A/N: I'm already at a third chapter... I haven't written in years, but this story is clearly taking shape! And the chapters always end up being so long! Wow! And I'm doing this without a beta. So, I apologize about any errors you may notice.

Also, sorry it is later than usual. I have an essay to work on and this weekend was Canadian Thanksgiving!

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 II :.

"Please, Alistair! You must let me go see it!" Katharyne said loudly, sitting at the large wooden table in the castle's dining hall

Two weeks had passed since her arrival in Denerim. Cailan was still out at sea and Katharyne was settling in her role as queen slowly. After meeting with the royal advisor, Urien Kendells the Arl of Denerim, Katharyne had shifted her attention to helping the people of Ferelden... Starting with Denerim. Upon her arrival in the city, she had noticed how dire the market district had looked and she had only heard rumours about the Elven Alienage's state. Even after a few heavily guarded visits to the Market district, Alistair and the other guards had forbid her to enter the Alienage.

"No, Your Majesty! I've told you before, for the millionth time, it's too dangerous! You never know what could happen while you are there!"

Katharyne sighed, the fact he used her royal title instead of her name stinging. She turned back to her morning meal, poking at the bacon and eggs with her utensils, not feeling too hungry anymore.

"And I've told you before to sit down with me at the table where there is no one else around." She retorted, looking up at him coolly, motioning to the chair next to her where some food laid waiting.

"And I've already told you that I don't feel comfortable about that. You are my..." He paused. "... You are the queen and I'm but a knight. It would not be appropriate." He answered, shifting on his feet.

"... It's an order, Alistair." She said sternly, holding his gaze as she watched him sitting down, pouting slightly.

Katharyne turned back to her meal, hating herself for giving him an order. She sighed as she kept eating, glancing at him. As she watched him eat, she felt warmth spreading in her body. The situation felt strangely domestic, as if they were a normal married couple. She shook that thought from her mind as she always did. She was married to Cailan... wherever he may be. As a married woman, she ought not to think such thoughts.

'But you've loved Alistair for so long...You know you would rather be married to him…'A small voice always whispered in the back of her head. 'You love him... You know you always will...'

"Listen, Katharyne..." He started, snapping her out of her musings. "I mean, Your Majesty... I mean, Katharyne... Ugh…" He sighed, seemingly unsure how to address her, as always.

"Katharyne, I will agree to your going to the Alienage, but only if you wear a blade to your hip and you are accompanied by me. It is my duty to protect you as your bodyguard... and friend. Those are my terms."

Alistair sighed as he saw her face light up. She jumped out of her chair and sauntered over to him happily, hugging him tightly from behind. Alistair coughed lightly on his food, sputtering as he felt her bosom press against the back of his neck and her hair brushing his cheek, engulfing him in her scent.

"Alistair! Thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She said as she kept holding on to him tightly.

"You're... You're very welcome." He replied before she let him go to sit back down and finish her meal.

She finished eating in silence, Alistair noticed, with a large grin plastered on her face. Once her plate was empty, she practically jumped out of her seat and ran out of the large dining hall. Alistair smiled to himself as he saw her leave, to get ready. She truly had not changed. 'Always so full of energy, that woman' He thought to himself as he got up from the table and made his way to the knights' quarters. He changed into his lighter armour before wrapping a maroon woollen cape around his shoulders and strapping his sword to his belt.

He made his way out of the knights' quarters and to the entrance courtyard. He leaned on one of the stone pillars at the bottom of the stairs. He heard the large doors open with a screeching noise. He turned his head around and saw her walking down the large stairs. She was wearing a simple eggshell white dress, a brown leather belt with a dagger holster hanging loosely around her hips and the russet brown woollen travel cape around her shoulders was flapping in the wind. Her chestnut brown hair, tied in a simple plait, was bouncing behind her as she came down the stairs eagerly. He pulled away from the pillar, holding his breath as he observed her. Even dressed in simple clothes that resembled those of a simple citizen, she could take his breath away. But she was the queen now, unattainable... Unavailable.

"Well then, shall we depart?" She asked as she reached the last step, pulling the hood of her cape over her head before fixing her belt and dagger holster.

He nodded and they started making their way out of the courtyard and through the gates. They crossed the wooden bridge over the moat into the cobblestoned palace district.

"You know, I think we should have taken horses to get there faster." Alistair said as they walked past the richer citizens' houses, through the crowds out for their morning shopping.

"No, they're too noticeable. This is much better." She answered, her voice telling him she was sure of herself.

"You really think so? How so?"

