Diana knocked on the king's study opened the door and saw the four men leaning over something at the desk.
"...So if they had already reached the Southron Hills when you got here then-" Alistair was saying, but got silent when he heard Diana coming in.

"Warden!" David stepped away from the desk and bowed.

"Despite our unfortunate beginnings, I hope that we could co-operate as fellow wardens."

With you in charge of course! Diana thought to herself.

She just nodded and kept her face neutral as she walked closer to the desk.

"We wanted to report this when we got here but since we didn't know your true nature, we waited until we knew."
"Report what?"
Alistair cut across David and he said with a grim tone, "Darkspawn attacks."

"Darkspawn? How?"
"We do not know." Alistair sighed.

"But, aren't they supposed to-"
"Yes they are Warden. Some of them haven't, and we need to take care of this." David shot in.

Diana felt a flash of anger going through her body, and said coldly;
"You kept this from us because you couldn't trust us, while in the mean time INNOCENTS died in the hands by the darkspawn!"
"No one is innocent." Joris shot in.

"So you think everyone deserves to die then? If you value that belief, I will throw you personally to the darkspawns."
He chuckled, "My, my, you are one little tiger aren't you, princess?"

"Don't talk to her like that." Alistair growled.

"My apologies." He bowed, looking at Diana mischievously.

"Give me one good reason why you didn't tell the king if you didn't trust me at least" Diana said more forcefully, and looked at David.

"We couldn't know if he would tell-"
She waved her hand in front of his face.

"What did you seriously think I would do, hm?"
"Don't question what I did, Warden!" He said warningly.

"I'm the Commander in charge!" He said like he thought it settled the matter.

"Innocents died by your stupidity!" She spat out.

He gave her a furious look and bit his lip, and said in a very low voice.

"You better start respecting your elders, girl."
"I always had a problem with authorities when they can't act according to it." She knew she had way stepped over the line, but she had lost all the respect she had for this Commander, and she seriously couldn't see how he was chosen, and he stepped over the final threshold when keeping darkspawn attacks in secrecy so people had die. Well, she didn't know that for a fact, but darkspawn activity had never involved involving music, dancing and happiness.

He looked as if he was going to hit her. Alistair stepped in between them, and turned against Diana. "We have bigger issue to deal with then yelling at each other, even if I would love a fight between the two of you. By all means, continue after we dealt with this."

"Fine!" Both David and Diana said, glaring at each other over Alistair's body. He took a step aside and just sighed.

"Believe me, this is not over." The Commander snarled.

She backed away, "Wouldn't dream of it!"

Alistair cleared his throat and said;

"Let us return to the task at hand shall we?" He grabbed Diana's arm and pulled her closer, "I know he's an ass, just survive a bit longer and he will go back to Orlais." He breathed in her ear, "Hopefully..."He added. She snatched her arm back and just looked down on the map lying on the desk. Alistair stood next to her and Joris came on her other side. She flinched as he came closer so they were brushing against each other, his armor and her dress, he carefully traced his fingers up her leg, and chuckled at her frightened expression, and no one seemed to notice. She grabbed his hand from behind, and yanked it away. She didn't want to be touched by anyone for the moment except a certain elf, at least by him. She had enough on her mind to work through, she didn't need to feel afraid of those that are supposed to be brothers.

She wondered what the mages had told them when they said she was clear. Had they seen in her mind and told them? She never got the chance to ask, and she didn't want to ask these people about it.
"So if they had attacked the villages in Southorn Hills, and according to your scouts they will arrive to this little town, close to Brecillian forest." Alistair pointed out.

"Yes, it's not a big group so we should be able to handle it with ease." David muttered, still upset about the Junior Warden.

Alistair massaged his forehead as he continued, "I send a few soldiers with you as you go."
"Thank you, your majesty. We will leave at daybreak." David finished and gestured to Joris and Gareth to follow him.

"Wait, what about me and Alistair?" Diana asked.

"I thought that was clear. You and the King are staying for obvious reasons." The commander said.

Diana couldn't explain it but she had to go with them. She hadn't been able to fight since the arch demon battle. A fire went through her body, and she wanted to go to the darkspawn. She never felt this kind of blood thirst even during the Blight.

"I'm coming with you." She said sternly.

"What, are you completely insane?" A angry king's voice said.

Her heart was pounding so hard and her clutched fists were shaking from the adrenaline rushing through her body.

"I need to go!" She said through gritted teeth, looking at a very upset king.

"You are not!" He said.

