Sorry for the delay. Fall is my busiest time of year and it is sapping all of my creative energy. I am trying to push through writer's block with all of my stories. I hope this chapter was worth the wait.

Also, my editor is having computer issues so I had to edit this myself…I suck at editing my own work so please forgive any typos. Enjoy!

Chapter 8

Alistair waited in his study for Teryn Cousland's arrival. Fergus had become a close friend and advisor over the past two years since he had become king and with Eamon recuperating back at Redcliff, Fergus was the only noble that he could trust to rule in his stead. The difficult part would be to convince Fergus to step in as Regent without providing him too much information.

There was a knock at his door and he called out, "Come in."

"Aaah, Alistair, there you are," Leliana said as she entered his office. She looked beautiful in a simple by elegant aqua-blue dress that hugged her small frame perfectly. "I wanted to let you know that the city gate has sent word that Teryn Cousland arrived at his Denerim estate about an hour ago. So he should be arriving at the palace anytime now."

Alistair smiled at Leliana and replied, "Thanks, Leli. Now, remember what we talked about; I need you to use your womanly charms to convince him that this is in the best interest of the country."

Alistair and Darrian had explained everything to Leliana and of course she immediately had a renewed curiosity in Alex and over the past two weeks had spent just about every waking moment with Alex as she tried to learn all she could from Alex's world. The two girls had become friends quickly and now were inseparable. Leliana had been extremely disappointed when Alistair had asked her to remain at the Palace to advise Fergus during his absence, but after a promise of several new Orlesian dresses she conceded.

Leliana gave her most seductive smile and said, "Don't worry Alistair; I will have the Teryn eating out of my hand."

"I'm sure you will, Leli," Alistair chuckled.

There was another knock at the door; Leliana got up, walked over and opened it, "Your Grace, what a pleasure to see you again," Leliana purred.

"Leliana, you look as beautiful as ever," Fergus replied as he took her hand and kissed it.

Leliana giggled as she cooed, "Thank you, Teryn Cousland."

"I insist that you call me Fergus," he replied.

"Of course Fergus, how was your trip?"

"Uneventful; I left Highever as soon as I received the King's urgent message," Fergus replied.

Alistair stood up as Fergus made his way into the room. Fergus bowed to him as Alistair approached him. Alistair walked over to him and the two men embraced each other. "Fergus, it's good to see you again, my friend. Thank you for coming on such short notice."

"Alistair, it's good to see you again and I am here to serve you and the crown in any capacity that I can," Fergus replied.

Alistair gestured toward the chairs in front of the fireplace, "Please have a seat." The two men sat down in front of the hearth while Leliana poured all three of them a glass of wine. She handed them their glasses and took a seat beside Fergus.

Then Alistair continued, "Fergus, as you know Eamon has been seriously ill and has gone home to Redcliff to recuperate."

Fergus nodded and asked, "How is he doing?"

"The healers feel that in time with the proper rest he will make a full recovery," Alistair replied.

"I am glad to hear that, Alistair. I know how much he means to you," Fergus replied.

"Thank you, Fergus for your concern," Alistair paused for a moment before he continued. "The reason that I asked you here is because I need your aid. It has recently come to my attention that an urgent Grey Warden crisis is taking place in the Frostback Mountains. Since this is a Grey Warden matter I cannot go into the details of this situation, however I can tell you is that it is a threat to Ferelden and to national security. As King of Ferelden and as a Grey Warden I must accompany Darrian on this mission."

Fergus' face paled at Alistair's last comment, "Your Majesty, you can't leave Denerim for a Grey Warden mission. Your country needs to know that the throne is secure. If there is a crisis the people need to be reassured that their King is safe."

Alistair smiled at Fergus and then continued, "I will never be the type of king that sits in my throne room and sends others off to do battle for me. I will always be the type of king that will lead my armies into battle. I am the King of Ferelden, but first and foremost I am a Grey Warden. When there is a threat to my country that is a Grey Warden matter I will met it head on."

"But Alistair, wouldn't it make more sense to send a group of Grey Wardens to investigate this threat before you head off to fight the unknown?" Fergus asked.

"There is no time for that, Fergus. I can't tell you the details, but I can tell you this – this threat involves Tevinter Magisters that are here in Ferelden and they are seeking out an old god. I think the Chant of Light has explained what happened the last time they did that," Alistair said.

Fergus' face went even paler, "How can I help?" Fergus asked.

"I need you to step in as my Regent while I go with the Wardens to investigate this threat," Alistair replied.

