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The Last of the Couslands	By : MistressofMagic Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 4403 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Bioware and EA own everything associated with the Dragon Age universe. I am making no money off of this fan fiction.

Chapter List
- 61
- 62
- 63
Unfortunately for Bridget and Alistair, their week in Orlias went by much faster than either of them wanted. Although, they did have a very interesting time there, one they would certainly never forget. Alistair had to meet the empress herself and apologize on Loghain’s behalf, which she at first rejected, but eventually came around. She took a great interest in the fact that both Alistair and Bridget were Grey Wardens, saying that her own great grandfather was a Warden himself. The city itself was absolutely beautiful and boisterous; Bridget hadn’t seen quite so many finely dressed people in all her life. They didn’t get to see the entire city, however, mostly because it was so large, but also because there were a few days when she nor Alistair ever left their room.
            Now, however, it was back to business as both of them sat on their respective thrones, listening to Eamon drawl on about the goings on in Denerim, catching them up on anything important they may have missed. Alistair placed his hand atop Bridget’s and smiled at her, knowing full well that once their work was done for the day, they’d spend the rest of it in each other’s arms (or so he thought).
            “And that’s pretty much everything that took place in your absence, Majesty.” Eamon concluded at last.
Alistair nodded.
            “Good to know everything’s still in tip top shape!” he said happily.
Eamon bowed his head.
            “Indeed. I have also contacted the Circle of Magi on your behalf. They should be sending a mage to help with…that within the next few days. Your friend will also be joining the mage.”
Bridget brightened.
            “Wonderful! I’m so glad that Wynne will be back here once again!” she exclaimed.
Alistair grinned.
            “It will be good to see her!” he agreed.
Eamon nodded.
            “And now your Majesty, if I may have a moment in private with you?” he asked.
Alistair furrowed his brow a little uneasily. Usually when Eamon had to address him in private he had something to say about Bridget.
            “Very well…” he said slowly and stood.
Bridget watched as he and Eamon walked off in the direction towards Alistair’s office. She sighed, figuring she’d ask Alistair about it later and returned her attention to the task at hand. The doors opened and a servant popped their head in.
            “Fergus Cousland to see you, Majesty.”
Bridget grinned.
            “Send him in, please.” She replied.
The servant nodded and a moment later Fergus entered the room. He bowed respectfully before having to catch himself from falling back due to the force of Bridget’s hug.
            “Fergus! Oh I missed you!”
Fergus nodded and hugged her back.
            “Missed you too, sis. So…how was Orlias?”
Bridget pulled back and walked back up to her throne and sat. She told Fergus of the beauties of the city, hers and Alistair’s initial meeting with the empress, and how differently their society was compared to Fereldan.
            “It sounds like you had a good time.” He remarked, beaming up at her.
Bridget smiled and nodded.
            “I did. It was nice to get away from it all for a little while.” She replied.
Fergus tipped his head to the side.
            “I’m sure it was. Any chance I’m going to be an uncle soon?” he asked.
Bridget looked up at him. Per Eamon’s request, she nor Alistair were supposed to openly address the fact that it was difficult for them to have children. He wanted to keep the entire thing as secret as possible, fearing what the Grand Cleric would think if she found out magic was involved. Knowing her, she’d probably condemn the child as being a demon or an abomination since it wasn’t produced naturally. Drawing herself back to the question, Bridget shook her head.
            “Not quite yet, brother. Alistair and I want some time to ourselves first.” She stated.
Fergus chuckled.
            “Yes that is very understandable.” He replied.
Bridget nodded then decided to change the subject.
            “How are the repairs on the castle coming?”
Fergus sighed and shook his head.
            “It will still be some time before I can move back in there, so I’ll be hanging around here for a little while longer. I appreciate that you and Alistair went ahead and granted me the Terynir of Highever, though. It’s nice to at least have something.” He stated.
Bridget stood and hooked her arm through his.
            “You still have me, Fergus. Don’t think that just because I am here and you are back in Highever when the time comes that we won’t see each other as much. I expect you to visit at least twice a month.”
Fergus smiled…but it was a little half-heartedly.
            “I know I have you, sister but…I want to have a family again…to love again. When I think about Oriana and Orhen…. it…it’s all I can do to hold myself back from joining them. I want to remarry and have children but then I think of them and I feel as if I would be betraying them somehow…”
Bridget drew her brows together and hugged Fergus tightly. She pulled back and looked up at him.
            “Fergus, Oriana would want your happiness above anything else. She would not expect you to mourn her forever and you know that, she wasn’t that type of person.” She said softly.
Fergus was quiet for a long moment before shaking his head and sighing.
            “I know but…I see all these young women looking for husbands…they are so much younger than me…I am twenty-six, Bridget. Most of these women aren’t even your age yet, and you’re only twenty. I want to marry a woman not some bratty girl who’s only looking for a husband to brag about to her friends.”
Bridget nodded.
            “Yes I understand, but there are older women, women that are closer in age to you that are at court as well!” she exclaimed.
Fergus sighed.
