a shocking revelation about Alistair

Aedan, Alistair, Dane and Leliana were gathered around the campfire as everyone prepared to settle in for the night. Sten and Morrigan it seemed were content to set up their tent's farther away from where Aedan, Alistair's and Leliana's tent's were which were rather close to another.

Morrigan and Sten had also prepared their own campfire's, content to not be within social distance of the two Warden's and redheaded Chantry sister. Aedan would hope to change that but due to Morrigan's rather reclusive nature that she had no doubt developed thanks to living in the middle of nowhere and while Aedan knew not much about qunari, he assumed that qunari were relatively solitary creatures unlike human's. Hopefully with Sten here Aedan could hope to learn more about the rather unknown and in some cases intimidating people to human's.

"So seeing as how we'll be heading to Redcliffe tomorrow I should probably get this off my chest" Alistair spoke, rather hesitantly.

Aedan raised a brow "get what off your chest? that you yourself are the elder Grey Warden between us two and have instead seemed to shove the new recruit to make all the descisons?"

"Elder Grey Warden...." Alistair sighed "well thanks for making me sound like an old man before my time" he added sarcastically.

Leliana simply gave the blonde Warden a smile "I'm sure Aedan didn't mean it like that" she patted said Warden on his arm, wearing naught but his tunic and breeches with his armour safely stashed away in his tent.

Dane merely barked, seemingly adding its own canine rely to which Leliana scratched the mabari behind the ear to which the wardog seemed to appreciate much to Leliana's joy. The redhead had seemingly been quick to take a liking to Aedan's pet which Morrigan and Sten did not. Morrigan seemed to always be annoyed upon any interaction with the wardog whereas Sten seemed to treat the animal with a simple indifference.

"Well I'm so glad I have your approval" Alistair briefly chuckled at Dane before continuing "well Arl Eamon raised me and my mother was a serving girl at the castle...I think" he shrugged "that's just about all I know of her, anyway, Arl Eamon took me in" Alisair seemed to take a deep breath, as if he were about to admit to a crime "the reason he did so was because..." Alistair scratched the back of his head, nervously "because my father was King Maric which made Cailan my half-brother in a sense"

"Which makes you the heir to the throne of Fereldan does it not?" Leliana said, shocked at said revelation.

Alistair's eye's seemed to go as wide as dinner plates "sweet Maker I hope not!" he declared staunchly "no, I am not touching that thing with a ten foot pole. At all"

"Leliana does have a point though" Aedan pointed out "you could go to Denerim and declare yourself king if Maric was your father couldn't you?"

Alistair shook his head vigorously "No. No way. Not in a million year's!"

Leliana frowned "but if you did so you could order Loghain's execution could you not?" she added "I don't know much about politics but you could go to Denerim tomorrow declare yourself king and have Loghain killed. Isn't that what you want?"

Alistair sighed "yes, I do want Loghain dead but I don't want to kill him if it means I have to become king" his mind seemingly went back to reminiscing about his old mentor Duncan for a minute "I want Loghain dead, more than anything. But I do not want to become king!"

Aedan frowned "why not? I'm sure you would make a perfectly fine king"

Alistair looked at Aedan "have you met me?" he scoffed "I'm no leader of men, you even pointed it out that I am relying on you make all the decision's despite the fact I've been a Warden longer than you" he continued "look, I'm not exactly great at responsibilities and being king is the biggest responsibility ever" he pointed out.

Aedan shook his head "well, I can't force you to do anything you do not wish to do" he stroked his chin "I guess it's a shame the descendant of Maric has no interest in carrying on his legacy"

Leliana quickly responded "don't do that. Guilt tripping Alistair is unbecoming of you Aedan Cousland"

Alistair waved the redhead's concern off "it's fine, Leliana. Besides if anyone is to become leader of Fereldan it's Anora. And she's welcome to the throne. I don't want my ass sitting on that thing"

"And you're perfectly fine with letting her take the throne despite her being Loghain's daughter?" Aedan questioned.

Alistair chewed his lip "well yes, Fereldan needs a leader that's not me and she's the only candidate. I also would like to believe she had no part in Loghain's treachery"

"I'm sure she didn't" Leliana confirmed.

Aedan shrugged "maybe she did, maybe she didn't. We won't know I guess unless we run into her. And with her father wanting us dead I highly doubt that will happen"

Alistair replied "look, I'm sorry. I would have told you it's just that I would've been seen as a threat to Cailan's reign as king. Everyone who ever knew this about me always seemed to either resent me for it or coddle me and not let me do any real fighting in case...well I'm sure you can figure the rest out"

Aedan nodded "Thank you for confiding in me and the lovely Chantry sister here" he looked over at Sten and Morrigan, curious if he should get to know either of them further or retire to his tent for the night?

"Off to talk to the bitch and Mr Broody over there?" Alistair asked curiously.

"Maybe" Aedan pondered.

"And what about me?" Leliana questioned, giving him the puppy eye's "you're not interested in me?"

Aedan smiled "oh I very much am Leliana. But who knows how long it'll be before those two social recluses decide to go to sleep"

Leliana seemed to accept this answer "fair enough"

Alistair yawned "well I'm certainly tired. I guess I'll see you all tomorrow" to which the blonde Warden headed to his tent nearby.