Chapter 7 – Adore

"That's why until the end of time, I'll be there 4 U

U own my heart and mind, I truly adore U

If God 1 day struck me blind, your beauty I'll still see

Love is 2 weak 2 define, just what U mean 2 me

When we be makin' love, I only hear the sounds

Heavenly angels cryin' up above tears of joy pourin' down on us

They know we need each other, they know U are my fix

I know, U know that I ain't cheatin' baby

They know this is serious, this ain't just for kicks, No

This condition I got is crucial, U could say that I'm a terminal case

U could burn up my clothes smash up my ride, well maybe not the ride

But I got 2 have your face all up in the place

I'd like to think that I'm a man of exquisite taste

A hundred percent Italian silk, imported Egyptian lace

But nothin' baby, I said nothin' can compare

2 your lovely face (do U know what I'm sayin' 2 U?)"

Adore by Prince

Before the sun had even crested the hills surrounding the Keep, Anders was up, he kissed Josie on the cheek then made his way down to Varel's room. He gave the Senechal plans and instructions for a private bathing area in her chambers to be built during her absence. Then he went to the kitchen, fixed Josie a tray of food and brought it up to her room. He feathered kisses down her neck until she moaned with pleasure.

"Time to get up sleepy head, we have a long day ahead of us. I brought you some breakfast," he said.

"Mmmm, but the bed is so warm. Come back and join me for just a little while," she purred.

"You're such little desire demon, but it was you that wanted to leave for Highever at the crack of dawn. Remember Sweetheart," Anders reminded her.

"But it was you that woke me with all those sweet kiss and now you're going to leave me so wanting. That's just cruel," she moaned, nearly driving Anders crazy with desire.

"Your seductive ways have no effect on me," Anders said as he sat down at the table and spread some jam on his scone.

"Oh really?"

"Yep, I'm a pillar of self-control," Anders stated.

"Uh-huh," Josie said. She was quiet for a few minutes then he heard a slight moan came from the bed. Anders looked up and his scone fell out of hand. Her right hand was tenderly caressing her breasts and nipples while her other hand was beneath the covers, between her legs. Anders eyes widened, mesmerized by the scene in front of him. She was perfect and Maker help him, he was desperately in love with her.

Her hand began to move more quickly beneath the sheet and her breath quickened. When she moaned his name he was out of his chair in an instant, on the bed between her legs.

"What a fine example of self-control you are," she moaned.

"Self-control is overrated," Anders growled as he completely gave himself over to her and his insatiable appetite for her.

XxX

When they finally made their way out to the courtyard, Nathaniel was waiting for them.

"About bloody time, I thought we were leaving at the ass crack of dawn, it's nearly Noon," Nathaniel grunted.

"It's barely nine O'clock, Howe," Anders retorted as he mounted Wizard.

"Aye, and from all the noise coming from the Commander's room, the two of you have been up for quite some time. Next time just give me a heads up that the two of you are going to have some morning delight so I can sleep in later," Nathaniel groaned.

"Spontaneity, ever heard of the word?" Anders asked.

Nathaniel reached over and smacked the back of Anders' head. "How was that for being spontaneous?"

Josie giggled.

"Not bad," Anders grunted as he rubbed the back of his head.

Josie rode hard only taking breaks for the horses to rest and drink some water. As the sun beat down on them, Anders thought about the first time that he had met Josie. It had been outside of Lothering. The Templars had found him near the Korcari Wilds and were dragging him back to the Circle. Josie had saved him that night from the hands of the Templars and taken him back to her cave where Alistair laid unconscious and bleeding. As soon as enough of his mana had returned, Anders had healed the warrior, but the man had remained comatose due to the blood loss. A smile spread across his lips as the conversation of that night replayed in his mind.

She looked at him from across the fire, curiosity dancing in her eyes.

"Are you ever going to remove your hood?"

"You know what they about curiosity and the cat," Anders replied.

She grinned at him and his stomach fluttered. She had the most radiant smile and he wanted to lose himself in the warmth of it. "Curiosity is the very foundation of all acquired knowledge so if you are about to tell me that curiosity killed the cat then I say the cat died nobly."

Anders laughed. "Spoken like a true scholar, not a fierce fighter."

"My quest for knowledge is as passionate as my zeal for battle," Josie replied.

Anders eyes flared with hunger for this woman that he had just met and he had a burning desire to learn everything there was to know about her. "A woman after my own heart; so besides knowledge and fighting, what else are you passionate about?"

Her eyes flickered over to unconscious warrior then back over to him. "Aaah, I see. I thought I sensed a strong bond between the two of you, but I did not realize that it went beyond the ties of your order."

"When you are the last two Wardens in all of Ferelden, the ruling General has placed a bounty on your head and you are trying to raise an army to fight an epic evil…those kinds of odds tend to bond people together."

She was a woman of honor and esteem and his heart swelled with admiration for her, but the raw emotions he saw in her earlier as she begged him to heal the warrior also told him that her feelings for this man ran deep. How very sad? He had never seen himself as a man that could commit to just one woman, but from the little time that he had spent with her, he could see how easily it would be to fall for her.

"Back to my original question, are you ever going to remove your hood? You are now a Warden. I would like to know who I am working with."

"Yes, about that. I didn't escape one prison to be locked up in another."

She raised an eyebrow as an impish grin spread across her luscious lips. "So you consider spending time with me a prison sentence? I didn't know I would have to break out my leather corset and riding crop?"

Anders burst out laughing. Damn, she was fantastic; such a perfect combination of beauty, brains and playfulness. "Gorgeous and naughty…you definitely are a girl after my own heart."

"I promise I will make your time with the Wardens enjoyable," she cooed.

Anders shook his head. "I'm sure you would and as tempting as your offer is, my place is not with your order. I saved your companion's life, in return I ask that you let me go."

"Oh, so we are negotiating?"

"Always."

She smirked. "Well I might consider it if you remove your hood."

Anders laughed. "I believe that it is your passion for knowledge that drives you to see what lies underneath my robes."

Josie laughed. It was such a carefree, boisterous laugh and it was very contagious. Anders couldn't help but join in. "Something like that. I'm curious if the face is as sexy as the voice."

"If your heart wasn't already spoken for, it would be my pleasure and yours to give you a guided tour," Anders purred.

"Oh my, aren't you the cocky one."

"Sweetheart, don't mistake confidence for cockiness. There is a very big difference."

"Do tell."

"Confidence is knowing that you have the skills to back your claims, cockiness is bragging about your skills, but lacking the ability to back up your claims."

She smiled at him. "Well said."

"You, mon precieux, are a woman that is very confident in her skills and in herself… that is extremely attractive. As I said, if your heart was not already spoken for I believe I would stay. Getting to know you would be a very pleasurable experience," he replied. His voice ragged with desire that he was struggling to suppress.

She smiled so seductively his groin immediately jumped to attention. "Yes, it would."

Anders laughed. "Maker, you are really making it difficult to walk away from you."

They talked late into the night, but eventually sleep finally overtook her. He walked over to her, eased her down onto the bedroll. She moaned in her sleep and Anders groaned as an ache in his chest bloomed at the thought of leaving her. He bent down and brushed her hair out of her face.

"Mon precieux, in another life time we would have been great together," he whispered as he brushed his lips against hers then disappeared into the night.

Anders had thought about her often and fantasized about her even more after that night. The day that she rushed into that room at the Keep he knew for once he had done something right in the Maker's eyes to send her back into his life. He looked over at her and she smiled at him. He had been right, they were great together.

It was midday when they rode into the courtyard of the huge captivating castle; Josie had barely brought her horse to a halt before leaping off of it and rushing up the stairs. The mammoth doors to the main hall opened and a handsome, tall man with dark hair stepped out. Josie jumped into his arms. This had to be her brother, the Teyrn of Highever.

Anders approached them from behind, Nathaniel lingering in the distance.

Fergus kissed the side of her cheek, "It's good to see you, LuLu. I know it's only been a couple of months since you left for Vigil's Keep, but…" his voice trailed off.

"I know, Brother, that is why I'm here."

He hugged her again and then released her. Josie took her brother by the arm and led him over to them. "Fergus, I would like you to meet my fellow Grey Warden this is Anders and you know Nate."

Anders bowed, "Your Grace, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Oh no need for that bowing stuff," Fergus said as he extended his hand, shocking Anders that a nobleman would so readily accept a mage. Anders took his hand and shook it.

"Any friend of my sisters is a friend of mine… except for you, Howe," Fergus said looking at the stoic rogue standing a distance away.

"Fergus!" Josie declared.

The Teyrn marched up to Nathaniel, exuding power and authority that came with his station. Anders had to give Nathaniel credit, he held his ground and stared Fergus down. "My sister says that you had nothing to do with murder of my family and that you had no knowledge of what your father was planning. If I find any evidence to the contrary, I will have your head, but I trust Josie's judgment and information so I am glad to welcome you back to Highever, my brother," Fergus said as he pulled Nathaniel into a tight embrace.

"F-fergus… I am so sorry for your lose and your forgiveness is more than I deserve after what my family has done to yours," Nathaniel stuttered.

"It was not your family that brought an army down on my home; it was your father and is he dead at the hands of my sister. I am glad that you are back safe on Ferelden soil."

Anders now knew that it wasn't just Josie who was fair and just in her judgments, but obvious that it was a family trait.

"How is Nan?" Josie asked.

"Resting comfortably in her room, she is very anxious to see you," Fergus said.

"Then I will go to her right away," Josie replied.

Anders followed her through the ancient castle to a room that was not in the servants' quarters, but near the family rooms. A clear sign of how important this woman was to the Cousland family. Josie tapped briefly before opening the door and stepping into the dimly lit room. In the center of a large bed rested an older looking woman, but certainly not a woman old enough to be near the Fade's door. As Anders entered the room he felt the tendril remnants of healing magic in the air and wondered if a Healer had recently been here.

Josie's nanny heard the door open, she opened her eyes and lifted her gaze to Josie, her features immediately changed as a blissful smile spread across her face, giving her the appearance of renewed strength.

"Oh Nan…" Josie exclaimed as she rushed to the woman's side and grasped her hand.

"My dear child, it brings this old woman's soul much joy to gaze upon your lovely face one last time."

"You're not old and please don't say that, Nan," Josie begged.

"It's my time, Duckie. Not even you with all your strength and charm can stop the Fade from calling," Nan said.

"Well, even so, please humor me and let my healer examine you," Josie asked. The woman nodded her consent and Anders approached the bed.

He smiled warmly at her. "Hello, my name is Anders."

A glowing smile spread across her lips. "Oh my Duckie, where did you pick this luscious plum from?"

"Nan!" Josie exclaimed.

"I'd warn you that she bites, Anders, but I do believe she is missing most of her teeth," Fergus chuckled from the door.

"Don't you listen to him, Sonny, I still have all my teeth and I don't bite unless you ask me too," she said with a wink.

Anders laughed as he looked over at Josie. "Well, now I know where you get it from."

"Maker's arse, who are you and what have you done with my Nan?" Josie demanded.

"When you get to be my age and you know your time is short there is no reason to beat around the bush and waste time with pleasantries," Nan chuckled.

Anders raised his hands. "This won't hurt, but you might feel a warm tingle."

As Anders moved his hands over Nan's body the woman looked over at Josie and grinned. "Ooo, that feels nice. Does he make you warm and tingly, Duckie?"

Anders began to cough as Josie's eyes went wide with shock and Fergus began to laugh. "Yes, do tell sister, does Anders make you warm and tingly?"

"What the hell is wrong with this family? Have you all lost your bloody minds?"

"Oh you can't fool me, love. I may be old, but I'm not blind. I can see the way you look at him and he most certainly has the look of a man in love," Nan stated matter-of-factly.

Anders felt the blood rush to his cheeks. For being in the last stage of her life, this woman didn't miss much.

"Can we gag her?" Josie asked.

"I've tried. It doesn't work for long," Fergus chuckled.

Anders examined her thoroughly then he sat down beside her, gently took her hand in his and smiled tenderly at her. "How old did you say were?"

"I didn't Sonny, but if you are asking me out on a date, I believe you are a little too young for me."

Anders laughed. "My loss then."

"Yes, it is," Nan agreed with a grin.

"Why do you want to know about her age?" Fergus asked.

"Well, from the stories that I've heard from Josie, I expected a younger woman and with your appearance and mannerisms I would have guessed your age to be in the mid-sixties, but your organs tell a much different story," Anders exclaimed.

"Oh and what does my body tell you, Ser Healer?" Nan asked.

"That you are closer to being a hundred," Anders replied.

A smile spread across her lips as she looked up at Josie. "You have found yourself an excellent mage, Duckie. You need to hang on to him."

"H-how is that possible?" Fergus asked.

Anders watched as Josie's mouth fell open as memories flooded through her mind as the pieces fell into place and she came to the conclusion that he had already arrived at. She whispered, "Nan, you're a mage."

Nan remained quiet, but her warm smile remained.

"That is why healing magic felt so familiar the first time Wynne healed me…because that wasn't the first time I had ever been healed."

"But how?" Fergus asked.

"Always from a distance and only when you were young or if the injury was serious," Nan replied.

"But how have you remained so young?" Josie asked.

"It really isn't difficult if a mage is well versed in healing and knows how to brew the right potions," Anders answered for her.

"And my parents… did they know?" Fergus asked.

"Your mother suspected, but never asked. You're father knew," Nan stated.

"The night of the a-attack…" Josie's voice broke.

"I did everything in my power to save your father, but his injuries were beyond my ability to heal. As Howe's men broke through the kitchen door your mother sent me through the secret passage. I'm sorry, Duckie…I'm so sorry."

"It's alright, I know you would have healed him if you could," Josie said as she patted the woman's hand.

"I thought I felt healing magic when I entered the room," Anders stated.

Nan's eyes narrowed on him. "I have been healing myself, waiting to see my dear girl one last time. For such a young mage, you are very connected to the Fade. Are you a spiritual healer?"

Anders nodded.

"Then a powerful mage, you are, but be careful my dear boy. Even benevolent spirits can be corrupted, but more importantly your strong connection to the Fade will inevitably draw the attention of some very powerful demons. You will constantly need to be on your guard."

Anders nodded in understanding. "I know and thank you for your concern. I am always vigilant. When I was examining you, I cast a relaxation spell, but are you in any pain? Do you need a pain tonic?"

Nan shook her head as the effects of the spell began to sink in. "That was a very strong spell you cast and I believe that is all that I need right now."

Josie leaned down and kissed her cheek. "I will let you get some rest. I will check on you before I head down to dinner."

"I am so glad that I got to see you again. I love you, Duckie," Nan said as she smiled lovingly at Josie.

"I love you too, Nan," Josie replied as she headed for the door.

"I will check on you too," Anders said as he started to stand, but Nan, surprisingly strong for her condition, pulled him back down to her side.

"We both know I will not make it through the night. Once she heads down to dinner, don't let her come back here…I don't want her to remember me like that…in throes of death. Please…give me your word," she whispered.

"You have my word, dear lady. I promise," Anders replied.

"And promise me that you will be good to her," Nan begged.

"Of that you will never have to worry about. If she will let me, I want to spend the rest of my life being good to her," Anders vowed.

"Good, she has been through so much, she needs some joy in her life," Nan said as she drifted off to sleep.

Anders stopped by Nan's room to check on her on his way down to dinner and wasn't surprised to find Josie there. His breath hitched in his throat when he saw her. He had never seen her dress as a noble and he had to admit she was the most exquisite creature he had ever seen. She wore a scarlet red velvet gown, that had a tight low cut bodice and was decorated in gold beads and gold embroidery. The velvet sleeves were tight on her upper arms, but at the elbow the material was a sheer gold, long and wide. Her long black tresses hung loosely around her face, accenting her sapphire eyes.

Josie smiled warmly at him as he approached the bed. Anders quickly examined Nan. He could tell that the relaxation spell was still working; she was in a deep sleep and not in any pain. Her breathing was slightly labored, but not critical yet. However, her extremities were cold to the touch. The heat from her body was moving to its core trying to keep the vital organs warm and functioning. The old mage had been right, she wouldn't make it through the night and Anders would do everything in his power to make sure that Josie wasn't there when this woman passed into the Fade.

"Is she in any pain?" Josie asked as she looked up at him. His heart ached at the thought of the pain she would be in this time tomorrow.

"No, she is resting comfortably."

"I'm no stranger to death Anders, I know she is trying to protect me. She is dying isn't she?"

Anders lips twitched as a smile threatened to spread across his face. Her uncanny ability to perceive situations and discern the unspoken truth never ceased to amaze him.

"Yes and it was her final wish for you not to witness it," Anders replied, knowing that there was no reason to keep the truth from her.

Josie gave a curt nod. "Then I will respect her last request, but promise me that you won't let her suffer."

Anders pulled her into his arms and he felt her melt into his embrace. He kissed the top of her head as he stroked her hair. "I will do everything in my power to keep her comfortable. I promise you."

"Thank you, Anders."

Anders slid his fingers under her chin and forced her to look up at him. "Anything for you, Josie, I would do anything for you."

He bent down and gently pressed his lips to hers, his mouth moving lovingly…reassuringly against hers. She tasted so sweet, like honey and wine and he needed to stop before his groin gave away how much he wanted her. The last thing he needed was to have a raging hard-on while having dinner with her brother. He pulled away and a small moan escaped her lips.

He chuckled. "Trust me, love I would rather have you for dinner, but I do believe your brother would be a little put out if we skipped the meal that he had especially prepared for your return."

"Oh, he would get over it," she cooed as she pressed into him, making it even harder to resist her.

"Yes, but he would also hold it over me for the rest of my life. No thank you, I want your brother to like me."

"Oh alright," she sighed as they headed down to the dining room.

They had enjoyed a fabulous meal together as stories about Josie's childhood with Nathaniel and Fergus were exchanged. This home had been filled with love and the Cousland children had been cherished. It made Anders jealous of all the things that he had missed with his mother because of the discrimination and injustice that mages received.

Nathaniel's boisterous laughter pulled Anders out of his thoughts. "Do you remember when Jo was little during the Santinalia Festival, she would go around and bite the heads off of everyone's chocolate nugs?"

Fergus chuckled and smirked at Josie, "Yes, I put a stop to that, didn't I Lu?"

"Chocolate nugs?" Anders asked.

"Yes, as part of my family's Santinalia tradition my parents made us these basket for the kids that had treats in them including chocolate nugs. The night before the Santinalia Festival would begin, my parents would hide these baskets and the next morning we would have to hunt for them. Nate's family would visit us at the beginning of the festival and my parents always made baskets for all the Howe children too. Every year Josie would get up in the middle of the night, find everyone's baskets and bite the heads off of all the chocolate nugs."

Josie laughed, "What can I say, a girl has to have her chocolate."

"So to teach her a lesson Fergus and I made chocolate nugs laced with cascara sagrada…"

"Oh no," Anders chuckled as he looked over at Josie who was now as red as her dress. Anders knew that cascara sagrada a powerful laxative, and if too much was ingested it could have disastrous results.

"We waited until my parents had gone to bed then replaced all of the nugs with our special concoction. The following morning as usual, all the heads of the nugs had been bitten off in the middle of the night," Fergus explained and gave a conspiratorial smile at Nathaniel.

Howe grinned back and picked up the rest of the story. "Well, to truly teach Jo a lesson we didn't feel that it was enough to just have her spend an entire day sitting in the loo, that really wasn't the humiliation we were going for. I had done some research on cascara sagrada knew that it could take up to six hours for the herb to take effect so after breakfast we suggested a ride to the Bluffs, which is about forty-five minutes from here. As you know Jo loves to ride and she eagerly agreed. We had just laid out the blanket when we noticed the first twinge hit her. She tried to play it off as nothing, but the longer we were there, the more uncomfortable she was becoming." Nathaniel started to laugh so hard he couldn't continue, so Fergus proceeded to tell the rest of the tale.

"Sweat began to form on her brow, her cheeks were flushed and she kept grabbing at her stomach, but being the stubborn girl that she is she refused to admit anything was wrong. Finally she leapt to her feet and declared that she was bored and headed home. She jumped on her horse and began to race home like a Nug with its tail on fire."

Fergus joined in with Nathaniel's laughter and it took several minutes for him to gain his composure to continue.

"Nate and I finally caught up to her just as she raced into the courtyard…t-the first thing I noticed was the bloody smell. It smelled like a rotten bronto... I nearly lost the entire content of my stomach…and then I noticed that Josie's new white Santinalia dress that our mother had just bought her was covered in what look like brown mud, but as we got closer we realized it wasn't m-mud…"

Nathaniel and Fergus broke out into a fit of hysterical laughter and Anders had to bite his lip to keep from laughing.

"I had never been so embarrassed in my entire life," Josie muttered, shooting both of them dirty looks.

"Yeah, but you never ate anyone's nug again," Fergus said through bouts of laughter.

"I haven't eaten a chocolate nug since! Thank you very much!"

"How did you find out it was the chocolate nugs?" Anders asked.

"Nan. When she saw how "sick" I was and how I couldn't be more than a few feet away from a chamber pot for several days, she did some investigating. As you might know cascara sagrada has a very distinct smell, one sniff and she knew what had happened and she went straight to my father. No one could withstand an interrogation from my father and it was only a matter of time before Fergus was blabbering like a baby," Josie stated smugly.

"What did your father do to make you confess?" Anders asked.

"My father was one of those men that you did everything in your power not to disappoint, not because he would be cruel or punish you, but because you wanted him to respect you. He sat me down in his office and said, 'Fergus my boy, I can understand your frustration over the chocolate nugs. Having three brothers myself, I can understand your desire to seek revenge. But what will make me lose all respect for you, my boy, is if you lie to me about your part in this situation. I will only ask you once; did you have anything to do with the cascara sagrada chocolate nugs?'" Fergus explained.

"Ouch, he pulled out the respect card? That had to hurt," Nathaniel exclaimed.

"It did because it was my father's respect that I wanted more than anything else, so I confessed immediately ," Fergus said.

Josie smiled warmly at her brother. "You took all of the blame, never once indicating Nate's involvement. I believe that is what earned Father's respect even more than admitting the truth."

Fergus' eyes went wide. "He knew that I covered for Nate?"

"Come on, Fergus, of course he knew. You and Nate were joined at the hip as boys. Father knew if you were involved so was Nate, but he respected your willingness to take all of the blame," Josie explained. The room fell silent as everyone's thoughts drifted back to the late Teyrn.

"To Bryce Cousland," Nathaniel said as he raised his glass.

"To Bryce," the others chanted.


A/N – Thanks again to all of my loyal readers and to everyone that has added this story to their favs and alert lists. I appreciate it. I'm also grateful to everyone that has shared their thoughts and opinions with me. I love hearing how you felt about a chapter.

*If you are a Mass Effect fan I recently started writing a ME3 story called Someone Like You. It is a love triangle between Shepard/Alenko/Vega. It will be told from Alenko and Vega's POVs. It will highlight parts of the game, but will not be a retelling of it. Not an AU, but some liberties have been taken for the sake of the plot. I hope you will check it out.

*This next song is a couples skate for the awesome Beta Queens, Jinxy and Bonkzy.

"You are the Beta Queens, young and sweet, only seventeen
Beta Queens, feel the period as you proof read
You can slash, you can mash, in a dash with your red pen
See those girls, watch that scene, digging the Beta Queens"