            “Yes sister but most of those women are already married…”
He trailed off for a moment before he cleared his throat and shook his head.
            “I think I’m going to go to the knight’s quarters and let off some frustration on a unsuspecting straw dummy. I’ll see you around, Bridget.”
Before Bridget could say anything else, Fergus bowed quickly and exited the room. She stared after her brother, her heart breaking slightly. It killed her to see him in such inner turmoil and part of her knew he probably blamed her for Oriana and Orhen’s deaths…he just didn’t outwardly say it to hurt her feelings. Bridget sighed and walked back up to sit on her throne, her thoughts swimming inside her head.

xXx
            Alistair sat behind his desk once he and Eamon entered his office and looked at Eamon quizzically as the old man sat in front of him.
            “It still feels odd finding myself on this side of the desk.” He noted.
Alistair chuckled.
            “The same goes for me.” He replied.
They sat in an awkward silence for a moment before Eamon cleared his throat.
            “I just wanted to ask you a few questions regarding her Majesty…to see if we even need the mages help at all.”
Alistair furrowed his brow.
            “What kind of questions?”
Eamon folded his hands in his lap and looked at him.
            “It is possible that we can avoid bringing the mages in altogether and just have a regular apothecary tend to her needs. Now tell me, how many times have you been intimate with her since your wedding?”
Alistair choked slightly on the sip of water he took and cleared his throat.
            “What has that got to do with anything?”
Eamon shook his head.
            “Quite a bit, actually. You see, depending on how many times you have slept with her, Bridget could already be pregnant, just in the very early stages where no one can tell. Also is she very regular with her cycle? That may also have something to do with,”
            “I am very regular let me assure you, Eamon.”
Alistair and Eamon both stiffened as Bridget entered the room. Alistair could tell by the look on her face that she wasn’t pleased in the least that her very personal goings on were being discussed between the two men. Bridget walked in and moved to stand next to Alistair’s chair.
            “And to answer the rest of your questions, Alistair and I have been very intimate with each other ever since our wedding night, but I am not pregnant because I am in the middle of my cycle now.” She hissed.
Alistair sunk down a little bit in his chair. Bridget was a little frightening when her hormones were fuddled about because of her woman time…
Eamon bit his lip.
            “Oh…I see…” he replied softly.
Bridget frowned at him.
            “Face it Eamon, it’s not going to happen unless we have a mage to help us, and I hope to the Maker that they’re a woman. Maker knows you men are about to drive me insane.”
With that she turned on her heel and stormed out of the other door, her heels echoing off of the wooden floor. Alistair sighed.
            “Now you’ve gotten me into trouble, thanks for that!”
Eamon sighed and shook his head.
            “I don’t know how we are going to be able to keep this from the Grand Cleric…if she found out about this…she could go straight to the Divine herself!”
Alistair shook his head and stood.
            “I highly doubt that that’s going to happen, Eamon. Plenty of people have difficulty becoming pregnant and they seek the aid of potions and what not as well! Why should it be any different for Bridget and I?”
            “It’s different because you are monarchs! That is why! Alistair you know what can come from mages and magic, I almost lost my whole village because of my son! You saw firsthand what happens when one of them succumbs to a demon’s soft whispers…I just want to ensure that nothing like that happens here.” He retorted.
Alistair sighed and walked around his desk, heading for the door.
            “Well…we’ll just have to hope that something like that doesn’t happen here. He stated before opening the door and stepping through it.
Eamon opened his mouth, but shut it tight, remembering his place. He just hoped that once the mage arrived, they knew what they were doing, and could help them quickly and get back to the Tower where they belonged.

            The following week, Alistair and Bridget once again sat atop their thrones listening to delegates and merchants as was per usual now. Bridget noticed Fergus standing by the window and looking out it, a distant look to his eyes. Bridget felt her stomach do a flop as the servant announced the arrival of the mages. She looked at Alistair and placed her hand atop his. He looked at her and gave her a reassuring smile, hoping with all of his heart that this mage could help them conceive. Bridget relaxed a little bit as the two mages entered. One she knew was Wynne, and she could tell by the robes of the other mage that they were indeed a woman. Upon reaching the dais, both of them bowed deeply.
Eamon cleared his throat.
            “These are the mages that the Circle Tower has sent to aid us. Wynne, as you know, and…”
The other mage pulled back her hood and smiled up at Bridget. She had strawberry blonde hair and a freckled face, not to mention eyes as green as grass. Bridget’s eyes widened.
            “Faye?” she asked in surprise.
Faye nodded and grinned.
            “Long time no see, eh?” she asked.
Bridget stood and threw her arms around the mage, hugging her tightly. Alistair and Eamon looked at each other curiously. Bridget pulled back and giggled. She and Faye Amell used to be as thick as thieves in their younger years. Although Faye was two years older than Bridget, that didn’t stop them from being the best of friends. The Amells were a powerful, noble family in Fereldan and Kirkwall even, but because the family name carried traces of magic, they weren’t held with as much respect as they should have been. Faye’s parents thought they lucked out when neither she nor her brother showed any signs of magic until Gregory made Faye mad…
            “I can’t believe it’s you! I guess this explains why after my eighth birthday I never saw you again!” she said, noting her mages robes.
