A/N: In celebration of the story's new cover picture, here's another chapter ahead of schedule! I'm going to try and update every week. So, this chapter, at some point, will switch between two POVs… I never really write in more than one POV in one chapter so this is waaay different for me and I'll try to keep it that way. It's better to get out of your comfort zone for stuff like this, right? Right!

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: The characters and locations don't belong to me; they belong to Bioware and EA and I'm simply using them to fuel this thing called my muse.


.: CHAPTER I :.

She arrived in Denerim, trying her best to stay incognito, but a citizen noticed the Highever heraldic emblem on her carriage, the two green spears crossed in front of the pale green raindrop radiant in the sun. He approached them and peeked inside before he started cheering.

"It's the future queen! Our queen is here!" He exclaimed, attracting the attention of other citizens.

They all started cheering for her and Katharyne, unsure as to what to do, started to wave at them lightly. Her gestures resulted in much louder cheers from the crowd and she immediately regretted it. The carriage went up the main hill, through the poorer districts and then in the richer palace district before making its way all the way up and across the moat. Two guards stopped the crowd right before it too crossed the moat, and the heavy iron gate closed behind the carriage, subsiding the clamour of the crowd. The horses stopped in the large courtyard and Katharyne noticed servants and guards were gathered in a line to greet her. A footman approached the carriage hastily and opened the door.

Katharyne patted her flyaway hairs down before she stood up and climbed out of the small carriage. The footman extended his hand and helped her down the two rickety steps, Adahari not far behind. When she was finally on solid ground, she brushed away the small creases in her dress with delicate fingers.

"Good day, my lady! And welcome back to Denerim!" A knight clad in silver heavy armour said as he approached her, bowing down once he was facing her. "I am sergeant Kylon, the acting captain of the guard and, until my colleague Ser Martyn returns, head of the Royal Household"

Katharyne curtseyed politely in response. "Good day, sir. What do you mean you are the 'acting' captain? Where is Ser Martyn? And what about my future husband, Cailan? In our last correspondence, he promised he would greet me upon my arrival."

"I must apologize on behalf of His Majesty, my lady. A fleet of some of the most dreadful pirates from Rivain were sighted off the coast not two days past. As our king and leader of the navy, His Majesty decided to leave the city promptly to fend off the pirates and possibly eradicate them once and for all. He has asked me to apologize for him as he is deeply saddened about missing his queen's arrival." Sergeant Kylon responded solemnly.

Katharyne sighed, she was not surprised in the least by the reason her betrothed was not there to greet her. It was so typical of Cailan to go look for glory at sea or on a battlefield instead of delegating such duties to admirals or generals.

"I understand. Do you have an idea as to when His Majesty will return? I am eager to get the wedding underway..." Katharyne asked, feeling as if her stomach was twisted into knots.

"Unfortunately, I am not aware as to when His Majesty will return, since a voyage at sea is oftentimes unpredictable..." Kylon replied. "Therefore, His Majesty has requested that you are to say your vows to the Maker separately so that the public ceremony and consummation of the marriage may occur when he returns. His Majesty has already done so before leaving at sea."

Katharyne was taken aback by the situation. They were to say their vows separately? She had heard it was frequent practice with the Ferelden common folk, but the last occurrence in a noble household had been centuries ago. If they were to say their vows separately, she would become the queen of Ferelden, albeit without the king there to support her. That could not be the reason, right? It could not be, she wasn't ready to be thrown in this role alone.

"Why would His Majesty request this? This is a highly unlikely situation in a noble household... I could wait for his return... " She asked Kylon as they started walking, making their way up the steps leading to the castle's large doors.

"Before his departure, His Majesty explained to me that since he was unsure when he would return, he wants to ensure that you rule in his place until his return. He explained he did not want to leave the throne empty for long." Kylon responded, leading her inside after guards opened the large doors.

"However, he made the decision of the separate vows since he feared our advisors and common populace would not respect any decisions you would make in his place. Until you are married in the eyes of the Maker, you are not our true queen."

