Revelations

Thankfully, the rest of their companions have not come out of the campsite to search for the two Wardens who have been gone for most of the night.

Elissa was still on top of Alistair, her limbs draped over his, her head tucked away under his chin. Both didn't seem to mind that all their articles of clothing were thrown about on the grass around them. She let out a content sigh as he ran his hands up and down her back.

"Aren't you cold, Elissa?" He asked softly, half-asleep.

She nuzzled her face into his chest. "No, I'm quite warm and cozy where I am at the moment."

Alistair chuckled. "We have to get up sooner or later. The others will search for us. If they find us like this, we'll be subject to their awkward stares for days."

"Let them think what they want to think." Elissa placed kisses on his collarbone.

"You're not scared of the scandal?" He teased.

Elissa lifted her head up to give him a grin. "The only real scandal here is how you were able to do what you did when you supposedly claim to be 'inexperienced'."

"I take it you liked it then?" Alistair gave her a pinch on her bottom.

Elissa responded by giving him a light smack on his arm. "I have my eye on you, Alistair. You are not the innocent and chaste templar you made yourself out to be."

"Well…not anymore." He smiled and returned his gaze back to the sky. The moon was still white and bright as it slowly inched across the sky. The stars were scattered everywhere, illuminating the black sky into a soft dark blue. As he held the beautiful woman he loved in his arms, he felt not even the archdemon himself could destroy such a wonderful night.

"Alistair…" Elissa murmured. "I am going to make you King."

"What was that, love?" He asked sleepily. "I thought you just said you are going to make me King?"

Elissa braced her elbows down on the grass and lifted herself to look at him eye to eye. She slowly stroked the side of his face with her hand. "You heard me correctly. I want to make you King."

Alistair's eyes snapped open and he stared at Elissa with a ludicrous expression. "What are you talking about? I thought we clarified all this back in Redcliffe. I'm not suited to be King!"

Elissa felt his body tense under hers. She slowly ran her fingers through his hair to calm him down. "Alistair, the more I think about it, the more I believe making you King is the right thing to do."

"Right by who?!" Alistair demanded. "Arl Eamon?"

"Right by Ferelden." Elissa answered softly. "You've seen the same as I have, Alistair. You would know what would be the just thing to do. I have faith that if you become King, you would unite this country to defeat the blight."

Alistair took hold of her hand and looked up at her with a somber gaze. "Elissa. If I become King…what would become of the Grey Wardens?"

"I am still a Grey Warden." She replied. "And even if you are King, you will always continue to be one as well."

"And what about us?" He asked quietly.

Elissa was not a fool. She was the daughter of Teyrn Cousland and was very well aware of the way of the royals and the noble families that serve them. A monarch's bloodline must always be revered and passed on, no matter how it is done. Progeny are an important necessity for a royal family. Alistair would be no exception.

"Lady Elissa," Arl Eamon smiled at her with gratitude. "I must thank you again for your help."

"You are welcome, Arl Eamon. I am glad that we were able to save you and you have recovered." Elissa inclined her head. "But you do not have to refer me as 'Lady'. The Couslands are no longer and I am now a Grey Warden."

They were both alone in the Arl's study. He had summoned Elissa to speak to her in private about important matters, most likely regarding the Landsmeet. The others were all in the dining hall, eating and drinking merrily in celebration of the Eamon's recovery.

"I will refer to you as Lady Elissa Cousland as much as I wish." Eamon insisted stubbornly. "You may be a Grey Warden, but your father's legacy lives with you."

Elissa felt herself choke up with emotion. "Th…Thank you, Arl Eamon."

Arl Eamon nodded and started to pace back and forth with his hands behind his back. "Now, my dear. I believe you most likely know why I have summoned you to my study alone."

"Is this concerning pushing Alistair towards becoming King?" Elissa asked, watching the Arl pace slowly before her.

"Yes." Eamon sighed and faced her. His eyes were sharp. "We must make Alistair King…he is of Maric's blood and is entitled to the throne. Loghain is not the honorable man as he once was. We must push for Alistair to become King when we call the Landsmeet."

Elissa frowned. "Alistair has no desire of becoming King."

"Even Alistair realizes the seriousness of Ferelden's situation. If Loghain's rule remained unchallenged, the kingdoms will never unite in order to defeat the blight." Eamon explained. "You come from the most noble house of Cousland, Lady Elissa. You are also a Grey Warden. You of all people understand that this civil war must end in order for the true enemy to be defeated. You must convince Alistair to take the throne."

Elissa understood perfectly. As much as she despised politics, it was an important matter that needed to become resolved in order for people to gather against their enemy. She met Eamon's hard stare. "I will do my best speak with him…but in the end, it is Alistair's decision. Not mine."

"Thank you, that is all that I can ask." Arl Eamon smiled kindly and laid a hand on Elissa's shoulder. "You have grown so much since I last saw you all those years ago. Your parents would be quite proud of you."

Elissa smiled sadly in response. "I hope so. I hope that they are proud of me, no matter what I do."

Arl Eamon walked back to his desk and sat heavily in his chair. "Lady Elissa, I know this is a very sudden question, but if I may be so bold to ask…what is your relationship with Alistair?"

"Alistair?" Elissa blinked at the change of topic. "He is my precious friend…and my fellow Grey Warden."

Eamon learned forward on his desk and placed his chin on his entwined fingers. "Just a friend, Elissa? Nothing more?"

Elissa found herself squirming in embarrassment. The Arl made her feel like she was a child again. "No…at least for now…n-no."

Eamon gave her a small smile. "I've raised the lad for years. He is not very good at hiding his feelings. He has real affection for you, Lady Elissa."

She didn't respond. She felt her cheeks flush with heat.

Arl Eamon's face suddenly became very grave. "That is why I must tell you something. I do not think that the Grey Wardens have informed neither you nor Alistair before Ostagar. I am only privy to this knowledge because it relates to a situation we had many years ago."

Elissa looked confused as Eamon pursed his lips to a hard line. "What is it, Arl Eamon?"

Eamon furrowed his brow. Maker forgive him for being the one to break the awful truth to this girl. Eamon took a deep breath and steadily met Elissa's gaze. "Lady Elissa…if there were other circumstances, you would not only be the most appropriate person to become Alistair's bride, but the best choice to become queen if he is crowned. However, there is something you must be made aware of…"

Elissa stared down at Alistair and gave his hand an affectionate squeeze. Her throat tightened as she recalled what the Arl had explained to her that night at Redcliffe. If Alistair was to become King, Elissa would not be able to be at his side. No matter how noble her family, no matter how much she loved him, as a Grey Warden, she would never be allowed to marry him.

With no answer, she lowered her head and kissed him tenderly on his lips. As she gently caressed him to arouse him once more, Alistair let out a small laugh. "Don't think you can distract me to escape my question, you tease. What will happen to us once I become King?"

Elissa bent down to nibble on his ear. "We will have to think about such details once it happens, don't you think?"

As she lowered herself onto him, he lost his train of thought and had let the question go.

Twisting at her heart, The warning that Arl Eamon had given her echoed persistently in the depths of her mind.

"Lady Elissa…A Grey Warden being able to conceive a child...is very rare. With both you and Alistair as Wardens, I'm afraid the possibility of you having Alistair's child…will never happen."