snarky_tabris | AU: The Prince and the Pauper (for alistair

It had been several months now since Bianca Tabris had become involved with the King of Ferelden, Alistair Theirin, and they were some of the best months of her life. They'd been practically inseparable, with Alistair coming over for dinner practically every night, and Bianca visiting him just as frequently.

It was becoming very obvious that this was a serious relationship, and it was becoming a cause for concern among the nobility of Ferelden. Having a tryst with an elf was one thing, but an actual relationship...that was something very different.

Combine that with the number of changes that Alistair was trying to implement, to make lives better for all the people of Ferelden, which included his plans to give the elves representation in the Landsmeet...

Alistair was going away for a while. There were tensions with Orlais, and he needed to go deal with them personally. Bianca was staying behind, as her family needed her.

"When do you think you'll be back? Promise me you'll stay safe, and not let those Orlesians go to your head..."

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Bianca laughs and nods.

"Course it is. I'm okay, Alistair, honest..."

Well, she's more or less okay.

Her laughter loosens him up a little. "Well, you might be okay, but you're filthy - and I mean that in the best way possible." Her clothes are caked onto her body with sweat and dirt, and he starts peeling them off.

"Ugh, I know, I feel disgusting."

She moves to help him get some of her clothes off, since some things are stuck on there pretty bad.

With some work, she's now completely naked. He dips the rag in the water and starts gently washing her body, eyes still looking at her with worry.

Bianca sighs and gives Alistair a small, reassuring smile.

"Alistair, it's okay. I'm okay, see? Still here."

Alistair returns the smile and nods a bit, continuing to wash her body and then dry it with a towel. He pulls the blankets up over her and climbs into bed next to her, nuzzling his face against hers.

"Orlais was Orlais. Teagan's still there bickering with them over senseless useless nonsense."

Bianca smiles at him and snuggles close to him.

"That sounds like the Orlesians...so I take it the border disputes didn't get resolved at all, huh..."

"Course not." He sighs and trails a hand over her stomach. "I should just send Teagan more places without me. They listen to him as much as they listen to me - not at all."

"I know...but your presence makes them aware of how seriously the problem is, and how you want to fix it. I know you don't like it..."

She sighs and strokes his cheek.

"But it's worth it in the end, isn't it?"

"No. Leaving you and your family unprotected was not worth it. Speaking of which, I hope they won't be too upset that I'm pushing them into the palace like I did. It's just I didn't want your captors going after them in retribution."

"You were doing what you had to do, love..."

She continues to stroke his cheek, sighing.

"I don't think they'll be mad...they're okay, right? The attackers were trying to kill Shianni..."

"I haven't heard anything yet, but I sent guards to get your family as soon as we got here."

He sighs, running his hand up and down her side.

"I'm just glad you're alive."

"I'm tough to kill."

She smiles at him and snuggles closer to him.

"I don't know who they were. They always wore masks or talked through hired assassins, but I know they wanted to use me to manipulate you...they didn't like the way you were running things, the changes you've been making..."

Bianca frowns a bit.

"Which is probably why they tried to kill Shianni..."

He nods and wraps his arm around her, nudging her to come rest on his chest. "This is going to be a hard one to track. There's no information on the building, my guards saw noone entering or leaving it."

He sighs, stroking her hair. "I'm sorry that I got you and your family wrapped up in this mess."

Bianca smiles, shaking her head as she rests on his chest.

"Alistair, you have nothing to be sorry for. I knew what I was getting into when I fell for you."

She frowns in thought, trying to remember anything about where she was being held.

"I know we got ambushed when we were coming back from the docks...and I know there were other rooms in the building, so it might have been some sort of apartment complex."

"I knew people would dislike you, and disapprove of my decision, but I didn't think they'd try to kill you!" He sighs again.

"It's paranoid and probably unfounded, but I'm suspicious of Eamon. He sent me a letter about your disappearance, but that's all he did. He didn't even fake launching a search."

"Technically, they were trying to kill Shianni. I guess somebody must've heard about your plan to name her the Denerim Alienage bann...they only kidnapped me."

That isn't surprising at all. Bianca snorts, rolling her eyes and sighing.

"Of course he didn't. I'm not surprised, though. He doesn't like me, remember? I'm not noble or human enough for him."

She sighs again, snuggling up against Alistair, looking up at him.

"Do you want to talk to him about this?"

"Well, I know he doesn't like you... or our relationship... but still. I don't know, something just doesn't feel right."

He shrugs and holds her tighter. "I'm sure I'll have to talk to him about it eventually. For now, I'm rather content."

"I don't know why he doesn't like me...beyond being an elf, I've done nothing to offend him...still, who knows. Old prejudices tend to run deep..."

She gives him a smug smile, leaning up to kiss him.

"Talk to him about it tomorrow. Everything else can wait..."

AU: The Prince and the Pauper (for alistair_theirin)

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