Although this is not specifically called "Hope" I think it fits tklivory's prompt well:
A New Beginning…
The king and his regent walked the courtyard towards where the knights spent their time training. It was a week before the wedding, and the regent was getting nervous. The king teased him about getting cold feet even if he knew it was a statement furthest from the truth. Part of the nervousness was that the bride-to-be and groom had been separated for the week, and it was the longest the two had been apart in almost three years. The reports the king had received from the servants taking care of the former bard indicated she was having a worse time with the separation than the regent was. Three times during the week the couple had tried to sneak to a private meeting, but the king was firm in holding tradition even if it was only to torment his two closest friends.
“Trust me, Alistair, this person you will want to meet,” Dan said bringing the king back to the present.
“Yes, your cousin,” Alistair started, “I am sure she is nice.”
“She’s more than nice, my friend. You’ll fall for her…hard.”
“I already fell in love once, remember?”
Alistair still had fond memories of his short time with the mage Serena. Although their time together was short, her death had hit him hard. Eamon was trying almost every day to get Alistair interested in on noble woman after another. Alistair would have none of what Eamon wanted. The Arl had scolded Alistair for even thinking about a future with a mage and because of this Dan had not invited the Arl to the wedding. It was especially angering for Dan since Eamon had made these statements during the trip from Redcliffe to Denerim before the final battle of the Blight, and the timing was so close to Serena’s death that Dan had to be restrained from killing the Arl on the spot.
“Trust me, Alistair, you’ll love Maggie,” Dan said as they reached the entrance to the training area.
“I’ll meet her and that’s all I can promise,” Alistair replied.
They were met with a scene of carnage…well…a lot of knights lying on the ground nursing wounds. There were still three standing and cautiously advancing on a fourth alone. The lone knight was shorter in stature and wielded the typical sword and shield. The first knight feinted an attack while the far sided one swept in from the flanking position. The loner threw the shield at the feint and spun to match the attack of the flanker. But what surprised Alistair was that in place of the shield the lone knight now had a dagger. He was shocked he had not seen the silverite blade against the dark red of the knight’s armor. The flanking knight was taken by surprise and dispatched quickly. The other caught the shield in the chest and fell backwards. The remaining attacker never moved, and after the maneuver yielded to the lone knight. The king walked to a nearby squire.
“Who is that knight in the dark armor?”
“I do not know, my lord,” the squire answered.
“She bested all of the other knights here,” said another squire.
“She?” Alistair asked and looked over to Dan who was grinning widely. “Is that your…”
By this time the knight had reached them and removed her helm. She had shiny dark hair that was matted from sweat. Her light blue eyes had a piercing affect that when she smiled made Alistair want to fall limp to the ground. She knelt on the ground before the king, and for the first time in his reign he was embarrassed.
“Your Highness may I introduce to you Margaret Cousland,” Dan said proudly.
“Your majesty,” she said as she bowed her head. “It is an honor to meet you.”
“Stand please,” Alistair said blushing. “I have heard many things about you. But I must ask…did you best all of these knights by yourself?”
“It was just a little practice,” she replied as she stood. “I needed to work off some tension from the journey here. Plus seeing my cousin getting married…” she turned her attention to Dan. “…how are you, cousin?”
“Fine except they won’t let Leliana and I see each other,” he replied and glared at the king. “It’s driving me insane.”
“By what Fergus told me I can imagine. He said you two were always touching each other. At least now I’ll finally get to see the woman who tamed you,” she laughed.
“Heeeey, who said I was tamed? Fergus? When I see him I’ll…”
“Um…anyway, Maggie, can I call you Maggie?” Alistair interrupted.
“Please, your highness.”
“And you may call me Alistair. No need to be so formal amongst friends,” he smiled. “Care to join us for supper?”
“I’d love to. If I may take my leave to clean up a bit? I doubt I make a good impression with dirt and sweat and…”
“Of course,” the king replied, “I look forward to seeing you at supper.”
She bowed again leaving the two men alone. Alistair watched after her admiring the way she walked. Even with massive armor she was gliding. He then looked over to Dan who was watching him with gleeful intent.
“What?”
“I told you,” Dan grinned, “you would like her.”
“She’s…a charming lady.”
“Uh huh.”
“What?”
“You have that look in your eye,” Dan teased.
“What look?”
