And to start of...with a little AU fun...
Second Chances…
Leliana and Morrigan were cooking the evening meal over the main campfire. Alistair, the newly selected king, was sitting on a log nearby enjoying the aroma coming from the ladies’ endeavors. He had just recently changed from his new armor into some cleaner clothing. As king he had received armor similar in appearance to his brother’s. He wanted to wear Cailan’s armor after he had found it at Ostagar, but both Teagan and Dan insisted Alistair get new armor. Eamon proposed new armor with new styling altogether, Teagan just wanted new armor for a new king, but Dan was more practical explaining that Cailan’s armor was damaged and new armor would be more protective. He then convinced Alistair to place Cailan’s armor in a vault to commemorate what he had accomplished as king. Alistair looked at his new armor lying near his tent. Unlike Cailan’s gold his was silver, and instead of the pattern across the breastplate Cailan had…a horse head or lion Alistair could not tell…he had insisted on a griffon. This was something else Eamon did not like…Alistair wanted a few things Eamon didn’t like…but Teagan and Dan admired Alistair’s choice. He was a king, but also a Grey Warden and what better symbol for his reign as king…the Grey Warden King. After they ended the Blight Alistair figured he would have to give some answers to the Grey Wardens in Weisshaupt, but they could sod off until then.
Morrigan turned to face the new king. She had fixed a bowl of the stew while he thinking about his new armor. She handed the bowl to him and smiled which was something she rarely did. It made him kind of nervous, actually. He looked around to see where everyone else was. They were about half a day from Soldier’s Peak, and their camp was larger than normal. Sten had journeyed ahead stating he was not tired and wanted to reach the Keep. Oghren was passed out by his tent as was usual. Lakota was off hunting in the woods nearby. Wynne was talking with Teagan near Bodahn’s tent, and the dwarf was with his son showing the Bann his various wares. The different envoys from the elves, dwarves, and mages always kept to themselves near the edge of camp. Eamon had not joined them as he was adamant to return to Redcliffe quickly. Rhiordan travelled with the Arl. That left a few others milling around that Alistair was not sure their names, and it was something he would have to get used to as king. But the Antivan elf, he was the one that Alistair was looking for. If his plans with the elf transpired as they had hoped, the night would be filled with laughter.
“So, Alistair,” Leliana said as she sat next to him on the log. She snapped him back to his immediate surroundings, and the witch sitting across the fire from him smiling. “How do you feel now that you are the new king? Pretty exciting, no?”
“I don’t know I would call it exciting. Nerve racking maybe, but not exciting.”
“Oh, but there will tales and stories told about you. I could even write some,” she said smiling. Both women were smiling. What were they up to? “You have not eaten yet? Are you not hungry?”
“Oh, I am, but I’ve just been thinking. And waiting on Zevran.”
“Zevran?”
“Yeah, he’s looking into…something…for me,” he replied. He then took a bite of the stew he was holding. “This is very good.”
“Thank you,” Leliana replied, and then she looked at Morrigan who only winked back.
Zevran walked up to the three of them and looked at the pot hanging over the campfire. He nodded to Alistair as he picked up a bowl.
“Um…before I get some of this…may I asked who cooked this evening?” the elf asked anyone who would answer.
“Leliana and I did,” replied Morrigan.
“Ah…good. That means it will be tasty. If Alistair had cooked tonight I was thinking about passing on the meal tonight,” Zevran said with a chuckle.
“Heeeey!”
“No offense, your highness. While you may be our new king, you are a seriously lousy cook.”
“Point…taken,” Alistair scowled at the elf drawing giggles from the two women. “Did you…complete what I asked?”
“I did,” the elf replied and sat on the adjacent log with his stew filled bowl. “We should be seeing the results of our…endeavor…fairly soon.”
“Good.”
Alistair then wolfed down the rest of his stew. After he finished he leaned back, brought his fist to his chest, and released a loud belch. Zevran slowly ate his as he noticed the two women intently focused on Alistair; their smiles waned as they exchanged looks and then back to the king. Alistair got up and filled another bowl and then sat back down.
“This is really, really good, ladies.” He took a bite and noticed something different. “Um…this tastes different than my first bowl. What did you ladies put in it?”
“Who? Us?” the two women asked together. “What makes you think we put anything in your bowl, my king?” Morrigan continued.
