"Absolutely not," Alistair insisted, "You are not going and that is final!" Kora's faced turned red as she balled her hands into fists, trying very hard not to haul off and deck her husband.

"Need I remind you what is at stake?" she practically hissed. "Letting Caden march straight into Corypheus' clutches is not an option. Wardens cannot be used for this and I am the most knowledgeable person available. I. Am. Going." Kora tried to push past him but Alistair was faster. Grabbing her arm to stop her, he swung her around to face him.

"You trusted Duncan with the information to help stop the blight, why can't you do the same thing now?" He growled through clenched teeth. "You said there are people there who aren't Wardens, who have an interest in dealing with the situation and live in the Free Marches. Give Caden their names, give him everything he needs to stop this before it starts but for Maker's sake Kora," his anger gave way to fear as he fought back the tears stinging his eyes, "don't go. Please. It's too dangerous." Recognizing his tone Kora softened. She looked into his bourbon eyes as she took his cheek in her hand.

"You think I want to go," she whispered, a statement as well as a question. Everything inside her was screaming to stay; she had just gotten back to normal in her relationship with Alistair and her son was the most important thing in Thedas to her. But her conscience was telling her she had to go, nagging at her night and day.

She alone knew what could happen, she knew the key players and there were just too many ways it could all go wrong. Caden was intelligent but so hard headed that he would wave off her advice and go to the Vimmarks himself just so he would be in command and be sure the job was done. Kora shook her head. She knew her brother too well and couldn't allow that so she tried a different approach with her over-protective husband.

"I do not want to go… but if I don't and this thing gets free could you live with yourself? A darkspawn that no Warden can kill, you would leave it to someone else?"

She let that hang out there, looking deep into Alistair's eyes as she watched the gears turn. She knew the answer, knew he would choose duty over selfishness but he had to come to that conclusion on his own. Telling him only made him dig his heels in deeper. A bit like a Mabari, she smirked to herself, stubborn to the last. When his shoulders slumped she pulled him into her arms.

"Why must you always be right?" Alistair mumbled into her hair. "I swear you do it on purpose, just to make me angry." Kora hummed in contentment as his arms surrounded her. Feeling the heat in his touch she brushed kisses against his neck.

"Even I wish I wasn't right this time, Dearest," she whispered, pulling his neck closer to her. She pulled his ear lobe gently with her teeth and smiled. "But I'm not leaving until tomorrow… and I will miss you terribly." Her breath on his ear was all it took for Alistair to hungrily take her lips with his.

"Maker's breath, I love you," he panted as he reached down, lifted her up and carried her toward their rooms.

Kora giggled the whole way.

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The next morning all the supplies and armor were loaded to a carriage and brought down to the docks. The vessel that was chartered was ordered to load them and standby for the Arlessa's arrival. Kora had asked Knight Captain Lyle to choose four of his best men to accompany them to Kirkwall. They were all lined up out in front of the estate, waiting for the Arlessa to join them. Alistair checked and double checked everything for his wife's journey, making sure they had everything they would need when he realized something was missing.

Kora.

He found her alone in her study. Standing behind her desk with her back to the door, she stared out the window with her arms crossed in front of her. His eyes raked over her form, trying to memorize every inch as he leaned a shoulder into the doorway.

His eyes wandered from her ankles up her legs, lingering on her slightly thickened, muscled thighs, imagining them around his waist the night before. The curve of her hip, the cinch of her waist, every moment that passed made him more aroused. Realizing they didn't have the time to indulge his fantasy he tried dismissing the thoughts, crossing his arms and clearing his throat.

"I know," Kora said, glancing toward him. "I'm just… "

"Thinking?" Alistair asked, relaxing his arms and making his way over to her. He embraced her and nudged her nose aside, taking her lips into his then letting out a sigh. "If you want to back out it won't break my heart, promise. I could think of much better things for us to do." They smiled at each other as Kora gave him a gentle shove.

"I'm well aware of where your mind was a moment ago, dearest," she smiled devilishly up at him, then sighed. "I wish it weren't necessary, believe me," she whispered as a small figure appeared in the doorway. Kora couldn't help but grin, bending down on one knee. "What are you doing out of bed so early, my heart?"

Duncan made a mad dash straight into his mother's arms, throwing his arms around her neck and squeezing with all his might.

