A/N: Sooo, yeah..this was supposed to be a one-shot, but Kallian and Reyn refused to go quietly. I will still mark this story as complete, but I will most likely (definitely) continue this story arc. There will also probably be a M-rated scene in the next chapter. They have behaved for two chapters; any longer and they would combust.
Disclaimer: Nope, I do not own Dragon Age, or its beautifully woven characters. Just my versions of Kallian and Reyn.
{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}
"Dammit, Reyn!" Kallian swore as she threw down her bow, for once not caring where her precious weapon fell. The lithe elf darted forward, drawing her twin daggers from their respective sheathes. She fell quickly upon the bandit, as ferocious as a Mabari. The hapless man received a deep stab to the back shoulder; as he was screaming in agony, a quick slash across the throat silenced him. The lifeless man dropped to the floor in a heap, blood quickly surrounding him.
Reyn thrust her prized blade, Starfang, forward; into the chest of another bandit. A single gurgle was heard before the would-be murderer slid off the sharp steel, joining his brothers in death's embrace. The Warden wiped a hand across her brow, coming away wet with her sweat. Blood spotted her silver armor, and gore covered the shining blue of her sword. "Well now, I think that went pretty well." The fiery warrior said, taking a deep breath and exhaling. Her lover glared at her; it was more potent than lyrium and more heated than the Anvil of the Void.
"Oh yes, the battle went so very well. It was just so easy." Reyn raised a perfectly poised eyebrow at the elf's tone. "Your sarcasm tells a different story, my love. Why do you seem upset? The bandits were no harder than usual." Kallian's gray eyes, now stormy, darkened further at the oblivious Warden's words. "The problem is you. You are to reckless and noble; you got hurt because of it." The warrior shrugged her shoulders, confused at her lover. "It is not like I have not gotten worse injuries, Kallian. The bandit only gave me a little cut, see? Nothing more, and nothing I cannot bear."
"Maybe the bandit did not wound you too deeply, but did you not stop to consider the man sneaking up on you? If I had not seen and run as fast as I could, you would probably be dead, or at the very least the proud owner of a sword wound." Blue-green eyes bore into gray. "Kallian, my beloved rogue, what really ails you? You know that cuts and wounds are basically in the job description. We are on a mission to stop a Blight, and an archdemon, from destroying our country and the people we hold most dear. There are going to be times when I stare death in the face; you just have to trust that I will be able to make it out all right."
"It would ease my conscience if you would quit looking for trouble. Your noble ways is going to be the death of you. You cannot always save people, and one day you are going to pay the ultimate price." Her leader's mouth tightened. "If you have not forgotten, Kallian, this entire mission is one that many would call "noble." We are risking body and limb for the people of Ferelden, so that they may live in relative peace without fear of today being the last day that breath would be drawn. You know that, I know that; hell, everyone in this group knows it! I am a Cousland, born and bred. I was taught to put myself after others, and make sure to protect those that needed protection. There is a high chance that I will die facing the archdemon; a small cut is insignificant when compared to that."
{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}
Kallian shook her head, disbelief apparent in her body language. "I am not asking you to stop being yourself; you know as well as I do that you will always try to protect others. But, do you always have to play at being the hero? Give the spotlight to someone else, for a change. I already have to accept that if we survive the blight you will die within the span of thirty years. Why can you not ensure that I am given that time with you?" Ah. And therein lies the true reason for Kallian's outburst. Blue-green eyes softened, gazing lovingly at her beautiful elf. "Baby, I do not plan on dying anytime soon. How could you think I would let myself fade into darkness, when you still stand? I could never leave, not without you standing by my side."
Tears ran unchecked down Kallian's face, something Reyn had never seen before; she was completely floored at the rare emotion. "I am not worried about you leaving me willingly; I worry about you being taken from me. I have lost everything; my family, my life…all that remains is you, and the love inside me that burns so fierce and bright. Don't extinguish it; I beg of you!" Reyn wrapped her strong arms around the distraught elf, who had begun openly sobbing. The rest of the companions had given up any pretense of distraction; they were openly looking at the scene playing out literally before their eyes. The noble Warden's hug deepened, trying valiantly to shield the person she loved more than anyone else from the pain that was assaulting her senses.
