Okay, here's my prompt attempt...LOL gentle, I'm not sure I am entirely happy with it...
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Frustration, anger, fear...despite their victory over the archdemon the night before, these were emotions Alistair could not simply shrug off. She had been unconscious but alive since she thrust her blade into the fearsome creature, and Arl Eamon was insisting now that, instead of going to his bride-to-be's side so he could be there when she awoke, he go to the tower where the former Queen Anora was being housed and deal with her. The healers keeping vigil over her wouldn't even let him in to see that she was all right until he resolved the matter, Eamon's orders. A necessary evil of being named king, and one he did not want to adress at present.
He was inside the tower now, not where he was supposed to be, trying to formulate how to deal with the backstabbing ****. Not once, but several times she had betrayed them, the final (and not entirely unexpected) blow being dealt at the Landsmeet itself. Dani had allowed him to sever Loghain's head...a small comfort amidst his confusion. This had, of course upset "her highness" greatly, and by that point he had ceased caring what she or Loghain or even Eamon thought about sparing the bastard. He wasn't going to allow another betrayal, he'd seen enough of that for a lifetime, seen the horrors that blind hatred could unleash upon the innocent. He vowed he would not allow such to happen again, if it be within his power to stop it. And, being king certainly gave him more than enough power to ensure that.
Unable to come to a conclusive decision on his own, he fervently wished that Dani was at his side to aid him here. She would know exactly what to do, or better yet, help talk him through what the best course of action would be. Best friend and lover, she alone knew how his mind worked. He didn't know half the time himself. And suddenly, he had to catch himself before he laughed aloud, remembering something she'd asked Anora at the Landsmeet while mitigating the final outcome of the throne. "You're a deceitful ****, you know that?" He needed to restrain himself there as well, because Dani had always been so outspoken, and neither Anora or the nobility had expected that...
Well, she wasn't here to help, this was all his problem to deal with. Sighing, he swung the door to Anora's "cell" open. This cell appeared to be nothing more than a lavish guest room. Figures...
"Well, 'your majesty', I certainly didn't think you'd have the gall to come here yourself to render your verdict. To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" Words that could chill the blood. Her glare matched her words. Great, he thought, just great.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't seperate your head from your shoulders, Anora. I've been soul searching for one and come up empty, I'm afraid."
"I did what I thought was best for the kingdom, surely you can see that, being in the position you are in now." Just as quickly, her icy glare warmed to him, her words thawed. Now what was she up to?
"You supported your father's campaign against Ferelden, in the name of saving it. You allowed him to carry out his devious plans, knowing what harm they could bring. Then when you realized siding with us would be to your benefit, you warmed up to us. Just as you are now." He glared at her, anger in check for the moment, but Maker it was hard to maintain. "You allowed our future queen to be captured by your father's forces, tortured in Fort Drakon, and don't even try to tell me you knew nothing of the slavers running amok in the Alienage. Everything you have done has been in direct opposition of what was good for Ferelden. I am not nearly as foolish or clueless as you think I am." His words were icy now, as he recalled rescuing Dani from the dungeon at the fort, beaten within an inch of her life, helpless to defend herself.
"We don't need to be at each other's throats, your majesty..." she was inching closer to him, looking quite the picture of demure, sickly sweet honey pouring from her mouth. She was trying to seduce him into letting her live, after all she'd done, and thought him idiot enough to fall for it. Were he not a man and she a woman, he would punch her squarely in the face. He reached for his sword, imagined how satisfying it would be to lop her pretty, deceitful head off her shoulders, let it roll across the floor, and spit on her lifeless form. Before he could clear his scabbard, a strong hand from behind him intervened.
"Eamon, so help me, you had best let go of me. You told me to deal with her, and I intend to..."
"Alistair, if you've decided she should face execution, for the Maker's sake, there is protocol to this. This isn't the way..."
Anora, realizing her mistake, quickly tried to amend it. "My lord, I did not intend..."
"You don't need to tell me what you intended, Anora. I heard most of what you had to say. Alistair, you need to come with me now, since you've obviously reached a decision."
Walking swiftly back to the palace, Alistair still could not shake the anger that harpy had awakened in him. Eamon was the first to break their silence. "Anora will not concede, and your decision is a fair one in this case. I will help you send the orders. But I didn't come to overhear your conversation..."
"I guess you didn't expect to see my dark side, did you?" He was still furious, but calming some, being taken out of that damnable room. "It would have been exactly what she deserved, after...after everything else."
Eamon nodded, clearly struggling to keep up with his angry king. "I came to retireve you and bring you back to Dani's room, at the healers' request. I know not what is happening, but they insisted..." Alistair broke into a full run then, not waiting for another word.
All was solemn outside her chambers. Wynne caught sight of Alistair first, breathless from his long run. She nodded to him, calmly,and nodded toward the door. He swung it open, hastening to her side. Gazing down upon her, motionless, he was reminded of a time, long ago, when she was in a hut in the middle of the wilds, after she had shoved him out of the way of darkspawn arrows. Tears welling in his eyes, he solemnly took her hand, kneeling beside her.
And her hand tightened slightly in his. He gasped, his free hand caressing her cheek. Her eyes fluttered open slowly, and, seeing him there, she smiled weakly. Maker's breath, their plan with Morrigan HAD worked. She was alive.
Her voice hoarse, raspy, she asked..."Why is every light in Ferelden in this blasted room right now?! Am I being intentionally blinded?" He laughed aloud then, ordering the lights be dimmed, and kissed her softly upon her lips. It wasn't so bad, not being able to see the world in simple black and white. It wasn't so bad having a darker side...as long as you can find your way back to the light...
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