Disclaimer: I don't own DA:O or any of its characters.

Warning: Lovin' ahead....bow chikka wow wow...okay I apologize for that...it was really terrible. Try not to let it ruin the rest of the chapter for you. =P

Hungry for Love

"So, she just took off right before the final battle? But why?" I frown, tilting my head to one side.

Alistair shrugs. "Honestly, I have no idea. I know she and your brother spoke the night before we were to face the archdemon, but he never told me what it was all about. I can't say I was surprised by her actions though. She was always a complete and utter bitch."

I laugh softly. "Now now, Alistair. Some would accuse me of being the same. Besides, she saved my ass today."

"You, my darling, are not a bitch at all. Maybe a bit of a shrew, but never a bitch--no, don't hit me! I bruise easily."

I stick my tongue out at him. After we'd returned to camp, I had changed into a nightshirt and joined Alistair in his tent where he told me about Morrigan. I sit across from him, my legs folded beneath me. "So, you really think the Wardens will be alright with us staying there?"

"I don't see why not…I mean, the Commander is the arl, so any political unrest is bound to affect them," he replies.

I nod slowly. "Yes, that's very true. And I also wouldn't mind meeting him. I like to know who the members of the Landsmeet are, and I imagine the Commander will have a rough time of it, him being Orlesian and all." A sudden thought pops into my head. "What did you mean before, when you told your guards that I was their future queen? I don't remember agreeing to that. Nor do I remember you asking. Were you just trying to get them to help me?"

Alistair gives me a sheepish grin. "I was hoping you'd forget about that…but…I meant it. I want to be with you, Elissa. I know this isn't the most romantic way to ask, in the middle of the woods in a tent…"

"Isn't this all a bit sudden?" I begin chewing on my lower lip.

He leans forward and takes my hand. "All I know is that I love you, and I'd be a fool to let you go. You don't have to answer right away, I know you've been through a lot recently. Just…promise me you'll think about it?"

"Alright…you're sure this is because you love me, and not because Eamon has been pressuring you about an heir?"

Alistair grins. "Trust me, this has nothing to do with anyone besides you and me. Though…the idea of making mad passionate love every night trying to conceive isn't exactly off-putting." He winks at me and I slap his arm playfully. He's faster than he looks, and he quickly grasps my wrist and pulls me toward him. Before I know it, his lips are pressed against mine in a searing kiss. I wrap my arms around his neck and tug him to the ground. He pulls away from me after a time and gazes down at me, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "You know, there's been something I've wanted to do ever since I laid eyes on you." I raise an eyebrow at him. He reaches beneath my nightshirt with one hand and tugs my smalls down my legs. He tosses them to one side and leans back down to kiss the curve of my neck. He plants wet kisses along my collarbone, then moves further down. He grabs hold of one of my legs and drapes it over his shoulder and glides his tongue along my inner thigh, stopping just shy of my wet centre. He blows on it softly, causing me to buck my hips upward and let out a small mewl of pleasure. He chuckles at this and runs his thumb along the slick opening. Just when I think he's going to torture me forever, I feel his tongue flicker against my bud. My back arches and I moan while reaching down to tug at his hair. He inhales my scent and groans deeply. He suckles at the tiny bead of pleasure and brings up one hand to insert two fingers into my slit. He plays me like a finely tuned instrument, and I begin thrusting upwards against his mouth, begging for release. Before long the tension builds in my lower abdomen, sending a shiver up and down the length of my legs, straight down to my toes. I bring up my fist and bite it to muffle the sound of my climactic cry of pleasure. Alistair laps up my juices hungrily, then slowly returns to eye level. He kisses me, and I can taste myself on his lips. I'm not sure when he'd managed to remove his pants, but I'm not about to complain. He rolls onto his back and pulls me on top of him. I straddle his hips and reach down to slide his length into my sheath. I grin when his eyes roll back, and begin riding him. He thrusts upward against me, and we move at a slow, rhythmic pace for quite a while. I flex my inner muscles around his shaft, which elicits a loud groan on his part. Apparently he can't take anymore slow torture, and he pulls me down, allowing him more leverage to thrust at an alarmingly fast pace (not that I'm complaining). His fingers grasp my flanks as he bucks his hips, and I bite his shoulder to keep from crying out too loudly, I don't want the entire camp to know what we're up to after all. No one could ever accuse the king of being a selfish lover, for he doesn't let up until he feels me climax and tighten around him. I whisper into his ear, telling him that I love him, and he spills into me. We're both breathless and sweaty, but Maker do I feel good. I kiss him once more and then roll over onto my back.

"Mmmm," is all I manage to murmur.

"I agree," he replies.

I curl up to him, resting my head against his chest. It isn't long before we're both fast asleep.

