Chapter 3
It was impossible to look away from her face. After such destruction, it was so fascinating to see such a magnificent being standing there. Elaine stood before Alistair, in a dress as white as an angel's wings, her golden hair wrapping around her neck, falling down past her waist. Blinking, Alistair moved towards her, a blind smile on his face. He grabbed Elaine's outstretched hands, interlacing his fingers with hers. They shared a long, intimate stare, before she took Alistair's hands fully in hers and moved them towards her stomach.
Confused, Alistair looked down, his eyebrows crumbled together, to find himself staring at a pregnant belly. He looked up at Elaine, who had a sad look on her face. "Alistair, what if it's true?" Her voice was like a wisp in the wind.
Suddenly, she let out a gasp and crippled over onto the floor. A substance as red as a demon's eyes began spreading throughout her dress, pouring down onto the floor. Alistair stood in shock, watching as blood seemed to pour out of every pore on her body, creating a pool around her. Blood splashed onto his face, as he threw himself to the floor, clutching Elaine. He pet her hair which was now soaked with the sickly colour. But Elaine flopped like a doll, dead.
"No. Not again." He sobbed into the crook of her neck uncontrollably, but the sound was drowned out by the sudden wailing sound of a baby crying.
Gasping for breathe Alistair awoke, his body shaking and covered in sweat. It was the same dream that had riddled Alistair for the past week. Every aspect, every colour, every tone was the exact same. Wiping his face Alistair sat up in the bed, letting the sheet fall off of him. Taking his hand, he felt his heart pounding in his chest. It felt like at any moment it might explode right outside of his body. Collapsing back into the bed, he thought about Elaine laying in the bed across the hallway, unmoving. Alistair swallowed hard, forcing himself to push the tears forming in his eyes back.
A knock came from the door, and then a voice with a thick accent began speaking. "Alistair. Alistair wake up." Their voice was urgent.
Rolling out the bed, Alistair rushed to the pile of clothes sitting near the corner. Grabbing a pair of leather pants, he stumbled to the door while putting them on. He threw the door open, and outside stood Leliana.
"Really?" Alistair asked, as he finished pulling up the top of his pants. She had barely nodded when Alistair pushed past her and began running down the hallway, bare feet and bare chest.
Alistair's heart continued to pound, perhaps even harder then it had been several moments before. This is what he had been waiting for, what he had suffered all the realistic nightmares and sleepless nights for. Just a glimpse of her.
At the end of the hall stood merely one healer, in a simple gown. She had a small smile on her face as Alistair stopped in front of her. "She awoke last night. We waited till now to tell you. But she seems fine." Alistair became impatient, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
"Don't rush her though, she will be groggy. I'll be out here if she needs anything yes?" Alistair nodded quickly, all he wanted to do was burst through those doors but he knew that he needed to be collected.
Twisting the door knob, Alistair entered the room and shut the door behind him quietly. Turning around slowly, he found himself staring Elaine, who was propped up by pillows.
She looked tiny without all her huge armor on, and seemed to be swimming in the huge bed. She had her eyes closed, and head tilted back on the pillows, her breaths long and deep.
Moving towards the side of the bed, Alistair sat down on the edge of the bed, not able to take his eyes off of her face. A new scar had been added to her what seemed to be never ending collection, that went along her jawline. But the rest of her seemed fine, almost radiant, though he could only imagine how poorly she felt inside.
With another long deep breath, Elaine opened her eyes, one at a time. She blinked once more before turning to Alistair, a small smile on her face. "Hi love." She barely breathed the word.
Alistair let out a sound of happiness, he had waited for what seemed like eternity to hear her voice again. "Hello."
Elaine outstretched her hand to him, and he took it in his hands, clasping them together. He kissed the back of her hand, which seemed slightly more boney then usual. "How are you feeling?"
"I haven't felt this good since before Ostragar." Elaine wiped her eyes with her free hand, trying to wake herself up. "You on the other hand?" She eyed the bruises that littered his chest, and the bandage around his left shoulder.
Alistair looked down to the bandage. "I'm fine, it's just a scratch really." He said it with a cheeky smile on his face.
"Uh huh." She said sarcastically, making Alistair laugh silently.
"It's barely been two minutes and we are already bringing out the dry wit and sarcasm then?" He winked at her, before turning serious again. "But really, you're okay?"
"Yes Alistair. They did a lot for me. But I'd be a lot better if you stopped being a visitor in a clinic and got in the bed with me." She slide over in the bed, and patted the spot next to her. Shaking his head, he plopped himself next to her carefully, leaning against the wooden headboard.
Elaine moved herself closer to him, placing her head on his arm. He began absently stroking her hair, both of them closing their eyes at the feeling of the other. They sat there in silence, merely enjoying each others presence when there was a quiet knock at the door.
"Come in." Alistair said, continuing to play with Elaine's hair.
Eamon entered the room casually, and closed the door behind him with a click. "Hello, you two. It's nice to see the both of you finally reunited." The old man's face wrinkled as he smiled.
