Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Oath, but the attitude and personality of my Grey Warden Raelyn. (The first conversation between Wynne and Alistair is their's however. I had to use it.)

A/N: Okay, so here's the deal. I am so not following the story line piece by piece if you haven't figure it out yet, but that is duly made for the fact it makes my life easier when writing all of this. I do hope you enjoy and read through to the end...PS: Smut...but not explicit naughty language smut (That totally made me sound little...my bad)...

Alistair let out a loud battle cry as his sword pierced through the werewolf; his foot came up to press against the lifeless body pushing it off the blade. He whirled around with a growl settling into the back of his throat as another leapt at him, but he brought his shield up and out causing the beast to fall back onto the ground. The Grey Warden moved fast to slice his sword across the animal's neck killing it instantly. When he looked up he saw Wynne fighting off her own army of four werewolves and doing fairly well, but her back was pressed against Morrigan's as the witch was fighting off three more. Alistair moved to go towards them planning to help when it suddenly crossed his mind, Raelyn. He spun back around smacking his shield into another werewolf bouncing it to the ground; he slammed his foot into its head before looking up for the other Warden. He saw her crawling backwards on her elbows away from the advancing werewolf which held her own sword in one hand; the beast chuckled and threw it to the ground.

It lunged forward letting out a loud snarl and her foot came up kicking it in the face, but it only managed to enrage the animal even more. Her eyes went wide and she froze staring up at it.

"No!" Alistair ran towards the werewolf, sword raised. It turned its large head in time for it to be slashed clean off its shoulders. He huffed heavily breathing in large gulps of air; he moved his sword and shield to his back then held a hand out to Raelyn, "You okay?"

Raelyn took his hand allowing the help up, "Yeah, fine…he just caught me off guard."

Alistair kept his hold on her hand and reached out with the other to touch her cheek where a scrape dripped small droplets of blood, "You were cut."

"I can't feel anything," Raelyn must've saw the concern in his eyes for she reached up with her free hand to take his on her cheek, "Honest, Alistair."

Alistair let her take his hand, but he frowned, "I know, but…"

"No, buts," Raelyn moved the hand to rest on the armor just above her heart where he could feel the faint beating of her heart, "As long as that is still beating you needn't worry."

Alistair sighed, but nodded.

Raelyn's lips started to curl into a small smile, "Isn't this where the valiant knight kisses the damsel in distress?"

"There's a damsel in distress, where?" Alistair let her hand go and pulled his other free to turn the other way, "I don't see any."

Raelyn giggled and he turned back to her grinning largely.

"What are you two going on about?" They turned their heads to see Morrigan, "Some joke that only Wardens would get?"

"Yes, and it's about how these two Wardens offer a mage to the werewolves in return for their safety," Alistair kept the smile.

"What a dreadful thing to do with Wynne," Morrigan gasped dramatically, "And here I thought you were starting to like her."

"You wish it was about her," Alistair mumbled.

"Are you two alright?" Wynne asked ignoring the conversation.

"Yes," Raelyn responded, "And the two of you?"

"Peachy," Morrigan answered.

"That was an unexpected attack," Wynne looked around the ruins, "I suppose we'll be seeing more of them then?"

"I wouldn't doubt it," Alistair looked at Raelyn, "Should we continue on?"

Raelyn frowned slightly, but nodded, "I suppose so…hopefully we'll run into Witherfang soon." She grabbed her sword and shield from the ground, but Morrigan started ahead of her, "Morrigan wait."

"You're far too slow," came the response.

"There are days where I wouldn't mind wringing her neck," Raelyn sighed placing her equipment on her back and following after.

Alistair didn't move at first; his eyes too occupied watching his beautiful companion walk away and tempting him to go to her: to kiss her as she had asked…and possibly more.

Wynne made a noise next to him bringing Alistair out of thought; he looked at her to see her smiling, "Why are you smiling like that? You look suspiciously like the cat who swallowed the pigeon."

