I'd like to thank KCousland, Warrose, LadyCallia, PheonRen, megglesnake and Jinx1983 for their fantastic reviews! Many thanks to Liso66 as well, who is reviewing past chapters. You are all so wonderful and your reviews mean a lot to me. :)

Sorry this chapter is so short, but the voices in my head told me to stop there! LOL

The next one will be long, I guarantee it! ;)

Bioware owns! :D

Chapter 41 - A Prince is Born

Through the darkness and good times

I knew I'd make it through

And the world thought I had it all

But I was waiting for you

Hush, now

I see a light in the sky

Oh, it's almost blinding me

I can't believe

If I've been touched by an angel with love

Let the rain come down and wash away my tears

Let it fill my soul and drown my fears

Let it shatter the walls for a new sun

A new day has come, oh

Celine Dion - A New Day Has Come

.

.

Chantalle had a very sad look on her face when Alistair entered the room that evening. She was very heavy now, being so close to actually giving birth, that he had asked her to stay behind at the keep while he took care of the things that kept him away. He had just returned from a trip to the city of Amaranthine with Nathaniel to introduce him as the next arl.

Alistair took one look at her face and closed the distance between them quickly. He knelt before her, softly caressing her swollen abdomen, his hands traveling up to her face.

"What is it my love? You look so sad," he crooned.

"Oh Alistair, I'm so glad you are back!" She planted a kiss on his lips and sighed deeply.

"What troubles you my dear wife?" He pulled her as closely as he could to him, mindful of her swollen belly.

There were tears in her eyes when she spoke to him next.

"I don't know why I didn't think about it before," she cried softly, tears finally streaming down her cheeks. "But now that I don't carry the Taint, I realized that you still do! You only have twenty-six more years left, and then? You will head off to the Deep Roads, and disappear forever. I cannot bear the thought of what will happen to you..." she trailed off, sobbing, her gasps making it difficult for her to speak.

"Ah, my darling," Alistair said softly. "Please do not cry so! It cannot be good for our child."

He smoothed her hair away and kissed her tears trying to comfort her.

"Alistair. I don't want you to go into the Deep Roads! I want you to stay with me. With our child. You can't let this happen!"

He whispered words of endearment to her but she pushed him away.

"I won't be able to live without you, Alistair. I won't be queen without you. I cannot rule a nation alone. I want only to be your wife and the mother of our child. I cannot rule! I won't! I won't do this!"

She was extremely agitated. He had never before seen her like this and he moved to take her in his arms but she pushed him away and stood up abruptly. Then she looked down at her feet and back to his handsome worried face, her face a mask of bewilderment.

"Oh!" She said, her eyes wide. "My water just broke!"

"What?" Alistair didn't know what that meant.

"I'm having the baby, Alistair! Get Fiona!" And she doubled over in pain.

Alistair paled and took a few steps back.

"I don't want to leave you - "

Chantalle gave a scream that made him jump.

"Go get Fiona NOW!" Her face contorted with pain and he didn't need to be told twice.

...

"Well, little sister. You now know everything there is to now," Fergus spoke in a quiet voice. He was sitting at the desk in the study, looking into Elissa's lovely teal-colored eyes. "But there is still something we should discuss."

"And what is that, Fergus dear?" She asked, smiling at him.

"Now that you are here, I think we should be discussing your future. As soon as Alistair comes back to the palace next month, he will be needing a chancellor, an advisor. I think he will ask me to stay on as his advisor. If this happens, I will need you to take my place as Teryna back home."

Elissa blinked back at him, visibly surprised at what he had just said.

"But brother! It is your duty to be Teryn. Have you forgotten that you are the eldest?" She said.

"No, I haven't forgotten this. But I also know that Alistair will need a lot of help and he and I are good friends. I would not deny him this. Not after all he has done for Ferelden. He is even giving up his position as warden commander to rule Ferelden. I will not abandon him," Fergus said seriously.

"I don't know if I want to accept this, Fergus. I think your place is in Highever, with me. This will mean you won't be returning home, and I cannot accept that at all," Elissa shot back at him, setting her jaw stubbornly. "Friendship is all very good, but family is what really matters. And this Alistair is not your family."

"No, he isn't. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't help him. I want to," Fergus responded with determination. His gaze softened after a while.

"Listen, Elissa. I understand what your concern is here. I will be visiting Highever as much as I can. But I really need to do this first. Maybe after he gets used to being king, I can return to Highever and take my place as Teryn. So, why don't you do this as a temporary favor for me?"

She gazed back into his eyes, and sighed.

"All right, Fergus. I'll do it. But it's just temporary. And now I'm certainly curious about the kind of man that has you pledging your loyalty to him so unreservedly. He must be quite a character," she mused.

