Ever After (After the Credits Roll)
- Contains adult themes, violence and sexual references. Spoilers concerning DA:O, all DLC's to date, and the small amount of information we have officially received concerning DA:2.
PLEASE OFFER YOUR COMMENTS AS I WISH TO IMPROVE MY WRITING SKILLS.
With Anora Queen, and the Dark Ritual ensuring her survival, Ardinal was free to be with her love, Alistair. Or so she thought.
"There are no such things as happy endings, because nothing ends." Smendrick the Magician, The Last Unicorn"
Chapter 1 - Questions
"Did you honestly think we wouldn't notice?"
The tall wisp of a woman turned and continued to pace, her velvet robes brushing gently across the floor. A lone torch served to light the cold stone cell where Ardinal sat, bound to a wooden chair. Stripped of her armour and sword Ardinal hardly looked the picture of a Grey Warden let alone the Hero of Ferelden.
These idignities could not rid her of the darkspawn taint flowing through her veins; the taint that enabled her to cut down an Archdemon, an act which should have killed her. Why it had failed to do so, was the question her interogator, a fellow Warden from Orlais so desperately sought.
A silver Griffon adorned Lady Secillia's robes, which for the last hour or so appeared to fly back and forth as she paced, holding most of Ardinals' attention. The relentless questions had proven tiresome and often painful when not answered, a Warden mage providing extra incentive to comply.
It had become apparent that inflicting pain on Ardinal's person was not going to extract the information they required.
"You are selfish, Ardinal!" Lady Secillia spat in a strong Orlesian accent.
"Do you know what we, the Wardens, could do with this knowledge? Think of the next Warden who must sacrifice themselves in order to kill an Archdemon? You survived! Your survival proves that there is another way!"
There was no pause for Ardinal to answer, Lady Secillia having already prepared the next stage of her interrogation. The silver Griffon disappeared into the darkness and was soon replaced by a familiar form.
Ardinal's eyes followed the contours of a her lovers torso and for a brief moment her thoughts were lead to a pleasant memory of a summer night; Blue moonlit hues, a hint of rain on the wind and the endless chorus of crickets.
She had finally found him.
"Alistair." she whispered.
Chapter 2 - Confrontation
"You knew it would come to this, Kadan." The Qunari said calmly, watching the Grey Warden turn and face him once more. She sneered when his words met her long elven ears. Her armour shone a hellish red and light from battle-born flames danced across her blades.
"Are you suggesting that I could see the future? My friend, I received many gifts when I became a Warden but I don't recall clairvoyance being one of them."
"Gifts?" The Qunari enquired pulling his great frame to its feet. His sword, 'Asala', once lost had been retrieved by the very being that stood before him. The Warden's dual blades had already tasted his flesh but could Asala, his very soul, bear to strike the one who had reunited them?
"No, not clairvoyance, but it appears that you have come to look upon your curse through different eyes."
The battle ebbed and flowed around them, sounds of blades meeting armour, axes searing flesh and shattering bones. The Qunari invaders hollered taunts and cries of victory over the Bas, the "things" they were to slaughter for the Qun. The Fereldans had offered fierce retaliation in defense of their homeland and, like their war dogs the Mabari, fought back with crazed abandon.
It was among this carnage that Ardinal, the Hero of Fereldan, had come face to face with an old ally. Sten had once mentioned the inevitable Qunari invasion to Ardinal; a matter quickly brushed aside and forgotten when there had been darkspawn to fight an Blight's to prevent.
"You sound like one of your Ashkaan Sten, but neither of us is here to be enlightened."Ardinal quipped.
The Warden was right. Sten belonged to the Beresaad and it was his duty to slay those who opposed the Qun. Neither of them would stand down this day; Only one would survive.
Chapter 3 - Denial
“You saw her, didn’t you?” Alistair insisted.
Ardinal could hear the distress in his voice, his tone much like a Mabari pup, pestering his mother.
Three pints ago, Ardinal had regrettably informed Alistair of her recent excursion to the Korcari Wilds.
She hoped that in another pints time she would no longer regret her decision.
Ardinal directed her attentions to a surface dwarf who was kindly treating the patrons at the Golden Mane to a stirring dwarven ditty, hoping Alistair would do the same.
