Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Age...though a real Alistair wouldn't hurt to have around...

A/N: Once again one of the conversations belongs to the game, but it fit and I giggle every time so yeah. Anywho, I guess I should tell you where those random lines are coming from (When the silence beckons, etc...) Anathema's song Inner Silence...(Anathema is the life and soul of music for me. Their son One Last Good-Bye is a great reason behind this too)...I thought I'd share.

"Easy there son, you might break your sword in two if you don't lie off on that pressure," Oghern grunted grabbing Alistair's wrist prying the hand off the blade's end in hopes of the kid not destroying, but Alistair didn't move or respond, "Hey, kid." Oghern turned his head in the direction the Warden was looking and chuckled slightly to see Raelyn and Zevran a few yards off. Zevran stood behind the girl with his hands around her wrists, chest against her back, chin just above her shoulder, and whispering into her ear as he moved her arms carefully in different directions. This is what the Assassin called teaching, "That elf is quite the charmer, is he not?"

"I wouldn't know," Alistair said through clenched teeth bringing his hand back to the blade resting it atop the cloth there and pressing his back harder against the tree behind him.

"If he keeps it up he might get lucky," Oghern elbowed him in the side, "If you catch my meaning."

Alistair's face grew intense with a violent glare directed at the Antivan elf, "He won't."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that, he's going to go for the ol' sliding hands trick," Oghern nodded towards him, "Watch."

Alistair did so with great restraint as the elf's hands slid up the noble's arms, down her shoulders, around her waist, and slowly up her stomach; the silverite chainmail making it difficult to feel the hands' presence. After that it all happened so quick that neither Alistair nor Oghern had time to blink and register it.

Zevran shook his head out and propped himself up on his elbows to look up at the furious Warden standing over him, "Oh, so you like it rough?"

Raelyn crossed her arms over her chest, "I like it all sorts of ways, but not when it includes having to cheat."

"Cheat? Who said anything about cheating?" Zevran scoffed, "I'm not married or seeing anybody."

"I didn't mean you," Raelyn's eyes narrowed in bitterness.

"Don't try playing the marriage trick on me," Zevran said smugly, "I know when a girl is married…and you are not, besides I don't smile upon cheating either."

Raelyn turned towards Alistair and Oghern, dropped her arms, and started towards them.

"Oh, this can't be good," Oghern muttered watching the advancing female, "Quick, make like we weren't watching." He went back to fervently cleaning his axe, but Alistair kept his eyes on Raelyn.

Alistair moved the sword off his lap placing it on the ground to stand up straight slowly so that when she was in front of him he didn't have to talk up at her, but talking wasn't her intentions as she became within an arm's reach of him. Instantly she was pulling his face to hers kissing him with so much built up anger that it raged a part of Alistair's mind causing him to spin her around and slam her into the large trunk of the tree.

Oghern snickered, "I think he got farther than you elf."

Zevran snorted loudly, "Ha! Maybe this round, but the next I'll have her singing to Andraste."

"Really, because from the looks of that," Oghern jabbed his thumb in the air towards the two, "I'd think he'd already had."

"A mere bastard raised in the Chantry?"

"That's royal bastard to you," Alistair said loudly between his lips leaving hers to go after her neck.

"Oh, how lovely I just ate dinner and now I can see it again after I vomit," Morrigan had just entered the area and her voice pried the two Wardens apart, "Some of us would like to keep our suppers down, and not become ill."

"And some of us would like to get you a muzzle," Alistair mumbled keeping his eyes connected with Raelyn's, "But that can't always be the solution, so if you don't mind I'm going to kill two birds with one stone here." Alistair went to kiss her again, but this time much softer and caring.

"Can't I leave you children alone for one minute?" Wynne's voice broke the two apart again, "It seems no matter what or where we are, you are all always bickering."

"We only bicker because we care," Zevran said from the ground.

"What are you doing on the ground?" Wynne asked.

"I was rejected…can I cry on your bosom?" Zevran grinned.

Wynne sighed ignoring him to look at Oghern, "Aren't you the eldest here? Shouldn't you be doing your best to keep them in order?"

"I'm a warrior not a babysitter lady," Oghern grumbled standing up, "I came here to fight, not play daddy to a bunch of young pups."