"Canary," she corrected.

"What?" Alistair asked confused.

"I look like the cat that swallowed the canary," she clarified then started to follow after the other two.

"I once had a very large cat," Alistair said nonchalantly, but he shook his head and jogged to catch up to her, "but that's not my point. My point is why are you smirking?"

Wynne chuckled lightly, "You were watching her. With great interest, I might add. In fact, I believe you were," she paused to look at him, "enraptured."

Alistair's composure fell slightly and he cleared his throat, "She's our leader. I look to her for guidance."

Wynne nodded, "Oh, I see," she looked ahead of them, but then her eyes glanced at him, "So what guidance did you find in those swaying hips hmm?"

Alistair's face started to feel warm, "No, no, no, I wasn't looking at…" Alistair looked down, "you know her…hind-quarters"

"Certainly," Wynne smiled slyly.

"I gazed...glanced," he corrected quickly, "in that direction, maybe," he looked at her holding up a finger as if to justify himself, "but I wasn't staring...or really seeing anything even."

"Of course," Wynne nodded.

Alistair dropped his hand and brought his eyes back to in front of them, "I hate you. You're a bad person."

Wynne laughed at this, "Oh, Alistair, your secret is safe with me."

"And what secret is that?" Alistair deadpanned.

"That you enjoy looking for guidance in our leader's swaying hips."

"I do not!"

"Then you just enjoy looking."

"I do—no—I mean, I don't, well I admit that her…no!" Alistair shook his head, "I am not going to respond to this conversation in anyway."

"So you do admit to watching," Wynne smiled sweetly, "I think it's cute that you like her, but be warned Alistair."

"Be warned about what?"

"If you think of pursuing a relationship with a fellow Warden in a time like this," she stopped walking and grabbed his arm gently, "That at any given moment you could lose the other."

"We're fighters, warriors, Wardens," Alistair looked towards Raelyn, "We're both fully aware of the risks…" he realized what he said and looked back at Wynne, "I mean, I'm aware…I'm aware what could…" he trailed off sighing, "Don't tell the others."

"The others as in Morrigan, Sten, and Zevran?" Wynne asked.

"Especially Morrigan and Zevran," Alistair's eyes grew with begging.

"I won't say anything, but I must speak to Raelyn as soon as possible," Wynne said.

"Wait, why?"

"I need to know just what her intentions are with you," Wynne's brow furrowed, "I may not know you well enough Alistair to be protective, but I feel as if I should. Oh Maker, I will talk to her and find out the truth."

"There is nothing to find out, I trust her," Alistair tried, but it didn't seem to work.

Wynne shook her head, "I have to know for sure…maybe once we defeat Witherfang I can speak with her."

Alistair didn't respond therefore the older woman walked away leaving the lone male to think in silence, but it didn't last long.

"Alistair!" Raelyn's sweet voice filled the destroyed hall and he looked in her direction to see her standing with the two mages, "Don't just sit and ponder the world, come join us."

"I'm coming," Alistair stood for a second longer before running to catch up to them.

)()()()()(

Alistair's eyes opened in a snap and he sat up just as fast to look around the camp area. The group had stopped on their way to Frostback by Lake Calenhad in hopes of getting some rest before walking into something they'd regret being tired for. His eyes scanned the area trying to decipher just what was askew, but his eyes settled on Raelyn who slept across from the fire and his nerves numbed. He looked up at the full moon realizing he wouldn't be able to fall back asleep; quietly as he could he made his way to the lake's shore. Without a second thought he stripped down to nothing and moments later he was fully submerged in cool clean water. When he came back up for air he stood motionless with the water stopping just above his waist and his eyes staring out at the open water. He lifted his hands from the water to look at them, but paler hands coming around from behind him caught his attention. They didn't touch his skin until they were able to clasp onto his shoulders and pull their owner's body against his back; their face resting on his shoulder blade.

