Eva woke, sitting up groggily as she rubbed her eyes. "Maker's breath..."

"You're awake..."

Eva looked to her side and smiled. "Good morning, Fenris."

Fenris had joined with the Moonlit Myrrh not long after leaving Kirkwall. He had grown tired of hunting slavers and heard of the Moonlit Myrrh Company, finding their way of life and their ideals suitable to his own. He was still the stoic, broody elf as he had been in Kirkwall. When he requested to join the Moonlit Myrrh, he had been unable to take his eyes off of Eva and had quickly won her affection within the first night. He had been with the company for nearly four years and had always been Eva's choice to share her bed on nights where she needed special attention. There was nothing more than sex between them, that much they had agreed on, but Fenris had grown to care for her and respect her as a leader and a friend and would do anything to protect her.

Fenris rolled onto his back, stretching. "Did you sleep well?"

Eva nodded. "Well enough."

"You were tossing and turning a bit." He sat up and rubbed her bare shoulder.

"Just a dream of old times."

"I see." Fenris tucked a strand of crimson hair behind her ear. "If you want to talk about it, you know I am always here."

Eva smiled and leaned into him. "I know, da'len."

Fenris kissed her cheek then stood, grabbing his trousers. "I should go check on the men, see if Rowen is awake yet too. Don't forget we're to meet with the Seeker and her men."

Eva nodded. "I know, thank you."

Fenris turned and looked down at her as he pulled on his tunic. "We're up against an unimaginable enemy, Eva. Are you sure you're up to the challenge?"

Eva rolled her eyes. "You know me, I never back down from a challenge."

Fenris pulled on his boots and his armor and smiled. "That is true. It's been at least four years that you've pined over that Templar and for all I know it could be longer. I can't say I was surprised when you found it a challenge to try bedding a man with convictions such as his. For you, it would indeed be a challenge."

Eva blushed. "I don't pine over him."

"You're right, but you're dedicated, that much is certain." Fenris leaned down and kissed her forehead. "I will wait for you with the men, da'len. Hurry and get ready so that we can join the Seeker."

Eva watched as Fenris left her tent and she sighed. He was right, she knew that. When she had founded the Moonlit Myrrh company, building it from the ground up, taking in bards, warriors, rogues, bandits and thieves, slaves who were freed or escaped from their masters, and many other types of people whom she had saved and who needed somewhere to go, she had found herself a new family. They moved around a lot until they settled in an abandoned keep near Bellcrest in the Bannorn. Naming it the Myrrhwood Keep, Eva and her men made themselves a home and grew as a mercenary company. Eva was a kind soul, one who looked after her own and protected them without any regards to herself, and her men truly respected her. But, even after ten years, she had yet to meet the challenge that was Cullen Rutherford.

Over the years, Eva had quickly learned the power a woman could have over men, especially in her position, and the dangers of playing such games. There would always be consequences, broken hearts, jealous lovers. Cullen Rutherford, however, was a devote Templar who always followed the rules. When she had found out that he had taken no vows of chastity, she wanted nothing more than to break his resolve and make him want her. She wanted to feel those powerful arms wrapping around her, those calloused hands feeling every inch of her body. He was her type, too: tall, handsome, rugged, well built, a warrior.

It intrigued her that he pretended so hard over the years that he wasn't interested in her, but it definitely gave her the challenge she was looking for in a man and Maker did it drive her crazy. She saw him time and again over the years, sometimes only for a moment or two if he passed through the area or she had business where he was at, but each time she could just imagine his deep voice telling her all the things he wanted to do to her and each time it made her knees weak. And each time she saw him, nothing happened. But that wasn't going to stop her. She knew that one day she would succeed.

Then she thought of Fenris. When they had first met, they had been attracted to each other from the beginning. They were close friends and always had each others backs, and they cared about each other, yes, but it was strictly sex between them. He and Rowen were her voices of reason in all matters, and Maker did she hate it when he and Rowen teased her about Cullen. Fenris wasn't the jealous type, always looked after her, always protected her, but sometimes she wondered.

Chuckling to herself, she quickly got dressed- pulling on her underclothes, trousers, tunic, boots, and her armor- and hurried outside, grabbing an apple from her pack as she went to join her men.

"Commander Perrin!"

"Morning, everyone!" She said with a smile. "I trust you all slept well?"

"Aye, ma'am!"

"Ready to go kick some demon ass?"

The Moonlit Myrrh company cheered and Eva smiled. She bit into her apple. "Alright, then move out!"

Demons everywhere, men fighting for their lives. Cullen looked around and sighed in relief when he saw the Seeker and her men joining them. "Reinforcements have arrived! Keep fighting!" he called to his men, then turned to block an attack from a shade. He raised his sword to strike it down, but out of nowhere a streak of crimson hair flashed by him and suddenly the shade cried out and collapsed, dead.

'I'd know that red hair anywhere!' he thought, looking for its owner. Finding them, his eyes widened when they turned around and smiled. "Eva?"

Eva smiled and tucked her hair behind her ear. "Long time no see, Cullen." Her smile faded and she lunged at him, kicking herself off the ground and launching herself over Cullen to drive her daggers down into a terror.

Cullen spun and watched as she slayed the terror, surprised still to even see her. The Seeker and the one with the mark joined them after sealing the rift. "Ah, Lady Cassandra, you sealed the rift. Well done."

"It was the prisoner, Commander." Cassandra said.

"Commander now, is it?" Eva asked, coming over to join them as she wiped the demon blood from her blades. "Did the Knight-Lieutenant I met ten years ago finally grow up?"

Cullen blushed and shot her a look that gave rise to a chuckle. "Maker, Eva, now is not the time."

"What do you expect when you don't write?" Eva replied with a coy smile. She glanced over at the one with the mark. "You are becoming quite popular, da'len." she said. "Well done with the rift. Think you can close the big one?"

They nodded. "That is our goal, yes."

Eva smiled. "Evanura Perrin, Commander of the Moonlit Myrrh. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"Adam Trevelyan." He replied, blushing as well.

She looked him up and down. He was just a young kid and couldn't have been more than nineteen or twenty. "Well, then I am glad we could clear the way for you. Good luck up there and come back safe. That mark of yours will probably be a big help in the days to come." She looked at Cassandra. "Lady Seeker, it was a pleasure to assist you and the Inquisition. My men and I will head back to Haven and assist with the wounded."

Cassandra nodded. "Thank you, Commander Perrin." She watched as Eva turned and started to walk away, only stopping to whisper something to Cullen before leaving with her men. She looked at Cullen, surprised to see his face so flustered. "What did she say to you?"

Cullen looked at her and felt his blush deepen. "It doesn't matter. I should get back to return to Haven as well. The way to the Temple is clear. Please, be careful."

Cassandra nodded and left with Adam and the others.

Cullen turned to leave with his men, helping one of them down the mountain. As they made their way back down to Haven, he thought about Eva. It had been seven years since he had last seen her, before he had been transferred to Kirkwall. Before that, he saw her every few months when they had business with the Moonlit Myrrh or lodged at their keep when they traveled. It was going to be interesting and very trying to have her around again, those he wasn't sure how long she'd be staying this time.