The three groups had spent days in darkened tunnels and had returned to the peak covered in gore, aching and exhausted. Alistair could barely contain his relief. There were multiple injuries, but thankfully no fatalities. As the groups separated to get cleaned up and have some well-earned rest he found himself pulled to one side, Carvers lips hungrily devouring his own. Alistair chuckled against the kiss. "Nice to have you back."

"Nice to be back." Carver murmured kissing him again, before taking his hand and pulling him gently to the room they were now sharing.

Alistair helped him out of his armour, noticing several new wounds that were sure to scar. Carver shrugged out of his tunic and small clothes and sank into the bath Alistair had already prepared.

"Ali you're a wonderful man!" Carver murmured, sighing in pleasure as the warm water lapped around his aching muscles. He glanced up startled as Alistair's fingers started to massage his scalp, lathering his hair and rinsing out the remnants of battle. Carver felt the deep rumble of satisfaction build in his chest, coming out as something like a purr.

Alistair chuckled. "I didn't realise it would be so easy to make you happy."

Carver gave him a wicked grin. "Get in here and I'll be happier."

Alistair placed a kiss on his now wet but clean hair and shook his head. "Have you seen that water!"

Carver grimaced and washed himself off as Alistair sat on the edge of the bed. "It went well." Toweling himself off before grabbing breeches and tunic. "Not as many nests as we feared." He glanced at Alistair who was listening intently. "Missed you out there." Carver murmured moving over to his love. "I didn't realise how much I took your presence for granted." He sat next to Alistair seeking his lips, sighing as Alistair returned his passion. "Maybe I shouldn't have bothered to get dressed." He mumbled huskily.

Alistair smiled warmly. "I was thinking the same myself."

Carver sank into Alistair embrace, their kiss making both men moan softly. He grinned; this was worth battling Darkspawn, knowing he was coming back to Alistair. He realised Alistair was tugging on his tunic and he chuckled softly, it looked like the drink he promised Oghren would have to wait.

xXx

Oghren thumped the table and raised his tankard of ale. "Bout time Carver, you owe me a drink!"

Carver grinned. "What about all those drinks you've promised me you grumpy son of a nug!"

Oghren belched loudly. "Yeh well, you can't hold your drink anyway."

Carver raised an eyebrow. "Oh dwarf it is so on!"

Alistair shook his head and settled down at the table, relaxing into the laughter and teasing of the men needing a moment to remind themselves what they were fighting for, that life wasn't just about being knee deep in Darkspawn corpses. Alistair allowed himself to relax, and enjoy the whisky and ale. He felt the warmth of it pool in his stomach and joined the others in several hands of Wicked Grace.

Aedan won his second game and Zevran complimented him on his skills. Aedan feigned innocence, but Alistair nudged his arm, several cards falling out of his sleeve. The table burst into laughter and Aedan grinned and ensured everyone had a drink to make up for cheating, or rather to pay the penalty for getting caught.

"Now Leliana could play this game. So damn fast I never saw her cheat, but she won me every time!" Aedan murmured affectionately.

"Ah my friend, she was simply lulling you into her charms." Zevran purred.

"More like her bed!" Oghren chuckled. "Damn you two were noisy!"

Aedan felt his cheeks burn crimson and then laughed. "What can I say we enjoyed ourselves."

"That was obvious." Anders chuckled.

"Hey if we are going to talk about noise you and Zev could wake the whole camp, and frequently did!"

"It was merely to drown out your lustful cries my friend and give everyone something else to listen to." Zevran chuckled.

"Wynne was always glad of the nights you lot were exhausted and went straight to sleep. She said silence was golden!" Garrett teased.

"Ah Wynne. Such a magnificent bosom, she never would allow me to rest my head upon it." Zevran gave a mock wistful sigh, chuckling as Anders elbowed him playfully in the ribs.

"She simply missed Duncan." Merrill said softly, joining the group and picking up a card. The entire table fell silent and turned to her.

"Wynne had a thing for Duncan?" Anders spluttered.

Merrill gave him a cheeky grin. "Anders; Duncan and Wynne could make more noise than you, Zevran, Aedan and Leliana combined. However they chose discretion."

"Well I'll be a nug uncle." Oghren spluttered. "The crafty buggers kept that quiet!"

"Not quite." Alistair chuckled at the memories of the pair. He and Elissa had worked hard to keep the others from finding out to give them privacy for what little time they had together.

"You knew!" Anders threw down his cards in disgust.

"You don't think I had that many cheese emergencies did you!"

"I thought that was just so you and Elissa could spend time together." Anders chuckled before hesitating and glancing at his brother anxiously fearing mention of his former love would send him into a depression.

Alistair shrugged. "Elissa was more creative than I could ever be, damn that woman had a devious mind!"

Aedan smiled at the memories of his sister. "She was always a devious creature, could get herself out of any trouble and usually land me or Fergus in it." He chuckled. "She had father wrapped around her little finger, but luckily for us mother could see right through her." He grinned as Fergus sat down next to him, and dealt him in.

