Author's Note: This is one of many projects I have in the pipeline, but I am posting this one now because it serves as a companion piece to my main story. Because I do not want to break the format of the main piece, which is set along the course of Leliana's ballad, I decided to post this as a separate entity. It, of course, falls within the universe of my Warden, Kallian. There will probably be another chapter or two within this story: mostly scenes that I cannot fit into the confines of my main piece. They will not be in chronological order, by any means.

Disclaimer: Dragon Age and its characters of course belong to Bioware. My rendition of Kallian belongs to me. This chapter is rated M for a reason, and while tasteful contains explicit scenes of lovemaking between my favorite protagonists. If that makes you all uptight, then I suggest you look elsewhere.

Rating: M (for good reason).

The Last Dance: Lost Scrolls

The Dance

"Fynn!"

Kallian scowled at the Mabari, pinning him with the most threatening expression she could muster – which at the time wasn't much, considering the way her pulse thundered loudly in her ears from the lengthy kiss he'd interrupted. Gods … her heart was pounding like she had just fought a hundred Darkspawn. Her head was still spinning. Her lips tingled from the intimate contact.

Kissing Leliana had been ... amazing ... incredible ... exhilarating … words alone could not describe it. Kallian looked down at their linked hands, marveling at the familiarity, the way the bard's hand so comfortably fit around her own smaller one. She had not expected that – the ease of which they'd settled into their roles.

There was relief there, also. Though she would not admit it openly, Kallian had been more than a little worried about the disparity in their sexual histories. Growing up in the alienage, she'd had little opportunity to date anyone her age. Most of the boys couldn't stand having a girl around that could best them in a fight, and the girls teased her mercilessly about her boyish appearance. That is, when they acknowledged her at all. Most of the elders had heartily disapproved of Adaia's activities had used her death as an example about the dangers of being a renegade.

Kallian was aware she could be considered pretty, maybe even beautiful by some standards. But the swordplay, the sneaking around, cutting purses had severely limited the number of willing suitors. After all, she hardly fit the profile of a demure housewife. In fact, from a young age, Kallian had kept to herself, well aware that she was "different" from her peers. Her only true friends and playmates had been her cousins Soris and Shianni.

That wasn't to say she had no suitors. There had been a few boys in the alienage she had allowed to kiss her – mostly to stave off the tide of rumors that would have seriously harmed her family's reputation if the truth had been more widely known. In a community where family ties were extremely important, being different could be dangerous. So Kallian had learned to hide her deepest desires, cloaking herself in her solitude.

Those times when the loneliness had become unbearable, she'd been careful to take her activities far beyond the alienage, hanging around the docks, making friends with the whores and other cutpurses that frequented the Pearl.

Kallian's cheeks darkened a little at that thought. She was not a complete innocent. There had been one woman at the Pearl who'd taken more than a cursory interest in the elf. It had been she who'd opened the Warden's eyes to the concept of pleasures far beyond her wildest dreams.

But this – this was so much more than a mere tumble in the sack. Kallian's thumb traced over the bard's hand in wonder, glancing shyly at the other woman. Those eyes were focused on her now, and she became immersed in those infinite pools of blue, realizing she was hopelessly lost.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Leliana couldn't help but smile, reaching out and tracing a finger along the crook of Kallian's arm. The Warden's eyes had lost their focus, as they sometimes did whenever the elf was deep in thought. Her ear tips darkened at the casual contact.

"Perhaps it is best we continue elsewhere, no?" She brushed the ebony tendrils from the younger woman's forehead. Kallian's eyes darted to Fynn, sniffing conspicuously before pushing to her feet.

"Your room or mine?" Such an innocent question, but Leliana could detect the signs of arousal hidden beneath the otherwise composed surface. It was subtle, the slight dilation of her pupils, the way her ears twitched in anticipation – or nervousness – the bard could not be completely sure.

She thought on Kallian's question – they both had warm rooms waiting for them at Redcliffe castle. Arl Eamon had seen to their comfort. But the mood in the castle was somber, and their rooms, while spacious, were a little too close to the prying ears of the palace servants she was sure Eamon had in place to spy on them.

