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The smell woke him. And the heavy breathing. Opening his eyes, Alistair went cross-eyed as he tried to focus on the two big brown eyes inches from his nose.
"Well, don't you two make a lovely couple," Calitae walked into the bedroom to find her mabari and Alistair nose to nose on her pillow. The dog looked at the elf over her shoulder and yawned insolently.
Coughing, Alistair sat up, looking around in confusion, "I...when did you get up?" He yawned and rubbed the sleep from his eyes, then made a face.
"Not too long ago." She handed him a tall mug of minted water then started opening the shutters, "Wash water is in the corner unless you would prefer a bath and our breakfast is already here. Pants are on the chest."
He shook his head at the mention of the bath and scratched the mabari behind the ears, much to her delight, "Thank you, for everything, for last night. I don't think my stomach has woken up yet. How long until we leave?" Outside sounded much busier than yesterday.
"When the Dryden's heard you would be going to The Stand, they graciously pushed back departure until mid-morning, so I let you sleep in - you have an hour or so. C'mon, dog." The mabari barked happily and followed her out of the room, the door swinging shut.
A short while later, he emerged to find her checking their bundles of gear and the war dog sitting in the window seat, staring intently down into the courtyard. He leaned against the door frame, watching Calitae. "So this must be Fifth? I normally like to meet who I'm going to share a bed with first." Fifth just snorted and kept watching out the window.
Calitae stood up and tossed him an apple, "Fifth, as in the fifth pup of her litter. She's the pup of a litter mate of the ones I sent to Denerim. Did any imprint on your children?" She carved a slice of her own apple, the smell made his mouth water.
"Mmhmm, all three actually." He talked around a mouthful of the fruit, "The kennel master said it was a rare occurrence. He also didn't say that the pups were from you."
"That's because I told him not to." She watched while he quickly finished the apple and held out a plate of cheese. "Stomach not awake yet, eh?"
"How are you not hungry? This is delicious!"
She reached into a basket on the desk and started pulling out more food, "Here, sit down, wouldn't want you hitting your head when you pass out from lack of air."
"Am I ruining a picnic you planned?" He was stuffing his face as if he hadn't eaten in weeks.
"No, Bella packed it that way in case it made it as far as a picnic, but we both expected this."
He paused, wiping some crumbs from his beard, "Did you sleep well?"
"Up until Fifth pushed me out of bed." She spread some preserves on half of a fresh roll.
"No nightmares?" He wished he hadn't slept so soundly when he saw her hesitate then smile.
"No. It was a lovely nap."
He felt sad that she felt the need to lie to him, but played along, "Maybe I scared them away. I'm certainly willing to test it again." He grinned as she blushed.
The apartments' door opened just as the other half of her roll flew towards Alistair's head. Alesander watched as the bread bounced and landed on the floor, where Fifth immediately pounced on it. "Good to see you both so full of energy already!"
"Morning, Alder! Have some breakfast with us!" Alistair was alternating throwing berries at Calitae and popping them in his mouth, Fifth chasing after each projectile like a puppy.
"I thought you were taught to knock?" Calitae held out the plate of cheese, while swatting another airborne berry aside, "You better grab some now before he inhales it all."
"No thanks, I was just seeing if you were ready to start loading." He grabbed two of their packs.
"We need to gear up then I guess we are. C'mon, you two." She started putting what little remained of the food back into the basket. Fifth started dancing around Alesander, trying to trip him, "Fifth, try not to knock him down the stairs this time." The mabari barked happily and bolted out the door. "We'll be down in a moment, Alder." She turned back to Alistair, "This freedom is getting to your head." She caught the next berry in her mouth then took away the last of the food. "Go put your armor on."
"Armor?" He was walking to the bedroom to wash up after eating.
"I know it's not as pretty as your armor back home but you didn't think we got you all that for show, did you? Part of why we are going with the Drydens is that we're their guards. We can pick out some better equipment for you at Soldier's Peak." She walked past the plain chain mail on the stand and into the bedroom to the chest at the foot of the bed. Soon she was in a set of oily black mail with a large curved dagger and a crescent-headed axe strapped in place. Her braid was coiled in a dark hood hanging on her back.
Alistair was buckling the last of his plate into place, "I really would like to talk about telling him, some day."
She gave him a pained look as she quickly checked the buckles he couldn't reach once armored and handed him his shield and sword before walking out of the room, "Wouldn't your life have been easier if you didn't know who your father was?"
"Maybe. I doubt it though; I was still a bastard and treated as such. There would have been more questions, that's for certain. Alder is different though. And I have three legitimate heirs, one of which is already seated on the throne. And their children will be in line before him. There's no denying that. Do you think he can't handle the news? Or the secret?"
She picked up the basket and grabbed another pack, her face pensive, "I understand why this is important to you. I just don't know if I'm ready. He gets a chance to grow up a little slower and a little easier than we did, no Blight to hammer it out of him, no one pointing at the king's bastard, being judged for who his parents are."
"I wish I could promise you it will all be fine, but I can't. Surely knowing two parents who love you, regardless of who they are, is better than thinking you're an orphan." He could see she was starting to cave slightly. "It doesn't have to happen right now, but maybe someday?"
"I'll think about it. Okay?" She ducked out into the hallway.
He smiled and grabbed the other bags, following her, "It's the most I can ask for."