Faye chuckled.
            “Yes…it was around that time that I accidentally set my brother’s head on fire. I was carted off to the Tower the next day. I tried writing to you but all my letters seemed to never get to you. I knew you would have replied to me as soon as you received one so when you didn’t, I had a feeling they were intercepted and disposed of. Apparently one can have no friends outside of the Tower.” She explained.
Wynne chuckled and stepped forward to hug Bridget as well.
            “I had no idea that you two knew each other back when you were small, but when I returned and told everyone about our adventures, Faye nearly exploded with excitement and went on to brag to all the other mages that she used to be best friends with the Hero of Fereldan.”
Fayne nodded and then remembered Alistair was still present and dropped into a curtsey.
            “Your Majesty, my name is Faye Amell. I’ll be providing my services to you and her Majesty for as long as you need me.”
Alistair grinned and moved to stand next to Bridget.
            “Any friend of my wife’s is a friend of mine. Welcome.” He stated.
Faye nodded and then looked back at Bridget.
            “Hmm…he’s cute, I always knew you’d marry well…but you really outdid yourself, Bridget.” She whispered.
Bridget threw her head back and laughed.
            “I take it there are no handsome mages in your Tower?”
Faye shook her head.
            “Hardly…but then there’s Anders…oh I’ll tell you all about him later. Right now though, we need to get to business…but first is Fergus around? It’d be nice to see him again too.”
Bridget smiled and nodded. Hearing his name, Fergus was already making his way towards them. He grinned when his eyes landed on Faye, and Bridget noticed he took in her figure.
            “It’s good to see you, Faye. Here I thought you fell off the face of Thedas itself.”
Faye chuckled and gave Fergus a tight hug.
            “Nope, I’ve just been cooped up in a stuffy Tower all this time. Honestly I thought you would have come to save me, strong soldier that you are and what not. But you never did. That hurt my feelings you know.” She joked.
Eamon cleared his throat then and suggested everyone get back to business, causing Faye to discreetly roll her eyes.
            “I don’t know how you stand it, Bridget. I’ve only just met that man and he’s already getting on my nerves. I haven’t seen you for a decade and then some and all he wants us to do is work, work, and work! Ugh, I guess we should get started though; it will take time for this potion to brew once I start it. First I need to speak to you and Alistair privately though, to answer some questions that way I can base the contents of the potion on your answers.”
Bridget nodded.
            “We can go to Alistair’s office.” She suggested.
Faye nodded and followed Bridget and Alistair out of the room and down the hall. Bridget slipped her hand into Alistair’s and grinned broadly. She couldn’t ask for anyone better to help them than Faye. Once in the office she and Alistair sat behind the desk while Faye sat in front of them.
            “Do you have any questions for me before we get started?” she asked.
Alistair nodded.
            “Yes…is your potion guaranteed to work? We’d really like to be able to get this on the first try.” He stated.
Faye nodded.
            “That is understandable. Unfortunately though, I do not have the answer. You and Bridget will be the first human’s this potion has been tested on. Rest assured, however that on the animals I was given to perform tests, all of them were able to produce offspring. All I have to do is alter the number of ingredients I place in the potion to adapt it to a human’s body. I also have more than one potion, so if the first fails, we could try a different approach.”
            “Why weren’t you able to test it on other mages?” Bridget asked.
Faye looked at her.
            “We’re not allowed to have children in the Tower…it’s bad enough if one parent is a mage, but for two? That child is sure to carry magic then, perhaps even a double dose of it. Since the Chantry and Templars are trying to put a cap on magic itself well…it’s forbidden. It does still happen, however, but it’s usually without the aid of potions. While some of us study ways to become pregnant to help others, a great many of us study ways to not get pregnant with the use of potions and herbs.”
Bridget nodded and looked at Alistair.
            “Did you want to ask anything else?”
Alistair shook his head.
            “Nope, now how soon can we start?”
Faye chuckled.
            “Someone’s eager! It will take about a month for the potion to reach completion…but I can’t start it unless I ask you a few things. Before that time, however, there are other things you could do to perhaps become pregnant on your own without me.”
Bridget looked down.
            “I don’t think we can without your help, Faye.” She replied softly.
Faye tipped her head to the side and said,
            “Well, it doesn’t hurt to try. Now you can, after you’ve been intimate, lay with a pillow beneath your bottom for about half an hour afterwards. This will tilt your hips upward slightly and it helps the sperm travel at a faster rate towards your uterus. Now there are also positions you could utilize as well that could help you, but make sure you use the pillow thing, that actually helps a lot.”
Bridget nodded, noting Alistair’s red face and chuckling.
            “We always remain there and have some pillow talk for a while anyway so that shouldn’t be a problem.”
Faye nodded.
            “Good. Now I need you to tell me about your intimacy, what positions you like to use and how fast his Majesty,”
Alistair stood.
            “Do I really have to be present why you ask all these questions?” he asked.
Faye shook her head.
