A.N.: I apologize for the delay in getting this chapter out. My mind was hijacked by 'Surviving the Archdemon' and real life has been sort of crazy. The next few weeks the updates may be slow, but I promise I'm not abandoning the story.

The first two sections of this are done from Alistair's POV and start right after the meeting that was held to discuss the assassination attempt.

This chapter isn't safe for work.

When we entered our rooms after a thorough check by the guards and a firm discussion with Hugh that he was not placing a guard in our bedroom tonight, neither of us spoke. I walked over and laid Kellin down in the middle of our bed and gently covered him. When I moved him off my chest, he startled and came partially awake, but I was able to quickly soothe him back to sleep with low-voiced murmuring and soft pats on his back. Gabriel started investigating the room, finally locating his pillow and laying down on it. Lanie laid Starfang down on the left side of the bed and had then gone to the other side. She removed both her staff and Spellweaver lying both of them on the floor by the bed. That more than anything else spoke to me how serious she was taking these attempts. As she removed her weapons, the front she put on for the others disappeared as well. I watched her shoulders slump as she sat lightly on the edge of the bed, more in tiredness than anything else, I thought at first. I moved to the side of the bed with her, and Lanie stood up and wrapped her arms around my waist. I hugged her tightly or as tight as I could through her armor. I leaned over to rest my cheek on the top of her head. As I held her, I realized I could feel her body shaking. I tried to draw back, but Lanie wouldn't let go of me. "Hey, what's the matter?" I asked.

I felt her shake her head against my chest, but she didn't say anything. I leaned back enough to try and tilt her head up with my hand under her chin. She kept the muscles in her neck stiff and didn't want to let me. I persisted and finally drew her head up off my chest so I could look in her face. Her eyes were tightly screwed shut, but that couldn't stop the tears leaking out from underneath her lids. "Lanie," I breathed softly as I gently wiped them away. "It's all right, love."

Again, she shook her head, still not opening her eyes or saying anything.

"Let's get you out of that armor," I suggested and starting undoing buckles and removing each piece and setting it aside. She stood there and allowed me to do so. As I drew off the last of it, her passiveness was starting to worry me; Lanie was never passive. She let me take off her boots and socks so she stood barefoot and clothed only in the linen underclothes she wore under her armor. I gathered her back up again. She burrowed against me hiding her face once more. I allowed her to take what comfort she could from our embrace while I slowly removed the pins from her hair allowing it to fall and drape around her. She didn't show any inclination to move or speak, and I finally couldn't take it any more. "Tell me," I said quietly as I held her with one arm and slowly stroked her hair with the other hand. Lanie had let her hair grow out since our time traveling together, and I loved to run my fingers through the new, longer lengths.

I felt her draw her breath in, but then she hesitated. "Please?" I asked after a few minutes of silence.

When she finally did begin to speak I could barely hear her, but her voice grew stronger as she continued. "You and Kellin-both-almost died tonight. I almost lost the two of you at once. I couldn't take that, Alistair. It would destroy me."

"Shh," I said. "You didn't lose us. You saved me, and you saved Kellin as well by having Torin to protect him. We're both right here and safe. Almost doesn't count."

I proceeded to prove it to her in the only way I knew how. I raised her head by placing both my hands on either side of her face with my fingers in her hair. This time her eyes were open and I could see the pain in them. I pressed my lips to hers in a gentle caress that slowly became more as I tried to pour my heart and soul into her and show her just what she meant to me. At first she just accepted my kiss, but then I felt her respond.

As her body softened and yielded to me, something inside me snapped, and the control I'd been holding myself under for almost the past week whenever I touched her was gone. Maybe it was just the knowledge that we were finally married, and she was mine forever. Perhaps it was the fact I hadn't been with a woman in months or maybe it was the teasing we had both meted out to each other over the past days. Whatever it was, my grip on her tightened; my tongue thrust forcefully into her mouth; I ground myself against her; and the whimper she made deep in her throat drove me crazy. I picked her up, and she wrapped her legs around my waist and began to rub herself against my erection. I barely retained enough thought to realize I needed to get her out of this room before I took her right here on the floor with our son sleeping in the bed above us. My eyes fell on the door to the arms room. I broke our kiss reluctantly and held her to me as I carried her across the room. The feel of her soft lips and tongue against the skin of my neck as I did so sent shivers down my spine and desire racing through my body.