“You know.”
“You’re imagining things.”
“Uh huh.”
“She’s an impressive warrior,” Alistair said looking back where she had been.
“And…?”
“And what?”
“And…you like her, don’t you?”
“She’s a charming woman.”
“You already said that,” Dan said grinning. “I’ll make you a bet.”
“Ok, what’s the bet?”
“At supper tonight, if you see Maggie and your heart doesn’t race and your loins don’t feel any urges, I’ll leave you alone about women.”
“Fair enough,” the king replied.
“I’m not finished,” Dan said moving in front of Alistair. “If you do have any feelings, any romantic feelings towards my cousin at all…”
“Yes…”
“Leliana and I can spend the rest of the week together without any interruptions.”
“Are you that desperate you can’t wait three more days?”
“Have you seen us spend even one day apart since we’ve been together?” Dan asked.
“That’s asking a lot to go against tradition,” Alistair said amused.
“Then give us one night…three hours…three minutes…something!”
“Ok…three hours…I’ll give you three hours together…”
“Deal!” Dan turned to run back in Maggie’s direction.
“Where do you think you are going?”
“To talk to Maggie…”
“Think again…no talking to Maggie…or getting servants to get a message to Leliana to talk to her either,” the king said with a grin.
“But…” Dan started to protest, “…fine…you know what…she won’t need any coaching about what you like…she’ll win you over regardless…you just wait.”
Dan then walked back towards his rooms. Alistair had one of the knights follow him…not because he didn’t trust his friend…he didn’t trust his friend’s loins. He retired to his study and changed into some fitting clothing for the supper. When he stepped in front of the mirror he noticed he had dressed in the finest clothing he had. He didn’t mean to, but as he looked at his reflection decided to keep what he had on. Let her see him at his best.
Alistair entered the dining hall to find Dan already seated. He did not bother to stand as Alistair approached his seat at the head of the table.
“Not standing for your king?” Alistair joked.
“Nope…and you wouldn’t want me standing right now anyway,” Dan smirked.
“Are you…”
“I’m going to win this bet. I know it.”
“What…you think she’s going to walk in here and I’ll be smitten…and you’ll just leave to find Leliana for your three hours?”
“That’s the plan,” Dan said anxiously. “Where is she anyway? She’s late.”
“We’re early,” Alistair replied.
They were interrupted by Maggie walking into the room. Alistair looked upon the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. There was no way in all of Thedas this was the same woman he had met earlier in the courtyard. Her dark red hair was shining. It was long in the front, down to her shoulders, and tapered in the back to the top of her neck. She wore just enough makeup to highlight her high cheekbones and full lips. Her eyes shined in the light and seemed to pierce him right to his very soul. Her gown was red velvet along her slender shoulders, and lighter red along then length of her body. Around her neck she wore a gold necklace that held a red ruby pendant which hung just to the opening of her dress which exposed her cleavage…breasts perfectly rounded by Alistair’s tastes. He felt his face redden, and he let out a short gasp. He looked to his side at Dan who was grinning as happily as he had ever seen the man.
“Told you…and I’ll see you later,” Dan got up from the table and made a dash for the door. “Nice to see you, Maggie. Gotta go, but I’ll catch up with you later,” he said as he left the room.
She look towards her vanishing cousin, and then back at the king. He had gotten up and was pulling a chair next to his for her to sit in. Confused, she slightly shook her head, smiled, and allowed Alistair to seat her at the table. He then returned to his own seat.
“May I ask where my cousin just ran off to, your majesty?” she asked.
“Apparently to see Leliana,” he replied. “And please, call me Alistair.”
She raised her eyebrow at the king which unnerved him. “I see,” she began, “I would guess you two made a wager…about me…and he won that wager. Am I close?”
“What? I mean…I have no idea what you are talking about…a wager?” he stammered.
She leaned forward, placed her elbows on the table, and rested her chin on her closed hands. “You know…he’s only a month older than me. We grew up together. I know how he is and his little tricks.”
“You do?” he asked, his throat tightening. He tried his hardest not to stare at her bare cleavage.
“I imagine he’s been trying to get you interested in me for quite some time…am I right? You don’t have to answer…your reddening cheeks already tell me I’m right. So I’m curious…what else did he tell you about me?”