"You know what!" Alistair voiced, "I have a solution."

"As do I," Wynne folded her arms across her chest.

"But—"

Wynne held up a finger, "I need to speak with Raelyn about the matters of returning to the Circle and ask them about the Dwarf girl we spoke to."

Raelyn slid past Alistair not saying anything.

"Why can't you talk to us all?" Alistair asked.

"Because I want to talk to her about it just being the two of us traveling there," Wynne responded.

"What?" Alistair gaped, "Are you mad? There's thousands of darkspawn out there!"

"And we'll be fine," Wynne sighed looking at Raelyn, "Can we talk, please?"

"I can't let you go out there by yourselves," Alistair stood his ground.

"We won't be leaving until morning," Wynne dropped her arms, "We'll discuss it as a party then, but for now I must speak to Raelyn."

"Rae," Alistair tried, but the girl touched his arm sympathetically then followed Wynne away from them all.

"You must not be a good enough—" Zevran, who had walked over at one point, stopped short at the glare given by Alistair, "I'm just going to go over by the fire."

"I think I'm going to go find Sten, a little quiet might do my mind well," Morrigan left quickly.

Alistair's eyes found Raelyn one last time before she vanished inside Wynne's tent. He cursed under his breath and turned to trump further away from camp, but he didn't expect to be followed.

"So. With the boss, aye?" Oghern's question caught Alistair off guard almost causing him to trip over his own feet.

"Pardon?"

"You and the boss," Oghern nodded back towards the tents, "Rolling your oats."

"I don't know—"

"Polishing the footstones."

"—what you're—"

"Tapping the midnight still, if you will."

Alistair finally stopped walking to stand in front of the dwarf; crossing his arms, "What are you going on about?"

Oghern shrugged, "Forging the moaning statue. Bucking the forbidden horse," he smirked slyly, "Donning the velvet hat."

Alistair closed his eyes and drew his face together in awkward realization, "Are you making those up right now?"

"Nope," Oghern beamed, "Been saving 'em."

Alistair nodded licking his lips, "Right, right…well thank you for sharing them with me…it was…enlightening to know that there is so many different ways to ask such a question."

"No need to thank me," Oghern kept his grin as Alistair turned to keep walking; Oghern right next to him, "So, uh, what did you do with her legs?"

Alistair looked down at him, "Whose legs?"

"Her legs," Oghern rolled his eyes pointing a finger over his shoulder, but he sighed dropping the arm, "That's the problem with dwarven legs. They're useless as an accessory."

Alistair didn't understand at first being as Raelyn wasn't dwarven, but human, and as for her legs, "I didn't do anything with them. I don't know what—"

"Ah," Oghern held up a hand, "Say no more. Just got 'em outta the way and went about your business," Oghern chuckled nodding in approval, "Good on, son."

"Uhm," Alistair cleared his throat, "Thanks."

Oghern chuckled, "You got yourself a mighty fine woman there, boy, but I'd watch your back if I were you. I think that elf has his eyes on her and if you don't want her 'tra-la-la-ing' through a field of flowers I suggest you up your game."

"And why do you care?"

"That elf gives me this dreadful feeling inside," Oghern shivered, "and I don't like him hanging around…so far I think it's only because of her."

"I told Rae we should've left him for dead, but…"

"But she's a good soul, yeah, a brave one at that," Oghern sighed, "He's shifty. I don't trust him. You shouldn't either."

"Trust me when I say I don't," Alistair growled quietly.

"You realize that tomorrow we can't let them go off by themselves, right?" Oghern asked.

"So you agree with me?"

"Hell, we all agree with you, but that witch is too stubborn to admit it, the elf too much of an ass, the Qunari too quiet, and the dog don't speak English."

"Then why is Wynne so set on just the two of them?"

Oghern stopped walking, "You can't see it?"

Alistair stopped a few feet ahead of him and looked back, "See what?"

"She's trying to put space between the two of you."

"Space?" Alistair snorted, "You all just found out about us!"

"Ha! We've known for some time now!" Oghern beamed.

"You just got here three days ago!" Alistair pointed out.

"It doesn't take Andraste's ghost to see there's something between you two," Oghern kept the smile, "The way you look at her when you think no one is watching reminds me of when I first meet Branka. Pure infatuation is what you hold."

