Alistair grunted in pain as he carefully lowered Ayden to the dusty, old bed. It definitely wasn't his first choice to allow the poor boy to sleep on but it seemed to be the best accommodation available. Rainier had directed them to take shelter in this abandoned hotel. Most of the place was in shambles, but the rooms on the upper floors were surprisingly intact. So long as a decent breeze came through the large balcony doors, it kept the musty smell away well enough. They must have been miles away from Lothering now. Alistair had never seen this part of Ferelden before...well, that really wasn't saying much to be honest. He'd never ventured outside the city up until now.

Maker, did his muscles hurt. It wasn't like Ayden was particularly heavy but after the distance they'd walked he definitely felt like it now. He absently thought about Rainier, how the man had carried that other Warden woman all the way here. Alistair didn't see him complaining. Maybe he should be working out more? Cullen was constantly complaining that the templars sit around too much…Well, doesn't seem like that's gonna be a problem for him now…Maker, I hope he's alive…

A small wave of panic shot through him as Ayden shifted in his sleep. Alistair was certain he was going to wake up, but he simply rolled on to his side and curled into a ball. Something about it made him smile. Maybe it was the fact that he seemed totally oblivious to the world around him, how it was seemingly falling apart. As he dragged the cleanest blanket he could find over to him, Alistair found himself hoping that Ayden would never have to know what kind of danger they were in.

He shot a look into the room across the hall. Solona seemed to be examining Fenris's leg again. At least the man seemed much more relaxed by her treatment now. He actually looked grateful, he could have sworn that he even thanked her. Well, that's a switch.

She gave Fenris a friendly smile as she left him and Dorian in their room. Rainier had told them it wasn't wise to close the doors, just in case 'shit hit the fan' as he put it. Alistair was sure there was some sort experienced logic in that, but it irked him a bit. He desperately wanted—no, needed to talk to Solona alone. And sure it was just her and Ayden in this room with him, but the things he needed to hear...well, they didn't need to be heard by the kid too...Does that even make sense? He shook his head, trying to get his thoughts right. How could he hope to have a serious conversation with Solona if he couldn't properly articulate the thoughts in his own bloody head?

His thoughts seemed to take over completely as he watched her come into their room. First thing she did was check on Ayden. She seemed happy as she looked him over, she gave Alistair a grateful smile. It was a small thing, but it damn near made him melt. Maker's Breath was she just gorgeous, even in her disheveled state. He absently wondered if there'd ever be a day where she didn't take his breath away. He seriously doubted that. She was way out of his league. He should just be grateful she decided he was worthy of her attention, even for a moment.

"Alistair? Are you…alright?"

He looked away quickly when he realized what he was doing. Yeah, good job. That wasn't awkward at all. You bumbling idiot. "What? Um, yes, of course. I'm fine. Perfectly fine. Finest there ever was…uh…"

Solona gave him an amused smile. "You were staring."

"Right, yes. But, um, not at you, of course. That, um, would have been, um, awkward…" He felt the urge to do something, anything with his hands and found himself rubbing at the back of his neck.

She giggled as she shook her head at him. At least his idiocy was still endearing. With a measured breath, she schooled her expression into a more serious one. "Speaking of awkward…we need to talk…"

His thoughts ran rapidly through his head. He struggled to say something even remotely relevant. This is what he was hoping for, right? All you have to do is not be a bumbling idiot. "Uh, yes, of course…but, um, here…?"

"No," She absently glanced at Ayden, "I don't want to risk him waking up…and to be honest, he shouldn't hear this conversation."

Well that doesn't sound good. Maker's Balls…

"…I asked Dorian to watch Ayden for us."

"Wait, what? Dorian?" Alistair lowered his voice to a whisper. "You trust him that much?"

Solona huffed a laugh, not bothering to keep her voice down. "He seems a decent enough man. Besides, Fenris will keep him in check now that he's fully healed." From across the hall, they heard Dorian's mumbled voice grumbling. "I have every confidence he'll be in good hands."

"Uh...right...I mean, um, if you're sure? We should...um, go?"

"Come on, I think I know a spot." She shot him a reassuring smile as she glided out of the room. "There's a hotel just like this in Denerim, I'm willing to bet it used to have conference rooms too."

Alistair damn near tripped over himself when he tried to follow her. Could you possibly be normal for one bloody moment? He corrected himself as quickly as he could, thankfully before Solona noticed. She beckoned him down the hallway, but they both seemed to realize at the same moment that the lights weren't working passed a certain point down there.

Solona took a calming breath as she conjured a small, bright wisp. It floated idly above them, illuminating their immediate surroundings. Alistair was rather shocked he hadn't reacted badly to seeing her use magic this time. The first time was a shock, to put it lightly-pun intended, probably. But now...it just seemed so harmless. He suddenly felt like he'd been fed a bowl full of lies for every damned day he'd been in the Templar Order. If Solona was a mage, then they can't all be evil...right?

He forced his mind to snap back to reality as she stopped in front of a set of double doors. She reached for the dusty old handle slowly, as if she were just waiting for something to pop out at them.

