BONDS AND BURDENS

Alistair strode down the hall to his chambers. One of the young servant boys trailed after him. With an aggravated flip of his hand Alistair waved the boy away. Pushing the door closed behind him, he pulled at the clip of his cape. The rich velvet weighed heavily on his shoulders and he wanted nothing more than to throw the burden out the window. Instead he tossed the cape over a chair and paced the stone floor. He knew that Eamon was only trying to help, but there were times when his presence did nothing more than assert the notion that Alistair was never going to be a good King. He hadn't wanted this; he'd made that abundantly clear, but he accepted his responsibility. Somehow, Eamon still managed to consistently undermine Alistair's authority. He was tired of it. Something had to change. Alistair muttered under his breath and began unbuttoning his doublet. About halfway down the garment his fingers froze. He had the uneasy feeling that he was being watched.

The window draperies rippled and Arianna Tabris stepped out of the shadows from the far corner of the room. He simply stared at her, wondering if she were a figment of his imagination. She was wearing a set of very expensive dragon scale armor and completely outfitted with weapons. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail with a couple wisps framing either side of her face. Something about those loose strands gave her hardened demeanor a softer edge. She was as beautiful as he remembered, if not more so. Still, he half expected this vision to fade into memory as it had done so many times before.

"Arianna?"

She nodded and motioned to him. Alistair moved over to where she stood. They looked at each other for a moment, then abruptly Arianna turned away. She ducked around to peer out the window into the night. Satisfied she returned to Alistair.

"Alistair, I-" She looked up into his eyes, not sure how to begin. It had been so long since she had been alone with him.

"Would love to explain why I've been avoiding you for three years?" Alistair supplied. "Because I must tell you I'm quite curious about that one myself. In fact I just saw your cousin today. Let me tell you, she did not look happy. Nope. Not at all. You wouldn't have anything to do with that now would you? No of course not, because the Arianna Tabris that I knew was certainly not the type to disappoint people. She didn't run around the countryside, watching the flowers and smelling the birds all alone. Tra la la!"

Arianna frowned at him.

"Nothing to say for yourself, eh?" Alistair crossed his arms. "I thought not."

"I've been busy."

Alistair lifted an eyebrow. She expected him to be surprised to see her, perhaps even a bit unsettled, but not outright mad. Arianna shifted uncomfortably in her armor. She really didn't want another tongue-lashing about her absence, but it appeared that she was going to get one anyway.

"What would you like me to say?" She shrugged.

Alistair turned away and walked over to the fireplace. He leaned an arm over the mantle and rubbed his forehead. "I'm not sure."

"There was no reason for me to stay. You gave me a job. I've been doing it. It's as simple as that."

Alistair looked up. "You have family here."

"And a lot of memories I don't need reminding of."

They were both silent for a moment.

"Look." Arianna sighed. "We have a past – one that needs to remain in the past. I accept that. But that's not why I'm here."

Alistair's jaw was clenched so tight she could see the muscles flexing.

"You're in danger."

That got his attention.

"I have spoken with…a reliable source, and someone is putting out contracts on your life."

"Who?"

"We don't know." Arianna moved to stand next to him in front of the fireplace. "The requests are coming from third party couriers. Whoever it is, they are smart enough not to attach their name or face to anything." She reached out to put a hand on his shoulder. His blue eyes pierced her own and she pulled back hastily.

"Who's we?"Alistair narrowed his eyes at her.

"I'm still a Grey Warden, Alistair. You know better than anyone that I keep contact with many different groups. Not all are the most savory."

"Who?" He gritted out.

"I can't tell you who I'm working with. If you want my help, you'll have to accept that." She shook her head. "I'm sorry."

"Perhaps I don't need your help."

"Do you really think it would be wise to refuse it, your Majesty?"

Alistair crossed his arms and leaned against the mantle. Her face had an arrogant mask to it. He knew that he was letting his pride get the better of him. It would be foolish to turn down help from one of the few people he knew that he could trust, but he was having a hard time stuffing back the wave of jealousy that rose inside of him. It was ridiculous; she didn't belong to him anymore. Not that she could truly belong to anyone. They had shared so much once, it was hard to believe that there were so many secrets between them now. Regardless of what had passed, he would always trust her with his life and she knew it. The glimmer in her green eyes told him as much.

"No." Alistair sighed. "Of course not."

"Good." Arianna moved away from the fireplace and walked the perimeter of the room. "Besides, I didn't come here to ask your permission to protect you. I came to warn you so that you would be prepared."

"What do you mean?"

"There are many things that someone in your position takes for granted. I need you to be on your guard at all times without alerting suspicion." Arianna looked back at him as she said the last part.

"Right." Alistair chuckled. "I'm the picture of discretion."

"For this, you will be."

Alistair simply nodded.

"I need you to pay close attention to the palace staff and servants. It would be a very inopportune time to take on any new people, no matter how highly recommended they may come. You should limit social engagements, particularly those with few guards present. Be particularly careful with your food. If you haven't utilized a personal taster you should do so now."

"You're truly serious aren't you?" Alistair asked, his brow furrowed with growing concern.

"You doubted me?"

He shrugged. "Perhaps a little."

Arianna pulled a tiny vial from the pouch on her belt. "Keep this with you. It's a basic healing potion that will help stave off the effects of most poisons. It won't cure you completely, but it will buy us time to find an adequate antidote. That is assuming that we can determine the poison in use. Think of it as a small precaution. If you think you've been poisoned take this immediately."

Alistair took the vial and stared into its bright blue contents.

"I should go."

"Wait." Alistair reached towards her. "Where will you be? How should I contact you?"

"I'll be around."

"Lurking in the shadows of my bedchamber?"

"If necessary, yes." A playful light danced in her eyes.

They gave each other a knowing smirk. Before Alistair could say anything else she disappeared through the same window she had invariably entered. He looked out into the darkness, vainly hoping to catch a glimpse of her, but without her elven eyes it was simply a wash of black. Deep down he knew that she was gone and she wouldn't be seen again unless she was ready to be found.