Chapter 12

Alex nervously paced around the camp fire as she waited for the others to return. When she had made her brilliant suggestion about using a Trojan horse to gain access to the fortress she had assumed that she would be a part of the plan; not cooling her heels in some damp, dark cave. She was a person of action; she didn't have the patience to sit on the sideline and wait. She turned up the volume on her Itouch as she continued to pace around, but now with more bounce in her step.

She felt someone touch her arm and she jumped from the unexpected touch; she spun around and saw Oghren standing there. She pulled her head phones out of her ears.

"Hey Other World Girl, we could be attacked and you would never know it with those things in your ears. I have trying to get your attention for five minutes," Oghren exclaimed.

"I'm sorry. I'm just a little antsy," Alex retorted.

"I hear ya. So how does that thing work?" Oghren asked as he pointed to her Itouch.

"Well, you load songs or movies onto and then you listen to it through these head phones," Alex replied.

"What's a movie?" Oghren asked.

Alex thought about it for a moment and then said, "In my world it's a form of entertainment that acts out a story by sound and a sequence of images or pictures that give the illusion of continuous movement. They project these images on a screen and they tell a story."

"Your world is a very strange place. You dance weird, you look weird, and you have weird entertainment," Oghren grumbled.

"I look weird?" Alex questioned.

"Well, maybe not that so much, but everything else about you is weird," Oghren stated.

"Oghren there are movies that tell stories about dwarves and you might find it pretty interesting," Alex said nonchalantly.

"Really? Let me see!" Oghren exclaimed.

Alex pulled up The Fellowship of the Ring on her Itouch. She showed Oghren and Kylon came over to see the motion pictures too. They each put one ear bud in their ears. Alex showed them how to adjust the sound and how to pause the movie. Both of their eyes widen as the movie began to play. They slowly made their way over by the fire and sat down mesmerized by pictures. A few minutes later Oghren yelled, "Hey this movie is about hobbits not dwarves."

"That movie has hobbits, dwarves, elves and humans in it. Just keep watching," Alex replied.

Alex continued to pace around the cave, but now with not even music to distract her mind. She was worried about Alistair…and of course she was worried about the others too, but there was this slight panic that would build in her chest if she thought about anything bad happening to him. When she had first came to Ferelden it was to explore a different world and to meet some of the fascinating people that she had read about in Morrigan's journal. She hadn't expected to be instantly attracted to Alistair, hadn't expected to find him so damn funny and she definitely hadn't expected to fall in love with him. Morrigan had warned her about this, but can you really stop yourself from falling in love? No, you can be in self denial about it, but you can't stop it from happening. She knew that she would eventually have to return to her world, but the thought of leaving him and never seeing him again caused a stabbing pain in her chest. She needed to be honest with him. She need to tell him how much she loved him, but was it fair to tell him that when she couldn't stay here with him; it just didn't seem right.

Just then Alistair, Anders and Nathaniel rushed in to the cave panting, "We have Darrian's daughter! We have Sienna," Alistair said exhausted.

"Where is she?" Alex inquired.

Alistair turned around and there in a papoose attached to his back was a beautiful child with the most exquisite shade of green eyes she had ever seen. Alex walked over to her and touched her check and the toddler giggled. "She's beautiful," Alex said.

"Yes, she is, but we need to get her out of here now. It won't take them long to discover that she is gone. The sun is about to come up and we need to move at first light," Alistair commanded.

"Okay, it won't take long to pack everything up," Alex said.

Alistair looked over at Oghren and Kylon who were engrossed in the movie. "Did you hear me Oghren? We need to pack everything up quickly," Alistair repeated.

"Aaah, by my ancestor's tits, we just got to the Mines of Moria. Can't we wait just a little bit?" Oghren whined.

"The mines of who?" Alistair asked.

