She endured the sounds of Morrigan's ritual for a countless amount of time, but eventually her mind disconnected and she fell into a dreamless sleep.

The feeling of a gentle touch on the Warden's arm startled her awake. She flung herself up and swung her fist towards the intruder. Her hand smashed against something hard.

"Ow," the intruder squeaked, "Careful there."

Evanesce squinted at the figure, straining her eyes in the dark.

"Alistair?" she asked. "You scared me."

"Sorry," the Templar said rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.

"What are you doing here?"

"Well…I'm here because you're going to be my wife, and I wanted your company."

Evanesce was silent a minute. She slid over.

"Sit with me then."

Alistair laughed a light laugh, and sat beside her.

"So why's the fire out?"

"I was…hot."

"Well it's a little dark in here. Just a little." He leaned over and a spark flashed. The Templar lit a lantern. He hung it on a peg near the bed. Alistair looked at his bride and smiled. "That's better. I can see your beautiful face." He brushed her cheek with the back of his hand.

Evanesce probed her lover's shadowed expression. He seemed exhausted and a little scared.

"Alistair," she said gently. The handsome Grey Warden looked over at his leader and tilted his head. "Are you alright?" She snaked her hand across the bed and found his. She intertwined their fingers. Alistair smiled just a little.

"I'm worried about how tomorrow is going to turn out, but you know with this dark ritual of Morrigan's behind us I'm sure everything will be just peachy." His grin widened into a sarcastic smile.

"Ah jokes. Feeling better then?" Evanesce leaned into her King. He wrapped his arms around her and she put her head against his chest.

"Now that I'm with you, I feel perfect."

She looked up at him. He smiled.

"I'm afraid, Alistair," she whispered honestly. If she could admit her weaknesses to anyone it would be to him.

"I am too."

"What if…what if Morrigan was wrong…what if it doesn't work?"

"Morrigan is a lot of things," Alistair lowered his voice, "And I mean a LOT of things, but she does know what she's doing when it comes to magic. If she didn't do you think I would have participated in her ritual?"

Evanesce smiled.

"You're right." The Warden wrapped her arm around his neck and gave him a gentle kiss. Alistair pulled away after a moment.

"I heard you screaming my name earlier…" Alistair said sheepishly. Evanesce could hear the nervousness in his voice. "I'm surprised the guards didn't come running to make sure I wasn't murdering you."

"Come on, Alistair, you're the King, you could murder anyone and get away with it."

"Riiiight…I'll keep that in mind the next time Morrigan calls me stupid."

Evanesce laughed avoiding the original question.

"Plus, do you really think YOU could murder ME?"

The King smiled.

"Right…you'd probably thwart my evil murderous plot before I even thought of it." He laughed. The Warden pulled him into a hug hoping to keep the thought of her screaming for him from his mind. "But seriously, dear, what was it about?"

Damn it.

Evanesce sighed.

"I…had a nightmare…"

"About me?"

"Yes. It was about tomorrow…what would happen if Morrigan hadn't made us the deal…you…sacrificed yourself…for…me…" The Warden looked down, tears swelling against the rims of her eyes.

"Hey, hey, no tears," Alistair said sympathetically. He squeezed her close to him. "Evanesce…you know I would die for you any day of the week, but tomorrow we are going to be fine. And then we'll get married…rule Ferelden, and have lots of little babies."

"You know we'll probably never have children…"

"Oh come on that's not the point."

"I know."

"Hey, come here." Alistair squeezed his Queen tight into his arms. "Everything is going to be ok."

"How do you know?"

"Because I know everything." Evanesce laughed. "Oh so I get a laugh?"

"Hm. Yes you do." The Warden smiled, as Alistair kissed her cheek. "And that's one reason why I love you."

"Oh only one reason, huh? And…what are the others? My undeniable good looks? My witty charm?"

Evanesce laughed.

"Yes. Of course. All of those and more." She leaned up and pressed her lips against his. He pulled her close, and held her against him. "Alistair?" she asked after pulling away just enough to speak.

"Yes my dear?" he whispered.

"Did you enjoy it?"

The King released her and she slid back.

"Enjoy what, Evanesce?"

"Sleeping…with…Morrigan…" her voice was a whisper.

Alistair sighed.

"Obviously I realized you'd ask about it, and," he sighed once more, "I'm not going to lie…I enjoyed it, but…the entire time I squeezed my eyes shut and pretended it was you."

Evanesce was silent for a moment then she smiled.

"I love you," she said throwing herself into his embrace.

He laughed and squeezed her close.

"I love you too," he said kissing her face.

Falling quiet, the two rested in each other's arms. Evanesce pressed her cheek to his bare chest allowing her exhaustion to overcome her. She had finally slipped into a restful sleep when the nightmare overtook her.

Evanesce stood alone in the dark. She could feel a presence, a dark…evil entity looming over her, making the air thick. It was hard to breath.

Oh no. No. Not this. Not now. No.

The feeling of the spirit grew more hostile. It taunted her. Challenged her.

The Archdemon. Alistair was right, it was aware of them, and it was daring them. Calling them to come after it.

Breaking the darkness the corrupted Dragon appeared, blowing blue fire as it flew off into the distance.

Evanesce shot up and flew off the bed.

"I guess that means you saw it too…"

"He challenged us!" the Warden almost yelled.

