This story is dedicated to my wife who is the source of the joy that makes my life worth living.

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Dragon Age: Origins, its original story line, or its main characters.

I rated the story "T" due to some sexual references and discussions. Later on there will be more explicit conversations and physical relationships and it may go to "M". However, I won't be writing any graphically detailed sex scenes.

Paths of the Dreamers

Arl Howe rose from his chair when he heard the news. "I beg your leave, Your Grace", he addressed Teyrn Cousland, "I need to go and see my commander. If it would not be a great imposition, I would like to meet with you a few moments after I return. I shouldn't be too long."

Bryce Cousland rose to his feet. "Certainly. Attend to your men and meet me in my study. I need to go over some things before we leave tomorrow so it won't be an issue at all", he said graciously.

Rendon Howe bowed and left the room with the castle guard that had brought the news. The others in the room had all risen when Bryce got to his feet. Lady Landra turned to Eleanor, "I should go to my room and prepare for bed. It has been a long day and the wine is going to my head as well."

"I'll walk with you", Eleanor replied. She turned to her husband and reached up to kiss him on the cheek. "I'll be in our room. Your entertainment will be waiting for you", she whispered. Bryce gave her a quick hug and a little wink when she pulled back from him. She looked at her children and their companions and then turned back to Landra. "I think the old ladies will be going back to our rooms alone. The children don't look like they are ready to go to bed yet."

Landra looked at the younger folks and then leaned in and quietly told Eleanor, "I don't know about not going to bed but I am pretty sure they aren't ready to go to sleep." She giggled as Eleanor gasped.

"I think the wine IS going to your head, Landra!" she laughed. She took her friend by the arm and led her out of the dining hall and back toward the living quarters.

Duncan bid the Teyrn good night and then left for his room as well. Bryce asked Dairren to accompany him for a moment and they left the room after he had bid Rory, Iona, and the twins good night. The two couples stood making small talk for a few minutes and then they began to head for the door as well. Both couples turned down the pathway toward the garden. When they realized that they all had the same idea, the two women giggled and the men smirked at each other. They entered the garden but Rory and Tessa turned down a path to the right and left Tavish and Iona standing near the gate.

"Is it too chilly out here for you, Iona?" Tavish asked. It was spring but there was still a nip in the evening air.

"No", she replied. "I'll be fine." Tavish shyly reached out and took her hand. She smiled and they turned and began walking down a path away from the direction that Rory and Tessa had gone. They walked along without talking until they reached a bench and sat down together. Tavish slipped his arm around her and she gently put her head on his shoulder.

"You have a wonderful family", she said. "It is obvious that you all love each other very much. You are very lucky."

Tavish smiled. "My parents were lucky enough to marry for love instead of being paired in a political match. We grew up in the warmth of their love for each other as well as their love for us. I don't think a lot of noble families have that luxury. Was your family close?"

"Yes. Even though I didn't live with my parents, they visited as often as they could and I never doubted that they loved me. I missed them but my grandparents and the rest of our family always made sure I was loved and welcome. I guess I was lucky too in that regard."

"Mother said that you were going to be staying for a few days before she went with you back to the Loren's manor. I'm glad we'll get to spend more time together before you have to leave. I have enjoyed this evening with you very much."

"I really enjoyed the evening, too", she said. She lifted her head from his shoulder as she spoke. Tavish looked down at her. There were a few torches scattered around the perimeter of the garden and the moon was only a small sliver but there was just enough light to make her eyes shine as she looked up at him. He tilted his head down toward hers and she lifted her face to him. He brushed her lips lightly at first and then kissed her firmly but gently. She slipped her arms up around his neck and leaned into him slightly as she returned the kiss. When they broke away, she sighed and kept her face tilted up to him. Her eyes were slightly closed and he could tell that she had enjoyed it as much as he had.

Tavish was not an inexperienced lover but he had never really been emotionally involved with anyone before. All of his previous encounters had been with star struck maids or willing bar wenches. They had been thrilling physical encounters but there was never any romantic attachment, on his part at least. He realized as he looked down at Iona's soft lips and sweet face that he was experiencing new feelings for this beautiful young woman. It made him pause and he felt a little awkward, almost like a young school boy after his first kiss.

Iona ended his awkward moment by pulling him back down for another kiss. Her lips were slightly parted and when they came together, Tavish slid his tongue softly along her bottom lip. Her mouth opened wider and the kiss was much more breathtaking than the first soft exploration had been. This time when their lips parted, both of them were breathing a little heavier. Tavish pulled her a little closer and slid his other arm around her. They continued to kiss and hold each other until Tavish realized that he wanted more from her.