"Why can't Father and I go with you?" he whimpered. His tone tore at Kora's heart as she squeezed him harder, lifting him into the air and setting him on her lap as she sat in the desk chair. She moved him back so he could see her face and looked up at Alistair.

"You know your Father is a Grey Warden," she began. Duncan nodded, those blue eyes identical to hers burrowing into what seemed to be her very soul to absorb every word. "This place I am going is not safe for Wardens which is why I must go with Uncle Caden, to keep him safe." Duncan narrowed his eyes, sure that his mother was hiding something from him and determined to find out what.

"But why you?" he asked. "Why not send Knight Captain Lyle or ask Uncle Cailan for help? He would, Uncle Caden would just have to ask." His determination was enamoring but frustrating as Kora struggled with what to say next. Realizing there was no skirting the issue, she decided honesty was best. The boy was too much like her to accept anything less.

"Alright, the truth." Kora squared her shoulders and schooled her features, taking a deep breath. "There is a great evil out there that Uncle Caden must defeat but this evil can harm Wardens more than it can harm normal people. I have knowledge of it, its whereabouts and what the dangers are, so I must go to assist him. Your father cannot go because he is a Warden and you cannot go because it is far too dangerous. Any questions other than 'why', I will entertain." Duncan opened his mouth to speak but thought better of it, lowering his eyes to the floor. Alistair understood his son's frustration and lifted his chin.

"I know how you feel, kiddo," he empathized, messing Duncan's hair and lifting him from his mother's lap. "Hey, you aren't the only one being left behind. Think of it this way, you and I have the whole estate to ourselves." Duncan thought about his father's words when suddenly his face lit up.

"No lessons?" he asked expectantly. Kora and Alistair laughed.

"Nice try, kiddo, but your lessons are still on," Alistair smirked as Duncan's face fell. He gave the boy a little squeeze and smiled. "But that doesn't mean we can't have double dessert."

"Double?" Duncan asked, astonished his father would mention it in front of his mother. Kora laughed and squeezed her son's cheek.

"Just don't get so fat you don't fit into your clothes anymore," she said as she kissed Duncan's cheek and beamed up at her husband. "I love you both, with everything I have and everything I am. I will return." Alistair grinned back at her and planted a lingering kiss on her cheek.

"You'd better or I'll be on the first ship to Kirkwall, Corypheus or no." Kora's gut clenched, knowing full well her husband's threat was more of a promise. She swallowed down her fear and held her smile, albeit a bit forced, giving her husband a dramatic bow.

"Yes, Your Grace."

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Caden and Elissa were waiting by the ship, the Warden Commander pacing the dock while his wife watched for Kora's approach. Grumbling to himself he stared down at the wooden planks, questioning his decision to allow his only sibling to join them on this assignment. Sensing his tension, Elissa huffed then stepped into his path, glaring up at him.

"Stop it." Caden looked down at her and glared right back.

"Stop what." Elissa waved her hands at him.

"Stop that. The whole 'angry broodmother' thing you have going on right now. Stop. Everything will work out, you'll see." Elissa glanced back down the docks to see the Denerim guard approaching and smiled back up at her husband. "Look who's here!" She clapped her hands and did a little bounce in her excitement. Caden laughed and put an arm around her, unable to stop the swelling in his chest at the sight of his love's smile.

Elissa still struggled with what had happened to her family, even after the reappearance of her brother from the wilds. She spent most days either sparring in the yard or moping around the Vigil, only smiling in polite conversation with the nobles they had to deal with as Arl and Arlessa of Amaranthine. The last time he'd seen her laugh was when Anders was still with them, she and the mage had become very close. When he left and she found out from Kora about his joining with Justice, it seemed to break what was left of her resolve. Even Fergus couldn't seem to break through.

But Kora was a whole other story.

To Elissa, Kora was an equal, a sister in all but blood. She knew sacrifice, was familiar with loss and understood the darkness that dwelled behind Elissa's eyes. In her presence, Elissa drew on her strength and seemed to improve but once they were separated, Elissa withdrew back into her shell.

The voyage will be good for her, Caden thought as he watched his wife embrace his sister. Maybe an extended amount of time together would help her to finally heal. Kora wiggled from Elissa's embrace and jumped up into her brother's arms, a grunt and a laugh rumbling in his chest.

Maybe it will be good for us both.