((The chapter heading is from the ASP song Hunger. And this between Leliana and Jowan is something I wanted to do in Saving Us and never got round to write. They have my sincerest apologies and some compensation in this chapter. Um.))

Chapter 12

Dance With Me And Join My Song

Lenkala had expected to be attacked by a horde of red templars when she reached the Temple of Sacred Ashes. But if they were there, they didn't intend to fight her. And while she couldn't see Corypheus, she sensed him. 'Dorian …'

'I'm all right.'

She turned and looked at her company, frightened but not in a position to show it. The notion seemed mirrored on all their faces.

When she had gone to Fenris, ready to rant at him in advance and to dare him to risk Dorian's life in the upcoming battle, all the elf had done was listen quietly before telling her he knew there was more at stake than his or Dorian's life was worth. Now here he stood, next to Varric, Cole, Dorian, and Solas, and she had no doubt that he would do all in his power to see Corypheus die. As did they all. 'This is it,' she said. 'We'll win this. We'll beat Corypheus, I close the breach, and we can all go back and forget about this mess.'

'Yes, we'll laugh about this later,' Dorian said.

Lenkala grinned at him. 'And once we're done, we'll find a way to help you. I'm not letting you die.'

'I'll hold you to it.'

'Lenka,' Cole said, his bright blue eyes wide. 'You need to survive.'

Lenkala swallowed, the intense look resonating within her. 'I certainly plan to.'

He took a tentative step forwards and reached out to take her hands the way she had done so many times with him. 'Promise me.'

'I … I can't, Cole.' The spirit turned away, but she held on to him. 'Look … I really want to get through this. And … when we're back at Skyhold we can talk. Good?'

His cheeks slightly flushed, Cole met her eyes again and nodded, just once.

'I believe,' Fenris said softly, 'we're about to have company.'

Corypheus's dragon approached at breakneck speed, and Lenkala braced herself. Before it could land, however, another dragon crashed into it, both roaring at a painful volume. 'Jowan,' Lenkala whispered. 'This is his doing, no doubt.' This time, she faced the men behind her with a grin. 'Onwards! Let's kill the magister.'

Dorian grinned back. 'Hah! That's the spirit.'

Ϡ

After his initial breakdown, Jowan had recovered quickly enough to move, but he would need a while before he cast anything again. All the way back to Skyhold, he felt Núria's eyes on him, watching if he was all right. He wasn't, his head felt as if a fly landing on it would cause it to explode, but that was to be expected. There was only so much a mage could cast, and he had never been on the overly powerful side. What he'd done was a feat to be proud of for anyone.

When they reached the castle, the night sky was still broiling with Corypheus's sinister magic, but that was to be expected. The Inquisitor could only have left a while after them, so maybe she and her companions hadn't even reached him yet – or only just. The dragon would wait until they threatened its master. He knew that much. He also knew that going after them was pointless. The fate of Thedas lay in her hands.

On their departure, one guard had seen them off. Now, they were greeted by two. The entire keep was bustling again. Jowan excused himself, making up his mind where he wanted to be in what might be his final hours.

If Jowan's past had done one thing for him, it was turning him into a realist. As it stood, there was an excellent chance that they would all be dead before the dawn. Darya would be sleeping, and if they all had to die, he'd rather she died in her sleep. Also, if he woke her up, he'd alarm her, and that was the last thing he wanted. He prayed quietly that this horror vision didn't come to pass, that his little girl would live a long and happy life. He couldn't help smiling. After all these years, he'd come to think of her as his, and so did Leliana. What with him being a Grey Warden, they'd never have a child of their own. If they survived, he decided, they would build a snowman the next day.

With Darya not an option, Jowan headed to Leliana's quarters. He removed his armour outside her bedroom and slipped inside in his smallclothes. She was sprawled on her back, taking up all the space available. He couldn't help smiling. She was one of those people who could sleep in the middle of a battlefield and wake up completely alert, a typical sign of someone who had been on the run or had fought more battles than anyone should. Both was true for her.

Sighing, Jowan crouched beside her. He reached out and brushed his fingertips over her cheeks. 'You'll never get hurt again. Not if I have any say.'

Her eyes opened, alarmed for a moment until she took him in. 'Hello,' she said then, smiling as if the world wasn't falling apart at the seams and placing her hand over his. 'Any news?'

'I sent them a dragon. Beyond that, all as it was.'

Leliana made room for him and he slipped under the covers gratefully. This place was cold, even by Fereldan standards. 'Then why d'you wake me?' she whispered and snuggled close. One of her legs wriggled between his and pressed into his crotch. That alone could be considered an answer to her own question.

Still, Jowan played along, despite his immediate reaction to the gentle pressure of her thigh against his sex. 'Oh, I can leave if I'm breaking your sleep.'