On entering the arms room, I pushed the door shut with my foot, but allowed it to stay open just a bit so we could hear if Kellin stirred. I carried her to a clear spot by one of the walls and held her trapped between it and my body. "Off," I growled as I started to work the laces free on her top. She pushed my hands out of the way and much more adroitly than I could have removed both it and the breast binder beneath. Her hands dropped to do the same on her linen pants, but I didn't give her the chance. I put my hands under her arms and raised her higher in the air as her legs dropped away from me. One more thought crossed my mind before I began to lose myself in the delights of her body. "No magic," I said as I didn't want her to lose control and let it flare like she had earlier with our kiss. The last thing I wanted tonight was anyone bursting into our rooms, templar or not.

"No magic," she whispered in agreement.

In our teasing games, we hadn't gone much beyond deep kisses and tentative touches as we both knew past a certain point we wouldn't-couldn't stop. The line had been crossed tonight, and I knew it would end with me buried deep inside her where I had been aching to be ever since finding out she still lived.

With an almost reverent joy, I allowed her breasts to fill my hands and took one taut nipple into my mouth as I continued to hold her trapped against the wall with my lower body. I felt her jerk and jump beneath me as I paid loving attention to first one breast and then the other. One of her hands made its way beneath my tunic to grasp my shoulder and the other she placed on the back of my head as her fingers twisted in my hair. I could hear her saying my name over and over. I dropped one hand to work the laces free on my pants as she held more of her weight in her arms against my shoulders. I pushed both the pants and my smallclothes down over my hips so that they puddled to the floor around my feet. I managed to step out of them and kick them away without stopping my attentions to her. I took her weight back and once again held her against the wall. She worked her hands under my wedding tunic enough to draw it over my head and toss it on the floor. I couldn't help but close my eyes as I felt her hands stroke across my bare chest, shoulders, back, and arms. The Maker himself only knows how much I missed her touch these past years.

Only her bottom underclothing was left between us and I wanted it gone now. Without even giving her a chance to remove them, I grabbed the waist and ripped it off her. The smallclothes beneath received the same attention. As I reached out to touch her between her legs, I felt her hair, soft as silk without any coarseness, brush against my hand. She cried out when I let her slide down the wall some and then slipped my fingers inside her. I hurriedly captured her lips to muffle any more cries she might make as her legs wrapped around me again. Sweet Andraste, she was hot and wet. I could feel the muscles of her inner walls clenching and releasing against my fingers. I let out my own cry, which was muffled by her lips, when I felt her hand encircle and start stroking me.

We spent a little time teasing each other, but foreplay wasn't on either of our minds tonight. I desperately ran the contents of the room through my head as I couldn't see as well in the semi-darkness as she could. I removed my hand and put one arm around her waist and the other around her shoulders to hold her as I shuffled a bit to my right while her pelvis ground against me inflaming me further. I came up against the edge of a chest that I had remembered was along this wall. It was a large chest able to hold multiple pieces of armor that didn't rate their own stand, and Lanie was a small woman. I carefully laid her on the top of it. All I could think about was Getting Inside Her Now as the feel of her soft skin rubbing against me about made me lose my mind.

