Awakening

Chapter Thirty-Two

A Royal Heir

For a month, I puttered around the Palace – hearing nobles' remark on how I should marry Alistair while the man himself tried his best to convince me without words. He was so romantic and attentive – in the bedroom and out since our son would be born sometime in the next month or so…

Alistair actually slept in until mid-day with me today – just to ask me a question!

"So – something has been niggling at my mind for a time. Back at the Temple of Sacred Ashes, you said you saw your mother but then named Andraste. How is that?"

"I was taken off guard. Your Andraste looked so much like my first mother – the human life – that I defaulted to that. I highly doubt that Andraste is actually my mother – she would have said something."

"A good point. I was just going over reports from the Excavation in Haven the other day and it crossed my mind."

"Oh – who actually owns Haven?"

"No one, currently. Though a Lady Machen – married to a Marquis named DuRellion – is attempting to lay claim… why?"

"Um… nothing important for now. I believe Machen is attempting to claim it through ancient treaties with the Monarchy, yes?"

He lifted an eyebrow, "Yes, actually – she is. What do I need to know about this?"

"Haven becomes an epicenter for the Chantry so DuRellion won't really be involved with it much after 9:35 when the next Divine orders it to be restored."

"Damn – Machen is really pressing on me right now; I was sure just giving it to her…"

"I mean – it won't turn out bad – so long as you stipulate that if the Divine wants to do anything she can. Add in the fact that as the Makers' Chosen, I get full rights too and poof; problem solved!"

He blinked, and then kissed my forehead, "I can do that but they may not like it."

"So phrase it like this – 'Haven is close to where the Temple of Sacred Ashes is; what if the Divine or even the Makers' Chosen needs access to it. I could give you the land, but then what?' they will then suggest my idea themselves and be pleased with the arrangement as it would be their idea and they would never suspect that those things would actually come to pass."

He laughed, "Manipulate them, you mean? Maker… you'd make a good Queen."

I snorted, "I still won't re-consider, Alistair. Cullen deserves a chance." Honestly, I was still of a mind that both men deserved better than me but according to a vision I'd looked for… I was fighting a losing battle on both fronts. Maybe if I brought that issue up now, Alistair would be mad and… move on?

"But why not? If things don't work out with him, would you still say no?"

I sighed, "What if things do work out? What if they work out and I still can't get you out of my heart? What if… what if I can't choose? Would I lose you both if I couldn't… pick?"

He cursed, "No! You could never lose me, Tara. You are the mother of my son, the woman I have grown to love so much that I am willing to hope you come back to me. If that means that I have to share you… well, I admit, that thought makes me jealous, but I would try – I would try to put my own issues aside for you."

I stared at him in shock. Damn – I should have checked a vision. I had relied on the game model like an idiot. Alistair in the game would get jealous to the point of making you choose one or the other. But in the game, there was no child or signs from the gods, either. I had changed things enough that he wouldn't make me pick?

"Why are you… you thought I would push you away! You thought… you thought if I had to share you I would leave you, didn't you?" he sat up, looking betrayed. I sat up too – with his help…

I flushed, "Maybe."

"Maker – why are you so intent on having me marrying someone else? Do you… I mean, it would only make sense if… if you didn't actually love me, but… you said you do…"

"Gods – I love you so much, Alistair! That's why! You and Cullen… you both deserve better than some rotten bitch that can't even pick one man. You deserve a woman who can be completely yours. You deserve a full family…"

He stood and started getting dressed, "If you could really think that I'd do that to you… that I'd leave you when I've known from the start that you love Cullen – or at least that you held feelings toward him… why are you even here with me now? Why didn't you really break it off after the Landsmeet?"

I bit my lip and kept my back to him – no sense in letting him see me cry, "Because… I wanted all that I could get before you finally left me… like everyone else had."

I heard all movement still. His voice was strained as he asked, "You were… expecting me to stop loving you?"

"You wouldn't be the first to claim love and move on. Though, admittedly, none of the ones who 'loved' me had given me a child." I whispered so my voice wouldn't crack. Something felt off, too.

"Maker… you were trying to beat me to the punch, as you like to say."

I shrugged, "Pushing you away now before you could hurt me later. A therapist once said I had a tendency to self-sabotage… I guess she was right."