An arm snaked around him, holding him in place. 'Don't you dare.' His eyes, adjusted to the dark by now, found hers. She looked as frightened as he felt. 'This may be our last night. I feared I wouldn't see you again before …'

Jowan placed a forefinger on her lips. Screw realism. 'Before the Inquisitor comes back victorious? We don't know this is the end. It might not be, you know.' His hand travelled to Leliana's neck, and he placed his lips on hers. He wanted nothing more than to forget what was going on outside. 'I … Liana, I want to make love to you. If these really are our last hours …'

Gentle hands tugged at his pants and he struggled out of them before removing Leliana's nightshift. In the eerie light she looked as young as the first time they had been together, in a small inn in West Hill. He had been so nervous, so self-conscious, so afraid that Leliana would one day open her eyes and see nothing but a maleficar who deserved to rot in an unmarked grave. And with every day she had stood by him his confidence had grown. 'You are amazing, you know that?' he whispered, pulling her flush against him.

'You're not too bad either, for a man,' she answered.

Jowan chuckled. Apparently he wasn't the only one reminded of that night. This, too, had been something he'd fretted over after Zevran had dropped a hint regarding Leliana's sexuality. The Antivan had been dressed down by her the next day after she'd swept away Jowan's concern that she might prefer a woman. 'Oh, not too bad, is it?' He let his hands travel over her skin, exploring her as if he hadn't done this a million times before, as if he didn't know her body as well as his own. Warm fingers grasped his member and he couldn't hold back the gasp that escaped his lips.

'For a man,' she repeated, and he tipped her head up to reveal the gleam of mischief and the grin she'd been hiding.

Jowan grinned back and kissed her, deeply this time, sucking on her lower lip when he slipped a finger inside her. 'Oh, you … I'll think of a comeback later, when my brain's working again.' He closed his eyes, tasting her as they shared open mouthed kisses.

The fingers of her free hand tangled into his hair to hold him near, her body undulating against him. 'See, that's what I mean,' Leliana whispered against his lips. 'Women can do more than one thing at a time.'

Laughing at her reply, Jowan pulled one of Leliana's legs over his hip and positioned himself. The bard held on to him as if for dear life when she tilted her hips, taking him inside. This was also something she had taught him: that sex wasn't always a serious matter. Not that he had brought overly much experience with him, but he'd never have thought it could ever be appropriate to joke in such a situation. His eyes found the window and the dark magic befouling the sky, and he pulled Leliana on top of him, removing it from his field of vision. He needed to forget. 'I could,' he told her. 'I prefer not to distract myself and enjoy you with all my senses. I love you way too much for that.' He let his magic flow into his hands, only a hint of it. This much he could do even in his drained state. The humour fled from Leliana's face and she threw her head back, starting to ride him in earnest.

'Do that again, love,' she breathed, her hair hanging in her face, hands braced against his chest.

Covering her breasts with his hands, he did as he was asked. 'Anything you want, Liana. I'm all yours.' Jowan bent his legs to improve his mobility. 'Any other requests?' She leaned down to kiss him, then took his head in her hands and locked eyes with him, pressing their foreheads together.

'Just one, my dear Jowan. Don't stop if the world starts falling apart around us. If I have to die tonight, I want to die joined with you.'

Jowan wrapped both arms around her, holding her tightly as he picked up speed. Leliana grasped his shoulders, clutching him to her. Her eyes were overly bright and still firmly on his face as if he was the most important thing in the world. When he tried to hold back, to draw this out as long as he could, Leliana propped herself up and moved with such urgency she made a nonsense of that plan. He couldn't even keep his eyes open with the intensity. The heat in his groin became solid. Leliana moaned, his name on her lips, and he couldn't hold back. His hands found her hips and he held her close, grinding against her as he came, taking her over the edge with him.

Jowan let his arms fall, trying to catch his breath. Leliana had collapsed on top of him, kissing his collarbone and turning her head to the side. He felt her go rigid and slip out of their bed without a word. She stood at the window, blocking the sight from his angle. 'Leliana?'

She took a few seconds to answer. 'I believe you should come here and look, darling. Soon. As in right now.'

Ϡ

Lenkala screamed her rage after Corypheus when he fled – yet again. Her frustration was evident, and Varric shared it. He still wanted to say he wasn't made for the frontlines, he wasn't supposed to be doing any of this, and yet again, he found himself exactly where he didn't want to be – and again, he wouldn't actually have it any other way.

'Jowan's dragon's in trouble,' he said, and they all stared as the creature was killed in mid-air by Corypheus's monster. When the red-lyrium dragon landed, however, it was evidently hurt.

'Let's finish it, then,' Lenkala said. She was bleeding from a vicious cut on her forehead, but she didn't even seem to notice. Cole eyed her with tangible concern, and Varric made a mental note to have a thorough conversation with the lad once this was all over. He wasn't going to discourage him, but the poor kid had so little experience he might appreciate a few words.

The dragon roared in pain and the anger of a wounded beast but seemed reluctant to attack due to its injuries. Varric was very certain that wouldn't last. He took them all in, their battered state showing that if this fight lasted as long as it already had, they were done.

Dorian's face was white and shining with sweat, his jaw was clenched, and his determination to hide his pain was fooling no-one except perhaps himself. Solas had taken a moment to lean forwards, taking deep breaths with his hands on his knees, but now his eternal composure was back, his gaze fixed on the dragon. He was the only reason why they were all still standing. Cole had received a vicious blow that must have cracked more than one rib. When Varric had seen his back crash into the sharp edge of a wall he had actually thought the kid would never rise again. Fenris was the only one who hadn't uttered a word since they had joined battle. Come to think of it, he'd never heard him raise his voice in a fight. He was calmer than Solas even, completely focussed. Even now, his eyes followed the dragon's every movement while still managing to scan their surroundings for Corypheus making an appearance.

