A/N: I corrected the date on Chapter One it should have been 9:31 Dragon not 9:30

Chapter Six

6 Drakonis, 9:32 Dragon

Highever – six months after the end of the Fifth Blight

Aedan thanked his opponent for the match and then stepped towards the fence lining the practice area of Highever castle. Ser Richard had been a newly christened knight when he had left for Ostagar and was one of the few to have survived and had returned to Highever and his family after the massacre there. Richard had returned to Highever to find the late Arl Howe had seized the castle and murdered the Cousland family. When news of Howe's death reached Highever he had been among the leaders who had fought back against their oppressors and had driven them out.

"Thank you for the lesson your Grace...Aedan," Richard said as he rotated his shoulder to relieve some of the stiffness there. The Teryn of Gwaren and future Warden Commander of Ferelden was adamant that in the practice area he was not to be addressed by any title, fearing that if his opponent saw him as a Teryn that he wouldn't put forth his best effort. Aedan had parried the knight's sword, catching it on the cross-guard, and used Richard's own momentum to put him off balance and out of position for when the Teryn spun and connected with a heavy crosswise chop to his shoulder that had driven him to the ground.

"You are welcome Ser Richard," Aedan said. "You are very good but you must remain calm and not allow your anger or embarrassment to take hold – that is how you make little mistakes that leave you off-balance and exposed. On the practice field there is no shame in taking a few bumps and bruises, we all do. But we must learn from our mistakes so that we don't repeat them and better here among friends than on the battlefield." Aedan looked at the young knight, only a few years his senior in age but decades younger in experience, and could see the lesson take hold. He decided to boost Richard's confidence, "I've also yet to meet the bandit or darkspawn who will buy an opponent a pint of Master Tomas' ale as I will for you this evening in honour of your skill."

Aedan knew that it was hard for young men full of confidence to lose even a sparring match. During the Blight when he had first sparred with Sten and then Zevran, Aedan had been furious with himself over how handily he was thrashed. Each of their fighting styles so unusual and different from what he had trained against. It took him some time to realize that those beatings had been a blessing. While not a braggart, he had needed to be humbled, to lose some of his confidence and faith in his abilities, so that he could learn from them and improve. Brick by brick he was torn down only to rebuild himself stronger than he was before - still confident in his abilities, but more open-minded and with a greater respect of his opponent. This is what he was hoping to do with Ser Richard and the soldiers of Highever and eventually with the Grey Wardens.

Aedan had heard from Fergus that the men of Highever were now taking bets as to who might defeat him in a match now that he had recovered from his injuries. It had been a slow, painful process but apart from tiring a little too easily he had physically recovered from his wounds at the hands, or rather teeth to be specific, of the archdemon. He still struggled with the loss of Alistair, his brother Warden and King, but that too was healing with the help of his bard and the knowledge that Alistair had died as he lived, being a Grey Warden and protecting others.

The Warden lingered around the practice area, offering some advice and sharing his insights, before heading towards the castle proper with Elric in tow.

It was a surprisingly warm spring day, coming after a very mild winter with very little snow. It was as if the Maker knew that Ferelden needed desperately to repair and rebuild after the devastation caused by the Blight and had held winter back. The mild weather had allowed for nearly all of the repairs of the town of Highever and the castle to be completed. It had also enabled Aedan to push himself in his recovery and training.

Queen Anora had been true to her word and had summoned the Orlesian Wardens after they had left for the final battle. There were twenty Wardens housed at Vigil's Keep in Amaranthine and they had also been actively recruiting. Though as Aedan understood it there was no shortage of volunteers as the Order had become quite popular since the defeat of the archdemon.

About five months ago the delegation of Grey Wardens had arrived in Highever to speak to Aedan. At the time he had been walking badly and with two canes like an old man. They had been sceptical that he would ever be able to accept his duties as Warden Commander of Ferelden, but Wynne and others from the Circle of Magi had reassured them. The mages seemed to think that he had lingered near death and was so slow in recovering, despite their healing, due to the large quantities of the archdemon's blood and spit that had entered his body through his wounds and mouth. Aedan never told them of the Warden's Joining ritual and that he already had a trace of an archdemon's blood flowing in his veins. It was somewhat ironic that the taint might have saved his life even as it was slowly killing him. The mages warned him that there might be other effects and for a time he had allowed Wynne and a few others she trusted to 'experiment' on him, but that ended once he could safely get out of bed and move under his own power.

