Chapter 17

Marlena smiled down at Teagan, and put her hand over his as they held her belly together. She enjoyed the elation on Teagan's face as he undid her robe before kneeling down to press his cheek to her tummy.

"Its too soon to feel any kicking my love." Marlena laughed. "You will have to wait a few more months."

Marlena let out a content sigh as Teagan kissed her belly.

He stood up and put his arms around her. "Let's have our bath." Teagan removed his shirt as Marlena undid his breeches and licked her lips when seeing his burgeoning erection burst through his small clothes.

Marlena tucked herself between Teagan legs, her back leaning against his chest as they got comfortable in the tub.

Teagan picked up the soap and worked a lather in his hands, and spread it on her shoulders and her back.

"This feels so good." Marlena purred as she luxuriated against him.

She shuddered when feeling him rub soap on her breasts occasionally playing with her nipples.

"I am going to spoil you senseless." Teagan kissed the side of her neck. "I do admit to have an ulterior motive. I want us to get married as soon as possible so I can whisk you away and enjoy you as much as I can before we can no longer be intimate."

"Teagan what are you talking about?" Marlena moved on top of him and began to lather his chest with soap while occasionally grinding against his erection.

"I know…we cannot be intimate once your impending motherhood reaches…a certain point."

"Teagan I still don't know what you're talking about. When Sandra was expecting Bryce, She was intimate with Fergus until the end. I remember hearing them when I visited them."

"But doesn't it hurt….the baby?"

"Andraste's Mercy! You and Kaitlyn never…"

Teagan's face turned bright red. "She…pleased me her own way when she was expecting. We just assumed."

"Maker bless her heart." She cupped Teagan's face. We can be intimate as much as we want. Its only after the baby is born when we will not be able to…for a awhile. I will need to…heal but after that…"

"You must think me a fool." He chuckled.

"I don't think you are fool but I do think you are a wonderful man and I am truly lucky to have you."

Teagan groaned when Marlena wrapped a hand around his cock, before straddling him and guiding him inside her.

"Of course when I'm big and fat…you might not want me." Marlena moaned as she slowly started to move.

"Never!" Teagan growled.

"I'm going to hold you to that." Marlena said breathless before surging down on him.

Teagan leaned forward and grabbed one of her bouncing breasts with his hand, maneuvering himself further until his teeth grazed one of her hard nipples before he started to suckle it.

"Oh Maker yes!" Marlena hissed as he rose and met her thrust.

Teagan could feel her tighten around him her body tense as she approached her climax.

He sat up, crushing his lips onto her until they parted for his tongue, muffling her cries as well as his own as her climax brought his own release.

She turned around and leaned against his chest as he wrapped his arms around her. They both sighed and basked in the aftermath.

"I have one request." Teagan said, breaking the silence.

"What is it?"

"I want our child to be born in Rainesfere. It's beautiful during the spring and I want to build some more happy memories there. There's plenty of room for Fergus, Sandra, and Bryce to visit."

"I'd love to have our baby there." Marlena luxuriated against him as he lavished soap on her. "It's so beautiful and peaceful there."

"I'm glad you feel that way too." Teagan kissed the back of her neck

Teagan watched as Marlena ducked under the water to wash soap off. When she surfaced, she brushed the hair out of her face and took the soap from him.

"You know I intend to spoil you as well."

Teagan began to sigh as she began rub his shoulders and massage his muscles. Marlena washed his hair, scrubbed his chest and arms and he satiated every moment before ducking under the water to rinse off.

"We better dry ourselves off." Teagan smiled as he stood up and helped her out of the tub.

Teagan dried Marlena off with a towel and she proceeded to do the same to him.

They slipped into some fresh small clothes and dressed. Teagan watched as Marlena put her hair up.

"What's wrong?" Marlena put her arms around him.

"When Wynne and the physician were caring for you, I went to the study with your brother and Alistair. There was a letter for me from Eamon and his will and other papers were neatly placed beside it."

"A lot of people know when their time comes."

"I suppose. It was so strange. I haven't read the letter yet. I'm not ready."

"I'll be there with you when you are." Marlena said as he pulled her tightly against him.

"The estate is ours again but I want to do some renovations before we move in. And I have to admit, I've enjoyed Fergus's and Sandra's company too much to just leave."

"They love you too."

"I'll need you to do a bit of shopping again. And I'm sure you want prepare for the baby. I want you to purchase everything you need for three nurseries, for Denerim, Rainesfere, and Redcliffe. I also want you to purchase some new furniture for the estate the way you did for Redcliffe."

"Of course." Marlena smiled

"I have to speak with the regent today, he's going to sign over Redcliffe to me but I'm going to ask him to oversee things until the renovations are complete."

"I know Sandra wants to take Rowan and me to her dressmaker."

"We better head downstairs. I want you to eat before you head out. You are eating for two and I do not want to see you collapse again." Teagan kissed her. "And I can't wait until I can call you my Arlessa."

"I can't wait either." Marlena smiled.

… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …..