“Um…well…you’re cousins…that you were beautiful…”
“He told you I was beautiful?” she laughed. “Flatterer…you boys and your ways.”
“But I was…”
She got up from her seat and walked over to him. She leaned over causing his eyes to be drawn directly to her chest. She wore her dress tight, but he found himself hardening under his breeches nonetheless. She lifted his chin to look him in the eyes…a devilish grin on her face.
“Let me spell this out for you. You are attractive, but that is only one point in your favor. My cousin thinks highly of you, so that is another. But I am not like the other noble girls you have met so willing to join you in your bedchamber.”
“But…but…”
“Being king wins you no points with me. You want to win me over…to join me in my bed…you have to earn me.” She let go of his chin and turned to leave the room. Near the door she stopped and looked back at him with the same devilish grin. “But don’t despair…you have a good start.”
“What would it take for me to earn you,” he found himself blurting out.
“That’s for you to find out. But for starters, meet me in the courtyard on the morrow. And wear your armor.” She left with a chuckle.
He sat there looking after her for the second time in one day. Ever since Serena had died Alistair thought he would never find a woman who would touch his soul. And of all the women he had met so far…noble women…none had even come close. Maggie…she was right in that she wasn’t like any of the others. She had a fire in her the others lacked. He found it exhilarating. He sat losing himself in his thoughts when he heard voices outside in the hallway. He looked up to see Maggie standing in the doorway holding Dan shirtless by the ear.
“But Maggie…I need to go back…”
“Shush you,” she said to Dan, and then she looked at the king still sitting where she had left him. “Don’t forget. Morning…early…in the courtyard….and in your armor.” She nodded and grinned, then turned back down the hallway dragging a protesting Dan.
The day of the wedding was magnificent. The happy couple was wed, and Alistair swore they held the longest kiss he had ever seen. They did not end it until the third “Ahem” from the priestess. Several times he caught Maggie from the other side of the dais smiling at him and winking. He smiled back. He was still nursing the sores and bruises she had given him that morning two days before. She was slender, and in her dress was every bit a woman. But when she put on that armor she was as tough as any knight he had ever faced. She moved like Dan and seemed to be an equal to the man he had fought beside for the better part of two years during the Blight. At first he tried to be gentle, and she laughed telling him that was a point in his favor lost. He did his best after that, but still she beat him easily. At least she said he earned his point back…with that devilish smile.
During the ceremony afterwards he was seated next to the fiery redhead. Fergus had brought his new companion, Petra, and Zevran sat at the head table with his Dalish lover Lyna. Alistair grinned at the motley group sitting at the front table. It reminded him of the travels during the Blight gathering the treaties. The dwarf Vartag Gavorn had called them an eclectic group then, and seeing the head table seemed so much similar. An unwed king, a teyrn with his mage lover, an elven assassin with his Dalish lover, and of course the bride and groom being Ferelden and Orlesian didn’t help the image in his head. But still everyone was happy, and that was what was important during this day.
“Join me for a dance?” Maggie said beside him.
“Are you sure?”
“I wouldn’t have asked if I wasn’t,” she replied with a devilish grin. He wasn’t sure what to make of it, but she used it often.
He led her to the dance floor to join the others enjoying the music. When he placed his arm around her waist he fought the temptation to hold her close…he didn’t want to lose points.
“You dance surprisingly well,” she said as they danced.
“Thank you.”
“I mean…I know you were raised to be a Templar…then you became a Grey Warden…when did you learn to dance?”
“Funny thing, that. Leliana taught me,” he chuckled.
“Really?”
“During some nights at camp while we were traveling after the Landsmeet,” he replied. “How much did Dan tell you of me?”
“Everything,” she replied coyly. “I know everything he knows about you. Where you’ve been, what you’ve done, who you’ve loved…”
“Who I loved?”
She looked in his eyes and nodded. “I’m sorry about Serena. She must have been a wonderful woman.”
“She was…” and then he grew quiet.
“I’m…I’m sorry…I don’t mean to bring up bad memories…if you want we can talk about something else.”
“Perhaps another time…but thank you,” he said quietly. She nodded followed by an awkward silence as they danced. “Tell me about yourself, Maggie.”
“I’m sure Dan told you lots of things about me. I wouldn’t know where to begin.”
“He told me a little, but I would like to hear from you,” he said.
