A.N.: Thanks go to melismo for the beta. Also a shout out goes to USAF713 for his comments that made me consider the Chantry's view of the upcoming wedding.

This chapter picks up back with Elandria and Alistair getting ready to have their talk. The first section is first person Elandria.

Just as I was about to broach my concerns to Alistair, a guard knocked at the door. Evidently, there was some matter that required his immediate attention. I sighed deeply. I was going to have to get used to the constant interruptions.

Because the Alistair I had known from before had wanted nothing to do with being king, I had assumed that Eamon did most of the actual day-to-day ruling. To my surprise, Alistair was the one firmly in control. It was a new experience for me to see him step forward and lead. He had grinned almost shyly at me after the first time or two I had watched him take charge. "Quite a change from before," he had said. "Think you'll adjust to the new me?" he had asked.

I had just smiled at him. This was the Alistair I always knew he could be if he developed confidence in himself. "I'm sure I'll adjust just fine," I had assured him.

I nodded and waved him off when he threw me a questioning look. He mouthed, "Be right back," and then proceeded to follow the guard out the door.

I walked over to the window behind his desk and peered out at the view down into the garden. I knew I should take this time to really concentrate on what I wanted to say to Alistair tonight, but the memory of our first evening together after the Landsmeet kept intruding.

When we had left the Landsmeet chamber, we had returned to the small room where Wynne, Gabe, and Spellweaver were all waiting. We retrieved all three, and Alistair led us out to the gardens. Since the Landsmeet was in session, most of Alistair's guards were on duty, and he was able to have them stake out a large area just for us. Wynne, Torin, Gabe, Kellin, Alistair, and I spent the whole day together. It was wonderful. The guards firmly turned anyone away who wanted to see the king. He promised me that the country wouldn't fall apart if he took one day to spend with his family. The day was almost magical. With the defining of Alistair and my relationship, the hostility that had developed between Alistair and Torin greatly abated as well. I will carry those memories from that day in my heart for a long time to come.

Once Wynne had made her excuses and returned to her quarters for the night, I had helped to settle Torin and Kellin into what would become their rooms (whether temporarily or permanently had yet to be established) while Alistair had gone looking for Eamon. Alistair eventually rejoined us in their rooms as he came in to kiss Kellin good night. After that, Alistair, Gabe, and I entered his quarters. I was actually feeling a little bit nervous. I couldn't believe I would be, but I was. From the kisses Alistair and I had shared since he found out I was alive, I knew the passion we had always felt for each other was still there. Even though we had been apart for the intervening four years, we had been lovers for nine months preceding the Landsmeet showdown with Loghain. It wasn't like we didn't know each other's needs and desires. I guess I was just nervous because it had been so long since we had been together. What if something really had changed between us?

I had entered his chamber ahead of him. I heard Alistair close the door and then I felt myself lifted in the air. He turned me around and pinned me against the wall beside the door with his body. His mouth dropped to claim mine possessively. I willingly opened my lips as I felt the demand of his tongue searching for mine. How long he kissed me, I don't remember. I just knew that the flare of passion that always occurred between Alistair and me seemed to have grown, not lessened, over the intervening years. I was lost in his kiss unable to think any coherent thoughts. All I could do was wrap my arms around his neck and press myself against him, willingly giving him everything he wanted.

Alistair groaned my name as he lifted his head and let me slide down the wall to land on my feet. He propped one arm and his forehead against the wall above me. I could hear the harshness of his breath racing in and out of him. My own breathing wasn't any better, and my body was burning for him.

"Alistair?" I asked questioningly as I reached out to touch his other arm. I didn't understand what was happening. Why had he let me go?

"Just give me a minute," he had said. "Let me regain some control." He had cracked one eyelid and looked down at me. I could see the desire I knew was reflected in my eyes. "Maker knows I've wanted to do that all day," he admitted.

"Yes," I agreed arching myself against him once again. "Don't stop now," I begged.

"Woman, you are going to be the death of me," Alistair said as he pushed himself away and moved over to the chairs in front of his fireplace.

I stayed where I was as I crossed my arms over my chest. I was confused. Was he rejecting me? It certainly hadn't felt like it a few moments ago.