He knew that now he was recovered that he would soon have to leave Highever for Amaranthine and take up his duties there as Warden Commander. At some point he would also have to visit Gwaren, the Terynir granted to him by Anora. He still could not understand why she had done so. A cynic might say that Anora granted Gwaren to him to curry favour with the Landsmeet who had deposed her. Ferelden had decided against her rule and she would have to endear herself and prove herself worthy to the Landsmeet despite or in spite of her and her father's past deeds. The Queen was not in a position to carry grudges and an easy way to show that she did not was to grant her father's Terynir to his executioner. Since at the time Aedan was expected to die and was without an heir there was little enough risk. Besides even though he lived he was still a Grey Warden and they were not known for dying in their sleep. He had spoken to Anora a few times prior to leaving Denerim and she had sent him a couple of letters inquiring as to his health and all were surprisingly civil enough that he hoped the cynic was not right.

Aedan entered the castle and made his way to the kitchen for something to eat, the true measure of his recovery had been the return of his appetite.

"Good Morning Rosie, how are you this morning?" Aedan asked Rosalyn, Rosie to her friends, the head cook for the castle.

"Very well, thank you Your Grace. And you?" replied Rosie as she set out a bowl of porridge for the Warden and some scraps for Elric. It was long past the point where she was surprised to see him and his hound come to the kitchen looking for food at all hours of the day.

"I actually feel very good, no soreness from practice just looking for something to do. Do you need some help in the kitchens?"

"Maker no your Grace, we can't have that."

"I will have you know Rosie that during my travels I easily became the fourth worst cook amongst my friends and never poisoned anyone," Aedan said proudly as he puffed out his chest. "That is if you include my mabari and Shale the stone golem who didn't eat," he laughed.

"Where is Lady Leliana, Your Grace?" asked Rosie. The Warden and bard were rarely apart from each other for long and there were rumours around the castle that they would wed despite the outrage it would cause. Leliana was well liked by the men and women of Highever, but others only saw that she spoke with an Orlesian accent and as far as they knew was not noble born.

"She is visiting with Mother Elizabeth and some distinguished Chantry visitors in town."

"Is there some event that the castle should be planning for?" Rosie arched her eyebrows knowingly.

Aedan could feel his face flush. "Perhaps one day but no there is nothing that I am aware of."

The Warden quickly finished his porridge and excused himself. He was embarrassed that he was so obvious where his bard was concerned.

...

Aedan whiled away the rest of the morning and part of the afternoon before Leliana found him in Fergus' study. The bard sat down in the chair across from him.

"And how was your visit with Mother Elizabeth?" Aedan asked.

"It went well I suppose," Leliana said, looking past Aedan as if there was something more to discuss. After a few moments of silence she continued. "Brother Genitivi and some other Chantry scholars were there. They would like me to accompany them to Haven and the Temple of Andraste since I am one of the few who has seen the Urn of Sacred Ashes. The Grand Cleric herself has written me asking for my assistance." She withdrew the letter from a pocket on her dress and passed it over for the Warden to read.

He read the letter and then looked across at the pretty face he knew so well. It was clear that she was torn. Leliana was a pious woman, who would always be grateful to the Chantry for aiding her at a time when she needed it most. She wanted to go back to the temple, in part to settle a form of debt she felt she owed the Chantry, but she did not want to leave him.

"I've been cooped up in the castle all day and I expect you feel the same too," Aedan said as he handed back the letter. "What do you say if you go and change into some travelling clothes and we go for a little adventure? While you're getting dressed I can get the horses ready." Leliana smiled and nodded agreement.

After he spoke to the stable boy to prepare two horses Aedan went back to the castle to inform Seneschal Garret that he and Leliana would be going for a ride and should be expected back that evening. He left instructions to inform Fergus when he returned from Harper's Ford.

"My Lady you are packed rather heavy for a short ride," Aedan commented. Leliana was certainly dressed for travel. She wore a pair of brown buckskin trousers with matching jacket along with a green linen tunic. She carried a pack with a bedroll and wolf fur cloak attached in one hand. In the other was her bow and quiver and her short sword hung from her hip. He knew that there would also be daggers in her boots, sleeves and on her hip opposite her sword at a minimum.

"I have learned when travelling with you my Warden that it is best to be prepared for anything," Leliana said with a grin.

The Warden bowed in an admission of the truth of her words and pointed to his own pack lying beside Elric that was similarly equipped.

They rode for hours without a destination in mind with Elric keeping pace. On their way back to the castle Aedan decided to steer their course towards a spot known as Promontory Point. It was a very scenic place, jutting out into the Waking Sea and high above the rocky coast of Ferelden. From here you could see Highever off to the east and get a good look at the fishing and trading boats travelling to and from the town's sizable docks. The point was also a popular spot for knowledgeable locals when travelling and unable to reach the town before nightfall. These travellers had over time built the spot up and made it a welcoming place to spend the evening. Several fallen trees and large boulders were arranged as seating around a small ring of stones for a fire pit. There was even a small paddock of sorts formed by a combination of bushes with sharp thorns and wooden fence for their horses. Nearby there was a small stream that emptied back into the sea with an impressive waterfall and there were plenty of grasses and bushes to provide some food for both man and animal.

Aedan got down from his horse as Leliana did the same. He led the horses over to nearby paddock and let them roam. He walked over to Leliana who was standing at the cliff's edge admiring the view. He stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her delicate waist and placed his chin on her shoulder.

"The view is spectacular. Thank you for bringing me here," the bard said as her left hand came up and touched the Warden's cheek.

"The view pales in comparison to the woman in my arms."

"Flatterer." The bard gave him a playful slap.

"Not at all my beautiful bard, merely stating the truth," Aedan said as he kissed her cheek.

They stood together in silence, enjoying the view and each other's company for some time before the Warden spoke. "I think we should rest here for a while. I'll go collect some water and enough wood for a small fire."

Aedan returned after fetching the water with his arms full of wood to find that Leliana had setup a small tent and was brushing the horses after removing their saddles.

"I hadn't intended us to spend the night out here my love."

"I know it's just so beautiful here and we have it all to ourselves." Elric barked at the slight and received a pat of apology from Leliana.

"They'll be expecting us back at the castle tonight," Aedan said.

"I told Ser Garret that we might not be returning this evening," the bard smiled.

The Warden got the fire going and then laid his cloak over one of the boulders and retrieved a cloth wrapped bundle from his pack containing some bread, dried meat and apples. He watched Leliana brush her horse, admiring her form. She noticed and began to blush.

"It isn't polite to stare Aedan."

"I wasn't staring. I was appreciating one of the Makers finest creations...that really is a beautiful horse, so powerful and majestic. All lean muscle and grace." Leliana threw the horse brush at him as he began laughing.

They had a simple meal, sharing the meat with Elric and the apples with the horses. After they had finished eating they moved to the cliff's edge to watch the sun set, sitting down on one cloak and wrapping another around them to take the bite out of the chill wind that had arrived.

"Leliana," Aedan said quietly. "I think that you should go to Andraste's temple with Brother Genitivi and the others."

"You want me to leave?" Leliana said.

"Never," he answered. The look of confusion and pain on his bard's face tore at his heart. "These last few months with you have been among the best of my life. I only wish my parents were alive to meet you."

"I don't understand then, why do you want me to leave?" Leliana looked close to tears.

"I saw your eyes and know that you want to go," said the Warden. "They will need your skills and I know that it is important to you. I would never want to hold you so tightly that your own wants and needs are suppressed and you suffocate. That is not the woman I fell in love with.

"I have another reason for wanting you to go," Aedan said hesitantly. "If we are going to continue and build a future together then I owe it to you to tell you the entire truth. A trip to Haven will give you time to think whether you even want to see me again."

"You're scaring me Aedan." Concern showed on the bard's pretty face.

"Perhaps that is for the best," Aedan said ruefully. "I am going to break my oaths to the Grey Wardens by telling you this so please do not speak of it to anyone, not even to Fergus since he doesn't know.