"What? I can't do that without the Landsmeet approval," Fergus said.

"Well, technically that is true, but there is a provision in the law that states under a national emergency that the King can appoint a Regent or successor. I will send a letter out to all the nobles informing them that I am invoking that law and that I am naming you my Regent during my absence," Alistair replied.

"Alistair, I don't know about this. How am I supposed to make decision in your absence?" Fergus replied.

Leliana smiled, leaned over and rested her hand on Fergus' knee, "That is what I am here for, Fergus. As the court advisor I will be able to help you navigate through the daily activities of court life," she purred.

Fergus returned the smile. "Well, at least I will have one friend at court."

"So will you help me out," Alistair asked.

Fergus was silent for a moment, than he sighed and said, "Yes, I will help you out, Alistair, but I will need a little time to settle things in Highever. Can you give me two weeks?"

Alistair nodded and said, "Yes, I think that will be fine."

xxXxx

Alistair sat behind his desk as he finalized the remaining items that required his attention before his absence from court. Over the past two weeks he had been so busy that he had seen Alex only a few times and as his thoughts drifted to her he realized how much he missed her. He missed her smile, her laugh, the way she smelled when she was close to him and most of all he missed just talking with her. She was the one person that he felt he could completely be himself with; she had a way of relaxing him even when the sight of her gave him butterflies in his stomach and made his head spin. He wasn't looking forward to traveling to the Frostback Mountains, but the thought of spending time with her away from the Denerim court intrigued him.

Tonight was their last night in Denerim before they headed out and Darrian thought it would be a good idea to have all of the travel companions get together for dinner before they set out on this mission. Alistair and Darrian had decided that besides themselves, the other Grey Wardens that should be a part of this operation were Anders, Nathaniel, and Oghren; of course Zevran and Alex would also accompany them. Alistair did not want any of the royal guard to escort him, but Captain Kyon had insisted that he travel with the King so Alistair conceded to his demand.

Even though he was going to see Alex in just a few hours at dinner he needed to see her now. He just wanted to watch the graceful way she moved and see her sincere smile as he told a story or joke. He got up from his desk and headed for her room. He was half way there when he heard the sensuous, yet at least to him, the unappealing voice of Giselle from a nearby corridor. "But Father, I don't see why I can't attend the banquet that Alistair is hosting this evening."

"Giselle, I told you it is a private dinner for the Grey Wardens," Arl Bryland replied.

"But that slut, Lady Seymour, will be at the diner. I don't see why if she is going to be there, I can't be there too," Giselle whined. Alistair cringed at that name that Giselle had called Alex. If anyone had acted inappropriate it was Lady Giselle.

"I can try to talk to the King once again, but he seemed very adamant that the dinner was private and that there were things that were going to be discussed that were confidential," Bryland retorted.

"Again why does Lady Seymour get to attend? She is a foreigner," Giselle snapped as she emphasized the word foreigner as if it were something dirty and disgusting.

Their voices trailed off as they headed away from Alistair. Alistair would admit that Giselle was the most beautiful woman he has ever seen, but he had a very strong suspicion that her beauty was only skin deep. He really hoped that by the time he returned to Denerim that Arl Bryland and his family had returned home.

Alistair rounded the corner and headed for Alex's room at the end of the hall. They had decided to put her in a room that was furthest away from the general flow of traffic because she liked to play her music through her laptop and at times if she got carried away it could be quiet loud. Anders and Leliana made frequent trips to her room to learn Alex's style of dance and it was extremely amusing to watch Anders try to shake his behind in his mage's robes.

As Alistair drew closer to her room he could hear the loud thumping sound of music drifting down the hall. The closer he got the louder the song became; he knocked on the door, but there was no answer. He knocked again, but still no answer. The music was so loud that she probably couldn't hear him. He checked the knob; the door opened and as he stepped inside his mouth dropped open as he saw Alex with her back to him. She was dressed in the same tight fitting clothes that she had worn on the day he had met her…what did she call them…workout clothes. She slid across the floor, bounced up and down with her knees in time with the beat of the song. Her hips moved back and forth as her behind popped up and down.

The voice of a man sang out -

"Dirty babe, you see the shackles
Baby I'm your slave, I'll let you whip me if I misbehave
It's just that no one makes me feel this way
Take 'em to the chorus"

Did he say 'I'll let you whip me if I misbehave'? Alistair watched as Alex feet rhythmatically and effortlessly moved back and forth and side to side, as her hips continued sway and bounce.

