Thank you Jinx1983 for such a wonderful review and Warrose, for your awesome review as well! You both rock! :D

Bioware owns, and I play around with the characters, lol ;)

Chapter 8 - What happens in Montsimmard...

Call your name everyday when I feel so helpless
I'm fallen down but I'll rise above this, rise above this
Call your name everyday when I seem so helpless
I'm fallen down, and I'll rise above this, rise above this doubt
Rise above this - Seether

.

.

Alistair looked up and his eyes met Anders'. One look at Alistair, and Anders clearly understood what he wanted. He quickly focused on a spell which he sent off to Chantalle. She slumped to the ground unconscious.

Alistair then stood up, and bent down to carry her.

"Fernan, please take my weapon and shield and strap them on my back." Fernan complied. "We should continue walking. How far to Montsimmard?" Alistair said quietly.

"Not far, mon cher," came Leonie's reply. "Just over that hill."

He nodded and began walking. "Good. We all need a good inn, a hot bath and some rest."

They trudged over the hill silently and the city gates came to view. It was not such a small city as Alistair had thought and from a distance looked larger than Denerim. He gazed down at Chantalle, his features gentle and tender for a moment.

Leonie had her lips pressed into a thin line all the way. She did not utter a single word at what she had witnessed on the battlefield. Her eyes were darker than usual as they walked right up to the gates.

She began talking in Orlesian to the guards posted there, and they opened the gates immediately. Once inside, she turned to Alistair.

"Follow me, we will take you to an inn that gives us discounts because we are wardens."

Alistair smiled back at her gratefully, and she dimpled at him. He barely had time to take in the sights and smells of the city as he was too preoccupied with the slight figure he was carrying in his arms.

Once they arrived at the inn and had secured rooms and ordered baths, Alistair asked Anders to come with him. They arrived in Chantalle's room and Anders woke her up. Alistair quickly put her back on the floor.

"What? Where am I?" She was blushing, as she had woken up in Alistair's arms, and clearly had no memory of having gotten there for a start.

"Shhh," Alistair shushed her softly. "It's all right. You collapsed after the battle and...um...were unconscious so we...I carried you here. We're in Montsimmard."

"Collapsed? I don't understand," her delicate face was now burning a bright red and Anders smiled and answered before Alistair could.

"We were ambushed by a large group of darkspawn. You broke down and started screaming when it was all over. Then you were, ah, rendered unconscious."

"Oh! I remember now," her blush deepened. "I am sorry to have caused you so much trouble, Commander."

"Alistair."

"Pardon?"

"My name is Alistair," he smiled down at her. "I think you can call me that, at least when we are alone, or with Anders. I did just carry you all the way to the inn here."

"Oh, all...right..Alistair," she said, and even though she stressed the last syllable like Leonie had, Alistair felt like it was Andraste herself who was saying his name.

"Thank you - Ma seranas. I appreciate your help," she said smiling.

There was a knock on the door and three servants walked in carrying pails of hot water for her bath. Alistair and Anders said goodbye to Chantalle, telling her that they would all meet downstairs for a hot meal before retiring for the evening, once all of them had had their baths.

Chantalle nodded.

"I will be there...Com- Alistair."

He left the room grinning like a fool and not even Anders could bring himself to tease him after that.

...

They were sitting in the dining room, waiting for dinner. Chantalle had not yet come down, and Alistair kept glancing at the stairs from time to time.

Leonie was flirting with him and Anders at the same time. Alistair didn't even care. He didn't want any further contact with her as far as he was concerned. The magic had been broken and the moment had passed. However, Leonie seemed to be set on having Alistair, and was not giving up on him. For a moment she reminded him of a certain Antivan assassin who had pursued him while they were running around trying to secure aid for the Blight. She certainly was as relentless as he was.

Then, without warning, something happened that shocked him. Leonie was holding onto a cup of hot tea and bumped into the table. It sent the cup and its contents directly onto Alistair's lap. He howled in pain as he stood up, grabbing the nearest napkin and started to brush at the hot liquid frantically, trying to stop it from burning him any further. Leonie quickly stood up as well, and began to wipe where the tea had fallen while she babbled excuses and begged for forgiveness. She then slid over closer to him, and her hand rested on his throbbing member while her lips rested on the corner of his mouth.

And Chantalle made her appearance in the room.

Alistair saw her first, he was facing the stairs. His eyes widened and he stiffened.

Chantalle's cheeks immediately turned pink, but she said nothing and slid onto a chair next to Anders.

Alistair broke away and swallowed. He gave her a weak grin, while Anders snickered audibly as he applied healing magic on Alistair.

Then they all began talking at once, overlooking the entire incident. For the remainder of the evening, Alistair sat and glanced at Chantalle sheepishly, while she avoided his eyes, and Leonie continued to bat eyelashes and flash dimples at everyone, Alistair and Anders especially.

"More hot tea, Commander?" Anders smirked.

