Chapter 7 - Promise Me

Rosalyn and Loghain stayed in her quarters for the time being. Stroud's possessions were swiftly dispatched to the guest wing. Rosalyn's nose wrinkled in disgust at the thought that the man had actually slept in her bed, their bed. She had the maids change the sheets, while she shared a snack with Loghain and went through the paperwork which had accumulated in her absence.

Finally she leaned back with a sigh, stretching like a cat. "This will have to do. I need a break."

"Let's go and say hello to Miranda, shall we?" Loghain rose. "I'm sure she's missed you, and the Mabari kennels should be the least likely place to run into any Orlesians."

She grinned up at him. "Too delicate to bear the smell of dogs, do you think? Good idea."

They spent over an hour at the kennels, petting Miranda, taking a look at the newest pups, and discussing what could be done.

"I will have to go with them, at least for the time being." Loghain's face was sombre. "It's the only way you are ever going to get rid of Stroud. The man is like a childer grub. Once he's got his teeth into you, he won't let go."

Rosalyn snorted. "An apt description. I detest him, I truly do. All right then." She closed her eyes to hide her pain. "I'll let him know you're coming with him. But not right away. You'll need at least another three days to get ready."

Loghain nodded. "Three days it is, then." He took her in his arms. "Don't be sad, Rose. Time will pass quickly, and I'm sure you'll find a way to convince the First Warden." He hesitated for a moment. "Who knows, maybe it will be good for you not to have me around all the time."

He felt her stiffen in his arms. "What do you mean?" There was an edge to her voice, and he braced himself mentally. He didn't want to quarrel with her, not now when they had so little time left, but some things needed to be said.

"Rose, you're the Warden Commander. You can't look to me every time you make a decision, every time things get difficult. You have to stand on your own and people have to see you don't need me around."

Rosalyn pulled back, her eyes full of hurt. "But I do need you. I can't do it alone. I love you."

It cut into his heart to go on, but he knew he had to. "You are stronger than you think, Rose. Once I'm gone you'll realize it. I know you will."

She turned away, her disappointment clearly discernible in the lines of her neck and shoulders. "So you'll leave me. Just like that. I thought you cared for me."

"I do." He reached out for her and pulled her close again. More than you'll ever know.She didn't resist, but he knew he had hurt her. Maker knows, that's the last thing I ever wanted. And if there was any other way...

"Promise me you'll be strong, Rose." His voice was firm. "Give me your word."

Rosalyn wouldn't meet his eyes, hiding her face against his shoulder, but after a while he felt her nod. "I promise."


Stroud grudgingly agreed to wait three more days, but he seemed determined to make his stay as disagreeable for them as possible. Just to see him prancing around the Keep, questioning the servants and inspecting every nook and cranny, was enough to set Rosalyn's teeth on edge.

On their last day, she knocked on Loghain's door early in the morning, dressed in her leathers, with her bow on her back and a small satchel in her hand.

"Let's go out hunting. I'm going mad cooped up in here with that Orlesian bastard."

Loghain readily agreed. It was early in the year yet, not quite springtime, but the snow was gone and the lake near the Keep was full of waterfowl. They had a decent hunt, and several spring geese and black ducks to show for their efforts by the time they paused for lunch. They shared some dried beef and bread, while Miranda shook the water out of her fur with a pleased grunt and stretched out on the ground. It was warm here in the sun, and Rosalyn took off her helmet and shook out her hair.

"You're so beautiful." There was a hitch in Loghain's voice, and Rosalyn smiled mischievously as she looked at him.

He was leaning against one of the huge granite boulders strewn across the meadow. For once he looked relaxed and content, his eyes squeezed almost shut against the bright sunlight reflected off the water of the lake. Rosalyn loved seeing him like this, out here where he felt most at home, in his well-worn leathers that allowed him to move far more gracefully and stealthily than his chevalier armour. When he began to move towards her, she stopped him with a quick gesture.

"Stay!" In a flash, she was right before him, kissing him enthusiastically. His delighted laugh turned into a groan when she sank on her knees before him and began fiddling with his leather leggings.

"Rose." He sounded scandalized, but she could feel how much it excited him, to have her behave so wantonly, out here in the open, even if they were alone and in little danger of being seen.

With a quick smile up at him, she freed him from the confines of the leather and closed her soft lips around his shaft. His head flew back and he groaned again, as she took him in deep. Glancing up at him, she found him watching her, his eyes wide with arousal and fixed intently on her face. Rosalyn moaned and felt an answering shudder run through his whole body. She withdrew a bit and smiled up at him before she proceeded to nibble gently, then let her tongue swirl around the crown until he hissed sharply.

"Enough."

He pulled her up into his arms and kissed her, then spun her around, changing positions so she was now pressed against the hard stone. His hands and mouth were everywhere on her body, slipping beneath her armour to find and caress naked skin. When he pushed down her leggings, she shivered briefly in the cool air, but she forgot about the cold the moment his fingers found her heat. He worked her mercilessly, giving her no respite, and within minutes she was keening softly, biting his leather-clad shoulder to keep the noise down.

With an impatient grunt he turned her over and bent her down over the boulder, carefully positioning himself before he pushed inside her, hard and forceful. Rosalyn cried out. Oh Maker, yes! The stone was scraping her elbows and the cool breeze made her shudder, but it was perfect, the angle making him brush against her core in all the right places. She met his thrusts eagerly. It didn't take long until she screamed hoarsely, her head thrown back in ecstasy. He followed her quickly, his arms and legs shaking from the strain of holding back.

