AN: Thank you so much for your reviews. Really, they make me so happy! And here is the updated version, hope it meets to your satisfaction!
Another two weeks passed since the roof-top incident, and the marriage was nearing. Tomorrow she would officially be the queen of Ferelden. Diana had been feeling quite numb about the whole marriage thing although in all fairness, she felt numb about almost everything nowadays. The baby had now passed the eight month limit. She couldn't call it by any other name even though she knew that it had the archdemons essence. The only persons that now knew about it was her, Morrigan and Zevran. He had not been issuing the matter. He was always a good judge of character to know that she did not want to speak of it just yet. Although she could see the worry in his eyes especially when he thought she wasn't looking.
A tear sprinkled down her pale cheek as she walked to the fountain in the king's garden. She sat down on the edge and turned. Taking of her shoes, she gently slipped her feet in the cold water and sighed. She loved her baby more then anything else. But now she was afraid more then ever, since David died, reports all over from Ferelden had been streaming in with letters attached to birds saying that more and more darkspawn are slaughtering everything in the villages, and its getting closer to the capital. Alistair had of course sent letters to Orlais asking for help, and dispatched more soldiers, nurses and mages that they had to the more dire locations. She was growing nervous knowing that they were nearing her.
It was her dream and what the Commander's dying words were that really scarred in her heart. And she was to frightened to admit what he said to anyone. She could guess the reasons why the darkspawn would want her baby but every thought was worse then the previous one she was thinking. She had not been ready for all of the news. That it was a normal baby growing within her was now only a dream far far away. And she was just feeling empty about it. Her brain had completely shut off all her emotions. The last thing that happened when she thought about led her to almost go through with the crazy attempt to actually kill herself. She knew she would have gone through with it as well if Zevran hadn't shown up. Maybe it was a sign to not give up just yet? And who is to say that the child is evil just because it has the Old God soul instead of its own...she shivered. She remembered that Morrigan wanted the baby, she hadn't even asked her about it, instead she had been trying her best to avoid everyone except the assassin. The words he had spoken to her made her not to fall. He loved her and had finally said it. That had created a little light by the end of the dark tunnel filled with horror.
What will happen when the child is born? She got the mental picture that it will transform into a mini dragon and then fly happily on its way to the darkspawn and then soon enough, they would have another Blight upon them. Maybe, just maybe, this child can candle a new hope for mankind though. If she could raise it in peace...Trying to convince herself that the child would be good was very tiring. Somehow the nagging in the back of her head was increasing when she tried thinking positive about the child, knowing that it won't be pure. The darkspawn wanted it, and could probably sense the Old God within her belly. That was the reason why they had been growing so aggressive. And if they want it, it can't be good.
The assassin had hurt himself when he saved her once again. He was not able to move out of his room, nor allowed to. They had looked quite the pair when they finally went inside, soaking wet. He had been leaning on her, because of the pain she had inflicted on him when he jumped after her. Apparently he could still walk like before but had a serious amount of pain of doing so. The healer, Aerian had scoffed and bullied a nodding Zevran about him being an irresponsible git for doing to much, to soon. She did thank him for not telling him about how he actually got worse. The price she had to pay for that was sleeping in his bed. She chuckled while playing with her feet in the water, and wondered how long she had waited for him to ask that of her.
No one else knew about what happened up there and she wanted to keep it that way. During these two weeks she had been with Zevran more then with Alistair or Morrigan. The apostate mage was quite furious about not getting a private time with her because of things that needed to be told, but Diana didn't want to hear it. She had her assassin back, and she wanted to live in that fairy tale a while longer. About him she could feel alive, even if it only could last minutes at some points. When the marriage will break that tale, so can Morrigan and this time she won't be acting like a lunatic and try to jump of the roof. She will have to deal with this sooner then later, people are dying and nothing is being done fast enough. The darkspawn attack had not reached the city just yet. No one had been talking about recent darkspawn activities and that was at least a good thing. She would go if she could, but in the position both she and Zevran are in, they are temporarily incapacitated.
Alistair, Eamon and the noble councilors had wanted to meet her to for the wedding rehearsal and for some notes about the preparations. She did comply at first but when she thought she got the hang of it, she ignored the rest with the angry and disappointing eyes of Eamon that followed her. They had also said that making an appearance in the city would also be good for her and the king, but she refused. She didn't want to leave the palace for the time being, and let Eamon do that for her instead. They were going to have a public wedding and that's enough.