Alex shook her head, "Ignore him. I will explain later. Come on, Oghren let's get moving. There is still an hour left in the movie. Besides, I'm sure my battery is about to die and Anders is going to have to charge it for me."

Oghren's face light up, "An hour left? Thank the ancestors. And you said there are two more of these movies to watch?"

Alex nodded, "Yep!"

A huge grin spread across the dwarf's face, "I love you, Alex."

Alex laughed, but Alistair remained straight faced and in charge of the situation. He called everyone around and started to issue commands, "Darrian went to release Zev from the room that he was being held in. If they haven't returned by the time the sun comes up then Alex and Kylon will take…."

"NO, your Majesty! If you aren't leaving then I am not leaving without you," Kylon demanded.

"Look, Kylon I don't have time to argue with you," Alistair retorted.

"Then don't. It's my job to protect the King of Ferelden and I can't do my job if I am not with you," Kylon countered.

Alistair ran his fingers through his hair and sighed in frustration, "Okay, Alex and Oghren will take Sienna and head for Orzammar –it's the closest city. Oghren talk with Bhelen when you get there and let him know I am calling a favor – he owes Darrian and me. Anders, Kylon, Nathaniel and I will go in after Darrian and Zev and then meet you in Orzammar. Is that plan satisfactory with everyone?" Alistair said as he shot Kylon a dirty look.

They all nodded, "Good let's get moving," Alistair ordered.

Alistair turned toward his own bedroll and backpack and began packing up his belongings. Alex walked over and rested a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her and gave her a weak smile. "Are you okay, Alistair?" She asked.

He stood up to face her. He shook his head slightly and mumbled, "No, Darrian is like my brother and I am worried about him. Both of them are elves and very light on their feet; they should have been back by now."

Alex stroked the side of his check with her hand and he leaned against the warm touch of her palm. "They will be fine Alistair – both of them are good fighters and they have you coming to their rescue."

Alistair just nodded as he took comfort in her touch. Alex drew in a deep breath and sighed, "But you have to promise me that you will come back to me safe and sound."

Alistair grinned as he slid his hands around her waist and drew her towards him, "Lady Seymour, if I didn't know any better it almost sounded like you were concerned for my well being."

"I'm serious, Alistair. I know you are used to playing the hero, but please be careful. I don't know what I would do if anything happened to you," Alex whispered.

Alistair slipped his hand under her chin and lifted her head, "Alex Seymour, I promise that I will come back to you. I will always come back to you." He gazed into her beautiful eyes for the longest time, then leaned in and brushed his lips across hers. Knowing that they were not a lone she hesitated for a moment, but the warmth of his soft lips overwhelmed her and she leaned into him, his lips moved over hers as he gently kissed hers. He brushed his tongue over her lips and she opened her mouth as she invited him in. His soft warm tongue gently explored her mouth. Her tongue met his and they danced together. She arched against him as she lost herself in the taste of him, in the feel of his scalped body pressed against hers. She tangled her hands in the silken strands of his hair and he kissed her with as much hunger as she felt; as if he too were about to lose all control.

He swore low and breathless against her mouth, and then he pulled away from her, "By the Maker, woman, you are driving me crazy?"

Alex laughed, "Is that a good crazy or bad crazy?"

He grinned at her, "Oh, it's a good crazy, but if I don't get some time alone with you it could become a bad crazy."

She brushed her hand against his cheek and entwined her fingers in his hair as she murmured, "Well no body wants a crazy King. I think we are going to have to find some alone time together so that we can properly explore our…our need for each other."

"Oh I wholeheartedly agree," Alistair whispered as his lips once again brushed against hers.

xxXxx

Alistair, Anders, and Kylon quietly made their way through the dungeon, up the corridors to the main hall. They had not encountered one mage along the way, but as they slipped into the hall they realized why. There gathered around two slumped forms were at least a dozen Magisters.

Alistair signaled for the group to step out into the corridor so that he could issue instructions.

