Please bare with me as I attempt to flesh our Chandra's relationship with Alistair (in the first couple of chapters) before I introduced Nethaniel Howe into the mix. I was drawn to Nethaniel Howe's dark intensity from DAO: Awakenings; thus, I could not resist making him a main love interest for my character.

Your time is very precious, and I hope it will be well spent. Thank you in advance for your time and thoughts.

Galesong1234

I decided to take out all the beginning narrative. Thought it too wordy.

Thank you for adding my story to your favorites list. It's very flattering. It encourages me to write more. Thank you. Galesong.

Chapter 1

Darkspawn Flesh and Blood Baths

"What I wouldn't give to see open sky, fresh air and have a bath," I thought to myself. I would even be willing to kiss Oghren. I looked over at the stalky dwarf with bright red hair and quickly changed by mind. Better off kissing Leliana's new pet nug, Schmoogles, surely it was more sanitary.

We had just left the Diamond quarter, which held Orzammar's nobility, and was making our way through the Commons. I had promised Oghren that we could stop into Tapster's Tavern so that he could pickup some supplies before we left. There was no way I could tell him no, especially after killing his wife. Oghren didn't completely hate me though; even he had agreed that Branka was a few darkspawn short of a Blight.

"For Prince Bhelen!" I heard the battle cry long before I had a visual of the motley band of armored dwarves. Obviously, they didn't know that Bhelen and his cronies were dead. I imagine even now that their bodies still littered the Chamber of the Assembly as we had just come from there. Bhelen would still be amongst the living had he conceded.

"Andraste's burning knickers, not again." I quickly glanced at Alistair who just shrugged and pulled out his sword. I performed a 'massive paralysis' spell on the group of charging dwarves. The handful of dwarves stood froze in various battle stances unable to move even their eyes as they stared straight ahead.

I walked up to the ring-leader and jabbed my fore-finger into his armored chest. "I am sick unto death of being everyone's errand girl... (tap-tap-tap)...I am tired...(tap)...I smell like a nug...(tap-tap)...I am covered in darkspawn blood from head to toe." My forefinger kept its rhythm. "And, to make things worse," pulling at my gore incrusted hair, "I am having a really bad hair day. So I ask you...do you really want to try your luck with me?"

I spun around and shot Alistair a warning glance, "What!"

"Love...err....um..." Interrupted Alistair as he rubbed the back of his neck thoughtfully and pointed at my hair, "There's a piece of (cough) darkspawn...in...hair."

That's all it took for Oghren, who had been biting down on his gloved hand till tears were running down his rosy cheeks, to break out into a fit of uncontrollable laughter. Even the demur, lady-like Leliana could not contain her own mirth.

I looked up rather cross-eyed to see the dangling object of their amusement. Completely mortified, I pulled out the fleshy piece of Genlock from my hair and flung it aside in disgust. The piece of darkspawn landed smack between the eyes of the unfortunate Bhelen sympathizer I had just reprimanded. The thawing dwarf looked like he had just swallowed his own bile. I performed another paralysis spell then stomped off towards Tapster's Tavern.

"It's not like we are laughing at you..." I heard Alistair behind me followed by, surprise, more laughter. If I had not been so furious, I would have thought more on the 'love' part.

I pulled open the heavy door of Tapster's Tavern and entered with one thing in mind. To drowned out all my concerns in a tankard of ale. What better place than a dwarven ale house known for some of the strongest and rankest brews around? I looked around for the closest seat I could find, one preferrably next to the bar. I found one just left of the door away from foot traffic but still close enough to not be overlooked by the serving wenches.

"Afternoon, stranger. You looking for a stool to share a brew?" He was a stout gentleman wearing armor that had seen many battles. He had a warm welcoming smile that was mostly hid behind a thick braided mustache and beard. Then again they were all stout, with braided mustaches and beards, including the men. It put a kink in my neck just thinking about them.

"Don't mind if I do." I tried to present a pleasant smile contrary to how I was really feeling and looked. Stool, now that was funny. The dwarf patted the seat next him. I sat or rather fell onto the hard stone slab and tucked my long legs in front of me.

"I recommend the lichen-ale," my new friend suggested. I took his word on it and ordered one from serving girl wearing a greasy apron and hair.

"My name's Nevin, yourself," he asked. I tipped my tankard and drank long and deeply until half was gone. All too quickly I coughed and spewed its contents.

"Should have told you that they brew it like downstairs," Nevin warned. I gave him a confused look.

Chills ran down the whole of my body, "Chandra," I coughed and cleared my throat, "...name's Chandra, I'm a Grey Warden." Nevin continued listening to me. "Mages don't drink, but have been informed that Grey Wardens do," I offered as an explanation and finished with another swig.

"Figured as much. Good folks, Wardens. I was in the Deep Roads when that one came by. What was his name?" continued Nevin as he twirled his braided beard reflectively, "Doocan, Dunca....? Something like that." I motioned for the serving girl to bring another round.

" You knew Duncan," questioned Alistair as if on cue. He walked to where Nevin and I were seated. I quickly scooted over letting Alistair sit next to Nevin. Leliana walked over to the raised dias and asked to borrow a lute. It wasn't long before she was playing with the dwarven minstrels, pleasure clearly written across her feminine features.