"Come here, Lanie" Alistair said as he sat down in one of the chairs and indicated the one beside him. At first, I just looked at him, but then I pushed myself off the wall, stalked over to the chair, and dropped gracelessly into it. I knew I was pouting like a child denied a treat, but I couldn't figure out why he was pulling away.

He reached out and took my hand between both of his. "I love you more than I ever thought possible," he began.

I knew he did. His actions this morning in front of every noble in the country at the Landsmeet had proved that beyond any doubt. But I also remembered four years ago after another Landsmeet when he had said those exact same words and ended up leaving me a shattered wreck on the floor of Arl Eamon's estate near the market district. Every muscle in my body clenched as he spoke. Then, I felt his fingers begin to trace swirls around the top of my hand.

"Eamon says the nobles are going to vote to re-confirm me as king," he told me. "They've agreed to accept Kellin as heir. They are even willing to let me marry you, with certain provisions." Before I could say anything, he continued, "No, I don't know what they are yet. Eamon and I will have to negotiate those out. The important thing is it looks like I've won.

"The real question is, did you? Are you going to be able to handle living here as things will be? It's not going to be easy. Almost everyone who comes to the palace will outrank you. Eamon has already told me the one thing the banns of the Landsmeet will not stand for is if I try to elevate you to the nobility. You will retain the title of Hero of Ferelden, though, which carries a lot of respect. Everyone had damn well better respect you in my presence," he growled. "I guess what I'm trying to get around to asking is, will you be happy here with no other position than as my wife?"

The tension had washed out of my body with his words. "Alistair, you know I never cared about rank or privilege. The only thing that matters to me is being with you and our son. Anybody else can go straight to the Maker for all I care. I never dreamed I'd ever be able to be with you. How can you ask me if it is enough for me to be your wife when that is more than I could ever have expected or hoped for? I've spent the last four years without you, and ever since our meeting in the glade, I've realized how empty a life that was. If there is a way for us to be together, then I want that, Alistair. More than you know, no matter how difficult it may be."

He smiled at me. "So do I. You'll never know how often I thought of you and wanted you here with me." He dropped my hand and stood up from his chair. I watched as he walked over and leaned a shoulder against the stone of the fireplace as he turned to face me. "There is another choice, you know. We could leave anyway. We could go to the Wardens in Nevarra or even the Anderfalls."

How I wished we could do just that and leave Denerim and kingship worries behind us. "No," I said. "That's not an option. If the nobles had voted to not re-confirm you, then we could have left without regrets. If you abandon your responsibilities because of me, it will eventually come between us. The obligations you left behind would always haunt you."

He grunted and picked up the poker for the fire as he turned to build up the flames again. When he was done, he sat it back down and returned to the chair beside me, picking up my hand once again. "You're right," he admitted. "Maker help me, I can't run away while I still have a duty here."

"It will be fine, Alistair. I have a thick skin. Remember, I grew up in the tower with templars throwing insults at us. I doubt it can be any worse than that," I told him, wanting to believe it and for him not to worry for me. He had enough to worry about.

"I have decided we aren't going to be together again until we are married," Alistair said seriously.

I couldn't help it; I started to laugh. "Do you really think we'll make that?" I asked.

Alistair grinned at me. "That's why we are getting married in four days. I can wait four days." As he continued to look at me, I swore I heard him add, "I hope."

I was surprised by the speed Alistair was moving. "Four days?"

"Why not? Every one you would want at the wedding is here. Let's have it done. I want you legally mine as soon as possible."

"You make me sound like a piece of property," I grumbled at him.

He pulled on my hand and I willingly went and sat in his lap. He softly nuzzled the side of my neck as he murmured to me. "Not property. The woman I love, the one I want lying beside me every night for the rest of my life, the mother of my son, the woman who will drive me insane for the next four days."

"We can fix that last one. There's a bed right behind us," I pointed out.

"I meant what I said," Alistair declared. "The next time we are together, you will be my wife."

"Why? It's not like, with Kellin as the evidence, that everyone doesn't already know we've been lovers in the past." I didn't want to wait even four days. I wanted him now.

"Why wait?" he asked. "How better to show how much I love and honor you then to wait to claim you until we are married? "

"So what was the bit about when we came into the room? Pushing me against the wall seems to go against your waiting until we're married edict."

"I said I wouldn't make love to you until you are my wife, not that I wouldn't touch you until then," he replied.

