Cassandra awoke to find the bedroll beside her empty. Sighing, she shook the sleep from her mind and pushed herself up into a sitting position. The man she was looking for sat cross-legged on the covered well, with a slow burning lantern, and sketching feverishly in his newly acquired journal. Merthin was curled on the ground near the well, his eyes wide and on full alert.

He looked so tired. The thought made the Seeker frown. She knew that sleep wasn't something that came easily to him, she just didn't know how bad it was until they starting sharing a bed. Well, in the case a patch of grass in Skyhold's garden. Repairs were going nearly on every hour of the day, trying to make room for all the remainder citizens of Haven. Aiden refused to take one of those spots until those in the most need had a roof over their head and a bed to sleep in. They were sending out hunting and gathering parties needed to keep Skyhold running. In fact, Cassandra was supposed to go out with Cullen and a few other Inquisition soldiers for a hunt at dawn. Which, judging by the slight discoloration of the sky, was just around the corner.

Wrapping Aiden's cloak around her shoulder, Cassandra made her way towards the Herald.

Merthin lifted his head from his folded paws and rubbed his snout against her calf before returning to his guard duty.

Aiden looked up. "You shouldn't be up."

The deadly serious tone caused Cassandra to laugh. "You should be talking." She joined him onto of the covered well, leaning over in hopes to catch a peak of what he was drawing.

Only, he pulled away from her. "Not done yet." In truth, the subject matter wasn't something he wasn't to expose her too. The nightmare in his head now lived forever on the parchment to serve as a reminder that, that world wasn't his anymore. He had been freed from the bonds of torture. Never was he to be used for the sick pleasure of others. No more pain. No more terror. No more.

Cassandra knew better than to push. She could tell by the demons swimming in his glowing eyes that a nightmare drove him from her arms. Leaving him alone was the best thing for her to do. "I should get ready for the hunt."

"Stay safe." He instructed. It scared him ever so slightly how much and how fast Aiden found himself depending on the Seeker. Before, in Haven, he leaned on her for support. But now, he needed her to the point he felt like he couldn't breathe without her.

"Always am. I'll be back before afternoon meal." Cassandra leaned over to touch her lips to his and felt him stiffen. Not an unusual response, but he didn't relax like he usually did. She quickly pulled away and Aiden adverted his gaze, an apology on his lips. "It's okay. I'll see you this afternoon."

Aiden didn't look up until he was sure she was gone. He glanced down at the horrid drawing, slammed the journal shut, and threw it across the garden. Stomach churning, Aiden fought to keep his stomach settled. He hated, oh how he hated, himself, the world, and everything in between that her touch evoked such a reaction. Hated that those bastards were still in his head, corrupting everything.

When would it stop? Bryn was dead. The people that sold him couldn't touch him now, thanks to the mark. An entire fucking army stood between them and himself. Why? Why couldn't the darkness leave him the hell alone?

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Back from a successful hunt, Cassandra deposited her hunting gear and scanned the greeting crowd in hopes to find the Herald. The man was noticeably absent. She wondered if he was outside the walls digging graves again. That's all he seemed to do over the past few days. Every night, he would return drenched in sweat with hands blistered in bleeding. And every night, Dorian would heal him and try to convince him what he was doing wasn't necessary. Yes, there were still deaths, but the rate was dropping as they now had a steady supply of food, water, and other necessities to ensure somewhat healthy living.

"I don't know about you." She turned to Cullen. "But I am in need of a wash."

His scarred lip pulled up. "I wasn't going to say anything."

Cassandra elbowed his gut causing the Commander to double over. "Not only are you in a need of a bath but a trim and a shave as well. You look like a beggar."

Cullen stroked a hand over his bearded chin. "I'll have you know that there are several women around here find my changing looks to be irresistible."

Groaning, she rolled her eyes. "If you say so. You still need to bathe."

"If you say so."

Cassandra retrieved all the items to scrub off the grime from the hunt and found the alcove she used just a few days prior. The same alcove where Aiden pinned her against the wall and fought the urge to take her right then and there. Thinking about it made her ache. It had only been four days since their steamy night in the tavern and yet, she yearned for her lover's touch as if it had been months. But with the events of this morning, Cassandra knew better then try to peruse him for that. She would have to be patient and wait for him

Aiden stood and the shadows and watched as Cassandra stripped down to her breast band. The sight should have his body stirring. Should have his blood heating to touch, to take. There was just nothing. Clenching his jaw, Aiden willed the darkness looming over him away and forced himself forward. He would show them, this darkness, that it no longer had a hold on him.

"I take it the hunt was successful?" Aiden glanced at the red tainted water. The familiar copper scent of blood filled his senses, churning something inside him.

Cassandra turned finding her lover's glowing blue orbs wild and dark. He wasn't aroused. No, he looked utterly dangerous as he stalked towards her. "The people of Skyhold will not go hungry." She resisted the urge to take a step back when he stopped inches from her.

Growling, Aiden tangled his fingers in the short strands of her hair and yanked her up on her toes to bring her mouth close to his. "I know I won't." He kissed her in hope to drive away all of the ugliness that had been hanging over him all day.

She felt his determination. His self-hatred. His anger. Cassandra knew that it was only a moment before he snapped in the worst possible way. "Aiden."

He backed away from her touch, from her gentle voice. Aiden sank to his knees, struggling to keep the contents of his stomach in place. "Maker, Cassandra."

She knelt down beside him careful not to get too close. "Talk to me."