"Infatu—no—this isn't something that just sprung on me because she was willing to take me, no…it's been building inside me since the moment I met her. I'm not infatuated."

"Then what are you?" Oghern crossed his arms.

"I'm—I'm," Alistair dropped his head, "I'm not sure…"

The wind blew through the trees in the midst of the silence letting the younger of the two sort through his thoughts, but finally he found words; he lifted his head, "Why are you helping me?"

"I lost my Branka because I couldn't protect her," Oghern's facial features hardened, "and I loved her. I want you to decide what you feel towards this girl so that you can realize just how much you are willing to do to protect her."

Alistair stared at him in small shock. He'd been unaware of this side of Oghern, sure they've known each other for such a short amount of time, but the small warrior was brutal and cold, not careful and warm. It was strange, but Alistair took the help with a nod, "Thank you, Oghern."

"Ah," Oghern waved his hands at him, "Don't get all sympathetic on me." He pointed a finger at him, "Now, we never had this conversation…understand?"

"Understood," Alistair promised, "Wouldn't want the rest of camp to find out you're actually a big softy."

Oghern growled.

Alistair held his hands up in defense, "Alright, I'm sorry. I take it back."

Oghern smirked, "Just be careful."

"I will," Alistair lowered his arms slowly ready to add more when a new voice entered the equation from a ways off.

"Alistair!"

The two looked towards the direction of the voice then back at the other and Oghern sighed, "Go on."

Alistair nodded thanks then hurried back towards the camp coming out a few feet from where Raelyn was calling for him.

"There you are," Raelyn smiled slyly walking towards him; "I was beginning to worry that you ran off to rejoin the Chantry."

Alistair smiled largely, "They wouldn't accept me back, besides I don't want to go back. What do you need, my dear?"

She stopped fully in front of him, "Would you care to share a tent this fine evening?"

Alistair's heart soared at the question and he swallowed nervously, "Share? As in—"

"As in you and me," her hands slid up his splintmill armor, "together in one tent," her hands went to his neck pulling it down so to allow her lips to brush over his, "alone…"

Alistair closed his eyes and leaned into her, but she pulled back dropping her hands sighing heavily.

"Though I guess if you don't want to," she reached her arms above her head stretching them, "I could just go to sleep."

"But I'm tentless," Alistair pouted dramatically.

"Not my problem," she turned with a smile going to her tent leaving Alistair with his jaw dropped.

"Did I say something wrong?" Alistair called after her, "Wrong flirtatious step?"

"Well you're no Dairren!" Raelyn shouted back just as she disappeared into her tent.

"Dairren?" Alistair's brow drew together, "Now who the hell is that?" He walked over to the tent and crawled in without wait, "Who's Dairren?"

Raelyn looked over her shoulder at him, "Don't you know how to knock?"

"Did you want me to go back out and knock on the cloth?" Alistair raised his eyebrows.

"There's no need to be smart," she looked back the other way taking her gloves off.

"Who's Dairren?" Alistair asked again.

"He was a squire to my father before the Blight," Raelyn started next on the armor on her shoulders, "A squire who was set on flattering me."

"And did it work?"

"It would've," Raelyn sighed, "if it weren't for Arl Howe's men attacking us and killing him. I'd only managed to kiss him before everything went to hell."

"Oh," Alistair felt a sudden wave of uneasiness wash over him.

"I guess you could say that one day I might've married him," Raelyn admitted, "but…you know…that couldn't happen."

"No, I suppose not," Alistair bit his lip.

Raelyn must've sensed the sudden change of mood in him and she spun back around slowly onto all fours crawling towards him, "Are you jealous of Dairren?"

"What?" Alistair forced a laugh, "I'm not jealous of a dead man; that would be absurd."

"Then stop acting as such," Raelyn ordered calmly, "and get undressed so we can sleep."

"Sleep? That exists in this camp?" Alistair gasped.

"Don't be a bastard," Raelyn crawled backwards to finish getting undressed.

"I was born that way," Alistair stated turning back to tie the tent shut, "Besides I thought it was more thrilling to know this about me, at least that's what you told me way back when we started this whole adventure."

