Author's notes: Hi everyone, and thanks for reading! If you like the story, please check out the other ones on my profile, for some more insight into the characters. Reviews are welcome!

A quick disclaimer: I obviously own nothing, Bioware owns everything, and that won't change during the course of this story, so I won't be repeating myself. Enjoy!

The double doors opened silently when she reached the top of the stairs. She sighed, braced herself:

"The Queen of Ferelden!" boomed the loud voice of the herald. "Arlessa of Amaranthine, Warden-Commander of Soldier's Peak, and Hero of Ferelden!"

The crowd shifted in a murmur of chiffons to create a passage through the vast hall to the throne, and every head bowed deeply as she passed. Her warden-commander armour clanged noisily, the two-handed sword Starfang banging on her greaves in rhythm with her steps.

Alistair was sitting on his throne, looking regal, and snappy, with his crown sitting slightly askew on his head. She tried not to smile when she noticed how tight he was grasping the arms of his throne. He was keeping himself seated, because she had taught him time and again that it is not very kingly to run across the throne room and whirl her around in his arms. Some of their most loyal subjects threw knowing smiles at her as she passed them. They had noticed too.

"Still, it is an improvement," Bann Teagan breathed when he bowed in front of her. She smiled at that, unable to hide it, then looked up at Alistair. Maker, did power make this man attractive!

He made a move to rise when she got to the stand, but she shook her head slightly and he laid back with a soft sigh. She got on one knee before him: for all her titles, and despite what the herald had said, she was still only his queen-consort.

"Welcome back, my queen!" he shouted. She lowered her head to cover her smile.

He leaned towards her, and in a much lower, intimate voice, he said:

"Please tell me you have something important to say to me in private?"

"I have a matter of the upmost importance to bring to your immediate attention, my king," she said clearly, and heard a man laugh out loud in the noble crowd. "Good," she thought. "Arl Eamon is here."

Alistair jumped on his feet:

"The queen and I will now be leaving to…" he paused, looking at Kaylee, who was shaking her head again. "Ah… no, we will stay here and discuss important matters of the throne! Clear the hall! This session is adjourned!"

As the crowd moved slowly towards the doors, Kaylee rose to her feet, searched for arl Eamon and gestured for him to join them. When the hall was deserted, she gave the old arl a gentle hug.

"I'm glad to find you here," she told him. "I was wondering if your obligations would allow you to stay a while longer and act as regent once more? It is possible that Alistair and I will have to leave together for a while."

Alistair looked at her, but didn't ask.

"Of course, my queen," Eamon said, smiling. "Nothing too dire, I hope?"

She started shaking her head, but stopped:

"I… don't know yet," she said. "Now, I'm very sorry but I will have to catch up with you a bit later. I really do need to speak to my husband."

He bowed and walked out by one of the side doors. She turned to face Alistair:

"What now?" he asked.

"Now…" she smiled and took his hand. "Now we go hide in our apartments, like you so desperately want to do all day."

He cupped her face in his palms and leaned to touch his forehead to hers:

"I am so glad you're here," he sighed, and kissed her.

"I can see you missed me," she said, sprawled across the bed, her head on his naked chest, listening to the sound of his heart slowing down steadily.

It was almost worth it, to be away from him for a short while. Almost. She sighed and hugged him closer. He kept silent, gently stroking her hair.

"What's this?" he asked, finding a recent scar on her scalp. She shrugged.

"Training accident."

"A recruit got you? Maker, we're getting old," he chuckled. "You were at Soldier's Peak, then," he said after a while. "Training new recruits?"

"Yes… and no."

She paused.

"I found the Architect," she whispered.

His hand stopped caressing her hair.

"He is in the tower. With Avernus."

Alistair remained silent for a while, then got up slowly.

"I feel like I should be dressed for this."