I took myself in hand and pressed against her entrance. I felt her body stretch to accommodate me as I pushed inside her. I tried to be gentle, but failed. I knew after four years our first time together should be achingly sweet and tender, but death had reached out its hand and touched me tonight. All I could do was push myself inside her tightness and heat until Lanie took all of me, and with an indescribable feeling, I was finally HOME again. My mind screamed to stop, slow down, take your time and love her, but my body seemed incapable of listening. I drove into her time and time again as the pounding rhythm reaffirmed the fact that I was still alive. I couldn't force myself to stop or slow down as the feel of Lanie's skin sliding against me once again and her encouragement impelled me on. Lanie wrapped her arms around my chest and her legs around my waist and used my body to lift herself and meet every one of my thrusts. My breath grew ragged and came in great gasps, and sweat coated my body. My muscles trembled, and whether it was from the pleasure pouring through me or the strain of trying to keep us on the chest, I couldn't say. The feel of Lanie's warm breath against the skin of my chest when she placed fervent kisses there only added to the excitement. I lost all sense of time as I gave myself over to the joy of being with Lanie again. Only when I felt her entire body stiffen in release and she bit into the skin of my chest to stifle her cries, did I find my own satisfaction. "Lanie," I groaned in a voice that sounded harsh and broken even to my own ears. After my body finished pouring its release into her, I carefully collapsed on top of her while small aftershocks continued to cause my body to jerk spasmodically.

We were both quiet for a few minutes, and I began to feel guilty for having treated her in such a manner. Finally, with my arms protesting from holding me, I pushed partway up off of her and allowed my legs to take more of my weight. I could barely see her face in the shadows in the room, but I gently cupped one of her cheeks in my hand. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been so rough-," I began, but was cut off by Lanie.

"Shh," she said as she laid a finger against my lips. "There will be other times for tenderness. It's not what either of us needed tonight. This was perfect in fact, almost like a dream." She seemed to become agitated. "This isn't all a dream, is it? It's really you, and you'll still be here tomorrow, won't you?"

I quickly reassured her, "It's no dream, honest. I'll be in bed with you and Kellin when you wake, I promise."

She quieted and seemed content with that. "I love you, Alistair."

I wasn't sure what I had done to deserve her, but I couldn't help thanking the Maker that Lanie was back in my life. "I love you too," I said softly. "I still can't believe you are alive and here. I missed you so much while we were apart."

"I missed you as well," she said. "More than you'll ever know."

I pushed up off her and then picked her up in my arms. I sat down on the edge of the chest and inched my way back to where I was sitting with my back against the wall with her cuddled against me. Lanie had her head and one hand resting on my chest, while I supported her with one arm and allowed the fingers on my other hand to trace gentle patterns over her body. We were both quiet and content to just sit together. Finally, I shifted a bit, and she leaned back in my arms. As she did so her head fell back exposing her neck. Unable to resist, I lowered my head and traced light kisses across her skin. I could feel the heat from her body and taste the salt from her sweat on my lips, and a thought crossed my mind. "You know," I murmured quietly, my lips tickling the soft skin just below her ear. 'I'll never be able to look at this armor chest again without smiling."

Lanie let out one of her lilting laughs that I so rarely heard. She only allowed herself to laugh like that around people she was truly comfortable with. It made me feel good to know I could still be the cause of her laughter. I lifted my head once more and smiled down at her. "That is just such an Alistair thing for you to say," she replied in a fond tone of voice.

"Well, it's a good thing it's me that's here saying it, rather than oh, Zevran. Because then I would have to kill him, and I've become rather fond of your pet Crow, my love."

"Silly, you know that would never happen, but I am glad you and Zev are friends now," she stated as she snuggled against my chest once more.

I rested my cheek against her hair. I did know she and Zev wouldn't happen, and it was nice to be able to be around both of them without the feelings of jealousy, envy, and uncertainty that Zevran had incited in me whenever he had been near Lanie in the past. Could it be I had finally grown up?

We sat there for a bit longer conversing lightly, with an unspoken mutual agreement not to bring up the attempts on Kellin and me. Her wedding night had certainly not been what it should have, but at least I could give her this and only speak of happy, inconsequential things. The lateness of the hour soon had both of us sleepy, though, and we cleaned up with the linen underclothing I had torn from her body. She dug in another chest and found a new set for her and a pair of the pants I normally wore under my armor for me. Once we were decently dressed, we went back into the other room. I tucked Lanie into her side of the bed, reached out to the bedside table, and removed a late-blooming chrysanthemum from the arrangement one of the servants had placed there. I tucked it behind her ear as she looked up at me with soft eyes. I leaned over and gave her one more light kiss. "Good night, my love. Sleep well. I'll see you in the morning," I whispered to her.