I heard him drop something and glanced back quickly. It was his sword – he always carried his fathers' sword and Duncans shield no matter what he wore. He moved swiftly around the bed and knelt in front of me, "I love you. I have loved you since before we shared a bed – honestly, I don't think I would have… made that move if I didn't. Nothing will change my feelings for you. Maker – I'm already jealous of Cullen because I know you will be with him for the next few years and I only got a few months. I have been tempted to send him a damn letter asking that he either withdraw from your affections – which I couldn't bring myself to write because you love him – or do just what you suggested; let us both have you. I went so far as to have a talk with Mother Roselle."

I dropped my jaw, "About what?"

"Whether or not it would be possible for someone to have more than one spouse. She is waiting for a response from Divine Beatrix III before answering that."

"She – oh, for fucks' sake I really didn't see that coming."

He smirked, "It's nice to know that a seer can be surprised… what's this?"

He looked worried as he glanced at my wet lap. I paled and my hand shot to my wrist, "Jaina… Jaina…"

"Lady Atarah? What is it; what's wrong?"

"Labor… I need help," was all I managed to say. Alistair swore as he stood and rushed to the door, shouting for a healer and Mother Roselle.

I hadn't felt any contractions yet though my water had broken. I waited until I felt one, and then started counting. When a portal opened in my bedroom, Jaina Proudmore charging in with Malfurion, Tyrande and Anduin – all people with healing abilities – I was able to say, "Contractions last 30 to 50 seconds; coming about 6 minutes apart. I… I need to lie down…"

Tyrande looked stunned, "How can you talk and not scream?"

Alistair paled at that, "It's that painful?"

Malfurion nodded, "I distinctly remember my wife here all but ripping my hand off as she screamed when she had Inas…"

I answered my aunt, "Used to the pain."

Anduin knelt on the 'clean' side of the bed as Roselle and a female healer came into the room.

"Well – your answers are short. You must be feeling some pain."

I shot him a dead-pan look, "Really? I thought it tickled."

Alistair coughed.

Tyrande moved to check me over and said, "How early is it – I thought you still had more than a month."

"I did – I'm only 35 weeks." My words caused Roselle and the female healer to look terrified.

"5 weeks – early, but not drastically so. The baby will be fine if we do this right."

Alistair sat on the bed next to me and slipped his hand in mine. I squeezed. He leaned in and whispered to me – mostly nonsense as the people who could heal flurried around the room to prep things while the contractions shortened in time between. But he did say one thing with a terrified voice that caught my attention, "Please… please don't leave me. Please survive this…"

I chuckled, "I can't die in childbirth – the Blessing of Elune keeps the child and I perfectly healthy though it, Alistair… where is Lyna?"

"She is getting ready for the trip to the Vigil in 2 weeks."

I nodded. He looked less pale and a bit more relaxed knowing that our child and I would live though this.

The labor was shorter than in my previous lives – only 10 hours from my water breaking to holding a little boy while Tyrande mixed up formula. I had never produced breastmilk – not in any life. When I was in each new world, I used my knowledge to create powdered formula. I had the reports from my scientists in Azeroth – the mixings here in Thedas had taken some work, but I'd had success 3 weeks ago. It was now cheap on the open market for anyone to buy.

I smiled down at the little potato in my arms. At this stage, all I knew was that he was pale and had quite a bit of blonde hair… oh, and of course the lightly tipped ears. Alistair was lying next to us on a freshly cleaned bed – Duncan and I had been placed in a lukewarm bath for that duration.

Alistair hesitantly reached out a hand, looking nervous. Anduin was watching us with a guarded look, Tyrande was actually smiling and Malfurion didn't look… disappointed as I'd always seen.

Little Duncan watched the movement of Alistairs hand with that semi-familiar look of infant curiosity. I smiled encouragingly at the new father. Alistair cupped Duncans' cheek and the baby let out a coo.

I chuckled, "You want to hold him, love?"

"Can… can I? I don't know… how…" he flushed. Tyrande went over to his side of the bed and showed him how to hold a baby. Alistair looked completely wrapped around his new sons' finger.

I snuck a quick peak at Anduin – oh. He was envious. I suppose that made sense – seeing a child could occasionally bring on the urge to have one yourself.

Roselle spoke softly next to me, "I'll send word to the Divine about your sons' birth… anything I should add?"

"He won't have magic. He holds no magic force in him." I yawned. Alistair glanced at me with a goofy grin, "Even if he did, it wouldn't matter. Makers' breath, Tara – is it possible to fall in love at first sight?"

Laughter filled the room – causing Duncan to join in with baby giggles; startling Alistair as he smiled happily at the boy.

