Chapter 13: A tale of the Champion and the Grey Warden

The woman that stood before Samira immediately caught her eye, for she thought she was staring at her twin with how they shared almost the same hairstyle, among other things. There were some differences though. Besides the blood mark tattoo displayed boldly across her face, Samira noted this woman had a more subtle look than herself. Her lips were a paler shade of pink compared to Samira's vibrant red and her eyes were blue, while the herald's were green.

"Looks like you keep similar company, Varric." Samira was the first one to speak up.

"Just my luck too! I figured Hawke might have some friendly advice about Corypheus. You and I did fight him, after all." Varric said with a hint of pride in his voice for the times he shared with his best friend. He left them alone by walking a few paces away with a green bottle of vintage in hand.

"You've already dropped half a mountain on the bastard. I'm sure anything I can tell you pales in comparison." Hawke turned and leaned her elbows on the wall, looking out to the mountains with a dry tone to her voice.

"Oh, I don't know, you did save a city from a horde of rampaging Qunari. I'm sure some credit is due." Samira crossed her arms, wondering what was going on in the champion's mind.

"I don't see how that really applies...unless there's a horde of rampaging Qunari around I don't know about?" Hawke then reassured Samira by replying with the wit that Varric had said was her signature characteristic.

"There's a Qunari. He almost qualifies as a horde all by himself. Fortunately, he's on our side." Samira smiled at the thought of Bull rampaging, swinging his axe.

"So, then, what can I tell you?" Hawke straightened and turned to face Samira, finally really looking her in the eye.

"What happened with Corypheus before?"

"The Grey Wardens were holding him, and he somehow used his connection to the darkspawn to influence them."

"Corypheus messed with their minds. Turned them against each other." Varric chimed in.

"If the wardens have disappeared, they could have fallen under his control again." Hawke sighed wearily at the thought of it, but Samira sensed there was more worry than she was letting on.

"Hypothetically speaking, could we reverse it if that were the case?" Samira hoped Blackwall wouldn't fall prey to that control.

"It's possible. But we need to know more first. I've got a friend in the Grey Wardens. He's been investigating something unrelated for me. You may have heard of him, but I'll refrain from speaking his name for the time being. He's a bit touchy about it being thrown around."

"Okayyy then! What was it?"

"The last time we spoke, he was worried about corruption in the ranks. Since then, nothing." Samira didn't like the sound of that.

Sounds rather ominous.

"Corypheus would certainly qualify as corruption in the ranks. Did your friend disappear with them?" Varric asked.

"Thankfully, no. He said he would be hiding out in an old smugglers cave in Crestwood."

"This is bad for the warden's, the Inquisition can use any help we can get to fix this situation. I appreciate your help, Hawke." Samira held out her hand for Hawke to shake.

"I'm doing this as much for myself as for you. Corypheus is my responsibility, I thought I had killed him before. This time, I'll make sure he goes down for good. Now Varric, I suppose you're up for a drink with an old friend?" Hawke smiled for the first time since Samira had met her.

"Of course! I'm actually curious to see which one of you can drink me under the table faster. Samira can hold her own when she wants to." Varric teased Samira, an obvious reference to times where she let loose a little too much.

"Is that right? I'd like to see that!" Hawke laughed and the trio headed down to the Herald's Rest.

When the dwarf once again lit up a cigar upon arriving, Hawke arched her eyebrow and asked, "Varric, what is that foul thing in your mouth?"

"Varric has picked up a rather nasty habit since joining the Inquisition, but I promise you it's not from any influence of mine!" Samira commented as she served them their drinks and sat down.

"Hey, now! What I do in this tavern stays in this tavern." He protested in denial of his fully fledged bad habit.

"Uh-huh." Samira chuckled and clinked her mug to the pair.

Some time went by and with it lay eight empty mugs, and true to Varric's boast of the Inquisitor, Varric was done drinking for the day while the two women remained. Bull dragged him away thankfully, so the women didn't have to worry about hauling him up to his quarters, even though they were strong for their size.

"I think Varric's losing his touch. Or maybe just getting older. Ugh." Marian shuddered at the idea.

"You would know, you've known him for a long time I suppose." Samira kicked her legs up on the now empty seat and settled in, feeling at home speaking with Hawke now that she was loosened up.

"I guess you knowing that comes with the territory of letting Varric tell my story in a book. Everyone's read that damn thing."

"Ah, yes. I liked it, although you seem a bit more tame now that I've finally met you in person." Samira mused, remembering how Varric had put her to paper.

"Varric was always the one for embellishment!" And to that they clinked their mugs and took another drink.

"I heard you had family and friends in Kirkwall. Where are they now, if you don't mind me asking?"

