I'm sooooo sorry that its been so long since I've updated. I have a severe case of writer's block and I just started a new job. I know, shitty excuses. My apologies. Hopefully this chapter will be kick ass enough for you all to forgive me :)

Chapter 4

Kailyn was shocked away from her daydreaming. Her body tensed and she spun around eyeing the face that just spoke to her.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

Ahh. Recognition flooded her face.

"Nathaniel," she sighed "I hadn't heard that you returned from the Free Marches. I hope you haven't been back long, I would've written you."

The youngest Howe smiled. "Actually I just got back two days ago. Father said he was attending this ball so I thought I would join him. That way I could catch up with some old friends. It seems like I've been gone forever."

"I have missed my pen pal. I'm glad you are back in your own country," Kailyn replied with a smile.

Nathaniel stepped closer to her. His face mere inches from her own. "I just heard that you are to be married to Aiden?"

"Yes. I was hoping to see him and his family tonight. We haven't seen each other since he proposed."

Nathaniel's face fell and he backed away to a normal distance. "Oh. I was hoping it was just a vicious rumor."

"Nathaniel," Kailyn said softly, "I told you that I didn't have feelings for you that way. I will always be your loyal friend and stand beside you no matter what. But I love Aiden."

He forced a smile to his lips. "At least you have found someone. I'm glad that you're happy." He reached around her back and hugged her.

"Ahh. Romance is in the air..." a thick accent penetrated the night air around them.

"I'm sorry?" Kailyn asked. She didn't know the voice and seeing the face brought her no recognition either.

"Oh. Forgive me dear lady. My name is Zevran. Zev to my friends. I am a close confidant and council to King Alistair."

"Oh! You must be one of the many who traveled with him during the Blight. Forgive me! I have been so rude not to introduce myself," Kailyn was taken completely by surprise by the tanned elf standing before her.

"Fear not. I am not offended. Nor do I think I ever could be with a woman of your beauty around me." His accent seemed to make his voice purr.

Kailyn blushed at his last remark but Nathaniel merely scowled. She may not love him, but Nathaniel certainly loved her. It did not behoove him to listen to a stranger talk to her like that.

Kailyn bowed slightly in honor of the elf, "I am Kailyn Cousland; daughter of Teryn Bryce Cousland of Highever."

"Ah. Yes. I have heard of your Father. He is a very powerful man, no?"

Kailyn nodded.

"Well, forgive me. I did not mean to intrude on your romantic moment Lady Cousland. I shall take my leave."

"It wasn't a romantic moment," Kailyn blurted out before Zevran could leave. Nathaniel seemed to be seething with anger.

"No? It certainly appeared that way," he smiled. "Are you in need of an escort then?"

The young Cousland couldn't help but be taken away by his suave nature. "Are you offering your services?"

"Only if they are needed, my lady," he answered as he extended out his hand.

She gracefully took it and the two drifted back into the grand ballroom leaving Nathaniel speechless and gaping.

Zevran wrapped his arm around hers and led her gently to the dance floor. He politely extended out his arm asking her to dance. She obliged and they began circling the floor to the upbeat tempo.

"Have you had the honor to dance with the King yet, mi amiga hermosa?" he asked her. She flushed at his compliment.

"I have not. I hadn't planned on dancing with him unless he asks me. Honestly, I am betrothed to someone else and I just came to this ball tonight because my family was specifically requested to attend."

"Oh? Is that the only reason?" He purred again.

Kailyn thought a moment. "What did it matter if that was the only reason?"

"Well, I do support the new King. My family has sworn fealty to him. I believe he has a tough job ahead of him. Not only is he a Grey Warden, but he has been tasked with the duty of rebuilding a country after a terrible Blight. He has no wife and no heir as of yet. I'm sure he will be responsible for Grey Warden affairs as well as political. I do not envy him. All of his time will be spent on important business."

Zevran looked taken aback, "How very perceptive of you. I don't believe any noble woman, or man for that matter, would have considered that point of view. He is a new King, yes, and he has not exactly been taught how to rule. He will have many challenges to overcome in coming months. That is why I have offered to stay here in Ferelden to aid him. I am in no rush to return to my home though I miss it so."

The elf's grace was matched by no other. He was an excellent dancer and was leading Kailyn very well. It was a dance she knew well and she had to admit that even though she wasn't in the arms of Aiden, she felt very comfortable and relaxed. Maybe even safe? She felt a smile curve her lips.

"Yes. I noticed your accent. Obviously you are not from this country. If I had to guess, I would say...Antiva?"

He answered her question with a smile, "You amaze me with your powers of perception, mi tesoro hermoso. Most would assume I am not from Ferelden, that is true, but so few guess my homeland as Antiva. It is refreshing that someone would know without making it obvious."

Kailyn returned a smile and they danced until the end of the song. When it ended, they backed up a step, bowed politely and took their leave. Kailyn had promised Zevran that if she became bored with all the political discussion to seek him out for a change of subject. He had winked at her when he said that and she couldn't help but laugh at his suggestive comment.

