Diana was furious as she led the group up to Redcliffe castle. She noticed Alistair was walking next to her.

"Are you upset by something?" he asked.

"Can't you tell?" She snapped back at him.

"Sorry, I wondered if you needed to talk."

"I..." She slowed her pace. "I'm sorry, I can't talk about it."

"You know where I am if you need to...you know, talk." He touched her arm. She snatched it back like he burnt her.

As they walked into the courtyard, she focused her eyes on the testing ring that the Redcliffe soldiers were training in. She wanted to fight; it was a good way to get her anger out.

When Diana went inside the castle, the arl looked pleased with that she had accomplished, and called for the Landsmeet. They were going to leave for Denerim the next morning.

--

The fellowship was going to stay at the castle for the night before embarkingon their journey. Alistair looked at the complex woman in front of him. Shewas talking to the arl about the Landsmeet, claiming that it would be for the best if Alistair was made king. Eamon agreed. The templar's only thought was that they were going to sleep in comfortable beds for one night, undisturbed. He looked at her body. Maker, she was perfect. Maybe this would be the right time. The thought of having her in his bedroom made his head tingle.

Diana left the castle immdeiately. She went down to the courtyard as soon she was done talking to Eamon. Alistair followed her after Eamon had talked with him about his duty to Ferelden. He saw her sparring down in the castle courtyards with Zevran. She had fiery eyes glaring at him that wanted to kill. He liked that of course, since he didn't care for the elf himself, and assassin had probably done something to upset her otherwise she wouldn't look so angry. He wondered what it could be.

From his perspective it looked like they both danced in a circle, both evadingeach others blows, it was hard to tell who the better opponent was. They looked like twins in their fighting style. Diana looked so angry that Alistair was surprised smoke didn't come out her nose.

He heard Zevran chuckle. "My fair Warden, control that anger of yours, or it could lead to your death one of these days."

She said nothing.

It was silent on the courtyard; he noticed that everyone's eyes were fixed upon those two. There was fury between them that Alistair could not understand.

Diana suddenly rushed towards Zevran, but he didn't look surprised - he knew what to do. He pulled her down with a tight grip on her shoulders, his legs swiping hers away from underneath. He was on top of her, with his dagger at her throat. They were both panting heavily, and he saw Zevran whispering something in her ear. She smacked him in the face and headed towards the castle.

Alistair whistled, but shut up as fast when he saw her glaring eyes at him.

Wynne was healing Zevran's bruise on his face. "I wonder what you said to make her that upset." She commented while waving her hand inches from the assassin's eye, blue magic erupted from her fingers.

"You will never find that out, my fair Wynne." was his reply. "And may I say something, my dear mage? Your bosom looks even better this close up. I should get punched more often if it leads to being closer to that marvellous bosom!"

Wynne continued her healing, sighing heavily.

"Why are you healing him?" Alistair asked. He crossed his arms, frowning.

"He probably deserved what he got."

Zevran shot a glance at him. "Oh, no doubt I did," he said.

"What did you say to her?"

"Is that really your business, my good friend?" The Antivan chuckled.

"I'm not your good friend!" He said through gritted teeth.

Zevran smiled mischievously at the templar. "If you must know, ask her. Maybe in her bed. She might remember all the nasties I said there."

Alistair grew furious, he knew Zevran was playing on his nerves, and it worked.

"Oh, that is if you ever will join her,' the elf continued blithely. 'At the moment, it does not look that way. Want some tips, Alistair?"

Alistair had an urge to wipe that smile of the elf's face. He felt like his cheeks were boiling. Zevran merely chuckled, thanked Wynne and walked into the castle.

"Do not let him affect you so, child." Wynne put a hand on Alistair's shoulder.

"Kadan beat me in Haven in a blink of an eye. How could this elf defeat

her?" Sten's only reaction was one of solemn confusion.

Diana was one of the best fighters Alistair had ever seen; he was surprised that Zevran had defeated her in the duel. When they encountered him the first time, she had him by her knees.