'This thing needs to die,' the elf said, catching Varric's eye. 'I suggest one of us keeps an eye out for the magister.' He nodded towards Dorian. The mage wanted to protest, but Fenris forestalled him. 'You are barely standing. Cast a barrier if Solas can't for some reason, but stay out of trouble. You have fought bravely. There is no need for you to die.'

A smile tugged at the corner of Varric's mouth. He would have hugged the elf if their situation weren't so dire. 'He's right, Sparkler. Don't kill yourself just yet.'

Dorian exchanged a glance with Lenkala, and at her nod, he let his mask slip. 'You're right. Kick its ass for me a bit.'

'I believe we all plan to.' With that, Fenris charged, so fast it was difficult to see him. Even the dragon, whose perception was better than that of a dwarf, couldn't get a hold on him. One moment he was slashing at a foreleg, then the dragon wanted to grab him, and Fenris darted out of the way and through the beast to drive his blade into its rear. Cole's style looked somewhat similar, but while he was good at getting out of the way, he couldn't literally soak a hit the way Fenris could.

Solas sighed next to Varric. 'The kid is going to get himself killed.'

Varric loaded and took aim, waiting for the beast to lift its head a bit. 'The kid is faster than the dragon.'

'Speaking of fast … your friend is quite the warrior.'

'I know.' The dragon did as Varric had hoped, and he released a bolt. It landed just under the beast's jaw. Slowed by blood loss and exhaustion, it looked for them, but Varric and Solas dove out of sight in time. The fire struck a bit away from where they had been and far too late.'

'It's going to fall soon,' Solas said.

'Shame the Iron Lady isn't here.'

'Yes. I agree, for once.' Solas made a quick movement with both hands, and the air grew dense around Cole. The barrier came just in time before a claw made contact with him. 'How do I tell him to be more careful?'

'No idea. I tried.'

'He wants to protect her.'

'Lenka's a mage, she can look after herself. I told him that, too, trust me.'

'You do realise why he is so desperate to keep her safe.'

Varric closed his eyes for a moment. 'Not now, Chuckles.' He really didn't want to get into that conversation again. The dragon took a deep breath. Varric managed to launch a bolt directly into its mouth, causing it to snap it shut rather than breathing fire. Solas laughed, and Varric shot him a glare. 'Of all the inappropriate moments …'

'Your Bianca never misses the mark, does she?'

'She learned from the best.'

'I wasn't going to blame you, you know. I was going to say … perhaps you were right.'

Varric was going to reply, but then Cole somehow hauled himself onto the dragon's neck. 'Andraste's flaming ass, what is he doing?'

Solas didn't answer. Instead, he cast another barrier on the rogue, shaking his head and staring as the young man found the juncture between the beast's head and spine and rammed a dagger into it. The dragon's attempts to shake him off became more feeble, and finally, it sank to the floor. Cole jumped off before he could be thrown.

'Now what?' Varric asked.

'Now we can kill Corypheus,' Solas said earnestly. 'He's back, look.'

The death of the dragon had driven the magister into desperation. While he attacked even more viciously, he also got careless. They evaded with more ease, and there was hardly a moment where Fenris wasn't directly at him, keeping him occupied. Before, even the elf had sometimes failed to follow immediately. Varric and Solas both fell silent, focussed on staying alive and bringing down the monstrosity that sought to destroy the world.

For a time, it seemed to work. Then Cole was caught by a spell and flung off their piece of rock. Varric prayed silently but fervently that he hadn't fallen to his death. Damn him, but he liked the kid. 'Don't be distracted.' Varric shot Solas a glare but didn't say anything. He was right.

'I'm trying. Dorian all right?'

'Unconscious.' Fenris was engulfed in fire, and even though Solas managed to protect him from the worst of it, the elf collapsed.

'We're going to die, aren't we?' Varric asked.

'Likely.'

Lenkala froze. She let her staff fall, and for a moment Varric thought she was going to surrender. Then she thrust her mark out at Corypheus. The air crackled with energy as the two fought a battle on an entirely different level. Intrigued beyond fear, Varric wanted to approach, but Solas held him back. 'Better not.'

'What's he holding?' Varric asked sharply, noticing the orb in Corypheus's hand for the first time. Solas didn't answer. He just stared as the thing vanished before it materialised in Lenkala's hand and Corypheus went to his knees. With a triumphant shout, Lenkala thrust her hand up against the breach, and before their eyes, the wound in the very heavens healed. The slight elven mage smiled. Slowly, she walked towards Corypheus. Varric saw her talk, but the noise stole the words from her lips. A rift opened inside the magister, tearing him up and swallowing him. The orb fell from Lenkala's hands and shattered. Corypheus was gone, the breach closed. Varric let himself fall to his knees and allowed the fact that the world was safe bring actual tears to his eyes.