This is just some fluff to get them out of the cave. It's short! I wanted to do something sans steaminess.
Blissful sleep, for the first time in a very long time, it was uninterrupted and peaceful sleep. A few times she nearly woke, confused as to who's arms were wrapped tightly around her, but then she heard the throaty snores. She smiled in her sleep, and snuggled further into him. She was sure when she woke it would all be a dream and he would be gone, and so she wanted to hold onto him a bit longer.
Kisses. Small kisses were being planted on her head and temple. The sleep begins to fade from her, reality starting to become more coherent to her. She realized these kisses were not some lingering dream they were real kisses. She opened one eye, and suddenly became aware of the warm flesh she was cuddled up against. Warm, tan, muscular flesh…
The first stirrings of desire ripple through her, and she sits up with a start. They had fallen asleep sitting up against the cave, cuddled together for warmth. The fire's embers had long since gone out, but she could see daylight shining through the mouth of the cave. It darker in the back of the cave where they sit, and she can barely make out his features. Her heart does somersaults as she realizes that her dreams were a real and not just a cruel joke, as they had been a thousand times before. He is obviously awake, and she can almost make out his smile in the darkness of the cave.
"Good morning." He whispers to her, leaning in to place a quick kiss on her lips while she lets the reality set in. "Alistair." She states, as if assuring herself that he was really there. She sighs contentedly, and leans against him once again, relishing in the feel of his strong arms. "Your back must be killing you."
"Not at all. Sitting up sleeping while leaning against cold cavern walls is my specialty." He says with the familiar hint of sarcasm that only he could possess. She smiled against him, just wanting to feel him kiss her hair in that way he always did. As if he needed to let her know…
She sighed, they needed to get back soon before a search part was unleashed. She tried to stretch her leg and winced at the pain, and then she remembered the gash on her leg. She glanced down at it, pulling out of his arms, and found a purple knot the size of Sten's fist on the cap. Walking was going to be loads of fun. "Don't look now, but I think my knee has taken a vacation." She said, and he looked at it. "Ouch. That looks very pretty, but very painful." She was going to need help walking, and that was all there was to it. "We need to get you to a healer, and soon. That cut is starting to look angry."
Surely it was too, the gash next to the bruise was crusted with blood and mud. It already had an angry red ring around it. He was probably right; they needed to start back soon. She scooted over to where her armor was, and began to put it on. She was thankful that it had dried in the night; wet leather did not have a pleasant smell. As she pulled hers on, he donned his plate mail.
"People are going to talk." She said quietly, lacing up the armor on the sides. She looked at him and shrugged. "So, let them talk. If I remember correctly, I once had the same fear. You told me that if they did you were going to feed them to the darkspawn." She grinned at the memory, it was the first time she had realized that she loved him. It was also the first time he had accidentally let it slip that he loved her. The early days of their relationship were stressed, but oddly beautiful and enchanting. She remembered the look of his body in the firelight while they…
He let out a chuckle, and it grabbed her attention once again. "You should see the look on your face just now… If I were to have an inkling, I would say you were thinking of nefarious things by the way you are blushing…" This only furthered the blush, making her turn crimson. "Oh-ho! Was I right? I certainly hope they involved me…" She pursed her lips and looked at him with mock contempt. He laughed then at her, the thoughts were written on her face as clear as any day.
"Oh go on." She said furiously, grumbling at the humor he had found at her expense. Still there was that lingering need within her to tell him to drop the armor and come over…
Her ears twitched as heard a familiar whistle; the search party had come after all With Zevran at the head. Alistair caught the sound as well, and feigned disappointment. "We have company?" He inquired. "Damn." She looked at him with astonished eyes, and saw a gleam in his she knew all to well.
She suddenly was very glad they had come, and excessively annoyed. She was finding it very hard to compose herself anymore.