She soon found herself slinking away to a shadowed corner of the room. She was feeling suffocated again and Zevran was otherwise occupied. He seemed to be escorting a young woman out of the room with a seductive smile on his face. She shook her head at her new found friend. Nathaniel was off somewhere brooding she was sure.

Silently, she made her way into an inconspicuous darkened room. She wanted to be left alone with her thoughts. Kailyn had still not seen Aiden and disappointment was starting to overcome her. She scrunched herself into the darkest corner of the small room and silently sobbed.

Only a few minutes had passed and Kailyn saw the door to her temporary sanctuary open and a tall figure came in. The shadow quietly closed the door and let out a sigh. "Does this person know I'm here?" she thought to herself. The figure cursed softly and leaned hard on the wall near Kailyn. She was shoved in the corner and she could feel the figure standing just inches away from her slumped over body. She watched the person trying to see if she recognized who it was. Just as she began eyeing the figure it quickly began banging its head on the wall. Hard. "What-" bang "do they-" bang "expect-" bang "from me?" BANG. Aha. The figure didn't know she was sitting so close. The voice obviously belonged to a man but not one she knew. He slipped down the wall and crumpled to the floor apparently overwhelmed. When he sat, his knee nudged Kailyn's leg.

He stiffened.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know anyone was in here. It was so dark and..." he trailed off.

"It's okay. I came in here to get away from the crowd too. I get uncomfortable around big crowds and feel like I'm suffocating. Well, that, and I was hoping to meet someone here at the party, but I haven't seen any trace of him all night."

The man released the tension he had been holding since realizing he wasn't alone.

"Good. So you don't think I'm a complete and utter idiot for not being able to handle myself and put on a smiling face."

"No," she chuckled. "I understand that sometimes things can be overwhelming. It's only human to have emotion. It makes you seem sincere."

He laughed slightly.

"I know a woman who would completely disagree with you. She would tell you that humans have the ability to control their emotions and should never let them overtake you. She also thinks I'm an idiot."

Kailyn shook her head, "Then she must be a woman who has not truly experienced emotion," then she added with a smile, "or inhuman."

He grinned, "I completely agree."

They sat there for a few moments in a comfortable silence, listening to each other breathe.

"Well, I think I've hid in here long enough," Kailyn announced getting to her feet.

"I guess if you're willing to brave it, I should at least try too."

She walked over and opened the door. The golden light from the ballroom poured into their sanctuary and lit up most of the darkened place.

The man met her at the door, face still covered in shadow.

She thought that before she left, she should at least introduce herself to the man to whom she had just given advice. "Kailyn Cousland. Daughter of Teryn Bryce Cousland of Highever," she said bowing slightly.

The man stepped up to her revealing his face. He had spikey blonde hair, golden brown eyes, and a warm smile. He was wearing gold-plated armor and looked very handsome.

"King Alistair Theirin. Pleased to meet you," he answered with a warm smile.

Kailyn's jaw dropped. She stared at him stupidly for a moment before she regained her composure.

"Y—Your Majesty! I'm sorry! I had no idea it was you! Forgive me for being-"

He laid a hand on her shoulder to stop her from bowing a third time.

"It's alright! I didn't want you to know it was me," he blurted.

Kailyn stared at him dumbfounded again. "What do you mean you didn't want me to realize you were the King of Ferelden?"

Alistair cringed at the title.

"You should always be recognized! You are the most important man in the country! I should be sent to the dungeons for not respecting you properly! I'm so sor-"

"It's okay, Lady Cousland. To be completely honest, I hate having this stupid title. I'm just Alistair. Save the titles for when they're necessary."

She still stood still. Turned to stone. She could've been mistaken for a statue had it not been for the red filling her cheeks.

"So you just want me to call you 'Alistair' unless we have to be formal?"

"I would like you to, yes." He smiled at her hoping to ease her discomfort.

She returned the smile and seemed a little more at ease, "If you insist 'just Alistair'" she replied teasing him.

Suddenly, she saw something from across the room catch Alistair's attention. She looked in the general direction and saw Arl Eamon nearly running toward Alistair with a ghastly look on his face.

"Quick! Go back in the room! I think Eamon wants to tell me something important," Alistair told her.

She silently darted back into the room where they had met. She pressed her ear to the door she had just closed. She didn't care how nosy that was at the moment. The look on Eamon's face peaked her curiosity.

"Your Majesty!"

Kailyn thought she could hear Alistair cringe at his title again. She silently chuckled to herself.

"What is it Eamon? You're making it seem so ominous."

"I fear it is ominous. I've just had some scouts return from Castle Gourn. They say the place has been taken over and there are dead bodies everywhere!"

Kailyn couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her mind was racing.

"Taken over? Taken by who?"

"My scouts are not certain. They said they barely made it out of there alive. They are so beaten and bruised. They look like they had been fighting the Archdemon itself!"