"I was thinking ..." Leliana's weighed her words cautiously. It would do no good to draw Kallian's suspicions to the Arl needlessly. She was far too innocent in such intrigues – and there was no reason to upset her over what would be standard precautions in noble circles. "I think," she continued, "that I would like to sleep beneath the stars."

Kallian's head jerked, frowning at the bard. "Beneath the stars?" Her voice was dubious. "We sleep beneath the stars every night." On hard bedrolls, to boot. The Warden favored her with her best puppy-dog eyes, hoping to appeal to the bard's better nature. "What about a warm bed at the castle? Doesn't that sound more appealing than a bedroll?"

Leliana's lip quirked in amusement. "I was just thinking how nice it would be to spend the evening alone with you under the stars," she leaned in, allowing her body to press closer to the elf's. Earlier in the day, they had established a camp a respectable distance away from the castle, just in case a hasty retreat proved necessary. Fortunately, Eamon had been accommodating, understanding the necessity of Isolde's death while mourning her loss. "Our rooms at the castle are far too close to the others. And I …" She trailed a finger down the Warden's forearm, watching the elf shiver. "…I would very much like some privacy…"

Kallian's eyes fluttered closed, weighing the benefits of privacy compared to the creature comforts afforded by the castle. Leliana's body drew even closer, and an unholy image of the two of them flashed through her mind. Gods…

"Okay," Kallian began to tug urgently on the bard's hand. "Let's go."

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

The walk to the campsite took forever.

Oh, the evening was pleasant enough. A light breeze wove its way through the trees, giving the evening a crisp feel. There was a slight chill in the autumn air, but it was neither too hot nor too cold. The stars shone brightly, and if she looked just a bit to the right, Leliana could make out the stars of Alindra and her soldier shining down on them.

They talked about everything and nothing as they walked. Well, the bard did most of the talking. Kallian did her best to respond anytime Leliana asked her a question, but she was becoming increasingly distracted by the proximity of the Orlesian's body to her own. Was she just imagining it or did the temperature seem to be steadily increasing?

It was about a half hour's walk to the clearing where they'd set up an alternative campsite. It was not much – just a few bedrolls and a canvas tent, along with a small fire pit with a few prepared logs.

"Why don't you get a fire going, and I'll set up the bedrolls?" Leliana's breath fell upon the Warden's ear, sending an involuntary shiver through the younger woman's body. The barest whisper of lips brushed across the back of her neck, and then was gone, the bard sauntering smoothly towards the other side of the campsite. Kallian's eyes followed the sway of Leliana's hips, clamping her mouth firmly shut lest she start to drool like an idiot.

By all the gods...

Kallian glanced down at Fynn, who chuffed at her in amusement before trotting off into the forest. Somehow, she didn't think he would be back before morning, and if she was lucky enough he would keep any unwelcome visitors from stumbling across the pair until daybreak. Her feet began to move of their own accord, bringing her to the fire pit. Without much thought, she began to arrange the logs as Duncan had shown her long ago, neatly stacking the tinder in the middle of the bundle before drawing her flint and striker.

Damnit, her hands were shaking so badly she could barely create a spark. She fumbled the first few tries, muttering curses under her breath, trying to coax a flame to life. Kallian bit her lower lip as she sought to steady her trembling fingers.

"Relax." Leliana's arms slid around the elf's body, her own hands guiding the other woman's into the familiar motions. The tinder finally caught spark, smoking for a moment before a tiny flame was born.

Kallian glanced at the bard gratefully, but Leliana was already across the site, rummaging through her pack. Cool green eyes roamed appreciatively over the bard's backside before shifting their focus back to the small fire, adding a few smaller twigs to the pile of tinder so that it would take hold.

"Here, take a sip of this." A canteen was handed over to the Warden, who grabbed it without question, assuming it was one of the water skins she'd filled earlier. The deceptively sweet but potent mulled wine hit the back of her throat unexpectedly, causing the Warden to cough and sputter violently.

