The feel of perfectly carved wood beneath fingers, the brush and tickle of stiff feathers against skin, the tension that sings through muscle as the string is drawn back to the perfect distance…all these sensations brought Elissa a focused sort of happiness as she stood twenty paces off from a target circle in the practice ring. Her dark liquid eyes were set in determination, mouth quirking up into a cocky grin that only widened when she let her arrow fly and it found a home within the red center of the target.
She had come to the practice ring that morning to work out some of her lingering aggravation from the night before. After her devious and highly successful assault on Alistair, she had expected him to stumble through the rest of the gathering in a confused sort of daze. What she had most assuredly not been prepared for was the King's utterly perfect revenge. She had vastly underestimated Alistair Theirin, thinking him far too naive and common to truly survive in this world of cutthroat politics. Elissa would have been immensely proud of him if she hadn't been shocked into a titillated sort of horror.
Once their engagement had been announced, Alistair had refused to leave her side, circulating through the throng of well wishes like her shadow. That alone would have been tolerable, but what had truly thrown her were the easy and flirtatious touches he had bestowed upon her with such an effortless grace. A trail of finger tips down her neck, a whisper of breath against her ear, an arm snaking about her slender waist to pull her closer. Each contact sent shivers through her skin, and she told herself it was from surprise and irritation, nothing else; she would not allow herself to think it anything more than that.
When the festivities had ended and the couple bid fare well to the assemblage of peers, Alistair had once more swept her into his arms and placed a wholly passionate kiss upon her; his mouth hungrily seeking her to submit and she had willingly complied, ever conscious of their audience. Drawing her into an embrace much as she had done earlier, she felt his lips brush against her ear and she shuddered.
"Enjoying the show, my lady?" he said with a hint of malevolence.
"Care to explain your actions, dear king? I find I am most confused by this sudden shift in feeling," she breathed back, the sound trembling on the air.
"You started this little game, Elissa, I'm just playing my part. If you're disappointed in the outcome, perhaps you'll remember this the next time you seek to plan my life without informing me."
And then he had released her, a love-struck grin plastered on his face as he waved goodnight to the peers of the realm. Elissa had barely managed to respond in kind, so dumb struck by his actions that she was a bit slow to react. Try as she might she could not argue that his performance had not firmly solidified her position in court, and for that alone she could not begrudge him his revenge. The problem she found herself dealing with was that, perhaps, a small part of her hadn't been disappointed in the outcome, as Alistair had insinuated. Elissa would have to be blind to not see how handsome the king was, but she had seen her share of pretty faces in her life and a pair of flashing eyes and a strong jaw were not enough to spin her head. No, it was the way he had expertly touched her that night that frustrated her to no end. The memory of his fingers tracing a slow and sensual line from her neck down her spine kept slipping to the forefront of her mind and she would shiver as the feeling ghosted over her skin in remembrance.
And so she had come to the practice yard, her favorite bow in hand, and spent the morning putting arrow after arrow in the target circle, seeking to banish the memory of his touch with discipline and action. So far she was failing miserably, which only incited her anger towards the man to further heights.
When she had exhausted her supply of arrows she wearily trudged to the target and began to gather them back into her quiver, pulling the bolts free with undue force and muttered grumbles about the nature of the male psyche.
"You're quite good, you know," a voice called out and Elissa whirled around to find a grinning guardsman leaning against the jousting rail. He was a stranger to her, which made her wary, but something about the open merry cast to his features put her at ease and she hesitantly smiled.
"Oh I am aware of my talents," she said haughtily, "Were women allowed to tourney I'd have won quite a few trophies."
"Of that I have no doubt," the man replied before ducking under the rail to join her, "though the prestige that comes with an archery championship is far less than one that comes with swordsmanship."
"Then you shall have to live with my lack of prestige," she said tartly, her eyes flashing in mirth, "for I was never taught how to wield a blade. My father forbade it, insisting that well bred ladies were not suited to the manly arts of war."
"I think the Hero of Ferelden would have a word or two to say to your father about that," the guard replied with a laugh, "You said you were well bred, does this mean I have the honor of being in the presence of the beautiful Elissa Cousland?"
"Beautiful I may be, but I am a woman fast approaching her wedding, sir, you would do well to remember that," she said with a frown, the warning clear in her voice.
"Fear not, dear lady, I have no designs on your virtue," he said with a wink, "your friendship perhaps, but never your virtue."
"Well why not?" she said with mock offense, her smile returning easily with the promise that his flirtation had been harmless, "I am quite the picture of beauty if I do say so myself."
