The Awakening

A Dragon Age Fanfiction

By Bionca Femme

Chapter 8:

Alistair tried to concentrate on what Sidona was saying rather than the way her full lips moved when she said them. He tried, he sincerely did. But it didn't help that she had captivated him from the very moment that he had set eyes on her. It wreaked havoc on his attention span, especially considering that only a half an hour before he had lain beside her, her small but womanly body pressed to his.

"-in closing, I propose that once we're in a more settled position in the Arling, we undertake an expedition to the deep roads to investigate Alistair's dream," she finished. Her eyes swept over the gathered Wardens and she clasped her hands behind her back in a military stance. "Any questions?"

Alistair opened his mouth and then closed it with an audible snap. He'd been so busy ogling her that he hadn't paid enough attention to ask anything halfway intelligent. So he decided to stay quiet.

"The deep roads?" Anders scowled as he petted Ser Pounce-a-lot. "Have I ever told you that I have an irrational fear of cave mold?"

Alistair snorted and Sidona merely shook her head. "You are going with us, whether or not you fear cave mold," she replied.

Anders huffed. "Alright, fine. I'll brave the cave mold, so long as there aren't any spiders."

Alistair pursed his lips together and kept silent. It would be counter productive to point out that there were spiders the size of mabaris in the deep roads. He cast a sideways glance at their Commander and noticed that Sidona had much the same expression on her lovely scarred elven face, though she covered it quickly with a reassuring smile. "I'm sure that there is nothing to worry about."

"Oh no, nothing to fear at all. It'll be damp...dark... and utterly creepy. Like a holiday, really!" Anders relied sarcastically.

"With dark spawn!" Alistair chimed in before he could stop himself.

Anders narrowed his eyes at the ex-templar, "Yes, thank you Captain Obvious. I'd completely missed that part!"

Alistair favored the Mage with a wide unrepentant smile, "Anytime, Anders."

"Commander," Nathaniel spoke up. "Are we certain you want to venture the Deep Roads simply because Alistair had a dream?"

"Alistair dreamed that the Vigil was under attack, my stoic friend. Were it not for him and our timely rescue, your handsome face might be hanging off the end of a dark spawn spear," Zevran interjected with a toothy grin. "And what a waste that would be, no?"

Nathaniel's dark eyes narrowed at the blond elf. "I take it you're an admirer, Zevran?" Nathaniel retorted.

The Antivan's grin turned into a leer. "Always," he winked at Nathaniel's shocked expression. "You forget that I'm Antivan. We impale handsome faces on spears all the time!"

Alistair choked on a laugh and Sidona held up her hands placatingly. "Alright boys! Do not make me separate you!"

"Please do!" Anders said with groan.

Nathaniel gave Zevran one last unreadable expression before turning his attention back to Sidona. "My apologies, Commander."

Zevran simply settled back in his chair and folded his arms over his chest. Ignoring Sidona's patient expression before sighing. "As Nathaniel says, apologies," he gestured with a bored flip of his hand.

Sidona shook her head. "Zevran, would you mind telling me now about how your investigation in Amaranthine turned out?"

Zevran inclined his head in a respectful nod. "From what information I was able to gather from my sources, Ser Tamra is right to suspect those letters to contain information about a plot on your life. The Antivan Crows on the road were part of a cell hired by some of Amaranthine's nobility to do away with you. According to my sources the conspirators intend on meeting with the Crows at Old Stark's farm in two days to discuss laying a trap for you," the elf said as he picked at some invisible dirt under his nails.

"Then we will be at Old Stark's farm as well. Do you know their identities?" she asked.

Zevran shook his head. "Only their location."

At that moment there was a knock at the door. "Enter!" Sidona barked, perturbed at the interruption.

The door opened to reveal Varel. "I apologize Commander, but it is Tuesday."

Sidona's expression went from annoyed to weary. "Already?" Varel's apologetic expression made her sigh heavily. She pinched the bridge of her nose. "Fine, tell them I will be down momentarily."

Varel bowed, "As you wish, Commander."