"You don't decide over me." She spat out at him.

"You really want to put our child through this?" He asked.

"It will be fine."

"I can't let you do this." Alistair pleaded.

"I will have these people, your guards, and I will find Zevran to bring him with us. I will be fine. It's not a big attack."
She would not stay behind, something told her to go there.

Alistair sighed and massaged his nose bridge, looking crestfallen. "Why so you have to be so stubborn?"

"You know the answer to that one. I will meet up with you tomorrow morning then." She said, looking at the Commander. He nodded at her.
"Still, please." Before he could finish, Diana moved through the three Wardens, and left to find Zevran.

The Orlesians didn't care if she was pregnant or not, and this was the first time, she liked that. Feeling a bit nervous when walking towards Zevran's door, and wondered if he had someone there in with him.

She knocked on the door, and she heard footsteps closing in. The blonde elf opened and stared at her.

"My, what a surprise. A pleasant one, I might add. What-"
"There are darkspawns a foot. They are close to Brecillian forest. We need your help." She cut across.

"Darkspawn? I thought they head back to the Deep Roads when a Blight is finished."

"Well, we can ask that when we meet them, can't we?" She said sarcastically.

"They attacked a few villages and they are getting closer. It's not a big group according to the scouts."

Zevran showed no emotion in his face, but sounded a bit on the edge, "And you are going?"

"Of course I am."
"You are pregnant."
"And?"
"You should not fight."
"I'm getting sick and tired of what everyone tells me to do."

"Not only are you with child, you actually are the future queen."
Diana blinked, how did he know that?
"The Arl went public with the news yesterday." He answered her confused look.

"Oh." There was a moment of silence.

"I'm happy for you both. It is really for the best."
"Since when did you care what's for the best for anyone else beside yourself?"

"My fair Warden, that hurt my feelings."

"You don't have much feelings to start with!" She pointed out, feeling angrier by the minute. She thought this was going to be a quick conversation, so that her feelings that she kept under the surface would not be noticed. He flinched at the response and smiled at her, ignoring her comment.

"I would love to help you and kill a few darkspawns but I got word that an earlier ship to Antiva arrived. It leaves in two days, you see. And I fear, if I come with you, I will not have the time to make it."

"But you said. You..two months.." She said confusingly. The world seemed to have come to a halt. She started to tremble, and the surrounding around her seemed to diminish. Not to fall down she leaned against the wooden pillar close to her, while her world just felt like it had been ripped into pieces. I'm so strong, really. She thought to herself sarcastically. She never wanted him to leave, but she thought during a two months time, she would have the chance to convince him otherwise. If it is in two days, and if she wanted him to stay, she need to come clean...

"You are alright, my dear?" He stood in front of her.

How dare he ask me that? Did he expect me to be fine with this?! Oh, he's cruel, he's very, very cruel! Not holding anything back, she whispered, like prowling tiger before the roar;
"No, I'm not alright!" She looked into his eyes.

"How can you just leave now, and so quickly after EVERYTHING we been through? I'm not worth anything to you am I? I'm just dirt that got rolled of your shoe when it had pestered you long enough?!" Closing in on him, and her heart was raising by the seconds, "You meant EVERYTHING to me! I thought I DID TO FOR YOU! You seduced me and tricked me. THEN YOU GIVE ME YOUR FUCKING EARRING SHOWING YOUR FUCKING EMOTIONS TOWARDS ME WHICH WAS OF COURSE A FANCY LIE!" She panted and stared with so much anger at him. All the feelings she tried keeping under her control seemed to wash off with every sentence that she said. She needed to say this to get closure with him, she realized. He stood still, his mask was unreadable. He was about to say something.
"NO! Don't you DARE interrupt me now! YOU DITCHED ME AS SOON THE ARCHDEMON WAS DEAD. Then YOU GET A FUCKING LITTLE WHORE FULFILLING YOUR BASIC NEEDS AS YOU COULD NOT GO TO ME ANY LONGER! RIGHT? Was everything a fucking game to you, Zevran? DID you WANT me to die against the archdemon! SO you wouldn't this pathetic girl running after you! I needed you the most after archdemon. MY FRIENDS DIED AND I FOUND OUT I WAS PREGNANT WITH HIS CHILD! DID YOU THINK I WANTED THIS? AND WHEN I NEEDED YOUR SUPPORT YOU RAN AWAY LIKE FUCKING COWARD LEAVING ME IN CONFUSION AND WITH A BROKEN HEART!" Her throat got sore after all her yelling. She had not yelled this long in years, but he broke her down and all she could do was to scream out her hearts misery. He stepped closer to her, she backed, not daring to look in his face any more. "Don't you dare come near me!" She hissed at him. "Diana," "NO, SHUT UP! JUST DON'T TALK WITH ME!" When he spoke her name with such sincerity, her barrier broke down, and tears were running down her cheeks and she collapsed on the cold harsh ground.