"And any man would be lucky to have you, but alas my soon to be queen, you are not exactly my type," he said in a conspiratorial stage whisper. "Your future husband on the other hand? Now were he and I having this conversation it would be a vastly different story. His virtue may just be worth sullying."
Elissa laughed loud at the revelation and felt herself fully relax around this charming man. Something about him reminded him of Ser Gilmore and the easy way in which they would tease one another. Their friendship had been such a close and easy one since both had made it clear that neither desired the other one in any sort of romantic fashion. Elissa missed her friend dearly and felt the faint stirrings of hope that perhaps she could strike up a similar relationship with this man before her.
"Well, good sir, if you are planning to seduce my future husband straight out of his smalls, I should at least have your name. That way I know who to blame when I find the bed linens rumpled."
"Ambrose, my lady, humble servant and palace guard," he said sweeping her a bow.
"Well, Sir Ambrose, perhaps we could trade skills you and I?" she warmly, "I can teach you how to make an arrow sing through the air and you can teach me to wield a blade. And should I tire of my husband after a fashion I can teach you how to best win your way to his heart."
Ambrose laughed out loud, blue eyes sparkling. Elissa smiled happily, joyous that she had found someone to joke with in her new home. She had feared that once the title of queen hung heavy about her shoulders never would she find companionship without ulterior motives. Ambrose, at least on the surface, seemed to be completely sincere in his overtures of camaraderie and Elissa found that highly alluring.
"It's a deal my lady, though I do not know how you can tire of a man such as him," Ambrose said with a waggle of his eyebrows. A memory of Alistair's lips gliding across hers flashed through her mind and she grit her teeth against the image.
"Spend an hour with him, trust me when I say that his good looks only take him so far," she muttered.
"Lady Cousland?" a voice rang out, interrupting their conversation. Elissa turned and found a confused Eamon leaning over a second story balcony. He looked upon her and Ambrose with a calculating sort of mistrust, an emotion Elissa was surprised to find on the elderly man's face. Surely she had done nothing to warrant such a suspicious glance?
"My lord Eamon," she replied formally, refusing to acknowledge his expression, "is there something you required?"
"Yes, the kitchen staff is ready to meet with you and the King to discuss the feast for your…imminent wedding. Would you be so kind as to collect your future husband and meet me in dining hall?"
Elissa give a quick curtsey before turning back to face her new friend with a look of regret painted on her features.
"I'm afraid our archery lesson shall have to wait," she said sadly.
"Such is the awful burden of being royalty," Ambrose said with a shrug, "I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy."
"Then I am glad to know I am no such thing," she replied with a playful shove. "I shall return tomorrow, if you are available…we could begin then."
"As my queen commands," he said with a grin before sweeping her a bow and taking his leave. Elissa watched him go with a joyful heart, happy that she had at least found one thing about her new life that promised contentment and gaiety.
~oOo~
Alistair Theirin was nowhere to be found. Elissa had searched high and low for the missing regent and with every empty room and unhelpful servant she came across she felt her temper boil over. Probably touring the damn Alienage again¸ she thought sullenly, I wonder what could possibly be so amusing that he would need to visit such a quarter so frequently? Just when she had about given up in her search, she not only found her errant fiancé, but the answer to her question as well.
"Is this going to spell trouble for me, Shianni?" Alistair's voice mumbled from behind a closed door as Elissa strode past. Heaving a sigh of relief, she raised her hand to knock but was struck into stillness when a woman's voice floated through the wood.
"I'm not sure, Alistair. I didn't exactly hear what was said. But I know that the nature of our relationship doesn't sit well with them," the woman said, her voice bitter, "for an elf to be so close to a shem…well, it's not exactly something that others turn a blind eye to."
Elissa felt her stomach drop and cold nausea sweep through her. She could hardly believe what was hearing, but the words fit into her mind like tumblers in a lock. This was why Alistair had been spending so much time in the Alienage. This woman, Shianni, clearly had a very close connection to her future husband, and while Elissa may have been the chaste and virginal daughter of a Teryn, she was not so ignorant as to not put the pieces together. This was Alistair's mistress…an elf from the Alienage. While she was not shocked to discover that the king had kept a woman on the side (she was hard pressed to name a nobleman in power who did not practice the same behavior) it nonetheless hurt that Alistair had been so cavalier about it. Riding off every day to see his lover, not even trying to be sneaky about it; it was an insult to her and she felt anger well up inside her at the knowledge.
Kitchen staff and wedding preparations forgotten Elissa barged into the room, her posture sporting a calm she did not feel.
"Oh, forgive me, I did not mean to interrupt," she said with false politeness as she took in the two people who were now staring at her in shock. "I was searching for his majesty and heard his voice. Had I known he was entertaining I would have knocked."