“Ardi” Alistair said softly taking hold of Ardinal’s free hand. Ardinal refused to meet his gaze.
“Alistair. This is not the time, nor the place. It’s a tavern. Tavern’s are for making merry... and other such activities, which involve merriment of some kind.”
In half a pints’ time, Alistair pulled Ardinal to her feet and proceeded to lead her outside.
“Is this a better place? How about the time? Oh, and what’s this? No merry makers her..e!” A drunken dwarf had stumbled haplessly out of the tavern and into Alistair’s leg. The dwarf was promptly ushered back inisde the tavern, for which he did so happily with the prospect of more ale.
“No merry makers; none. Zip.” Alistair concluded.
Ardinal looked down at her glass and wondered when it had been emptied . Ardinal groaned and was placing her glass on a window sill when Alistair grabbed her by the shoulders and forced her into the shadows.
Pressed against the alley wall, Ardinal could feel Alistair’s breathe on her nose. It tickled and she felt as though she was going to sneeze. She finally faced him; nothing could have prepared her for the look of desperation in his eyes. Her chest felt heavy.
“Plea..” Alistair began, but Ardinal hushed him placing her finger to his lips.
“Never beg Alistair. You deserve better than that.”
The dark alley reminded Ardinal of a street she had often traversed back home in the Alienage. Memories sprung forth in quick concession. It was her wedding day. Ardinal recalled being beaten to the ground. Then there was Ostagar, and memories of Duncan instructing her and Alistair to head to the tower. Finally Morrigan sprung to mind, standing before the fire in Ardinal's private chambers at Castle Redcliffe.
I have no choice. Not then, not now. Ardinal thought solemnly.
Placing her head gently on Alistair’s shoulder she could no longer deny him the answers he so desperately sought.
“Yes. I saw her.” She said dryly.
“You have a son.”
Chapter 4 - Reasoning
"No need to worry your pretty self, Ardinal." Leliana's voice was soothing if not strangely out of place. Ardinal had not seen her for years and could not remember why they now both sat beside Lake Calenhad listening to the chorus of birds and welcoming the waking sun.
"I may have done the same, if it meant that I could save the one I loved."
Ardinal sat quietly beside the bard, both adorned in the armour they had been wearing during the final days of the battle against the Darkspawn. The wind blew softly, shuffling Leliana's red hair to one side. Surely they were here for a reason. Was it to seek council with the First Enchanter? Ardinal strained to make out the Circle Tower but could not see it for a mist that rolled across the lake.
"Wait, what were we talking about?" Ardinal enquired.
Leliana let out a giggle. "We spoke of Alistair, and how much you love him, you silly thing."
Ardinal thought of Alistair and her body felt warm. "Yes I do love him. I couldn't live without him."
"So you doomed us all?" Wynne's voice was shrill and penetrating. Ardinal was no longer beside Lake Calenhad. Instead she found herself deep in a forest, the sounds of running water and the smell of ancient oak filling her senses. Wynne stood before her, a stern look on her face.
"Child, I can't believe you willingly helped Morrigan bring an Old God back into the world. None of us can even begin to imagine what that might mean."
Ardinal did not recall confiding in Wynne about the ritual, nor did she appreciate being reprimanded. What Morrigan offered was perfectly reasonable. Why did Grey Wardens have to die? Had they not sacrificed enough by drinking tainted blood in the first place?
"How dare you judge me? You gave up on your own son. I couldn't just sit there and do nothing when it came to the person I loved." Ardinal jeered.
Wynne gave a wounded look, but was quick to regain her resolve.
"I know in my heart that it was the right thing to do; A sacrifice I had to make."
"Why? Why were you denied your own child? It wasn't fair!"
"Life isn't always fair Ardinal, but it can be full of fine wine, gorgeous women, and a handsome man or two."
There was no mistaking it. Ardinal had to be dreaming. She now found herself beside a camp fire near a mountain spring. Zevran sat happily before her, sharpening his weapon of choice: a dagger of the Crow.
Ardinal noticed her head feeling cloudy, not unlike someone lost in sleep. She was certain that she had experienced something like this before.
"The Fade." Ardinal uttered softly, awareness creeping in.