"I know," Alistair whispered, "And we'll gladly grant him his wish."

Anger bubbled up in the Rogue's chest. She wasn't sure why it had gotten such a rise out of her, but it had.

In retrospect, that must have been what it had wanted. It wanted her so angry that in she would make a mistake in battle. And she may have allowed the taunt had it not been for him.

Alistair must have seen the look on her face because he slid to the edge of the bed and took his lover's hand. He pulled her onto his lap and kissed her soft and gentle.

Evanesce's anger melted with his touch. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and tilted her head as she forced him down onto the bed. Alistair withdrew from the kiss and looked over at his side.

"Hm. What's this?" he asked examining the thing in his hand. Evanesce leaned back as Alistair smiled. "The rose." She smiled sliding off of him and lying by his side.

"I cherish it," she said gently. "You know Leliana was telling me about her dream, the dream that led her to us. She told me that the morning after her vision she went into the gardens and found a beautiful red rose…growing from a dead shrub." She looked at her mate knowingly with smiling eyes. "This little flower is special…just like you."

Alistair blushed which made the Warden laugh. She loved when his cheeks reddened with embarrassment, his awkwardness as part of his appeal.

"Oh is the King blushing?"

He smiled.

"No not at all. I don't know what you're talking about," the Templar defended.

"Oh sure you do."

Evanesce propped herself up on her elbow and gave her lover a little tickle. He laughed.

"Hey cut it out."

He jumped up and ran across the room.

Evanesce hopped off the bed and followed.

"Hey where do you think you're going?" she asked as he backed into the wall. She reached out and tickled him again. He gave a little laugh.

"Quit, I'm ticklish," he howled swatting at her hands.

"That's the point," Evanesce laughed with a big smile.

"Stop it, stop it," he chuckled pushing her back and into the wardrobe. His fingers pinched at her sides as she giggled.

"Quit you're going to knock it down," she cried trying to push him away.

"Oh no, no mercy for you."

"Alistair, stop," she cried trying to control her laughter. She finally managed to squirm away when a thought came to her mind. "Hey, remember what you told me the first day we met?"

Alistair smiled and tapped his chin.

"Hm that depends…I told you a lot of things."

"Well it was just before the battle. Duncan and I had just come back from the meeting with King Cailan, and he told you that we were to light the signal instead of fighting alongside him." Alistair frowned remembering. Evanesce took his hand support fully. She smiled to show him she was getting somewhere good with her talk. "After arguing about it you finally gave up and said," she cleared her throat and smiled, "'Just so you know, if the King ever asks me to put on a dress and dance the Remigold, I'm drawing the line. Darkspawn or no.'" She mocked Alistair's voice.

The Templar laughed.

"Oh yeah and you surprised me by saying 'I think I'd like to see that,'" He said pitching a girly voice. Evanesce wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned into him.

"'For you maybe, but has to be a pretty dress,'"

Alistair laughed and kissed her.

The Warden pulled from his grasp and opened the wardrobe. Inside a beautiful burgundy night dress hung from a hook. It had obviously been placed in there for her. She pulled it out and hung it in front of her. She spun, twirling the skirt. Once again facing Alistair she shot him a teasing smile.

The King crossed his arms.

"Oh no I am not putting that on. No no," he debated her look.

"Oh, but it is so beautiful," the Warden whined with a smile.

"Um yes, but it's…not pretty enough. I'm think Orlesian pretty," he argued. She laughed.

"Alright well I'll go ask Leliana if she knows where to…"

"You know I don't think I've ever seen you in a dress," Alistair interrupted. Evanesce squinted.

"Me? Why I've owned thousands of dresses in my years. I'm a Cousland…you think the daughter of a Teyrn is going to wear armor to a supper full of other nobles?"

Alistair shrugged.

"I don't know I mean I never know with you. You're certainly no Anora." Evanesce crossed her arms and frowned.

"Oh well if she's so perfect then why don't you marry her. She's still locked up in Denerim she'll be easy to find."

"Because I don't want her I want you." He pulled the Rogue into his arms. "Plus she'd probably poison me or something to get the crown all to herself."

Evanesce laughed.

"Probably." She hugged him back. "What are we going to do about her?"

"I don't know. We'll worry about it after we take care of the Blight."

"That sounds like a reasonable idea." She kissed her lover gently. "So how do you really feel about being King? Really, I mean."

"To be honest…I'm starting to like the idea of it." He smiled. "I feel a lot less pressure now that you have agreed to rule with me."

Evanesce smiled.

"You're not worried that you leading might end up with you lost and without pants?"

Alistair laughed.

"Well if I was alone I would be, but with you here…you'll make sure I don't wonder off half naked."

She smiled.

"You're right. I'll protect you from leadership."

He laughed once more and pulled his Queen closer.

"I love you," he said before leaning down and touching his lips against her soft mouth.

"I love you too," she mumbled against his kiss. She released the dress she had been clutching to her chest, and wrapped her arms around his neck. She pulled him back, leading him to the bed. Reaching her destination she allowed her knees to buckle and her body to collapse. Alistair fell with her, sliding himself between her legs. Slowly, Evanesce slipped Alistair's clothing off. He returned the action by slipping her under clothes off. Naked and pressed close together Evanesce forced her lover even closer, so that their bodies intersected. Alistair leaned even more into his love. She dug her nails into his bare back as she moaned, "Oh Alistair."