He walked a few steps closer, and placed his hands on the posts at the foot of the bed. The couple remained in the same position, and waited for Eamon to speak again.
"I know that both of you are tired, but we have a lot to do and prove to the Kingdom at the moment." He looked at Alistair, waiting for permission to continue. After he nodded, Eamon continued.
"Wedding preparations began moments after the landsmeet. I'm not sure if they interest you at all Elaine, but your lady-in-waiting is handling all the details."
Elaine raised her eyebrows, "They've already begun? How soon is the wedding going to be?"
"It was proposed to be in six months."
"Oh." Alistair spoke first, he sounded a little taken aback. "Why so far from now?"
"This cannot be a simple event Alistair. There is a lot to prepare for. It is the King's wedding after all."
"Right, I forgot." Alistair said, sounding embarrassed. He looked down at Elaine, who almost seemed scared. "Um, do we have any say on - on the wedding?"
"Of course!" Eamon chuckled. "But you must remember, many people will be there. It will be an event to remember you know!"
Alistair heard Elaine let out a breath, and felt the tightening of her delicate fingers around his wrist. Folding his eyebrows, he looked up to Eamon.
Eamon took the hint. "Right then. We'll we have lots to discuss, but even more time to do it. Farewell."
Alistair nodded at Eamon, and waited for the door to click close before turning to Elaine. "Is everything alright dear?"
Elaine licked her lips, hesitating.
"Are you in pain?" He asked quickly, beginning to push himself off of the bed.
Elaine grabbed ahold of his arm, stopping him. "I'm just... scared. I'm no good at any of this."
Alistair wrapped his arms around her, bringing her closer to his chest. "Oh Elaine." He kissed her forehead. His chest rose as he chuckled slightly. "You ran straight towards the Archdemon, eyes blazing. But the Grey Warden is scared of wedding plans?"
Her light brown eyes flicked up to meet his, her eyebrows pushed together. "And crowds. And speaking. And - All I know is fighting, and dueling and death. I don't know the first thing about being a Queen. Or a wife." Her voice was small.
"Hey, neither do I. Well King and husband rather." He said in a silly voice, making Elaine giggle. "I think it's more of a day by day thing I believe."
A quiet knock came from the door before it opened, revealing the same pale Elvish girl who had been lingering around Alistair since he arrived in the castle. "Your Majesty. My lady." She bowed her head, her eyes low.
"I'm Nella, you're lady in waiting. I have one last potion for you to take before I take you to your own chambers." Her hands trembled slightly as she took the small vial off of the silver tray that she carried, and crossed the room to hand it to Elaine.
Elaine took the potion easily, licking the sweet liquid off of her lips. "Mmm." A slight buzz went through her body almost immediately after she swallowed it. The tenderness near her ribs and joints slowly faded away, allowing her to sit up properly.
Alistair hesitated briefly before moving up off of the bed to help Elaine stand up. As she swung her legs up he noticed the bruises and fresh scabs that littered them. The muscles looked tired and weak, but seemed to be able to hold her just fine, as she stood up barely wobbling as she grabbed onto Alistair's outstretched hand for extra support. He looked her up and down smiling, completely taking in his love.
The white gown she wore hung off of her loosely, revealing her prominent collarbones and long neck. Her golden hair was a messy knot at the base of it. Her small chest moved deeply in and out as she stood up fully for the first time in weeks. A smile stretched across her face, causing her cheekbones to move high in to her face and large eyes to squint slightly.
Alistair couldn't help but notice how small, and frail she looked. He had seen her out of armor in their rare moments alone, but after months of seeing the woman he loved in nothing but huge armor pieces that weighed as much as her, it was odd to see her standing in a simple nightgown. He absolutely loved it.
With a quick press of lips, he placed Elaine's hand into Nella's. "I'll be downstairs whenever you are ready." He watched the two women slip out of the large, ornate door and began to walk down the hallway and up the small set of stairs that led to the master chambers. Alistair's caramel eyes followed them, watching Elaine's hips sway as she walked. A small grin spread across his face as he listened to the women's conversation that echoed through the hallway.
"It's just up her my lady." The elf said in a delicate voice.
"Please, call me Elaine."
"Oh." Nella sounded shocked. "Of course. Are the stairs to much trouble for you.. Elaine?"
"No." Elaine said stubbornly, but her huffs could be heard down the entire hallway.
Alistair grinned at her stubbornness. He knew the exact look on Elaine's face right now, eyebrows crossed and lips pursed in frustration. His thoughts were interrupted though by a sudden figure walking towards him, who he instantly recognized as Leliana.
"Well?" She asked impatiently, tucking her red hair behind her ears.
"She's upstairs with her lady in waiting. She.. she looks great." Alistair got lost thinking about the healthy and very much alive Elaine.
"Thank the gods." Leliana sighed with relief. "The lady in waiting will probably need help. Yes, yes." Before Alistair could speak, she was half way down the hallway speeding towards the master chambers, her boots jangling.