“I don’t know…it has a different taste to it,” he replied and then took a few more bites. “Yeah…definitely something different with this one.”
He watched as Leliana got up and walked over to Morrigan. The two women began whispering and looking back at him. He slowly continued to eat his stew, and he thought he could hear the witch say something that they were the same color…whatever “they” were. Leliana then giggled, looked and pointed at him, and then returned to sit at the adjacent log opposite Zevran, and she was smiling. He looked down at his shirt and pants, but he had not spilled anything. He wiped his sleeve across his mouth, but he had not dribbled anything either. He couldn’t figure out what they were giggling and point at him about.
His attention was drawn away as Dan approached the group. Leliana gasped and brought her hands to her mouth, and then shot an angry look towards each Zevran and Alistair. Morrigan spat out what food she had just put in her mouth, and Zevran grinned from ear to ear admiring what he had done. Alistair was also grinning because Dan had a griffon drawn on the left side of his face in bright blue Dalish ink. Dan just looked at everyone with confusion.
“What’s so funny? What did I miss?” he asked.
“Enjoy your nap there, Dan?” Alistair asked chuckling.
“Yeah I did. And why are you laughing? You guys telling a story?” He looked even more confused as Leliana got up and spit onto a rag she was holding. She then began rubbing the side of his face.
“You two should be ashamed of yourselves,” she said glaring at the elf and the king.
“But…he looks real good,” Zevran laughed. “I must say it is my best work.”
Dan looked at Leliana. “Is there something on my face? It’s coming off….right? You’re getting it off?” He glared at Alistair.
“Hey…don’t look at me…I can’t draw,” the king said.
“Hold still,” Leliana pleaded still working on getting the temporary ink off Dan’s face.
“Then it was Zevran! You just wait, buddy…” Dan started.
“I said hold still!” Leliana pulled Dan’s face straight towards her again still working at rubbing the ink off his face.
“I only did what my king commanded,” the elf replied defensively.
“Heeeey….way to squeal there. I thought you Crows were unbendable under pressure.”
“Normally yes. But with her…I’ll let you take your chances with her wrath.”
“With her? Don’t be…” Alistair replied and then saw the look of fury in Leliana’s eyes. He swallowed hard. “Really…it was just a joke. It’s not permanent…right Zevran?” He looked at the elf who nodded back. “See…not permanent. No harm done…just a few laughs…and…” he then brought his fist back to his chest and belched again.
“I was wondering why everyone was looking at me funny,” Dan interjected. “Is it coming off?”
“Almost finished,” she said as she continued scrubbing. Because they had used ink there was still a faint residue on his face, and where she had rubbed was now red from irritation.
“I owe you one, Zevran. And Alistair…this makes us even,” Dan said with a giggle.
“Even? Not even close to even,” Alistair said as Zevran just nodded and smiled.
“Actually, he will owe me one,” Leliana smirked.
“What do you mean?” Dan and Alistair asked together.
“That funny taste you mentioned…it was something we put in your bowl,” Leliana confessed with a smile.
“But not what we had intended,” Morrigan added as she got up to walk over and stand over the king. “You should start feeling the effects of what we did put in it quite soon, however.”
“What you…oh…OH!” Alistair said.
“Feeling a little…anxious…Alistair?” Morrigan said with a wicked grin. “While we had planned on just making your stew taste unbearably hot, I think this is much more fitting. Don’t you agree, Leliana?” The bard just nodded and smiled as she now sat with Dan on a log close by.
“What did you ladies do by accident then?” Zevran asked.
“Let us just say that Alistair has now two choices…find a woman or find a use for his hand,” the witch replied.
“But…but…how long will this last if I do nothing?” the king asked.
“Honestly…I cannot say for sure. Since we thought we were using something else we put quite a bit in. If you do not take care of your…situation…it will eventually wear off in…a day…maybe two,” Morrigan said as she seductively ran her hand along his cheek. “And do not look to me for help for you will not get ANY from me,” Morrigan then left.
Zevran also got up to leave. “Where are you going?” the king asked.
“I’m not staying around to see your…problem,” the elf replied chuckling as he left.
Alistair looked at Leliana and Dan sitting on their log. He was eating his stew wearing a sheepish grin, and she just smiled and leaned on his shoulder. She kissed him, and then got up and left. It was just now the two victims of the night’s pranks left by the fire.