Alistair grasped her forearm gently. He had intended for it to be comforting but when her eyes snapped up to him, he got all twisted up again. "I-I didn't mean-I just thought that maybe I should go in first...you know, just in case?"

Her expression softened considerably, she even smiled at him as she stepped back.

Whew. Okay. This is it, Alistair. Moment of truth. Time to look brave and heroic and epic. You're not scared of a creepy, old door leading to a definitely pitch dark room that may or may not contain some manner of giant slobbering monster...okay, wait, maybe a little...fuck it, just stop thinking. He grabbed the door handle and swung it open quickly before he could lose his nerve.

He managed to take exactly one step inside the room before he was suddenly under attack! It was still fairly dark but he was certain this thing was enormous. It had tentacles everywhere! It came from all sides!

"Alistair..."

He desperately flailed about, just barely managing to draw his sword. Without proper light to coordinate his heroic attacks, he was only able to swing blindly with high hopes of felling the foul beast.

"Alistair!"

In a brief but overwhelmingly terrifying moment, he saw Solona drawing closer to the monster. Of course she would try to help him. She was too good, too selfless. But Maker damn him, he would save her!

"No!" He cried out, vainly hoping beyond hope that she would listen to reason. "Stay back, my love!"

His surroundings were quickly illuminated when Solona brought her trusty wisp closer. He was now able to stare into the face of the dreaded beast. It was none other than...

"They're just old wires..." Solona gripped his sword arm firmly and guided it back down to his side. Her cheeks were definitely flushed, she seemed as though she were trying hard not to look at him now.

The realization of his absolute idiocy hit him like a metric fuck ton of bricks. He was positive beyond all doubt that this was in fact, the stupidest thing he had ever done...It was only compounded by the cackling he heard coming from down the hall. Maker's Breath, he was never going to hear the end of it. And he didn't...say what he thought he had...did he?

If Solona's obviously altered reaction to him was any indication, then yes. He had definitely made a total fool out of himself. In more ways than one...and something told him it wasn't even over yet.

"Maker, I'm so sorry! This is-I mean, that wasn't-well, I just thought that..." He flopped himself into the nearest chair. Dust flew around him everywhere, but he was beyond caring at the moment. He rested his elbows on his knees, using his posture to help him hide his face in his hands. "Kill me now."

There was a definite laughter in her voice as she spoke now. He didn't dare look up at her again, but judging by the sound she was sitting somewhere near him. "That was...brave."

"That was the mad flailings of a fool."

"Well, yes." She broke down in a small fit of giggles. "I'm certainly not going to get that image out of my head for a long while."

Alistair groaned as if he were actually feeling physical pain. "I'd rather you remember that than...that, um, other thing..."

"What other...? Oh, you mean what you said?"

"Nope, nope. I said nothing. Just chalk it up to me screaming indiscriminately like a little girl." His whole body stiffened up as he felt Solona's fingers wrap around his wrists and pull his hands away from his face. This is it. She needs to know you understand her as she rips your damned heart out. Nothing less than you deserve after that display, you insufferable moron.

She kept her eyes locked on his face as she laced their fingers together. "I didn't mind it..."

No way he just heard that right...but there she was, Just sitting there smiling at him. "You...what?"

Solona looked down for a moment, but seemed to force herself to bring her gaze back up to him. Her expression hardened a bit. Alistair was familiar with that behavior though. It was kind of a defense mechanism for her. She was preparing to get hurt. But Maker, why? Why would she ever think that he would hurt her? "If you meant it, that is."

Alistair felt his hands tighten their grip on her unconsciously. A thousand thoughts flew right into his head all at once again. But this time he stomped them back into place. There was no damn room to mess this up any further. He dragged a small bit of confidence from some dark corner of his mind. With a small breath, he squeezed her hands and looked into her eyes. "Look, I don't know what happened after you left Lothering, or what your life is like now...but I need you to know that I never stopped loving you."

Her jaw dropped open slightly, her eyes welled with tears. As if the roles had suddenly reversed, she began rambling a bit. "I came back to find you. Andraste preserve me, I should have done this sooner. I should have come back right when I knew. I just...please understand, this was not the way I wanted this to happen. "

"Slow down, love, what are you talking about?"

She was damn near shaking now. It was by far the most unnerving thing Alistair had ever witnessed. Solona was always so confident, self-assured, strong. To see her like this...Maker, what could do that?

"I haven't been with anyone since you."

Alistair couldn't help but smile at that. Somehow it seemed equal parts endearing and complimentary to him. She hadn't found anyone to replace him. And Maker knows a woman like her would have all the options she could ask for. But...something didn't add up...He adopted a lighthearted tone, hoping to set her at ease. "Not to sound like I'm judging your life choices or anything but, Ayden's father doesn't count?"

She repeated herself slower this time, keeping her gaze locked on him to watch the moment his reaction showed. "I haven't been with anyone since you..."

He huffed a nervous laugh. "But, uh...wouldn't that mean...?"

"He's yours." There went that practiced stone face again. She couldn't seem to remove the emotion from her eyes this time though. She was very clearly on the verge of tears. "Ayden is your son."