Alistair chuckled at Sten's face. He looked more angry then Diana did. "The puny elf will fight me. My honor is at stake."

"Go get him, Sten. I'll back you up!"

"I do not need backing up human," Sten said, glaring at Alistair.

--

Diana was in her room, pacing on the soft carpet on the floor. The fire place made a cracking noise, and she felt the warmth emanating from it. She had a glass of wine in her hand, and with a sip she thought about what happened in the ring.

"Oh, I seem to recall this position, just you were naked and I was thru..."

She felt her face burning up by Zevran's words and drank all the wine and threw the glass against the wall. She was an idiot. She should have seen through Zevran - thinking that he might change was just stupid. He was an assassin taught to feel nothing and to take his pleasures where he could find them. She was no exception. She heard a knock on the door. She opened it and saw Alistair.

"Come in."

He stepped in and closed the door behind him. He looked nervous.

"Was it something you wanted?" Diana asked, crossing her arms.

"You seem so angry, do you want to talk about it?"

"No!"

"Diana..." He tried to get closer but she backed away with every step he took forward. She almost had her ass in the fire.

"Something is bothering you. I can tell." He said, looking at the smashed glass on the floor.

The silly templar don't know when to stop, does he?

Diana sighed.

"It's nothing."

"Is it about the assassin?"

She felt her heart skip a beat, and her expression didn't go unnoticed.

"Ah so it is about him. What did he do? Make more sexual attempts?" Alistair chuckled.

She knew that Alistair would never think that Diana, a noble lady, would ever in her right mind have sex with an assassin. She sighed again. "I'm used to that. Alistair if you only want to talk about Zevran you might as well leave. I do not wish to talk about him." She said, massaging her nose bridge with her fingers.

"No, I wanted to ask you something else."

Now he was in an uncomfortable position. Diana noticed that he looked more nervous then he did when he came in the room.

"Well, out with it!"

"I...look, I really don't know how to do this," he said, and she saw a red color emerging on his cheeks.

"Do what?" she turned her back towards him, looking into the fire. She felt her face heating up.

He sat down on her bed. "How do i say this?" He sighed.

Diana didn't want to look at him.

"Every time I'm around you, it feels like my head is about to explode, and I can't think straight. I know what I feel; I care for you a great deal." He waited for an response, but she didn't reply. "I..I want to spend the night with you. Maybe it is too soon, I don't know, but I know what I feel."

Diana felt her heart pumping. She still felt guilty over sleeping with Zevran, just because of a stupid kiss she and Alistair shared, and of the rose. If he knew, he would never ask her this.

"Alistair...you're a kind man. I don't want to hurt you."

She cared for Alistair, but she knew he felt more then that. Diana had been flirting with him so she was not innocent in this. She did it because she felt alone, but then she met the others and Zevran. She had stopped trying to get the templar's attention when she had more friends. Which should say enough about her feelings towards this man. Apparently he had not noticed it.

"I wanted to wait for the perfect time, but when will it ever be perfect?"

He closed in on her.

She had no right to play him like this. Diana knew that this was wrong – she didn't love Alistair. Did she love Zevran? He always got on her nerves and was constantly driving her insane. But still, she was always drawn to the elf - his wicked smile, his handsome face. All these months, he had opened up little by little to her. There was more to the man than just being an assassin. She was fascinated by him, she cared for him, and she might even love him. Yet he broke her heart when he talked to her at camp. If he could break her heart, she must have loved him, no?

Her thoughts got interrupted by Alistair's soft kisses on her back. He turned her body towards him. His face was only a few inches from her face, stroking her hair with his hand, placing his lips upon hers.

Diana saw Zevran's evil grin in her head, and in a flash of anger, she led Alistair to bed. Alistair had a different scent then Zevran. She couldn't put a finger on it, aside from the obvious sweating. She just imagined he smelled like leather, when taking his armor off.

I take my fancies where I can find them.