Chapter 5 -Conspiracy
Alistair was not ok. Whatever they had done to him had left him badly bruised and beaten. His left eye was closed, swallowed up by puffy, purple flesh. Ardinal felt her heart sink.
“So this is Orlesian hospitality, Grey Warden or not.” Ardinal murmured.
“We are Grey Wardens first and full most Ardinal. We exist to fight the Darkspawn, and you know now that we are the only ones capable of defeating an Archdemon. There is nothing we won’t do to preserve our cause.” Lady Secillia proclaimed.
A smile crept across Ardinal’s lips.
“I couldn’t agree with you more! In fact, there doesn’t seem to be anything the Grey Warden’s won’t do protect their interests. Alistair is fine example of that.”
Lady Secillia regarded Ardinal, supposedly intrigued.
“What are you babbling about Ardinal? Do explain what you mean.”
Alistair had lifted his head in response to Ardinal mentioning his name. He stared at her hoping to glimpse instructions for their escape.
“It took a while for me to realise, just how easily one could use the right of conscription to help the Grey Wardens gain power in Fereldan. Why Duncan recruited Alistair. Why Alistair was spared at Ostagar and his brother wasn’t. Why it was so important to have Alistair on the throne.”
“Now hang on a minute. No one knew that Cailan was going to die. Duncan died too, trying to protect him remember?” Alistair argued.
“Duncan must have known who you were Alistair. Why else would he recruit a Templar, and a terrible one at that?”
“He said I had character!”
“You were next in line to the throne. It was a gamble, I'll admit. However, luckily for them, Cailan was fond of the Grey Wardens. Even after Loghain advised against it, he still followed them into battle.”
“I can’t believe I’m hearing this? In the Makers’ name, are you trying to suggest that my succession was orchestrated by the Grey Wardens’?”
Ardinal nodded her head wearily, watching the expression of Lady Secillia’s face, musing over her silence, wondering why she hadn’t interjected.
“I think I was recruited to protect you. In the end it was my choice to make you King, but I don’t think they were counting on an elf falling in love with a human. I don’t think they were counting on my survival either. You were going to be my King Alistair, and of course I would have sacrificed myself to kill the Archdemon. I would never have let you do it in my place”. Ardinal explained.
“But I didn’t make you King, because it’s what you wanted. Well, also, because I kind of wanted to be with you, but in the end I just don’t think you would have been very happy.”
“Probably not.” Alistair added.
“Ardinal, I think you may have lost a few marbles, if not the whole bag.”
“Why, Ardinal. I swear, you have thought up a conspiracy worthy of the courts of Orlais.” Lady Secillia spoke loudly, applauding as she knelt beside Alistair.
“But you don’t sincerely believe all of that do you? To speak ill of your kinsman in the Anderfels is quite insulting.”
Alistair cried out in pain as a knife slipped through his skin and into his stomach. Lady Secillia had driven a blade into his side.
“’I’ve had enough of your conspiracies. You know the knowledge that I seek. I care not for your lover, nor for you. You have turned your back on your brethren and must be punished for your disloyalty.”
Further cries of pain erupted from Alistair’s lips as Lady Secillia drove the knife deeper. If she continued, and denied Alistair a healer Ardinal knew he would surely die.
Chapter 6 - Pride
The sounds of battle faded. Ardinal felt a bead of sweat dribble down her brow. Sten was not moving and showed no signs of engaging her in combat. His hesitance would prove fatal if she were to move on him now. Anger began to swell up inside her.
“What’s the matter? Will you not fight me Sten? Where is your so called honour?”
Sten ignored Ardinal’s taunts. He was still deciding as to whether it would be wise to kill a Grey Warden. To kill a person he had come to respect. However, he sensed a change in her.
“Walk away Kadan. I do not wish to kill you.” Sten decided he would attempt to get Ardinal to back down. It was not like him, not like him at all to offer a peaceful solution to a foe, but this was different.
“Walk away?” Ardinal suddenly advanced on Sten, raising her blades and baring down across Sten’s chest. Sten parried each blade, and using all his strength pushed Ardinal back.