            “No, I can just ask Bridget if you like, she’ll be honest I’m sure.”
Alistair, a little confused by that remark, turned to Bridget.
            “She’s almost as bad as Zevran!” he exclaimed.
Bridget chuckled.
            “I’ll meet up with you later, my love.”
Alistair nodded and placed a kiss to her cheek before exiting the room. Faye raised her eyebrows.
            “Shy is he? How on earth do you get him to lay with you if he gets flustered just talking about it?”
Bridget shook her head.
            “Two completely different things let me tell you.” She replied.
Faye chuckled.
            “I’m sure!” she laughed.
The women continued their conversation and Bridget answered all of Faye’s questions to the best of her ability. Once that was finished, Faye hauled her things up to her room and said that she would begin working on the potion that night. True to her word, a month later the potion was ready to be taken. Faye set it down in front of Bridget who made a face at the slightly blue colored liquid. Alistair looked at her and then back to the potion. Faye cleared her throat.
            “Here it is at last. Now I will warn you, there will be side effects after drinking this potion. You may feel sick, woozy, drowsy, nothing very pleasant I’m afraid. After taking this potion wait for about three hours and then, if you’re feeling up to it, lay with Alistair. I should be able to check you within a week to tell you if you are pregnant or not.”
Alistair raised his eyebrows.
            “You can tell that soon?” he asked, amazed.
Faye nodded.
            “Yes, with magic anyway. Normal apothecaries would not be able to tell until you were a few months along. Go on now, drink up…you may want to pinch your nose though, it’s not going to taste very good.”
Bridget drew her brows together and swallowed nervously. She pinched her nose and downed all of the potion in one gulp, swallowing hard and gagging slightly. She covered her mouth and swallowed again.
            “Dear Maker that tastes worse than Darkspawn blood!” she exclaimed, before having to swallow the bile rising up in the back of her throat again.
Bridget licked her lips and held her stomach.
            “I think I’m going to lie down for a while.” She stated.
Faye nodded and she and Alistair watched as Bridget slowly walked out of the room. Alistair sighed.
            “So…how fool proof is this potion? I know you said before it’s not guaranteed to work.”
Faye shook her head.
            “It’s not, but there are other potions I could utilize. If you like, I can also begin giving Bridget a few tonics to take here and now. They aren’t as effective as the potions, but it could help in it’s own small way…and taking both the tonics and the potions won’t cause her any harm.”
Alistair nodded.
            “Let’s do that if you think it will work, as long as Bridget will be alright.”
Faye grinned.
            “Sure thing, your Majesty. I’ll go grab a few tonics now.”
She turned to leave, but then looked back over her shoulder at him.
            “I don’t know if you believe in such things, Majesty…but it doesn’t hurt to send a few prayers up to the Maker…he works in many ways…”
Alistair raised his eyebrows.
            “I never expected to hear that from a mage, considering the Chantry’s iron grip on you and what not.”
Faye shrugged.
            “Well…I did spend my first ten years as a normal, noble child…and I was one of the rare ones who actually listened to the readings of the Chant. Take it for what you will, Majesty…but it really helps if you have hope.”
Alistair nodded as she left the room and decided to check on Bridget. He made his way towards their bedroom and gently pushed the door open. She had already stripped herself out of her dress and was laying atop the blankets in her shift with a chamber pot sitting on the floor beside her. She looked at Alistair and gave him a small smile.
            “I hope this works.” She whispered.
Alistair climbed atop the bed and laid next to her. He gently kissed her forehead and nodded.
            “As do I.” he replied.
Bridget and Alistair hoped with all of their might that the potion had worked, and while Faye was running her glowing hands over Bridget’s lower abdomen a week later, she sent more than a few prayers to the Maker. Bridget looked at Alistair and squeezed his hand tightly. He smiled and nodded at her. Bridget turned her attention back to Faye and frowned slightly as she noticed her furrowed brow. The blue glow faded from Faye’s hands and she sighed.
            “I am sorry…the potion did not work…”
Bridget drew her brows together and looked down, biting her lip to hold in the tears that wanted to fall from her eyes. Alistair sighed and looked down as well. Faye shook her head.
            “Now there’s no need to worry, there’s other potions that we could use as well, along with those tonics I told you about. Will you permit me to take a small sample of your blood? If I study the Taint within it, I may be able to find a work around. It’ll be difficult…but I think I can figure it out.”
Bridget didn’t say anything, just nodded slowly. Faye went to fetch her supplies. Bridget looked at Alistair and sighed.
            “I’m sorry, Alistair.” She whispered.
He shook his head.
            “It’s not your fault, my love. Maybe we’ll get it with the next potion.” He said optimistically.