“Well,” she started and leaned up against him resting her head on his shoulder. He brought his arm close around her waist holding her against him, and it felt quite comfortable. “My parents died when I was very young. So Bryce and Eleanor took me in and raised me as their daughter. While Fergus and Dan may be cousins…well something like second cousins…they will always feel like my brothers.” She hesitated. “Anyways…I learned to fight alongside them as we grew up…which is where my sword fighting skills come from…but I’m sure you…well…a year before the battle of Ostagar Eleanor sent me to Orlais for schooling. She said that Aldus…he was our sage in Highever Castle…he could teach the boys, Fergus and Dan, to become men. But she wanted me to learn to be a lady and not whacking stuffed men in the courtyard.” Alistair let out a chuckle. “What’s so funny?”
“Now instead of whacking stuffed men you whack around knights and kings,” he grinned.
“You want me to continue?” she asked annoyed, and he nodded. “Ok then…shush while I talk. Where was I…oh yes…so I was in Orlais learning to be a highborn lady. I hated Orlais. The women there were such…such…some days they would be all nice and friendly, and then others I just wanted to bash their heads in with a mace.” He chuckled again and stopped when she glared at him. “Like that…you lose a point.”
“Heeeey,” he protested. She glared at him again. “I’m sorry. Please continue.”
“Ok,” she said and leaned her head back on his shoulder. “I was in Orlais when we got word about the loss at Ostagar. I left school and tried to come back, but I was stopped at the border. I tried to tell them I was a Cousland, but they laughed at me and called me a coward and kin to traitors. I wanted to fight them, but some chevaliers were there and stopped me. I think it was because of them the border guards didn’t try to kill me then and there. So I waited and finally got a chance to sneak across the border. I made my way to Highever, and that’s when I found out about what Howe had done. So I plotted revenge not realizing that both Fergus and Dan had survived. I was in Amaranthine when the Blight ended, and I learned that Dan had killed Howe…and that Fergus had survived. And now here I am dancing with the king at my cousin’s wedding.”
“Amazing,” Alistair simply said. She looked at him.
“Amazing? What you and Dan did…ending the Blight…that’s amazing. All I did was survive and plan a failed revenge plot.”
“But you did that all on your own. What Dan and I did…we had help…lots of help…”
“Nonsense…what you did was sort of phenomenal. You know you ended a blight that is the shortest in history? That’s nothing short of amazing itself.”
“We were lucky,” he replied coyly.
“Now you’re being modest.”
He just grinned at her causing her to smile and shake her head. They spent the rest of the evening dancing with each other talking and sometimes laughing. She even enjoyed some of his jokes which shocked him and was more shocked when she gave him points for some of them. At one point he asked her how many points he would need to win her over, and she only smiled with her devilish smile and told him only she would know that answer. But the more she smiled that devilish smile, the more he fell for her. Little did he realize she had already fallen for him.
(Zevran and Lyna NSFW portions replaced by pic of Maggie)
Maggie looked back up at the castle after hearing a woman scream in ecstasy behind them. She looked at Alistair who had also turned to look where the sound had come from, and she started giggling.
“Sounds like someone is having fun this morning,” she finally said smiling.
“I would guess that is Zevran and Lyna if I remember where they are roomed,” he replied with a grin.
They resumed their walk in the courtyard. Alistair was finding himself intrigued by this woman. He was going to have to confess to Dan at some point he was right all along, Maggie was a woman he could easily fall for. Why he hadn’t he wasn’t really sure. He looked at her as they walked, and she stood tall and proud, and she glided more than she walked. And her smile…that devilish smile of hers…something about it made his heart beat faster. And she was spirited. It was almost like she was a female version of Dan, only much more pleasant to look at, and she smiled…a lot.
“…and then they plan to head south to Gwaren…Alistair, have you been listening to a word I’ve said?” she stopped and asked him.
“Um…yes…you said they were headed to Gwaren,” he replied.
“And who is going there?” she said smiling that devilish smile at him.
“Dan and Leliana,” he replied hoping he was right.
“And where are they going before that?”
“Soldier’s Peak?” Was he right? He hoped he was right.
She reached up and grabbed his chin and looked him in the eyes. “Are you sure?”
“Um…” give the same answer, he thought. But what if it’s the wrong answer? It’s the wrong answer…I can see it in her eyes. “Highever?”