"What are you thinking about?" Her voice wasn't full of prying, but of worry…compassion.

"Everything," Alistair felt his heart begin to race in beats at the feel of her against him, "The Blight…Duncan…Arl Eamon…the archdemon…us."

"Us as in the party or us as in…" her finger's twitched against his skin.

"Us as in you and me," Alistair said softly.

"What about us?"

"Are you…" Alistair took a deep breath, "Are you sure about it?"

"Alistair," the way she said his name made his nerves bounce, "I lost everything and everyone. I don't know what's real enough for me to be sure of…I can't be sure that my brother is still alive, I can't be sure that anywhere is safe, but I know one thing I'm sure about…even in all of this mess."

"That we're all going to die?" Alistair asked as he tried to control his unsteady breathing.

Raelyn laughed calmly and let her hands fall from his shoulders; the water moved as she did to come around in front of him, "That I can't be sure of either, but Alistair…"

He had averted his eyes once she was completely in front of him, already bloody nervous as hell, "What?"

Raelyn's hands reached up to grab his face to turn it back to look into her eyes and she smiled lightly, "You are the only thing I am sure about, don't make me sit here and ponder such a question. And don't raise the question in your head that I'm only with you because of this Blight, because it's not Alistair. I'm with you here and now because I want to be…you were the last deciding factor in me becoming a Warden."

Alistair's eyes widened slightly, "R-really?"

She nodded biting her bottom lip while dropping her hands to his chest, "So please stop acting weird; it makes me feel as if I did something wrong."

"It's not that I swear," Alistair cleared his throat uncomfortably, "It's just that…well…you're um…this is awkward for me just a bit."

Raelyn chuckled pressing closer to him to stretch up and kiss his neck, "Then don't let it be awkward…just accept it."

Alistair slowly started to bring his arms up around her when he stopped to ask a question, "Are you sure?"

Raelyn reached one hand up to grab the back of his head pulling it down kissing him harshly.

Alistair pulled away with a small grin, "I guess that answers my question." He brought his lips back down on hers and finally allowed himself to wrap one arm around her waist while the other's hand rested against her cheek. The water rippled with the movement and small waves sprung to life as Raelyn locked her arms around his neck and Alistair swooped one hand under the water to scoop her up into his arms.

"Alistair, I want you to…I want it to be you," Raelyn hushed out as he carried her easily back to shore, "Please."

"I was going to say the same thing to you," Alistair laughed nervously, "but I guess that settles it then."

They reached the shore passing an abandoned boat on the way from which Alistair grabbed an old sheet; he laid it best he could on the sandy ground and got to his knees to lay Raelyn on it. Her hands stayed loosely connected behind his head as he moved to hover over her, "Maker's breath," Alistair breathed out, "you're so beautiful." With that he captured her lips gently in his while carefully coming down on her; she made a small noise and he pulled back to look at her, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Raelyn reassured, "It just hurts a bit…"

"Do you want to stop?" Alistair asked.

"No," Raelyn shook her head, "Now is the only time we might ever have and, Maker forgive, but I can't wait any longer."

"I don't want to hurt you," Alistair whispered.

"Go slow, I'll be fine," Raelyn touched his cheek gently; "The pain will be worth it."

Alistair couldn't help, but smile slightly, "How is it you make something so unclean sound so pure?"

"A gift I possess," Raelyn lifted her legs past his hips ever so slightly and readjusted herself under him, "Okay."

Alistair's lips found hers again in a twist of kisses doing his best to distract her from the pain; his lips moved to her neck peppering it generously as she bit her bottom lip and dug nails into his shoulder blade fighting back tears. Alistair reached under her with an arm and sat up taking her with until she was almost sitting on his lap; his hands found her waist to keep her up while hers cupped this side of his neck and cheek kissing him deeper than they've kissed before. A hunger for lust swarmed them both and carefully he finished lowering her onto him getting her to pull her lips away and gasp in quiet pain. Alistair grabbed her face in his hands pressing their foreheads together, "How you doing, my dear?"