That optimism would not last long, however. The months continued to trickle by one by one, and each time every potion was ineffective. Faye had now holed herself up in her room, not coming out for anything, not even to eat so she could devote all her time to finding a way for Bridget to get pregnant. Because of the constant failures, everyone who knew about the struggle was very on edge…and hope was severely lacking. Eamon kept pushing and pushing for Bridget and Alistair to continue to be intimate, despite the slim chances that they would get pregnant on their own and it was beginning to take a toll on both of them. It seemed to Bridget like they weren’t making love anymore, not for their own reasons anyway…sort of like the only reason they were having sex was just so they could get pregnant. Alistair was also becoming swamped with work, scrolls, and edicts. The only time he ever saw Bridget was for when they did roll around for a bit, but then he couldn’t even stay with her, he had to get right back to work. Alistair could tell that Bridget was disappointed with the turn of events as well. He could see it in her eyes, the way she carried herself and sometimes woke up at night to find her crying silently to herself. It was taking a toll on both of them. They were both frustrated because they had gotten no results and Alistair tried not to let her know how disappointed he was but it eventually slipped out…which wasn’t good at all.
            “I’m just frustrated that we’ve been trying and trying for months now and still nothing has happened!”
Bridget narrowed her eyes.
            “How do you think I feel about it? It’s just as frustrating for me as it is for you, Alistair!” Bridget shouted back.
Alistair buried his face in his hands.
            “How is it? You’re not the one who has to hear the whispers behind your back of how you cannot get your wife pregnant! Everyone thinks I’m impotent and that’s really embarrassing! It’s not even my fault that we’re not pregnant!” he yelled.
Bridget gaped at him.
            “Are you trying to tell me that this is all my fault?”
Alistair looked at her and closed his mouth tight. Thinking about it now…he probably should’ve worded that sentence better…
Bridget narrowed her eyes and flared her nostrils.
            “This is not any easier for me than it is for you, Alistair! Be thankful that you’re not the one who has to take all of these potions and have to suffer the side effects! You’re not the one who has to have their hope that maybe this time it will work but then discover blood in their small clothes!” she yelled.
Alistair drew his brows together and sighed as he noticed Bridget’s eyes get glassy. She took a deep breath and said,
            “I understand that you’re frustrated, Alistair, but this is doubly frustrating for me! Don’t you dare blame any of this on me!”
With that, Bridget turned sharply on her heel and threw open the door, stepping through and slamming it behind her. Alistair remained alone and ashamed in his office. He slumped down in his chair and buried his face in his hands, cursing himself and his poor choice of words. He decided not to go after her now since she’d need time to cool down and figured by supper that evening she would come around.
Not likely.
Alistair sat in the dining hall alone, staring at his meal. He looked up as Regina, Bridget’s personal maid walked by carrying a tray of food.
            “Where are you taking that?” he asked softly.
She turned and looked at him, curtsying out of respect.
            “To her Majesty…she wishes to dine in her quarters tonight and remain there for the rest of the evening.”
Alistair’s eyes widened. Since their marriage they never slept apart…Alistair hung his head. He must’ve really upset her. He looked back at the maid and nodded.
            “See that she is comfortable.”
Regina drew her brows together and sighed.
            “I will try, Majesty…but she has been crying ever since this afternoon.”
He frowned, ashamed of himself.
            “Can I see her?” he asked.
Regina shook her head slightly.
            “She’s asked to be left alone…but you are the king so you could go and see her if you really wished…”
Alistair shook his head.
            “No…it’s best to respect her wishes. Thank you, Regina.”
The maid curtsied again before exiting the room. Alistair rubbed his forehead and sighed, beating himself up mentally for his lack of judgment. He should’ve never said anything…it was better to suffer in silence than upset Bridget…but he just had to open his mouth. He hoped by the next day she had cooled down enough to where he could apologize to her at least…
Again, it wasn’t likely.
They passed each other briefly in the hall the next day, but Bridget wouldn’t even look at him, she kept her gaze focused ahead of her and ignored him completely when he tried to speak to her. Alistair sat behind his desk later that day, not paying any attention to what Eamon was saying, instead he focused his thoughts on how he could patch things up with his wife. Her birthday was the next day, and he intended to make it very special for her. Although the air was getting a bit chilly since they were headed for Wintermarch again as they were in the middle of Harvestmere, he figured they could still do what he had planned, if she would give him the time of day, that is.
            “Eamon I want you to cancel everything I have planned for tomorrow. It’s Bridget’s birthday and I wish to spend the entire day with her.”
Eamon gaped at him.
            “Your Majesty you can’t just,”
Alistair turned his gaze on him and looked at him hard.
            “Cancel everything, Eamon. I mean it.” He stated.
Eamon nodded.
            “Yes, Majesty…if you say so.”

xXx
            Bridget lay half asleep early the next morning. Today marked her twenty first birthday…and tomorrow would be the first anniversary of her family’s death. She intended to spend the day with Fergus…but hadn’t seen much of him lately as she noticed he had been spending an awful lot of time with Faye. What he could do to help she didn’t know…but suspected he wasn’t in her room just to ‘help’. She’d noticed lately that whenever they were in the same room with each other, both Faye and Fergus would glance at each other more than once, sometimes she even though she noticed a blush creep to Faye’s cheeks. Bridget was happy for both of them if they were doing what she thought they were, but didn’t want to jinx anything by bringing it up, she didn’t outright ask them if they were together. Her woman’s intuition was enough to tell her that something was going on. Bridget slowly opened her eyes as she heard her bedroom door open and the soft clink of a silver tray. Was it breakfast already? She closed her eyes as her curtains were drawn back, spilling in the dim early morning rays of sunlight to dance atop the wooden floors and walls. Bridget’s eyes opened when she felt someone sit on he side of her bed, closest to her.
