Leliana closed the door silently behind her, she had a point to keep the door hinges well-oiled due to many late nights, as she entered the bedroom. The room's sole occupant didn't even stir in the bed. Elissa Cousland, the former Warden Commander of Ferelden,did not stir in the bed, she was curled up in a pile of pillows per usual. There had been many late nights as of late. The agents acting on behalf of the Resolutionists were getting bolder, going so far to strike even in the heart Val Royeaux. The divine hid her worry well, but Leliana knew there was only going to be so much more they could do to contain the situation. War was coming to Thedas, it was simply a matter when.

Leliana moved to the far side of the room and began to undress, she'd cleaned up most of the blood from the evening's skirmish, laying her cloak and gloves on a chair beside the armoire. She removed her boots and shivered as her bare feet hit the cold, hard wood, floor. Pulling her jerkin over her head Leliana she was surprised to find a hole, a slash actually, in the leather. It was too close for comfort, and while close calls could happen to anyone, there had been a time when not even the fastest blade would have grazed her. Ten years was a long time though and Leliana could not deny the aches and pains she felt after a fight now. When she had first met Elissa they had been able to spend all day walking, fighting, and the nights making love in their creaky little tent. Now Leliana was lucky enough to have energy to change out of her clothes before collapsing into a sound slumber.

Elissa was feeling the years too, though she did her best to hide her discomfort from Leliana. The bard heard the creaking and popping of Elissa's joints, the slight groans when she climbed in and out of the bath. Years of charging about in full plate armor had taken a toll, but the most worrisome aspect of the passing time was the taint. Elissa had told her of what would happen someday, at some point, in the future when she would be called into the Deep Roads by the song in reverberating in her blood. The previous week Leilana had panicked, believing she had seen the first signs of corruption on Elissa's skin when it had simply been an oddly placed shadow. The bard did not consider herself a hysterical woman, but it had taken Elissa an hour to calm her down. Time was their enemy, merciless, unstoppable, and it would catch up to them both.

Covered in goosebumps, Leliana hurried across the room and slid under the sheets. She scooted up behind Elissa, sliding her arms around the sleeping woman and burying her face in the warden's shoulder.

"Gah! Hands! Cold!" Elissa said, squirming in Leliana' s embrace. "What have I said about cold hands?"

Leliana giggled and kissed Elissa on her neck. "I'm sorry, my love. I was simply eager to be near you."

Elissa rolled over to face Leliana and nuzzled her. "I suppose I will forgive it this one time."

"You are so generous, my lady."

Elissa chuckled, pulling Leliana closer. "No need to sass. Are you all right? You feel tense."

"It was a long night, that is all."

"If you say so."

"If you want to help, you should warm my hands lest the cold offend your delicate skin again."

Elissa kissed Leliana deeply, the warden could still take her breath away with just a kiss. Time was their enemy, merciless, unstoppable, but they still had tonight, and hopefully many nights after, before they were separated. And until then, Leliana planned to enjoy each and every moment with Elissa.