"My little sister is a Grey Warden. I had my friend Aveline take her as far from Orlais as possible. When the wardens started acting strangely I had to keep my sister safe."

"Is there no one else?" Samira hoped she wasn't prodding too far, but she felt like she would never get another chance to ask someone she actually looked up to these questions.

When I heard of her exploits during my time with the Dalish, it made me wonder things. Wonder what I could do in this world if given the chance. And now I have that.

"Besides Varric who is the closest thing to family I have left, there is...well there's Fenris. He would have killed himself to protect me. I didn't want to give him that chance, so I sent him a letter after I left so he couldn't argue it." Hawke's voice softened when she spoke of him, and Samira couldn't help but feel sorry for the woman who clearly missed her lover.

Blackwall is always here, by my side. Imagining him away for long periods of time just feels, off.

"Is it true?" Samira knew she was probably crossing the line now.

"Is what true?"

"He executed your friend, the mage that blew up the Chantry."

"Ah, Anders. Should have known that question would pop up eventually." Marian looked into her mug with sadness lingering in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, it was rude of me to ask. I'm not usually this intrusive. I just...everything that happened with you changed things. Changed my life, really."

"It's alright. Whether I talk about it openly or not I still think about it, so it's not like it's going away. Anders was special to me, but he was very complicated. We were both a complicated mess. Fenris and Anders never got along. When we caught him after the Chantry attack, Fenris was the first one there. Few words were exchanged before Fenris did the deed." Samira could tell Hawke was still heartbroken over it, but was doing her best to keep her facade up.

"I'm so sorry about your loss. Did you get to say goodbye?" Samira was on the edge of her seat, absorbed by the story.

"Anders and I said our true goodbyes long before that. People will never understand who he really was, I was lucky to have known him...as tortured a soul he was." Hawke took a big gulp of her drink to wash away the memories.

"Are you okay with Fenris now? It must have been hard to see your love do that to someone you cared about I'd imagine." Samira thought of Blackwall and Iron Bull if they were in a situation like that; she shuddered at the thought of losing either of them to the other.

"He was doing what had to be done, and I knew it. He just did it so I didn't have that burden to bear. Part of me was grateful, but it still hurt nonetheless. It hasn't changed my feelings about Fenris though, as long as our history has been I could never leave him...until now." Hawke sighed, Samira decided to change the subject.

"So...I've been dying to know. Are elves any different in the sack from humans?" Hawke practically spit out her drink when Samira asked, making the mage laugh.

"Oh, Maker! Now that was an unexpected one. Well, I…" Hawke ran a hand through her disheveled hair, her cheeks aflame.

"Ha! Just kidding. I slept with an elf once, so I'll spare you the embarrassment. That look was well worth it though." Samira winked at Hawke, which earned her a smile.

"I think we could be excellent friends, Inquisitor." Hawke raised her mug in approval.

"Oh, you have no idea what trouble we could get into if we put our minds to it. By the way, love that red and black armor…" Samira was grateful to have a female friend to relate to as they shared tales of their adventures until dinner was ready.

"Will you be staying the night before heading out to Crestwood?" Samira asked as they left the tavern.

"As tempting as that is, I'm afraid not. My friend is still waiting for me, and with the Grey Wardens on his tail, I'd rather get to him first before they do." Hawke crossed her arms and furrowed her brow in worry.

"I understand, if you want I can send an Inquisition guard with you. I'll be heading out tomorrow once my party is ready." Samira thought it was the least she could do to help her new ally.

"If you think the Champion of Kirkwall needs an entourage, you are sorely mistaken my dear. But it's appreciated." Hawke laughed, and headed off to the stables to find her horse.

That one is a loner.

"Are we to be going to Crestwood?" Blackwall asked when they went back up to her room.

"Yes, Hawke thinks this friend of hers can be of help uncovering this demon army plot." Samira sat down on the bed taking her boots off for the day.

"Whatever's going on within the order, I want to be there." He said as he kneeled before her and placed his head on her lap. Samira ran her hands through his thick hair and worried for the man she cared for.

"I don't have to worry about you getting mixed up with all this suspicious Grey Warden stuff happening with Corypheus, do I?" She asked as he turned his head up to look at her. His blue-gray eyes seemed clouded with trouble, Samira had a hard time determining what lay beyond them.

"I wouldn't let that happen, you'd kill me." Blackwall took her hand and placed a kiss on her knuckles.

"Me? Kill you? You must have me mistaken for someone else. Who would rub my feet then?" Samira pulled him up to capture his lips in a kiss which he gladly reciprocated.

"Mmm, I might feel obliged to do that sometime, but for now I have other ideas of what I could do for you, my lady." His fingers wound through her short locks as he pulled her into his embrace.