She reached up to run her fingers down the side of my face. "Good night, Alistair. I love you," she said sleepily, her hand dropping back to the mattress and her eyes closing.

I walked over to my side of the bed, blew out the candle on my bedside table, and climbed in. I snuggled Kellin against me, enjoying the feeling of him lying beside me. As I was drifting off with my arm extended across him so I could rest my hand on Lanie, a last thought penetrated before I dropped off to sleep. As long as Lanie lived, I would never be alone.

The next morning didn't go as I intended either. I had thought to have Torin take Kellin as per his normal routine and then spend a leisurely morning in bed with my wife. A pounding on the door in the early hours rapidly aborted that plan.

"Your Majesty!" called a voice, which after I climbed up out of sleep I realized was Adair's.

Feeling Kellin cuddled against me, the events of the prior night came flooding back. I quickly climbed out of bed trying not to stumble as I left the bedroom area and headed towards the entrance to our rooms. The pounding began on the door again. I swung it open and stood framed in the doorway. There seemed to be guards everywhere as Hugh had ordered extra men to stand watch through the night. I was still dressed just in the light pants I wore under my armor that I had gone to bed in, and I lifted an arm to block some of the light from the guards' positions outside the door as my eyes blinked in response. "What is it, Adair?" I asked quietly as I didn't want to wake Lanie or Kellin up.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, Sire, but the chancellor sent an urgent message asking that you join him in his study right now," he replied.

"All right," I said wearily. "Give me a few minutes to get changed, and I'll be right out."

"Yes, your Majesty," he answered as I swung the door closed.

Gabe came quietly padding to my side. I reached out and rubbed a hand down his back. "I have to go meet Eamon," I told him softly. "Watch over them for me while I'm gone." Gabe made a soft sound in his chest as if in agreement and returned back to his cushion.

I went over and put a few logs on the fire, both for light and warmth, and then headed towards my clothes press for some smallclothes. I grabbed a loose tunic, leggings, and my boots also and walked back over so I could change in front of the fireplace. After I was dressed, I went over to Lanie's side of the bed. I didn't know what was going on with Eamon, nor how long I would be. It was unusual, to say the least, that he would send for me in the middle of the night. I had promised Lanie I would be here when she woke up though, so I wanted to let her know I was leaving. I shook her gently and said her name. She barely came awake, but I told her I had to go meet Eamon. She mumbled something unintelligible and buried her head under her pillow. I moved it so I could look down at her as I marveled at the fact that we were actually married. With a fond smile, I kissed her cheek, stroked her hair, and told her goodbye, but I don't think any of it registered with her. I rose from the bed and headed back toward the entrance. I ran my hand through my hair to tame the worst of the flyaway strands and opened the door.

"… not acceptable," Adair was saying sternly to one of the guards. I noted without much curiosity that it was Shaw. Adair jumped when the door opened, but broke off his speech and quickly ordered some of the men to go with me and some to stay and guard the suite. We then headed toward Eamon's study.

One of the guards knocked at Eamon's door. By the time I had walked up to it, I heard Eamon call, "Come in."

"Adair, you come with me. The rest of you stay out here," I ordered. Just the day before I would have gone in alone, but I knew Hugh would demand I keep at least one man with me as much as possible now. Quite frankly after what had happened last night, I was happy to have a guard with me. It was starting to sink in that someone wanted me dead enough to pay, and pay well, for it to happen. Adair and I entered the study after Hugh put Reilly in charge of the other guards.

I strode to the chair in front of Eamon's desk that I normally sat in as both he and the scruffy-looking young man with a rather pungent odor in the other seat rose to their feet. Eamon nodded his head with a softly spoken, "Sire."