“You are asking me to walk away?” Ardinal followed through with more strikes to Sten’s torso and neck. Using her twin blades she struck on opposite sides, and swiftly attempted to delve a finishing blow, swinging both swords in unison and down on across Sten’s body. Asala protected him from every blow, but Ardinal had gained some ground, her agility and speed proving too much for Sten.
Ardinal’s eyes looked as though they were aflame. Her voice grew deeper, louder and menacing as she made her final proclamation.
“I SPLIT THE SKULL OF AN ARCHDEMON! HOW DARE YOU RAISE YOUR BLADE TO MINE!”
Sten would hesitate no longer. His thoughts were filled of prayers from the Qun.
Struggle is an illusion. The tide rises, the tide falls, but the sea is changeless. There is nothing to struggle against. Victory is in the Qun.
Ardinal was not the warrior he once knew. Her pride had consumed her. He could see it now and there was nothing left for him to do but strike her down.
Sten moved on her quickly, wielding Asala with a new found clarity and strength. One of his swings managed to clip Ardinal on the shoulder. Her blood decorated the grass beneath them, but Ardinal continued to strike with quick and concise blows. Ardinal managed to stab Sten in the arm joints of his armour, causing him to loosen his grip. However, Sten was not to be underestimated, countering her blows with a deep cut to her thigh.
Ardinal growled in defiance, continuing her barrage of swift and concise swings. Sten knew she would tire long before him, and kept parrying, buying his time. Ardinal circled Sten, hoping that her speed would catch him off guard and she would be able to stab him from the side. Sten followed her movements, his defense proving hard to crack. Their blades sung out as they clashed and then parted. They both positioned themselves for the death blow.
“Ataash qunari!” Sten let out a tremendous battle cry and descended upon Ardinal. Ardinal,using her short blade, parried Asala to one side, evading his attack, but not without breaking her arm. With her other hand, and in one swift movement she swung her long sword down and towards Sten’s neck.
Ardinal did not look back, but could hear rasping sounds as Sten tried to breathe. A red stream of blood had begun to trickle down his armour. He fell to his knees, dropping Asala by his side. Ardinal wondered if Alistair would have intervened had he been present.
“Vashedan” Sten whispered, as he died.
Chapter 7 - Decisions
“So when exactly, were you planning on telling me?” Alistair enquired.
“If you really want to know, I was planning to after another drink, or two; then you had to bring me out here and be all demanding.” Ardinal retorted.
“Well forgive me if I was a little demanding. You’re not the one with a baby-god-thing to think about. A baby-god-thing, who also happens to be my son.” Alistair paused for a moment to repeat the word son under his breath.
“Where is she keeping him?”
“I don’t know Alistair, she wouldn’t tell me. He is safe though.” Ardinal stroke her forehead, feeling the onset of a headache.
“But how do you know if he’s safe or not?” Alistair had begun to pace back and forth,excessive arm movements serving to convey his agitation.
“Alistair, I have told you everything I know.”
Alistair paused and collected his thoughts.
“Now that I think of it why didn’t you take me with you?”
“Morrigan could have had a, um, post angry mother moment or something. Plus she warned us to stay away.”
“But you took the dog Ardi. The dog!”
Ardinal became increasingly distressed. The ale loosened her tongue.
“Alistair. It’s done. We’re free to be together. The baby is fine. Morrigan kept her word. Isn’t that enough?”
“You don’t understand. It’s my son Ardinal. I don’t know, I just feel... I feel like I’ve abandoned him.”
“Oh Maker help me.” Ardinal exclaimed.
“Oh no! Can’t abandon him like daddy abandoned me!” Ardinal said mockingly.
“Don’t use your abandonment issues as an excuse Alistair. We were all in agreement. I had to deal with you being inside that **** for one night, so you can just deal with not seeing your son.” The words left a bad taste in her mouth and by the look on Alistair’s face, had hurt him terribly.
“I did it to save us, because neither of us could bear losing the other. Ardinal you wanted me to do it!” Alistair held his ground.
“You’ve been following orders all your life Alistair, of course you were willing to do it. Duncan tells you to be a Grey Warden, oh look, you become a Grey Warden. I give the ok for you to run away from being King, and fancy that, no King Alistair.”
“So I’ve never made one decision on my own?”
