Disclaimer: I do not own DA:O or its characters.

A/N: I apologize for the long wait! Unfortunately I had to have my appendix out, so I was in recovery for some time. Stupid appendix! But it's gone now, so here's a new chapter to take its place!

Warning: I've changed the rating to M due to language and sexy stuff. Be warned.

Trial by Stone

Sweat beading atop fevered flesh. Fingertips glossing over my most sensitive parts. The feel of his stubbled chin grazing across my inner thigh. My fingers raking through blonde hair. His voice whispers into my ear, thick with lust.

"Ellie…I need you, I love you..."

It sends shivers down my spine. My back arches, he fills me so completely. He is the one. He was always the one. My lips part to call out his name whilst in the deepest throws of ecstasy…

"My dear? It is time that you woke. You have confined yourself to that room for an entire day."

My eyelids flutter and open. Zevran is leaning in my doorway, a rather concerned look graces his features. "Zev?" I ask groggily. "What are you doing?"

"I have come to rouse you from your seemingly interminable slumber, dear Elissa. Though from your moaning I had thought that perhaps you had found it in your heart to forgive the king. Alas, you must have been dreaming of him instead." He smirks widely, his eyes sparkle knowingly.

I scowl, tossing my coverlets aside as I reluctantly get out of bed. "I was not dreaming about him," I spit maliciously. "He made it abundantly clear that I am not what he wants in his bed. He prefers the company of blonde elven women. I nowhere near fit that description."

Zevran sighs, shaking his head. "I am not altogether sure that our dear friend Alistair was entirely at fault in that matter."

"Oh? So he just tripped, fell and landed square inside of poor Niela?" I say caustically.

"Assuming he was inside of her at all," Zevran mutters under his breath.

I frown, folding my arms over my chest. "What are you sodding talking about Zev? I saw them with my own eyes, all naked and clinging to each other…and…ugh." I feel the bile begin to rise up in my throat once again. "Anyway, it's not even my business, I have no claim over the man. He's the king. He can bed whoever he wants. Why should I care?" I pray that my voice is strong enough to fool the man who I've come to think of as my closest friend and confidant. I feel a bit of guilt over lying to him…but let's face it, I'm lying to myself as well.

"Elissa…There is no shame in admitting that you have feelings for Alistair. What has happened is obviously upsetting to you and to deny this would be a grave injustice…not only to yourself, but to him as well." Shit, so much for being a master manipulator. Zevran's words seem to strike a chord with me. I can feel my firm resolve begin to crumble. The lump in my throat becomes unbearable, and the tears begin to well up, threatening to spill over.

"Why…" my voice is little more than a whisper. "Why is it that every man that I love…is taken from me?" I feel Zevran's arms circle my waist, drawing me in. I let loose a cry of frustration. My anger and sorrow join together and make for a bitter combination. "Father….Aedan….Fergus….and…" I pull away slightly, wiping the tears from my cheeks.

"And who?" Zevran asks. "Are you referring to Alistair?"

I shake my head and tug at my earring. "No. Though he is the latest on the list."

"So you do love him. I am glad that you have finally admitted it to yourself," Zevran rubs my back. "I was beginning to think that you would be in denial forever."

"Fat lot of good it does me," I snort. "He's taken up with my head maid."

Zevran places his hands on my shoulders and pins me with one of his penetrating gazes. One he has no doubt used to beguile his many past marks. "As I said my dear, I am not convinced that we are getting the full story concerning our king and this…what is her name? Niela. There are too many factors that simply do not fit."

I roll my eyes. "What's not to understand? He got sloshed, got randy, wanted a toss in the sheets, so he called up one of the servants for an easy lay. Case solved."

"I thought you might think that. Which is why I took the liberty of gathering all of the concerned parties. They are all in the dining hall, awaiting your arrival."

"You what?!" I cry out. "You have no right….what is it some sort of trial? This is ridiculous! Don't tell me that you're going to…to interrogate Niela? Maker's blood she probably only screwed him because she'd get killed if she said no! I don't want anyone to be subjected to such humiliation."