"Alistair, can you stop talking?" She asked the question sweetly with harshness to it and Alistair abided without hurt.

Once Alistair had finally removed his own armor he looked back at Raelyn to see her propped up on her elbows staring at him, "What?"

She gave him a cunning smile, "Nothing."

Alistair licked his lips and moved to sit next to her; he started to draw his knees up when Raelyn swung a leg over him to straddle his hips, "Oh, hello there."

"What's wrong?" Raelyn rested her hands on his shoulders to stare at him with intensity.

"Nothing, why do you ask?" Alistair answered.

"You seem out of place," Raelyn gently touched his cheek, "Did I do something wrong?"

"No, Maker's breath," Alistair reached up to hold her face, "You've done nothing wrong."

"Then what is the matter?"

"I-I…" Alistair sighed dropping his hands, "I guess lots of things…"

Raelyn moved her hands to his chest staying quiet, waiting.

"First there's this going to the Circle tomorrow with only you and Wynne," Alistair started, "She's doing it on purpose, you know? Making you leave me behind."

"Alistair, I take you everywhere," Raelyn smiled softly, "What makes you think I'm going to leave you behind?"

"So, does she know this?"

"Yes," Raelyn sighed, "Though she doesn't like the idea in the least…"

"She'll get over it," Alistair said.

"So, what else is bothering you?"

"We got all of our allies," Alistair answered.

"And that bothers you?" Raelyn lifted an eyebrow.

"No, no," Alistair groaned, "It means we have to return to Redcliffe and speak to Arl Eamon."

"And that's bad?" Raelyn's face stayed in a confused demeanor.

"Well, kind of yes," Alistair admitted, "Because that means the Landsmeet…which in return means…"

"Trying to convince everyone to make you King," Raelyn filled in, "And that's the last thing you want."

"Exactly," Alistair agreed, "My life isn't with high nobles and councils, ruling the kingdom. My life is with the Grey Wardens…with you."

"Ferelden needs you as their King," Raelyn hushed.

"What about you? I can't have you cast me aside like that."

"Who said I'd be the one casting?" Raelyn asked quietly.

Alistair let it ponder in his head staring into her saddening eyes, "Oh," his realization sprung him, "You think that…"

She only looked at him.

"No, I would never," Alistair whispered.

"You might not get that choice," Raelyn forced a smile, "You might end up having to marry some high Arl's noble daughter."

"I don't want to marry some girl," Alistair muttered, "I don't even know if I ever want to get married, but that doesn't change the fact I want to stay with you."

"You're changing the subject," Raelyn inhaled, "Alistair, you must become King for the greater good of Ferelden and you mustn't worry of what will happen to me if that goes through."

"So in other words we might as well stop with…with whatever this is and go back to being just Wardens?" something inside Alistair started to pull and strain, "Act like we never fell for each other in the midst of the Blight, pretend we never kissed, forget what happened only days ago? If you're implying that…I don't think I could do that."

"That's not what I mean at all," Raelyn's brow drew together in frustration, "Why must you assume I'm going to just leave you like some whore who was looking for a thrill?" she pushed off his chest to get off of him and crawled a foot away; turning her back to him, "I'm not like that. When are you going to see that?"

Alistair closed his eyes, "I know you're not like that, I never thought you were, but I don't understand what you're trying to tell me."

She looked at him turning her body as she did so to rest on her knees, "Then let me explain because I don't want that to happen." Her eyes had grown large, liquid like, "You've become a part of me, Alistair and there is no way of letting you go. It hurts so much to think of what will happen if you become King. I find myself thinking about it more and more with each passing day, like: What if he bores of me? What if he finds someone else? What if I'm not good enough after all this? What if the Blight is the only thing keeping us together?"

"Blessed Andraste," Alistair cursed quietly and mentally slapped himself for being so stupid. This brave warrior in front of him was crumbling to pieces because he had said the wrong thing; he'd never seen this side of her before…and he didn't know what to do, "Rae…I would never…"

"Alistair, please…let's just not talk about it," Raelyn begged turning away again, but this time pulling a blanket with to wrap around her, "I think it be best for the both of us if you slept in your own tent."