For the rest of the week we were fortunate enough to avoid further darkspawn attacks. At one point Zevran snuck up on an attractive guard while he'd been bathing, which almost turned into an attack, but aside from that, our time on the road was relatively dull. Bridget and I spent a lot of time discussing her life in the Tower before she'd been assigned to the palace. I knew now more than ever that granting the mages their autonomy had been a sound decision. The things those people had to endure all because they'd been born with a gift was positively criminal in my opinion. Of course Alistair and I spent many a night in his tent (his was nicer than mine, after all) which prompted a great deal of smirks on the part of our travelling companions.

It's week's end and we've finally reached Vigil's Keep. I'm somewhat taken aback by the plethora of changes the castle has undergone. The last time I'd been here was to visit Rendon Howe and his family. The front yard, which had once boasted an orchard and several other flouncy gardens, now housed some merchants, a medical area, houses for people staying at the Keep…the list went on. I found the changes to be quite positive, if I'm being honest with myself, and it made the visit a lot less daunting than I'd previously believed it to be. Our group is greeted by the Keep's seneschal, and he starts giving us a tour of the compound. As we reach the vending stalls I see a familiar face.

"Well I'll be damned," I grin widely. "Herren you dog! Did you wrestle Wade away from his beautiful emporium to set up shop in this Maker forsaken shit hole?"

Herren's eyes widen. "Lady Elissa! I hardly expected to see you here! To what do we owe the pleasure?"

I shrug a shoulder. "The king needed to check up on some things, official business and all that. I'm just tagging along." Herren gives me a knowing smile, which I ignore. "So how have things been here?"

"I've been miserable and cold, I'll have you know!" Wade pipes up from his usual spot. "They don't give me anything interesting to work with… well...except for--" he casts a furtive glance at Herren. "Never mind."

"I'm sure something amazing will come along Wade," I turn back to Herren. "How are the new Wardens turning out?"

Herren sighs. "None of them have the same fire that your brother had. They just seem like cast offs…like they were only brought in because it suited their own personal interests. No mention of duty or sacrifice." He snorted derisively. "The biggest insult is when the Commander conscripted the Howe brat. Can you believe it?"

My skin begins to tingle suddenly, and I can feel my heart start hammering against my chest. "Oh?" I try to sound as nonchalant as possible.

"Yes," Herron continues. "He's staying inside the Keep right now. He's probably in the throne room."

I nod stiffly, forcing an amicable grin. "Well, I'd best be off. Can't keep the king waiting." I turn on my heel and I can hear the blood rushing through my head. The sounds of the Keep are drowned out…all I can focus on is getting into the throne room. I'm not sure, but I think Alistair calls out to me at one point, but I continue my mission. When I finally arrive at the entrance of the throne room, I notice a Private is stationed there. I nod at her curtly, announce myself and she lets me pass. The room is beautifully decorated, and at first the only person I see present is a dwarven woman that bears the tattoos and armour of the Legion. Normally I'd stop and chat, but I'm far too engrossed with my task. I'd nearly given up hope when he walks into the room.

Shoulder length charcoal hair.

Eyes as grey and cold as tempered steel.

That proud nose.

Those full lips.

My hands immediately reach for the daggers on either side of my hips. I extract them, my eyes narrowing in on my target. That's when he notices me standing there, my lips pulled back against my teeth. He opens his mouth to say something, but I don't want to hear it. I launch myself at him, daggers drawn and at the ready. He doesn't even have time to move, and within seconds I'm on top of him, my blades pressing into the supple flesh of his throat. "Howe," I hiss into his face. He gazes up at me, his expression unreadable. "I've wanted to do this for two and a half years…" The corners of my mouth turn up in a lunatic smile, and the tip of one of my blades begins to pierce the flesh.

"What do you think you're doing?" a voice cries out from over my shoulder. I pay it no mind, as my dagger is so damn close to finishing the job…only…I can't move. Maker's blood! Why can't I move? My eyes dart back and forth. I can't even turn my head. A sudden panic descends upon me, and Howe starts to wriggle out from beneath me. I want to scream at him to stay put, to be a man and take what's coming to him…but I can't move my mouth.

Another voice pipes up, and I'm filled with an overwhelming sense of relief. "Elissa? Elissa what's wrong? Who did this to you?" I can tell from his tone of voice that Alistair is both worried and furious. "Did someone cast a paralysis spell on her?" And just as suddenly as the paralysis had set in, I'm able to move again. When I turn, I see Alistair storming toward someone…I can't quite make out who it is, since he's hidden behind a pillar. "It was you wasn't it?" Alistair demands. He reaches out and I can hear another man…the man who'd asked me what I was doing…cry out suddenly.

"Maker's breath, you're a templar?" my blood runs cold. My stomach drops. That voice…I slowly make my way over to where Alistair stands…No…My hand flies up to the ring in my ear. My eyes are as wide as saucers. It's at that moment that the man sees me standing there, and his mouth drops open. "Ellie?" he asks in bewilderment. Alistair's gaze snaps back and forth between the two of us.

I swallow audibly, and I open my mouth to speak the name I'd tried so hard to forget…the name of the man who'd taught me about love…the man who'd kept me warm on many a cold night…the man who stole my heart. My voice is barely above a whisper. "Anders..."