"Tuesday?" Alistair asked. He'd been at the Vigil for a little over two weeks and he hadn't noticed anything special about Tuesdays before now.

She rubbed her hands over her pretty face before they fell away to reveal how tired she was. "Before the dark spawn attack, I would hold court every Tuesday. I have matters of high justice to settle," she explained apologetically before she dismissed them.

Alistair waited until all the others had filed out before crossing the room and taking her into his arms. "Would you like me to come with you?" he asked her quietly before dropping a kiss into her hair.

She nodded against him.

Sidona would have thought that Alistair would have dropped her arm and let her continue on alone once they entered the throne-room, but to her surprise he led her to the throne.

When they reached it Varel regarded them with a lifted brow, which Alistair returned with one of his own. In response Varel pressed his lips together in an effort not to smile. He inclined his head to both of them and Alistair released her from his grasp, then took up position on the right side of the throne in a silent show of support.

"I'm sorry Commander, I held it off as long as I could," he said in a hushed tone.

"It is alright, Varel. I don't mind holding court, though if it becomes necessary you may have to hold it while we are away or if I am injured again," she said with a small smile.

"As you wish Commander," Varel turned to the crowd before them and called for silence. Then the session began.

"Bring forth the first case!" Varel called out in his booming voice.

"The Crown against Alec the Sheepherder!" Garavel who was standing off to the side read off the parchment he held. "Crown accuses Alec the sheepherder of stealing two bushels of grain from the Arling granaries, a capitol offense," he glared at the sheepherder.

"Poor bugger," Varel mumbled to Sidona. "If he'd stolen from anyone but the Crown he'd escaped with a flogging."

The sheepherder held his head high. "I had no choice, mi'lady. My family is starving! The dark spawn have killed nearly all my sheep, and what they haven't the bandits took. I just did what I had to do... for my family!"

There was a silence as everyone waited for Sidona to condemn the poor man to death. She let the silence stretch out and everyone but the man before her started to look unnerved by her lack of response. Finally she tilted her head to the side and opened her mouth to speak. Alec steeled himself for his sentence, "Alec, how many children do you have?"

The sheepherder blinked at her. "Mi'lady?" he asked in confusion.

She chuckled, knowing that the question was hardly expected.. "How many children?"

"Oh...er...five, Milady," he raised a hand and rubbed the back of his neck, clearly unnerved by the change in tone of the proceedings.

"You're wife, what does she have to say about you stealing grain?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

"My Malinda? Oh... well, pardon my saying Ma'am, but what she had to say ain't fit for a ladies ears," he averted his eyes from her and shuffled his feet nervously.

Sidona pursed her lips to keep from chuckling. "Can you fight?" she asked instead.

"I'm alright with a bow and arrows," the sheepherder replied with confusion.

Varel snorted. "Just alright he says! Alec here wins first prize every festival tourney, mi'lady. Peasant contests, of course."

"Commander, I fail to see what this has to do with sentencing the accused!" Garavel grumbled impatiently.

"I find I am unsurprised, Garavel," Sidona said nonchalantly.

Garavel sputtered indignantly and opened his mouth to speak again but shut it when Varel glared at him. Alistair covered up a snicker with a feigned coughing fit.

Sighing heavily Sidona turned back to Alec. "Alec, I ask you these things because I have need of good men. Men who would sacrifice much to save others. You were willing to steal to feed your family, even though you knew it could mean your death. And even when you were caught, you did not beg nor plead for mercy, even though you clearly deserve such. I cannot just let you go, and the law will not allow that I let you off with a flogging. So I have two options. The first option open to me is hanging you. You are a good man, and that would be a waste. The second option is an offer. An offer that I do not make lightly, and will likely lead you to an early grave anyway. Become a Grey Warden, fight with us. Fight with us and I promise you, that even if you perish, we will care for your children and your wife as though they were our own kin," she stood up as she finished and her eyes locked with the sheepherder's.

The hall had grown silent, even Garavel had been rendered speechless. Alec blinked at her, "You'll take care of my family?" he asked in awe.