Diana saw Alistair's reflection staring at her through the water in the fountain, she splashed with her feet, acknowledging his presence.
"Hi Alistair." She said softly, granted a chuckle from his reflection. He sat down next to her with his feet outside the fountain.
"So tomorrow I will have a queen." He said, with a nervous chuckle.
"So it would seem. It's just an agreement, Alistair. Why are you so uptight?" She asked.
"Oh, I'm just about to get married in front of the entire capital with a lovely girl. Something is just bound to go wrong."
"What can possible go wrong? You having the heebie-jibes?" She said mockingly.
He frowned at her and stood up, "Very funny."
"Dork." She provoked with a smile.
"You lash at me with your words. I'm hurt. But if you would see my spine lying around somewhere tomorrow in the throne room, please try not to step on it."
"That scared are you?" She asked and stood up as well, with a hand rubbing her belly. She felt movement in there and she groaned.
"The baby is moving?" He ignored her question, while standing close to her and placed her hand on his shoulder.
She nodded. She hadn't told Alistair about the whole hey-I'm-carrying-the-archdemon-in-my-belly-thought-you-wanted-to-know. And neither was she planning to, not yet. She had no idea how to actually say it. Everything was just way to complicated. His hand waving in front of her snapped her out of thinking.
"Its a strong baby girl we got there." He said gently.
"Alistair." She gasped and tightened the grip around his shoulder.
"Something wrong?" His tone was even more worried now.
"No, I just need rest. I will see you tomorrow at the wedding. Please just help me to Zevran's room."
Alistair's eyes flickered but said nothing and helped her to his room, where Zevran was training his leg movement with the healer. He and Zevran were having the usual eye staring competition, and were polite but the coldness they uttered toward one and other was pretty clear. The tension in the room was escalating with every word they uttered towards each other. Eventually Alistair left and gave Diana a kiss on her cheek, probably to anger the assassin a bit.
They had their dinner brought up to their room, and ate in silence. They avoided talking about the marriage as much as possible and she had made it very clear that she would only share his bed. The marriage was just a protection, a business deal, whereas they are the lovers. He had also not talked to her at all about what had happened on the roof top. It was not needed, and she knew how uncomfortable and angry he would get if she tried, and she was way to happy with what he had said to ruin it. After playing a few mind tricks on each other, they decided to go to bed. It had been a pretty warm night for a long time and they decided to sleep naked. She felt a bit awkward with her tummy but Zevran took those fears away when he placed his arms behind her and hugged her tightly from behind. It was a tingling feeling she had, feeling his warm body behind her, and he led her to bed. They were lying in a spooning position, and he held her close to him while snuggling in her neck, whispering sweet things in her ear, which caused goosebumps to appear immediately on her arms. She had slowly turned and cupped his cheek and kissed him with fervor.
"My naughty minx. Still awake to steal some kisses, are you?" He chuckled and kissed her back with the same abandon. He rubbed her back gently in circles. He was a master of back massages. No doubt that he learned that in the whore house, she thought.
"You do know I don't want to marry him right?" She then asked and mentally cursed herself. Why ruin the night? He immediately tensed up and pulled away.
"I know. We have been over this many times and I know whose bed you will come to in the nights." He said and brushed her hair away.
"Zev..." She began but got interrupted by his soft kisses on her jugular vein. Sigh, its like him to avoid tough conversations. She smiled at the kisses. They were supple and gentle, something her body had been missing for so long. His hand was tracing her arm and sent jolts feeling like an electricity blast - but the good kind, through her core. Of course her heart followed the emotions and began to raise. His hand went down to her abdomen, and lower to her - Oh my! She felt her cheeks redden and closed her legs. They hadn't made love for so long and well she wasn't feeling that sexy or physically able to do it now. He groaned in her neck and then whispered while sucking on her earlobe;
"Don't be ashamed of something so beauitful, my emerald."