“Don’t ask me Alistair! Decide whether you have ever made decisions by yourself.... yourself.” Ardinal slumped to the ground no longer sure of her intent.
“Well then. How about this for an 'Alistair make your own decisions' decison?” Alistair turned away.
“I’ll find Morrigan and see my son. Even if it is just the one time, I would like to see him.”
Alistair started leaving the dark alley way.
“Wait.” Ardinal cried, following him into the tavern.
“Hang on.” She pleaded as he packed.
“Please Alistair!” She begged as he left the Golden Mane.
'Don’t follow me.' was the last thing she heard him say. [/b]
Chapter 8 - Revelation
“This is not real. Fade Zevran, you are still just as sexy as real Zevran, but you are not Zevran.” Ardinal had come to realise that she may have ventured into the fade, and that the Zevran she was currently talking to was an illusion conjured up by a demon.
“I don’t believe we are in the fade Ardinal, but if that’s what floats your boat, you are welcome to spirit me away.”
“I’m not spiriting with anyone right now.” Ardinal stood up, and tried to focus on her surroundings. The same mist that covered Lake Calenhad could be seen in the distance on all sides. She returned her attention to Zevran, to find he had disappeared.
“Typical’ Ardinal muttered, as the world around her grew darker.
“Tis not the fade, Ardinal.” Morrigan’s voice sounded behind her.
Ardinal turned to find Morrigan standing before a fireplace, and the darkness had become the chamber Ardinal had stayed in during her last night at Castle Redcliffe. Morrigan had met her there, confessing her real intentions, offering up a plan for a dark ritual which would keep whoever killed the Archdemon from having to die.
“No, it’s the fade. I’m now talking to fade Morrigan. And I bet fade Morrigan is still a-know- it- all ****.”
Morrigan had sat herself down on the bed, much like the way she had that night. When Morrigan moved she often slinked like a cat, and Ardinal often wondered if Morrigan had spent time as a cat roaming the wilds, stalking her prey.
“I am just as you remember me to be. Although given your thoughts towards me of late, tis unlikely that my visage will be represented kindly”
“I remember your offer. What you did to save Alistair and I. However, if you hadn’t told me.... if only you hadn’t made me...”
“Made you? T’was not I who forced you. You always had the choice.”
“Did I?” Ardinal felt heavy again, and her legs began to give way.
“No! No I didn’t! I had to. It was the right thing to do, for Alistair...”
“For me!” A familiar voice echoed around the darkened chamber. For a moment Ardinal could not bring herself to look.
“You know it’s true. Your brain wasn’t the only organ you were thinking with that night.”
Ardinal looked up to see a young, city elf, adorned in Grey Warden armour. Fade Ardinal leaned closer, a smirk on her face.
“You had to? Are you kidding me? You wanted him, and nothing else mattered. You didn’t care about the possibility of bringing a being worse than an Archdemon into the world.”
Ardinal steadied herself and met fade Ardinal's gaze.
“Maybe the old god will be a good thing. I was willing to take that gamble. Yes, I was willing to do it. I did everything I could to save the one I loved.”
“You believed you were doing the right thing?”
“Yes. I had to. It was the only way I could save my people from the Orlesians!”
Ardinal froze. It was no longer her voice. Fade Ardinal had been replaced by a great mirror. Inside was a man. He stood, looking frozen and dazed. Ardinal took a step back, and to her horror, the man did so as well.
A reflection. Ardinal thought. But not mine.
Ardinal peered into the mirror, and the image of Teyrn Loghain did the same. His eyes were as wide and bewildered as hers. The man she had killed shared her reflection, and with it came a sad and terrible revelation.
“Yes. I wanted to. I wanted another chance. To have the life I was denied when my betrothed was murdered.” Ardinal began.
“I forged my way, becoming more than an elf, more than a woman, and then I found Alistair. I wanted to be free of the taint. One of us was going to die. I didn’t want it to end that way.”
Teyren Loghain began to fade until only Ardinal, the mirror and the darkness remained.
“So I risked the lives of countless thousands. I forced Alistair to lay with another woman, and bear a child he would never meet.”
By the Maker, what have I done? Ardinal sobbed and the darkness threatened to swallow her whole.