Katharyne sighed, her fears coming true. "I understand. Where will this vows ceremony take place? And when exactly? I am eager to get this done... and out of my mind." She asked as they walked through the castle's entrance hall.

"As soon as you are ready, my lady, we will be making our way to the castle's chantry. If you would like to change, I can arrange for you to be guided to your new quarters." Kylon answered promptly with a small bow.

"I… I don't need to change. Let us go at once… " She replied, sighing to herself. Kylon acquiesced and led her down to the left and through the long corridor to the castle's private chantry. As she walked in the large room with domed ceilings, she drew in a small breath. The midday sun was filtering through the stained-glass windows, creating a rose and gold glow in the small hall. She approached the grand cleric Elemena, with Kylon and Adahari as her witnesses. Staring at the large marble statue of Andraste behind the main altar and her hand resting on a beautifully illuminated copy of the Chant of Light, she uttered her vows.

The cleric slipped a small silver band on her left hand as soon as she finished, the cleric proclaiming her Queen of Ferelden. The simple ring was a temporary one until the King returned, Kylon explained as he guided her out of the chantry and down some corridors to her new quarters. He showed her to a small ornately decorated antechamber whose large dark wood doors led to a large richly decorated bedroom. The bedroom's wall facing the door had large ceiling-high windows that looked over the bay leading out to the Amaranthine Ocean. The glass double doors leading to the balcony were open, letting a light breeze in and making the sheer white curtains curl and flutter lazily. Her eyes trailed to the gilded chandelier hanging in the middle of the high stone vaulted ceiling, before looking at the large lightly coloured tapestries hanging on the stone walls.

"Now, your Majesty…" Kylon started, startling Katharyne out of her reverie by using her new title. "If there is anything you need, please address any maids or servants. We have arranged for your personal servant, Adahari, to stay in Denerim until a fortnight. As well, please be aware that your personal bodyguard will come and introduce himself later today once he returns from his last patrol of the castle's walls. He has been charged with your safety by His Majesty himself."

"Thank you, Ser Kylon" Katharyne replied as he bowed. He looked back at her anxiously, glancing between her and the doors leading back to the castle's corridor. "Ser Kylon? Is there anything else?" She asked.

"As per our ways, I may not take my leave until you say so, ma'am" He replied calmly.

Katharyne wanted to slap herself for forgetting.

"Oh! Yes, of course! Ser Kylon, you may take your leave. Thank you for everything" She replied before he bowed politely and headed out of the door.

Katharyne turned her attention back to her quarters. She looked at the large canopy bed pushed to the wall to the right of the door. It was a dark brown wood, its headboard beautifully carved with traditional Fereldan fauna and flora. She trailed her hand on the closest tall bedposts, running her fingers on the carved coiled vines. Her hands then trailed to the bed's white brocade curtains and the soft wool bedding, her hands tracing the rose brocade of the top cover. She sat down on the feather mattress and jumped slightly a few times, welcoming the softness of the mattress. She sighed, thinking about the dreaded nights that were to come, shivering as she thought of Cailan and her duty as his wife and queen. The man was handsome, yes...

"But it's not him..." She whispered, resting her head on the closest of the bedposts before she hopped off of the bed and walked to the marble vanity on the other side of the room, her footsteps muffled by the plush carpet laid on the stone floor. Pulling the brocaded chair out, she sat down in front of the mirror, reaching her hands up to undo her hair. She unpinned the hair before slowly undoing her plaits, letting her hair fall down her back in soft curls. She was running her fingers through her hair gently when she suddenly heard a knock at the door.

Taking a breath in, she used her most commanding voice. "Come in."

Standing in the antechamber, he fidgeted nervously, facing the large oaken doors he knew she was behind. It took him all his courage to knock, having almost half a mind to spin on his heels and walk away before he heard her voice faintly through the thick doors.