A hand rapped sharply against Kallian's back. "Breathe!" The combination of Leliana's frantic voice and the sharp blow finally startled the Warden into drawing a shuddering breath. Gasping for air, the elf finally regained control over her lungs, smiling weakly into the worried blue pair.

"I'm fine," Kallian managed to touch the bard's arm reassuringly. "Just unexpected, that's all."

Leliana looked dubious, but nodded gracefully, taking her own, much smaller sip from the skin before setting it aside. Blue eyes met green once again, anticipation beginning to build.

Gods, she just wanted to reach over to the bard and grab her, kiss her, never let her go. Her eyes met the Orlesian's own, and she could see the yearning there, the hesitation, and a hint of fear behind those baby blues.

The Warden wondered if this would be Leliana's first time to have a lover since Marjolaine, and then quickly shoved the question from her mind. Any thought of the Bardmaster was sure to sour the mood. Better to focus on the here and now.

"I haven't..." Kallian offered, hoping to assuage the redhead's fears. "I mean I have but it's been..." A deep blush colored her features. Gods, why couldn't she simply say what was on her mind? The bard's face relaxed visibly, offering Kallian a shy smile, which, of course, made the elf blush all the harder.

"Relax." A pair of calloused hands cupped Kallian's cheeks, bringing their lips to meet once more. Creators, what was it about this woman that so effectively sent thought fleeing from her mind? Leliana's lips were impossibly full, and soft, and Maker she could spend hours lost in this gentle exploration.

Leliana's fingers wove through her hair, threading through the dark locks and drawing her yet closer, deepening the contact. Kallian couldn't help but moan as the bard's tongue traced across her lower lip, followed by a gentle nip and a deeper exploration that caused her to ache in all the right places. Her hands slipped around the Orlesian's waist, exploring the bard's fervently, the warmth radiating from her belly.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Leliana felt the tension leave the elf's shoulder as Kallian relaxed into the kiss, allowing the bard to guide her in this – this delicate and most intimate dance.

She harbored no illusions that her experience level far surpassed the elf's own, though truth be told she had been greatly relieved to know the Warden had at least been with someone. Though the admission had piqued her interest, to say the least, that would remain a conversation for another time. She did wonder, for a brief moment, if Kallian's realm of experience had been limited only to the male gender.

Kallian's palm came to rest against the side of her breast, her thumb tracing idly across her covered nipple.

Obviously not.

Her nipples began to harden, tightening under the Warden's tentative explorations. Leliana's head arched back, allowing herself free reign to explore the Warden's own body, marveling at how very different it felt.

For one, most elves were thin, with delicate structures and slender builds. Kallian, though slender, was more solid, and the bard could feel the play of the muscles rippling under her armor. Leliana wondered if the non-stop fighting made the difference. It certainly wasn't the elf's eating habits. Kallian ate like a Mabari, putting away huge quantities of food though she never gained an ounce.

Leliana feathered her kisses across the Warden's jaw line, tracing a deliberate path towards a waiting earlobe, capturing the willing flesh between tongue and teeth. Kallian gasped, her entire body going rigid. The bard grinned, glad to see her memory still served her well.

Elves were extraordinarily sensitive about their ears.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

She had forgotten how to breathe.

Leliana's tongue traced up the slope of her outer ear, her teeth neatly nibbling on the sensitive skin. Kallian's knees began to shake under the bard's ministrations, an involuntary groan escaping her mouth from the gentle flicks of the bard's tongue.

Long slender fingertips found the buckles that held her shoulder pauldrons in place, working seamlessly to relieve the Warden of that offending bit of armor. Kallian gasped as Leliana reluctantly shifted her attentions from the ear, pulling the pauldrons overhead and tossing them expertly to the wayside.

"Make sure to breathe." Leliana's eyes twinkled mischievously as she lifted Kallian's hands, slowly untying the laces for her reinforced bracers. The Warden's pulse jumped with each pass of the bard's fingertips across her bare skin. Leliana drew the elf's wrist upwards, her lips pressing softly against the smooth inner skin, grinning at the spike in her lover's pulse. They soon joined the pauldrons, and causing the Warden to shiver in anticipation.