The other man bowed deeply and said, "Your Majesty." I didn't recognize him, but by the way he held himself I assumed he was some sort of guard.

"Sit, sit," I said with a wave of my hand, and I dropped tiredly into my chair. Adair stationed himself between me and the unknown man while the other two took their seats once again. "What's going on, Eamon? What's so urgent?" I asked with a yawn.

"Burke here has ridden just about nonstop for almost the past three days to get news to us, and I'm afraid it isn't good," Eamon began.

"It never is. Just cut to the chase, Eamon," I said wearily as I slumped back in the chair.

"Anora has escaped custody from Daffodil House," Eamon stated flatly.

That news had me wide awake in an instant and straightening in my chair. "How? When?" I asked.

"Burke, you want to answer those questions for his Majesty?" Eamon asked.

"Yes, Chancellor. Almost three days 'go, a messenger arrived for the captain. It were unusual; none of us thought anything of it though. Shortly hafter, some of the men overpowered the rest of us." The man, Burke looked slightly sick but continued. "The captain were leading them. They didn't 'arm anyone see, but left us tied up in the queen dowager's room. The queen dowager, her woman, and them others fled the estate. Shortly after that, one of the knife-sorry, a servant found and untied us. Corporal Fergus was the most senior of us all and took charge. 'e ordered me to ride to bring the news while the rest went to try and find them others. I been on the road since then. I'm sorry, your Majesty, but I don't know any more or what's 'appened since I left Daffodil 'ouse."

"Thank you, Burke," I said. "For coming as quickly as you did. That's quite a distance to cover in less than three days."

"It was them way stations set up 'long The North Road, your Majesty," he replied. "I were able to get fresh 'orses and food and keep moving. I only stopped once for a few 'ours sleep since I left."

"Eamon, see that Burke is given a place to rest and eat and also an appreciation of our gratitude for his speed in bringing us this news," I said as I sat back in my chair.

"Yes, Sire," answered Eamon. He rose from his chair and walked around his desk. "Come with me, son," he said to the other man. Burke rose, bowed to me, and then Eamon ushered him out of the room.

I stayed seated in the chair thinking while I waited for Eamon to return. Adair moved to stand between the door and me. "Adair," I said without turning to look at him. "What do you think of this news?"

"Me, Sire?" I could hear the surprise in his voice. "It's not my place to think. I'm just a common guard whose job is to protect you."

"Expand your horizons, Adair. Tell me what do you think about this situation," I replied and waited a few moments for him to gather his thoughts..

"Well, it's trouble, Sire," he said. "Most in the palace and the people on the street are loyal to you, but the queen dowager was very popular when she was queen. She could be a serious threat."

"Thank you, Adair," I said and was quiet until Eamon returned. He dropped into his chair with a heavy sigh. I could see the lines in his face and the tiredness around his eyes.

"So, your thoughts?" he finally asked as he looked at me.

"I'm wondering if the timing on all this wasn't so Anora could ride into Denerim after Kellin and I were dead and take over. I think she must have had help outside that estate, someone who could assign her men to the guard detail. The arrival of a messenger that precipitated the escape seems to point to that. The question is who. Who would stand to gain from helping Anora?"

"An excellent question. One we shall have to find the answer to. I've already sent a squad of troops to Daffodil House. I also sent the royal huntsman with them. He was to take dogs and see if he could track Anora and her party, but I'm not holding out much hope. They would have expected that we would do that."

"Good," I said, still lost in thought.

"There's something else, Alistair."

"By the Maker, what else?"

"The wheat storage buildings down near the river, you know the ones I mean?"

"Yes," I answered.

"Fires broke out sometime last night and most, if not all, of the wheat stored there was ruined. They are still trying to get the fires under control."

I rubbed my hand through my hair absently almost too shocked to think, "How could those buildings have burned? They were stone. The only thing flammable in them should have been the grain itself.

"I would have to assume the fires were set deliberately."

