Charlotte sat behind the huge wooden desk in the study, surrounded by crumpled parchment. Words usually came easy to her, and she was a persuasive speaker, but this formal missive to Jader was causing her trouble. She sat staring but not seeing the portrait of King Calenhad that hung above the hearth, and tapped the end of the quill she was writing with absently against her chin.
"Your majesty?" There was a tap at the door. It swung inward enough for the guard outside to poke his head in. "Sorry to disturb you, but there are two messengers here from Orlais to see you."
"Two?"
"Yes, my lady. One is an Antivan, I believe, but he said they both came from Val Royeaux."
She arched an eyebrow, then nodded for the guard to send them in, and pulled her wrap closer around her shoulders. There was a bit of a chill in the air, despite the crackling fire in the room. The sound of voices came from the corridor, and a moment later the door opened.
"My lady, to be graced with your presence yet again after such a time," the first person through the door swept into a low graceful bow. "The joy I feel is indescribable." Still deep in his bow, Zevran Arainai raised his face and grinned at her.
"Oh Zev, do stop it." The next figure to enter jabbed an elbow into his side. This person was also familiar; it was the bard, Leliana. "It is good to see you again, my friend." Leliana pushed the hood back from her cloak and shook her hair out of her face.
"I get to have no fun," Zevran grumbled good-naturedly, and straightened. "We ran into Alistair in Val Royeaux, of all places. He bade us hurry back to Denerim before him and give you a message." Pacing the length of the room, he leaned on the edge of the desk. " He did not say what the rush was."
"The message," Leliana continued for him," was that he is postponing his official visit to the Orlesians until a later date and to expect his return by sea within the week."
"Within the week?" That was much earlier than his planned arrival. "That's wonderful news. What were you two doing in Val Royeaux?" She pushed the heavy chair back from the desk and stood. The gown she wore was tailored with a high waist and the loose folds draped around her elegantly. Usually the lines of the dress combined with the trailing edges of the shawl disguised her changed form, but she didn't expect the difference to be lost on her friends' sharp eyes. She was almost halfway through her pregnancy, and her belly had swelled rapidly with the growth of the child in the past months.
"Oh that pales in comparison to what you have been doing here, I think," Zevran laughed, raising his eyebrows.
"Alistair didn't tell us!" Leliana rushed forward to hug her friend gently. She held her at arm's length and beamed.
"We haven't told anyone yet," Charlotte said, returning the embrace. "If we had, you would have heard about it before you came to Ferelden, I think."
"Well it's a good thing he's returning earlier rather than later. You won't be able to hide it for much longer." The bard stepped back and bounced on her toes happily.
"What will you do now? Will you stay awhile?"
"Yes, I think we will." The two travelers exchanged a glance. "We planned on returning to Denerim anyway. Once we met Alistair, we just came directly." Zevran put his arm around Leliana's shoulders. "He is wild to see you again. No wonder, now that we know why."
Charlotte watched her two friends carefully, and noticed the way Leliana leaned her hip toward the elf's. A smile touched her lips. She was not the only one with a keen eye for details, and she knew her friends too well not to pick up on their subtle changes in body language.
"This is not the only news there is to tell today," she said. "How long have you two been sharing a bed?" She laughed at Leliana's immediate blush and Zevran's brazen grin.
"Since we met again in Lydes on the road to the capital," Zevran replied smoothly. "I knew it was only a matter of time before she would succumb to my charms." He put an arm around Leliana's shoulders possessively.
"Well come then," Charlotte laughed again, happy to have some of her friends with her again. "Let's get your rooms sorted, and you can wash the dust of the road from you, and we can catch up." She opened the door and beckoned to a servant who was passing by. "I want to hear of your adventures since I've been cooped up here in the city."
It was six days later when Zevran walked into the study at the palace and handed Charlotte a spyglass.
"If you will look to the north and east, I believe you will see something familiar to you." She took the glass and crossed the room to the window. Far in the distance, she could make out a ship. Its sail was blue and white with a golden griffon emblazoned on it. It bobbed on the water like a child's toy, but the strong wind definitely bore it toward Denerim's harbor.
"It is indeed Alistair's ship," Zevran said, and caught her arm as she turned and started to run from the room. "But before you start thinking that you will go to the docks to greet him, may I remind you of your condition and the opportunities for skullduggery that exist in such a place."
"But it's…"
He held up a finger to stop her. "I have already asked Leliana to meet his ship when he lands to inform him that you are waiting here. I know," he spoke over her rising protests, "that it has been what, three months? Three months since you have seen each other, but I must insist. Another two hours will not be so long to wait by comparison. You know this is a better plan, and I have Wynne on my side as well." He smirked as she opened her mouth again to argue. "I will not have you place yourself in danger, Warden, not in your condition."