He took a large breath and opened the doors slowly entering the room, his armour making small noises as he walked. He brushed a hand in his hair nervously as he walked through. He turned to close the door before spinning around once it was closed firmly. He could only see her reflection in the mirror and he drew a breath in. She could still take his breath away after all those years apart. He approached gradually, watching her, as she had evidently not noticed him yet. Her brown hair was cascading down her back in curly tresses blowing gently in the wind. He stopped behind her.

"Hello, Katharyne..."

No, it was impossible. It couldn't be. Katharyne froze as she heard the familiar voice. The voice she thought she would never hear again. She looked in the mirror and saw his reflection staring at her. This had to be a dream, she was certain. She turned around slowly and saw him standing there, shuffling his feet lightly.

"Alistair...?" She whispered weakly, as she felt her bottom lip quivering.

He was looking at her intently, remembering the girl he had kissed so briefly in his seventeenth year. The woman he had loved for so long... the woman who was now the Queen he was supposed to protect and his half-brother's wife. Her mint green eyes were transfixed on him, her lashes quivering, and her gaze seemingly boring into his soul. His eyes trailed to her quivering lips, the ones he remembered so fondly.

"I-Is it really you...?" She whispered once more before he nodded lightly.

Alistair had barely any time to react before he felt her small frame buried in his chest, her arms wrapped around his midriff. His arms instinctively wrapped around her and he could feel her shoulders shaking. She was sobbing in his arms but he couldn't tell exactly why she was crying. Unsure as to what to do and disregarding a proper knights' etiquette, he kept hugging her, running his hand up and down her back to soothe her.

After a little while, Katharyne finally calmed down enough to stop sobbing. She looked up to Alistair who wiped some of the tears from her cheeks with the pad of his rugged thumbs. She let out a soft giggle, which made his heart melt.

"I must apologize. This is truly no way for a queen to act..." She said, smiling.

"A... A Queen! Right! That's what you are now!" He said before pulling away from her, trying to keep his distance.

"Alistair?" She whispered meekly.

"I apologise, your Majesty. My actions were not... appropriate in the least." He bowed down, the title escaping his lips making Katharyne's stomach twist into knots.

"Please... Alistair. I'm still Katharyne, your... friend." She paused at the word usage. Were they more than friends? "We have known each other for ten years... I am already hearing that title from everyone else, so please, please just use my name when we're alone... Please... " She whispered, looking down at her feet.

"Is this an order, ma'am?" He asked her, his sharp voice sending a shiver down her spine.

"N-No... Please... It's a request as your long time... friend." She paused at the word once more, twisting her hands together. She looked up as he didn't respond right away, a slightly hurt expression in her eyes.

"Alright, I'll do so, as your... friend." He replied, hesitating as well.

"I thought I wouldn't see you again... Not after you... Not after you left." She said as she led him to the seating area near the windows. She patted one of the armchairs to remove any dust before she sat down on it, brushing her fingers over her skirt to smooth it out before motioning for him to sit down as well. Alistair sat down on the armchair facing hers, his back to the bed.

"Yes, well... Neither did I. I was..." He hesitated. "sent back to Redcliffe on Arl Eamon's request."

"But what are you doing back in Denerim? And at the castle? Arl Eamon has his own estate, so I would think you would be there as well! Why aren't you at his side? Were you called back at the castle? Why? I never even saw you at court when Arl Eamon was in Highever and Denerim, why is that?" Katharyne asked him all at once.

"Oh, how I've missed your incessant questions..." He chuckled lightly. "Under... Lady Isolde's decision, I was sent back to Denerim this past winter." He answered.

"I see... Say, Alistair... May I ask you something that has been worrying me for a while?" She hesitated after he nodded "Why didn't you answer any of my letters? I sent you one every two months during our seventeenth and eighteenth years and... And after I found out you had gone to Redcliffe, I still sent you one there every six months... Yet, I never received a reply from you. I thought something terrible had fallen upon you, so I stopped sending you letters altogether this year past." She asked, keeping her gaze on him.