"I want to leave and go to the Castle myself. Right now," Alistair replied in a commanding tone.

"I don't think that would be wise, your majesty. You still have guests here to entertain. It wouldn't be wise for you to just disapp-"

"Eamon. I'm going. Please have them prepare my horse. I won't worry about taking anything," Alistair's voice had become very low, as if trying to contain his temper.

"Your guards will want to escort you."

Alistair must have given the older man a stern look because she heard him leave.

Kailyn stood on the other side of the door just long enough to hear the king sigh and leave. He had mumbled something to himself that sounded like he knew he would be forced to wait for his guards.

Not long after he left, she burst out of the door and ran out of the room. As she made her way to the castle grounds, she broke into the armory. Thank the Maker she had been working on her lock picking skills. She grabbed a silverite longsword and took out her favorite dagger from a hidden place under her bodice. Stealthily, she made her way into the Castle courtyard and into the stables. She wasn't sure if there was supposed to be someone on guard this late at night, but was thankful that no one saw her as she mounted the nearest horse she saw. She coaxed the horse into a fast paced canter.

She rode all night. She didn't care that she just left her father, her brother and Nathaniel at the party. She had to make sure Aiden was okay. He had to be. She had no life without him. He was her heart, her soul, he was a part of her. She felt she could never be complete without without him.

It wasn't until the first rays of light began to shine through the clouds that she saw his castle. It looked so peaceful from where she was. The horse was sure to fall due to exhaustion if she pressed it any further. Kailyn dismounted and ran into the city.

There were mercenaries everywhere. They challenged her. Quickly, she cut them all down without hesitation. She made her way into the castle. There had been so many bodies! She had never seen anything like it. Faces she recognized, faces that looked to young to understand what was happening, animals, they spared nothing. It was horrifying. Kailyn knew she couldn't focus on that right now though. She had to get to Him. Get to Aiden. He had to be okay.

She swung open the heavy door to the main entrance. Before she knew what was going on, she was hit in the head with the pommel of a sword. Hard. She shook it off and barely missed a jab that would have gutted her right there. Through her blurred vision she saw the offender. He was as tall as a giant. The massive figure stood over her, dual-handed blade raised above her head. Just before the giant mercenary would've landed the blow Kailyn was at his back. She used her trusty, red dagger and jabbed him three times in his spinal cord. The giant crumpled to the floor, but was not bested so easily. He still had his massive sword in his hands and attempted to strike at her. She didn't completely dodge the attack and her leg was bleeding badly. She took her longsword and cut off his head.

No sooner had the giant's head fallen off Kailyn heard a shuffling noise behind her. She spun around and put her dagger at the throat of the intruder who made the noise.

"P—Please don't kill me!" he begged for his life. "Pathetic."she thought. There would be no mercy for him right now. Not after what he and his fellow mercenaries had obviously done.

She spit in his face. "Why would I want to do that?" she spat at him.

"I—I can tell y—you who hired me—us," he stammered.

"Tell me or I'll cut your throat right here," she growled

"But if I tell you, then you'll still cut my throat," he managed to say.

"If you tell me I will be less likely to cut your throat, bastard!" she pushed her dagger harder against his throat and a stream of blood began to leak from the wound.

"Okay! Okay! Howe! It was Arl Rendon Howe who paid us to kill all the Gourns. Every last one of the-" he didn't even get to finish his sentence.

This was another body slumped to the floor due to her anger. She had left a thick blood trail from her bleeding leg. It mixed with the blood of all who had fallen before her. It mixed with the blood of the intruders that she had killed. None of that mattered. She had to find Him.

She ran up to the second floor of the castle. This is where the family quarters were located. "He could still be alive. Hang on to that thought Kailyn." She thought to herself. She ran through the hall, checking every room she came to.

The last room in the hallway was Aiden's. She remembered playing here as a young girl. Sucked into the memory, she could hear their parents laughing in the other room. She imagined she saw the young Aiden playing with wooden blocks and she could hear herself telling him he was building it wrong. A small smile threatened to appear on her lips. But as she threw open the door to her love's room, she was jerked back into reality.

Aiden's body lay still draped across the bed in an unnatural manner. His arm and hed hung off the bed, fingers touching the floor. His nose was bloodied; probably broken. Both eyes were blackened and he had a split lip.

"NO NO NO NO NO!" she heard herself screaming. It felt like she was standing outside of her own body, watching herself scream and react to the reality playing out before her. She ran over to him. His skin had grown pale, his limbs stiff. His blue eyes were open and though they were lifeless, they still pierced her soul. She covered his body with hers and screamed over and over into his chest with tears flowing. She didn't feel herself slowly becoming weaker due to her blood loss. Somewhere in between her screams she lost consciousness.

Okay. Before you all kill me for ending the chapter here I promise the next one will be up within a few days. I wouldn't leave you hanging with just that for a few weeks. Lol. I'd hate it if someone did that to me, so yeah...I'm gonna be nice. :)