A/N: The world and characters of Dragon Age belong to BioWare, and I offer that company my deepest thanks for encouraging community creations.

---

The Golden City

I, Kiann Surana--mage, Grey Warden Commander, solver of problems various and sundry--loved my life.

Except when I was called to attend stuffy events usually intended for Ferelden's nobility. Thankfully, I'd been able to hold off Queen Anora's requests, for the most part, by pleading the cause of fighting darkspawn, but with the darkspawn threat all but extinguished, that convenient excuse disappeared.

"Formal affairs drive me insane," Alistair moaned from behind me.

I blew out a frustrated breath as I stared at myself in the mirror. I ran my palms over my too-fine dress, then brushed a strand of russet hair off my shoulder. "Then why are we here? Can't we just tell Anora we're--we're sick, or something?"

"Both of us? At once? Yes, I'm sure she won't see through that, at all." My husband appeared in the mirror, towering over me. He wore a noble's outfit, which looked...odd. I rarely saw him in anything but his gleaming dragonbone plate, but I had to admit I liked how the colorful fabric stretched across his broad chest and shoulders. I swallowed, wondering suddenly if we couldn't be just a little late for the event.

"No. No." Alistair chuckled. "Don't give me that look. If we end up in bed, we'll never make it to the banquet, and that would be terrible form. Don't you remember the glare Eamon gave us last time?"

"And I should care about that because…" I retreated a few steps from the mirror, pressing myself against him, and arched my back. The curve of my bottom rubbed against him--there--and he groaned.

"Maker's breath, Kiann. That's not fair."

"I'm still waiting for a reason I should care about not attending the banquet," I prompted, rising on my tip-toes.

"Strangely enough, my thought processes have stalled for the moment." His hands moved to my waist and held me tight against him. "Um…because we're the guests of honor?"

I spun and leaped at him, wrapping my legs around his waist. Never had I been so thankful not to be wearing my armor. Smiling, I rose above him and nudged his lips with my own. "Then, they can't get started without us, can they?"

"If we show up late, everyone's going to know." Alistair groaned as we rubbed against each other, fitting together perfectly even through our clothing. "I'll have a stupid grin on my face, and your eyes will be sparking like they always do, afterwards."

"We're married," I reminded him. "It isn't scandalous to make love to your wife."

"It is when you're…supposed to be…" His voice trailed off as I nibbled on his ear. "What was I saying?"

"'I need you'?" I suggested.

He took my mouth then, a hard, frantic kiss that sent shockwaves sputtering through me. In moments, I found myself pressed against a wall, one of his hands braced over my shoulder, the other banded across the small of my back.

"I do need you," he whispered, moving to nuzzle my neck. "Always."

Warmth unfurled within me. Knowing that he felt that way, even after five years of marriage--my insides melted, turning me into mush. Absolute mush. I pressed kisses to his forehead and cheeks, his lips and nose.

"I love you." Breath shuddered in and out of my lungs. "By the Maker, I love you so much." I reached between us, under the waistband of his breeches and smallclothes, and he moaned at the contact of skin on skin.

"Forget the banquet," he growled. He shoved my skirts up above my thighs, and--

A knock thudded on the door. "Warden Commander?"

Alistair's hand stilled and I laid my forehead against his, my eyes closing. "Yes?" At least my voice was steady.

"Arl Eamon sent us to escort you to the banquet. He said he, uh, didn't want you to get lost." The puzzlement the guard felt was clear in his voice. The banquet was to be held in the Landsmeet chamber, and everyone in the sodding country knew I'd been there more than once.

My husband's shoulders shook and when he looked up at me, his eyes twinkled with amusement. "Eamon knows us better than I thought, it seems," he said softly.

"Damn it." Louder, I said to the guard, "Just a moment, please."

"Certainly, Commander."

"We should still…you know," I said, my eyes narrowing. "Just to make them wait and show them we won't be herded."

Alistair's eyes widened. "With a guard standing right outside? But…he'll hear."

"Maybe." I arched a brow. "It could be kind of exciting, don't you think?"

My templar smiled and kissed the tip of my nose. "You are a wicked, wicked woman." He pulled back from me with a sigh and set me gently on the ground again. "I would prefer to continue from this point without an audience. Later."

"Oh. Well, in that case…" I squirmed out of my smallclothes and dangled them in front of him, before dropping them to the floor. "Just so I'm prepared."

"Andraste's mercy," Alistair breathed. "You're going to…and we're going to eat dinner, and you're going to be…?" His breath was ragged. "Woman, I'm not wearing armor! This could be…rather embarrassing."

"That's what templar discipline is for, isn't it?" I trailed a finger along his chin and gave him a sultry smile.

"If the Grand Cleric knew what I was using my training for…"

I laughed and led him from the room.

###

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Heroes of Ferelden!"

Anora's voice rang clearly through the Landsmeet chamber, though it was quickly drowned by shouts and cheers and whistles as Alistair and I walked through the doors. I smiled and waved, familiar with the routine after five years of the same, and we marched down the red carpet to join the Queen before the throne.

Déjà vu swept through me as I remembered the last time I'd stood here with Anora and Alistair. My templar had gotten down on one knee and proposed, using his boon from the Queen to ask that we be married. I couldn't help the smile that stretched my lips at the memory.