"Yes, I really think so! No matter how we are dressed, the horses would have attracted too much attention. Right now, we're incognito… concealed in the crowds. See?" She said as she waved her arms slightly.

"You're right!" He chuckled, as he noticed not one of the citizens in the streets paid them any mind. He noticed none of the citizens travelled about the city by anything other than by foot. Therefore, if they had horses, they would definitely stand out. Katharyne was correct. They looked exactly like any other citizen out for their morning routine.

"You're quite clever, you know?" He added after a few moments before she giggled lightly.

"Did you think I was all looks, Ser?" She asked as she motioned to her face and her curvaceous body. He tried not to look at her bosom and hips as she moved.

"N-No, ma'am..." He replied, laughing lightly. "I know you better than that!"

They kept walking in silence, Katharyne having moved a little bit ahead of him, Alistair's hand reached for the handle of his sword automatically as he kept a careful eye on her. He caught up with her as they arrived at the open gate leading to the poorer districts. He glanced over as they started walking once more, Katharyne twisting and turning to look around. He noticed her brows were furrowed seriously and he chuckled to himself. Alistair knew that face. It was the face she would make when thinking. He knew then, that she was making mental notes of her surroundings.

"Repairs and improvements still need to be made in so many places… This is unbelievable! Even after I told the council about it…" He heard her whisper.

As they walked, Alistair noticed for the first time how very few guards were patrolling the market district. It had never been his patrol area and while Katharyne had visited the district a few times, they always had more protection than normal. Knowing it was a dangerous area, he also made a mental note to mention to Sergeant Kylon about increasing the guards' presence.

They finally arrived at the large gates leading to the Alienage, after taking the long way around through the market district and avoiding any potential cutpurse.

"Halt! Who goes there?" The guard in front of the large gates stopped them. Alistair smiled, recognizing his good friend Ser Jamie's voice behind the helmet.

"Ser Jamie! It is I, Alistair." He said as he removed his own hood. "I'm here, escorting Her Majesty to the Alienage. I had discussed it with you previously, do you remember?"

"Oh! Yes, of course! You have changed your mind, it seems!" He exclaimed, opening his helmet's visor as he turned towards Katharyne. "Please accept my apologies, Your Majesty." He bowed slightly

"It is no trouble, Ser Jaime. I understand you are simply doing your duty as the Alienage's guard. Could you open the gates for us? I am eager to meet with the elves" She responded calmly, a smile upon her face.

"Yes, ma'am! Right away!" He exclaimed as he shuffled over to the mechanism.

He pulled down a lever and the gate started rising with a loud screeching noise. Both of them cringed as the creaky and rusted gate opened slowly. Once it reached the top, Ser Jaime pushed the lever in and motioned for them that it was safe to go through. They made their way under the large gates and down the steps leading to the Alienage. They then crossed a stone bridge that covered a relatively stagnant body of water.

As they walked further in, Alistair noticed many of the elves were looking at them intently, a mistrustful look in their eyes. They seemed very haggard and he didn't sense any danger, but Alistair kept a hand on the hilt of his sword.

"This is… worse than I ever expected…" He heard Katharyne whisper in a small voice.

He was suddenly very aware of what his surroundings looked like. Most of the houses, if that's what they could be called, were barely standing. They were pieces of wood strewn together to create some living space. Dwellings were stacked and pilled on top of each other, going up a few stories and connected by seemingly rotting pieces of wood. The elves were clearly living in an unimaginable squalor, all over each other. Such an area was clearly too small and not designed to contain the hundreds of thousands of elves living there.

"I didn't know it was this horrible… This is so unlike Highever's Alienage… Sarethia and Father would never have allowed something like this" Katharyne was saying to herself. "At least their Vhenadahl is in great shape" She added sadly as they approached the large decorated oak tree in the middle of the area. He saw the large roots were deep in the earth, its branches reaching up to the hazy sky.

"What's a Vhenadahl?" Alistair asked, curious to know.

"Vhenadahl is 'the tree of the people'. It's a symbol of Arlathan, the first elven homeland and the capital of the Elvehenan. Every Alienage is supposed to have one." Katharyne answered as she gently ran her delicate fingers on the large tree's trunk.

"You know much about elven culture, asha." Alistair heard a voice say behind him as he was looking at Katharyne. They both turned to come face to face with a red-haired elf wearing tattered clothes. Her hazel eyes were looking at Katharyne suspiciously.

"Yes, I studied much of it while I was a student atー"

"It doesn't matter where you've learned about us! What are you doing here? What do you want, shem?" The elven woman said disdainfully.

"How dare you speak such words to Her Majesty, the Queen?" Alistair hissed as he heard the slur, his trembling hands reaching for his sword.

