I fiddled with the silver in my hand as I watched them. Watched him. After all these years, he still hasn't changed, well that much. He still was tall as I remembered, same messed up blonde hair, and same clear lake blue eyes. I couldn't help but feel the pain in me start to rise when he started to down another pint of mead. I did this to him.

"Need another drink?"

"No." I said without missing a beat, placing my hand over my mug. I flipped a coin at the bar maid though as I said, "But if that one wants another one, its on me." The least I could do after all.

The bar maid nodded her curly head of hers.

"And give this note to the red head sitting next to him." I placed a piece of parchment on the table with two silvers on top of it. Without saying another word, I turned and left not wanting to see Alistair try to drown his sorrows in another pint. I needed to talk to Leliana about where she should take Alistair next, and what to pay her. I knew she was getting tired of taking care of a drunk mess, and that I should try to talk to him about what had happened. That maybe, just maybe he would understand.

"He's not an idiot Arleta. He would understand why you did what you did."

"That I knew that when a Grey Warden killed an Archdemon, that Grey Warden dies? And I conscripted Loghain, so that when we fought the Archdemon Loghain could bring honor back to his name? That I only cared for his safety and mine, so that somewhere in the future he could forgive me and we can live happily ever after? Somehow I don't think he, nor anyone else but you can understand...."

I took off the hood, and let the cool autumn wind swirl around me. Somehow this always calmed me, just closing my eyes and breathing in the autumn air. Then as everything must, this moment ended with a swift thud of a door.

I jumped, taken by surprise, and I quickly put my hood back on before I forgot, and quickly walked away from the tavern. Too many fights with Oghren in the past has taught me that standing around, or not walking away fast enough, lands you in a fight no matter what. And tonight, the last thing anyone needed, let alone me, was my fist in someone's eye.

"Commander...?"

I didn't look up from my desk as I wrote a letter to Wynne telling her about how much I hated the palace life to care about who wanted to talk to me. So, as always I just waved them in.

"What is it this time?" I asked, holding out my hand waiting for either a letter from the Queen asking for my presence, a small quest I might have to do, a love letter from a noble, or on the rare occasions, nothing.

"The Queen requests that you meet her in her Royal Rooms for an important matter."

I closed my eyes, and took in a deep breath. This was the fourth time this week that she has had requested my presence by the Maker's ear!

"What is it this time...did she loose that pesky Nug that the Dwarven trader from Orzammar gave her?" I closed my hand around not one, but two letters.

"What's this?" I asked looking at the other note, throwing the Queen's letter on the floor next to my feet.

The letter didn't contain a seal, and as I opened it I heard the messanger say, "From me. Who else?" Confused I turned to see Zevran standing beside me smiling.

"You little! It is soo good to see you!" I then stood up and hugged the assassin.

"I wish I could say the same." He said with a smile as I let him go. "Tisk, tisk Warden. I come to the palace to see you, and here you are not having a court scandal." I laughed at him as he shook his head.

"Later, I promise." I winked at him as I sat back down into my chair. "Sit! Sit! I must hear what my favorite assassin has done recently!"

"I would love to sit, chit-chat, and maybe something else with you, but alas, the Queen has sent for me. Thinking that I was but to woe her then to my marvouls surprise I heard that you would be joining us, I came here as fast as I could."

"Wait...the Queen has asked for you too? What could she want?"

"I do not know. Only that it could stem from the rebellion that had just been...quieted a few days ago."

"Yes...in West Hill...I heard." I shook my head. Yet another rebellion in Alistair's name. This was getting harder, and harder to convince Queen Anora that he has nothing to do with it.

"Well, the sooner this is over, the sooner I get to hear more glorious tales of you're travels my friend, " I put my arm around his shoulder as we walked out of my room.

"Do we have to talk about that? I was hoping, you know...not to talk?"

"Maybe after a few drinks," I winked as we made our way down the vast halls of the palace. "You still can't get me that easily."

"I know. I just wish sometimes that I could be more like Alistair. Whatever he did worked, no?"

I didn't answer right away as that question caught me off guard. Zevran along with Oghren, Wynne, and Leliana knew that I still loved Alistair. That and they knew why I did what I did. If they still approve or not, they know why.

"It did." I finally answered as we rounded a corner. I sighed. "It still does." I couldn't look at him after that. And we didn't talk for the rest of the way to the Queen's chamber. Even though it was only a short walk, it seemed forever in that silence. I lost count of how many times they all have told me to either forget him and move on, or to tell him the truth.

"Commander Arleta of the Grey Wardens, and Zevran Arainai here on Queen's orders." I looked at each of the guards, and after looking at the note that the Queen had given me, they opened the door, and let us pass.

"Security is tight. Do they fear assassins?" whispered Zevran as we walked up to the Queen.

I shrugged my shoulders right before we bowed to the Queen.

In the four years of being the lone regent of Ferelden, Queen Anora looked like she had aged more then all of us after the blight. Her fine, golden sun hair, started to fall out in places. And fine lines started to appear around her eyes. She no longer looked energetic, and as strong as she once was. Without a husband, or an heir, her battle for the throne, and the continuation of it had taken more then her youth, it started to take her mind.

"Ah Grey Warden! " she exclaimed giving us a brief smile. "Here you are, I was afraid you had already left for Highever!"

I smiled back as I started to take a few steps forward, "Not ye-"

"No further Grey Warden!" yelled the Queen, holding up her hands as if to stop me. "Sorry..." she giggled as I took a step back in confusion. "For you see, rumors of attempts on my life are flying around this palace to much for mine, or my counselors, comfort. "As you were saying..."

"Not yet you're majesty...I leave in a few days." I bowed again. "If you're highness permits it, I wish to stay there at least a week. Instead of a few days like I had previously asked. For my new sister-in-law is due to have her child soon, and I..."

"Wish to see it? Of course my Warden. How could I keep you from that? But anyways, before you go Warden, I want you and Zevran here to take care of one little problem for me."

Zevran and I quickly exchanged a look before I said, "What favor is that my lady?"

"To kill the threat to my throne. Kill Alistair."