"It is no less than I would do for any of my brothers or sisters," Sidona replied with a gentle smile. "What say you, Alec the sheepherder?"

"I'm not afraid to die, mi'lady. But if it gives me a chance to feed my family and do something meaningful with my life then the answer is yes, I accept," he broke out into a smile.

She winced at the gratitude in his voice. This was anything but a mercy she was offering him. "Then I as Warden Commander of Ferelden, hereby conscript you into the Grey Wardens," she smiled sadly as he grinned at her. "Please take your place next to Alistair, he is to be your mentor for the time being," she gestured to Alistair.

Alec took his place next to Alistair, who grinned broadly at the sheepherder turned Warden recruit and clapped him on the back.

The rest of the session did not go as well as that. Lady Liza Packton ended up keeping the rights to the lands of Ser Derren, though Sidona swore to the knight that she would make it up to him. And a soldier from the Vigil had been caught three miles from the Keep, despite the fact that she claimed to have been going to save her family from dark spawn, her desertion coincided too conveniently with the night of the dark spawn attack. So Sidona had her imprisoned, rather than having her family moved to the Vigil.

When the last noble had stuck their nose up in the air and flounced out of the throneroom, Sidona sunk down onto the throne with a weary and miserable expression. "Must it always be like this?" she looked up at Varel.

"I'm afraid its not likely to get any easier, Commander. Desperation breeds desperate actions, I suppose. Its been a hard last couple of years. And Rendon Howe almost ran this Arling into the ground, even before the blight," Varel replied with barely disguised bitterness.

"I suppose until we can take care of the bandits on the Pilgrims Path and open the trade routes it's not likely to get better, is it?" she asked dejectedly.

"No, Commander," Varel replied.

"Have we heard anything from Kristoff?" she asked.

Varel shook his head. "No, though it is not unlike him not to report unless he has something to report, Commander."

She nodded. "You're right," she sighed and pulled herself up and noticed that Garavel was still glaring at her. She raised an eyebrow in challenge and he dropped his gaze, though the angry expression did not lift. She turned her attention to Alec who by now was standing at Alistair's side looking out of place. "Varel, please see to it that Alec and his family are set up with suitable quarters," she ordered. "We'll see to the Joining ritual in the morning."

"Yes, my Lady," Varel bowed and gestured for Alec to follow him.

"If you will excuse me, Commander," Garavel gave a stiff bow without meeting her eyes and stormed out of the room.

Sidona watched him go. "Why does that man hate me so?" she asked Alistair without looking at him.

"Because everyday he wakes up where it's dark and smelly. It's no good talking to a man like that, because its impossible for him to hear you with his head stuck so far up his arse," Alistair replied.

Sidona laughed softly and then shook her head before finally turning to look at him. "You are terrible!"

He took a step forward and drew her into his arms, "Oh yes, I'm a bad, bad man."

Sidona hummed contentedly and tilted her face upwards. "Yes, very bad," she agreed.

He smiled down at her goofily. "Also, incredibly handsome."

She chuckled, her eyes shining brightly. "I agree."

He leaned his head down until their lips were almost touching. "And I've got excellent taste in women."

"Alistair."

"Mmm?" he hummed in response.

"Shut up and kiss me," she ordered.

Rather than respond he dipped his head and took her lips gently, exploring her mouth with his own. He moaned as her small hand found its way into his hair and held him in place as she kissed him back. Her tongue slid into his mouth and he found himself lost to her completely.

When they came up for air he found her eyes half-lidded and so vibrant they seemed to almost glow. "Alistair," she pleaded.

A spring coiled tighter in his gut and he felt a thrum of desire as she said his name. "Love?"

"Take me to bed," she demanded huskily.

He locked eyes with her, awed now by the power this woman had over him. He bent and scooped her up into his arms, never letting his gaze leave hers. "Maker!" he swore thickly at the feel of her soft body against him.

He somehow managed to make it back up to her room with her in his arms. He barely even registered the knowing grins and giggling of the Vigil maids and staff as he strode purposefully up her room, his expression tight and determined as he struggled to keep from just taking her into one of the closer empty rooms.