"What's this going to do to the food situation this winter?" I catapulted out of my chair as I began to pace Eamon's office. I always thought better when I was on my feet and moving. "You know as well as I do this year was the first decent harvest the farms around Denerim have had since the Blight. All the darkspawn being here for the final battle decimated miles of the surrounding countryside that is just now beginning to recover. Is there any surplus we can squeeze from the bannorn to help tide us over? Can we still send someone to arrange for food from the Free Marches and Nevarra like we have in the past before it becomes too hazardous for ships this winter?"

"Antiva would probably be a safer bet because ships can sail most of the winter between there and Denerim if necessary. The captains may not like the idea, but it can be done. The inlet between Ferelden and the Free Marches and Nevarra is too dangerous in the winter, too much chance of ice floes and freezing over."

"Since I know nothing about ships, I'll take your word for it. Let's get a plan in motion."

"I'll handle it. I'll send Master Kirk. He has handled such things for us in previous years. I'll have him go to Amaranthine by horse and let him take ship from there. With their port stabilized, Amaranthine is probably the fastest choice for someone to get to Antiva."

"Sounds good," I agreed and then had another thought. "When were the fires started, Eamon?"

"I'm not sure," he answered.

"Was it after the attacks here at the palace last night were foiled?"

"Yes, it would have been."

"I don't like this; I don't like this at all, Eamon. This bespeaks someone who is very well organized. I can't see why the grain would have been fired unless it is somehow tied in with the failed assassination attempts, and that indicates a backup plan. Whoever is behind this was ready for their paid assassins to fail," I said. "What is the goal in destroying the grain supply here in Denerim? How would this be connected to someone trying to remove me from the throne? Do we have any idea who did this?"

"All valid questions, Alistair, but I don't know anything yet. I haven't had a report back from the men I sent to investigate the fires. As soon as I know something, I'll let you know."

"Please do," I said as I dropped back into my chair, and we were both quiet for a few minutes. "What's on the agenda for tomorrow, or today, I guess I should say?" I asked Eamon.

"I scheduled a council session for late morning to discuss the events of last night and determine what our best course of action is. I know you weren't planning on working today, but I'm sorry, you'll have to attend that. Depending on what my investigators find at the warehouse, that situation may require attention as well, but I will put the plans into motion we have discussed about Antiva."

I just nodded. Of course something would come up that would prevent me from spending time with Lanie.

"I'm meeting with Hugh before the council session like you requested last night. We'll put together a security plan to put before the council," Eamon finished tiredly.

I took a minute to really look at Eamon. He had never totally recovered from the poison that Jowan had given him all those years ago. I could tell just by the haggardness in his face and how thin he had become that the stress of the job was starting to get to him. Was I going to have to think about replacing my chancellor before too much longer? Now would not be the best time to have to do that, but Eamon deserved more than to be worked to death. He had supported me whole heartedly since I was first crowned and taught me so many of the skills I had needed to know to be king. I would like to see him slow down and get to spend some time with Isolde and even Connor at the tower.

He broke into my thoughts. "Alistair, you do realize you are going to have to meet with Arl Vaughn about the grain situation, don't you?" asked Eamon.

"Wonderful. That will be the highlight of my day," I said sarcastically as I rubbed a hand across my chin.

"You know as well as I do, he has to give the appearance of running things here in Denerim, and it is important you work with him."

"I'd rather work with his wife. Iona is someone with a sensible head on her shoulders unlike her idiot of a husband."

"Alistair!" said Eamon warningly. I knew he was warning me to watch what I said in front of Adair. Eamon had had a lot of interaction with Hugh over the years and knew he could be trusted to keep his mouth shut, but since Adair mostly worked nights, Eamon didn't know him as well. I did, though, and liked him immensely. After countless excursions to The Broken Sword and many hours spent talking over ale, I knew I could trust Adair.

I waved my hand dismissively. "Adair won't talk, Eamon. That's why he is the one in here. Right, Adair?"

Adair tilted his head formally to me, "I'm honored by your trust, your Majesty."

I nodded to him, but grimaced inwardly. I had tried many times to get him to call me Alistair when we were out of the palace on our nightly adventures. He never had and I knew he never would. Another would-be friend lost to me by my position.