            “My love…it’s time to wake up.” Alistair whispered.
Bridget frowned slightly and opened her eyes. She stared up at him but didn’t say anything. Alistair reached for her hand and was surprised she didn’t try to pull it away. He gently raised it to his lips and placed a kiss along her knuckles.
            “First…let me apologize for the complete ass I was to you…it was uncalled for and I couldn’t regret anything more than what I said to you. It was foolish and selfish of me to blame you for our…troubles. Please if you can, forgive me and my stupid self.”
Bridget stared up at him. She noted the slight bags under his eyes and smiled slightly.
Good…looks as if his conscious had indeed kept him awake.
She sat up a little and crossed her arms.
            “I suppose I can forgive you…if you make it up to me somehow. You really did hurt my feelings, Alistair. Next time you should really think before you say something.”
Alistair hung his head and nodded.
            “I will, I promise you. And I intend to make up for it today. I’m going to spend the entire day with you, I’ve already planned everything.”
Bridget smiled slightly and tipped her head to the side.
            “And what have you planned for us?” she asked, curious.
Alistair smiled and stood, walking over to her dresser and returning with a silver tray.
            “First off, breakfast in bed. Then we’re going to go riding out in the fields until we get hungry again and we’ll have a picnic out by the lake. After that well…it’s up to you.”
Bridget smiled and stared down at her breakfast that consisted of scrambled eggs and fruit. She ate while they chatted over a few things, sometimes she would feed Alistair an orange slice or two and he would always catch one of her fingers in his mouth and suck gently for a brief second before releasing it. Soon enough she had finished her meal and dressed in her riding clothes and she and Alistair had mounted their horses. They galloped out into the stretching fields, racing each other to the large oak tree that stood proudly in the distance, it’s orange leaves falling one by one to join the others on the cold ground. Bridget grinned as she took in the area, noting all the beautiful colors of the trees, orange here, yellow there, a few green still and some were already barren of all leaves for winter. They chatted, laughed, pushed some leaves in a large pile and jumped in them together, giggling uncontrollably. As they laid amongst the now scattered leaves, Bridget turned and rested herself up against Alistair. She caressed the side of his face and kissed him deeply, her eyes fluttering shut as their tongues met and moved around each other slowly. Bridget broke the kiss and smiled as Alistair raised his hand and caressed the side of her face.
            “I’ve missed this…just us with no worries, no problems…no potions.” She whispered.
Alistair nodded.
            “I’ve missed it too, my love. Because of all the work I’ve had and all the frustration we’ve felt…it’s like we never really spent time together anymore…from here on out we’re going to change that, I mean it.”
Bridget smiled and snuggled up close to him.
            “I love you, Alistair.” She whispered softly, her breath tickling the side of his neck.
Alistair tightened his hold on her.
            “I love you too, Bridget. It doesn’t matter if we ever conceive or not. I will always love you. The Theirin bloodline will end with me if it has to, I don’t care. As long as you are by my side, that’s all that matters.”
Bridget smiled, hoping that the Theirin bloodline wouldn’t end with him, but took comfort in knowing that he would be alright with it if it did and they could never conceive. They went for a walk as their horses grazed in the grace and talked over a lot of things. Mostly, the conversation centered around Bridget’s parents as she told Alistair some of the stories from back when she was a child…
            “I just can’t believe it will be a year tomorrow…it seems like this year has gone by so fast already. I miss them so much, but I am at peace with it. I admit I will cry I’m sure…but I know you’ll be there to comfort me. I intended to spend the day with Fergus but since he’s so occupied with Faye I think he may find himself elsewhere.”
Alistair chuckled.
            “Yes I noticed that those two have been spending a lot of time together lately. Do you think they’re seeing each other?”
Bridget shrugged.
            “Knowing Faye…I wouldn’t doubt it. She was always sweet on Fergus when we were children. It can’t last though, whatever they have because she’ll have to go back to the Tower eventually…won’t she?”
Alistair wrapped his arm around his wife and held her close.
            “Maybe not. If I command her to stay on the pretense that she must look after you and our potential children then she’ll have to. I don’t think the Grand Cleric would go against my word, my command. Eamon probably wouldn’t be happy about it but Faye is a good person, and she’s your friend. I wouldn’t mind at all if she stayed, especially if she’s able to make Fergus happy.”
Bridget smiled up at him.
            “I would love it if she stayed. Not to change the subject but I’m getting a little hungry, could we have our picnic now?”
Alistair chuckled and nodded.
            “Of course.”
He walked over to the horse and removed the basket of food he had on the saddle and the blanket. Bridget held the basket whilst Alistair spread the blanket out across the cold ground. They sat after a moment and began to eat the rolls and chicken that was packed, sipping on the wine that Alistair slipped in as well.