"Hush, Alistair…" He felt Katharyne's hand on his shoulder and he relaxed.

"You're… You're truly the…?" The elf said, her eyes stricken with fear.

"Yes, my name is Katharyne, Queen of Ferelden…" Katharyne replied as she showed the elf a new piece of silver with her likeness on it. She had a gentle look in her eyes as she turned to the elf who bowed lowly. "Oh, no! Please don't bow! Can you tell me where I may find your Hahren, ehm… I'm sorry, I did not catch your name…"

"Shianni! I am Shianni, Your Majesty! Our hahren is currently at home. I can go fetch him if you would like…"

"Yes, that would be lovely, Shianni. Thank you." Katharyne replied as the elf ran off.

The young elf named Shianni returned within a few moments, followed by an intimidating old elf. His medium-length white hair was tucked behind his pointed ears except for two small braids that framed his weathered features. He approached solemnly and bowed to Katharyne as he stopped.

"Andaran atish'an, your Majesty. I am Valendrian, the hahren of this Alienage. What can our meager Alienage do for you?"

"Good day, Valendrian. As the leader of this community, I wanted to formally introduce myself to you. I am Katharyne, wife to King Cailan and Queen of Ferelden." She responded with a small respective bow to the elder elf who seemed taken aback.

"I must admit that I am surprised, Your Majesty. You are the first queen of this city who would willingly walk in our Alienage to introduce herself. I was told you were knowledgeable in our culture?"

"Yes, ser." She responded with a small nod, smiling.

"Ser, she says! How proper!" He exclaimed, smiling widely. "Where did you learn about our culture? Pray tell!"

"I have always been fascinated by elven culture, ever since I first stepped into the Alienage in Highever. I also studied the culture much more in detail at the University of Orlais, two years past."

"I would be lying if I said I am not impressed! What can I do for you then? Aside from your formal introduction, I imagine you had another reason to come to our Alienage…?" He asked.

"If I am being completely honest, I came to assess the situation in your Alienage so that we can improve the elves' living." She admitted, shuffling her feet lightly, smiling as she motioned to the alienage. Alistair saw the elder's eyebrows shoot up in surprise, the young red-haired elf also looking at Katharyne in disbelief.

"This must be a farce! You jest, surely!" The older elf started saying, shaking his head.

"I assure you, I am being completely serious" Katharyne replied. "I intend on improving your living quarters and your lives in the city for the better.

The elves were both looking at her in disbelief, seemingly unsure as to what to think. The wind blew gently around them as they seemed to register what she was saying.

"Well well well… What have we here?" A male voice said loudly, resonating in the Alienage's centre.
"A man and a woman, huh? You both look human, are you elf-blooded perhaps? You should not be here… the Alienage is closed to humans."

Alistair turned around and recognized the man at once as Vaughan Kendells, the heir to the arling of Denerim. He stood near the path leading to the back entrance of the Alienage, accompanied by his sycophantic friends, a sneer on his face.

"This does not concern you, citizen. Go back to the other districts, the Alienage is closed… as you said." Katharyne said sternly, noticing in the corner of his eye that she had also turned to face the new arrival.

Vaughan laughed loudly, a raspy laugh full of disdain. "Look at this woman, lads! Thinking she can order us around! What a feisty one!" He said, his friends also laughing loudly. "Now you listen to me, woman. I am the Arl's son, so I will do as I please. This Alienage and its inhabitants are my subjects and I can do what I please. Understood?"

"And I am asking you to leave, ser." Katharyne responded calmly, her eyes transfixed on Vaughan as she watched him approach. Alistair made to move in front of her, but he felt her hand resting on his as she threw him a glance so he would stand down.

'She must have a plan! That has to be it... She wouldn't put herself in danger, right?'Alistair thought to him as she moved to stand in front of him and the two elves.

Alistair saw a lecherous look in Vaughan's and his friends' eyes as their stares trailed down from her décolleté to her hips. "What would you do to make me leave, lass? Maybe I'll take you instead of an elf!" He chortled as he stopped in front of her, still eyeing her up and down.

"If you leave peacefully, as I have asked, I will not tell the authorities you were here." She answered him firmly, holding his stare. Before Alistair even had time to react, Vaughan grabbed Katharyne's arm and slammed her on the closest wall, pining one of her shoulders against the plaster covered stone. Alistair saw Katharyne tried to wriggle out of his grasp, her face still unfazed but Vaughan simply tightened his grip on her shoulder.

"Maybe I'll just take you here... in front of everyone." He said, licking his lips.

"I suggest you take your hand off of me" Katharyne said calmly, holding his gaze.