"Is that what you're afraid of?" Zevran asks. "Or are you afraid that we may find that the king is not at fault, and that you may need to face your intense feelings for him?" I open my mouth to utter some sort of witty retort, but Zevran holds up a hand to silence me. "Regardless, the king has commanded that you be present at this…meeting. So you had best get dressed and get to the dining hall immediately." Instead of letting me argue, he simply leaves. I let out yet another cry of frustration, only this one is more fuelled by anger than anything else. If Alistair had been anyone other than the king, I would ignore such a request. Unfortunately I couldn't very well dismiss his summons. With an exasperated sigh I brush my hair and tie it up into a simple ponytail. Instead of dressing in any noble clothes, I opt for my battle robes seeing as I'm just itching for a fight. Satisfied that I'm prepared to face his Majesty, I head for the dining hall.

Once I reach the doors, I inhale deeply, steeling myself for the discomfort and pain that I'll no doubt feel upon seeing him. I manage to don a stoic expression and enter the room.

Of course, he's the first person I see, and the sight of him nearly sends my breath from my lungs. He leaps to his feet and rushes toward me, arms outstretched. "Elissa, please, you must listen to me." His voice isn't plaintive, simply soft and insistent. Before he can take his hands into mine I take a step back and shake my head.

"I said that I would listen to what everyone had to say, and I intend to keep my word. Though I doubt it will make much of a difference," I lower my voice so only Alistair can hear me. "As I told you earlier, your Majesty, what you do in your bedroom is none of my business. I was brought on to tutor you in the ways of Ferelden politics, nothing more."

"I don't think you really mean that," Alistair replies. "And I know that once you hear what I have to say, you'll be willing to…well, let's not get ahead of ourselves."

I turn my head to one side to avoid his gaze. "Very well, let's get this over with." It's at this point that I notice Niela sitting at the dining table, eyes red and puffy. It's obvious she's been crying, and I feel a pang of guilt. I know full well she had little choice in the matter of sleeping with Alistair. "Niela?" Her head snaps up at the sound of my voice. Her lip quivers.

"Y-yes my Ladyship?" she stammers.

"I apologize in advance for these…theatrics. Please know that I do not hold you responsible for any…well. Just know that there is nothing to feel upset about."

Niela nods sullenly. "You are too kind my Ladyship." I take a seat next to her, and Alistair sits across from us, his gaze never faltering from me. I am somewhat surprised when Leliana enters the hall as well. She takes a seat next to Alistair. Zevran stands on Niela's other side, and gazes down at her.

"I would first begin by thanking you for being a part of this, lady Niela. I promise you that I will make this as painless as possible. The king simply wishes to clear up a few things about the other night." Zevran explains. "Can you tell us what exactly happened?"

Niela bites her lower lip and nods. "Yes, of course. Following dinner, after the king had retired to his chambers, I was summoned to his rooms. When I arrived, he was already in bed. He told me that he desired me…and then asked me to join him under the sheets."

I clench my jaw. All this time he'd claimed that he wanted to take things slowly…to pursue me like a gentleman. It was all utter bullshit. Either that or he'd been screwing women on the side the entire time.

"That's it?" Zevran inquires. "He just beckoned you into his bed and had his way with you? There was no…foreplay to speak of?"

Niela shifts in her chair uncomfortably. "I would rather not go into the details."

"Please, my dear. It is very important that we discuss every detail," Zevran insists.

I snap my head toward Zevran. "Is that really necessary Zev? What possible importance can it have?"

"Trust me, my dear." He returns his attention to Niela. "Well?"

Niela gazes down at her lap. "He did ask that I pleasure him with my mouth…" she admits, her voice dripping with shame. She glances up at me, tears in her eyes. "Please forgive me your Ladyship! I would never have done it were it anyone but the king. I feared the consequences of refusing him."

"It's alright Niela, I understand. You really don't need to explain yourself." I reassure her. I would say more to make her feel better, but I can already tell that my voice is shaky.

Zevran seems to ignore this entire exchange. "So, you went down on his Majesty, did you? Did you notice anything…peculiar while you were down there?"

"I'm not sure I understand what you mean." Niela replies.

"Surely you noticed his tattoo. It is just beside his pelvic bone, mere inches from his manhood. If you were in such close proximity…" Zevran trails off.

Niela's eyes widen. "Oh, his tattoo. Yes I did see it, of course."

"Oh?" Zevran smiles. "What is it of?"

"I'm sorry?"

"The king's tattoo. You say that you saw it. What is it of?" Zevran presses.

When Niela doesn't reply right away, I glance at her questioningly. Finally she clears her throat. "A…a crown?"

Alistair folds his arms over his chest. "Not even close," he says.

Zevran leans in close to Niela, his eyes narrow with anger. "You lied, dear Niela. You never slept with the king, did you?"