"It looks like neither Darrian nor Zev have their weapons on them. I saw a small armory just past the dungeon. Nathaniel, can you head down there and grab a couple of swords for Darrian and Zev. We need to create a distraction long enough to get them some weapons so that the numbers are a little more even."

Nathaniel nodded and vanished as he headed in the direction of the armory. Alistair laid out the plan for everyone else. When Nathaniel returned Anders quickly explained the plan.

Alistair eased back into the room. He saw the old magister, Antonidas, as he stood over Darrian as the mage grasped his shirt and bellowed into Darrian's face, "Where is she? Where did you take her?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Darrian retorted.

Antonidas' hands erupted with a cone of lightning that hit Darrian square in the chest. The elf screamed in pain. "Where did you take my child?" Antonidas roared.

Alistair could see Darrian's eyes as hatred filled them. "She isn't your child you lying piece of shit. She's mine and you will never see her again," Darrian spat at him.

Antonidas' hands erupted again, but this time with a cone of flame that pierced Darrian's chest. He cried out again as the spell rolled through his body. "She's not yours and never was. If she was you would have never left that bitch of a mage alone to deliver her by herself."

"That was not my choice, but this is. You will never lay your hands on her again," Darrian choked out.

Alistair glanced around the room and saw that Nathaniel and Kylon were in place. Alistair crept around the pillars to get as close as the mages as possible.

Again Antonidas' hands erupted as he hurled a stone at Darrian's head. Alistair saw the rock hit the side of his head and watched as the skin split open and blood began to gush out. "I can do this all day long and I can make the pain worse," the elderly Magister retorted.

Alistair felt the rage course through his veins. He stepped out from behind the pillar, channeled his anger at the mages and hit them with Holy Smit. All of the mages, except Antonidas and Rhinon, collapsed to the floor. Alistair immediately focused his energy and released a cleansing area spell to purge the room of magic. Once the mages were hit with the spell several things happened at once - Alistair quickly drew his sword and shield and turned to face the two standing mages. He called out, "Anders it's okay to come," and Anders emerged from the corridor and began casting healing spells at Darrian and Zev.

Nathaniel and Kylon moved in closer and slid the extra swords into the center of the room toward Darrian and Zev. Rhinon moved quicker than anyone had anticipated as he rolled toward the thrown sword and scooped it up. He spun to face Alistair and Alistair could tell that he had been trained as an Arcane Warrior. The mage advanced toward Alistair when Nathaniel called out, "Stand down, mage or else I will put an arrow in your chest."

Rhinon either didn't hear him or ignored him as he continued toward Alistair. Alistair charged forward at the mage and gave three quick shield bashes. The mage stumbled back, but remained on his feet; he swung his sword up and rushed forward. A whoosh of air went by Alistair's head and a moment later he saw the arrow strike the mage in the chest. Rhinon staggered and then fell forward dead.

Completely healed from Anders spells, Darrian scrambled to his feet, grabbed a dagger and dashed toward Antonidas. He slammed into the elderly mage; knocked him to the ground and held his sword at the old Magister's throat. "Was it you that gave the order for the Templar not to allow Morrigan to heal herself?" Darrian growled.

Antonidas glared at Darrian, but said nothing. Darrian pressed the blade against his neck hard enough to draw blood. "Was it you?" He demanded as he pressed down harder until the mage cried out in pain. "ANSWER ME!"

"Yes, I let the bitch bleed to death and she…" Antonidas never finished the sentence as Darrian dragged the blade across the man's throat slicing it open.

Alistair walked over and placed his hand on Darrian's shoulder. "It's over my friend," he whispered. Darrian dropped the dagger; buried his head in hands as he wept for the loss of the woman that he loved.

After he had gained control of himself he mumbled, "I want to see my daughter."

"Alex and Oghren are headed to Orzammar with her," Alistair said.

"Then let's get going then. I can't wait to meet my little girl," Darrian replied.