"Raelyn, don't do this," Alistair said calmly, "We'll stop talking about it, but don't kick me out…I'm already undressed and don't have my tent set up yet."

"Then I'll go somewhere else."

"Where?"

"I don't know. Morrigan's tent. Wynne's tent," she eyed him cautiously over her shoulder, "Zevran's tent…"

Alistair sighed, "I guess this can't wait."

"What can't wait?" Raelyn tried to make it sound like she was barely interested, but her eyes sparkled with curiosity.

"I was going to wait until it was just the two of us," Alistair paused, "In happier terms, but it can't wait any longer." He reached up behind his neck to unhook the chain connected to his mother's amulet, "When I was little this elderly woman who served Arl Eamon told me of how one day when I was older I would meet this woman and she'd be like no other before her. She'll be smart, beautiful, strong, ravishing, and keeping me on my toes with every word. This woman, she had said, will become the essence of my mind," he held the chain in one hand staring at the amulet, "and not thinking of her will become close to nearly impossible. I told her she was daft and that I wasn't going to find someone. She put a hand on my shoulder smiling gently and said 'Alistair, when you meet this girl, when you know what she is worth to you, nothing you already have in your possession will be worth more than her to your heart. She will become that prized item of your soul…be sure that she knows this…make sure she knows you care about her'. Once again I called her dim-witted and ridiculous, but she only smiled and patted me on the head. I was too young to understand back then, but it never left me," Alistair looked at Raelyn, "and now I finally understand what she meant."

Raelyn blinked in silence, but slowly turned around still clutching the blanket tight to her.

"I-I want you to have this," Alistair held it out to her until she revealed a pale hand for him to drop it in, "It has been the most cherished thing in my life since you found it for me, but then…I opened my eyes to everything else and finally saw you."

Raelyn's eyes gazed at the amulet and she bit her lip biting back advancing tears. She ran her other hand over it, "Alistair…"

Alistair reached over to gently take it from her hands and waited as she turned her back to him so he could place it around her neck. Once he had clipped it she turned back towards him and he touched her face, "Maker's breath, you truly are beautiful."

"So you've said," Raelyn a small smile started to reappear on her lips, "Countless number of times, might I add."

Alistair chuckled, "I can't help it."

"Can we forget that we ever had that argument?"

"What argument?"

Raelyn smiled, "Thank you."

"For what? Being suave and cunning?"

"No, more like awkward and nervous," Raelyn giggled.

"I thought we established already that I am neither of those."

"Really is that so?" Raelyn slid a hand to the back of his neck.

"Well, I guess I can be such when I'm around you," Alistair admitted, "but that's because…no, never mind."

"Because why?" Raelyn's left hand rested on Alistair's right shoulder.

"Because I…well you see I," Alistair closed his eyes taking a deep breath, "Because…" he opened them to find himself staring into hers, "Because I love you."

Raelyn's jaw fell slightly and her fingers twitched against his skin. "You do?"

"I think I have for a while, I mean I assumed you had figured that out, but just saying it means so much more. So yes, I love you, Raelyn."

Her eyes lit up with adoration and she kissed him deeply before resting her forehead to his; whispering, "I love you too, Alistair."

Alistair held her face gently and pulled back, "But what about Zevran?"

"What about Zevran?"

"I just, I thought…maybe you and him—"

"Did you not see me knock him to the ground?" Raelyn asked, "Alistair, there is nothing between us! Zevran will try to get with anyone!" She moved her hands to his chest and pressed back on him until he was on his back; she crawled onto him sitting on his hips, "Do you think I would've given myself to you like I did if I had intentions of chasing after an elf?"

"Well, I had to be certain…" Alistair mumbled propping himself up on his elbows, "I wanted to be sure that I was your choice."

"I just confessed my love to you," Raelyn frowned, "Do you not believe me?"

"It's not that, I swear!" Alistair groaned and put a hand over his eyes, "I'm a very jealous man apparently; I never got the chance to be jealous until you…so I hadn't realized it."

"It's alright to be jealous," Raelyn inched her hands up to his shoulders, "Even if it does seem to make you a possessive bastard."

Alistair slid his hand off his face to be met with her waiting eyes; his own drifted to the amulet hanging down from her neck, "Would it be completely wrong of me to say that my only thought at the moment is you wearing nothing, but that amulet?"