"Elissa, if you'll just give me a-" Alistair began, irritation plain on his features.
"Alistair, dear, Eamon sent me to find you," she interrupted sweetly, "he said it was most urgent."
"Tell him I'll be there in a minute. Shianni and I were discussing the state of affairs in the Alienage and-"
"Don't worry, my king, I can listen in your stead while you attend to Eamon," she said turning her gaze on the elven woman, "I am quite versed in diplomacy and politics, you know."
"Elissa," he ground out, glaring at her, "I have this well under control."
"And yet there is something you do not have well under control and I suggest you see to it," she snapped back. "Besides, I find myself suddenly most captivated with the elven culture and I intend to receive a thorough accounting. A queen must know her people."
The elven woman narrowed her eyes at Elissa, clearly taking her measure. After a moment she placed a hand on Alistair's arm and nodded slightly.
"It's okay, Alistair, I'm sure our future queen can more than handle what I have to report. "
Alistair sighed in defeat and pushed past his fiancé, sparing her not a word on his exit. Elissa knew she would hear no end of it from him at dinner when he discovered the "urgent" task he was set upon involved planning an elaborate wedding feast, but at the moment she couldn't bring herself to care. If her husband was going to indulge himself in a mistress she was damn well going to make a few things clear the woman.
"So," Shianni said when they were alone, "you are Alistair's blushing bride to be. I gotta say, you weren't what I was expecting. Are all noblewoman so brash?"
"Only the ones who manage to keep a hold of their power," came Elissa's cold reply. She took a moment to size up the woman in front of her, and noticed the elf doing the same of her. But whereas Elissa was looking at the willow frame and fiery hair of her rival trying to understand what made her so special, Shianni seemed to be committing every one of Elissa's features to memory so as if to recall them later for some person unknown.
"Let me be clear," Elissa said after a pause, "I am not so naive to think that Alistair will remain faithful to a wife. For all that we may play at it in public, this is not a marriage built on love. He is the king and it is within his right to take a mistress, but I will be damned if I am to be made a fool of because the two of you cannot better find a way to keep your passion under wraps. If you wish to keep spreading your legs for my fiancé, then find a way to do so quietly and secretly, because trust me when I say that while I cannot stop this little affair, I can very easily make your life miserable."
Shianni took in her words and let out a biting laugh, her eyes wide in shock.
"You think me and that shem are lovers? No offense, my lady, but what in the Maker's name gave you that idea?"
"Why else would he trot out to the Alienage every blighted day?" Elissa said, her voice hesitant and bereft of her earlier anger.
"To visit the Bann of the Alienage," Shianni replied dryly, arching an eyebrow.
"Oh," Elissa replied meekly, "I had forgotten that he had bequeathed the elves such a title. It still doesn't explain why we needs to meet with you every day. Surely the elven quarter does not require so close a watch from its regent."
"Clearly you are just as ignorant as the rest of those pig-brained shems if you think that," the elf replied darkly, "but, no, Alistair doesn't come every day to tend to our needs. He comes to hear news of the elf who pushed him into giving us a voice in the landsmeet."
"You mean the Hero of Ferelden? Harlow Tabris?" Elissa asked confused, "why would he want to hear news of her?"
"Because he loves her," Shianni said simply. Elissa felt herself grow dizzy at the words and she hastily sat herself down in the nearest chair, mind reeling with information and questions. She had been right, Alistair had carried on an affair with an elven woman, Elissa had just pegged the wrong one. Suddenly needing to understand how much of a presence Harlow Tabris was going to have in her life, Elissa snapped her head up to meet Shianni's level gaze and squared her shoulders.
"Tell me. All of it, from beginning to present," she demanded. When the elf made no effort to bow to her wishes she put a pleading edge to her voice and tried once more. "Please, he is to be my husband and I think I have a right to know what woman truly holds his heart."
Shianni's eyes softened but she sighed and sat down opposite the future queen.
"It all started on Harlow's wedding day…" the elven woman began. As the words flowed from Shianni's mouth, spinning a tale of adventure and passionate, painful love Elissa felt her heart constrict with each syllable. Even the knowledge that Harlow had ended it, riding off into the sunset with an Antivan elf, did nothing to ease her mind. Elissa understood better why Alistair was so resistant to the idea of their marriage, why he was so bitter and fought her at every turn. She was the woman who was seeking to take his true love's place, no wonder he despised her so. And even if that were not the case, how on earth was she, a pampered and wild daughter of one of the richest men in Thedas going to ever compare with a figure out of legend? Elissa never stood a chance, and for the first time in her life, she felt completely at a loss for what to do.