I snuggled up against his chest as I opened the laces of his tunic and slipped my hand inside. I felt him catch his breath as I ran my hand over the warm skin and firm muscles I found there. I sent a pulse of magic through my hand and into his body. He gasped with pleasure when the jolt hit him. "So teasing is still allowed?" I asked huskily. "I just want to get the rules straight."

He retrieved my hand from inside his shirt and brought it up to his mouth to place a kiss on my palm. "You aren't going to make this easy, are you?" he asked. I could see the desire written in his face and eyes that he hadn't bothered to hide.

I looked up at him with a hint of devilry in my eyes. "I just want to make sure you know what you're depriving yourself of."

I was actually quite flattered. What woman wouldn't be that the man she loves is willing to put her welfare ahead of his wants? Of course, it was Alistair, so I really should have expected something like this if I hadn't let my longing for him swamp my thinking. It was only four days; I resolved I wouldn't make him suffer… well, at least not too much.

A wave of lightheadedness pulled me out of my musing. I put my hand against the window frame to steady myself. I hoped I wasn't getting sick. It was too early in the winter to have to start battling illness.

I heard the door open as Alistair came into the room. I turned and walked over to him wrapping my arms around his waist and snuggling against him, hoping he would put his arms around me and hold me. He pulled me closer and rested his cheek on the top of my head. I closed my eyes and just enjoyed the sensation of being held once again. I vowed to never take this feeling for granted, no matter how long or short the time we were given to share. "What's the matter?" he asked as he finally broke the silence.

I hadn't wanted to, but I pushed myself away from him. Time for some serious talk. I wound my fingers through his and pulled him over to the chairs in front of his fireplace again. This seemed to be turning into our area for discussions. I sat in one of the chairs while he dropped into the one beside me, still holding my hand.

"There is something that is starting to trouble me, Alistair. The past few days, I've listened in on conversations and comments from servants, guards, nobles. Most of the humans are questioning why you don't just keep me as your mistress, and the elves I've overheard wonder if I think I'm above the rest of them and aim to prove it by marrying you. With all the good you've done in improving living conditions for the poor, the trading routes you have set up with the dwarves, the loosening of restrictions on the mages, and the positive changes in conditions for the elves in alienages; you've made such a wonderful beginning in really changing what it means to be a commoner or nonhuman in Ferelden. I don't want our marriage to jeopardize the reforms you've put in place or those you have planned for the future."

"Why do you think it would jeopardize anything?" he asked.

"I'm not sure, maybe it wouldn't. Maybe I'm too close to the situation or it's all gone to my head and I'm placing too much importance on our wedding, but I don't want to be blind to things going on around us either."

"I think you are reading too much into what you've overheard. I'm sure it is more a case of jealousy, and the nasty remarks will die away once some time has passed and everyone realizes the world hasn't ended because we married. You are a gorgeous elven woman, the Hero of Ferelden, and I can understand why there are complaints that you are marrying outside of the elven community. At the same time, there were those who assumed after Briana left and our marriage was annulled that I would select another human queen. I'm sure there were some who hoped to be that queen," Alistair said.

I broke in, "It has nothing to do with the fact that you are a gorgeous human male, does it?"

Alistair blushed, which I found endearing. "Quit trying to side track me." He rubbed his fingers against mine as he stared into the fire before continuing. " Lanie, you are going to find, as I did four years ago, that people will talk about you regardless of how much you try to stop it. All sorts of things will be said that aren't true, but will be taken as if they come from the Maker himself. It's another not fun part of having a high profile, and no other woman in the country will have a higher profile than you, my soon-to-be wife and hero. You wouldn't have believed some of the rumors that circulated about me when I first became king. So please, don't let remarks you overhear worry you to distraction. There is just no way to stop people from talking and saying what they want to say, whether it's the truth or not."

"I understand that, Alistair, but I also know our marriage is going to have a political price that you will have to bear. I'm too new to the situation here to assess it properly, and I don't know what the cost will be. Maybe that is what is really bothering me. I'm used to carrying my own weight, and I don't want you to have to pay a price for marrying me."

"Don't you think I understood what would happen when I decided on this course of action? I never expected it to be easy, Lanie. Yes, there are going to be certain nobles who are going to want something from me because they 'allowed' me to marry you. But why don't you let me worry about any costs that may come due in the future?"

