There was still no sign of Alistair by the time Elandria was finished hacking up a practice dummy. She felt slightly better, but was still highly annoyed that Alistair had left her hanging with no word and hadn't bothered to join her in the salle. She decided to head back to their rooms and see about a nice soothing bath. Maybe that would help dull the edge she still felt. When she approached their rooms she saw that Alistair must be inside because all his guards were lined up outside the door. She felt a flare of anger as she realized he had ignored her message. She strode past the guards without a word as she entered the suite and her guards joined Alistair's standing around the suite.

Her anger kept her moving quickly as she passed through the entranceway and into the main room. She stopped short as she saw him sitting in a chair before the fire with a wine goblet dangling from the fingers of one hand and his head held in the other. He lifted his head and just said, "Lanie."

Alistair looked awful. She could see the doubt in his eyes and the lines in his face as she realized whatever had happened today had affected him deeply. Her anger began to drain away as her concern for him rose. "Alistair?" she said questioningly in a soft voice. "What's happened?"

Alistair rose from the chair as he set the goblet down on the table beside him. "Hugh, could you give us a few minutes, please?" It was a measure of her upset that Elandria hadn't even noticed Alistair's guard commander standing quietly at the side of the room.

"Yes, Sire," said Hugh, and he rapidly bowed and left the room.

Alistair walked over to her and pulled her against him.

She protested at first, "I'm all sweaty from the salle."

"I don't care," he responded and tightened his grip on her even more. She gave in and slid her arms around his waist. As he continued to stand and hold her, she ran one of her hand up under his tunic. She could feel the tension in every muscle in his back. She pushed away from him and took his hand.

"Come here," she said leading him to the bed. She pulled his tunic up in a broad hint, so he pulled it over his head and dropped it on the floor. "Lie down."

Alistair obediently stretched his long frame out on the bed. Elandria knelt beside him and started massaging his back and neck. He laid there quietly for a few minutes enjoying her ministrations. Elandria felt when most of the tension had been released from his muscles and only then did she break the silence between them. "Now, tell me what happened today."

He rolled up on his side as Elandria stretched out beside him and took one of his hands in hers.

"I don't know what's going on, Lanie. I feel like I'm losing control. It's like the whole country is going crazy and I don't why or what to do about it. You already know about Anora. Well, Briana has been taken as well. Her father rode to Denerim to ask me to help find her."

"I see," said Elandria levelly, although her stomach suddenly felt like it was in knots. "What are you going to do about it?" She was not jealous. Even if almost everyone else in the country would prefer their king be married to Briana, she knew Alistair loved her. Whatever that funny feeling in her gut was, it was not jealousy.

He shook his head slightly, "I don't know. Eamon says I have to make the effort to find her, and I know he is right. I was thinking...maybe I would ask Zevran to go."

The knots in her stomach eased with that statement, "You aren't going yourself?" she asked.

"Maker, no!" he exclaimed. "I have to stay here and figure out just what is going on and be ready to deal with whatever happens next." He paused and looked at her. "Lanie, you know there is only one woman I'd follow the length and breadth of Ferelden. And I've done it more than once if I remember correctly," he teased.

She smiled at that comment and leaned over and lightly kissed him. "I love you, Alistair."

He brought his hand up to cup the side of her face. "I love you, always. I'm sorry about today. I really meant to be there. How did the meeting go?"

Elandria blew out her breath, "Not well. I lost my temper and lit into the Warden-Commander."

Alistair grinned at her. "I wish I had been there for that. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to do it myself. He is a pompous ass, isn't he?"

"Yes, he is," she agreed. "I liked the other Warden there, Ashalle."

"Oh yes. He's the only reason things run as smoothly as they do at Amaranthine, well he and Howe."

Elandria looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Howe?" she asked questioningly.

"Nathaniel, Rendon Howe's other son. He was made a Warden a few years ago. I've met him once or twice. Seems to be made from a different cloth than his father, thank the Maker. He usually is in charge of the Vigil when Gerod comes here. I guess they don't want to push the issue between us as I was there when his father was killed," said Alistair with a shrug. "Ashalle's a good man though. He runs interference for Gerod. I'm working on trying to get the First Warden to recall Gerod and leave Ashalle as Warden-Commander, but these things take time."