"But i can't-" He cut her off by kissing her mouth again, and quirked his lips while he breathed upon her lips;
"I'm intending to get you off your mind, my dear. You are so tense about tomorrow, let me relax you. This is a skill I'm proud off, and I will be offended and wounded if you do not let me work with the gifts given to me." She gave a small chuckle and felt his warm hand lightly tracing her inner thighs, teasing her. It didn't take long for her to let go and feel her primitive nature take over every feeling she had, swelling over her. He was still kissing her neck while his thumb reached her sensitive spot and began rubbing it gently - very similar to his back massage, but more powerful then anything he could do on any other part of her body. Her hips had began moving to his movements, and his kisses were upon her collarbone, not stopping once with his thumb. She moaned with abandon when he entered his magic finger inside of her. She had been without this feeling for so long and it didn't take long before she hit her climax. Zevran kissed her damp forehead and smiled at her.
"Now, go to sleep, princess, and forget about tomorrow." She smiled coyly at him and kissed him softly on his lips and let him hold her once again. She felt so protected in his arms, and it didn't take long for her to fall asleep.
She was running again, through that field she clearly could remember but this time she didn't hear or see her daughter. SHe was running around in nothingness. It was dark and cold and she tried escaping it. The field slowly changed to her bedroom, and she was walking towards her wardrobe. She put on her white loose dress and grabbed her thick black cloak and covered her nightgown with it, and pulled the hood over her. No one was there in the castle and every torch was lit. The only thing you could hear was Diana's footsteps against the cold ground and the wind blowing by. It felt very much like ghost palace then anything else.
"Hello?" She called, but it echoed in the corridor. She paced slowly with her dragging legs and had no idea where her feet would take her, but she kept following it. She opened some doors that led her to the main hall. She hesitated a moment before opening it. This didn't feel real.
"Its real my girl. Come to me." Echoed an unfamiliar voice in the air. She shivered by the tone and stopped.
"Don't stop, don't you want to see your daughter?" it echoed again. Diana looked down her belly and saw it was flat. How did that happen? Where is she? Her heart was pounding hard with worry and fright, and with that her decision was clear. She hurried out the main door and scurried through the darkness of Denerim where her feet were leading her.
"AURELIA!" She yelled, but it only turned into echoes. No one was out as far as her eye could see. It was by a mysterious wonder that she could go out the city without any notion. She walked on the ground outside the city, seeing its mighty walls cover the city.
"That's it girl. Don't stop now, you will soon see her." Diana started to run through the never ending road and stopped as soon as a man popped out of nowhere in front of her.
"Now we have you." He whispered. She blinked her eyes and felt cold rough hands grabbing her shoulders. The man in front of her snapped his fingers and he turned into a darkspawn – but not like any other she had ever seen. How could she not sense them?
She woke up and started to fight. By a miracle, she thought she would wake up in her room, but that was not her luck. She was struggling with the strong genlooks holding her arms. With neither strength, weapon or armor to fight them, she became an easy victim. They were not killing her, but hissed and growled at her. The child, they want the child, don't they? How could she been so stupid! The darkspawn that was standing in front of her however was the most frightening thing she had ever seen. Maker help me, she thought trembling. No one knew she was here, who could ever help her out here? She could see it was an emissary, but it was dressed differently and had different color. It was dressed in a crimson armor and had a black hood and cloak wrapped around him. He smiled mischievously at her, and she felt the genlocks ripped her cloak off. She thanked that she actually had put something under it before rushing out of the palace. It must have a trance. How could they reach her in her dreams? Then the most horrifying thing happened that she had not believed from David;
"Now we have you." It said again. It talked, how could that even be? He placed its armored glove upon her forehead, and before she could think anything else, she fell paralyzed to the ground. She heard and saw them moving around her. She was so scared and just wished this to be a bad dream. Zevran...please. Was all she thought. How could he even notice her being gone, and he couldn't exactly look for her, with his wounded legs. No one could come to her rescue.
They lifted her upon a litter they had built. This was a most strange sight she witnessed. Genlocks actually putting her on a stretcher. The foul smell was no mistake though neither that she now could sense them. It kicked in a bit to late, she frowned to herself. The emissary hovered above her and stroked her cheek. It burned and stinged. She hated their touch, and he was mumbling something and placed his other hand on her tummy. An agonizing pain went through her and she screamed. It was horrifying feeling helpless and not being able to move at all. Then the song in her head came once again. No, not again, she thought! She had never been this scared before. What would they do to her. The emissary smiled at her again and chuckled. He placed his hand upon her forehead and she fell asleep.