I continued to look at him while he calmly returned my gaze, waiting for my response. I was so proud of him. He had truly grown and matured in the time we had been apart. I moved from the chair into my spot in his lap and leaned against him as his arms encircled me. "Okay," I said. "But when did you get so smart? You do realize our roles have now reversed. You are the leader, and I follow you."

"No, not follower, my love. Partner. I don't think either of us are cut out for the follower role any more."

"Partner," I agreed. I laid with my eyes closed listening to his heart beating for a time. I wondered if we could truly be partners when so much of his life would not include me. It didn't matter though. If being excluded from Alistair's kingship role was the price for us to be together, then I would pay it. I opened my eyes and lifted a finger to trace his jaw line. He glanced down at me. "What are you thinking?" I asked him.

I watched as a small smile played around the corners of his mouth. "I'm thinking about that bed over there," he answered.

My eyes were drawn over his shoulder to his bed, that would become our bed the next day. "What about it?" I asked.

"I'm thinking that tomorrow night I'll have my wife spread across it and be doing delightfully wicked things to her body."

"Oh," I said, my mind suddenly captured by an image or two of my own devising. "That's not quite the answer I expected," I admitted. After a few seconds I added, "Good plan, though."

He smiled in response as the bells began to ring half past eight. "Maker's breath," he muttered and stirred. "I'm sorry, Lanie. I have to meet Fergus Cousland and some of the other men this evening at nine for some type of bachelor party."

"I'm supposed to drop by and see Lanaya anyway," I said as I reluctantly climbed out of his lap and let him out of the chair. "There had better not be any women at your party," I said only half teasing.

"There's only one woman for me," Alistair replied.

How could I help but love this man? He was perfect.

As Alistair was getting dressed to meet Fergus, he thought about some of what Lanie had said tonight. He had known when he originally came up with the idea of marrying her that it would be difficult and there would be resistance. He honestly didn't care though. He was determined to have both her and Kellin in his life, whatever it took. Since the nobles had re-confirmed him as king with everything Alistair planned in the open, he didn't need to feel guilty about being happy about it either. He was just glad that Lanie didn't know exactly how much resistance there was to their marriage. She didn't know about the Chantry's opposition.

Alistair hated to think it, but if he was honest, he was glad the Grand Cleric of Ferelden (yes, the same one that had tried to stop him from becoming a Grey Warden) had died only two months ago. No one had yet been appointed by the Divine in Orlais to replace her. That left Revered Mother Perpetua as the ranking cleric in Denerim, and she had about had a fit. He had endured a closed door meeting with her the day following the Landsmeet. She could have cared less that Lanie was an elf. What concerned her was the fact she was a mage. She had railed and ranted about that fact at length while Alistair had pretended to attentively listen to her. What he had really been doing was planning strategy.

When her bluster had finally run down and she was (somewhat) calmer, Alistair had started presenting his case in his most reasonable of voices. He pointed out the fact that Lanie was the Hero of Ferelden, and a Grey Warden, and had been out from under Chantry control for five years. She had managed to live all on her own for four years without a templar in sight and not turn into an abomination. In fact, the Chantry should feel safer knowing that he would be around to supervise her. Did he not have all the skills of a full templar? He also pointed out that Lanie rarely used her magic these days. There wasn't a need for combat magic now as there had been in the past. He cajoled her to remember Lanie as she had been all the times they had stopped and talked with Mother Perpetua and Sister Theohild at the Chantry when they had been struggling against the Blight.

Then, he pulled out his ace in the hole. He gave her access to Kellin. When he mentioned that the young prince would need spiritual guidance and a dependable tutor and that he had thought to come to the Denerim Chantry for assistance in this matter, she had become so quiet Alistair could almost hear her mind racing, sorting through the implications. When she had offered to take on the responsibility personally, Alistair had reacted as if that thought had never crossed his mind and had told her how much of an honor it would be. She had concurred that it would also allow her to oversee the other circumstance at the palace. Alistair had promised to be guided by her if she felt the situation (Lanie in other words) was getting out of control.

He had finally gotten her to agree that, even though she wouldn't perform the marriage herself, if he could find a priest to do so, she would not forbid it. Of course, none of the priests were willing to go against the Revered Mother except for one. Dear Sister Theohild. Thank the Maker for her! Alistair just hoped Lanie never found out about any of this.