"You're right, of course," Charlotte grumped unhappily. "You always call me 'Warden' when you're unhappy with me." But immediately she brightened, thinking of seeing Alistair again, picturing his face in her mind as she had done so many times in the past months.
The ship landed at the docks, and soon it seemed like the whole of Denerim was out on the streets to see their king's return. The atmosphere of the city changed so that it almost felt like a carnival as the people packed close to the main road and the soldiers began to take up protective posts. Charlotte watched the gathering crowd from the high study window at the palace, and finally the noise from the people told her that they had begun to move. She watched, tapping the window ledge anxiously with her fingertips, until she could make out the horsemen distinctly outside the palace grounds. Then, followed by Zevran, she rushed out of the room, through the audience chamber, and downstairs to the main gates of the palace. If not for Zevran's hand again on her arm she would have run down through the people and under the very hooves of the horses.
She waited at the top of the long sweepings stairs, until she saw the riders come in through the gates, and then she called, "Alistair!" in a voice that rang out over the rest of the noise of the crowded people. These long months without him, and here he was finally, safely home. Sunlight seemed to illuminate him apart from the other men that rode with him, picking out the details of his shining armor, his proud easy seat upon the large brown horse, and his face as he smiled and laughed and called to the people who surged close.
His blonde head went up as he turned that familiar smile that tugged at her heart. He urged his horse forward to the bottom of the steps, swinging out of the saddle in one smooth movement. He paused a moment, looking up at her, and their eyes met and held. Everything else fell away in that instant and her breath caught in her throat. Then he ran up the stairs and caught her up in an embrace, holding her close against his mailed chest. The people in the square cheered loudly as they kissed. Tears squeezed out from under her tightly closed eyelids. He was home, he was home.
Leliana, who had returned to the palace with the soldiers, sighed happily and then snorted as she saw Zevran roll his eyes.
"This reminds me of our wedding day," Alistair chuckled. "They cheered fit to burst the Chantry when we took our vows." She buried her face in his neck and breathed deeply. He smelled of salt from the sea, leather, sweat, and deep down, his familiar scent.
"I'm so glad you're back," she said, raising her face to kiss his cheeks.
"You look beautiful." He touched her face gently, wiping the tears away, and then lowered his fingers to brush the top of her belly. "Have you ever noticed that you only really cry when you're happy? If you're sad or scared your eyes get really big and shiny, but never spill over." His smile widened. "Now, someone needs to address these people before they riot." With his arm still around her, he turned to face the open square in front of the palace and raised his voice.
"Thank you for the welcome," he called, and immediately shouts and cheers rang back. "It is good to be back in Ferelden, for more than one reason." He tightened his arm around her waist. "My trip was a success, and I will be staying in Denerim with your queen for some time now. Also, we are pleased to announce that there will soon be an heir to carry on the Theirin name." At this, the noise from the people was so loud that it was several moments before he could speak again. "I was informed of this by the queen shortly after I left for Anderfels. Please join me in celebrating this happy news tonight!" After several long moments of laughing and waving, he and Charlotte turned to walk back into the palace together.
"My friends," he said, addressing Zevran, Leliana, and Wynne, who had come down from her room at the sound of the commotion. "It is good to see you again, but I am in dire need of a hot bath and a meal. It's been a long trip, and I've been away far too long. We will catch up later." They all nodded, understanding.
Alistair steered Charlotte toward the stairs, and they headed for their rooms. Once behind the closed door, he laughed, admitting, "Well the bath is a good idea, but I really wanted to get you alone first. I can't imagine spending another moment speaking to someone else when we have so much to discuss." He put both his hands on her belly. "Tell me, are you alright?"
Charlotte placed her hands on top of his. "Yes, I am. I feel fine, strong. I had heard pregnancy was a terrible ordeal, full of sickness and pains, but I have none of that. Everyone who has poked me with magic says the baby is healthy. It kicks me from time to time." She smiled and touched his face. "You needn't look so concerned. You're back now, the country is peaceful, and we're to have a child."
"Yes," he sighed, and the tense lines on his forehead relaxed as he smiled. His soft brown eyes lit up when he smiled like that. "Have you noticed what pregnancy has done for your bosom?" He laughed as she slapped his shoulder in mock anger. "Really, I mean it. Here, now help me out of this."
He stepped back and wriggled out of the chainmail shirt with her help, shedding it carefully like a snake's skin. It jingled gently against the floor as it fell. His linen undershirt was stained with sweat.
"Looks like I really do need that bath," he said, pulling the fabric away from his sides in distaste.
"Later," Charlotte murmured, and put her arms around him.
"Oh," he said, surprised, as she kissed him. "Is it… um… okay? To do this, I mean? Now?" He flushed, then returned the kiss and embrace.
"Oh yes." She reached up to loosen the buttons at the neck of her dress, allowing it to slip off her shoulders.
"Well who am I to argue?" He smiled at her, then took her in his arms again.