"Your touch is so loving, gentle. I craved it for so long." Tears welled in his bloodshot eyes. "But the thought of you touching me feels like grains of sand against my skin. I look at you and it's not your face I see. It's his. He's done. Dead by my own hands and yet, he still has this hold on me."

Her heart broke as his voice wavered. "He will only have a hold on you if you let him. That man is dead and you will never go back to that life. You are your own man. Responsible for your own destiny."

"But deep down, I'm still the elvhen whore bastard. Cast out by his family and used for the pleasure of others." HE cast his gaze away. "There are far better men in the world for you."

"And the only one I want is you." She placed a kiss against his clammy temple. "And no matter what, I will brave the darkness, find you and bring you back to the light."

Aiden gripped her arms, soaking up her words of comfort. "Thank you."

0o0o0o0oo0o0o

Day by day, Cassandra hoped that Aiden would shake off some of the darkness. Only, it seemed he slid deeper into the abyss. They would speak only in passing. He started missing meals and lesson while disappearing for hours on end. He even took to sleeping outside of Skyhold's walls. Cassandra knew she had to do something or lose him completely.

Putting her bold plan into motion, Cassandra tightened her cloak around her frame and slipped from the safety of the keep walls. When she knew she was far enough not to draw attention, Cassandra lit her lantern before proceeding deeper into the words.

Merthin alerted Aiden to an approaching presence. He scrambled to push himself off the bedroll to his weapons.

"It's only me, Trevelyan."

Aiden watched her emerged, barefoot and clutching her cloak, from the thick brush. "Cassandra?" His gaze followed her as she moved to kneel beside him, placing the lantern on the ground next to his dying one. "What are you doing here?"

"Helping you find your way through the darkness." She unclasped her cloak, letting it pool on the ground revealing her naked body.

"Maker in heaven, lass." Seeing her bared freely before him stirred a mixture of arousal and disgust. Not for her, but towards himself.

She caught his face in her hands when he would've looked away. "Look at me, Trevelyan. See me."

"I don't… I can't…"

"Let me help you try." Cassandra stretched out next to him, trailing her fingers over the sweep of his jaw and down his throat. "No, don't close your eyes. Don't go there. Keep looking at me."

Aiden kept his eyes glued to her face, memorized by the way the flame played with her features. Maker, she was breathtaking. A woman who could have any man she wanted and she chose him. He hissed the moment her hand slipped under his tunic, stroking the plans of his stomach. So gentle. So loving.

Caressing a patch of harden skin, Cassandra watched his glowing eyes begin to darken. "Do you feel me?"

Unable to speak, Aiden nodded. Her hand continued to explore, stroking every scar with care. Reminding him of that night in the cells below Haven. He remembered the ache. The wonderful and painful ache to touch her. To take and make her his.

"Put your hands on me, Aiden."

His hands flexed, fighting the urge. "I don't want to hurt you."

She brushed her lips over his scarred ones, coaxing him with her soft words. "You won't." Cassandra took his hand and molded it against her breast.

He hissed in pleasure. It had been far too long since he last touched her. "For so long I imagined what you looked like underneath all that armor. What you would feel like." Aiden lowered his head to nip at her perked nipple. Her noise shot fire straight to his loins. Each touch. Each breathless moan helped chase away the feelings of shame and disgust. Soon, he felt pleasure from her calloused hands.

Cassandra found herself trapped beneath his lanky frame, his clever mouth and fingers working her like a finely tuned instrument. "Aiden."

"I need… Need." Aiden tore at the laces of his leathers desperate to free his pulsing arousal.

She wrapped her fingers around his girth feeling him tense. "Eyes on me. I'm not going to hurt you." Cassandra stroked her hand down and his hips bucked. "I want to give you nothing but pleasure."

Aiden fought the dark feelings. He planted one hand on the ground and buried the other in her hair. He brought her gaze back to his, amazed by the way they flickered with the pleasure of simply touching him. That's all she wanted to do. Please him. Help him without asking anything in return.

"Kiss me," Aiden demanded meeting Cassandra in a brutal meeting of lips. She surrendered to him. Letting him take and take. He drove himself into her welcoming heat, swallowing her cry of pleasure. He took her hard and fast in the middle of the small grove, drowning in every noise he evoked from his lover. Ever nail that bit into his skin. Every nip of teeth.

She could feel him slipping. Could see the darkness clouding his glowing eyes. Cassandra fisted a hand in his thick mane of hair, forcing him to look at her again. "Don't thin. Only feel."

"Say my name," He begged fighting the edge of oblivion.

"Aiden." Cassandra felt his grip tighten and knew there would be bruises come morning. "Please, come back to me."

Aiden roared as he found his release, collapsing into her welcoming arms.

Feeling him tremble, Cassandra held him tighter, stroking his damp hair. "I've got you," She whispered. "No, not yet." Cassandra stopped him from moving.

Aiden felt tears burning the back of his throat. Those that used his body always rushed to distance themselves from him. Always looking at him in disgust. And here was this woman, who knew of his past, savoring his touch and enjoying the sensation of him buried within her. He lifted himself up, his long strands of hair falling over his face. He smiled as she lovingly brushed it away. "Thank you, Cassandra."

"I will never leave you in that darkness," Cassandra vowed. "No matter how many times you venture there, I will always come in and get you."

"You are such an amazing woman. I don't know what I've done to deserve you, but I'm not going to question it."

"Good. Now, will you come back to the keep?"

"Yes, but not tonight." Aiden shushed with a kiss. "Tonight we're truly alone and I intend to take full advantage of it."