After what seemed an eternity they reached her rooms and when at last the door to her bedroom was shut and locked safely behind him he turned to her. The reality of the situation finally hit him and he hesitated. "Sidona, I-," he was about to say that maybe they should wait. Maybe this was too fast and they should wait until this was what she really wanted. Neither of them had really discussed the future other than that he wanted to stay and that she wanted him to stay. That they would be courting and he just assumed that their blossoming relationship would become more vocal in its declarations. Though at that moment, there could be no doubt that he was falling for her and falling hard. It seemed to him that it started the instant he first saw her, flaming red and gleaming silverite amidst a tide of snarling dark spawn.

But she covered his lips with her own, stopping his words and his thoughts. "Make love to me," was whispered plaintively into the firelight of her room, her voice trembling with vulnerability. The naked pleas behind her words were 'don't leave me' and 'I am lost without you', and it broke his heart and made it swell at the same time. He sunk to a knee before her and pulled her forward into his arms holding her against him, the rapid beating of her heart in his ear. She was so warm and alive.

"I love you," he choked out, knowing that it may be too soon for such declarations, but it was what he felt and needed to say. He didn't expect a response but she leaned down and kissed him tenderly and when she pulled back he felt wetness on his cheeks from where a tear had transferred from her cheek to his.

"Je t'aime," she held his face in both her hands, her sweet breath ghosting over his lips. "Ne pas douter je vous aime. Vous etes le gardien de mon couer."

At any other time he would have teased her for speaking Orlesian when he couldn't understand it. But the reverence and emotion in her voice stopped him from doing so. He knew by her tears, by her small fingers stroking his stubble-roughened cheeks and the way in which she spoke, she returned his love.

He reached up and caught her hands with his, bringing the tips of her fingers to his lips and kissing each finger gently. He looked up into her eyes. "Turn around," he instructed gently before releasing her hands and putting his own on her hips.

Her bottom lip was pulled between her teeth in a moment's hesitation, but she turned around none-the-less. With her back to him he felt as though he could once again catch his breath. He reached up and pulled gently on the lacing holding together the back of her dress. The tie came easily undone as though it had just been waiting for his fingers to release them, his hands traveled down her back as he pulled the dress apart, revealing her soft sun kissed skin beneath. He again reached up and this time his fingers grasped her dress at the shoulders and brought the sleeves down her arms, the dress moved slowly downwards as his large hands drew the garment down her body. Once the sleeves were off her arms the dress sat on her hips and he was eye level with the back of her breast band. He reached upwards again and undid the clasp, then he pulled the confining material from her and stifled a groan as he trailed his eyes over the sides of her breasts which were round and soft looking. He ached to snake his hands around her front and touch them. But he knew that if he did not keep this slow, he would not last long. And though he could likely go again only a few minutes afterwards, he wanted this to be right. He wanted to worship her, not satisfy his own needs.

So instead of letting his hands roam her upper body as he desperately wanted to, he placed a tender kiss between her shoulder blades and skimmed his lips downwards over her spine. She hummed encouragingly, letting him know that she liked the feeling. Emboldened he pulled the dress down the rest of the way and let her step out of it. He smiled when he realized that not only had he left her small clothes on, he'd also managed to leave on her boots.

He grasped her hips and turned her around so that she was facing him. He deliberately kept his gaze averted from her breasts and focused on the boots. He lifted her legs one at a time, slipping off each boot and caressing each silky calf as it was removed, relishing in the feel of her small hands grasping his shoulders in an effort to steady herself. That left just her small clothes, the last piece of cloth that hindered him from seeing her bare before him. He placed his palms on her silky thighs and caressed upwards until he reached the ties on either sides of her hips. He admired the design of them, white orlesian silk and lace, he placed a kiss on her left hip before drawing the garment downwards where it joined her dress and boots. It was then that he gently pushed her a step away from her, his large hands still grasping her hips as he let his eyes roam upwards from her small feet, upwards over her toned but slender legs, the dark auburn hair of her sex, the swell of her hips, the narrow expanse of her waist accentuated by the slight definition of abdominal muscles. When he reached her breasts his eyes widened. They were small compared to a human woman's but they fit her perfectly, her pink nipples contrasted prettily with the golden hue of her skin and were larger than he expected. He tore his eyes away and let them travel upwards to her smooth shoulders and delicate collar bones. "So beautiful," he breathed.