"When it's your child, certainly. And I know you're wondering why he laughed – it's because everyone else did… he didn't want to be left out, did you?" I cooed to Duncan. Alistair chuckled. With that, Roselle left the room to send her report.

"Will you… stay here for a time?" he asked softly.

"Gods, I want to so badly that it hurts my heart to think of leaving. But I have to go with Lyna in 2 weeks – she will really need me."

"Well, there's trouble in the Bannorn, so… maybe I could escort you there before making my rounds with Duncan?"

I bit my lip, "Only if you swear to keep a half day behind us when we get close to the Vigil."

He stiffened, "The Vigil will be under attack… won't it?"

I nodded, "Yeah – but Lyna, Mhairi and I will handle that."

"Lyna may be the technical commander now that you've stepped down and cured me of the blight, but you know she's going to jump if you ask her too."

I snorted, "That's called good training."

"No; it's loyalty you've instilled in all of us." He said softly. Duncan had fallen asleep on him. I smiled at Duncan. Alistair stood up and carried him over to the small but elaborate crib in the room. He was awkward about it, but managed to put the little one to bed while everyone else – other than Anduin and Jaina – filed out of the room or through the portal to Azeroth.

I tilted my head, "Is there something else, King Anduin?"

"Just… I'll never actually have a chance, will I?"

I flinched – he was bringing this up now? "Uh… well… not really. You're a great and wonderful man – but I was never the one destined to be your wife."

"Do you know who…?"

"Of course – but I'm not telling for now. Maybe another time when you've had a chance to try for yourself."

He gave me a wry smile, "That's fair, I suppose… I'm assigning a guard here – human warrior – to help protect your son. She says you saved her life as a child."

I blinked, "Wow… that really… doesn't narrow down the list."

Jaina smothered a grin and said, "No, it doesn't. You've always been a champion of saving the children."

Anduin chuckled, "It was a sight to behold too – mid-battle and both Horde and Alliance mothers are flocking to one woman without so much as snapping at each other. My father used to say that if the men followed the example, there could have been peace in the world."

Alistair smirked, "If anyone could have achieved that, I'd believe it of Tara."

I flushed, "The Ruby Dragon-Flight did it too…"

"Only after you began that crusade – once you were established as a safe haven for children mid-battle, then ruby dragons started to show up at battles to cart the children away. There was never a child under your protection who was so much as looked at after a time. You were positively ruthless in your protection of them."

"… yeah." I said.

Jaina looked at Anduin, "We should go – new mothers need rest no matter how fast they heal."

And just like that, they were gone. Alistair tucked me into his side, "We're parents… Maker, I love you. I love our son. I never thought I could be so… happy."

"You think you're happy… but I'm thrilled. Elune tells me things have changed for me. Duncan won't be my only child in this life."

Alistair kissed my temple, "About that. With… with Cullen. I just… I am willing to share you if that's what it takes. I am willing to put my jealousy aside – at least for him – just to make you happy… please…"

I sighed, "It's not just you, Alistair. What if that's not something he can do? And I mean, if he doesn't want me anyway, this is all moot point."

"He wants you – there is no doubt. I sent him a raven 3 weeks ago just to… I didn't want you getting hurt if that was the case, so… I had to be sure. He does want you, love. He seemed excited that you had won the bet; and not just because it meant he'd finally get that recipe you have yet to give him – he seems to have forgotten that part entirely. I've made several drafts of that letter I mentioned since then. I couldn't bring myself to ask for his… withdrawal from your affections, as I said. That would only hurt you. So I've been trying to find a way to…" there was a knock at the door.

He sighed and headed over to it. Mother Roselle was back…?

I heard her whispering, "I received a response to that letter I sent for you – it was there when I went to send my report. As you know, there is nothing in the Chant of Light specifically prohibiting more than one spouse. It's just not… advertised that it's allowed, but it is. No more than 3 spouses to one person, but… there you have it."

I snorted, catching both of their attention. Alistair rubbed at his neck, "She uh… she and I were actually just discussing this, Mother. Thank you for your assistance."

She nodded, slightly embarrassed, and left.

Alistair came back over, "So…?"

"I'd feel like a whore if I fell in love with a third person… but I guess… if Cullen agrees to it, I would give it a shot."

He looked so relieved and replied, "Well, you wouldn't be – a whore that is. Love is different from that. I'll send Cullen a letter before head out in 2 weeks… meaning we should get a response before we leave too if I send it soon."