            “So…what do you intend to do after we eat?” Bridget asked.
Alistair tipped his head to the side.
            “We could go riding again if you wish, but it’s getting a little chilly out. It’s up to you though, sweetheart.”
Bridget thought for a moment.
            “I am getting a little cold, and we are a little dirty from jumping in those leaves earlier. I guess we should head back and take a bath.”
Alistair grinned.
            “You know…the wash basin in our bedroom is large enough for two…”
Bridget chuckled and raised her eyebrows.
            “Are you flirting with me, Majesty?” she asked.
Alistair looked into her eyes and finally, after many months of not seeing it, noticed that playful spark light them up once again.
            “If I said I was…what would you think?” he replied.
Bridget moved closer to him and kissed his and trailed her lips up to his ear.
            “I would be glad to share that large basin with you…my love.” She whispered before flicking his earlobe with her tongue.
Alistair grinned and placed a soft kiss to her lips.
            “Then let’s not waste another moment!” he exclaimed.
They quickly finished their lunch and mounted their horses again, galloping back to the palace at a fairly fast pace. Upon arriving, Alistair asked a servant for some hot water to be put in the basin so he could bathe, and the servant hurried away to do just that. Bridget had turned to change out of her riding clothes, but Alistair lifted her into his arms and over his shoulder.
            “I will take care of removing your clothes, my love, don’t you worry.” He stated.
Bridget chuckled and blushed as they made their way through the palace, servants and guards both whispering and giggling at seeing their king and queen so happy again. Soon enough they made it to their room and Alistair gently set Bridget back on her feet, kissing her heatedly as he did so. Eyeing the basin in the corner of the room and noting that it was already filled with water, Alistair wasted no time removing Bridget’s clothes. He started with her jacket, fingers deftly unbuttoning the garment and tossed it behind him, not caring where it landed. Her corset (which Alistair was now a master at removing) flew across the room next followed by his shirt. Bridget’s dress and shift pooled at her feet and she shimmied out of her small clothes as well. Alistair lifted her in his arms and walked over to the basin, slowing lowering her into the slightly steaming liquid. Bridget sighed happily as the warm liquid warmed her bones. Alistair poured some liquid into the water and smiled as bubbles started to form. He left her for a brief moment and then returned with a small stool. He sat on the stool and smiled at her. Bridget furrowed her brow.
            “I thought you were coming in here with me.” She stated.
Alistair chuckled and shook his head.
            “Not just yet, let me see your foot.”
Bridget rested her back against the basin and raised her leg slightly, enough to where her foot came out of the water. Alistair took it into his hands and gently rubbed the bottom of her foot, causing Bridget to sigh in pleasure.
            “Oh Alistair you have no idea how good that feels.” She breathed.
He smiled as he continued to rub her foot, but let one of his hands trail up her leg slightly. Bridget opened one eye and smiled at him, noticing he was trying mighty hard not to stare at her breasts. She grinned as a sly idea slipped into her head. She sat up a bit and cupped some of the water in her hands. She rubbed it over her neck and the back of her neck and then took a few of the suds in her hands and started rubbing them across her chest. When his hand stilled on her foot, she knew he was looking at her. Bridge innocently reached for the liquid soap and poured a little into her hands before returning them to her breasts, lathering them up in the soap. She moved them slowly, watching Alistair and smirking to herself.
            “What are you doing?” he asked slowly.
Bridget looked up at him. She ran her thumbs on the underside of her breasts and then back up, her mounds standing at attention now from all of the rubbing she had been doing.
            “I’m cleaning myself…what does it look like I’m doing?” she replied innocently.
Alistair swallowed.
            “Something a lot less innocent.” He stated.
Bridget shook her head and tsked.
            “Oh my dear husband you have such a dirty mind, I am merely washing myself, that is all. Why would I touch myself when you could do that for me?” she purred.
Alistair’s face flushed as he stood so fast the small stool he was sitting on fell backwards. He quickly removed his breeches and small clothes and eased himself into the basin, sitting in front of his wife. She moved towards him and straddled his waist as she poured the soap in her hands again, rubbing them together and then down Alistair’s chest to lather it up as well. She claimed his mouth as she did that in a slow kiss, but it grew passionate before long. Alistair ran his hands over Bridget’s back as their lips continued to move against each other’s. Bridget moved her hips towards Alistair’s to tease him and he groaned as her lower abdomen pushed up against his arousal. He broke the kiss and caressed the side of his face.
            “I was wrong…this basin isn’t big enough for us, let’s move to the bed, shall we?” he said huskily.
Bridget bit her lip and nodded as he cupped some water in his hands and trickled it down her breasts. He did that a few times to remove the soap before he stood and grabbed a nearby towel. He only dried himself partly before he wrapped Bridget up in it, rubbing the soft fabric over her heated skin. Once he felt she was dry enough, Alistair dropped the towel and took her into his arms. He carried her to the bed and climbed atop it, placing her gently against the fur blankets. Alistair then pulled their sheer bed curtains closed, letting his gaze drift over his wife’s body as he did so. He returned to her a moment later lowering himself to her open arms and kissing her with no inhibition…
            After their coupling was over, Alistair held Bridget close to him as she had lulled herself to sleep. He gazed down at her and pushed some of her hair behind her ear. Alistair placed a soft kiss to her forehead and breathed in the scent of her hair. He closed his eyes and drew his brows together.