"I FUCKING LOVE AND HATE YOU! You were my first...I love you." She buried her face in her hands, crying like a little child. This did not just happened, please let all of this be a dream. The agony in her heart was harsh and cold, and she couldn't grasp air. The clogging in her throat was thick with her crying. She felt two arms suddenly embracing her, and the owners hands reaching for her face. She finally dare to look in the eyes of her guest. His amber eyes glisten and they seemed sad. He cupped her cheeks. Her lack of air made her dizzy. When she had calmed down, she stood up once more, he had let go of her and they stood close to one and other in the hallway. She had to know, whatever the answer is, she will get closure, and there, she can become strong again.

"Do you love me?" She asked, exposing all her vulnerability.

He seemed to be in a struggle with himself, trying to form an sentence.

"It's a very easy question, Zevran." she whimpered, fearing the answer.

"No it is not. I...can't answer that, pet."
"That means no." she clarified, and backed away.

"So that really means, everything you said, everything we have done, EVERYTHING was a GAME to you! Admit it, you lied to get me in your bed. You are an evil, disgu-" She got interrupted by his lips crashing upon hers. The jolt in her spine was back and the tingling was intense. They kissed, and he deepened it, penetrating his tongue in her mouth. She moaned in pleasure, as their lips melted together.

She couldn't figure out if he did this to shut her up because that worked fine. Or if this was his way to express his feelings. One thing is for sure, she didn't feel afraid or tense with him. He was probably the only man that can touch her like this. Even if he had hurt her with words. Love is a funny thing is it not?

His hands were on her waist, pulling her close to him, she felt his arousal and it pleased her. She whimpered when he started to kiss her down the neck and bit her shoulder. He pushed Diana against the wall and hoisted her weight so she could wrap her legs around him. He easily got his hands under her dress. He started to kiss her again, she could hear his groaning getting heavier, and more uncontrollable, and more filled with wanting and desire for her. That feeling caused her great pleasure.

He broke the kiss suddenly. She couldn't shake the feeling that he was fighting with himself.

"We shouldn-"
Diana shut him up by kissing his lips that fit perfectly. She needed this, she needed his touch, it was the only touch she could handle. Her hands were around his shoulders and went up to his hair, caressing it with her fingers, and pushed him against her so he could deepen their kiss even further. She could feel him loosing control over himself as he got more rough, she loved it.

"I want you." She whispered between their kisses. He approved and held her while walking back in his room, with her legs wrapped around him. When they were inside, she got some of her senses back, and pushed him away.
"I need to know. You always avoid it, tell me the truth...Do you love me?"
Zevran just looked at her and said, "Why do you think I'm leaving?"
"To get away from me I suppose?" She said panting.

"Exactly, and why is that, you think?"
She groaned.

"Stop playing theses games with me, Zev. I know you don't like getting pushed into these things. But I think I deserve an answer after everything that has happened."
He turned his back towards her.

"Yes...yes, I...you..." Was all she heard. She stepped closer, he didn't move from his spot.

"Let me make it easy for you. Kiss me and stay if you love me, if you don't tell me to leave." She whispered.

"It's not that easy. There are so many other things that-"
"It won't change what you feel."
He sighed and faced her.

"You are an evil woman."
"I got taught from the best." She sniggered.

He took a step closer to her and looked in her eyes, he placed his one hand and cupped her cheek with it. Diana forgot everything outside this room, it was only them. Only him.

His other hand laid gently on her hip, rubbing it with his thumb. She so wanted to feel him, taste him, but didn't move. This was his call and she would leave it up to him.

He took a deep breath and exhaled, and everything vanished, except them when he placed his lips upon hers and he pulled her into a tight embrace. They both had given in to their hearts, everything he had built up or told himself not to feel, was obvious now. She could feel his heat emanating on her, and she felt so light drifting away in ecstasy. Nothing could ruin this, they will have to catch up with reality soon enough. Will they get through it, she wondered. At the moment it felt like it, but time will tell.

AN: More action inc. in the next chapter =) Sorry for so many "Feelings" Chapter, they were needed, but now I promise to continue more with the plot.