She lifted her chin to somewhat look down at him despite she was shorter than he was. “You were right the first time.”
He hung his head in shame. “I lost a point, didn’t I.” he stated.
“Yes,” she smiled, and then lifted his chin back and to his surprise she leaned up and kissed him. She looked back at him and smiled. “But at least you were looking at me instead of gawking somewhere else, so you break even.” She placed her hand on his cheek causing him to blush. “But don’t get your hopes up to fast there, your highness. You got a long way to go. But don’t worry…” she said withdrawing her hand and began walking again, “…I’ll be here for at least a couple of months for you to keep trying.” And then she smiled her devilish smile at him.
He brought his hand to his forehead and grinned. She was more than he ever could have estimated. He looked back and noticed she was several yards ahead of him, and he ran to catch up to her. He had to make the most of these next couple of months. And that he did. During her time at the castle he spent as much time as he could with her. She was playful with him and always kept him on his toes. But he got the feeling she was warming to him. But that smile…she used it on him a lot…and sometimes he would purposely do something wrong so she would use that smile. He hoped she knew he was doing some of those things on purpose…sometimes he just could not tell. However, he felt himself holding back, and he didn’t know why. He found Maggie exhilarating, frustrating, funny, and beautiful all at the same time…and he loved all of it. When she was not around he hurried what he was doing to he could be with her. He tried several times to tell her how he was feeling, but he always stopped himself. At first he thought maybe he was just nervous around her, but realized he wasn’t nervous at all. Then one day he found her reading a book in the library. She had not seen him, and as he watched her she reached up with one hand and pulled her hair back behind her ear, and then it hit him… He walked over to her table, and as he approached she looked up and smiled.
“Hello, Alistair. Care to join me?”
“I was wondering something,” he began, “could we go somewhere more private…just the two of us?”
“Sure,” she replied confused. She marked her page in the book and closed it. He raised his hand for her to grab, and she did as she stood. “Is everything ok?”
“I…let’s go to my study…and I’ll tell you there.”
“Ok,” she said and let him lead her out of the library. When they got to the study he closed the door and indicated for her to sit in a chair near the desk. He began pacing the room wringing his hands together.
“Alistair, are you alright?”
“I…I’ve come to like you…a lot,” he said.
“I like you a lot too,” she replied smiling.
“What I mean is…I think I may love you.”
“You ‘may’ love me? I don’t understand.”
“I’ve been in love once before,” he said as he sat in the chair next to hers.
“To Serena…the mage during the Blight.”
“Yes…her. She was the first woman I ever loved, you see, and when she died…when she died…” he stopped and tears began to swell in his eyes.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” she asked placing a hand on his cheek.
“I…I need to do this…I feel I owe it to you…”
“Shhhh…you don’t owe me anything,” she whispered.
“But I do,” he said looking at the floor, “because I do love you. But I also loved her… part of me still does…and I just don’t want to forget her if that makes any sense.”
“It does, Alistair. And I would never expect you to forget her. Your love you shared with her is a part of who you are, and I would never expect you to give that up for me. But you have to be ready to accept that she is gone before we can move forward.”
“I think I am ready to move on…with you… but I’m not sure how.”
“Alistair,” she started as she raised his head to look into his eyes, “I have loved you since the first day I met you. But I also knew you were still mourning her. I’ve been waiting for this day… the day you accepted your own life without her…so we’ll take things slowly, only as fast as you want…to move forward.”
“But you have to leave soon,” he replied.
“I don’t HAVE to be anywhere. I’m here for you, and as long as you want me here I will stay here with you. But just realize I am not here to replace her, nor will I ever be Serena the Second.”
“I know you’re not. I love you because you are not.”
“Good…now that that’s out of the way,” she reached forward and pulled him into a hug. “I do love you, Alistair. I’ll help you get through this, and we can move forward together.”
They held their embrace for a few silent moments. He finally looked into her eyes. “So, not to sound awkward or anything, but do I get any points?” he said grinning, his eyes still wet from the tears.
She leaned in and gave him a long kiss. “You’ll never need any more points.” She said with her devilish smile, and then kissed him again.
It was the first thing that popped in my mind when I saw the prompt, and I remember people talking about the rose previously and whether it was the same rose.
Or having done to him?
Retour en haut
:wub:
:O:devil:
