Faith felt the sir pressure change in her room. Pretending to still be sleeping and roll over she grasped the hilt of the dagger she kept under her pillow. Moving quickly she lunged to strike. Nathaniel caught her wrists and slammed them into the solid wood headboard hard enough that the force of the blow caused her hands to go numb and she dropped the blade.

"Faith! I'm sorry!" He whispered harshly.

She was confused by the pain in her wrist and the sudden feeling of someone massaging it. It took her eyes a moment to adjust to the light and see who it was in her room.

"Nathaniel?" she asked. For a split second she was afraid he was there to kill her.

"I'm sorry." He said again "it was instinct. Is your hand okay?"

"It hurts but I can still use it." She replied "What are you still doing here? I thought you'd have left."

"I couldn't leave without making sure you were all right, and they wouldn't let me see you." He said sitting next to her. He could see the visible bump on her now, thought her armor did a good job of hiding it.

"I am fine." She answered, though she couldn't look him in the eyes and sat leaning against the hard wood headboard rubbing her wrist.

"Where is your…" he began.

"Husband?" she finished.

"Yes, that."

"I don't have one. My currently condition was the product of a moment of weakness the ended in betrayal. "She told him.

"What?" he asked, he was confused and relieved. "Does he not care?"

"He does not know and I prefer it that way. He despises me, probably much in the way you do only it was because of someone I let live not someone I killed." She said unable to look up.

"Faith." He took her hand and kissed it "I don't hate you. If it was anyone else, I would, but not you."

"You don't hate me?" she asked sounding hopeful.

"No." he replied shaking his head, "I am angry but I don't hate you for doing what you had to survive. I just wish it didn't cost my family so much."

"Nathaniel stay then, rebuild your family honor."

"How?" he asked snorting "You think King Alistair would accept a Howe in his service?"

"Not likely. But I would."

"What?" he asked looking at her "What do you mean?"

"Stay, become a Grey Warden. Show the country that Howe's are still heroes." She said "Ferelden needs Wardens…"

He looked away from her, feeling angry and hurt. "It that only reason you want me to stay? Is to join you order?" he asked bitterly.

"No, of course not, Nathaniel." She sat up, "I need your help. I-I can't do this alone." She sounded ready to cry.

Turning to face her he could see tears barely held back. She looked like the same young girl trying not to weep when he told her he leaving to squire in the Free Marches. It must have been hard on her, all this time. Nathaniel reached out and placed his hand on her cheek, she leaned into him.

"I will stay for you." He said "from the looks of things you do need my help."

His levity made her laugh. The tears still feel from her eyes but it was more relief than anything else. He crawled over her to sit beside her on the bed. "You know this was my room."

"I know." She said laying her head on his shoulder "I have good memories here."

He chuckled. "Yes we do, don't we?"

"I look on them fondly." She said lacing her fingers with his.

"So do I." he said softly watching her lace her fingers with his.

He leaned his head back against the hard wood. His mind drifting back to happier times, the few he had of his childhood all involved her. He had hoped to marry her before he was sent off, but his father wanted her to marry his brother. It was nice to be so close to her again, to feel her hair in his hands. He still loved her, more than ever.

"I am sorry I couldn't wait for you." She said "I was so lonely and I thought I was going to die…I…"

"Shhhh." He said "I don't blame you for finding comfort with another; I have been gone almost ten years. I'm here now, if you'll have me."

When she sat up her hair had fallen over one shoulder and new tears found their way down her cheeks. He reached out and wiped them away with his thumb. She nodded not trusting her voice to work. Closing the distance between them she kissed him.

He sighed when he felt her lips press against his, never had a woman's touch felt as good as hers did now. He'd not squander the chance he'd been given this time. Embracing her he pulled her as close as her belly would allow, allowing himself to lay back on her bed. He kissed her more passionately this time, selfishly claiming her tongue as his own.

They spent the majority of the evening reacquainting themselves to each other's bodies. He had to keep himself in check as to not let it end too quickly. Though it didn't last as long as he would have wished Nathaniel clutched the coverlet when the wash of euphoria flooded over him.

"I love you." She said caressing his cheek as he lay beside her.

He pulled her close to him, kissing her temple. "I love you too." He said into her hair, but he knew she heard him.