Alistair slid into the seat I had just vacated, our bodies touching but not. Oghren took up the seat on the other side of me with two tankards in hand. Nevin continued on, "I met him, sure good man..."

A numb feeling descended through my body. Whether it was from the effects of the ale or my leg falling asleep, I did not know. I reached down and tried to discreetly rub life into my numbed thigh that was closest to Alistair's own muscular thigh. Unable to stretch out my leg to increase the blood flow, discretion quickly gave way to a frenzied stroking. I was so concentrated in my efforts that I failed to notice the interested looks of the other patrons until I felt Alistair's warm hand across my own.

Alistair's long fingers draped across my hand and caused it to stop its persistent motion. He gave my hand a gentle squeeze and placed my hand, in his, on top the table. This happened about the same time the music had stopped.

"Warden, you're okay," hooted Oghren as he saved my day. Oghren gave my back a good hard slap and downed another tankard of his own.

Without skipping a beat the music and Nevin picked up where they left off, "...Solid. He knew what we go through in the Deep Roads. Not many do. Not even the ones who live this close..."

I stared, for what seem like an eternity, at Alistair's hand as it lingered on mine. I made a quick look at him through the tangles of my hair. He was watching me with that stupid lop-sided smile of his. I ripped my hands out of his and looked for a distraction, Oghren. "Oghren," I said more loudly.

"What'cha need, Warden?" slurred Oghren.

"Can you teach me to fight like you do?" I heard my own self say as I ran the words together.

"You want to be a berserker? Ha! Thought I'd never see the day." Oghren replied rather surprised. I tried to give him my most serious look and hiccupped.

"No, see, it's funny because you'll never be able to do it. A mage wants to be a berserker." Oghren continued to laugh at me.

I squared off my shoulders and challenged, "Are you sure you even know how?"

"What, you don't see me waist deep in entrails every time I sodding step up to fight?" sputtered Oghren as he sprayed a mouthful of ale across the table narrowly missing Devin.

"Thanks for the drink, but I should go," Devin briskly sat up, excused himself and took care of his bill before he left.

I gave a little wave to Devin, who obviously ignored me, and returned to my conversation with Oghren, "You're handling this well."

"Handling what?" belched Oghren.

"Branka," I added drunkenly.

"Branka? Psht. That treasure's been long buried. Ancestors take me, you people whine like teakettles around here...reminds me, I gotta take a piss." My eyes followed Ohgren's drunken departure and then came to rest on Alistair.

"If you were raised in the chantry - have you never...?" I blurted out the first thing that came to mind. I couldn't stop thinking about his hands.

"Never" Never what? Had a pair of shoes," teased Alistair. I leaned my cheek against my propped up hand and tried to focus on the Alistair that wasn't moving.

"You know what I mean." I demanded. The corners of Alistair's mouth turned up into one of his disjointed smiles.

"I'm not sure I do. Have I never seen a basilisk? Ate jellied ham? Have never licked a lamppost in winter?" My head swam with all Alistair's questions.

"Now you're making fun of me." Alistair easily ducked away from my balled up fist and my knuckles scraped against his armor instead.

"Make fun of you, dear lady?" Alistair caught my hand in his as I was about to pull it away in pain, "Perish the thought. Well, tell me..."

"Tell you what," I mumbled as I fixed my eyes again on his hand over mine the pain completely forgotten. Alistair tugged me closer to him until he had my attention.

"Have you ever a licked a lamppost in winter?" Alistair looked down at my upturned face and accentuated each word of his question.

"Don't be such an idiot," I pulled my hand out of his and tried to take a drink from my empty cup. "No, I've never licked a lamppost in winter," I defended myself knowing somehow I had missed the point of this conversation.

"Good, I hear it's quite painful. I remember one of the younger initiates did it on a dare..." I tried to wrap my head around what Alistair was trying to tell me. It was quite evident that I had somehow hurt his feelings. I continued to listen. He finished with, " There was pointing and laughing...Oh, the humanity."

For a moment Alistair watched me, his scrutiny was just a little unnerving. My hands looked for something to do. I attacked the snarls in my hair with great bravado; it seemed I could not keep it out of my eyes. Alistair reached over and stopped me. In doing so, his hand brushed across my cheek. The action, though chaste, felt very intimate. For a moment I was sober. Alistair held my gaze and continued, "I, myself, have never done it. That. Not that I haven't thought about it. Of course...but you know..."

"You never...never had the opportunity?" I questioned thoughtfully only getting half the point.

"Well, living in the Chantry, is...not exactly a life for rambunctious boys. They taught me to be a gentleman," Alistair paused for effect, "especially in the presence of a beautiful woman such as yourself. That's not so bad, is it?"

"You think I'm beautiful?" I squealed excitedly as I jumped up out of my seat and gave a little clap before falling onto Alistair.

"Of course you are, and you know it." He tweaked my nose as if I were a child, " You're ravishing, resourceful, and all those other things you'd probably hurt me for saying."

I leaned closer until our lips were a breath away from touching and slurred, "I would never hurt you."

"Nor I you," Alistair confessed softly. I tilted my head, puckered my lips and waited...

"I think you forgot a piece." I heard Alistair say reminding me of how I looked at that moment. I opened my eyes in time for me to see Alistair pull a piece of flesh out of my hair.

"Let us be off, lest your risqué talk makes my ears blush," laughed Alistair.