"Cold, love?" Kallian shook her head at the Orlesian's lilting voice, trembling as Leliana removed her boots, then her trews, glad she maintained enough semblance of balance to remain upright as the bard slid up her body, fingertips playing against the laces that held her leather armor in place. The elf's eyes slid shut as the bard's lips closed on her earlobe once more, growing dizzy at the pleasurable sensations as the last of her armor was peeled away from her body and the night breeze drew goosebumps from her skin.

When she opened her eyes she saw the bard's curious gaze perusing her body. Leliana's fingertips trailed up a bare arm, finding a path between the various scars of battle, lingering briefly at a particularly long one that stretched across her belly. Questioning eyes met Kallian's, and the elf dipped her head, color darkening her cheeks.

"The guard captain who killed Nelaros," Kallian admitted, grimacing at the unwelcome memories. "Just before I slit his throat." It was by far not the only mark on her body. She'd been a Grey Warden at least six moons now, and had seen never-ending battle since that time. Of course, she supposed she could have had Wynne heal it, but...

"It's a part of who you are." The bard's lips hovered close to her ears. "And I think you are beautiful." Leliana's head dipped down, capturing the Warden's mouth once more in a hungry kiss, and Kallian twined her own fingertips around the bard's neck, greedily drawing her into deeper exploration.

Hands trailed over her body, memorizing the smooth contours, tracing over each and every scar. Fingertips trailed along her ribs, and then against the undersides of her breast, playing with the cloth that bound them. Then Leliana's palm cupped her breast through the fabric, thumb sweeping across a rapidly hardening nipple, her free hand slipping around the Warden's back and finding the edge of the fabric, beginning to unwind it.

Gods. Kallian had never expected this to feel so good. She shivered as the last of the fabric fell away, nipples tightening painfully in the chill night air, and then the bard's hands were caressing and kneading the soft flesh, teasing and playing as the ever-enticing lips began to follow a path down the elf's jaw.

The Warden's back arched as Leliana's lips found a sensitive spot along her neck, nipping lightly at the flesh, then kissing deeper. Her hands were everywhere, along her breasts, her back, her inner thighs...

Holy... Kallian nearly fell as the bard's palm pressed upwards into more intimate regions, knowledgeable fingers tugging at the last remaining bit of fabric. The elf shivered as the smallclothes were drawn down her legs, kicking them aside as she was drawn full length against the bard, whose hand was working its way between...

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

"Wait."

Leliana's hand hesitated, her pulse hammering loudly in her ears, her own arousal piqued at the sight of her lover's lithe form. She looked deeply into those impossibly green eyes, which were heavy-lidded with passion. Kallian's own fingertips trailed to the neckline of the bard's own armor, eyes searching the redhead's for permission.

The bard bit her lower lip. She knew this moment had been coming. But she had taken great pains over the years to cover the scars inflicted upon her by the Orlesian Chevaliers. No one had ever seen them before – she had taken great pains to conceal them from everyone during her time in the Chantry. Even after she had met Kallian, she had taken care to change clothes only in the privacy of her tent, favoring those items that covered her neck and arms.

As if sensing her hesitation, Kallian's hands closed over her own. The bard lifted her chin, meeting the elf's worried expression.

"May I?" Came the gentle inquiry. Leliana's eyes closed, fighting back the tears. It was foolish, really. She couldn't very well make love with her clothes on. However, if Kallian saw her, truly saw the damage that had been done to her, and she was repulsed – tears welled in the bard's eyes. She wasn't sure she could handle that.

Lips pressed softly against her own, a small hand reaching up and cupping her chin, forcing her to meet the earnest emerald gaze.

"I love you, Leliana." Kallian said softly. "No matter what you decide."

I love you.

Three simple words, spoken with such earnestness it nearly broke her heart.

I love you.

Words so easily manipulated for darker purposes, as she well knew. Yet, as she looked deeply into the Warden's eyes, she sensed no duplicity, no deceit.

Kallian truly loved her.

Leliana nodded, lowering her hands, willing herself to trust the younger woman. After a moment's pause, Kallian's fingers began to work at the buckles and straps that held her armor into place. The bard closed her eyes, cowardly, she knew, but still scared of the expression she would see in the Warden's eyes.

