Within another week, Anders' magic got stronger, and he was finally able to once again use it to help around in Lily's house, such as light the fire in her hearth, or make their drinking water cold. Lily began to like it when he helped around the house, and would often squeeze his hand as her form of thanks. It obsessed him a little… her touch… that he did whatever he can to help around and feel the warmth of her hand. Despite of her hard life, her hands were soft and smooth, like the finest silk, and whenever he felt her touch his face or his hand, a jolt of electricity ran down his spine. He would smile at her, and steel himself so he wouldn't hold on to her hand and keep it against his skin. Perhaps it's because he hadn't felt the touch of a woman for ages. He desired Hawke for a time, though, but when he noticed that she was smitten with that elf Fenris, he backed off and let the two enjoy their… rather complicated relationship.

Although, he couldn't help but wonder how such a small woman defended herself… or how well she does it. She had showed him her daggers, but somehow he couldn't imagine how she did it.

It wasn't until a few nights later that he found out.

After dinner, Lily was cleaning up the dishes and Anders sat in the hearth, playing with Cuddles, when he heard growling outside. He listened for a while, and looked at Lily before taking his staff. Lily watched him before following out, taking her daggers with her.

They headed out the front door and opened the tall gate in the garden, and Anders cursed. A small group of Hurlocks stood before them… creatures that probably left the Deep Roads. He raised a hand, letting the magic flow through his being… but a slim hand wrapped around his wrist, stopping him.

He looked down to see Lily holding on to him, a look of fierce determination in her eyes as she looked at the Hurlocks. She let go of him and withdrew her daggers, and he gasped, "Lily! You can't fight them alone!"

She turned to him and smirked, raising an eyebrow. Watch me, her gaze said, just as a Hurlock charged at her. Before he could shout out a warning, she moved, and the Hurlock fell headless by his feet.

Anders blinked, and he looked up at Lily to see that she was grinning. She turned back to the Hurlocks and charged, her blades flashing.

He had never seen anyone move so quickly before. She was faster than Isabela, and she moved with grace and flexibility that he didn't know anyone could possess. He watched her as she jumped and flipped through the air, before landing on a Hurlock's shoulders and slashing away its head. It almost looked like she was dancing, attacking and deflecting her enemy's blades, her feet and arms making complicated movements, her hair billowing around her like a cloud.

Unfortunately… it also turned him on to see just exactly how flexible she was. Her back arched when she evaded, before she raised her leg to a full standing split and bringing down her foot forcefully on a Hurlock's head, crushing its skull. He couldn't help but imagine her underneath him, arching her back like that when he touched her, her breath coming out in short pants and moaning against his ear…

Anders' wandering thoughts stopped when she killed the last of the Hurlocks, its head flying off before falling somewhere into the bushes. He looked up at her as she remained standing, trying to slow her breath. She turned around and faced him, and he swallowed when he remembered his thoughts. He felt his face flame as she smiled, before skipping playfully towards him.

Her green-and-blue eyes sparkled with triumph as she stood in front of him, and she sheathed her blades behind her and putting her hands on her hips, looking smug. She was covered with splatters of blood, even on her hair, but she was still as beautiful as ever. He couldn't help but smile at the smug look on her face.

"Alright, you could show that you could take care of yourself. Well done." He said sarcastically, and she giggled. He poked her in the middle of her forehead. "Don't look so smug. If more of them come along, you're going to have a problem, you know that right?"

She shrugged nonchalantly, and pointed with her thumb on the dead bodies. "Yes, I know you can take care of yourself. But next time, let me help you, okay?" She grinned and nodded again, and Anders looked down at her.

"Andraste's knickerweasels, you're a mess!" He cried out, making her laugh, before he noticed that her sleeve was torn, and that a wound had begun to bleed. He sighed as he took her arm, "And you didn't escape unscathed."

Lily looked down at her wound and waved it off, like she didn't care. Anders' brows furrowed a little, "Don't wave it off like it's nothing! It could get infected! What if it starts bleeding bloody pus?" He said a little angrily, and Lily scowled at him and snatched her arm away from him. She looked up defiantly at him, and he realized that he had raised his voice. She probably defended herself on her own all these years. He sighed, "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to… just… here." He let his magic run down his hand and over the wound, touching her soft skin again as he healed the gash, making it stop bleeding.