"I-I-Of course I did! Why would I lie about such a thing?! Just because I couldn't remember a silly tattoo-"

Zevran cuts her off. "When I brought the king to his quarters last night, he could barely stand, much less have sex with anyone. I also found it quite curious that he was so intoxicated, considering he only had three glasses of wine."

"How can you possibly know how much wine the king consumed?" Niela snaps angrily. "And I tell you, the man was quite capable of rutting when I saw him last night."

Zevran grins maliciously. "I kept count, dear lady. Do you wish to know what I think happened? I think you drugged the king over the course of the evening. After I took him to his rooms, you went up there and made it seem like the two of you had slept together. The king would not have heard you enter, nor would he have felt you climb into his bed. You made quite certain of that."

"Why would I do such a thing?" Niela asks incredulously. "It's absurd."

"To upset the teyrna of course. She has strong feelings for the king, and you knew that discovering the two of you had slept together would shatter her." Zevran replies.

I had watched this entire exchange in shock. At Zevran's proclamation, however, I leap out of my chair. "Zevran, how dare you presume to announce such things! It-it's not even true, anyhow." I cast a weary glance at Alistair, who almost seems…pleased with Zevran's words.

"Oh please," Niela says scathingly. I start at her sudden change in demeanour. "Everyone knows you're dying to fuck him. That's what made this assignment so easy." I stare at her, eyes wide. "I've been caught, there's no sense in continuing with social niceties," she shrugs a shoulder.

"Who do you work for?" Alistair demands.

Niela sighs. "If I tell you, will I be spared?"

"Perhaps. I can guarantee that if you don't tell me, your death will not be a quick one," the king threatens.

"Fine," Niela grinds out. "I was hired by Bann Esmerelle of Ameranthine. My assignment was to make it appear as though I'd slept with King Alistair in order to upset the teyrna enough to give her reason to have him sent away. Once the king left, I was to assassinate the teyrna. There are some men camped out on the North Road who are lying in wait to launch a surprise attack on the king's men once they'd taken to the road. This attack would obviously occur upon the king's return to Denerim." Niela explained.

I frown. "Bann Esmerelle was notoriously loyal to Rendon Howe. I imagine that's the reason for this attack. Clever of her to try and blame it on the Chantry." I mutter. As furious as I am…fine I'll admit it, I'm quite happy that Alistair didn't screw Niela.

Alistair motions to his guards and points to Niela. "Take this woman to the castle dungeon," he pauses for a moment and glances at me. "You have a dungeon, right?" I nod. "Good, take her there until I decide what to do with her." The guards grab hold of Niela, who makes no move to struggle. Once they've left, Alistair shifts his attention back to me. "So this Bann Esmerelle is someone who you think would move against us?"

"Definitely," I reply. "I'm thinking we should go to Ameranthine immediately in order to confront her."

"Good idea," Alistair says. "I actually have other business there anyway. I need to greet the new Warden-Commander at Vigil's Keep. My visit is long overdue. Perhaps they'll be kind enough to let us stay there for a while. The Wardens don't involve themselves in political matters, but I'm hoping the Commander will be cooperative since I'm a Warden myself, not to mention it was your brother who saved us from the Blight."

"I think I would like to join you," Zevran adds. "I wish to keep an eye on lady Elissa."

"You'll get no argument from me," Alistair responds. "Thanks again for your help in this matter, Zevran. The fact that you remembered that bloody tattoo saved me a lot of heartache."

Zevran chuckles. "It was no trouble, your Majesty. I knew that the girl was lying, especially since I was the one that saw just how…incapacitated you were last night. I simply needed to catch her in one of her lies."

I raise an eyebrow at Alistair. "So you actually do have a tattoo down…there?"

"I do indeed," he grins wickedly. "Would you like me to show it to you in private?" Wow, he sure doesn't skip a beat.

I turn my nose up haughtily. "I think I'll pass, thank you very much." I look up as Zevran and Leliana head for the door. "Where are you two going?"

"I have a beautiful woman waiting for me in my bed," Leliana replies. "I just wanted to make sure everything resolved itself." She shot me a wink.

"And I must prepare for our upcoming trip," Zevran says. "I'm sure you and the king have much to discuss." I frown as they both leave, and I don't even notice that Alistair has rounded the table and now stands behind me. He lifts me from my chair into a standing position then gathers me to his chest. "What are you doing?!" I demand.