Anora had even hated the name of the place. When Eamon had first told her where Alistair was sending her shortly after the end of the Blight, she couldn't think of anyplace that sounded less like her. Daffodil, did they she was a delicate flower? The location was also less than ideal. The estate was in the northern part of Ferelden on a peninsula above Kinloch Hold, at least a week's travel from Denerim in good weather. Before her marriage to Cailan had taken place, her father and King Maric had written the marriage contract between them. Since it was always assumed that she would have Gwaren to fall back on, there weren't many provisions made for her in case she outlived Cailan. This was one of three estates that she held the incomes on until her death. Once that occurred, then the properties reverted back to the crown.

She had never been to Daffodil House until Alistair sent her here to live. She hated it. Oh, the place was a decent size and the gardens were beautiful in the summer. What she despised was the lack of company and not being at the center of things. It had been hard for her to give up the work and responsibility she had in helping Cailan to run the kingdom. To be reduced to having the decision on what they were having for dinner as the high point of her day wasn't what she had been used to. She eventually adjusted, especially after a few of her ladies had joined her. She'd never been much for gossiping with other women, but she learned how these past years because it was the best way for her to keep up with what was happening at court. Her ladies were allowed to come and go from the estate as she could not. They were the ones who brought her fresh news and fresh fashions from Denerim.

She had been dreaming of the day she would be free of Daffodil House for so long that when it arrived, it seemed almost surreal. Anora had never been sure exactly which of the guards were in her ally's pay so the only person she ever spoke to about her hope of escape was Erlina. She was able to leave the house and carry the messages between Anora and her ally. The day of her escape started just like every other since she arrived here almost four years ago. Anora had always been an early riser and kept to that pattern. She had been up that morning already attending to her correspondence for the day (she had plenty of time for letter writing) with Erlina attending to mundane daily tasks in the background. Suddenly, the door to her room was thrown open and Captain Scott entered into the room. Anora looked up in surprise.

The man strode across the room and went to one knee before her. "My queen, I'm here to escort you away from this place."

Anora went still with shock for just a moment. She had never had one inkling that Captain Scott was one of her guards. Then, she jumped up and started issuing orders to Erlina about what they would need to take.

"Quickly, my queen," urged Captain Scott. "We must leave immediately."

She had to leave most of her possessions behind, but she had gone quite willingly with Captain Scott and his men to the stables. There more of the captain's men had horses ready, and for the first time in four years, Anora was away from Daffodil House. They headed north toward the shoreline. Once there they had followed it east for the next few days, only heading inland to rest for a few hours during the night.

Captain Scott apologized profusely for the discomforts and roughness of their travel, but Anora hadn't really cared. She pressed Captain Scott for where they were heading. He finally told her that they were to travel to Denerim where her ally would meet her and she could reclaim her throne. They were supposed to meet up with a few of his men with the confirmation that everything was proceeding as planned, but Anora wondered what was really going on. She didn't like not knowing exactly what the plan was. Captain Scott claimed that he only had orders from his employer and wasn't informed of all the details. Anora thought the man was lying and that he knew more than he was telling her. However, he remained unfailingly polite, and Anora couldn't find anything to fault with his manner of addressing her or the discipline he held his men in. Three days after her escape, two more men joined them with supplies. Anora could tell that Captain Scott was questioning them, but Anora couldn't get close enough to overhear. The uncertainty was driving her crazy.

Their party continued to follow the shoreline. Anora finally figured out that they were using the tides to wash away their trail on the beaches each day, and the men were being extremely careful about their inland campsites. Each morning, two of the escorts were last out of the camp, and they removed as many traces of their party's passage as possible.

Then one morning, they didn't leave camp. One of Captain Scott's men rode hastily away. When Anora questioned the captain, he told her that he had sent the man on ahead to meet a messenger to make sure everything was prepared for their arrival in Denerim. He also informed her they would stay here until the man returned with news.