"I see," she said. "Politics with the Wardens as well, Alistair? I'm impressed."

He nodded, "Almost makes me wish for the good ole days when we were the only Grey Wardens in Ferelden and all we had to worry about was a pesky archdemon and the Blight."

She smiled up at him. Some of the lines had left his face and his eyes looked less haunted. "Feel better now?" she asked.

"Hum, I do. Want to make me even feel better?"

For an answer, Elandria pressed herself against his body and kissed him. Alistair wrapped his arms around her and rolled her under him.

Sometime later, Alistair left their rooms to track down Zevran. He could have sent a servant and asked Zev to come to him, but since he was asking Zevran for a favor, Alistair felt it only right he go to Zevran himself. He had found out where Zev's room was located in the palace and was on his way there. He hoped to catch Zevran there, getting ready for dinner tonight as Zev had been invited to dine with them in the dining hall. Shortly after he left the family wing of the palace, he ran into Ashalle in a busy hallway.

"Good evening, your Majesty," said the man with a slight bow.

"Ashalle," Alistair groaned. "We're both Wardens. It's Alistair."

Ashalle took in the public venue they were in as servants passed them and the large number of guards surrounding the king. "Maybe in another place, another time."

Alistair shook his head. It amazed him that a Dalish elf would have such a command of propriety, especially since most of his time was spent in Amaranthine with the Wardens. "What can I do for you?" Alistair asked as he genuinely liked Ashalle and was glad to see the man.

"Funny you should say that, your Majesty. I was about to offer to do something for you."

"Oh," said Alistair. "Tell me more."

Ashalle fell into step with the king as he began to speak.

Kellin had refused to settle down and take his normal nap that afternoon. Zy had laid him down, but he just kept talking and wouldn't go to sleep. As a result, he was getting increasingly irritated and fussy through the early evening hours. Finally, Zy decided to tell him a story hoping it would quiet him down. Unfortunately for her, he wanted to hear "Jack and the Mabari" which was one Zy had never heard before. She tried to distract him with one of her stories, but Kellin wasn't having any of it. Finally, Torin, at the limit of his patience, pulled a book off one of the shelves in Kellin's room and held it out in Zy's direction. "Here," he said. "Read it to him from this."

Torin continued to hold the book out to her, but she didn't make a move to take it from him. He looked at her and saw the way she was avoiding looking at him or the book. After a moment, he said, "How about if I read it to you, Kellin?"

"Yes!" agreed Kellin, just wanting his story.

"Come here then," said Torin as he led the both of them into the sitting room. He sat down on the settle with Kellin beside him. Zy sat down on the other side of Kellin. Torin let Kellin hold the book on his lap as he put his arm around Kellin to hold on to the far side of the book. Torin pretended to ignore the fact that Zy's side was pressed tight against his arm. He began to read, "Once upon a time, there was a boy named Jack…." Before Torin was halfway through the story, Kellin had begun to lean heavily against him. Torin looked at Zy with an upraised eyebrow in question and she nodded to him so Torin realized the young prince was asleep. Torin gently eased the book out of Kellin's lap, but continued to sit with the boy dozing against him.

"You can't read, can you?" asked Torin quietly so as not to disturb Kellin.

Zy's eyes dropped to her hands in her lap, anything to avoid his gaze. "No," she admitted. "Not many in the alienage can. It's not a useful skill for someone who cleans chamberpots or washes dishes for their living."

Torin felt a flash of anger. "Another way to keep elves as second-rate citizens and easier to control."

"Maybe so," agreed Zy.

"I couldn't read either until Elandria taught me," Torin admitted. "So much of our tradition is oral. Storytellers are highly respected among the Dalish."

"Oh," Zy responded. "I didn't realize that."

"I could teach you," Torin offered. "If you wanted to learn, I mean," he added quickly.

"Really?" she said excited in spite of herself. She had never even thought to learn how to read. Only some of the elders in the alienage had that skill.

"Sure, it's not that difficult," replied Torin, trying to bolster her self-confidence a bit.

At that point, they were interrupted by a knock and Corporal Conall stuck his head in the door. "The chancellor is here."

Zynalla jumped off the settle and moved behind it while Torin stayed where he was with Kellin and nodded at Conall. "Send him in."

Eamon came strolling into the room followed by a middle-aged woman with dark hair rolled up in a bun. "Torin," said Eamon, ignoring Zynalla. "This is Mistress Davina. She's Kellin's new nanny."

"Why is that child asleep at this time of day?" asked the woman. "It's too late for a nap and too early for bedtime."

"Because he wouldn't take his nap today and he is tired," retorted Torin. He did stand up, pulling Kellin up with him. "Kellin, wake up."

"Umphhhh."

"Time to wake up," Torin said again as he tried to look at Kellin's face while Kellin was trying to bury it in his chest.

"Sleepy," Kellin mumbled.

"Come on, Kellin," said Torin one more time. Kellin turned his head and started rubbing his eyes with one hand.

Kellin turned his head a bit farther to the point where he could see Eamon and Mistress Davina. "NO, TORIN!" he screamed. "BAD, BLACK!" Tears started running down his face as he clutched at Torin's tunic refusing to let go, screaming the entire while.

Hugh insisted on having one of his men knock on Zev's door and search his room before allowing the king entrance. Alistair stood there feeling like a fool, but Zevran's only comment was, "Ah, very wise. I am glad to see your guard is taking such good care of you, my friend."

Once the room was declared safe, Hugh insisted Alistair still had to have someone with him.

"Fine," said Alistair, not very graciously. "You come in with me then."

Alistair and Hugh disappeared into Zev's room with the door shut behind them while the rest of his guard arrayed themselves outside.

Zevran cordially offered the bed to Alistair (since it was the only seat in the room) while he leaned against the window. Hugh stationed himself on the opposite wall of the room.

"I assume it is safe to say that you have come to talk about Briana?" asked Zevran.

"Maker's breath, does everyone in this bloody palace know what is going on?"

Zevran shrugged a shoulder. "Evidently, her father was not the most discreet of men. He arrived at the palace shouting about his daughter being kidnapped and demanding to see the king. Needless to say, that story didn't take long to make the rounds."

"Wonderful," replied Alistair sardonically. "Just what I need."

"So, why are you here, my fine friend?" asked Zevran with a raised eyebrow.

"I know I've done nothing but ask your help since you arrived," said Alistair. "But, I'm here to do it again."

"Yes?"

"I want you to find and rescue Briana for me," said Alistair.

Zevran let out a breath as he turned to look out the window and consider Alistair's request. "I understand why you need to find and get Briana back, and I could see such a thing being feasible for me to accomplish if she had disappeared, say here in Denerim. I know how to find information in city streets. Out in the country is another story, my friend. I'm out of my element there."

"I know," said Alistair. "That's why I have found someone to go with you…a companion you might say."

"And who might this...companion be?"

"Her name is Rhedyn Altanori, and she is cousin to one of the Wardens who arrived today. She is supposed to be one of the best trackers the Dalish have."

"And she just happens to be here?"

"Yes," replied Alistair. "She accompanied her cousin to Denerim from Amaranthine. Evidently, she has been at the Vigil for a few months. It was thought that perhaps she might become a Warden. However, even with Ashalle being her cousin, there were some doubts about her suitability, and she hasn't been offered the Joining. Ashalle thinks some time away from him and in new surroundings might help her to even out her views."

"Even out her views? So this woman, she is difficult. That is what you are trying to tell me, yes?"

"I don't know," admitted Alistair. "I've never met her."

Zevran just grunted and remained standing staring out the window. Finally, he said, "I have no other pressing business at the moment. I'll do it. We will leave first thing in the morning. You will have to give me all the information you have."

"Of course. Thank you, Zevran," said Alistair with relief. "You don't know what this means to me."

"I know what it means to me. There had better be Antivan brandy and willing women upon my return."

Grey Warden's compound, Denerim Palace

"No, Ash. I won't do it!" Rhedyn stormed. "Why should we care if some shem king has lost his woman?"

"Peace, Rhe. Listen to me this time before you start shouting over me, and I will tell you why," said Ashalle. "This man is the king of Ferelden and has been very good to the Wardens, but it is no bad thing to have a king owe us a favor. The man you will be traveling with, while not Dalish, is elven. Let him deal with any humans you encounter. All I'm asking you is to use your skills to trail the women. Let this Zevran worry about the rescuing and such. Unless you don't think you aren't up to the challenge? It would be a tough trail to follow at this late date…."

"Oh, don't even try that with me! I outgrew the need to prove my skills long ago," declared Rhedyn hotly.

Ashalle smothered a smile. The girl acted like she was a woman of thirty instead of the mere twenty years she could honestly claim, and he knew she never turned down the opportunity to prove how good a hunter she was. "Then please, do it because I ask?"

Rhedyn blew out a breath. "You really want me to do this?"

"I really do. It would be a big help to me."

"Fine," she spat. "I don't know why I bother. You always get your way in the end." Ash had been the one person who had always stood by her no matter what. There wasn't much she wouldn't do for him.

"Thank you, Rhedyn," Ashalle said. "You won't regret this."

"I already do," she mumbled to herself.

Elandria had elected to let Alistair approach Zevran on his own and decided to go spend some time with Kellin. With everything going on the past few days, she had not been able to spend as much time with him as usual, and she was missing her little boy. As she pushed open the door between her and Alistair's suite and Kellin's, she heard Kellin screaming in terror. Her gut reaction had her in motion before she even thought about it. She burst through the door to Kellin's sitting room, her eyes seeking the danger and ready to defend Kellin with her life.

She was a little surprised to see Torin standing in the middle of the room with Kellin hanging on him like a monkey screaming at the top of his lungs. Zynalla stood behind the settle twisting her hands, obviously uncertain what to do, and Eamon and some strange woman were there as well. Elandria strode over to Torin and Kellin. She reached out for her son. "Kellin, enough. Enough! Stop this right now and tell mamae what is the matter." Torin helped to transfer Kellin to Elandria's arms.

Kellin stopped his screaming but clutched at Elandria still sniffling as the tears continued to roll down his face. "Mamae," he kept repeating over and over as he hiccuped.

Elandria tried to soothe him and then swung around to face Eamon. "What is going on here, Eamon?" she demanded. "Why is Kellin so upset?"

Eamon looked as confused as she felt. "I'm not really sure, Elandria. I just introduced him to his new nanny here, and he started screaming."

Elandria's eyes narrowed as she stared at Eamon. "New nanny? Just why wasn't I informed of this?" she asked as ice could have dripped from the tone in her voice.

"Alistair knew," was Eamon's answer.

The woman came forward, "My name is Mistress Davina.."

She was able to get no further before Kellin started screaming again. "NO! Mamae! BAD. She's BAD!"

"Zynalla," Elandria called.

"Yes, my Lady," said Zy as she hurried to Elandria's side, forgetting in her distress not to call Elandria that.

"Take Prince Kellin into his bedroom and occupy him please."

"Of course." Zy coaxed Kellin into her arms and headed into the bedroom, the tension in Kellin diminishing the farther away they moved from Mistress Davina.

Eamon started to speak, but Elandria held up her hand. "Hold on a minute, Eamon." She turned to Torin. "What set him off?"

Torin was feeling anxious himself. It was almost as if adrenaline was running through his body and his instinct to run was telling him to grab Kellin and go. He ran a shaking hand over his hair. "I'm not sure really. He took one look at her and started screaming."

"What are you feeling?" asked Elandria as she watched the way he jittered.

"Like I need to take Kellin and run," admitted Torin.

"Hum," Elandria said. She swung around to Eamon and Mistress Davina. "I'm sorry. This isn't going to work. Eamon, you are going to have to find someone else."

"What? You can't mean that," sputtered Eamon.

"I can and I do," replied Elandria firmly.

The next morning just before dawn, there were quite a few people stirring. Alistair and Elandria were both up and determined to see the hunting party off. Zevran had insisted he needed to go get some "special" supplies last night. Alistair wasn't sure what he was referring to, but he figured he was better off not asking. He trusted Zevran to know what he needed and to get the job done.

Zevran was already present in the stables when Alistair and Elandria arrived. He was dressed in his drakeskin armor that Elandria had gifted him during the Blight. He carried both his swords on his back. Zevran wasn't much of an archer-he left that to others-but he was a holy terror with his swords. Zev had declined the use of a riding beast, but was taking a packhorse along. Elandria raised an eyebrow at Zevran when she saw how loaded down the beast was.

"You never know what might come in handy, my Warden. I would hate to be far from civilization and need something," said Zevran at her look.

Elandria shook her head and chuckled at him. "Good luck and good hunting, Zev. I know if anyone can do the job, you can," she replied as she gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Take care of yourself."

There were voices behind them as Ashalle entered the stable accompanied by Rhedyn.

Zevran's first thought of Rhedyn was that of a force of nature moving across the land. With the whirl of her tattoos across her face combined with the look she gave him with her steely gray eyes, Zev's curiosity rose sharply as he wondered just what her story was. She had what looked to be thick blonde hair, but she had it braided so tightly against her head that Zevran wasn't sure how long it would be once freed. She carried a bow on her back and was dressed in exotic armor that immediately drew Zev's admiration as it bared her midriff, and his mind was captured by amorous thoughts. It was her eyes that spoke to him, however. The challenge and disdain he saw displayed there grabbed hold of him, almost as if she was impugning his maleness, and he saw her look grow weary as he allowed some of his "Crow" determination to bleed through his gaze back at her. He then pointedly turned his attention back to the saddlebag he was securing on the horse.

Alistair and Elandria walked over to greet Ashalle and meet Rhedyn, who was noticeably cooler to Alistair than she was to Elandria. Zevran finished adjusting his equipment on the horse and then walked over.

Elandria, picking up on Rhedyn's discomfort with Alistair, performed the introductions.

"Rhedyn Altanori, this is Zevran Arainai. Zevran, this is Rhedyn and her cousin, Ashalle Altanori."

Zev reached for her hand. Rhedyn was so shocked she let him take it. She wasn't used to a man touching her willingly. He kissed the top of her hand before turning it over and placing another one on her palm. Her fingers curled in response, and she pulled her hand sharply away. Zevran murmured to her, "Always a pleasure to meet such an intriguing woman, my beautiful storm goddess."

Rhedyn, not used to being flirted with, looked at him suspiciously, "Save the smooth talking and outrageous compliments for when you really need them."

"Ah, my dear, maybe I do really need them to hide the pounding of my heart at your presence," replied Zev smoothly.

Rhedyn gave him a hard glare and then turned and hugged her cousin goodbye. "Take care of yourself while I'm gone, Ash. I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Creators protect you, Rhe. Good hunting," said Ashalle before leaving.

Alistair and Elandria stood together watching as the two elves and the horse made their way out of the palace grounds. "Did you tell him?" asked Elandria.

"No," replied Alistair.

"Don't you think you should have, so Zev knows what he is dealing with?"

"That was Ashalle's price for letting her go, and I needed her skills. He wanted her to be with someone who didn't know her history, someone who wouldn't judge her without even knowing her."

Elandria shook her head. "I just hope that wasn't a mistake. With just the two of them, he'll need to be able to depend on her out there."

A.N.: I feel I must apologize on the length of time there has been since the last update. Real life has not been cooperating with me lately. I'll try to do better. I appreciate everyone who reads and reviews or just lurks for that matter, especially those of you sticking with the story even when it takes me forever to update.

Thanks to melismo for betaing this chapter for me and to Erynnar, ladyamesindy, and Violet Theirin for all the support. Melismo has revamped her latest story called A Tainted Hope Redux; Erynnar's latest story is Whispering Sighs of the Blade dealing with her Warden, Kaidana Cousland; ladyamesindy has a new story out with Fergus and Leliana called The Sands of Time; and Violet Theirin has a new Teagan/Cousland story out called The Tangled Web We Weave. Check them out!