Chapter 9 - Confession
“An old god...” Ardinal cried, watching Alistair writhe in pain.
“I made Alistair have sex with an apostate, in order to conceive a child. This child would take on the soul of the old god that was released when I killed the Archdemon.”
“What?” Lady Secillia eased her grip on the knife embedded in Alistair’s side.
“You heard me. Alistair and I made a deal with an apostate, which ensured our survival when taking down the Archdemon.”
“Oh I see. So this apostate had magic strong enough to draw the old gods soul to her womb?” Lady Secillia could not believe that such a mage could exist. She turned to the Warden Mage for a sign of reassurance but was met with a look that shared her disbelief.
“So unless there is a way to repeat the ritual, I don’t think future Wardens will have the same luxury.” Ardinal continued to work on loosening the ropes around her wrists.
Lady Secillia looked disappointed. Her cold, blue eyes regarded Ardinal with disdain. She looked up at the Mage, who nodded and a silent message passed between them.
“Well, I believe you Ardinal. Your attempt to throw me off with your outrageous theory regarding Alistair has not worked I’m afraid. It is a common tactic, one in which I am well versed.” Lady Secillia rose, and to Ardinals relief, she left the knife in Alistair’s side. At least his wound would stay closed for the moment.
“Also...” she continued placing her had under Alistair’s chin.
“This silly little thing confided in me, telling me of how he was trying to find his son. I had tracked you both for some time; however, I knew Alistair would be easier to take under my wing. Alistair you are so loyal, so trusting of your fellow Grey Wardens.” Secillia let out a giggle, not unlike Leliana’s.
Ardinal was reminded of the bard, a former companion, and her tales of intrigue within the Orlesian court.
Secillia began shedding her robes, revealing the black leather armour she wore tightly around her frame.
“I find it interesting that a Warden would risk using dark magic to summon something so ancient, so evil.”she continued.
“Although, I have always thought the Grey Warden’s to be hypocrites about blood magic. For instance, the blood you drink during your Joining...”
“So what was your purpose, Secillia?” Ardinal interjected.
Please hang in there Alistair. Ardinal prayed, watching Alistair, his complexion turning pale.
“My employers required information. They wanted what you wanted, a world where Grey Wardens are not relied upon to defeat a Blight.”
“But we’re so dashingly handsome! Well at least I am, can’t really speak for the rest.”
Magical energy fizzled and cracked, a blue aura enveloped her and Alistair, and Ardinal knew Anders had erected a protective shield.
The mage who had accompanied Secillia chanted, a great flame erupting from his hands. The room glowed as magical energies collided, fire meeting ice in an explosion of steam and heat.
“Anders!” Ardinal called out to her fellow Warden, a mage she had personally recruited into the fold.
A familiar form appeared beside her, and Ardinal watched as her Mabari hound set himself upon the mage, his great jaws clamping down on the mages throat. The mage, attempting to let out a shriek could only muster a wet gargle as the hound ripped out a chunk of his wind pipe.
With all her attention on her hound, Ardinal did not notice as Secillia’s form melted into the shadows.
Where is she? Ardinal strained to detect any signs of movement, but Secillia had concealed herself well.
“Anders! There was a bard. She’s cloaked herself.” Ardinal informed Anders as he entered the cell.
Anders was a glow from the magical barrier that surrounded him, and was about to focus his attention on Alistair when Secillia appeared beside him, pulling a blade from her belt.
Anders managed to parry her strike with his staff, but a swift kick from Secillia sent him toppling backwards. Recognising the new threat, Ardinal’s Mabari dashed towards Secillia, bearing his teeth and letting out a paralysing howl.
Secillia dropped a small vile which burst at her feet. A yellow gas spilled out, causing the hound to whimper and withdraw. Anders, still on the ground chanted quickly, conjuring up a wind in order to expel the toxic mist. The room cleared, and Secillia was nowhere to be seen.
Chapter 10 - Reminiscing
((WARNING - FAN DRIVEN SEX SCENE APPROACHING. READ AT YOUR OWN PERIL.)
"Your dinner, Ser Warden Commander..." Alistair placed a bowl of hot stew in Ardinal's hand.
"Let me guess. Stew?"