"She was a minx." Fergus's face lit with an affectionate smile. He glanced to Alistair and grinned raising his glass. "To my sister, may she be causing trouble wherever she is."

Alistair smiled and raised his glass along with the others. "May she have finally found what she was looking for." He whispered under his breath, smiling as Carver gently squeezed his thigh.

Serac wandered over to the table and took a seat next to Oghren. "Aye that woman had fire, or so Urgel always said." He glanced to Alistair. "Said she would kick your ass when you needed it."

Alistair raised an eyebrow. "Yeh, I guess she did."

Serac grinned. "Urgel thought you two were going to come to blows over the succession."

Alistair ran his fingers through his hair. "I was naive and thought the best man was the best man. Turns out sometimes you need a complete bastard in charge to make positive change."

Serac gave a throaty chuckle. "Bhelen isn't the diplomat Harrowmont was; but he knows how to get things done and he's united our people, something I never thought would happen in my lifetime. The castless aren't castless anymore. By the Paragons that took the nobility by surprise." He shook his head still laughing. "They almost pissed themselves when he told them what he intended."

"I take it he's still breathing then." Alistair grinned.

"Oh yeh, it will take more than a dose of poison to kill that one I'll wager. Urgel was impressed with you though, and it's not many who can say that."

"He was a good friend." Alistair said softly, staring into his ale, feeling the weight of grief in his heart. He glanced up startled as Serac gripped his shoulder.

"He gave his life so we could get the job done. I say the Archdemon won't know what hit him and when you get him here, however in the Void you're going to do that. I say we tear the bloody thing apart and show it why it should fear us."

Alistair nodded. "I'll drink to that."

xXx

Finally Alistair's injury took its toll and he handed over what money he owed and made his excuses.

Zevran grinned and as Carver moved passed him to join Alistair; he passed a flask containing all he had left of Antivan brandy. "The Commander deserves a little treat, no." He purred.

Carver smiled warmly. "Thanks Zev."

"My pleasure my friend."

Carver stoked the fire and poured the brandy into two glasses passing one to Alistair as he settled onto one of the chairs angled towards the fireplace. He was startled when Alistair moved to sit between his legs on the floor, dragging a pillow with him to make it more comfortable, resting his head on Carvers knee.

Alistair smiled as Carver automatically began to run his fingers through his hair. He eyed the brandy and took a sip. "Zev has good taste." He murmured. "Perhaps this will keep the demon at bay tonight."

Carver tensed. "You're having demon troubles?"

Alistair tilted his head and glanced to Carver. "Just the Archdemon kind."

Carver relaxed slightly. "Yeh, the nightmares can be unsettling."

Alistair took another sip, a shudder moving through his body. He stared at the flames before closing his eyes, unconsciously moving closer to Carver.

Carver felt the shift and was surprised at the feeling of vulnerability that he sensed from Alistair. "What's going on Ali?"

"He won't leave me alone." His voice choked on the emotion surging through him. He was thoroughly drunk; his tongue loosened with the alcohol, he would never be speaking of this otherwise.

Carver growled softly. I'm going to kill Loghain! What has that bastard done now! "Tell me Ali."

"I don't know how much more I can take. Maybe it's because I ended up as Commander that his focus is on me. I'm so tired Carver, of it all. I'm tired of making mistakes, of not knowing what to do for the best. Everything I've done has fallen apart."

Carver eased onto the floor behind Alistair wrapping his arms around him, pulling him tight back to his chest, swearing to himself he was going to get up close and personal with Loghain and make the man pay. "You're not alone Ali. We are facing impossible odds and are still alive and that is down to you."

"He haunts my dreams, showing me all of the awful things he's going to do."

Carver frowned in confusion. "Ali, who are you talking about?"

"The Archdemon." He murmured; his head resting on Carvers shoulder, his limbs growing heavy as the alcohol settled through his body.

Carver swallowed hard. The Archdemon was a nightly visitor to both Garrett and himself, but only as some ghost like form roaring and snarling. "What has he been showing you?" Carver asked nervously.

Alistair relaxed into the warm embrace. He cherished these moments with Carver, when he could be himself and let down his guard, though that didn't stop his guilt. He shook his head. "This is unfair on you; I'm your Commander, I should not burden you with these things."

Carver hugged Alistair tighter to his chest. "When are you going to understand that when we are alone you are not my Commander, you are the man I love and helping you with these burdens is something I do willingly?"

Alistair twisted himself slightly and gently pressed his lips to Carvers. "Maker I'm a lucky man." Alistair shook his head, his eyes closing sleepily. "I'll protect you Carver, promise." He mumbled as he drifted into an alcohol fuelled sleep.

Carver's eyes widened slightly and he gently got him to the bed and lay next to him, smiling when Alistair moved into his arms. He thought of the Archdemon, of the burden that rested on them all. He gazed lovingly at Alistair knowing he would do anything to protect the man he loved. He placed a soft kiss to Alistair's temple. "I think it's about time you let me protect you."

xXx

Author Note: Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed. Let me know your thoughts, reviews are always appreciated.