"I told you I would never do anything to hurt you like that," he murmurs into my ear. "I'm sorry that you had to go through that ordeal. I know how upsetting it was."

I frown up at him. "I told you, I'm fine, I wasn't bothered at all," I lie. I let out a shriek when he sweeps me off of my feet and throws me over his shoulder. "What are you doing you silly oaf! Unhand me this instant!" I begin to pound at his back. He makes no reply, and simply carries me down through the main hall, passing many curious servants and guards. He doesn't stop until we reach my room, where he opens the door and flops me unceremoniously onto my bed. I let out a squeal and hurry to my feet. "How dare you?!" I shout up into his face, my finger poking into his chest. His grin only makes me angrier.

"You are going to admit your feelings for me right now, whether you like it or not," Alistair says.

"Don't be ridiculous!" I growl and step around him. He responds by pressing my back to the wall, barring my escape. He leans in swiftly and begins to kiss at the curve of my neck, taking small nips at the flesh. When he pulls away he gazes down at me, his eyes boring into me.

"Tell me," he commands. His hands are pressed against the wall on either side of my head, and I have no way of slipping away from him. The heat has already begun to pool at my centre from his teasing my neck.

"No…I can't," I reply stubbornly. I gasp when he dips his head yet lower and trails his tongue down the centre of the valley of my breasts. Damn these stupid Chasind robes!

He reaches down with one hand and runs his palm up the length of my inner thigh. His thumb rubs against my cloth covered slit. I let out a mewl of pleasure. "Tell me," he demands once again, his breath hot against my skin.

"Fine," I choke out. "I love you, you stupid, stupid man!"

He lifts his head and smiles down at me. "See, was that so hard?" I punch him in the shoulder. He growls and practically rips the clothes from my body, not that it's very difficult. Soon I'm standing before him, naked as the day I was born. I feel my skin begin to turn crimson as he stares at my form. "Maker's breath, you're beautiful…" he whispers. He pulls me to him, and I can feel his arousal pressing against me through his trousers. He makes quick work of the only barrier between us, and soon our bodies are pressed together, flesh against flesh. He leans in and kisses me deeply, his tongue probes my mouth hungrily as he reaches down to my flanks and lifts me up, pressing my upper back against the wall gingerly. "I love you Elissa," he whispers into my ear, and in one movement he penetrates me, his cock sliding into my sheath. I moan loudly and my head lolls back and rests against the wall. He begins to thrust at an agonizingly slow pace. He soon carries me to the bed, not once breaking our bond. He lays me down into the mattress and continues to thrust into me, only now at a quicker pace. I close my eyes and bite my lower lip, for at this new angle he is able to fill me completely, and the stories Isabela had related were not exaggerated. Though in this slight pain, there is intense pleasure. "Open your eyes," Alistair says. "I want you to look at me while you climax. I want to see the pleasure in those beautiful green eyes of yours." I comply, and it isn't long before his wish is granted and my inner walls are milking his manhood as an orgasm rolls over me. I wrap my legs around his waist and grind into him. His head dips low and he captures one of my breasts between his lips and he begins to suckle hungrily. I cry out and my fingernails rake down his back. He pistons into me, and I plead for him to thrust harder still, for I am about to tumble over the edge once again. He does as I ask quite eagerly, and as the ecstasy washes over me once again, I call out his name. He moans loudly and spills into me, his body jerking above mine. He thrusts into me one last time, then rolls onto his back and pulls me atop him. We cling to each other breathlessly. A sudden thought pops into my head and I break the silence.

"Your tattoo! In all the chaos I didn't get a chance to see it!" I turn my gaze to his pubic area and see…"Alistair…is that…is that a pigeon?"

Alistair laughs mirthfully. "Yep. During the Blight your brother and I travelled with a golem named Shale. Aedan and I made a bet about whether or not Shale was male or female. Since Shale hated pigeons - well, all birds really, but pigeons most I think, the loser had to get a tattoo of a pigeon. Since this particular golem was created using the Anvil of the Void, the winner would get a kick arse tattoo of an anvil. I bet that Shale was a male…I was wrong."

I begin to laugh quite loudly. "Of all things, I would have never guessed a pigeon!"

"Laugh it up, woman. You'll be becoming quite familiar with that pigeon if I have anything to say about it." Alistair teases.

I smile at him wickedly. "Just as long as you return the act in kind."

Alistair pulls me into a tight embrace. "I'm looking forward to it, love."