"Iona, I know we have only just met today, but would you be offended if I invited you to my room tonight?" Tavish was a little nervous that she would turn him down. If she did, he would be disappointed but mostly he hoped that she wouldn't think badly of him.

"I would like very much to go with you, Tavish. You have made me feel welcome and warm since I arrived and I feel comfortable with you in way I haven't with anyone in a long time. And right now you make me feel desirable and wanted. I haven't felt that in a long while either."

Tavish leaned in and kissed her again. After a moment, he stood slowly and took her hand as she stood as well. He slid her arm around his waist and put his arm around hers as they began to walk slowly back toward the castle.

Tessa and Rory had walked for a little while with their arms around each other. Tessa had peeked back at Tavish and Iona as they had walked away and had seen them begin to walk the other way down a path and out of sight. She smiled and leaned her head against Rory's shoulder as they continued on.

"Your parents must have been quite a pair when they were younger", Rory said.

Tessa snorted a little. "When they were younger! You ought to see them now when they think nobody is around. At their age, it is a little embarrassing."

They reached the end of the path near the bluff overlooking the sea. Tessa looked out over the water and up at the stars in the clear sky above with a little sigh. Rory looked down at her and turned, pulling her into his arms. "Well, I hope our children think the same thing when we're their age", Rory murmured as he leaned down to kiss her. They kissed softly at first but there was a growing urgency as the kiss continued on.

Tessa's arms were around his neck and she began to feel her desire growing deep inside. She pressed her body into his as the kiss went on until she felt lightheaded. She pulled back and looked up at him. "I've never had make up sex before", she whispered. "I hear it is quite invigorating."

Rory smiled down at her. "Well, we can't have you missing out on something like that now can we." He pulled her back into a tight embrace and his lips crushed down on hers. His hands began to move slowly down her back until they were cupping her bottom as he pulled her tightly against him. She felt the swelling of his desire against her and ground her hips into him as the kiss grew even deeper. When Rory finally lifted his head, Tessa backed away and took him by the hand. She began to lead him back along the path they had followed down, heading back to the castle. She didn't slow down or stop until they reached the door to her room. She opened the door and looked back at him almost shyly as she led him in. They had never made love in her room before. He stopped long enough to close the door behind them and then followed her as she headed straight for her bed.

It seemed like only moments later as he lay next to her gently running his fingers along her hip and thigh. She gave a heavy sigh as she snuggled a little closer. "They were right" she purred into his chest.

In the distance, Rory heard the chantry bell toll the eleventh hour. He groaned and started to turn over. Tessa held on tighter as he moved away. "I've got to go now, Tess. I have the midnight watch tonight and I need to go get ready."

Tessa let him go and sat up. "I'm going to have to talk to Poppa about your schedule", she pouted.

Rory rolled his eyes as he continued dressing. "You can't do that, Tess! It is going to be hard enough now that everyone knows about us. If he starts showing favoritism, the rest of the guys in the guard house are going to make my life unbearable."

She crawled out of bed and stood next to him as he finished. She put her arms around him and kissed him again. "OK", she said. "But I'm going to show some favoritism so all of you had better get used to it."

He reached behind her and smacked her bare butt. "Don't worry; I'll try very hard to adjust." He picked her up and tossed her on the bed and then skipped out of the door as she tossed a pillow at his head.

Tavish and Iona walked quietly back to his room. Just as they were entering the family quarters, they saw Rory and Tessa going into her room. They looked at each other and they both blushed a little. When they entered his room, it was dark except for a gentle glow emanating from a globe on the bedside table. Tavish went over to the globe and laid his hand on it. As he touched it the light began to grow brighter until he pulled his hand away.

Iona walked over and began examining the light. "I've never seen anything like that before. How did you make it get brighter?"

"It is a mage light", Tavish replied. He reached out and tapped it lightly and the light dimmed back to the glow they saw when they entered the room. "If you tap it, it goes back to just a glow, but if you hold your hand on it, it will continue to get brighter until you take your hand off or it reaches its full intensity." He took her hand while he was talking and placed it on the globe. It began to brighten until the entire room was illuminated.

Iona pulled her hand away. "It doesn't even feel warm. How does it work?"

"I'm not sure exactly", Tavish said. "All I can tell you is that it is some kind of magic. One of the senior enchanters from the tower at Lake Calenhad gave Tessa one a few years ago. We all liked it so much, Poppa had several more made for using around the castle. They are mostly in the living quarters but we have some in the study and library too. You probably didn't notice them earlier in the daylight."

Iona reached out and tapped the globe. "I think this should be about right for what we need." She stepped closer to him and he took her into his arms. He looked into her eyes and saw the passion smoldering in them.

Yes, he agreed to himself, that should be just about right.