"Kallian, I will never, and I mean never, leave you. Before I met you, my life had lost all meaning. My parents were betrayed, and died making sure I had left Highever behind, being granted my life. Then after I had joined the Warden ranks, I was again betrayed and labeled a traitor for a crime my honor would never allow happen. Then, as if I did not have enough on my plate, I am supposed to kill the archdemon and stop the Blight? It was too much, too fast. I was not ready, and I was literally terrified. But then, you came blazing in; beautiful and statuesque. You wore a mask of stone, just waiting for a brave soul to pry it off and show the wondrous woman behind it. And, although you had no reason to, and experience telling you to flee, you allowed me to uncover you. Words cannot even begin to describe how much your trust, your faith in me, means to me. You make me feel like a Grey Warden, like a true warrior…like the Cousland I am, and thought I lost long ago."
The elf, touched by the words, held tightly to the woman who grounded her. "Do not thank me, my Warden. It is you who saved me. From my demons, my hate, my sorrow…you cleansed me, leaving a clean slate behind. I cannot change the events of my past, nor erase the tragedies that have followed you, but I believe, with all of my heart, that the future we pave together will make up for it all." Reyn nodded, warmth and love and care filling her body to the brim. This girl…she is everything. My everything. Heaven forbid the poor souls who try to take her from me; the only thing they will get is a one-way trip to the Fade. Out loud, she said; "Now, my beautiful rogue, how about you let me show you just how much you mean to me? I might even throw in a compliment or to."
{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}
The smirk was back on the elf's angular face. "Compliments, you say? Well, I cannot rightly say no to that. But, I am feeling rather lazy. I may just have you do all the work. Keep you in shape for the mission, you know." Reyn chuckled. "Oh? Just doing your civic duty to Ferelden, my dear? I see no problem with me doing all the…rigorous activity…" Here, Reyn breathed hotly against the sensitive ears of the elf; shivers ran down Kallian's body. "But, you might want to break a little sweat yourself. You have been eating a lot lately." Kallian's eyes, which had slowly closed in bliss, snapped open and shot an incredulous and indignant beam at her now grinning lover. "Are you calling me fat? When you are trying to woo me, and acquire my presence in your tent?" "Sweet, sweet Kallian…your services will be given, regardless of your words. Your mouth may lie, but your body…*lick* shows the truth." Kallian sighed, shaking her head. "Egotism does not suit you, my Warden. But, despite the unfortunate inflation, I guess you deserve a reward…heaven knows why."
Reyn stood up, her arm extending to her roguish elf. "Well, the tent will not warm itself. Shall we commence to our bed sheets?" Kallian shook her head in mock seriousness. "Lead the way, your wardenship." The women started to their tent, stopping a few inches away to take in the expressions of the group. Zevran and Oghren were unabashedly staring with darkened eyes, what appeared to be...drool…flowing out of the mouths. Alistair and Leliana were sporting cherry-red faces, trying to act like they were unaware of the couple's discussion, and trying to hide how bothered it made them. Sten and Shale were unaffected, and Hunter was gnawing on what suspiciously look like one of Morrigan's special undergarments. Morrigan herself was looking torn between amusement and disgust…much like Wynne. Reyn raised an eyebrow at her followers, while Kallian was laughing none-too-silently to herself. "Is everything alright?" The remaining group all shook their heads in confirmation at their heroic leader's inquiry.
"Ju-just p-p-peachy, Reyn,." Her poor fellow Warden spoke through his embarrassment. "Er…yes, we were…were just telling… stories! Yes, stories!" Kallian looked towards the bard, an evil gleam making itself known in her eyes. "A story, you say? How, I would so love to hear a story! Wouldn't you, sweet Cousland?" Reyn solemnly nodded her consent, turning her gaze over to the squirming song seamstress. "Of course, what better way to spend a peaceful night than with a story from the great bard herself." Leliana floundered for words, her blush becoming deeper and more prominent as time wore on. Thankfully, the witch came to her rescue, albeit unknowingly and probably unwillingly. "Damn it all to the Fade! Warden, get your useless beast away from my private things! I will not have him ruin another, perfectly good pair! Tis most annoying!"
Oghren turned his leer to the fuming witch. "Ah, you can go without your skivvies anytime ya want, pretty. Seeing you would definitely make a man forget his worries on this foolish quest. In fact, whaddaya say you and I go to my tent and you can play doctor-""I will do no such thing, disgusting dwarf! I would sooner lay with the ignorant virgin templar over there than lay beneath…you." Alistair spluttered, red face intensifying while the rest could not contain their peals of laughter at his embarrassment. Yes, Reyn thought to herself. This is what drives me to defeat the archdemon and live. These people right here, and the love of my life. The kind-hearted warrior intertwined her hands with her elf, basking in the revelry that defied all reason.
{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}