At last her tunic was separated from her body, exposing her skin to the chill night air. But there was no sharp intake of breath, no gasp of horror. For a long, agonizing moment there was complete and total silence.

Then there was the press of a mouth against her collarbone, a pair of lips finding their way to her ear.

"Beautiful."

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Kallian could not believe the sheer number of scars that marred Leliana's body.

Some were faint, small white lines barely visible to the naked eye. Others, more pronounced, rose angrily against the pale background, red rivers cutting swaths across otherwise delicate skin.

They covered nearly every inch of the bard's torso, running down her arms to mid-elbow and clear to her knees. They wrapped around her ribs and trailed angrily down her back. One particular cluster of scars circled the bard's left shoulder blade, forming a pattern that Kallian recognized. Clearly the brand of an iron.

Traître.

Traitor.

Andraste help me.

Kallian's first thoughts were of deep, unrelenting rage. How could Marjolaine, or anyone, for that matter, do something like that to another person? Leliana had practically worshipped the ground the Bardmaster walked on. It made little sense. Her thoughts then turned to vengeance, a foolish notion, she knew, especially since Marjolaine was dead. There certainly was no feasible way to return to Orlais to track down the Chevaliers who had done this. At least not in the middle of a Blight.

The bard was trembling, Kallian realized, and only then did it occur to her that she'd been completely silent on the matter. Shame, mingled with a fair bit of regret, captured her in a vice-like grip. How selfish could she be, entertaining foolish notions of revenge while Leliana simply stood there, baring her soul?

Kallian shoved those darker emotions down, storing them away for the battlefield, focusing on seeing the bard for the first time.

This was a woman who had braved the very fires of hell itself, emerging still with an unshakable faith in the Maker and retaining a good bit of her humanity in the process. Other women – lesser women – might have been broken by the experience.

But not Leliana.

Andraste herself couldn't have looked so beautiful.

Kallian stepped closer to the bard, reaching out and tentatively touching the bard's chest, shivering at the proximity of their naked bodies. She pressed her lips against the bard's collarbone, nuzzling one of the scars. Heard Leliana's sharp intake of breath, before allowing herself to rise on her tiptoes and whisper sensuously in the bard's ear.

"Beautiful."

And she meant it. Leliana's eyes shot open, filled with wonder and incredulity. Kallian gently cupped the bard's cheek, bringing her lips to the bard's, allowing all her passion into the tender gesture.

And then she stepped back, taking the bard by the hands and drawing her down to the bedroll, hissing at the wonderful press of skin upon skin. And Leliana's lips were upon her, kissing her with ardor. Hands slid up Kallian's ribs, over her stomach, cupping her breasts, causing the Warden to arch involuntarily into her lover's caress. She saw stars as Leliana's lips traced a path along her jawline, latching onto her pulse point and suckling greedily.

Kallian's mind was spinning, awash in a wave of emotion and pleasure. She moaned softly as the bard's lips followed the curve of her neck down to her collarbone, spending several minutes in exploration there before kissing a trail down to her...

Andraste's tits!

Kallian's hips shot off the bedroll as a set of full lips closed around one of her peaks, suckling softly, causing her to float on waves of pleasure that rose higher and higher. The sensation of lips, teeth, and tongue was overwhelming, sending tendrils of ecstasy through her body.

The Warden's back arched, fingernails digging lightly into the bard's skin as a hand slid up her inner thigh, fingers slipping into moist heat. Kallian writhed, gasping in pleasure as the touch deepened, overloading her senses.

The bard's thumb slid upwards, brushing lightly against the pulsating bundle of nerves, sending Kallian spiraling ever higher. And then she was falling – gloriously falling – her cries of pleasure echoing into the night. And Leliana was there, holding her, soothing syllables of Orlesian falling from her lips, bringing the Warden slowly down from incredible heights.

Kallian's eyes remained closed, her chest rising and falling raggedly, attempting to gain some semblance of composure. She could feel the bard's heart beating against her own, savoring the sensation of her lover's chest rising and falling. She trailed a hand up Leliana's side, gently cupping a cheek and drawing the bard into a tender kiss.