“You going to say anything?” Alistair asked after a few moments.
“Nope,” Dan replied still eating his stew.
“No advice? No witty one-liners?”
“Nope.”
“You are loving this, aren’t you?”
“Yep.”
Alistair sat there watching Dan eat, and the swelling in his pants was becoming uncomfortable. The man just kept looking at him and eating his stew. When he finally finished he got up to leave.
“Hey, at least give some idea what to do,” the king pleaded.
“Well…you are king…and there are several lovely women here. There’s the Amell and the Surana girls from the Circle. I recall you liked the Amell girl back when we…”
“No. I will not order some woman to have sex with me to solve this…this…”
“Well, there is always Rosey,” Dan snickered.
“Rosey?”
Dan pointed to Alistair’s hand and left laughing. Alistair sat there contemplating what Dan had just said. It sounded easy enough. Order a woman to help him, do something himself, or tough out the pain that was starting for the next…how many days? He could beg Morrigan for help…they had a history and this was mainly her fault, or so he thought at least. He would remember it this time if she was willing. Then a hand touched his shoulder. He turned to look into the face of a mage he had found very attractive about a year earlier. She was just as beautiful now as she was then. Her hair was dark red, almost black, and flowed to her shoulders. She had green eyes and smelled like wildflowers. Her presence was not helping with his resolve to take care of his problem personally.
“Your highness, you may not remember me, but we met back at the Circle Tower when you saved us from Uldred,” she said sweetly. “My name is Serena.”
“I do remember you,” he answered nervously. Why was she here? Had Dan or one of the others sent her over? “May I ask how you came to be here?”
“Oh…well…I was under the service of Bann Alfstanna. I was assigned after the problems with the Tower. I didn’t want to leave then after what had happened, but…”
“No, I mean here right now,” Alistair interrupted.
“Um…well…I saw you sitting here by yourself…a king shouldn’t be by himself…is it warm here?” she stammered and blushed.
“I mean did anyone send you over here?”
“I…no, my lord…I just wanted to talk to you…and thank you for saving me,” she said as she twiddled her fingers. Her face reddened more. “I…maybe I should go…”
“No,” he replied. “I’m sorry. I just…”
“No. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t be so forward. Please forgive me, my lord.”
“Please stay. And please don’t call me ‘my lord.’” My name is Alistair…though I suppose you already know that.”
“Yes,” she giggled and shied away. “I usually don’t do this…but I saw you here alone, and I thought it was the perfect time to come over and say thank you.”
“I apologize for before. I was just talking to some others earlier, and I thought maybe Dan had talked to you.”
“The general? I have never spoken to him. I remember him from when he was with you at the Tower. He’s rather intimidating…and a little scary. Every time I see him he looks angry.” Alistair laughed. “I’m sorry, my…Alistair. Did I say something funny?”
“I have never noticed it, but you’re right. He does always look angry. Funny thing is he is my best friend…actually the only real brother I ever had.”
“Really?” she asked.
“Yes, and please sit down. I’m getting a crick in my neck.”
“Oh…of course…I would love to.”
She sat next to him, and as she got closer to him Alistair became all too aware of his swollen manhood he had temporarily forgotten about. Her closeness made him ache more, and he tried to use the dirty bowl in his hand to halfway cover his possible embarrassment.
“You said the general was like your brother?” she asked shyly.
“Yes indeed. We met back in Ostagar…” and he continued with the tales of him and his friend through the past two years. She listened intently never aware of Alistair’s predicament instead focusing on his face and eyes. He felt his chest tighten like it had back a year earlier when he first saw her. Was this what Dan felt when he was with Leliana? Was it love? He barely knew this woman, and yet he felt very comfortable with her. Or was it the result of the prank that Morrigan and Leliana had pulled on him. But yet he couldn’t help but notice the sweetness of her voice when she spoke, the way she played her fingers with her hair, the sparkle in her eyes, the way she smelled, and she was actually shy around him instead of the other way around.
When he finished telling the story she leaned in closer to him. “I never expected that from your friend just by looking at him. But you are being too modest,” she said.
“He is the reason I am king…or will be king,” he replied. “I never really wanted this, but he was the one who convinced me that I should.”