"Are you teasing me, Warden?" Samira laughed to herself in between his kisses and suddenly remembered she owed him a gift since they won their last game of Wicked Grace.

"Oh, I could never tease you."

"Such a shame, I like being teased. I guess I'll have to be the one doing the teasing. I owe you for your win earlier." She arched an eyebrow at him, piquing his interest.

"I almost forgot about that. So, what's this gift I'm getting?"

"Oh, you'll see." She pushed him back on the bed and began to undo his pants to his surprise.

"You have me at an disadvantage, my lady." Blackwall murmured with his head back as Samira went to work.

His erection easily sprung forward to Samira's delight; she wrapped her fingers around it bringing Blackwall's attention immediately back up to her. Her delicate fingers almost wrapped around all of it, the size obviously being bigger than what Samira was used to but she loved it.

"I definitely do. You just lie there." Samira pushed a finger to his mouth when he made a move to bend towards her, stopping him.

Slowly stroking it at first, Samira toyed with Blackwall as she brought the tip of her tongue to play along the tip of his shaft, earning several moans of approval.

"You are a devil, woman!" Blackwall chuckled in pleasure as she worked her tongue along his head and stroked him at the same time; a perfect mixture of just the right amount of pleasure and teasing. When her mouth started to bob up and down over the whole thing, Samira smiled to herself as Blackwall began to burn with carnal desire to have more of her.

"Maker's breath, woman, I need you." Blackwall strained in her mouth, his hands becoming entangled in her hair now.

"Mhm, I bet you do!" Samira broke off, a smile on her face that read of teasing mischief.

"Get up here." Blackwall pulled her up and began to untie the laces of the corset in a crude manner. Samira was pulling the strings of her pants loose as he freed her breasts from the corset and cotton top, as that was all she had to do before he took over her.

"Mmmm, what are you going to do with me now?" Samira bit her lip, wondering what he had up his sleeve as she stood in between his legs. She studied him for a moment, he still sat at the edge of the bed, drinking in her figure with a hunger that exceeded other times they had been together.

"I don't think you want me to tell you what I'm thinking, Samira. It's very dirty." Blackwall gritted his teeth, taking a breath holding back.

"Oh, I do. Spare no details." Samira whispered in his ear.

"Part your legs. I want to feel your cunt." He said definitely surprising Samira.

I think my dirty mouth is starting to influence him, would the wardens approve if they knew he was being this naughty instead of killing darkspawn?

Blackwall leaned into her body then, he placed his hands over her stomach and felt her hips, enjoying the curve before his fingers reached their destination. Samira laid her arms over his shoulders to brace herself as two fingers began to play at her, immediately sparking sensations that made her legs want to buckle. His lips placed kisses all along her belly as he played her like an instrument, not relenting even as Samira began to beg for release.

"Blackwall!" She cried out as she teetered on the precipice of bliss. When she finally came, she cradled his face between her hands and kissed him, their lips hungry for one another.

"I want you on top of me, Samira." His want was quickly approved of. He scooted back some as she climbed on top of the bed and began to straddle him.

Blackwall grasped his manhood ready for her as she angled down on it slowly. She was already wet, but her walls were tightened up which only gave more pleasure to Blackwall. Samira controlled the pace as she slowly moved around on him, not taking long this time to get used to his girth.

"Damn you, Samira." Blackwall said panting as she teased him with her hips.

"You know you love it!" Samira smiled, her head in a daze as the world was blocked out from all distraction when it was just the two of them.

"Oh, I do. I do." His lips placed feverish kisses along her neck down to her breasts as Samira arched her back slightly away from him. His fingers reached her apex again, beckoning her to even more pleasure as she rode him back and forth with wanton abandon.

"Come for me, Samira. I want to feel you come all around me." Blackwall gasped out in between his own pleasure she gave him. His fingers flicked against the nerves between her legs more furiously now, and this time Samira could not deny her orgasm any longer. She moaned out louder as her very being shook, and then she could feel Blackwall reach his own.

They remained still for several moments catching their breath before either of them spoke.

"I love you." It was Blackwall who broke the silence first, and it was not what she expected him to say.

I don't know what to say, I…

Samira was at a loss for words, she still felt it hard to let herself actually love someone. Although she wasn't against it happening like she had been for so long before.

"You don't have to say it back, I know it's hard for you, Samira. I just couldn't hold it in any longer." His hand reached for her face.

"Oh, Blackwall." Samira wrapped her arms around his neck and held him tight, not wanting to let the moment go. She silently kicked herself for not saying it back, for not being able to let it in.

"You should get some rest for the day's ride tomorrow." They pulled back from one another and kissed before slipping away to dress again.