"My friends, we are gathered to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the defeat of the Blight." Anora smiled broadly, encompassing us and the remainder of the gathered nobility in her gaze. "It is because of these good people that we are able to see each new dawn. They saved Ferelden--all of Thedas--and we thank them, once again, for their service."

Alistair and I bowed simultaneously, almost as if we'd rehearsed the motion. Cheers flowed around us.

"Commander, would you care to address the nobility of Ferelden?"

I hated this part. But I plastered a pleasant look on my face and nodded. "My lords and ladies," I began, thankful that five years of command had conditioned me to speak in front of a crowd without showing nervousness, "we have flourished since the Blight. We have proven, again, that Ferelden cannot be overwhelmed, whether by invading armies or creatures from the Black City itself. The Grey Wardens may have defeated the archdemon, but it is the people of Ferelden, the average farmer and merchant, the serving girls in the local taverns, the Banns and Arls and Teyrns, who have ensured that Ferelden recovered so thoroughly and quickly from the ravages of the Blight. The darkspawn are all but defeated, driven back into the depths of the Deep Roads. We continue to work tirelessly with the dwarven kingdom to ensure that one day, they will no longer be a threat." I let my gaze sweep over the gathered nobility, lingering on a random person now and again. "In peace, vigilance; in war, victory; in death, sacrifice. Such is the Grey Warden motto, and we continue to be ever vigilant in this time of peace."

I bowed as the crowd erupted again, applause bouncing off the stone and wood of the chamber's walls.

"Now, please." Anora swept her hands out. "Enjoy the feast!"

More applause, which dwindled as the nobles dispersed to find food and drink. The Queen turned back to Alistair and myself, and took my hands in hers. "It is good to see you again, Commander," she said, still smiling. "And you as well, Alistair."

"Thank you, your Majesty," he returned, inclining his head. I wondered if he noticed that he was always mentioned second, like an afterthought, by the Queen. I caught his eyes and saw the humor there, and I knew it hadn't escaped him. He simply didn't care.

"We're happy to be here," I added.

"It feels like it hasn't been five years," Anora said, walking down the steps leading to the floor of the hall. We followed close behind. "I can still see the scars, if I look closely enough."

"But you've accomplished a great deal," I said. "There is the new university, and very few buildings show any lingering evidence of the Siege."

"True." Anora nodded, acknowledging my observation. "And you have accomplished just as much. From the last report I received, there haven't been any darkspawn attacks for six months now. Is that correct?"

"It is, your Majesty. I believe we have seen the last of the creatures, on the surface, anyway, for some time."

"I hope," Alistair said under his breath.

"That is excellent news. Oh, I see Bann Alfstanna waving. If you'll excuse me?" With a smile, Anora departed, leaving Alistair and myself to mingle with the nobles.

"Can we escape yet?" I murmured in his ear. "I'm getting…a little chilly under my dress."

He groaned. "I'd just about stopped thinking about that. Thank you so much for reminding me."

"Anything for you, my love." I smiled wickedly.

"Alistair!" Arl Eamon marched up to his former ward and clapped him on the shoulder. "It's good to see you, lad. How is Amaranthine treating you?"

"Just fine, my lord," Alistair said, dipping his chin. "It's good to see you as well."

"Thank you for the arranging the escort for us, Eamon," I said, one eyebrow arched. "Goodness knows I haven't been to this room often enough to remember the way."

The older man laughed, his lips curving behind his massive grey beard. "I do recall the last state dinner you two were asked to attend and you appeared halfway through the meal, quite…disheveled."

"Yes, well…" Alistair ran a hand through his hair as color rose in his cheeks.

"It's the noble's outfit," I said. "I can't resist it. Armor is so much more difficult to take off, you see."

"Kiann!" A startled laugh burst out of my husband. "Maker's breath."

Eamon guffawed heartily. "I see you're still keeping him on his toes, Commander."

"Every chance I get," I admitted.

"That's good. I--"

A rumbling shook the hall. Dust floated from the ceiling, cascading around our heads. An enormous crash reverberated through my bones. Screams rose into the air, shouts, panic, and my heart thudded against my breastbone. An attack? The part of me that was used to wearing armor and giving orders snapped into place.

"Seal the doors!" I shouted at the nearest guard. "No one leaves until we know what's happened."

"Yes, Commander."

"Where did it come from?" I turned to my husband to see his brows drawn low over his eyes.

"The balcony?" He jerked his head toward the people flowing from the doors leading to the terrace. "Just a guess."

"Good call."

We darted forward, dodging the panicked noblemen and women milling about in confusion. "Away! Get away!" I yelled, shoving a particularly stunned woman aside.

We slid to a halt at the terrace doors and my breath caught. The stone and wood that had comprised the balcony had pulled away from the palace, crumbling to the surrounding gardens below. I spotted a bloodied form rise from the rubble and stagger sideways, then fall, and I recognized her as Bann Alfstanna of Waking Sea.

"Maker. The Queen." My eyes whipped to the nobleman beside me.

"What about the Queen?" I demanded.

He turned his stunned gaze to me. "She was--she was on the balcony when it fell."

"Andraste's mercy," Alistair breathed.

"Come on," I said, grabbing his arm. "We have to help."

We ran back to the Landsmeet entrance and outside, determined to do our best to find the Queen.