I do not own Dragon Age or any of the characters.


Awakening

Brother Genitivi was already chained to the wall without his shirt and there were several different knives on a tray beside him.

"I'll give you one chance to tell me where the ashes are before I make you regret being born," Gabriel said his voice oozing impatience and malice.

"Okay!" Genitivi said failing to miss either emotion. "Okay! Fine! They're in the Alienage! Aside from that I don't know!"

Gabriel drove one of the knives into his shoulder and twisted it then turned and left. He went to the Alienage and found Shianni.

"Yes we have the ashes," Shianni said. "We're just barely using enough to cure the plague. Why?"

"Leliana is dying," Gabriel said. "I need the ashes to save her."

Shianni paled visibly then ran off and returned a minute later with the urn.

"We finished about an hour ago anyway," Shianni said. "You need them more. When you're done you can do whatever you feel is right with them."

Gabriel thanked her then returned to Leliana. The healers used the ashes and Leliana began to glow. But nothing happened.

"Come on Leliana," Gabriel said under his breath. "Please don't do this to me. I need you."

Just as he said this, Leliana's eyes fluttered open. She looked around and smiled when she saw him. The healers all filed out and Alistair stepped aside so that Gabriel could be with Leliana.

"You saved me," Leliana said, voice hoarse.

"Wynne gave me the chance," Gabriel said. "She's the one that you should be thanking."

"And where is she?" Leliana asked.

Gabriel smiled a tiny bit. She was right. After slowing Leliana's death, Wynne had returned to the Circle of Magi.

"That's what I thought," Leliana said. "It was you that went looking for the ashes."

"It was a bit harder to find than just heading to the mountain," Gabriel said. "Alistair found Genitivi and he was more than happy to tell me where the ashes were."

"I'm sure you didn't even have to cut him," Leliana said.

"No," Gabriel said. "That was for moving the ashes."

"I didn't think you let him off easy," Leliana said. "That's not your style."

Gabriel smirked and looked around, his pet mabari, Ripper, was laying at the foot of the bed asleep.

"Alistair," Gabriel said. "Is she still tainted?"

"Yes," Alistair said. "About as much as you were when you came to Ostagar from the Brecilian Forest. I doubt the result of a Joining would be any different, though. I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault," Gabriel said.

"I want to try," Leliana said. "Please."

"I'll summon Wynne if you want," Alistair said.

"Do it," Gabriel said.

Alistair left to send a message and Gabriel turned back to Leliana.

"I'm glad you're alive," Gabriel said.

"As am I," Leliana said. "Not that I do not wish to join the Maker but I was not ready to leave your side."

Gabriel smiled and placed a kiss on Leliana's forehead then pulled back as Alistair walked in.

"She's on her way," Alistair said.

Gabriel thanked him and Alistair left again. Leliana got up and Ripper woke up and began barking happily.

"He really likes you," Gabriel said. "He hasn't left your side since your Joining."

"He's yours though," Leliana said.

"I think he's both of ours," Gabriel said.

Leliana cleaned up and Gabriel did the same then they went out into the city while Gabriel filled Leliana in on everything that had happened while she slept, mainly the worms.

"Gross," Leliana said shivering. "That's gross."

"True," Gabriel said. "Let's go see what Wade's got."

They went into Wade's Emporium and Wade rushed over and began babbling about armor and then ran into the back.

"Leliana," Gabriel said pointing as Wade carried out a beautiful set of light armor.

It was designed using several different colors of material but she easily pegged it as dragon bone. The armor had the design of several Andraste's Grace all over it with a black background. It was unbelievably beautiful and there was no chance of anything getting through it given that the armor was the hardest material that could possibly have something made out of aside from diamond.

As if reading her mind, Gabriel said, "Take a closer look."

She did and saw that the black part was studded with polished black spinel gemstones, the white was studded with polished white sapphires, and the red with polished rubies. She held a hand to her mouth as tears began to run down her face then threw her arms around Gabriel.

"It's beautiful!" Leliana said.

"Happy birthday," Gabriel said.

"It's not for another week," Leliana said.

"I couldn't wait," Gabriel said.

Leliana smiled then kissed him. After a moment she pulled back and smiled at the armor again.

"Go try it on, please!" Wade pleaded indicating a separate room.

Leliana nodded and took the armor into the other room. A minute later she stepped out dressed in the armor. It fit her so perfectly that Gabriel might have thought Wade had had her there when sizing it. She was beaming and spun to fully show it off. At the same time, she unintentionally made her armor's splinted Pteruges lift in a ring around her revealing her underwear. Gabriel grinned and Wade looked away. Herren fainted.

"What?" Leliana asked after she stopped and saw Gabriel grinning.

Gabriel shook his head and walked over.

"Just glad you like it," Gabriel said.

Leliana smiled and kissed him then hugged him. Gabriel paid Wade and Wade brought out a suit of armor for Gabriel that was all navy blue with a large gold Grey Warden crest on the front. Gabriel took it and they left.

THE END


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