Her response came with grabbing his face forcing their lips back together.

Alistair, once again, wrapped an arm around her waist and turned with her to place her on her back; his hands went to either side of her head before bringing his right forearm under Raelyn's head while his left hand grabbed her waist. Then slowly he pulled partially out of her, but with the same speed reentered her getting a groan of pain. Alistair continued to do this while kissing her neck, jaw, and lips, but finally her hands pushed against his shoulder blades.

"Alistair," her voice was so quiet, so sweet, so innocent…

Alistair let go of her hip to move it next to her shoulder in hopes of helping him keep stability as he pulled out further and went back in with a little more speed, but instead of a groan of pain he was given a moan of, what he hoped, pleasure. The noise came again as he increased his rhythm of rocks into her. As he pulled out again his arm holding him up gave way and his entrance back into her was moved to an angle; she gasped loudly digging her nails into his skin. His mind began to cloud at the very sound and his own pleasure began to build; he huffed closing his eyes.

Raelyn hooked her legs around Alistair's pulling him in deeper with each thrust; she arched her head back exposing her neck to his lips, "Alistair." The quiet was vanishing, the sweetness now passionate, and the innocence now needing.

Alistair kissed her again, but this time mainly to keep them as quiet as he could in their moment of lust. Their hearts hammered against the other's chest and their breathing increased along with Alistair's thrusts. Alistair's lips could no longer concentrate on the kiss he had been attempting to control, but instead they fell open to let out a small moan. She regained control of the kiss holding his face tightly as their breath and moans mingled, but finally her hold went limp and the hands returned to his back drawing warm liquid from the skin; her face drew together and she gave another sound mixed between a grunt and a gasp. She tightened around Alistair sending the male Warden over the edge into bliss with her right in harmony. He collapsed completely on top of her.

Raelyn's arms slipped to the ground as she gasped to regain breath lost from their activity; Alistair doing the same, but finally he began to chuckle slightly, "What…are…you laughing at?"

Alistair pressed off the ground, slid out of her and got out from between her legs to sit down looking out at the water, "That was the most energy I've used throughout this whole Blight. You are definitely a battle to be won, but I'll fight that any day…"

Raelyn's arms came around his waist and her cheek pressed against his back, "Did they teach you that in the Chantry?"

Alistair laughed again, "Yeah, right."

Raelyn sighed, "My mother would never let me live this down if she were still alive…sex before marriage."

"I think she would've understood," Alistair turned his head slightly to look at the top of hers, "Because like you said: When are we going to have any other time?"

She tilted her head to look up at him, "This was not at all how imagined it would be."

Alistair frowned slightly, "Pardon?"

"I always imagined my husband carrying me into our bedroom and romancing me right out of my clothes, but this…" Raelyn's eyes seemed to sparkle with joy, "but then I met you and, bless the Maker, Alistair, I didn't care about any of that, I just knew I wanted to be with you."

"See my idea of how my first time included…well, never," Alistair admitted, "Because frankly…I never thought I'd meet someone, but then there was you. The girl who swooped in and stole my ability to think straight."

"I thought swooping was bad?" Raelyn smirked.

Alistair smiled, "Depends on the thing swooping. You, my dear, are the greatest thing that can swoop."

"How charming," Raelyn rolled her eyes ready to add more when a gust of wind brushed over them making her shiver, "Oh my…"

Alistair frowned at the non-seeable wind before unlatching Raelyn's arms to stand up; pulling her with, "C'mon."

Moments later they were both wiped clean by the sheet and dressed in their armor heading back to the fire hand in hand. They stopped by her bedroll and he kissed her cheek softly before going to his own already unrolled blankets. He lied down and stared at the black sky for what only seemed to be seconds as his eyelids grew heavy drawing in a deep, dreamless sleep with the taste of a noble still on his tongue.

)()~()~()~()~()(

And the day draws to a close…

Alistair remembered waking up the next day trying to convince his mind that it was all a dream and the he needed to stop thinking of Raelyn that way, but then she smiled a smile so sweet that even the evilest of men would grovel at her feet and beg for forgiveness; the smile was meant for him. It was when he knew it had happened. All of it. He went to her, picked her off the ground, and spun her around making her laugh and the others stare in slight confusion…he didn't care.

"Alistair," the king jumped in his chair hitting his book off the table. The person who had startled him sighed, "You would think that after all that time in the Blight, you'd be less jumpy."

"Well. I'm not used to elderly mages sneaking up on me in the library," Alistair didn't look back at her and instead leaned forward resting his elbows on the table, followed by his face into his hands, "What do you want, Wynne?"

"Don't use that tone of voice with me," Wynne hissed.

Alistair sighed and lifted his head to exuberantly reply with exaggeration, "What can I possibly do for you on this glorious day, Wynne?" He threw her a fake smile over his shoulder, but he didn't see anger in her face only powerful concern, "Please don't look at me like that."

"I'm worried about you," she admitted faintly, "Morrigan, came to talk to me."

"Morrigan, yes, about her…Why is she here anyways? I thought she left before our huge battle against the archdemon? Said she'd never return, yet she did. Right afterwards. No help given, just a sad sorry to add with all the others given to me along with that stupid, blasted rose."

"She came back because she believed she had to do something in return for leaving," Wynne stated, "She gave you that rose because it was the one thing Raelyn kept with her always…the one thing she refused to leave behind."

"It mocks me with its never dying life every morning, Wynne. For the past three years I have gotten up, stared at it, and wondered how such a small thing could live for so long, something that should have died long ago. Why can something so insignificant have the ability to live while she doesn't! Why can't either of you bring her back!"

"There was a chance to do so," Wynne walked further into the room, "Not bring her back, but stop her from dying; stop both of you from dying."

"Both of us…if only I had knew then what I know now," Alistair stood up shaking his head to turn towards Wynne, "Why didn't I know that then?"

"Alistair, what did Riordan tell you?" Wynne asked him the one question she never asked, because she was afraid of hurting him by doing so.

Alistair stared at her silently for a minute then slowly responded, "I…didn't go see Riordan."

"What?" Wynne hadn't known this. In all these years she assumed Alistair went with Raelyn to speak to the eldest Grey Warden at the time and he had lied to them…for years she had hated a dead man for something he didn't do, "What do you mean you didn't go?"

"Eamon wanted to speak with me," Alistair dropped his head, "I told Raelyn I'd be along shortly if she would wait, but she told me she'd go and talk to Riordan then tell me about it afterwards. So afterwards came. She came to my bedroom looking ashen, shook, and scared. I asked her of what he said to her, but she held up a finger. I waited for ten minutes in silence as she sat on my bed, thinking…just thinking. Finally she looked at me and said, 'I love you, Alistair. You know that, right?' I thought it was a stupid question and began to laugh, but the severity on her face cut me short, she was serious. I knelt down in front of her and took her hand telling her that yes I did know, and that I loved her too. She touched my cheek with a frail smile then told me of how the archdemon can die only by the hands of Riordan or her. I didn't understand at first, but then she told me of the ultimate sacrifice…the sacrifice which would end either of their lives. I grew frantic, stood up and demanded to know why I didn't make that list. She stood up to hold my face, Maker did she have this way of calming me down; she looked at me with those sad, begging eyes and said that it was my blood. Why did I believe that? How did I believe that? I feel so stupid to have believed that!"

"She was a master of persuasion, Alistair," Wynne replied softly, "She tricked even the best of us into believing what was good for us."

Alistair didn't respond.

"And what of Morrigan?"