"Of course my lady and a fine Fereldan stew at that." Alistair scoffed, between mouthfuls.
"Of course, your highness..." Ardinal provoked Alistair and was rewarded.
"No King here I'm afraid. Just me, an Alistair... Oh and a dog I suppose, and the moon and some fine Fereldan stew."
The moon was full and everything it touched was bathed in a brilliant blue. The wind blew gently, hinting at rain, although few clouds littered the sky. It was summer in Fereldan, and the night was accompanied by an orchestra of crickets.
"So, they want us at Amaranthine aye? A little paint and less Howe inspired decor and I think the place would do up nicely." Alistair chortled as he scraped his bowl, hoping to dig out any surviving scraps.
"Yes, I guess so. It will be strange for me though, to preside over an estate..." Ardinal said solemnly.
"You'll be fine. Nobles can't be any scarier than Darkspawn, or the Archdemon." Alistair reasoned only to remember the fear he felt when entering the lands meet.
Ardinal watched as her hound slept soundly by their tent. Ardinal was to lend her hound to an Ash Warrior soon, for the purpose of breeding a new generation of pure breed Mabari pups.
Just like Alistair. I practically breed him with Morrigan... Ardinal's thoughts tormented her.
"What's wrong?" Alistair sensed her unease. Ardinal sighed. She knew "nothing" would not suffice.
"I'm just tired. So much has happened..."Ardinal felt a comforting hand on her shoulder. It had been sometime since she had felt her lovers touch, and she wanted nothing more than to bury herself in his embrace.
"Um... we don't have to do anything... if you just want to sit..."
Ardinal rolled onto her back, and playfully began to encourage Alistair with her legs, goading him until his hips and shoulders were aligned with hers.
"Don't be coy Alistair."
Removing their armour and garments was still a cumbersome affair and much like their first night together Ardinal would take the lead, assuring Alistair that he could touch her, even in her most intimate places.
Ardinal felt a twinge of guilt when her manoeuvring of Alistair mirrored the more experienced approach by Zevran, the Crow assassin she had spent a night with long before her feelings for Alistair had blossomed.
At least one of us knew what we were doing. Ardinal mused.
Her excitement grew when Alistair surprised her, his fingers venturing inside without being prompted. Alistair smiled, enjoying the ensemble of noises from his love.
She's so small. Alistair thought. He felt as though he were seeing Ardinal for the first time, her delicate elf features more apparent than ever. Her body shook; she squirmed and this amused him to no ends.
For a long while, Alistair and Ardinal discovered the numerous ways one could please their lover. The crickets grew louder, a sense of urgency overwhelmed them, and both welcomed their timely unison.
Ardinal bit down on Alistair's shoulder, but soon lost purchase as his rhythm increased. Their enthusiasm caused a minor slip up (or out being the case) but after the riot of laughter that followed they were united once more.
The sound of crickets, the smell of impending rain and Alistair bathed in blue. Tears fell from Ardinal's eyes, droplets skimming off her cheeks.
"Wait, am I hurting you? Oh gods I'm hurting you!" Alarmed, Alistair stopped moving.
"Huh? Oh no, Alistair, these are happy tears! Happy tears!" Ardinal gasped and urged Alistair to keep going before the feeling rising between her hips began to fade.
Happy tears. Ardinal awoke to find she had been crying. Dog stirred, aware of his master's distress.
Ardinal had fallen asleep beside her hound, embers from her camp fire glowing dimly. She had travelled for many months in search of Alistair, following leads that would hopefully reunite them.
Groggily, she stoked the fire. The wounds she had sustained from her confrontation with Sten had finally healed, but stiffness still remained. Dog's ears twitched and something cracked within the underbrush to their right. Ardinal, convinced that someone had been following her, prepared herself to find out whom.
<3CONTINUED BELOW[smilie]http://social.bioware.com/images/forum/emoticons/heart.png[/smilie]
Modifié par Ardinal, 27 mars 2011 - 02:56 .
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Thank you very much for taking the time to read my fanfic and I'm glad you enjoy my style. I've actually read the first book... I also have fondness for Warhammer novels and I'm hoping to draw inspiration from their writing styles. Enjoy your Ultimate Edition. 
Ardinal