I snuggled into him. "Give me a year first. You got a year to fall in love with me before the thought of sharing was brought up – give me a year from when I go to Kirkwall to when you send him a letter. I'll even use Sin as a carrier bird for letters with you – no one will dare attempt to intercept those letters, and if they try, all they'll get is crispy skin and charred death." He nodded.

"I can do that. I wouldn't want to accidentally cut off the possibility of… if I'm the reason Cullen leaves you, I have a feeling you'd leave me."

"I can't… deny or confirm that. It would depend on circumstance. Do it on purpose and there is no doubt. If it were an accident, I could be more forgiving but… again circumstances."

He held me tightly, "I could never do something to hurt you on purpose. I guess this means we're officially no longer together… Get some sleep my love – we will talk more in the morning." My eyes slipped closed.

Over the course of the next two weeks, I spent as much time with Duncan as I could. Meaning, of course, that I was usually found in the throne room while Alistair held court or listened to grievances or such in preparation for his trip around the Bannorn. A few familiar nobles from the Landsmeet had come by just to catch a glimpse of Duncan.

His hair had stayed blonde, but his eyes had settled from the pale green they were at birth to a more metallic coated green. I told Alistair that the eye color came from his own mother and he had happily taken that information and ran with it. Speaking of children, Goldannas kids had been sent to be raised in Gwaren. Alistair had been waffling on what to do with them so I told Eamon to do plan B… while Alistair was in the room. That explanation earned me a tight hug from Alistair.

The guard Anduin had sent had arrived with a healer monk – a blood elf woman that Lor'themar had sent to help Alistair and keep an eye on Duncan. I swear this kid was safer than his own mother.

The Human Guard had told me that she would do everything in her power to keep my son safe – even at the cost of her own life. I told her that I was glad to have her.

A gift from Alleria Windrunner – the Void Elf leader – was a Void-Storage ring for Alistair to keep things needed for Duncan in. From Nappies, formula, toys, and clothes – everything that a child would need was in that storage.

My brother sent me an auto-sizing necklace for the kid to hold his own 'pack shackle' on as well as making the chain linked to a charm for my bracelet so I could always find or talk to my son no matter what.

Thrall had sent a wolf-tooth on a leather strap – an orc symbolic thing.

Talanji – the Troll queen of Zuldazar – had sent golden earrings for him… yes, I pierced his ears.

Jaina had sent a beacon 'charm' for my sons' necklace that meant I could always teleport to him.

Genn Greymane – the Worgen king – had sent a Gilnean Charger colt. Those horses would live for upwards of 40 years, so raising one with Duncan would help.

High Tinker Mekkatorque – Gnome leader – had sent a music machine, lord help us, for Duncans' room. It was equipped with every song I had 'imported' from Earth regardless of expletives… probably because I was always saying how curse words built brain function and vocabulary.

Even the Vulpera sent gifts – every racial leader of Azeroth had sent something or other. The Tortollans had even sent something… story scrolls, of course.

Alistair had allowed a guarded room for two 'official portals' – one to Stormwinds' Conference room (Because that place was way more secure than the mages' tower) and one to the Orgrimmar conference room (Again more secure than the main Portal area). Only authorized people like the racial leaders or delegates could even get into the conference rooms in the first place, so the portals were safe.

Ferelden had an official alliance now with both the Horde and the Alliance. I don't know how Alistair managed that; I wasn't in the negotiations. All I knew, was that it had something to do with me – he told me that much.

When word came from Orlais about the Empress wanting to meet these leaders, I personally sent back the denial – Anduin and the other leaders had all picked up my dislike of Orlais and declined at once… oops (muahaha).

Today was our last day in Denerim – and somehow the day gifts arrived from the nobility of Ferelden for the new… heir?

I looked at Alistair, "Heir? You didn't name him your heir… he's an elf."

He snorted, "I didn't have to name him – the Landsmeet decided on it before they all went back to their estates last month. Duncan was named my heir before he was born."

I coughed, "Well – I never expected that… ever. What happens if we do get married have more children?"

"Duncan will still be my heir. He was officially recognized – no one is bold enough to label the son of the Makers' Chosen a bastard. I wasn't even surprised that the choice had nothing to with me being King when everyone is still reeling from what happened when Urthemiel was killed. I've heard people are building statues in your honor and the First Warden himself is planning to go to Amaranthine in person to meet you. I think the Black Divine and the Archon of the Imperium in Tevinter are even considering you 'safe'. As in, if you go there, you would be safe because there was most certainly Tevene spies here when that all went down. No one in Thedas is unaware of your status."