In a way Anora was glad to have a day not spent on horseback. She just wished they had proper accommodations besides the tent she was forced to share with Erlina. She spent the day walking and sitting on the beach with Erlina as they were trailed by some of Captain Scott's men. That evening they had their own separate fire, and Erlina heated water so Anora could bathe inside the tent in privacy. Even the food was starting to bother Anora. Her father may have been a great campaigner, but she was used to decent food prepared by a decent chef. Travel rations were not up to her usual standards. This night, they had fresh meat, although unevenly cooked, as one of the men had shot a deer that day.

Once again the next morning, they waited. They waited through lunch. They waited through the afternoon. Anora tired of waiting. Finally, in the evening hours, the man returned. Captain Scott took him immediately to his tent and would not allow her to join them. Anora was not pleased. The guards outside the captain's tent refused to allow her close enough to overhear anything. Finally, after what seemed a long time, the man left the tent. Anora immediately made to follow him, but Captain Scott called her and invited her and Erlina into his tent. He told her that his man had met a messenger from his employer and that the situation had changed. They were no longer heading to Denerim. It wasn't safe for her there as King Alistair was still in control of the city and the country. The plan to remove him hadn't worked quite as expected. Captain Scott had new orders to take her to a place that was more secure and where she would be safe.

Anora didn't like the sound of that one bit. She'd had enough of being sent off at someone else's bidding. She demanded he take her to Denerim. The captain politely refused. She ranted and raved. He refused again. She offered to double his pay. He laughed and told her she didn't have enough sovereigns. Anora left his tent with his laughter ringing in her ears. She heard him come out and order a guard to watch her so she didn't try to flee in the night. She knew now that the pretense that she was queen and in charge had fallen away. The men were still polite and kept their distance, but no more effort was made to pretend that it was her wishes that were being followed.

The next morning they broke camp early and were on their way. The following few days were merciless. The captain drove them hard trying to cover as much ground as they could. Some days they followed the shoreline when possible and other days they traveled more inland. About a week and a half after leaving Daffodil House, they arrived at their destination. Anora wasn't sure exactly where she was. She just knew they were somewhere along the northern border of Ferelden as they were still often within sight of the Waking Sea. The building started out small and then grew in size as they drew nearer. Anora's heart sank as she realized this was where they were headed. It looked to be a smallish-sized manor house. What it was doing located out on the edges of Ferelden, Anora had no idea. It looked so out of place, like it had been scooped up and transplanted here from a cheerful countryside setting. With the wind off the water and sitting on the rise that overlooked the sea, the house seemed to huddle into itself.

Captain Scott and his men rode right up to the doors. There were a few servants, who obviously were more caretakers of the place than actual servants. Still some effort had been made to make rooms ready for them. The horses were taken to the small stables behind the house while Captain Scott, two other guards, Erlina, and Anora all entered the house. A meal was prepared and brought to Anora, which she ate with the taste of ashes in her mouth. Captain Scott then proceeded to fill her in on her new house rules, where she could go and who she would be accompanied by. It was obvious that he was planning that they would stay here for the immediate future and that she would be under guard the entire time. When she pressed him for how long, he couldn't or wouldn't answer her.

Anora was angry and frustrated. First, Arl Howe had captured her, then Alistair had her imprisoned at Daffodil House, and now her supposed ally was holding her. Oh yes, it was a very respectful, very comfortable sort of detainment, but confinement it was. When she had left Daffodil House, she had been so sure her days of being a prisoner were over. To once again be held against her will was almost enough to break even her spirit. However, Anora vowed that some day she would be free of those who held her, and when she was, her life would be under her own control.

A.N.: So now we see where the messenger at the end of 'What Comes Next' was riding to.

Thanks to melismo who made a special effort to get this chapter beta read for me before leaving on vacation. I must also thank Erynnar and Ladyamesindy for the discussion on Ferelden's geography, just where Alistair could find grain for the winter, and when ships could sail between various ports. Lastly, thanks to all the readers and reviewers. I appreciate each one of you.