            “Maker please…please I beg you let us conceive from this night of passion…”
Alistair managed to fall asleep, hoping that the Maker had caught his prayer.

xXx
            Two months later it was Satinalia once again. Alistair sat in the dining hall eating his breakfast, worrying why Bridget wasn’t with him yet. She had been ill recently, running a slight fever and vomiting nearly everything she ate, and because of that Eamon forced her to sleep in her own room again for fear she had caught something contagious. Alistair was only allowed to see her every now and then, but it was never for very long because of the possibility that she was contagious. Just as he was about to go and see her again, he looked up to find her standing at the entrance of the dining hall, grinning broadly. Alistair swept his eyes over her and sighed happily. At long last the color finally returned to her cheeks. She wore a long red dress with gold thread sewn about it and looked absolutely radiant, beautiful…
One could even say that she was practically glowing…
Bridget walked towards him and hugged him tightly as he stood.
            “Happy Satinalia my love!” she exclaimed.
Alistair chuckled.
            “Happy Satinalia too you as well, it is good to see that you are well again, Bridget. I was getting really worried. Did Faye finally cook something up to get you over the illness?”
Bridget nodded.
            “Yes, yes I’m fine, Alistair…could you sit down, I’d like to give you one of your presents now.”
Alistair raised his eyebrows as he looked at her.
            “Bridget you’re not considering…I mean…we’re in the dining hall of all places…I understand we haven’t been with each other for a while now because you were ill, but people eat in here!”
Bridget threw her head back and laughed.
            “Not for that Alistair! Just sit will you?”
Alistair did as she asked, still baffled by what she was going to give him. Bridget smiled and took a deep breath.
            “Now I want you to know that this gift isn’t something I could place in a box…nor can I wrap it up in gift paper. In fact…it’s not even here yet…and it won’t be for quite some time.”
Alistair furrowed his brow.
            “How long will it take?” he asked.
Bridget smiled.
            “Oh I’d say about nine more months, give or take if everything goes as it should…”
Alistair gaped up at her.
            “Nine months! That’s an awful long time…why not just give it to me as a birthday gift…”
Alistair trailed off as his stomach clenched in excitement. He swallowed as realization slowly began to dawn on him. Alistair looked up at Bridget and blinked, a smile growing across his face.
            “Bridget…are you…?”
Bridget took his hands in hers and placed them atop her stomach.
            “Happy Satinalia…father to be.”
Alistair was sure tears flooded his eyes before he stood and picked Bridget up in his arms. He spun them around in place for a bit while holding her tightly. He pulled back and kissed her deeply before breaking the kiss and letting out a shaky breath as a tear of happiness rolled down his cheek. Bridget drew her brows together and smiled as she wiped away his tear.
            “This is the best gift I could ever ask for, my love.” He whispered.
Bridget grinned and kissed him again, wrapping her arms tightly around him. Alistair kissed her back, rubbing his hands over her back.
            “Hey, hey calm down now!”
They broke their kiss and turned to see Faye and Fergus walking towards them.
            “No dipping the candlewick into the oil until I say it’s okay, alright?” she asked.
Alistair and Bridget both blushed.
            “You really need to work on how you word things, Faye.” Bridget giggled.
Faye shrugged.
            “Well I figured that’d be better than just coming out and saying it. Until I say so you’re just going to have to get reacquainted with good ole’ righty.” She said, talking to Alistair, who choked on his sip of water and ended up spitting it out.
            “Faye!” Bridget exclaimed.
Faye held up her hands.
            “That wasn’t even my line! Fergus told me to say it!”
Bridget cut her eyes at Fergus and crossed her arms.
            “I know you didn’t make that up yourself.” She stated.
Before Fergus could say anything everyone turned at the sound of hearing a throat clear and grinned to see Zevran, Leliana, Oghren and Zeus standing by the doorway.
            “No, no that was my line! Glad to see someone finally got to use it!” Zevran exclaimed.
Bridget and Alistair grinned and hurried towards their friends who had gone back to their own lives recently and hadn’t been in the palace for quite some time.
            “Fergus sent us all letters letting us know of the good news! Congratulations both of you!” she exclaimed.
Alistair looked confused.
            “How’d you find out before I did?”
Faye answered for him.
            “Bridget and I knew for some time now that she was with child, but she wanted to wait to tell you on Satinalia.”
Bridget turned to him and smiled.
            “I thought it would be more special that way.” She stated.
Alistair grinned and took her in his arms. With their child along the way and their friends back together again, nothing at all would dampen his mood. The Satinalia celebration went off wonderfully well, but, as bad as it sounded to wish almost an entire year away, that’s what he wanted. He couldn’t wait to hold his child in his arms!
But there would be one more surprise that neither Alistair nor Bridget suspected…
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The Last of the Couslands