This is the continuation of the story I began in Threshold and Crossing Over. If you haven't read those I recommend reading them first as this won't make much sense otherwise. I know there were other companions available in the game but for the purposes of my narrative, Neria recruited only Anders and Nathaniel. As always my thanks to Xanderpein for his help with the male perspective in my tales and Cadsuane for her top notch editing skills. And a thank you to Bioware for their marvelous characters. I own none of them, just borrowed them for my story.
Chapter One
After two months of separation, sitting next to Teagan and holding his hand felt really good to Neria. They were camping beside the road between the arling and Denerim known as the Pilgrim's Path. Full tummies and a couple of warm pints of ale for everyone not on watch made the odd mixture of nobles, soldiers and Grey Wardens comfortable and amiable with each other.
The only greeting she had experienced without any conflicting emotions marring it was that from Muffin, her mabari. The kennel master could barely contain him and finally gave up when Muffin saw Neria. Happily he ran to her, and jumped on her, placing his huge paws on her shoulders, his big tongue licking away her tears of happiness. Now Muffin lay as close as he could to his mistress, one paw on her foot.
The huge, colorful pavilion behind them seemed spacious to Neria, especially after spending the entirety of the Blight in small camps pitched where they found space to do so. To Neria, it seemed almost as if the woman carried the comforts of a palace with her wherever she went.
"So you were really coming all the way to Amaranthine for me?" Neria asked Teagan.
"I was. Bann Regina's brother, Evan is a templar in the chantry there. She's been worried and she seeks word on him. We also want to get some casualty lists to take back to Denerim to families. And we're going to distribute goods if people need them. I imagine with an actual darkspawn threat up here, they're needed?"
"Evan, young man in his early twenties, dark hair, green eyes?" Neria asked.
"Yes, have you any news of him?" Regina asked.
"He's fine. Most of the people took shelter in the chantry when the darkspawn attacked the city. He helped defend the civilians and fought off a number of the horde."
Giggling, relief flooding her face, Regina wiped a tear from her eye. "That definitely sounds like Evan. Thank you for this news, I've been so worried. I have to go see him."
"As for the goods you bring, we definitely need them. With the recent stranglehold lifted off the trade routes, things have eased up some, but there are far too many still starving. And I'll have to see what can be done about Vigil's keep."
"I'll help, Neria. Drew can watch over Rainesfere for a little while."
"Well, that's for later. As for me, I'm worn out for the night. I'm off to bed."
Neria rose and stretched, feeling happier than she had in months. Moving behind him, she wrapped her arms around Teagan's neck and leaned down to whisper in his ear.
"I'll be in our bedroll…don't keep me waiting. We have a lot of lost time to make up for." Then she let her warm breath feather over his ear.
Rising and stretching, he took her hand, affected a theatrical yawn and grinned. "Well, I'm just completely tired out, too. Good night, Regina, Nathaniel."
"Yes, well, Commander, don't be so 'tired' you keep me up half the damn night from the noise of your 'sleeping,'" Nathaniel called after them.
She giggled, tipsy, but she was so happy it wouldn't have mattered. Just being with Teagan again was enough to make her drunk with joy. They walked side by side, his arm around her waist, steadying her.
He led the way to the area partitioned off for them and pulled back the thick curtain to let her step inside, then let it drop behind them. The darkness around them was nearly complete. Within the small space she felt cozy and warm, as if they were the only two in camp. The thick curtains should afford them some privacy as long as they were quiet.
"Wait," she whispered, putting a hand on his chest. "Is there a lamp? I've wanted to see you so much I don't want to miss a moment with you."
"Lamp…yes?" She heard him moving around in the small space and retrieving something, then bringing it to her.
She whispered the word of power and a light glow emanated from the lamp as the wick caught flame. In the glow, she saw his face lit up, the angular planes shadowed, the eyes bright with an almost childlike wonder. Her magic was always a source of mystery and awe to him. He was the first mundane she had met who wasn't afraid of her gift.
"There, that's better," she whispered, her palm cupping his cheek. "I've missed this face."
Hanging the lamp from a hook above them, he turned to face her.
She unbuttoned his tunic and slipped her hands inside, running her fingers along his skin, reveling in the feel of him under her hands. Leaning in, she kissed his chest, teasing him with her tongue. She stood on her tiptoes to kiss him just over his Adam's apple the way she had in his dream. His arms went around her and then fell to his sides in disappointment.
"I can't feel you through this armor," he sighed.
"We'll just have to remedy that then," she said.
She started unbuckling the mail tunic, but he put his hands over hers. Puzzled, she looked at him.
"Let me," he said. Smiling, he began undoing the fastenings. "I've never seen such beautiful armor before. Or perhaps it's the woman wearing it who makes it so."
Pleased at the compliment, she couldn't help blushing.
She lifted her arms so he could pull the chainmail tunic over her head. He hefted it, obviously impressed with the quality, and then placed it on a stool nearby.
He ran his fingers along the skin of her throat and over the collar bone, touching the little pendant that dangled into her cleavage. Looking into eyes that were a deep blue in the light of the lamp, she knew, from the look in them, thoughts of armor were already flittering out of his head. He pushed back the cloth of her leather padding and bared her skin to him.