“But you will be a great king,” she said. She started to move her hand to his cheek and hesitated. “I know because when you saved me…a king should be a hero…and you are…” she continued to raise her hand to his cheek, and when she touched him he flinched dropping the bowl to the ground. Her attention was drawn to what it covered, and she immediately withdrew her hand after noticing his erect member bulging his pants. “Oh…my…I…um…” she got up to leave embarrassed.
“Wait…it’s not what you think…you see…” he pleaded.
“I should leave you alone…I’m not…I should just go,” she said as she walked away leaving him alone on the log.
He watched after her, and then looked down. “Why don’t you leave? I liked her, and not in just the way to satisfy you.” He then got up and walked into his tent. He found he really liked the mage, and not just because of his problem from the botched prank earlier. She was sweet and pretty and nothing at all like Morrigan. If fact aside from the magic the two women were nothing alike as far as he could tell. He knew there would be problems if he decided to pursue something with her. The chantry would balk at his choice of woman since she was a mage, Eamon would likely have a heart attack, and the nobility would most likely call for his abdication and place Anora on the throne. Even if they could find the archdemon, kill it, and end the Blight quickly he was sure that his standing would not give him that much power to overrule these issues should he choose a mage as his queen. He sat on his cot and thought more on his dilemma when there was the telltale scratching at the tent flap.
“Alistair, can we talk?” Dan asked from outside the tent.
“About what?”
“Can I come in and tell you?”
“Just talk like you are now,” the king replied.
“I’d prefer to say this face to face, and with less volume if you please.”
“Fine, come in.” Dan entered the tent covering his eyes. “And you can stop doing that. I have my clothes on.”
“Leliana and I noticed you talking to the girl earlier,” Dan said keeping his hand over his eyes. “I just saw her a few minutes ago, and she had this horrified look on her face. What did you say to her?”
“I…we talked about…it’s all your fault,” Alistair stammered.
“What?”
“Well, not yours specifically, but Leliana’s and Morrigan’s with that little trick they pulled.”
“And how is that my fault?”
“You’re standing here,” Alistair replied. “Sorry, I just like Serena, and just when I thought we were making a connection…”
“Please tell me she didn’t see junior there,” Dan stated.
“Not at first, but yeah. I think it scared her off. I didn’t even get a chance to explain why.”
“Most women don’t want to see that when they are just meeting a man they are interested in…just letting you know.”
“I was trying to hide it. I wasn’t even thinking about that while we were talking. She just…well…touched my cheek…and I flinched…and the bowl fell…”
“Look, I’ll just go talk to her and explain things.”
“No…don’t even think about it.”
“Why not?” Dan asked.
“For starters you’ll just mess things up…well more than they already are. And…it’s just not a good idea. We wouldn’t work out anyway.”
“Well, to the first I would not mess it up,” Dan started, “and for that last part…why is it not a good idea? You like her, right?”
“Yes, but that’s not the point. I’m going to be king. She’s a mage. It just would not work out.”
“Why?”
“Why?” Alistair asked looking up at Dan who still had his eyes covered. “The nobility would have a fit, the chantry would be in uproar, and don’t get me started on Eamon’s reaction.”
“Screw them.”
“What? I can’t just…”
“Screw. Them.” Dan replied. “Alistair, you are king. You know that means you are the ruler in Ferelden. Nobody can tell you what to do. If you like her…then pursue her. They can go suckle Andraste’s ****** for all that matters.”
“I can’t just ignore what is expected…”
“Screw them. You think I care that they would have a fit about a noble from Highever romantically involved with an Orlesian? And a former spy at that? Screw them, Alistair. Do what you want and what makes you happy. After the Blight is over they should be willing to give a lot of leeway as it is. And Eamon…he cast you away as a boy.”
“Hey, Eamon was doing what he thought was best.”
“Don’t defend him, Alistair. Not to me. Granted the man was helpful getting the civil war resolved. But from what I have known of him in the past year, he cares more about what is best for Ferelden and himself than he does about you. He didn’t put you forward because he thought you would be the best leader nor because you are Maric’s son. He thinks to control you. Has he talked to you about being your regent yet?
“Yes, but I told him I was planning on you to be my regent,” replied Alistair thoughtfully. “He wasn’t the happiest about that now that you mention it.”