Alistair felt the blush reach his ears and scowled at him, chancing another look at Chantalle. She was sipping tea and looking at Fernan, actually talking to him. Did she just smile at him?

Suddenly Alistair felt like he wanted to stab Fernan repeatedly, but got a grip on himself and shook the feeling away.

Maker's breath! Just when did life start getting so damned hard and complicated?

...

He did not bother to write in his journal. He had a lot of difficulty putting his thoughts in order that night. He didn't understand why he was feeling all these things, and it made his head hurt.

There was a knock on the door and he sighed and shuffled to it, his head spinning.

Anders stood there, a wide smile on his face.

Alistair groaned. "Anders, I really am not in the mood for this," he began.

"Oh, come on now! I haven't even started talking and already you are acting like I carry the plague!"

"Come in, I suppose. I hope I don't regret this, however," Anders stepped in and Alistair closed the door. He sat down on a chair in the room and gestured to the only other chair, which Anders promptly took.

"Alistair, you have a problem." Anders said cheerfully.

Alistair sighed. "Really? What would give you that idea, I wonder?"

"There is no need for sarcasm. I happen to be here to help you out," Anders replied, his grin deepening.

"This should be good," Alistair replied wryly.

"Fine, be that way! I'll not help you, then!" Anders answered dramatically and Alistair sighed.

"All right, all right. What is your plan?"

"I am asking Leonie over to my room tonight. She will be distracted and won't bother you," Anders smiled devilishly.

Alistair burst out laughing.

"Who is the innocent boy now, I wonder? Do you really think that would stop her? That woman is unstoppable when it comes to- you know, um...sex!"

"But she won't bother you tonight," came Anders's reply.

"True," Alistair answered thoughtfully.

There was a knock on the door. They stared at each other for a few minutes.

"Aren't you going to answer that?" Alistair asked nervously.

"It's your room!"

"Fuck!" Alistair cursed and stood up.

Leonie stood there dressed in a beautiful silken shift which made her gorgeous breasts stand out, her nipples nearly bursting through the fabric.

"Mon cher," she crooned and pushed him back, closing the door behind her. Then she saw Anders.

"Ah! A ménage à trois," she muttered under her breath, her eyelashes fluttering.

...

Alistair had no idea what she meant, but it set off alarm bells in his head, and his arousal was already embarrassing him greatly. To his credit, he stood his ground.

"I must ask you to leave. I have...ah...business to attend to. We are...ah, in the middle of a serious meeting."

"Truly?" She purred at them.

Anders made a strangled noise not daring to get up, without showing the effect she had had on him. He was weaker than Alistair when it came to the opposite sex, and had no desire of sharing her either but could not move at the moment.

"Just let's go to my room," he smiled weakly from the safety of his chair.

"But I am right where I want to be, mon cher," she answered Anders, while standing close to Alistair, and breathing into his ear, "I want you both."

Alistair jumped back, his eyes popping out of his head.

"Certainly not! Please leave," he managed to squeak out.

"Are you sure, mon cher?" She whispered. Then she laughed. "You Fereldens are so restrained and-" she glanced at Anders, "stiff!" Anders giggled.

It took all of Alistair's self-control but he stood there and nodded firmly, not trusting his voice for the time being.

She sighed sadly and turned a coy look at Anders.

"I think it is just you and me tonight, yes?" She said, her dimples showing as she smiled prettily at him.

"Oh, yes!" Anders answered back enthusiastically, and stood up quickly, his robes slightly raised around his groin.

Alistair groaned and averted his eyes, while Anders attempted to laugh.

"I see you are all attentive mon cher. Come, let us enjoy ourselves tonight!" And with that she took his hand and led him out of Alistair's room.

Alistair locked his door after they had left and quickly undressed himself and got under the cool sheets. He felt so relieved he fell asleep immediately after that.

...

They were given a tour of the city by the Orlesian wardens, and took some time to shop for things and supplies. Alistair found a piece he was interested in. It was a wooden figurine depicting a carven halla and an elven herder standing next to it. The craftsmanship was exquisite. He thought it would be something Chantalle would like.

"How much?" He asked the merchant, who scratched his head for a few moments. "Ah..." He struggled with his Orlesian, "Combien ça coûte?" He asked hopefully. The man gave him a toothy grin and scribbled the amount on a piece of parchment. Alistair nodded and handed him the money, stuffing the figurine in his pocket.

As the day wore on, Leonie talked to the captain of the city guard who explained the presence of refugees all over the city. She translated to Alistair and his party, and they all looked at each other worriedly.

"The darkspawn have attacked their villages. These are the people who escaped. They are scared and homeless, their crops have been burned to the ground."

Leonie then made a decision. "I think it is time we travelled to Val Royeaux, to get reinforcements and see what Weisshaupt has replied to our missives. This is getting very serious, gentlemen."

...

A/N: Ah, Val Royeaux. Two people from Alistair's past make their appearance in the next chapter. A cookie for anyone who can guess who, but you must guess who both of them are, or there is no cookie! LOL