"Maker's breath," he whispered, looking at her.
She shivered a little and pulled her arms up—afraid it was her scars he looked at. Then he took her hands in his and pulled them away and shook his head at her. He kissed the fingers curled around his hands.
"Don't," he pleaded. "I've missed looking at you, too."
Letting go of her hands to reach out to her, he touched her soft skin. His fingers traced the scar of the injury that had brought them closer. Only a small line remained now to remind them of those frightening hours before the healer came. He kissed it, his lips moving to the peak of one breast, pulling the nipple into his mouth and brushing his tongue along it. Gasping softly in response, her arms went around him, her body arching into his touch.
He kissed her tummy, his fingers caressed her sides, tickling her and making her shiver in delight. She felt his hands come to the buckle of the belt holding her trousers up and loosed that, tugging them down over her hips, his hands caressing her curving, tight little buttocks.
"Teagan, wait…let me sit down," she gasped.
She settled down on the bedroll and he pulled off her boots, and then eased her pants off as well. His own garments fell beside hers on the floor and then he joined her on their bedding, his long body covering hers.
The sunlight peeking in through the seam of the tent crossed Teagan's eyes and woke him early. He looked over at the woman beside him and smiled, remembering their reunion. Their bodies were still entwined from lovemaking most of the night. He had gotten little sleep before dawn came, but Teagan didn't mind.
He bent to the soft curve of her throat and placed a kiss there, nuzzling her skin and kissing his way to her ear, nibbling on the lobe. Giggling sleepily, she put her arm around him to snuggle him close to her, her leg wrapping around his.
Brushing her cheek with his fingers, he marveled again at how smooth and soft her skin was. He smiled and kissed her hooded eyes, the tip of her nose.
"Good morning, love," he whispered in her ear.
"Mmm, morning, love," she murmured in response.
Though she didn't open her eyes, she did smile sleepily when he kissed her full lips.
She loved him. Teagan couldn't remember when he had been this happy. Days ago he had set out, miserable and worried and today everything was different.
He heard the sounds around them as the camp began to wake up and contemplated waking the woman in his arms for one last tumble before starting their day. Then, he decided against it, kissing her cheek and slipping out of her embrace to sit up.
"We have a lot to do, love," he said, quietly.
"Mmm, not right now, we don't," she countered, pulling at his arm.
He chuckled. "Are you trying to entice me back to bed, little minx?"
"Maybe. I don't want to get up just yet. It felt good lying beside you again."
Yawning, she sat up finally and laid her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her, stroking under her arm. It did feel good having her close to him again.
They approached Vigil's Keep. The walls were a shambles, but there were places where they had actually held. Granite was tough stone and the keep had been reinforced with dwarven skill.
There were survivors here and the slow process of reorganizing had already begun. Varel had died in the siege. Captain Garevel had survived, as he had been in Amaranthine, defending the city when the keep was attacked and would be taking over as seneschal for the Wardens.
Though the invaders had broached the walls, they had been driven back and completely routed. And though there were skirmishes with stragglers, it was mostly peaceful in Amaranthine now.
The long, slow process of rebuilding could begin again.
As the only other Grey Warden in Amaranthine at the moment, Nathaniel accompanied Bann Regina and her escort on to the city. Neria remained with Teagan at the keep.
Wade and Herron were still alive, and ready to help repair and equip those soldiers left alive.
Neria was glad to see Alec, a sheepherder who'd been caught for theft, alive still. She had conscripted him to the army and allowed him to pay back his debt in service to the Crown. He had acquitted himself bravely during the battle and won a knight's title for himself.
In the next five months, the keep slowly began to show improvement.
Teagan proved invaluable to her, as Neria had little expertise in the running of a keep. He organized reconstruction efforts and prepared Vigil's keep for the day it would be a fully functional keep again. Going over the household accounts with Mistress Woolsey, he organized funds and distributed goods to the troops and neighboring farms.
For her part, Neria focused on security, ensuring the keep was brought back up to fighting standards, keeping the darkspawn at bay and organizing the other Grey Wardens. Anders returned from the Circle of Magi, Nathaniel from Amaranthine and a dozen young recruits volunteered, fresh and eager to engage the enemy.
As Warden-Commander, Neria was considered the Arlessa of Amaranthine and as such, when the after harvest Landsmeet drew near, she prepared for the journey to Denerim. The afternoon before she was to go, a messenger arrived with a letter from Weisshaupt.
She was released from her duties as Warden-Commander.
"What does this mean, Neria?" Teagan asked, when she told him.
"It means that for now, according to this letter, Nathaniel is in charge. I guess maybe they rethought putting an elven mage in a position of power over man."
"I know you really enjoyed being Warden-Commander, Neria. I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do?"
She shook her head. "I'll look on this as an extended vacation—maybe even an early retirement. We can go to Denerim for the Landsmeet, and then back to Rainesfere?"
Smiling, he moved to hold her. "I've missed home. Wherever you're happy, love, I'm happy."