"That he is, dear sister. You'll see for yourself when you meet him. There has never been a kinder man and I think Ferelden will love him," he smiled.

"He married a Dalish elf, did he not?" Elissa smiled back.

"Yes. A very beautiful woman, who is also expecting their first child. She will make a fine queen."

Elissa's eyebrows shot up. While she tolerated elves, and had always treated them as equals, the idea of one ruling beside the King of Ferelden still seemed a bit strange to her.

"She must be kind and good for him to have married her. I am surprised that the Landsmeet didn't ask to have his marriage annulled," she said thoughtfully.

"I don't think they could have, because of what he revealed to him. Once he said that his mother was an elf as well, the nobles shut right up and the votes in favor clearly surpassed those that opposed. Nearly the whole room supported him as king. Besides, you must understand that things have changed both in Orlais and Ferelden."

"Yes, I know. What should worry you, Fergus, is that there are still three of them that opposed. Both you and I know what noblemen are capable of. I would keep an eye out for the king and his queen if I were you," she said, her fingers tapping the surface of the desk absent-mindedly.

"Oh, count on it," Fergus smiled.

...

Alistair took to pacing the corridor outside his room. Next to him were Duran and Leliana, Nathaniel was checking at intervals, but otherwise busy with the recruits.

The sounds of Chantalle's screams were interrupted every so often by Fiona's calm and steady voice. Anders was inside the room as well, but not a peep could be heard coming from him.

"Well." Duran spoke up, his gruff voice making Alistair jump nervously.

"Well what?" He shot back at his friend.

"I'm just thinking. Anders is going to faint when she gives birth. But don't mind me," he added cheerfully.

"You make a comment like that and then tell me not to mind you?" Alistair blinked, unable to believe his words.

Duran smiled blandly up at him. Alistair was a nice bloke. For a human, that is. He cared about him deeply, so he didn't wish to disturb him unnecessarily, but he had just practically asked him for an explanation, so taking a deep breath he started to explain.

"Birthing is not pretty. I was at one once. One of my brother's mistresses back in Orzammar. I was minding my business, trying to get more food in the larder, when she waddled into me and started screaming. I thought she'd lost her mind, I did, but no! She was actually having the baby! And then when the cook arrived and saw this, she just laid her on one of the side tables and..." he shuddered with the memory.

"And what?" Alistair whispered his question, his eyes dark with fear and curiosity at the same time.

"Oh. There was a lot of blood. But that wasn't what made me faint," Duran gulped.

Alistair swallowed painfully.

"Then what was it?" He croaked.

"Her screams and her...vagina tearing open as the child's head started to appear...this bloody head coming out of..." he stopped when he saw the look on Alistair's face. Sweat covered his brow.

"Maker's breath!" He squeaked, then swallowed again as a totally different look replaced the curious one he had previously.

He now looked absolutely terrified.

"What if she is too small? I mean, she's an elf, and she's tiny! Oh, Maker!" His hands flew to his face and covered it.

"Alistair, she will be fine!" Leliana said, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

Alistair groaned into his hands and at that moment, Chantalle let out a shriek that pierced his heart.

His hands fell away from his face, and he stared at the door in pure terror.

"Maker! I've killed her! It's my fault she is suffering all this!" He mumbled.

"Ah, she is a strong one, Alistair. I'm sure she'll be fine," Duran patted his arm hoping to give Alistair some hope. But the look on Duran's face was far from hopeful.

"Why is it taking so long? Holy Maker, I don't know if I can stand much more of this!" Alistair whined.

"It takes a long time for women to have their first child. Just be calm, Alistair. All this is perfectly normal," Leliana replied kindly.

"Normal, she says! It sounds like she is dying in there! What if she's dying, Leliana? What if -"

He never got a chance to continue talking. There was an audible click that interrupted him in mid-sentence, which meant that the door was being unlocked. Alistair's eyes immediately fell on the handle. It was turning slowly.

The door opened to reveal a smiling Fiona, carrying an infant in her arms. She walked over to Alistair and handed him the bundled up baby, showing him how to hold it gently. He took it in his arms, afraid of hurting it.

Alistair felt his heart swell with such a feeling of love, he thought it would explode. He looked at the infant he held, all pink and soft. The little puckered lips were pink as well. It had its eyes closed and its tiny hands were curled. It had a wisp of blond hair on its head. Such tiny perfection! Alistair's lips curled up in a soft smile.

"Congratulations, it's a boy," Fiona told him.

"And Chantalle? Is she -" He swallowed.

"She is fine, Alistair, but exhausted. Though I must ask you to please be quiet. Give me a moment, while I tend to something in there. I'll let you know when you can come in." She smiled at them all.

"Tend to something?" Alistair's voice whispered, though it could still be heard. He was gently rocking his child in his arms.

"Yes. I'm afraid Anders has fainted."

...