“And I don’t mean to say that he means to hurt you. I don’t think he would do that, but his motives are altruistic. And furthermore…wait…you want me to be your regent?”
“I was going to ask you about it after the Blight, but yes.”
“Alistair, I’m honored. Well then, as your regent I will go get the girl,” Dan said as he turned to leave the tent.
“And as your king I said no! Besides…you scare her.”
Dan turned around and dropped his hand from his eyes. “I scare her? How do I scare her? I’m not the one that pointed my erect **** at her.”
“But…” he shook his head, “no…she said you always look angry and she found you scary. And she’s right, you do usually look angry.”
“I look angry? Really? But I’m not angry.”
“Well, you do have this scowl and serious look most of the time.”
“Scowl?”
“If you smiled more…”
“I smile all of the time! I’m the funniest and happiest person you know, Alistair. Tell me I’m wrong.”
“I know you are. But other people who don’t know you…I mean just smile once in a while…”
“That’s it. I’m going to find that mage girl and tell her all about YOU.”
“You wouldn’t,” Alistair started.
“Watch me,” Dan replied. He turned and left the tent and almost walked into that mage girl standing outside the tent. She jumped back startled. She kept her head down and avoided eye contact with him.
“I…um…pardon me, my lord. I was just coming to see the king. Is he inside?”
“Yes…yes he is,” Dan replied as he stepped to the side and opened the tent flap for her.
“Thank you, my lord.”
“Please, call me Dan,” he said with an awkward smile on his face. She smiled and nodded, then walked into the tent. He let the flap close behind her and turned to find Leliana sitting on a log near the campfire looking at him. He walked over and sat next to her. She was smiling and when he sat down she wrapped her arms around him.
“Interesting thing just happened,” Dan said looking at the fire.
“Yes, the mage girl and Alistair. I know all about it.”
“You do?”
“When you came over here to talk to him, I went and talked to her. I told her all about the prank we pulled on Alistair. I think she a little shocked that we would do something like that to the king.”
“We’ve know him long before he became king,” Dan said and turned his head to lean on hers.
“I think the girl has a crush on him.”
“I think he has a crush on her, but that could be the boner thinking for him too.” He chuckled.
“You are bad,” she giggled. They both looked at Alistair’s tent when they heard moaning.
“You don’t think…I mean is she?” Dan asked.
“Oh, I’m pretty sure that was her intention after I talked to her.”
“Did you…”
“No, I did not ask her to do anything. I just mentioned the prank, and she started talking about how great a man he is.”
“Alistair said she is scared of me.”
“Of you?” she asked, and then they both looked back at the tent as the sides began shaking. They looked around and saw nobody else had noticed. They looked back at each other. The moaning from the tent was getting louder. “Did Alistair say why?” Leliana continued.
“He said I never smile. I smile a lot, don’t I?”
“You have a wonderful smile,” Leliana answered. “And you are very handsome.”
“But do I look angry all of the time? I mean…I smile all of the time…I don’t look angry…do I?”
“I see you smiling all of the time,” she answered, the moaning in the background was louder. Still no one else in the camp had noticed. The flap on the tent had a swaying rhythm to it. “But I am biased, I suppose. I always find you handsome.”
“But am I intimidating? I mean when we first met…did you think I was an angry person?”
“I thought you had a certain severity to you, but not angry.”
“A severity? What does that mean?” he asked.
“That you looked focused…determined. I found you exciting and handsome and lovable from the moment I first laid eyes on you.”
“You did?”
“Hmmm mmmm” and she leaned over to kiss him. He pulled her around onto his lap and embraced her. They kissed again.
“OH MAKER!!!”
They stopped at the sound of Alistair’s scream and looked over just in time to hear a crack and watch the tent collapse. Others in the camp had heard this time and some came running over to see what the commotion was about. There was movement under the collapsed tent, and from under the flap both the mage and the king emerged. Her hair was disheveled, she was holding a blanket over her breasts, and a look of satisfaction washed over her face. She looked around at the crowd that had gathered and blushed. Alistair came out after her naked head to toe.
“Nothing to see here folks!” he said to the gathered crowd. “Just go back to what you were doing! Nothing going on here at all!”
Leliana and Dan looked back at each other, put their foreheads together, and laughed.
:O:O
:lol:
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