Alistair snorted, lifted his head, and crossed his arms, "Morrigan. Right, the one who could save her? Raelyn said that before coming to my room she had spoken to Morrigan about a ritual, a blood ritual. She said that the ritual could save her life if it came to her needing to kill the archdemon, a ritual which concluded in me bedding Morrigan. She explained it all to me about the archdemon, the soul, the vessel, the child…my child. It didn't make sense again because that child would contain my blood, blood the archdemon would refuse…Raelyn said that it was the darkspawn blood still new in my body which would make up most of the 'Old God' Morrigan wanted."

"You didn't do it because it would've been your bastard child?"

"No, that wasn't it at all," Alistair shook his head frantically, but then stopped sighing, "It was part of the reason…the main reason was because Raelyn didn't want me to do it. I tried to convince her otherwise that she'd have to…just in case Riordan fell. She wouldn't have it, she in return convinced me that he wouldn't and she'd live on to be my Queen, my wife. We went to Morrigan together; I told her that I wasn't going to go through with the ritual. She said that we were taking a great risk by not doing it, Raelyn said there was no risk and she knew what she was doing. Morrigan didn't fight it any further and said good-bye then left. Raelyn and I returned to my bedroom where she reassured me one last time that all would be fine, that tomorrow would be a victory…tomorrow after it was all over she would be at my side. We spent the night holding each other…if I had known…if I had only known," Alistair choked back a cry of anger, "Had I only know that, that was going to be our last night together I would've told her exactly how I felt, how much I loved her, how much I needed her, and how much I was willing to give up to have her live."

"She wanted you to live so you—"

"Could be King," Alistair glared slightly at her, "I know, but what does it matter? I go do all that ruling nonsense only to come back and realize just how broken I am without her. She was to rule at my side, Wynne...she was mine to hold every night until both of our times came, and she was to be the mother of my children, my heirs; heirs the Eamon and the Council all say are needed just in case something were to happen to me. But do you know what I'd have to do in order to have an heir?"

"Marry."

"Find a woman, marry her, bed her, and all for what? A child that everyone else thinks is so damn important?"

"It would be your child."

"It would be the child of someone I don't love."

"Have you considered that maybe Raelyn would want you to move on?"

Alistair gawked at her, "Even if I knew that answer I wouldn't be able to. The mother of my unborn children lies lifeless under dirt and stone…not walking around living her life. I told them that if I were to die Connor would take over in my place."

"Are you sure about that?"

"It's better than their plan."

"They want you, too, to be happy."

Alistair sneered walking towards her then past; stopping at the door, "Of all people, Wynne, I thought you'd be the most understanding…" With that the bitter king left the aging mage in silence.

Alistair made it to his bedroom only to grab a chair and toss it against the wall breaking it into many pieces; he looked around finding another doing the same. He went next for the mirror on the wall throwing it onto the floor causing it to shatter sending shards everywhere. His hands went next to the books on a shelf whipping them across the room shouting loudly as he did so. His emotions had escalated to a maximum level of sadness threatening with needles at his tear ducts. He huffed angrily crossing to where his sword leant in a corner, he unsheathed it and went towards the glass dome on the side table; he lifted the sword above his head and readjusted his grip staring down at it. His fingers fixed on a new position on the handle as his eyes burned and heart bled with anger, "Why did you leave me, Rae? Why did you have to die?"

The rose stayed motionless in its glass imprisonment as snow fell silently around it.

Alistair collapsed to his knees; the sword falling to the ground next to him. He stared at the only thing left of her and the loneliness of three years finally crashed down on him, "Every day brings me light, but every day brings me darkness for in the darkening hours I think of you; it is then when I miss you the most. Here I am, once again finding myself thinking of you, with each hour the sun sets closer to darkness, with each hour I am longer without you, with each hour my heart breaks more, with each hour the light disappears and the day draws to a close…"

A/N: Hey you finished reading it! Sweet! Now...review. ;D