She blushed violently, making the white scars on her cheeks stand out sharply. She had more scars than those on her body, a testament to a warrior's life. But the scars did not mar her beauty, merely enhanced it. He stared at her for a long time, in awe of the fact that she was so beautiful and she was his. He was so in awe, in fact, that he barely knew where to start touching her.

As if she sensed his dilemma she took his hands from her hips and pulled him upwards. When he stood looking down at her she smiled and started unbuttoning his shirt. "You are overdressed for what I have planned for you, mon cher," she scolded lightly.

Alistair chuckled and let her take off his shirt. "Well, we can't have that," he teased and then hissed out a breath as her fingers skimmed down his torso towards the tie on his trousers. With every jerk of the trousers strings he bit back a moan, which, escaped his mouth entirely when she released him from the confines of his trousers and small clothes. She smiled up at him triumphantly and then took his hands after he'd kicked his own boots off and stepped out of his trousers. He nearly moaned again as her eyes

wandered over his body hungrily.

She pulled him onto her bed with her and he laid his much larger body next to hers and propped his head up on his elbow. He then leaned down kissed her passionately, letting his free hand slide up along her flank to the swell of her breast. He cupped the mound firmly and squeezed, swallowing the moan she made. He wrenched out of the kiss only to fall upon her breast, drawing the nipple into his mouth he sucked gently, then he released it he laved the peak with his tongue and held onto her when she arched up from the bed. "Alistair!" she pleaded softly.

"Mmm?" he grinned teasingly at her.

"You need to stop this torture. I need you," she hissed out as he squeezed her breast again.

With a growl Alistair rolled on top of her and thrust his knee between her legs, parting them. He snaked a hand between them and the heat and moisture he found there made him groan. He positioned himself and looked down into her face. Her eyes were closed. "Look at me," he demanded. Her eyelids flew open and she looked into his hazel ones. "I love you, Sidona," he said and then he pushed forward, entering her in a long slow thrust that had them both crying out.

"Maker!" he exclaimed as her walls grasped him. She felt so good, like wet silk wrapped around his hardened length.

Alistair moved within her, knowing for the first time what it was like to make love to someone. He listened attentively to each sigh, every moan and shift of her hips, urging him on. He stroked her lovingly until she arched and cried out in his arms, tightening around him until he could bare no more. He hooked her legs over his arms and lifted her hips upwards and tried a slow but deep stroke. The affect on Sidona was immediate, "Yes!" she sobbed out. He growled and plunged onwards, the new angle letting him sheathe himself completely in her. Soon his thrusts became erratic and he could no longer hold back his release.

"Let go love," he begged wanting her to find her completion along with him.

His whispered plea seemed to be all it took as her walls slammed down on his length and he came with a shout. "Maker!" he exclaimed and collapsed onto her, raining grateful kisses on her cheeks and eyelids and finally tenderly kissing her lips.

She made a disappointed noise when he rolled off her. He pulled her into his arms, her face against his chest and she threw a smooth calf over his thigh. He opened his mouth only to have her small fingers press themselves to his lips. "Go to sleep, my love," she said sleepily.

He chuckled. "Yes, dear," his chuckle turned into a laugh when she swatted him on the arm.

"You need sleep, for I will have my wicked way with you again shortly," she yawned. "As soon as I recover."

He chuckled again. "Good night, my love," he dropped a kiss into her hair and listened as her breathing evened out.

A/N: Sidona's declaration to Alistair: "I love you. Never doubt my love for you. You are the Keeper of my heart." I may have gotten a bit of that wrong but I used an online English-French translator thing.

I hope that this love scene wasn't too soon, or too long or too over the top. I thought you all deserved some "Sexy time" after Anders rudely interrupted them during the last chapter.

Thank you Melismo for editing. =)