"I never thought I could ever feel like this," Kallian murmured, pressing her forehead against the bard's own. She opened her eyes, immersing herself into the dark pools of blue. "I love you."

Leliana's eyes closed, leaning into Kallian's touch. "I ... love you too..." her voice was filled with more than a bit of longing. "I never expected to find anyone who..." the bard's voice trailed off, glancing away. "I mean... I look like..." Tears pooled in those blue depths. "Like..."

"Emma Lath," Kallian whispered in the old tongue, her thumb brushing away the tears before they could form. My love. Blue eyes lifted, trepidation mingling with hope and wonder. "I meant what I said earlier. You are beautiful."

She slid her fingertips through the bard's locks, drawing her into a lengthy kiss, allowing her actions to convey what words could not. She wound her fingers through the bard's hair, pulling the Orlesian even closer, feeling the tension in muscles melt away, certainty giving rise to new passions.

Kallian traced a thumb up the bard's side, brushing across an already taut nipple. Their lips parted for a moment, the bard's neck arcing back, exposing long, lean lines that looked absolutely delectable. The Warden wasted no time exploring that bit of skin, her tongue blazing a trail from Leliana's shoulder blade up to a waiting earlobe, nibbling softly.

Leliana's skin smelled faintly of lavender and jasmine, mingled with another, sweeter scent that was the bard's alone. Kallian shifted, bringing her thigh between her lover's legs, inhaling sharply at the bard's clear arousal. She shifted, bringing her lips across the bard's collarbone, bringing the bard underneath her, groaning at the intimate contact of skin upon skin.

"Kallian." Leliana whispered her lover's name like a benediction. "Please."

The elf's lips nibbled down from a collarbone, trailing along the path of one scar – refusing to shy away from any aspect of the Orlesian's body – to one of the bard's taut peaks, suckling gently. Her free hand trailed up the bard's side, kneading the other breast.

"Maker!" The bard writhed under Kallian's ministrations, her cries of pleasure growing louder with each passing moment. The Warden kissed a path between Leliana's breasts, her fingers fluttering along the soft curve of the bard's stomach, dipping down and in to the source of her excitement.

The bard's hips met the Warden's intimate touches, her soft cries escalating. Kallian's own arousal grew with each passing moment, the press of the Orlesian's thigh against her center enough to send her spiraling towards the brink once more.

There was a slight pause, and then Leliana's entire body went rigid, crying out sharply as she reached her peak. They fell together, Warden and bard, riding the endless waves, so lost in sensation it was impossible to tell where one began and ended.

Kallian's eyes were closed, body relaxing against the bard's, trying to catch her breath. Beneath her, Leliana shifted, sweat-slicked bodies gliding against each other until they were laying side-by-side. The Orlesian's hand traced idle patterns against her lover's skin.

Once her heart rate had returned to a more normal level, Kallian opened her eyes. Leliana was watching her, a small, wry smile curling up the corners of her lips.

She looked happy, Kallian realized. Happier than the Warden could remember seeing her. The darkness, the sadness that had been ever-present behind the bard's eyes had been replaced with something else.

Hope.

The Warden reached up, tracing a finger along her lover's lips. She shivered as the bard captured the errant digit neatly with her teeth, her body beginning to thrum with arousal.

"You are insatiable." Kallian chastised half-heartedly, hissing as Leliana's tongue brushed against the errant digit before pulling away.

The bard's eyes twinned with amusement as she neatly flipped over, pinning her lover's arms high above her head with one of her free hands. "I spent many years in the Chantry." She grinned, leaning in and bringing her lips close to the Warden's ear. "And I have all night to make up for lost time."

Kallian grinned, her hands tugging lightly against Leliana's grip, which did not falter. She hissed as the bard's hand slipped down her inner thigh, causing the muscles to twitch in anticipation. "Do you now?" Her hips rocked forward, hissing at the contact of hand upon skin.

"Oh yes," the bard purred, the barest hint of mischief in her eyes. "Let me show you."