"There." He said, still keeping his hand on her arm, "It's all healed up. I'm… sorry. I didn't mean to shout. I just… don't want to see you get hurt."

Lily's scowl softened, and she put her hand on his, where he was still holding her arm. He bowed his head, and Lily bowed hers so that their foreheads touched. She smiled and put a hand on his cheek, making him look at her, before moving forward.

Anders blinked as Lily raised herself up on her toes and kissed the corner of his lips by his cheek. He swallowed and steeled himself, trying his best not to move his own lips towards hers, and just grab her and wrap her in his arms. Her scent around him was maddening, even if there was a hint of darkspawn blood on her. He could feel the desire for her scrambling up his chest, and he sighed (out of longing and relief) as Lily separated from him.

His eyes looked down her green-and-blue eyes, and despite the smudges of blood on her face, she smiled… so beautifully at him. Her hand was still warm on his face, and he yearned to hold it in his hand. He stared at her, looking hard into her eyes, feeling like he was getting lost, that the world could wither and die around him as long as he was with her.

He felt the air rush out of his lungs, like a dagger piercing his heart, when he realized the truth.

He was desperately in love with her.

He thought he never felt like that again. After his unrequited affection for Hawke, he never thought he'd feel like that for anyone. Lily was beautiful, intelligent, wise and compassionate… and just recently, she was an amazing rouge that just saved him with her skill. She saved him from Sebastian's wrath, trusting him despite what he did, and took him into her home, even though only his words were the only proof he had that he can be trusted. She was all he could want in a woman…

And to realize that she found him in the forest… made him think that the Maker still had hope for him.

Her smile faded as she tilted her head left, and she touched his forehead, biting her lip. He realized his face had turned red, and that Lily probably thought he had a fever. He took her hand off his forehead before smiling at her.

"Don't worry, I'm fine." He told her, "Just a little… envious of you that you fought them all off by yourself. I was hoping to test out my magic again, you know." He pouted teasingly, "And now poor little Anders can't show off."

Lily laughed, and Anders cleaned a spot of blood on her nose with a finger, making her face scrunch up. He could help but smile at her expressive face.

Maker's breath, but she's beautiful.

"I'll clean this up for you, Lily. Maker knows you've got blood… uhm… everywhere." And they looked down at her bloodied clothes, "You go ahead and take a bath. Although…" He smirked naughtily at her, "I could go into the bath with you."

She laughed and smacked his arm, before sticking out her tongue. "Alright, alright. It's your loss, though." She chuckled again before looking at the bodies and turning to look at him again.

"I'll be fine, really. I have enough magic in me to burn these bastards into ashes." He said, and she smiled. He grabbed her shoulders and pushed her a little towards the house, "Come on, then. Take your bath before you start smelling like them."

But Lily turned around and laid a hand on his hand, thanking him again. He smiled, and before he could help himself, he took her wrist and kissed the palm of her hand, making her blush the cutest shade of pink he had ever seen on anyone.

"You can thank me later. For now, BATH!" He said and Lily smiled again, turning around. He grinned and smacked her bottom lightly, making her jump in surprise. She turned around again, her eyes wide, and seeing his grin, couldn't help but grin as well. She fluttered her eyes shyly at him, peeking at him from her shoulder, before running into the house.

He sighed. He really DID want to get in that bath with her. But he knew there is much to do. He looked down to see a Hurlock's head near him. He kicked it towards the other bodies as he rolled up his sleeves.

"Serves you jerks right." He said as he casted fire spells to burn the bodies. "This is OUR turf! You bastards are not welcome."

He smiled at the chaos she had wrecked all around him, remembering her graceful moves in battle, the curve of her buttock in his hand when he smacked her teasingly, and he felt himself harden a little with desire. He shook his head again, before turning back to his work again, vowing to take an ice cold bath as well to quell his burning urges.