"You've travelled with Alistair and me for long enough to know that Wardens can sense the darkspawn. You also know that a Warden gives their life to kill an archdemon." Aedan watched Leliana nod before looking out at the sea, unable to face her when he told her the truth. "When a Grey Warden recruit is inducted into the Order he goes through a ritual called the Joining. In the Joining the recruit drinks a mixture of darkspawn and archdemon blood." He heard Leliana gasp in shock and disgust. "We take their darkness, their taint into us and master it and that is what gives us our power. It allows us to sense when darkspawn are near just as they can sense us, and the shared taint is why only a Warden can kill an archdemon. We are bound to them.

"Not every recruit survives the Joining, during mine I was the only one to survive." Aedan paused as memories of Daveth and Jory sprang to mind. "I drank the blood and now the darkspawn taint flows in my veins.

"The taint makes me immune to the darkspawn, but it is a poison and is slowly killing me. If I don't die an early death I will live for another thirty years or so before the taint claims its victory. As my time nears I will begin to have terrible nightmares and will leave for my Calling. That is when a Warden goes to the Deep Roads to die fighting darkspawn. If I do not leave for my Calling the taint will corrupt me. I will turn into a ghoul and someone will be forced to kill me because I will truly be a monster and deserving of death.

"There is another thing. We have never talked in detail about our future together. Would you want to marry and do you want children? I must warn you that because of the taint it is unlikely that I could ever father a child." Aedan turned to face Leliana. She was crying and he reached out and touched her face with both hands, wiping away her tears with his thumbs. "Please Leliana don't cry. We both know that Wardens are needed and that the sacrifice, while painful, is necessary." He lowered his forehead to hers.

"That is the life I can offer you," he whispered. "A childless life filled with fighting darkspawn and an early death." He began to stand and Leliana grabbed his hand.

"You can also give me a life filled with love and happiness regardless of however long it lasts," she said pleadingly.

"Please my beautiful bard, do not rush into a hasty decision," Aedan said. "I beg you to go to Haven and take the time to really think upon the life I can offer you. I love you Leliana, but I only want what is best for you. If you decide that I can't give you everything you want and deserve then I will understand."

Aedan gently removed the bard's hand from his and began to walk away from the camp. Tears ran down his face and he could hear Leliana's sobs. He had left a piece of his heart there on the cliff, but it had to be done – Leliana had to know the truth, he loved her too much to lie to her.

He wasn't sure how long he had wandered aimlessly before he paused. Night had truly fallen and without his cloak the wind was now chilling his bones, he decided to walk back to camp.

Aedan entered the tent to see that Leliana appeared to be sleeping. Appeared since the bard was so skilful there was no easy way to tell for sure. He pulled his bedroll away from hers. It just seemed wrong to sleep so close beside her after what he had said earlier. The Warden laid down to sleep not even bothering to undress.

He awoke the next morning to an empty tent. Leliana was already awake and had packed her bedroll. He did the same and then walked out into the morning air and, after seeing the bard again sitting on the cliff's edge looking out as the sun rose over the sea, began to tear down the tent and pack it up. After a quick look to see the horses had been tended to he walked over to his bard and sat down beside her.

"Good morning," he said with forced cheer.

"Morning," Leliana answered flatly. "I have thought about what you told me and I have decided to go to Haven on the Chantry's expedition. It is true that I would like to return and there is some sense in them bringing someone who has already passed through the Gauntlet."

"Thank you..." Aedan said.

"Please let me finish," Leliana interrupted. "As for our future together, I will do as you ask and think upon what you have said. You wrote in your letter to me before we left to face the archdemon that you had sworn vows to me and that for you there was no other." She saw Aedan nod his head. "I release you from your vows. It is only fair if you are granting me time to determine whether there is another for my heart that you are granted the same."

Leliana looked at her Warden. The strong jaw and handsome face that set many heart's swooning, the broad shoulders and muscular arms that seemed as if he could carry the world upon his back, the rough, calloused hands that were so gentle and tender when they made love, and the piercing blue eyes that seemed to look into your very soul and reflected his strength and inner depths of character. She knew that Aedan was hurting himself by asking her to leave and freeing her to find another if that was what she wanted. Could she do any less?

"What will you do?" the bard asked.

"I will go to Vigil's Keep and the Wardens," Aedan said. He left unspoken the rest - with you gone there is nothing for me in Highever.