded in his direction. "Good evening, Fenris." Seeing Sebastian turn to her to speak, she patted his arm, smiling. "Go. It's your wedding celebration. You should be with your bride."
"Aye, I should. I promise to see you off in the morn."
"No, you will not," she said, shaking her head. "Remember what I just said about not needing a wet nurse."
He chuckled. "Very well. I will see you if I see you. Otherwise, don't stay out here too long. There's a wind coming from the north bringing a chill with it."
"Yes, Brother Vael."
Placing his hands on her upper arms, he pulled her close to kiss her on the cheek before turning to Fenris. "Come. Let's see what Elissa and Mother Antonia have plotted against me."
Fenris began to follow but stopped. Looking back over his shoulder, he watched the woman stare up into the night sky. He was about to ask her if she wanted him to stay with her but felt a hand on his shoulder.
"I'll take watch for you, Ser Fenris," Alistair said softly.
The elf nodded as he turned and walked away. The king folded his arms as he leaned his shoulder against the brick column beside him as he watched her. The elf was right not to leave her alone. She had a painted target on her back, something he was familiar with. His guards were nearby as well, just not as out in the open as some. If he could provide a moment of peace for her, he was going to try.
Seeing Cullen and Solona exiting the castle into the garden, Alistair shook his head. "So much for peace," he thought.