"I'm bringing sexy back
Them other boys don't know how to act
Come let me make up for the things you lack
Cause your burning up I gotta get it fast"

As she danced she spun around and cried out as she saw Alistair standing there. A smirk crossed her face as she danced her way over to him as she wiggled her hips and mouthed the words of the song to him:

"Get your sexy on
Go ahead, be gone with it"

Alistair raised an eye brow, "Get your sexy on?"

Alex placed her hands on Alistair's hips as she gently pushed them so that they swayed in time with the music she cooed, "Sexy… could be a person, a place, a situation, a song, anything that turns you. Get your sexy on is anything that makes you personally feel sexy…makes you feel good about yourself."

Alex hands remained on his hips and she moved in closer as her hips began to sway in time with his; without thinking his placed his hands on her hips, the feel of her curves as they rocked back and forth under his hands caused electricity to course through him and he was barely able to muttered, "Oh, I never really thought about it."

Alex smiled and said, "Well, when you look at a girl what makes you attracted to her?"

The song ended and a new one started. It had a slower beat and Alex moved in even closer to him.

The high pitched voice of man began to sing:

"Until the end of time, I'll be there for you

You own my heart and mind, I truly adore you."

Alistair liked the lyrics of this song and he slid his hands around her waist as he pulled her toward him. Alistair thought back to the first day he met her in the tree and the sheer joy that was reflected on her face and in her eyes, "A beautiful smile that makes its way to a woman's eyes; a woman's eyes that sparkles with delight is very…sexy." She smiled up at him and he asked, "And you? What do you find sexy?"

The sultry song continued:

"Love is too weak to define, Just what you mean to me

From the first moment I saw you, I knew you were the one"

She continued to smile up at him as she thought about her response and then she whispered, "You."

Alistair felt his heart skip a beat and his stomach flip. She was so straight forward and honest and that was one of the things that attracted him to her. With one hand still on the small of her back, his other hand came up and cupped her face, his fingers laced through her thick raven curls as he titled her head back to stare into her striking blue eyes. "I find you extremely sexy, Alex Seymour."

He leaned in as he guided her face to his. His lips moved lightly against hers; the kiss was sweet and chaste for a moment, but she slipped her arms around his neck as she pressed her soft full lips against his and arched her back into him; Alistair slid his tongue along her bottom lip as he silently begged for entrance and she met his plea as she parted her mouth and his tongue sought out hers. They danced and intertwined together and he was captivated by how sweet and delicious she tasted; he was intoxicated with her and he felt like he wanted to lose himself in her forever.

"That's why until the end of time
I'll be there for you, you own my heart and mind
I truly adore you, If God one day struck me blind
Your beauty I'll still see"

Alex pulled back slightly and nibbled at his lip, she then teasingly caressed his lips with her tongue before she recaptured his mouth with hers with a renewed hungry and urgency. He felt his body begin to respond to her as a moan escaped her lips. She ran her fingers through his hair and heat scorched from her fingertips and crackled from her mouth as she deepened the kiss. He cradled her against the contours of his chest. He loved the way her body conformed to his. His fascination with her fused into a deep craving and need for her – for the first time in his life he felt true passion and hunger, but before he allowed it to sweep away all of his restraint he knew he had to stop; this was not the right time or place.

Alistair pulled away and closed his eyes; his face belayed the struggle that he waged within himself. His body shook beneath her touch, evidence of the powerful emotions that were locked inside him that she had stirred.

Gently Alex reached up and touched his face; his eyes opened and he looked down into her beautiful face. His free hand came up and he pressed his thumb along her bottom lip and then he traced the upper one as a long sigh escaped her throat. He closed his eyes again briefly to regain his composure. He opened his eyes again and said, "I'm sorry, Alex as much I would like to continue this with you, I don't think this is the time or place."

The incandescent flame of desire still sparkled in her eyes, but a flicker of disappoint crossed her face as she stepped away she sighed, "I understand, Alistair."

He reluctantly let his arms slid away from her. Immediately there was a sense of loss that was unexplainable and he wanted to pull her back into his arms and tightly embrace her. Instead he took another step away from her so that the heat that was still palpable wasn't so intense. He said, "Thank you for the dance lesson."

She laughed and said, "Anytime, Alistair. That was a special lesson that I reserve only for handsome Kings."

Alistair laughed and said, "Good to know. I may have to come back for an extended lesson."

Alex grinned at him and cooed, "I certainly hope so. There are so many more moves I could show you."

Alistair leaned in and as his mouth gently grazed against hers he sighed against her delightfully swollen lips, "I certainly hope so and I look forward to it."