A/N: Two chapters in one day? What? Clearly I have been taken over by a pod person.
"Again," her opponent called out, his jaw firm and set beneath the helm. Elissa grit her teeth before adjusting her grip on the daggers cradled loosely in her palms. Seconds ticked by as the two circled each other warily, feinting with their blades in an effort to spur the other into action. Eventually Elissa rushed in, bored with the game and made to strike at her opponent's midsection. Her dagger was easily swept away by a bone jarring shield block and she desperately fought to keep control of her weapon. Snarling in a rage she spun about, elbowing her opponent in the face, before dancing behind the man to swipe at hamstrings. When the leather of his breeches parted in protest she faired crowed her pleasure, only to be thrown to the ground by a sword arcing just over her head. Attempting to get her feet under her she was immediately halted when the tip of a sword hovered above her pulse point and she glared up at the victor.
"Better," Ambrose said as he lowered his weapon, hard rising to raise his helm. "You surprised me with that elbow, and a nice tactic with the hamstrings. Were we using live blades you might have crippled me. But you're still too impatient."
"I can't stand all this dancing around and posturing," Elissa grumbled as her friend helped her to her feet, "it's tedious. Besides, of my many virtues, patience was never high on the list."
"Not so virtuous from what I hear tell," Ambrose said with a waggle of his eyebrows, "tell me, did the King overwhelm you with his passion?"
"A lady never tells, Ambrose," Elissa replied aloofly as she sheathed her blades and slung her bow from her back.
"Oh don't go all high born on me, Elissa," her friend pleaded, "How else am I to live vicariously through your torrid affair if I have no details to keep me warm at night."
"From what I hear you have very little trouble keeping warm at night," she teased, eager to change the topic at hand. As much as she adored the man, she did not trust him enough to reveal that her and Alistair had yet to do so much as kiss behind closed doors, public performances aside.
"Are you calling me a cad, dear lady?" Ambrose asked in mock outrage.
"'Tis not I who does so, my lord, but your conquests," Elissa said conspiratorially, "Now enough of this foolishness, fetch your bow. My lesson is over; time for yours."
"You cut me to the quick," Ambrose lamented as he obeyed, slinging the weapon from his back, "clearly you are aware of my latest triumph."
"I find it difficult to keep track, it is so very time consuming and I am very busy and important," Elissa said snootily as she drew the bow string back and eyed the target in front of her.
"Yes how very demanding it is to see to your gorgeous husband's needs, but had you the inclination you would find that I have not taken a new conquest to bed in over a week," Ambrose said with barely contained smugness. Elissa was so distracted by his words, not only the declaration of his love life, but of the unbidden image of her and Alistair entwined flashing through her head, that she completely missed the target and shot wide. Ambrose chuckled in glee and she rounded on him in surprise.
"Are you saying that you are, horror of horrors, thinking of settling down?" she demanded, a girlish sort fire overtaking her.
"Perhaps," Ambrose hedged, turning on her with a mischievous grin, "but until I receive details of your husband's performance I find myself quite unwilling to offer details."
"For every arrow you put through the center you will have an answer," Elissa countered, certain that his skill not yet sufficient to warrant many answers on her part. It would be easy enough to lie if it came down to it.
"Answers to what?" A voice called out and Elissa fair jumped out of her skin as she turned to find Alistair striding across the practice yard towards them. Ambrose could barely contain himself as she sought to muffle the hysterical giggles that threatened to overwhelm him. Elissa groaned inwardly, wishing fiercely that the earth would crack open and swallow her whole.
"We were just discussing the merits of long term commitment," Ambrose supplied through laughter and Alistair quirked an eyebrow, clearly not believing the coded declaration.
"Yes, but should you have use of the yard we can most certainly discuss it at a later date," Elissa said through clenched teeth, unsubtly warning her friend to watch his tongue. He simply grinned at her in return, eyes sparkling with devilish mirth.
"By all means, continue," Alistair replied, interest peeked despite his lack of understanding, "I'd like to see what exactly it is you've been teaching my guardsmen."
"You heard him, Elissa," Ambrose said happily as he pulled his bow string back, flashing her a grin, "As the king commands."
"You have the most appalling timing," Elissa grumbled as she folded her arms over her chest. Alistair looked at her in bewilderment but wisely chose not to ask for clarification.
Ambrose's first arrow hit just shy of the center, and Elissa let out a breath of relief, hoping the rest of the quiver would follow suit. When the fourth hit the mark, Ambrose turned to her expectantly and she cringed inwardly.
"First question…satisfying?" Ambrose asked slowly, clearly wanting to spare her utter humiliation but goading her nonetheless.
"Yes," Elissa muttered, unwilling to unman her oblivious husband. "Next arrow."
"I expect a far more enlightening answer next time," Ambrose said in disappointment before turning once more to the target. Three more attempts passed before he once again struck true.
"Gentle or rough?" he inquired. Elissa could not stop herself from glancing quickly at Alistair, remembering the way their anger had flared between them, bodies pressed close and fierce.
"Rough…unsurprisingly," she said softly, cheeks ablaze with embarrassment.
It took twenty more minutes and three more appalling questions before Ambrose had at last exhausted his supply of arrows. Elissa could tell by Alistair's shifting posture that he had caught on to the game and was doing his best to play the part of ignorance. When Ambrose at last gathered his arrows from the target Elissa stomped angrily towards him under the pretense of pointing out technical errors.
"I will find the most abysmal duty imaginable to punish you for that," she spat in his ear, "I hope you enjoy latrine duty, Ambrose."
"Just having a bit of fun," her friend said wickedly, "thank you for the information, it was quite enlightening."
"I hope you get a rash. A painful one," she muttered. Her friend just laughed in response before bowing politely to the pair and taking his leave. Elissa watched him go through narrowed eyes, her embarrassment humming through her veins.
"Care to explain just why you were answering questions about my sexual prowess?" Alistair inquired and Elissa closed her eyes, unwilling to face the man lest he see her humiliation.
"I apologize, Alistair…Ambrose does so love to bait me, and I should not have risen to it in your presence. But we did agree to keep up appearances…."
"I don't know whether to be offended or grateful," he mused, placing a hand upon her should in a bid for her attention, "you paint me out to be quite the lothario."
"Well I couldn't very well make you out to be a eunuch, I may be snarky, but I'm not cruel," she conceded, turning to face him. "Although without firsthand experience I had to go off personality to answer."
At the mention of firsthand experience Alistair turned distant and dropped his eyes from hers. Elissa realized her error and rolled her eyes, thoroughly put out at his reluctance to see this farce of a marriage through.
"You've taught him well," he said after a minute, head nodding in the direction of her departed friend. "If you're twice as good as he you're extremely talented."
"Twice as good? Your Majesty I am a hundred times more adept than he," Elissa replied smugly, her pride bristling.
"Is that so?" Alistair asked, a disbelieving tone to his voice, "I believe I require a demonstration."
Shrugging, Elissa turned to the targets, took aim, and let an arrow lose, smiling triumphantly as it buried itself in the dark red center.
"Satisfied?" she inquired. Alistair shook his head and strode to retrieve a bow from the nearby rack of weapons.
"Hardly," he countered as he once again stood by her side. "Care for a little competition?"
"I don't think I shall endear myself to you by so thoroughly unmanning you in the arts of war," Elissa countered, though inside she was yearning to show her strength.
"You forget I spent a year traveling with a group of women who could beat me into the bloody ground with but a thought," Alistair replied dryly as he let lose his own arrow, smiling happily when it hit the center, "But I understand if you are scared-"
"I am not scared," Elissa said tightly, her pride and anger prickling, "name your terms."
" Most arrows dead center claims a forfeit of the loser. And I find I too would like an answer for each perfect hit," Alistair said immediately, his eyes flashing in triumph at having baited her.
"Do you too wish for an accounting of your performance as a lover?" Elissa shot back, seeking to goad his anger.
"I do not need any such thing, my dear lady," he said with uncharacteristic wickedness, "I am told I'm more than adequate."
Elissa blushed furiously, willing her face into a scowl to hide her flustered state. Surely Alistair was not flirting with her? So distracted by his comment that when she let her arrow fly it struck the outer rim of the target and she frowned.
"I never thanked you," Alistair murmured in concentration as he took his turn, disappointment etching his features as his own arrow went wide, "For what you did at the Alienage. It was thoughtful to give me credit."
"Think nothing of it," Elissa replied as she shot. Smiling in triumph when her arrow struck true she turned to Alistair with a look of haughty superiority. "I believe I shall go easy on you, considering how very many questions you will soon be answering…do you agree with plan for the elven guards?"
"Truthfully? Yes," Alistair replied, as he peered at the target, "it is quite brilliant, though I do wish you had not sprung it on me without so much as a 'by the way."
Twang. Elissa grimaced when her husband's turn ended with a dead center hit. Pulling another arrow from her quiver she waited patiently for her inquiry.
"What do you miss most about Highever," Alistair asked, and Elissa was brought aback by the question, shocked that he had asked something so banal.
"A friend of mine, Ser Gilmore," she answer at last, "he didn't care for all the world that I was a Teyrn's daughter, and I found I could truly be myself around him."
The game continued as did the questions, as arrow after arrow found its way to the small red ring at the heart of the target. Elissa answered as best she could; fumbling the truth when he inquired too close to things she'd rather not speak of. She sensed that Alistair could hear the lie in her voice but he never pushed, simply nodded at her answers and gesturing for her to continue.
"Do you regret coming here?" he asked hesitantly and she swallowed hard in response, eyes unwilling to meet his.
"I do not think this is something you wish me to discuss," she replied softly, fingers fiddling with the strong of her bow.
"None the less I would like an answer."
Sighing inwardly, Elissa closed her eyes and tilted her head skyward, as if beseeching the gods themselves to aid her.
"It is not a yes or no answer, Alistair," she said evenly, "It is where I was sent, and fulfilling my family's wishes is very important to me. And I believe that given time and understanding I would make a passing fair queen. But…I do not relish the prospect of a marriage built on pretense and barely concealed anger, and I am not exactly comfortable with being the position of second best. I can never be Harlow, despite the fact that my competitive nature dictates I try."
"Do you regret my coming to Denerim?" she inquired when it was her turn once more.
"No," he said simply, his voice firm and unrelenting. She turned to him surprise, waiting for clarification, but the determined set of his jaw led her to believe that no further explanation would be forth coming. Alistair missed the mark on his turn, and when she once more struck true she found herself blurting out the next question unthinkingly.
"Do you truly think I'm beautiful?" she asked, voice trembling with embarrassment.
"As if you are not aware of that very fact, Elissa," Alistair snorted, eyes rolling heavenwards, "Yes, you're quite the vision. Something I do begrudgingly thank the Maker for."
"How true, though with your stunning personality and eagerness to frustrate at every turn it would serve you right if I were a troll," she snarked. Alistair turned to her, annoyance flaring in his eyes, but softening when he saw her grinning at him, no trace of malice in her features.
When at last all arrows had been fired they silently strode to the targets and tallied their points. Elissa smiled in satisfaction at her number of successful hits, but began to worry when she saw a similar amount of arrows fisted in her husband's hand.
"Who taught you archery?" she inquired, curious as to how a templar trained grey warden who clearly favored a sword could strike so true with a bow.
"An Orlesian bard named Leliana," Alistair replied, "she traveled with us during the blight and is now my ambassador to Orlais. The persistent woman insisted I learn, said it would instill in me a measure of grace I was sorely lacking."
"And do you find yourself more graceful?" Elissa prodded.
"You remember our reception," Alistair snorted, "or at least your tender feet should. I think I tromped upon them enough to sufficiently answer your question."
"And here I thought you were simply venting your frustration and aggravation towards me," Elissa replied wryly as she held out her arrows.
"Well, there was that as well," Alistair countered and despite herself, Elissa found laughter ringing from her lips. The compared their victories and Elissa was pleased to discover she had indeed won, though only by a slim margin of two arrows.
"I concede defeat, my dear lady," Alistair said grandly, "What forfeit would you claim of me?"
Elissa pondered silently, truly thinking of what she could request. The snarky, bitter part of her urged her to lash out, seeking a punishment for his earlier behavior, but the part of her that had enjoyed their competition overrode such whisperings. It was only when a brilliant, yet underhand thought came to mind did she answer, secretly hoping that were he to agree, her intentions would not upset him. From what she had witnessed of him today, she did not think he would be too put out at her scheme.
"I'd like you to throw a tourney," she blurted out, eyes wide and hopeful.
"A tourney?" he asked, clearly having expected a different answer, "not power, or-or jewels?"
"We you to offer those I would not turn them down, but that is not what I claim of you."
"Very well, if it is a tourney you want, a tourney you shall have," Alistair said with a shrug of his shoulders. Elissa smiled happily, her mind already turning over plans and schemes; she would have to secure Ambrose's help, but she was sure the man would be all too willing to cause a bit of trouble on her behalf.
As they returned their weapons to their proper places, Alistair looked at her with a studious eye. When Elissa quirked a brow at him, wanting an answer for why he studied her so, he frowned.
"I like you this way," he said seriously.
"And that displeases you?" she countered, confused by his expression.
"I did not expect such a thing…" he murmured before turning and taking his leave. Elissa watched him go with a swirl of emotions coiling through her chest. She was shocked to discover the malice she once bore the man softening with each passing day, and such a thing concerned her greatly. Shaking her head she turned her attention once more the weapons rack as she unslung the quiver from her back.
"Infuriating man," she muttered, though a slight smile ghosted her lips.