Slowly he slid out of her, turned her back and gathered her in his arms, holding her tight. "Rose. That was-"

She laughed, a little breathlessly. "I figured I'd better make sure you won't forget me once you're surrounded by pretty Orlesian ladies."

Loghain snorted. "Hardly. If anyone should be worried, it's me." He tried to sound light-hearted but there was more truth to his words than he cared to admit. It was fortunate he was busy buckling his armour so it was easy to hide the concern on his face from her.

When he wasn't around, would she still be blind to all the others? Would she still think he was the only one worthy of her affection? Or would she find someone else, a younger, more easy-going man? There was nothing he could do but trust her.

The next morning came far too early for both of them. They had already said their proper goodbyes in the privacy of her rooms, but when she came to see him off in the courtyard, she impulsively threw her arms around his neck, clinging to him for a moment.

"Loghain. I love you."

Stroud was rolling his eyes in the background, and Loghain sighed. He kissed her, a brief, sweet kiss, and freed himself from her embrace, holding her by the shoulders and looking into her eyes.

"It will be fine, Rose. Everything happens for a reason. Remember what we agreed on."

Ignoring Stroud's pointed glares, he held her and looked into her eyes, waiting for her to nod. Only then did he turn away. He left without another look back.


Loghain leaned back against his saddle, trying to ignore the taunts and cutting remarks from his fellow wardens. They had been at him for three days now, trying to provoke some sort of reaction from the man they had been taught to hate from early childhood. He hadn't given them the satisfaction of responding, having decided long ago that their kind was beneath his contempt. He let them talk and closed his eyes, lost in memories of happier times.

Until one of them, the youngest, a lanky blond boy with freckles walked straight up to him and lightly kicked his shin. "What's the matter, butcher? Do you miss fucking that pretty little commander of yours? I don't blame you. She's a hot little piece of-"

He didn't get any further. Loghain was up in a flash, grabbing him by the front of his jerkin. "Enough! You will show Commander Cousland some respect! She took down an Archdemon. What have you achieved so far?"

The boy blushed and stammered, throwing a pleading glance at his commanding officer.

But Stroud only grunted. "He's right, Michel. Keep your filthy mouth shut, will you?"

Michel scrambled back to his place as soon as Loghain let go of him. Stroud's eyes met Loghain's and he nodded briefly, but he didn't say another word.


Rosalyn began planning her strategy as soon as they had left. The first and most obvious step would be to lodge a formal complaint about Stroud with Weisshaupt. There was no way she would tolerate the man's behaviour. Mistress Woolsey turned out to be a great help in this task, armed as she was with an extensive knowledge of Warden rules, regulations, and precedents.

Next she sat down and made a list of her possible allies. She would have to call in a number of favours to get her way. Fortunately, she wasn't without friends, but she would have to tread carefully.

Queen Anora and Alistair were uncertain candidates. They owed her, of course, and Anora loved her father dearly. Still, neither of them approved of Rosalyn's relationship with Loghain. They would help, if asked, but only if she could make them see Loghain's return would be to their advantage.

Her brother Fergus was a similar case. He loved his little sister and would do anything in his power to help her. But after the Blight he had taken his rightful place as Teyrn of Highever, and he would never consider any course of action that proved harmful to his Teyrnir. Besides, he was still wary and distanced towards Loghain. Fergus had lost his wife and son to Arl Howe's machinations, and he had a hard time forgiving Loghain's association with the man.

Mistress Woolsey had turned out to be a valuable source of information on the politics of the Anderfels. Rosalyn was grateful she had taken the time to make friends with the old woman when she first came to Vigil's Keep.

There was another potential ally, she realized. Gerod Caron, the Warden Commander of Orlais. Her Orlesian counterpart couldn't possibly be happy about having Loghain under his command. Besides, if the First Warden took it into his head to just move wardens from one country to the next it would create a dangerous precedent for any of the national commanders. She would write to Gerod, Rosalyn decided, and try to learn more about him, try to make him see her point of view.

With a sigh, she put down her list. There was a lot for her to do, but it all came down to one thing. She would have to go to Orlais herself to bring Loghain back. But not now. Before she could leave, there were people to contact, arrangements to be made, and problems to deal with here in Amaranthine. If she wanted any chance at all to see this through, she couldn't afford to lose her opponent's respect, which meant she couldn't just leave her post as Ferelden's Warden Commander. Her wardens relied on her too, and she couldn't let them down.

With a heavy heart, she got ready for bed and crept between the sheets. The nights were going to be the worst part. She missed Loghain so much already, his stern face, his solid, reliable presence at her side, the love and pride in his eyes when he looked at her.

But did he really love her? Would he have given up so easily, left her all alone if he really cared? She knew how much he admired strength. How could he possibly love her if he thought her weak and dependent? Over and over she heard his words in her mind. You sounded like a spoilt child. You need to be strong. Promise me. I know you can do it. But what if she couldn't? What if she disappointed him?

Alone in her room in the dark, Rosalyn burst into tears, sobbing into her pillow until she finally fell asleep.


Hugs and thanks to ShebasDawn who helped make this a much better chapter.