"Or what, sweetheart?" Vaughan asked, his voice thick with lust as he rested a hand on her breast.

Alistair, watching from the side, could feel his blood boiling as he saw the man's hand resting on her breast. He reached for his sword, but did not move as to not endanger her. In a flash of silver light, Alistair suddenly saw Katharyne's dagger hovering right above Vaughan's crotch.

"Or I'll remove those precious parts between your legs and throw them to the dogs." Katharyne said, glaring harshly at him.

"Who are you?" Vaughan asked, seething.

"I am the Queen of Ferelden. Now, you better let me go... Or my companion here will throw you in Fort Drakon."

"Y-Your Majesty?! I apologize... I did not know it was you!" Vaughan bowed down profusely, "I didn't think I would find you inー"

"Silence! You are Urien Kendells' son Vaughan, are you not? Or so you claimed... How dare you come in here and treat the elves the way I saw today? This is clearly not the first time you are here... And touching the Queen so inappropriately as well? I could have you thrown into Fort Drakon and remove your title. What would your father say, hm? I wonder..." Katharyne said, as she put her dagger away, glaring at him.

"Please... Please ma'am... It won't happen again...I..." Vaughan was whispering, clearly afraid of what could happen to him.

"I have decided that from now on, you are forbidden to enter this Alienage. If I hear that you have stepped but one foot inside, I will have you thrown into Fort Drakon and remove those parts myself. Women and elves are not your playthings! Is that understood?"

Vaughan nodded vigorously, staring at the ground in fear.

"I intend on renovating this Alienage. I now decree, in front of witnesses that you are to help with anything that might be needed during said repairs. That time will be the one and only chance for you to redeem yourself. If I hear it is unsatisfactory, I will tell your father about your excursions into the Alienage. Are we clear?"

"Yes, your Majesty!" Vaughan said, bowing once more.

"Now, get out of here!"

Vaughan was not told twice, running out of the Alienage, followed by his friends. Katharyne, her fearlessness only reinforcing his feelings for her, truly impressed Alistair. She was not only a pretty face; she was a smart and resourceful woman who was able to keep her cool under difficult situations.

After Vaughan had run off, a small crowd of elves had started gathering in a circle around them. He watched her turning back to the elder and walking back towards him.

"First thing I will implement is to increase security for the elves' safety." Katharyne said. "I will increase the amount of guard patrols in and out of the Alienage.

"Thank you, ma'am." Valendrian bowed lowly.

"Second, I would like to have a representative of your choosing from the Alienage at court. So that elves may have a voice of their own at the castle."

Both Valendrian and Alistair were taken aback by her request. The elder elf nodded greatly as he looked around the gathered crowd of elves.

"This is... an honour, thank you. I pick Shianni as our representative. She is well-known in our community and I know she will represent us properly and fairly."

Shianni, nodded before she bowed down to both her elder and Katharyne.

"Shianni, please gather any personal effects you wish to bring, as you will have your own quarters at the castle. We leave as soon as you are ready, so please take your time." Katharyne said gently as she faced the elf.

"Wait... Will I come back?" The girl asked worriedly.

"Oh, yes! You will have freedom of passage between any of the districts and the Alienage. My first thought for change is to keep the gates open. Elves will be free to wander around Denerim and no longer confined to the Alienage. As it is in Highever, so shall it be here."

Shianni nodded, smiling widely as she crossed through the crowd to go gather her personal belongings. Katharyne then turned to the elder once more.

"I will also amend our laws, so that elves no longer have to beg or work in a human household. Elves will be free to take up any trade they desire, marry whoever they so wish."

The crowd cheered loudly and Valendrian bowed down low after she was finished.

"Ma serannas, Your Majesty. Many thanks!"

"Since I cannot always come to the Alienage, Shianni will act as a liaison on my behalf. So, please look forward to any news in the near future. Once my king husband returns, I will ensure the news laws are passed."

They left the Alienage as soon as Shianni was ready. Alistair was walking, a hand on the hilt of his sword, behind Katharyne as she spoke to Shianni as if they had been the best of friends since childhood. The elf was slowly warming up to Katharyne, he noticed, as she let Katharyne link their arms together as they walked and laughed.

He smiled to himself; having witnessed an entirely new side to the woman he loved. Alistair knew she was kind, but improving the elves' lives was kindness like he never seen before. Most people did not care for the elves' lives. He hoped her ideas were a sign of great change.


A/N: As always, thank you for reading! I also like reviews, no matter how small! If there's anything you don't like in this story or if you have any guesses as to what's going to happen... Let me know!