"He's barely spoken to me since I arrived." Fiona remarked, watching Wynne pack her trunks. "There was the afternoon we met in the gardens. He came to me, said hello and immediately wanted to know about the night Marlena lost her baby. And of course he wondered how I can be alive."

"Did you tell him about that night and your immunity?"

"I told him that my immunity still can't be explained and as for telling him about that night, I told him I would when he was ready."

"I'm glad you didn't tell him. It was very difficult for him knowing Marlena is expecting a child again. He feels like he has lost everything."

"What do you know about the people Anora employs?"

"Very little and it worries me Fiona. I can sense that mage's power. There is something suspicious by the way the hover about her."

"Indeed and it's why I would like you to hold off leaving. If my suspicions are correct, I'm going to need help."

"Fiona…I don't…know."

"Wynne…you are wonderful mage and a powerful one at that but you must stop living like you are back at the Circle. You are free. It's also that type of thinking which propelled you to believe Eamon… not to mention your mothering of Alistair."

"I know." Wynne sighed. "Marlena was actually nice to me when I treated her but I know the damage has been done. I've been doing a lot of soul searching lately. You know the way Marlena ardently defended herself back then I should have believed her. It took the revelation of Eamon covering Isolde's horrible crimes against Teagan's family that made me realize she was telling the truth."

"Eamon is answering to the Maker for his actions. And while you may have believed the lies Alistair is also culpable for what happened. He didn't believe in her and has to live with that."

"I will stay and assist you Fiona."

"Thank you Wynne but if I may ask why are you returning to the Circle?"

"Irving asked me to take Connor Guerrin as an apprentice. He's extremely gifted and his talents surpass all the other apprentices at the Circle."

"Well he will have an excellent mentor." Fiona smiled.

"Thank you Fiona. Now what is your friend concerning…Anora's friends."

"First I will need to talk with Alistair. If my suspicions are right, we will need his templar abilities."

"Would you like me to talk to him to help him open up to you?" Wynne offered

"Thank you Wynne but I am afraid I have to do this on my own."

Despite Wynne still being entrenched in the Circle's attitudes, Fiona liked her and could see her regret over her past actions. She briefly thought of revealing her true identity but decided against it. Wynne would never understand her reasons for abandoning Alistair.

Fiona knew in order to reach Alistair she would have to show him that fateful night because it would be the only way for him to move on. It would also be the catalyst for him to free himself from Eamon's final sin.

…

Alistair walked down the marketplace with his guards, greeting shopkeepers and citizens who went up to him.

He suddenly heard a familiar laugh and saw Marlena holding the hand of a little girl he presumed to be Teagan's daughter, Rowann. Fergus's wife, Sandra was walking with them. They were laughing and holding several packages.

He watched a carriage come around the corner, slow down and stop for them. Fergus and Teagan stepped out of the carriage and Alistair watched as Rowann ran to her father who immediately picked her up in one arm and reach for Marlena with the other while Fergus hugged Sandra and helped in the carriage. He watched, envious as they all got back in the carriage and rode away.

"We should be together." He whispered. "It's not fair."

Turning around he headed back toward the palace planning to speak with Fiona.

….. . . . ….. . . . . ….. . . . .

Fiona sat in Alistair's study and waited for him. She was surprised when his butler had summoned her. He had come back from his walk and did not speak to anyone and had headed straight for his rooms.

This was not what she wanted for him but there was nothing she could do. She had failed him by leaving him but vowed to free him from Anora and help him find some contentment. Fiona knew he would always love Marlena but would have to learn to have to accept what happened. She would help him fulfill his duty. It remained to be seen whether she would tell him the truth about who she was. If she did tell him, it would be much later for he definitely was not in the right state of mind at the moment.

The door suddenly slammed shut, making Fiona switch. Alistair brushed by her without saying a word and she watched as poured a drink.

Turning around, he frowned when seeing her sitting in the chair.

"What are you doing here?"

"You had me summoned your Majesty."

"Oh that's right. You can go now. I am not in the mood to talk at the moment."

"But you're in the mood to drink I see."

"That's the one benefit of being king." Alistair said. "I just saw the love of my life in a happy scene with her fiancé and family today. Drinking will help ease the pain so I can exist."

Fiona froze the decanter and immediately used a sleep spell on Alistair before he could deplete her mana. After watching him crumble to the floor, Fiona locked the door and knelt before his body.

"I'm sorry my son." She said tenderly. "We all failed you except for Marlena and you failed her. Its time for you to man up and face what you have done so you can move forward, live and not just exist.

She watched as Alistair opened his eyes and struggle to move.

"Just what do you think you are doing?" He demanded. "My guards are outside." Alistair started to open his mouth but found he could not yell.

"Your guards won't be able to hear anything your Majesty." Fiona looked down at him. "You said you wanted to know what happened the night I saved Marlena's life and your son died. Well, I am not only going to tell you, you are going to see it for yourself."

Fiona made a small cut into the palm of her hand then pressed it on his forehead and watched as the glowing light enveloped him.

…

A/N: To all my readers. I promise I will get back to writing Alistair in a more positive light once I finish my too Teagan/Cousland pieces. No Worries. :-)