Alistair paced around the room trying desperately to quell the regret , hat was eating at him. They had broken up due to the heir issue. His true regret was handling the breakup the way he did. He humiliated her in front of the Landsmeet when he should have handled it better and while she held her head up high their relationship was never the same. He went on to rule Ferelden and she went on rebuild the Wardens.
He had last seen her nearly four years ago when he went to Vigil’s Keep to welcome the Wardens. Elissa was assigned to deal with the last vestiges of the Blight and in their few awkward moments of their meeting told her she was also going to be responsible for the security of Ferelden. Before leaving, he told her he had faith that she would get the job done and she did. She saved Amaranthine and from the reports she sent, dealt with various horrors he could not begin to imagine.
Elissa stayed with the Wardens for about six months but mysteriously disappeared after a new Warden Commander from Orlais took over.
Nobody knew what happened to her until Eamon told him three years ago that she married Teagan and was living very quietly at Redcliffe. While Alistair was shocked about that revelation, what shook him to his core even more was when it revealed Elissa had twins a year ago. Wynne had left the palace a couple of months earlier but she didn’t tell him it was to help care for Elissa and to deliver the twins. She had a boy and a girl Phillip Bryce Guerrin and Rowan Eleanor Guerrin and miraculously they were free of the taint.
When the Wardens from Weisshaupt had learned she had given birth, they had sent representatives out to see her and the children.
It was assumed that female Wardens could not conceive and they were full of questions regarding her and the children.
He had to formally call Teagan and Elissa to Ferelden and from what he heard, both she and Teagan were angry at this invasion of privacy. One of the Wardens was an elven mage named Fiona and she was the most cordial of the three and was examining Elissa and the children.
“Hello Alistair.”
Elissa stood in the doorway and he gasped at the sight of her for it was the first time he had ever seen her in a dress.
She was wearing a simple dress in dark green velvet that made her auburn hair stand out. Her hair hung loose around her shoulder and framed her face. Elissa looked as beautiful as ever but her vibrant green eyes conveyed a polite coolness that clearly indicated she wanted to be somewhere else.
“Hello Elissa. You look… beautiful. Motherhood has obviously been good to you.”
“Thank you,” Elissa said as she looked at him.
“I just….want to say I am sorry for calling you here. The Wardens insisted on it.”
“I know. My giving birth had shattered their assumptions. My children are a freak of nature to them as am I but that one elven mage assured Teagan and me they had no intention of taking our children.”
“Are they still being examined?”
“Yes, Teagan and Wynne are with them. I needed to get out of there.”
“I have to admit I wasn’t expecting….”
“Let me guess,” Elissa interrupted. “You never expected to hear that a man would actually agree to marry me despite the knowledge that I might never be able to give him children. And I bet it shocked you when you were told I had children.”
“Yes,” Alistair looked down. “Had I known this was possible we’d be….”
“Married?” Elissa laughed.
“Yes,” Alistair admitted.
“Well I guess that’s what you get for assuming all things you learned about the Wardens to be true because I have another revelation for you. Fiona took a sample of my blood and compared it to a sample of blood from one of the other Wardens that are with her. The taint is still in my blood but she suspects that being pregnant altered it in some way that it got diluted. My children have given me an extra five to ten years.”
“That’s wonderful news. I am happy for you Elissa.” Alistair looked away briefly before turning back to her. “Why did you and Teagan keep everything a secret?”
“Alistair, considering what we endured during the Blight and what I had to go through in Amaranthine, can you understand that I wanted some privacy?”
“But how did you…..”
“Oh I know what this is about. You want to know how Teagan and I got together.” Elissa laughed. “Teagan visited the Keep with supplies from Redcliffe and Rainesfere when it was under reconstruction. He told me whenever I needed to get away that I was more than welcome to come to Redcliffe. I took him up on his offer when I retired from the Wardens. Our friendship grew to love. When Teagan told me it didn’t matter whether or not I could have children, I knew I wanted to spend what time I had with him. We had even made plans to adopt when Teagan learned one of his uncles was an orphan his grandfather took in and adopted.”
“And you didn’t want me to know.”
“No I didn’t and neither did Teagan. Considering what you said to me at the Landsmeet I felt it was for the best.”
“I am so sorry for that. I swear Elissa I wish I could take back those things. Things would be different.”
“I can see you are sorry but something tells me that your lack of faith and ardent belief over every tenant of the Wardens would have come out eventually.”
“Elissa?”
Teagan and Wynne were standing in the doorway each holding a baby.
“How are they?” Elissa asked as went to them.
“They are both healthy,” Fiona echoed behind them.
“That’s wonderful,” Elissa smiled as she took the baby from Wynne.
“Hello your Majesty,” Teagan said politely. “If you don’t need us for anything else, I’d like to take my family home. We’re leaving early in the morning to visit Fergus and his family.”
“Of course.”
“Goodbye your Majesty,” Elissa gave him a polite smiled as Teagan put his free arm around her.
He watched as they left with Wynne.
“It’s not fair.” Alistair sighed.
“You loved her,” Fiona said gently.
“I still love her,” Alistair lamented. “And she hates me! Why did I have to be so stupid? Why did I assume that every I learned about the Wardens was true? We could have married. Those children she had could have been mine.”
“Yes, this was not expected. What I did not tell Elissa is that now women who survive the Joining might be forced to make another decision if the First Warden has his way. And I don’t think she hates you. She’s just moved on.”
“And I am alone.”
“You are not alone your Majesty. And just so you know Maric made a lot of mistakes as well.”
“You knew my father?” Alistair looked surprised.
“I knew Duncan as well.”
Alistair stared at the woman and was amazed at how at ease she made him.
“Can you tell me about them?”
“Of course but how about we go somewhere private?”
“Don’t you have to go with the other Wardens?”
“They don’t command me and they’re probably at the compound by now. I have all the time in the world.”
“Let’s go to my study.” Alistair held out his arm and she took it.
Modifié par Melca36, 06 février 2011 - 10:26 .
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Also, sounds enthralling 
:D