Raelyn snickered, "It was your mother's…"

"Yes, I know, but you would look so ravishing with just that on," Alistair lifted an eyebrow, "So, what do you say?"

She leaned forward to whisper in his ear, "Ma nuvenin, emma lath." She leaned back to smile at him.

"Was that Elven for: I don't think so, you idiot?" Alistair asked with a half grin.

Raelyn laughed, "No, it was Elven for: As you wish, my love. Stop ruining the moment."

"Your wish is my command," Alistair grinned.

Sometime later, after the moon had reached its peak in the sky, Raelyn had fallen asleep on Alistair's chest with his arms encasing her waist. She shivered in her sleep and Alistair removed one hand to reach over grabbing the blanket to throw over them, but as he did so her eyes fluttered open to look at him, "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."

"Promise me something, Alistair," her sudden alertness worried the man slightly, but he nodded, "That no matter what happens…we won't forget the other."

"Nothing is going to happen to either us. Don't say—"

"Promise me."

Alistair stayed quiet searching her eyes for an explanation, but found nothing, "Raelyn, darling…"

"Alistair, please."

Alistair gave a grim nod, "Alright, I promise."

"Thank you."

"But now you have to make me a promise."

She waited.

"Promise you won't leave me…"

Raelyn blinked at him, but then he watched as it settled, "Alistair," she pushed off his chest to look at him sadly, "You know I can't make that promise, just as you can't."

"Just promise me…for my mind's sake."

Raelyn's face grew depressed, "I can't."

Alistair sat up forcing her to do the same, "Then promise me you'll try your hardest not to."

Raelyn bit her lip.

"You can promise me that," Alistair pointed out.

Raelyn gave a hesitant pause, but finally spoke, "I promise you Alistair that I will."

Alistair took her hand from his chest to kiss the palm, "Thank you."

They stayed silent for a minute until Raelyn spoke again, "By the way…I don't forgive you for waking me up…even if the cold was more of a factor in it."

Alistair gawked at her, "What? I was only trying to keep you warm."

"No excuses now lie back down," Raelyn demanded sweetly, "I want my pillow back."

Alistair sighed, but did as he was told and as she returned to her previous position the cold of the amulet settled against his skin, but the meaning of it warmed his soul. That locket meant the world to him, but where it was now meant even more to him. To know she would wear it in the middle of this hell was enough for him to know she was the only thing that was more important to him than his own life…

Alistair wrapped his arms around her closing his eyes listening to the dying fire outside the tent and the whispers of the wind in the cool moonlit night. A night he would never forget…

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

When the light of your life sighs…

"You know my friend," Alistair made a noise between a groan and sigh at the intruder entering the room, "if it helps anything I understand what you're going through."

"I really don't need your smartass remarks, Zevran, so please," Alistair dropped his voice, "Go away."

"No need to be harsh," Zevran walked into the study with his hands behind his back.

Alistair looked up from the papers in front of him, "Would you like to know what I'm really sick of?"

"What is that?"

"People coming to check on me as if I'm about to jump off a cliff," Alistair grumbled.

"Would jumping off a cliff help?"

"At this point? Maybe, but am I? It's an option," Alistair's sarcasm had no effect on the elf.

"And this is why we check on you," Zevran grinned, "So, what were you thinking about?"

"It doesn't concern you," Alistair looked back at the papers.

"Ah, but it might help to speak your mind," Zevran pointed out.

"No, but it'll help to know why the hell you all are here?" Alistair hissed, "I understand why Wynne is here, but you, Morrigan…"

"Oghern and Leliana," Zevran added.

"Wait, those two are here?" Alistair paled looking at him.

"Yes, actually they are in the kitchen," Zevran confirmed.

"Why can't you all just leave me alone?" Alistair asked.

"You whine a lot for a king," Zevran's nose bunched up on his face, "It is very non-royal like."

"Good thing I'm only half royal," Alistair glared, "And I do not whine a lot."

"My mistake," Zevran put his hands behind his back, "Just most of the time."

"If you're trying to help me feel better, it's not working," Alistair stated.

"Then tell me what you were thinking about," Zevran probed, but Alistair brought his eyes back to his paper and the Antivan frowned sighing, "I'm not leaving until you do."

