Author's Notes: Dammit I promised myself I would sit down after the abrupt end of Pet and start some one-shots but this thing cropped up in my head and wouldn't leave until I at least started it. I hope to get some one shots working with Pet here soon especially given the response I've gotten from it's ending. Anyways this is completely new to me. Normally I try to work in the framework of the SVU universe while twisting it here and there to suit my own needs. This thing is completely new to me so bare with me if it sucks. I wanted to try and challenge myself a bit with this one. Plus it's more well suited to main stream views I suppose. But we'll see maybe I'll throw in some kinky elements here and there if I can figure out how to get it to fit. Intrigue is just a rough working title I may change it once I figure out something better. I was trying to come up with something instead of just leaving this untitled so I went for the main premise of this thing. I have a pretty clear cut path in mind unlike Pet where I was literally just using the bones to form what I thought would be cool. So hopefully this one won't be as shoddy in it's writing style. I'm not going to fragment people's thoughts as much like I did in Pet. No real need to. Anyways if it totally sucks let me know and I won't continue it, I'll just start on the one shots for Pet like I promised. As is those will probably get thrown up intermediately whenever inspiration strikes. I feel like it's been sort of dry lately so we'll see what happens. All right enough rambling let me know what you think yeah? And sorry for any mistakes.

Chapter 1

You fight this war for the people and yet your people suffer from your regulations to keep your army strong. What is a Kingdom without people to be ruled? If you continue to tax their goods and take the very medicines and foods that keep them alive your army will have no men to fight and your kingdom will be a Kingdom for the dead. ~ Alexander

Cragen read the paper in front of him. He set the papyrus scroll aside and pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. He watched his adopted daughter sparring in the ring with her best friend Elliot. The two had grown up together and though Olivia had been smaller and weaker she would still hold her own against her larger blue eyed counterpart. The two were always together ever since childhood.

When they were fifteen Elliot's father was killed in battle, a blow meant to kill Cragen in fact. Cragen since then had made it a point to care for Elliot like his own the same way as Olivia. He watched as Elliot swung his sword low causing Olivia to jump up and spin kicking him in the shoulder which caused him to compensate by grabbing her foot with the hand that sent him back. He flipped her over her shoulder and onto her back but before he could turn she had planted her foot in his back and jerked him backwards sending him flying over her body. She threw herself onto him pinning him down with her blade to his throat.

He rose to his feet knowing the two wouldn't kill each other but maiming was a whole other thing. He'd seen the two with enough bruises and cuts to know they never pulled a punch, kick or sword thrust. No serious damage was ever done but they could still do some damage to each other unless he pulled them away.

"Olivia, Elliot. That's enough. You've won the battle for the day Olivia." He watched his daughter pull back turning to look at him while still straddling Elliot's broad chest.

Olivia rose to her feet smirked at Elliot as she lifted up his sword and handed it back to him. "Dad said I won."

Elliot rolled his eyes, "Yeah yeah. I'll win tomorrow."

"I'm sure you will give it your best and Olivia will give hers." Cragen agreed watching the two smile at each other. He shook his head and went to pick up the papyrus scroll he'd been reading. It was a copy of various letters that were being sent around the Kingdom.

He could understand the points raised in all of the letters. They were valid but they all had to make sacrifices for their safety. Things weren't bad at the Capital and things near the inner cities. It was the villages on the outskirts that suffered and he knew that was where the letters were coming from. Things were hard for everyone now a days. With the constant threat of invasion from the barbarians in the North every effort was made to make sure the army stayed prepared.

Food had to be rationed but the most important thing were the healing herbs that were needed to make sure the medics in the field were able to treat the soldiers. Most of the food rationed was the grains and some of the meat. Mostly it was things the army would need to keep their strength. Things probably would've been all right but in the western provinces there had been an early frost that had killed a lot of the crop and some of the weaker animals. It was around that time that the letters from concerned citizen Alexander began to turn up.

Usually the people were happy; the King was very fair and tried to do what was right for his people. But the war had taken its toll on King's abilities to be fair with his people. He had to do what was right to save their lives but according to Alexander they might just be better off dealing with the barbarians since the Kingdom was losing its citizens and by default it's army to starvation, disease, infection, and other things.

"What does the letter say this time?" Olivia asked as she sheathed her sword and walked to her father.

Elliot sheathed his own sword walking towards Cragen and Olivia. "Do we still not have any idea who this guy actually is?"

"No. The King has rounded up various rebels in the hopes that they'll give him up but they don't know him. They don't even have the original." Cragen rubbed his neck as he walked with the two.

"Do they still have no idea where it's even originating from?" Olivia asked as they made their way from the training grounds in the castle towards their home in the main part of the city. When Elliot's father had been killed, he'd moved in with them. It was easier for him to be near his mentor and his best friend and away from the house Cragen knew had some bad memories of Elliot's father and their rocky relationship.

"No we still don't have any idea. The King is talking about sending out spies to the outer villages see if they can drum up anything about this man. In the meantime we'll just have to wait and see."

"Is there any chance of Liv and I seeing battle soon?" Elliot asked. He knew because of their connection to Cragen they were often held to the rear of the fighting so they wouldn't be hurt but it killed them both because they wanted to get out there and fight.

"Perhaps. We'll have to see what happens. In the meantime continue to train."

Alex sighed as she leaned over slowly bandaging the broken arm of her best and only friend's little brother. "You have to be careful next time Adam." She scolded the twelve year old.

"Well it just means you'll have to come and fix it up for me." He smiled cutely at his older sister's friend. He'd always had a crush on the tall statuesque blonde. Serena smiled watching her little brother trying so hard to get her best friend to give him the time of day. They were the only two left of their family hence they understood Alex's own pain at the loss of her parents; though their parents died under completely different circumstances. Alex didn't let people close to her especially now. She kept her distance from everyone even Serena and Adam.

Alex rose to her feet, "Just keep the arm braced and it should heal on its own. Thankfully the break wasn't bad enough that we'll need to set it. Just make sure not to overdo it okay?" Adam smiled and nodded, "Yes ma'am."

Serena moved towards Alex as she began to put her things in her bag. "Can you stay for dinner?" She asked. "It's just stew but we've got plenty."

Serena always tried to include Alex as often as possible. She knew her slightly younger friend didn't like to be a burden. Sticking with what she knew of Alex the beautiful woman shook her head. "No I have dinner already ready. I should get home. Be careful next time Adam. I'll see you both later."

"You're not staying Alex?"

"No, I need to go. I'm pretty tired too. Mrs. Bennett gave birth to her baby today so I want to go home and rest. It was pretty eventful." Alex forced a small smile for her friends and picked up her leather bag. "I'll see you two later?"

"We'll be here." Serena promised.

Author's Notes: So continue don't continue pull it down completely what do you guys think?