That You May Always Remember Me

Chapter 11

"If you need anything"

The Imperial Highway had changed from what Alistair remembered of it during the Blight. He vaguely recalled signing something saying that he would fund a restoration of the road, but it was entirely different to walk upon the new pavement himself. It was especially strange to do so with Elissa at his side. Sometimes he would gaze at the horizon and think about the towns that lie in that direction, what demands their leaders laid before him, and which he felt he could fulfill, but then he would glance at Elissa and all of that would fall away. Fereldan was everything to him, but she made it all disappear. She watched everything around them intently, sometimes asking questions but mostly biting her lip and wondering to herself all that she had forgotten. If anything, she belonged to this country more than he did: she could trace her lineage back hundreds of years and his stopped at his mysterious mother. Regardless, he was currently king and she was a stranger.

The city of Denerim soon rose on the horizon, and Alistair wasn't certain how to describe the lurch in his stomach. Maybe he was afraid of taking Elissa into such a forceful city when she still couldn't remember her own past, or maybe he feared that no one would believe he had retrieved the actual Hero of Fereldan. The sun had already set when Alistair and Elissa arrived in Denerim. The busy streets were quiet as their heavy steps echoed across the stone on their way to the palace. Alistair dreaded every step, knowing that their experiences on the road would mean nothing once they entered that place. He would be a married king once again and she would be… What would she be? He still didn't know, yet the decision was left up to him. The palace doors opened beneath his fingertips and he suddenly regretted ever touching them.

"Your Majesty!" The voice of Alistair's seneschal, Bran, echoed across the wide hall. "You're back!"

Alistair quickly noticed that the seneschal's gaze wandered toward Elissa more than himself. "This is El… a friend… and she needs a room." He swallowed hard at what an awkward liar he was. "The one I requested."

"Of course, Your Majesty," Bran bowed and led Elissa toward the room that had been prepared for her, though she was reluctant to leave Alistair's side.

The king began walking to his own room when he decided that there was someplace else he needed to stop first. When he found himself in front of Anora's door he knocked upon it.

"Alistair?" she asked, opening the wooden slab and clearly surprised at his appearance.

"I'm back," he explained obviously, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "I… I brought someone…"

"The guards told me you were bringing a guest." Anora stepped to the side, welcoming Alistair into her quarters for the first time in… more years than Alistair could count.

Her fondness of gold and white first hit him as he examined the space he entered. "I… you remember Elissa?" It was a stupid question, and Anora rolled her eyes at it appropriately.

"Yes, of course."

"She…" He swallowed. "She didn't die when she killed the Archdemon." Anora didn't immediately respond and Alistair continued quickly. "She's been living in the wilderness of Orlais and I've brought her back… but she doesn't remember anything."

Anora folded her arms and her eyelids fell as she examined her husband. "Alistair, are feeling alright?"

"There was never anything wrong with me!" He felt his temper getting the best of him. "She's real, and she's here. You can meet her tomorrow, if you like." He wrenched the door opened violently and walked through it. Anora called something out to him, but he wasn't listening.

He shuffled down the hall. He'd been on his feet all day and longed for the familiar comfort of bed, but he had a very important guest who he had to ensure was well taken care of. He knocked on the door feebly and entered to find her sitting on the edge of the bed, in awe of her surroundings. A quick survey of the room elicited a huff from the king. "I don't know why Bran put you in here. We have nicer rooms…"

"I think it's pretty nice," Elissa commented and added quietly. "Almost too nice…"

He opened the carved Armoire and frowned at the dresses hanging within. "We can do better than this," he mumbled and turned toward the bed. "Are those cotton sheets?" It was then that he finally saw the discomfort on Elissa's face. "This is a lot of change, isn't it?" She nodded and he sighed at his own ignorance. "There's a guard in the hall. He's been instructed to help you with whatever you may need." When this didn't seem to soothe her he moved to the window and pointed. "You see that room across the courtyard? The one with the big balcony?" She moved to stand next to him and squinted at the dark. "That's my room. If you need anything…"

"Thank you, Alistair, but I think what I need most now is a good night's sleep."

He nodded and bid her good night before finally slipping into his own bed. It was warm and soft but not exactly how he remembered it. As he looked around the room nothing seemed quite the same. This had served as a sanctuary for a lover in mourning, an unhappy husband, or an overwhelmed king. He wasn't sure what he was now, only that he was different. Elissa had a way of doing that. And now that she was back everything was about to change.

OOOOOOOOOO

Unfortunately, Alistair was greeted the next morning with a list of things that had to be attended to since the King's departure, and he couldn't be by Elissa's side as she spent her first day in the palace. He continuously asked about her, however, to any servant who happened to be nearby, making certain she received breakfast and a bath, and any other thing she may have asked for. He was assured that her only request was for some time alone. After lunch he found a free moment in his schedule and after much searching, found Elissa sitting on the ballroom floor. He looked up at the painted ceiling at which she stared. It was covered in a very Fereldan mural of fur-clad warriors celebrating amongst their dogs. He sat on the floor beside her and leaned back on his palms. "Do you use this room often?" she asked, her eyes falling to the ornate molding on the walls.

"Not really. It's for balls and galas but we don't have many of those."

She spoke lowly, commenting mostly to herself, "A room like this should be constantly filled with music."

They sat in silence a moment before Alistair started humming. It was a lively tune like those one would hear at a bright tavern on a cold night. He stood and upon seeing Elissa smirk at his musical styling pulled her arm to bring her up next to him. Once she was on her feet he slid his hand down to grasp her own. His other hand met with her waist and he was soon leading her in a dance, continuing to hum all the while. She giggled as he spun her and suddenly they were no longer in an empty ballroom, but a world of their own. Alistair was so enthralled by the beauty in his arms once again that he forgot to keep humming and without the music they were thrown back to reality.

"You're a very good dancer," Elissa commented, her hand still resting on his shoulder. They were frozen in the pose of dancing without the movement. "You must dance often with your wife…" Her eyes dropped to the side and her grasp on him loosened.

Instinctively he held her tighter. "You know, Anora and I… we're not together."

Elissa raised an eyebrow. "Is that what they're calling it these days?"

"I mean, we're married but it's not what you think. It was all politics and it wasn't my idea. I had to be talked into it!" Elissa seemed to relax more but she still backed away. "I just… thought you might like to know." He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly and shrugged. "Friends tell each other these things, right?"

A faint smile finally broke on Elissa's face. "Then I guess I'm glad you did."

Alistair wanted to start another song or come up with any other excuse to get her back to being close to him, but before he could think of something his wife walked in. "There you are! What're you doing in…" Her voice trailed into silence and her face fell as she caught sight of Elissa. "Maker's breath!" she breathed. "So you weren't lying."

"Told you." Alistair folded his arms smugly. "Elissa this is Anora my… err… the queen."

"It's nice to meet you," Elissa nodded politely in the other woman's direction, which only seemed to confuse her further.

"You truly don't remember?"

Alistair stiffened. It was enough to have to explain why he married at all, but entirely more difficult to describe why he married Anora of all people. From the lack of color in her face it was clear Anora wasn't interested in having the past dug up just yet either. So when Elissa's expression grew curious and she asked, "Is there something I should know?" the monarchs shook their heads and mumbled, "Nothing."

"You have a visitor," Anora announced, suddenly remembering why she went searching for her husband in the first place.

"I…" Alistair looked concernedly at Elissa as if she was a puppy he was afraid to leave alone.

"I can entertain myself," she assured him. He left the ballroom followed by Anora, who shot a fleeting look back at the Hero of Fereldan which did not go unnoticed and gave Elissa a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach.