Leliana had to cover her mouth with her hand to stifle the immense burst of laughter that had been threatening to burst forth for the last several paragraphs. Of all the possible stories Amelia's letter could have contained, few could have been as humorous as this one, and she needed a moment to compose herself before she continued reading. Still, this was far too interesting to let her amusement distract her for long, and so after a few more soft chuckles, she picked back up the parchments and continued.
After our first conversation, neither Bethany nor I said any more about the matter for several days. Indeed, it had largely slipped from my mind by the end of our campaign in the Deep Roads, but on the last night before we returned to the surface, it was brought back to my attention in a most dramatic fashion…
"I never thought I could be so pleased by the prospect of seeing Ferelden again."
Ferdinand laughed long and loud at his own remark, his chest heaving as he took a long swig of his wine. Amelia joined in with a hearty chuckle of her own. She might not have shared the Rivani Warden's disdain for her own homeland, but she agreed that it would be good to be back on the surface once more. Of all the places she had visited in her years as a Warden, the Deep Roads were probably her least favorite.
"Warm beds, sunlight, and no Darkspawn lurking behind every rock… I don't understand what you could possibly be looking forward to," she quipped.
"If I never take another bite of this jerky, it will be too soon," Sigrun chimed in, "Even if I'm not so keen on the sunlight part."
"One of these days, I'll bring you around on the merits of the great outdoors," Amelia said, clasping the dwarf on the shoulder. "But somehow I don't think it'll be tonight. It's late enough as it is." She turned, addressing the rest of the Wardens gathered around the campfire. "Make sure the watch is kept properly tonight," she reminded them. "I know we're almost back to the surface, but I wouldn't put it past the Darkspawn to throw us a little going-away party, so don't get sloppy."
The Wardens jumped to obey, setting their trip wires and snares even while Amelia was heading back toward her tent. In truth, it was unlikely that the Darkspawn would attack them tonight, given how many of the monsters they had cleared out when they first passed through this area, but it wouldn't do to be careless.
She was almost back at the tent when she felt a hand on her arm. "Bethany?" she asked when she saw who it belonged to. She was surprised to see the mage there; Bethany hadn't been among those gathered around the campfire, and Amelia assumed she had already retired for the night.
"Hello, Warden-Commander. There was, um, something from our last talk that I wanted to ask you about if it's not too late."
The shadows that covered their area of the camp weren't deep enough to hide the tell-tale signs of that adorable blush on Bethany's face, and Amelia found herself quite interested in whatever this follow-up question might be. "No, it's fine," she said brightly. "Come on in."
The two of them slipped beneath the flap of her tent, and once they were inside, Amelia lit a small lantern that stood by her bedroll. In its flickering light, she could see that she hadn't been wrong; Bethany was definitely flushed, her tongue swiping across her upper lip nervously.
"So," Amelia asked as she took a seat on her bedroll, "What did you want to talk about?"
"Well, um…" Bethany shifted uncomfortably on the balls of her feet before continuing and when she spoke, Amelia could hear a nervous tremor in her voice that couldn't entirely be concealed. "So, do you remember the conversation we had the other night? About the things that I haven't had the chance to try yet?"
Amelia hoped the way her expression perked up wasn't too noticeable. "I certainly do."
"That's good. Because, uh, I was hoping that you might want to show me how to do a few of them."
Now, it was Amelia's turn to flush. It had been a long time since she'd seen Leliana, indeed since she'd had any company of that sort. It was the longest period of chastity in her adult life, and this pretty young mage's proposal was very appealing. And yet, she had her reservations. "That's quite an offer," she told Bethany, "And I'm certainly flattered. But I'm not quite sure what prompted it. You're a good Warden, and I enjoyed our earlier chat, but we don't know each other that well."
Bethany's courage seemed to fail her and she took a step backwards toward the tent's entrance. "I guess I shouldn't have said anything. I'm so sorry. If you're not interested, I can go."
Amelia offered her best reassuring smile, and Bethany exhaled as she told her, "It's not that. Really. You're definitely interesting. But you're also one of my Wardens, and I want to know more about what you're thinking before I agree to anything. I wouldn't want to take advantage of your inexperience."
"You wouldn't be," Bethany said quickly, "But okay. I can explain more if you want me to."
"Then have a seat, and let's talk." Bethany and settled down on a nearby cushion, close enough that Amelia could feel the heat of her body. It was enough to make her pulse quicken, but she tried to keep her voice level as she said, "So, let me start by asking what you're looking for here. I don't know how much you know about my situation…"
Bethany chewed on her lip again before she answered. "I heard from Sigrun that you were seeing another woman, a bard named Leliana. But she also said that you two weren't exclusive, so I figured that maybe that meant you would be free to, um, teach me."
"It does," she said with a nod. "Leliana and I are still together, but we've agreed that while we're apart, we can spend time with other women, as long as we're honest about it with each other. But that still doesn't answer the question of 'why me?' Wouldn't you prefer your first time to be with someone who only wanted you, who you were in love with and who loved you?"
Her question prompted a deep sigh. "It's hard to explain."
"It's okay; just do your best. I promise, I won't judge your reasons."
"It kind of goes back to my big sister Marian. She was the one who always had a way with the ladies, not me. It's not just that she's beautiful; she's also charming, and dashing, and even though I love her, it was kind of intimidating being her kid sister. We grew up in a small town, and there weren't that many girls who liked girls to start with. I always felt like they were probably in love with her anyway, and I was just clumsy and awkward by comparison. Even when I had crushes, I never found the nerve to do anything about them."
She shook her head. "And the older I got without having been with anybody, the more embarrassed I felt about my lack of experience. I didn't want to make an idiot of myself my first time. But now, becoming a Warden, it made me realize I have to get over that. I don't know how many chances I'll have to date someone, and when I do, I want to have an idea of what I'm doing and maybe get a little more confidence."
Amelia smirked, unable to resist a little teasing. "So, you see this as just a form of training?"
"No, I…" Bethany took a deep breath. "It's more than that. I like you, Amelia. A lot. You're beautiful, and strong, and an incredible leader, and I'd be thrilled to have my first time be with you, even if we're not going to be together. I just also think that it might be good for me to learn more about this stuff from someone who knows what they're doing."
"I see." Amelia relaxed her smile, studying Bethany as she did. The mage's brown eyes were wide as she waited for a response, and Amelia decided it wouldn't do to needle her any further. "Well, I'm glad you found your nerve. And I'd be honored to be your first, if that's what you want. I can't offer you a long-term relationship, but I promise that I'll do my best to make it pleasurable, and to be good to you for as much time as we spend together."
This time the blush covered Bethany's entire face, but it seemed to be reflective more of excitement than fear. "Thank you, Amelia. I, I don't really know what to say, except to ask how you want to start."
"Like this." She reached out to touch the mage for the first time, brushing her hand across the soft skin of her cheek before tucking a lock of her back behind her ear. "You're a beautiful woman, Bethany Hawke, and I would love to kiss you."
Amelia leaned in closer, and Bethany tilted her head in response. The mage's approach was somewhat clumsy, but her lips were amazingly soft, and as they pressed together, she let out the most adorable sigh. Amelia drank it in happily, letting her hands tangle in Bethany's long, black hair as her tongue brushed across Bethany's lips.
"You were right," the mage panted when Amelia finally pulled back from her mouth, "That was a fine way to start."
Amelia gave Bethany a playful smile. "Just fine?"
"More than fine," the mage blurted out. "Really, really nice."
She stroked Bethany's cheek again. "So, does that mean you want to keep going?"
"Oh yes."
She pulled Bethany close for another kiss, and this one she opened up. The mage's lips parted for her tongue, and her mouth was sweet and warm as their bodies pressed closer together. Once it was done, Amelia didn't pull back, instead sliding across Bethany's face, placing kisses on her cheek, the line of her jaw, and finally her neck. With each one, she could feel the mage's breathing becoming shallower, her body arching with delight. Amelia's hands soon joined her mouth, running over Bethany's shoulders and back, getting a feel for the curves of her body. It had been a long time since she had been with someone new, and she felt her heart race at the opportunity to learn all that she could.
Her excitement increased when Bethany started to reciprocate. The mage's first touches were tentative, her fingers sliding slowly down Amelia's back, but eliciting a pleased sigh seemed to calm her nerves. Soon, her caresses were more enthusiastic, her hands tugging at Amelia's tunic so that she could slide her hands underneath it.
"Glad to see you're enjoying this," Amelia laughed, helping to yank the garment loose.
"I'm not quite sure what I'm doing," the mage admitted, "But it does seem like a lot of fun."
"It is," she agreed. "Which is something you should remember as we go forward. This is supposed to be enjoyable, so if you're not liking what we're doing, just let me know and we'll try something else instead."
"I will," Bethany agreed. "But this is pretty great so far."
"I'm glad. Just let me know what you want to do next."
Bethany licked her lips, the intensity of her stare plain even in the low light. "Okay, then. I think I'd like to see more of you, if that's not a problem."
"That," Amelia declared, "Is not a problem at all." She reached back and with practiced skill, undid the ties that kept her tunic in place. She slid the garment up and over her head, and as she moved onto her breast band, she enjoyed the gleam that in Bethany's eyes that her actions had produced. Once her torso was bare, she took one of the mage's hands in hers. "Go on. You can touch too."
Bethany's smiled only grew broader as she reached forward, cupping one of Amelia's full breasts. Her touch was more exploratory than stimulating at first, but it was still enough to make Amelia sigh. It had been so long since she'd had anyone else's hands one her, and the simple delight Bethany seemed to take in this only made it better. The mage's fingers slid over the soft flesh, and by the time she reached Amelia's nipple, it was already erect and aching for her. The maddening slowness of her strokes probably wasn't intentional, but it was still enough to make Amelia bite her lip to stifle a cry that mixed frustration and pleasure.
"Is that good?" Bethany asked, her face all curious innocence.
"It is." Amelia brushed her hand affectionately across the mage's face, trying to restrain the building need she felt. It wouldn't do to push the pace with someone so inexperienced. "Just make sure the other one gets some attention too."
Bethany nodded, but rather than take the other breast in her hand, she asked, "Can I… can I kiss it instead?"
"Mm hmm." Amelia leaned back onto her bedroll, a tug to Bethany's tunic urging her to follow. The mage took the hint, and once she was laying on top of Amelia, her lips swiftly went to the neglected breast. Her lips felt as soft there as when they were kissed, and when they moved across her breast, Amelia couldn't help but imagine what they might feel like even lower. The thought was enough to make her clit twitch with anticipation, a feeling that only intensified once Bethany reached her nipple. Warm wetness surrounded the bud, and this time Amelia wasn't able to keep from letting out an audible groan.
The sound definitely had an effect. Bethany immediately began to suck on the nipple in her mouth, while her hand squeezed down on the other breast. Her touch was a bit careless, but Amelia couldn't bring herself to worry about that. It still felt good, and she tangled her hands in Bethany's hair, stroking the dark strands even as she urged her new lover to keep going.
Bethany, though, seemed more unsure of herself. After another minute or so of fondling and kisses, she tilted her head up and asked, "So, what do we do next? Do you want to see me too?"
As eager as Amelia was for more of Bethany's touches, that sounded like a good idea. When it came to lessons, showing was always better than telling, and there was a great deal she wanted to teach Bethany before the night was over. She leaned up, catching Bethany's lips once more, and as they kissed, she got to work on the mage's tunic.
Bethany proved eager to help, pulling back far enough to give Amelia better access to her clothes. The removal of her tunic revealed a simple black bra, and Amelia reached behind the mage's back to unfasten that as well. Bethany blushed as it dropped away, but she made no move to cover herself either, and when she saw the way Amelia was starring at her, she smiled with a tentative pride.
"Do you like what you see?" she asked.
"Like I said before," Amelia whispered, "You're very beautiful, Bethany."
As she reached the end of the page she'd been reading, Leliana realized that her face was flushed and her breathing had become decidedly sharper. Her earlier amusement had been forgotten some time ago, replaced with a growing arousal. This Bethany Hawke sounded delightful, a bit like Josephine when Leliana had first met the Antivan, innocent but quite enthusiastic.
Perhaps a bit like myself as well, when Marjolaine first found me.
Under other circumstances, the memory of her former mentor might have dismayed her, but as turned on as she was, it only made Leliana wonder what her first time might have been like had it been with Amelia instead. It was a delicious thought, and Leliana moaned softly as she pictured her Warden's strong hands drawing aside her clothes, running across her bare skin, cupping her sex as no one had before…
I think I had best finish this letter in bed, she concluded, And perhaps without all of these pesky clothes in the way.
