Disclaimer: I don't own DA:O or any of its characters. =(
A/N: It's been a while, sorry about that! I promise to try and update more frequently. I also promise that even though I've started a new story, I will NOT neglect this one. I love writing it too much! Thank you so much for your continued support!
The Dish Ran Away With The Spoon
"Who made this stew?!" Alistair demands. He casts a glance around the camp, his jaw set in a decidedly threatening manner.
Bridget raises her hand hesitantly. "I did, your majesty. I apologize if it was-"
"This is the best bloody stew I've ever had! Let it be known that Lady Bridget is our go to girl for all food related matters!" He's only joking about making her the official cook, of course, but the stew is indeed delicious.
"Why thank you, sire. I would be honoured to-"
"Don't worry Bridge, he's pulling your leg about you having to cook every night." I smile. "Personally, I'll just be happy so long as he's not in charge of cooking," I nod my head toward the king.
"Hey!" Alistair cries out. "You wound me, dear lady! I happen to be an excellent chef. Why, just the other day one of my guards complimented me on my wonderful pea and lamb stew."
"You mean the one that wound up vomiting all night in the bushes?" I ask playfully. "I'm sure it tasted better coming up than it did going down."
Leliana is watching our exchange with a wide grin plastered on her face. "If I didn't know any better, I would swear that the two of you were a married couple!"
"I would never wed a woman who couldn't appreciate my fine cooking skills!" Alistair jests. I toss my spoon at his head. "Ha! Joke's on you, you're not getting this back!" He says triumphantly.
The bard rolls her eyes and turns to Bridget. "It really is very good. It rivals any meal I've had in Orlais, and that's saying a lot. Though I must say your cooking does not surpass your beauty," she winks at Bridget, who blushes and scratches the back of her neck.
"It was nothing, really. But I'm glad you enjoyed it so much," she glances at Leliana furtively before returning her attention to her food. Ah, so that's why she'd said Zevran wasn't her type. I smile inwardly and continue to shovel food into my mouth.
"You know," Leliana mentions offhandedly. "The way you described the attack…it doesn't really sound like the Chantry's style."
"You're just saying that because you lived in the Cloister for so long, and you think the Chantry can do no wrong," Alistair scoffs. "The Chantry I know would do anything to barrel down anyone that got in their way."
"I never said the Chantry was perfect," Leliana protests. "I simply believe that they would sooner wage a war against you than use subterfuge as a means of getting rid of you."
I tilt my head to one side. "You know, she has a point. The Chantry has always been very preachy, and they want their views and ideals known to everyone. They'd never give up the opportunity to act all self-righteous and start something with the king publicly."
"The man that attacked you was definitely a templar," Bridget points out. "I recognized him from the Tower." She gave a short shudder. "He was a mean bugger, too. Liked to watch us squirm." Leliana placed a comforting hand on Bridget's shoulder.
"What if he only thought he was working on behalf of the Chantry?" I venture. Alistair gives me an incredulous look. "No, hear me out. What if someone within the Chantry was acting on behalf of someone else…someone in a political position. They could then use the Chantry as a ruse."
"It's definitely something to consider," Alistair concedes. "We should send word to Denerim and ask Eamon to discretely inquire into any connection between the higher ranking nobles and members of the Chantry."
"That's a good idea." I glance down at my stew and frown at the fact that I'm now spoon-less. "Can I have my spoon back now?"
Alistair grins wickedly. "You want your spoon back, do you? Alright, I'll give it back on one condition."
My stomach flutters nervously. "What's the condition?"
"I get to give you a kiss."
I chew on the inside of my cheek, contemplating the pros and cons of such a bargain. We hadn't ever really kissed before, unless you counted that one time in his study, but that was hardly mentionable considering I hadn't responded in kind. All of our other contact had consisted of his torturous teasing. Small nips to my neck, a gentle brush of his lips to my ear…the memories cause my skin to tingle. "Uhm…You want to kiss me? Right here in front of everyone?"
He shakes his head. "Of course not. I'll decide when and where. Do we have a deal?" He holds my spoon between his thumb and index finger.
"Fine," I reply in a huff. I stand and wander over to him, taking the spoon out of his grasp. The mischievous gleam in his eyes is not lost on me, either. I narrow my eyes in suspicion, then return to my seat to finish my stew. I hear Leliana and Bridget giggling together, no doubt laughing at us. I scowl and shovel a large chunk of meat into my mouth.
I had expected a pile of rubble, a castle in ruins. I expected crumbling walls and charred door frames. I had braced myself for the precise moment that I'd have to see my childhood home completely and utterly defiled.
What I saw definitely did not meet my expectations.
The castle walls had been repaired, and from what I could see, replaced with high quality granite. Everything had been fixed! From the doors and shutters, to the lush grass and mote surrounding the castle. Several statues adorned the property. Some I recognized as having been here when I was but a small child, and I wonder idly how they had been salvaged. Alistair notices my open mouthed wonderment and stands beside me.
"It was in a bit of a state when I first ordered the men to fix it up. That was just after your brother died. They managed to get most of the masonry done before you arrived, so I sent in extra bodies to have it decorated for your arrival. I hope you don't mind…" he glances over at me sheepishly.
"I…but how did you know which statues to use…or which tapestries…I don't understand," I whisper breathlessly.
Alistair shuffles his plated boots, which make a slight clanking sound. "There were a number of nobles who had visited your home prior to the…devastation. Many of them remembered certain decorations. It seemed your parents were very well liked."
My hand flies to my throat to grasp the necklace, 'Reflection', that had been left behind for me. "I…I can't believe you did this…"
"I-I'm sorry Elissa. I will have it changed to fit your tastes immediately. It was wrong of me to assume-" His words are cut off as I throw my arms around his neck, pulling him into a tight embrace.
"Thank you, thank you so much," I whisper against his shoulder. Shocked as he is by my sudden reaction, his arms circle my waist.
"It was my pleasure. If you want anything changed though, anything at all, just let me know. Your desire is my command." My heart clenched at this statement, as unwilling as I was to give into such intense feelings for Alistair. I had been hurt before, and I wasn't about to relive that pain. I give him one last squeeze and release him. Several party members are staring at us, and Alistair clears his throat. "Right then, we should introduce the Teyrna to her staff, yes? Basil, why don't you go on ahead in and fetch them? We'll meet them in the…" Alistair looks to me for help. This is his first visit to Castle Cousland, and he obviously doesn't know anything about the layout.
"We can all meet in the main hall," I answer for Alistair. One of the guards, who I presume is Basil, folds his arms over his chest and bows, then runs into the castle. I turn to the rest of the group. "Follow me everyone, once we're all settled in, I'll give you the grand tour."
I don't recognize any of the servants, which isn't really a surprise, considering most had probably died in the siege. The majority of them are elves, though there are a few humans scattered in there as well. The head maid is a young elven woman named Neila.
"It is an honour, my ladyship," Neila bows deeply, causing her long blonde hair to tumble over her shoulders. Once upright, she smiles demurely. "All of the guest rooms have been prepared. I took the liberty of having your things placed in your parents' former chambers. The king, of course, will be staying in the main guest chambers just across the hall from you." I nod, trying to mask my inner turmoil. I hadn't given any thought to having to stay in my parents' room. I'm not even sure I'll be able to do it. I silently wish that Neila had checked with me before setting me up in the main bed chambers.
Alistair breaks into my thoughts at that moment. "Elissa, I'm embarrassed to say that I have no idea where my room is. Would you mind escorting me so that I might get settled in?"
I shake myself and regain my composure. "Sure. Neila…would you do me a favour and show the rest of the guests their rooms?"
She gives me an odd look, then smiles easily. "Yes of course, but my ladyship needn't ask for favours. It is my duty to ensure that all of your needs are met." Oh right, that whole nobility thing. Forgot about that.
"Thank you," I nod her way. I lead Alistair to his chambers. He makes the odd comment about several paintings, asking about their origin and such. I can tell he's simply trying to fill the silence. Whether for my benefit or his own, I'm not exactly sure of. We reach the main guest chambers and I open the door for him. "There you go," I smile. "If you need anything else, feel free to ask."
"Well, there is one thing…" he replies. I raise my eyebrows. "Do you think you could help me with my armour? It's a bugger to get off on my own."
"I..suppose, but don't you know how to do it yourself?" I ask nervously.
He smiles widely. "Well I can, it's just easier if someone gives me a hand. Trust me, I promise I won't bite." He holds the door open for me, and I enter. The chambers look quite similar to how they'd been when I was younger. I continue to marvel at the fine job Alistair has done with rebuilding the castle. He's closing the door behind him as I turn to face him. He pulls off his gloves and places them on a nearby settee. He begins to unbuckle one side of his cuirass, and hazards a glance in my direction. "Here's where it gets sticky," he mumbles. I try not to swallow too audibly and wander over to him. I unfasten the buckles on the opposite side and help him to tug the plate off, leaving him in a simple beige tunic. "Right, thanks. Hold on while I get rid of the greaves. That much I can do on my own."
I tuck an errant strand of hair behind one ear. "Well, if you don't need my help anymore, I can leave you-"
"No no, I wanted to talk to you about something. Wait just a minute," he replies. He sits on the edge of the bed and makes quick work of his boots and greaves, which further confirms my suspicions that he didn't need my help at all. When he stands he's in plain clothes, which, while shapeless, still manage to compliment his strong frame.
"What did you want to talk about?" I ask.
He takes a step toward me. "I thought it was about time that you paid up. You do remember our little bargain from earlier, don't you?" He grins wickedly.
I shift my weight from one foot to the other. "Of-of course. Are you sure now's the best time? I mean, you must be exhausted, and I should really see to the others and of course there's-" He bridges the gap between us and wraps one arm around my waist, crushing me to his chest.
"You're not talking your way out of this one, woman," he murmurs. In one swift motion he leans down and his lips crash into mine. The sheer force of his desire nearly sends me reeling. His tongue immediately seeks entrance into my mouth, and I respond by parting my lips. He tastes faintly of mint and honey, and I find myself returning his kiss fervently. My tongue massages against his as my hands find their way to his shoulders. I feel his fingers tangle in my hair. My head is swimming. He sucks my lower lip into his mouth and bites gently, causing me to let loose a mewl of pleasure. I can feel his arousal pressing into my abdomen, and I begin to rub against him, eliciting a highly satisfying groan from his throat. He breaks away from me then, his hands lightly cupping either side of my neck. "We'd best stop now, lest I lose control and toss you down onto the bed," he says huskily.
"What would be so bad about that?" I ask, my voice heavy with desire.
He chuckles, placing a kiss on both of my eyes. "All in good time, my dear. I don't want to rush into things."
"Rush into things? Andraste's ass Alistair, we've been moving at a snail's pace!" I moan petulantly.
"Trust me, it will be worth the wait." He winks at me, which just increases my ire. I punch his shoulder, fully intending it to hurt, but he only smiles in response. "Violence is so unnecessary," he chuckles. "Now, off with you. I need to take a cold shower. You more than fulfilled your end of the bargain." I scowl at him and stalk out of the room, slamming the door behind me.
I should have sodding well let him keep my spoon!