Alistair sighed, knowing this question would arise eventually. However, he did not expect it to be so soon after her arrival. He held her gaze, thinking back to the last few years. He had received all her letters, albeit unsure about what to write back in that first year as he had tried to get her out of his mind… to no avail. He had cherished all of her letters, but he would never admit to her he still kept all of them under his bunk, tracing her fine script lightly with his fingers and reading the letters over and over again.

"I apologise for not replying... However, I must admit I am surprised. I did send a reply to your last few letters... Did you not receive them?" He asked, furrowing his brow.

"No, no I did not... " She sighed, "I suppose my father might have intercepted them... I think it would explain many things…"

Alistair felt a tug at his heart, watching the woman's emotions shift from conflicted to sorrow. She stared down at her hands, twisting her fingers nervously.

"How was your journey to Denerim?" He asked, trying to change the subject.

"Oh, it was all right. We took the Waking Sea road this time, instead of the Imperial Highway, which was much quicker. We only had rain for one day" She answered, looking up at him and smiling lightly.

"That's good." He smiled as well.

"Say, Alistair? Do you know who my personal bodyguard will be? I was told by Ser Kylon he was chosen by King Cailan himself. Is it Ser Jaime? Ser Ethan? No? Maybe Ser Rowland? No? Are you sure? Could it be Ser Arthur? He was always a good warrior and was always kind to me." She asked him, listing names as he shook his head 'no' to each one.

"In actuality, your personal bodyguard is me, as per the personal request of His Majesty King Cailan." He replied as she gasped, a hand on her mouth.

"Y-You?" She whispered. "Why you?" She asked meekly as he shrugged.

"I am not aware of the specific reason. As soon as the day of your arrival was decided, he sent for me. I was already part of his own personal guard and he requested this of me." He lied.

'A Theirin must always protect his wife... My lady Katharyne and yourself were close once, were you not?' 'I saw you kiss her, three years past... I will not mention it anymore, but you did, did you not? I could have you thrown in jail... Instead, as her 'friend', a knight of this realm and as my... half-brother, I want you to protect her in my place. She will trust you more than any other knight, so you make her life here as comfortable as it can be...'Alistair remembered Cailan saying to him coolly on the day of the request.

"But why? What did he say, exactly? Does he know how much we… we were close? Does he?" Katharyne asked him, he noticed a worried look appear upon her face.

"He… He just knows that we were friends." He lied once more, not wanting to cause her grief.

"So, he picked you only because we are friends...?" She eyed him suspiciously.

"Yes, he said that I was to make your life as comfortable as it can be. Since I'm a familiar face, I suppose..." Alistair finished explaining, watching her.

"I see..." She responded, nodding her head lightly as she played with her long hair. He watched her delicate fingers run through her brown locks, braiding, twisting and untwisting them, as she seemed deep in thought.

Alistair observed her in silence, his thoughts roaming as he wondered what her hair would feel like between his fingers, her fingers locked with his as her lips would meet his. He blinked a few times as he realised what he was thinking. She was the queen of Ferelden now; it was not appropriate to contemplate such thoughts.

"Listen, Katharyne... I'm speaking to you as a friend here. I know you may not love him, but His Majesty cares for you greatly." He said, a grave tone in his voice.

"I know..." She whispered, avoiding his gaze.

"And one day... You'll learn to care... and..." Alistair sighed, feeling tense in his heart as he spoke, "And maybe love him as well." He finished, fisting his right hand at the thought, his knuckles turning white.

"That will never happen..." He heard her whisper before she turned her attention back to the bay outside her windows.


I'm sure you realised by now, but I have taken some liberties with describing the castle and its surroundings, as we barely see it in the original game. Some things are obviously different as well, like the clothes and hair. The ones in the original game were... ugly. Alistair's glorious hair is obviously unchanged.

Anyways, if you wish, you can see the picture in a larger size, send me a PM!

Reviews, comments, follows, anything is appreciated! Thank you for reading!