"Uh… that's not a good thing. He'd plan on trying to conscript me."

"He can't. Divine edict is that you don't belong to any one group – because if you did, you could theoretically be 'ordered' not to participate in things you're meant to. In fact, every leader in Thedas has received orders that you can step in and take over if needed."

"Granted I return things when I'm done, right?"

"Bingo… what does that word even mean? You've got me saying it whenever someone is right… is that it?"

I laughed, causing the child in my arms to babble and coo happily. "Used that way it does. But Bingo was actually a game of chance. It became an expression because when people win the game, they're supposed to shout 'Bingo!' and the official would check it over. So people started saying it when they found what they were looking for or when someone caught their meaning or even when they have a full set of something – though that's actually called a monopoly, which is also a game."

"Well, as long as I'm using it right. So Teyrn Cousland from Highever sent their famous Highever weave cloth – 4 bolts – for Duncan. Arl Cousland, your Teyrnir regent, sent a handcrafted rocking pony. Bann Alfstanna sent a few stuffed toys…"

"Well – their gifts are far more normal compared to what Azeroth was sending. Music machines, a personal healer and guard, void-storage, wolf-tooth, enchanted chains and… I think the Tortollans sent the most normal thing – stories."

"Um… have you looked at those scrolls, love? A historian said the parchment is made of a reptilian skin and could be dated to be about a thousand years old."

"Yeah – it's Naga skin, and Tortollans aren't interested in things that are less than 2 centuries old."

He looked ill, "It… you said Naga are sentient beings?"

"… Look, you take what you can get with most races of Azeroth. Some of the dwarves make Ale by keeping it near Lava, the goblins make fizzy drinks using metal ore, and some of the Pandaren live on a giant turtle. You'd be hard pressed to find any race that is 'normal'… even the humans have a few unique outlooks."

"A fair point, then."

I smirked, "That attitude will keep you in the good graces of most of them, at least."

"I had a visit from a woman with red horns and gold eyes."

I stiffened, "What did Queen Alexstrasza want?"

"To check Duncan for a Dragon Soul – she thought it may be hereditary."

"Did he?"

"You can't tell?"

I snorted, "Not this early – and I can't see the future of my blood relations much. It keeps me from fucking with the future to save one person."

"That is an excellent balance, actually. I can see how… but we shouldn't make that known."

"No – people would target him then. Right now, he's safer."

Alistair pulled me – and by default, Duncan – into his lap on the throne, "I love you – both of you."

I smiled softly at him, "I love you too. But you never answered."

"Oh – right. Um… yes. She said something about a… Merithra of the Dream?"

"He's a Green Dragon then – protectors of the Dream and Nature but… he'd not a druid or… he has no magic."

"Do all Dragons have magic?"

"Of a type, usually. Green are usually like the druids, blue take more to mage, black to warlock, bronze are… unique with their time magics, and red are more like a mix of all magics other than time."

"Time Magic?"

"They don't interfere… much. Mostly they observe cause and effect to prevent disasters without going back and changing things."

"Oh… so like you then."

"I can't do that at all…"

"No, I meant the preventing disasters thing." He gave me a cheeky grin as we headed out to the carriage. Mhairi was tripping over herself as she watched me in awe.

I nodded to the woman who was 5'7, short black hair, green-grey eyes, and a soft voice. I remembered that she was from Dragons Peak. Her silver armor had two red painted dragons on either breast and her shield held the Dragons Peak Crest.

"It… it's an honor… to-to meet you, Teyrn… Teyrn Stormlight." She stammered.

I smiled, "Call me Tara, dear – I only allow combat titles. You must be Mhairi."

"Yes, ma'am – from Dragons Peak."

"It's good to meet you… and we'll get along well if you call me Tara, Atarah or General."

She flushed, "Yes, general."

Lyna came over looking amused, "Flustering the woman already, commander?"

"Hey – I stepped down, brat."

The elven woman snorted, "Yeah – but you're still my alpha; thus, still my commander."

I stuck my tongue out and heard Duncan babble and giggle at me. I shot the infant a wink. Lyna reached her hands out for the kiddo, "May I, Lethallan?"

"Of course!" I said. Lyna softly murmured to the child – parts of it in Dalish. I smirked, "Maybe when all this Warden stuff is over, you can stay in the fancy Shem palace and teach Duncan Dalish."

She laughed, "I could at that – your man… I mean, the king has already offered me a spot as the Dalish ambassador whenever I feel like leaving the Wardens."

We all piled into the large carriage and were off to the Vigil.