Chapter 16 = = On Unwanted Advice

Suddenly she heard Leliana. "Wake up, sleepyhead, it is almost time for supper!"

She sat up, rubbing her eyes. "It can't be. I just laid down."

"Oui! Three candles ago. You needed the sleep I think, yes?"

"Apparently. Is there a dress code for dinner?"

"When a lady is having dinner anywhere but her own apartments, there is always a dress code."

Emmalynn fell back against the pillow groaning. "Is it too late for me to oversleep?"

"Nonsense. Come."

"Leliana, why do you always care what I'm wearing?"

Leliana smiled enigmatically. "You'll see."

Emmalynn braided her hair. Leliana had given her a deep purple kirtle and white chemise, without telling her how she had obtained them. Fully dressed, she and Leliana left together to join their companions at dinner.

Teagan and the Arlessa were not there yet. However, Alistair was standing with Aedan, Surana, and Zevran having pre-dinner drinks. Wynne was already seated. Sten and Morrigan rarely liked stepping foot in the castle and were elesewhere.

All four men were well-dressed. Zevran was wearing black leather pants and boots, and a black tunic. Surana was wearing coat and trousers as was Aedan.

But it was Alistair that held Emmalynn's attention. He was wearing dark gray trousers, black leather boots and a velvet over tunic the color of fresh blackberries. I owe Leliana big time for this dress!

Seeing Emmalynn look at Alistair, she grinned. "Now, aren't you happy that I cared about what you wore. Wait here." She whispered before leaving her side to go and talk with Aedan.

Alistair turned to see who had arrived. When he saw Emmalynn he grinned, excused himself and quickly went to her. He took her hand in his and kissed it. "You look especially lovely." He whispered.

Pink cheeked, she nodded. "Thank you, Ali. You look very regal."

Alistair escorted her back to the group.

Surana grinned and held up his glass to Emmalynn. "I take it you won't be drinking brandy tonight?"

Alistair chuckled.

"You know, too?"

Alistair nodded as he slipped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, kissing her on the cheek he whispered, "You are adorable when you blush."

The Arlessa was taking her dinner in her bedchamber and sent her regrets through Teagan. The mood in the room lighted appreciably at the news of the Arlessa's absence.

~oOOo~

Aedan decided to stay an extra day in Redcliffe so they could provision for the cold of the Frostbacks, and make sure the horses were shod appropriately for the trip.

After the midday meal, Wynne asked Emmalynn, "Would you come to my room and sit for a minute? I would like to talk with you."

Once they were in Wynne's room, Emmalynn sat down. "You look worried. What's wrong?"

"Child, I can see how you are with Alistair and I'm concerned. Remember, you'll have to go back to the Circle at some point. I would hate to see you or the young man hurt when that happens."

Emmalynn looked crestfallen.

Wynne sighed. "Then you have already developed feelings for each other?"

Emmalynn slowly nodded, tears welling in her eyes.

"If you care about him, Emmalynn, you have to let him go. You are a mage of the Circle. Even if you weren't, he is Bann Teagan's heir. He cannot marry you as any children you have could be mages. He deserves someone he can have a future with."

Emmalynn slowly stood. She went to the wash basin and use a damp cloth to cool her irritated eyes, after taking several deep breaths she turned to Wynne. "I'm going to take a walk. Please don't say anything to Alistair."

"I'm sorry to be the bearer of such news. But I felt I needed to say it."

"I know, Wynne. You reminded me of my responsibilities, which I was foolish to forget." She left the room.

Deciding to go to the stables, she stopped by the larder to grab an apple.

When she arrived, Molly was being readied for grooming. "Liam, is it alright if I groom her?"

"Go right ahead, my lady, it means I get my tea that much earlier."

Emma stroked the mare's nose and held out the apple. "Here's a treat for you." The mare delicately ate the apple from Emmalynn's hand. "Good girl." She opened the stall and led Molly to the grooming area. "I will focus on you leannán, so I can forget about my worries for a while."

Focusing on the horse'a comfort – picking her hooves, brushing her body, carefully cleaning her eyes and nose, and combing her mane and tail – also soothed Emmalynn.

After leading the horse back to her stall, she washed her own face and hands then returned to the stall to double-check that everything was secured when she heard, "Emma are you in here?"

It's Alistair. For a moment she was tempted not to answer. Best to deal with it now. "I'm here by Molly's stall."

"I was worried when you weren't at dinner."

"I must have lost track of time." Emmalynn turned towards the horse, unable to meet Alistair's eyes. "I gave Molly a good grooming. Didn't I girl?"

Molly whiffled.

"Emma, Wynne told me what she said to you."

Emma tried to hold back her tears. Of course she did. I seem to have forgotten that Wynne doesn't tend to keep quiet if it conflicts with her advice! "Then you know why we cannot not take our relationship any further."

"I know what she said, but I don't agree with her…do you?"

The tears began to spill, and her voice was strained. "Alistair, I am a Circle mage. At best I'm on loan."

"Emma, please turn around and look at me."

She turned. "What will happen when they send me back? You can't join me. Where will that leave you? Alistair, you are such a kind, wonderful person…an honorable man. You need to be free to love someone you can marry and have a family with. And you need to be the heir your father will need. None of that is possible with me. I can only give you heartbreak."

He cupped her face in his hands and used his thumbs to brush tears away from her pale cheeks. "Emma, none of that matters to me. You matter to me. Do you want to go back to the circle?"

She remained silent.

"Emma, if we could be together would you want to go back to the circle?"

Looking into his eyes, she practically whispered. "No, but I don't have a choice."

He embraced her, resting her head against his shoulder. "You don't know that, for sure, perhaps working with the wardens will help get you released from the circle. Besides even if it didn't we can still be together.''

She pulled back to look at him. "Alistair, you can't tie yourself to an apostate!"

"Yes, I can. We can go to Rivain where having magic isn't a problem."

"You cannot just up and leave your father and your home."

"My father would understand. Besides, home is with you."

"Alistair—"

He pulled her close again. "Emma, please give me…give us a chance. I love you."

Tears of hope replaced the bitter tears of heartbreak as she looked at her knight. "I love you, too. It seems I cannot say no to you."

He kissed Emma until they were both breathless. Placing his forehead against hers. "Emma," he murmured, "I want to hold you in my arms and never let you go."

"I feel the same way."

~oOOo~

At breakfast the following morning everyone could tell that the couple's relationship had grown deeper.

Wynne frowned and when they were getting ready to leave, she said, "I hope you know what you're doing."

"Wynne, tomorrow Alistair or I could die at the hands of Darkspawn or any one of the other dangers we have encountered. He knows the risks as do I. We are going into this with our eyes open. If we get hurt, it will be no one's fault but our own."

Wynne nodded. "Be safe, child."

AN: Thanks to my beta ElyssaCousland!