Alistair moved a piece of paper to examine another ignoring the once assassin as he roamed about the study; unaware that he had stopped to stare at one particular painting.

"She truly was beautiful," Zevran said getting his attention again.

Alistair forced himself not to look that way.

"Did you tell her that often?"

"Countless number of times."

"I think she really began to shine after receiving your mother's amulet," Zevran glanced back at Alistair to see the young king staring at the picture, "She cherished it, just as she did that rose."

Alistair swallowed.

Zevran returned his gaze to the painting of the beautiful Grey Warden; she was staring off into the distance donned in a long white gown appearing to stand on a hill. By her feet resting against her leg was a shield with the Cousland family crest painted on it, in her right hand she held the Cousland family sword, her left hand rested on her breastbone just below his mother's amulet, and finally just above her ear was the blood red rose that of which he gave her. The painting was given to him by Leliana after she had returned from her own adventures…the painting was like the statue Oghern had made for him: beautiful, remarkable, but nothing close to what his Raelyn was like…they were just stills of her frozen in time…just as her body would forever be since First Enchanter Irving encased it, stopping the decaying process.

"Leliana did a marvelous job," Zevran said.

"That she did," Alistair agreed half-heartedly as his eyes had become entranced by the girl's face, "Blessed Andraste…"

Zevran lifted an eyebrow, "So what were you thinking about?"

"The only thing I ever think about," Alistair answered, "Her. All I do is think about her."

"Anything specific to her?"

"What you mentioned earlier," Alistair didn't look at him, "When I gave her my mother's amulet…that night…I promised I'd never forget her, that's why I can't."

"You also don't want to."

"Of course I don't…but with each passing day she seems to be leaving me."

"Maybe it's a sign to move on with your life."

"No," Alistair's hands slammed down on the desk, "Why does everyone keep telling me that?"

"Because it is, well, what is best for you," Zevran turned to see Alistair standing with his hands on the desk leaning forward, "We want you to be happy again."

"Happy?"

"We want the old Alistair back," Zevran clarified, "The weird, strange, unusual one that Wynne grandmothered, Morrigan hated, Oghern teased, Leliana gossiped about, and the one that annoyed me because of his hair. We want that Alistair back."

"Right, you know that doesn't help your case," Alistair said.

Zevran shrugged, "It was worth a shot. No, but seriously," Zevran held his hands up slightly, "maybe you should move on. If you want I can give you the names of a few ladies who are more than willing to help our beloved king."

"You want me to be happy again, all of you?" Alistair asked.

Zevran smiled, "It would be nice, yes."

Alistair nodded and stood up straight, he stayed still for a second then went to the door, but stopped to respond, "Bring her back to me…that's what will make me happy."

"We can't do that, my friend, I am sorry."

"Then," Alistair looked at him, "stop trying to fix what none of you can mend."

"You aren't trying," Zevran said sternly.

"I don't want to try and move on," Alistair hissed, "If I do that, I'll forget her!"

"Is that what you're worried about?" Zevran asked.

Alistair flushed slightly.

"Oh, Alistair," Zevran sighed shaking his head, "You will never forget her, none of us expect you to forget her because frankly neither can we…no one in Ferelden can forget her, but that doesn't mean you can't go on in life and find happiness."

"But what if I don't want to?"

"Well, then…we can't say we didn't try."

"No, I guess not," Alistair glanced at the picture one last time before leaving the room.

"There was this old Antivan story," Zevran's voice stopped him again, "that I heard a lot when I was younger. It spoke of how one's happiness can never be fully returned to them after they lose someone dear to them, but as time heals…so do they. But that is only half of the story, the other half speaks of how when someone decides to not let go of the past they will grow with it dragging behind them bringing hate, despair, and sadness. They won't notice or see this until it is too late, it'll be in that final moment, my friend that you will understand and wish you could change how you behaved after her death."

Alistair continued walking.

"And as the story's last few lines went: 'In your last fleeting moment on this earth will be when you will regret your past and wish to change who you were, it'll be then, only then, that you wish you could go back…but it'll be too late…for you become death itself when the light of your life sighs…"

A/N: You know what you should do? Review.