"Will you be staying in the stables tonight?"

"Probably, I have some things I want to work on before we leave tomorrow. And Samira?" He was already back in form as he brought his trousers back up.

"Yes, dear?" Samira brought her robe around her shoulders before walking over to her balcony.

"It was a lovely gift." They smiled at each other before parting, leaving Samira to ponder things.

Days later upon arriving at Crestwood, things had calmed down since Samira's last visit helping the village seal the rift on the lake.

"I'm glad to see Crestwood no longer looks like an imitation of the Fallow Mire any longer." Samira remarked to Blackwall after they left the village and were on their way to meet up with Hawke.

"One Fallow Mire was enough for me. Let's look at that map Hawke gave you." Samira handed the map over to him.

"Looks like about a quarter of a mile this way." And just as promised, they found Hawke's campsite right outside of a hidden nook of a cave not far ahead.

"How long have you been waiting?" Samira asked as they sat down by the fire for a moment to warm up.

"Not long, a couple of days tops. At least the bad weather finally cleared up." Hawke shrugged.

"Ah, you heard about that. Well, we shouldn't delay this any longer, let's go have a chat with your friend."

"You two go ahead, I'm just finishing packing camp up. I'll be right behind you."

When they reached the end of the cave, they found it empty, or at least it appeared to be, until Samira heard a sword unsheath behind her. Her senses pricked up as she turned her head and found the warden they were looking for. Fully clad in Grey Warden armor, he appeared to be a few short years older than Samira, with beautiful blonde hair and a chiseled hardened look that was probably more boyish in years past.

"It's just us! I brought the Inquisitor." Hawke was already caught up to them by then, and Samira was grateful.

"Wait, you have a Grey Warden with you?" The warden picked up on Blackwall's signature armor in acknowledgment.

"Warden Blackwall." Blackwall nodded.

"You're Blackwall? Uh, Duncan, my mentor spoke of you."

"Duncan? Of course. Good man." As ever, Blackwall spoke briefly of anything warden related, which always confounded Samira.

"I'm Alistair, it's an honor to meet you. I wish it were some place nicer."

"The Alistair? Who fought the Archdemon with the Hero of Fereldan?" Samira was amazed to be meeting him, she had heard stories but never thought she would ever meet the man.

Meet Grey Warden Alistair: Check!

"I need to change my name! Yes, that was me...war, betrayal, darkspawn, all lots of fun! And made for excellent stories, I'm sure. Nobody cares about that anymore, I answer to Warden-Commander Clarel now, like everyone else." Samira definitely took a likening to the man, although he seemed hardened compared to the tales she had heard of his character, she saw hints of his charm shine on the surface.

I wonder if I'm going to become like Hawke and Alistair one day...after everything they've been through, I'm sure they've changed so much from how they used to be. They have a sadness about them, more so Hawke than Alistair, but still. I suppose I can worry about that after I defeat Corypheus.

"Well, Alistair, I'm honored to call upon you as an ally during these times. Anything you can tell the Inquisition to stop Corypheus would be much appreciated."

"When Hawke killed Corypheus, the wardens thought the matter resolved, but Archdemons don't die from simple injury." He turned from them and walked over to a nearby table before continuing, "I feared Corypheus might have the same power, so I started to investigate. I found hints, but no proof. And then, not long after every warden in Orlais began to hear the calling."

"Maker! Why didn't you tell me?" Hawke hadn't been told yet obviously.

"It was a secret, a very dangerous one. I do try to keep a few of my oaths to the Grey Wardens."

"I suppose I can understand the secrecy, but can you tell me more about this 'Calling'?" Samira was curious about it

"We're connected to the darkspawn, but eventually that connection poisons you. You get nightmares, and then you start to hear the music. It calls to you, quiet at first, and then so loud you can't bear it." Alistair shook his head at the idea, and Samira immediately felt worry settle into a knot in her stomach.

"At that point, you say farewell and go into the Deep Roads to die fighting. 'In death, sacrifice'."

"Blackwall, have you been hearing it?" Samira kept her voice even, she refused to show the emotion she felt within herself. The look in her eyes was all she needed to show to Blackwall for him to understand her underlying concern.

"I do not fear the Calling, I know what Corypheus is." Although Blackwall reassured her, she still felt like he was putting on a show for her.

If this is happening to all of them, he must not have wanted me to know about it before.

Corypheus was somehow behind this fake Calling, and in their desperation, the wardens were playing right into the Magister's twisted hands. They were resorting to blood magic, a foul but powerful use of magic that Samira did not feel comfortable being around.

"They're gathering in the Western Approach, in an old Tevinter ritual tower. I plan on investigating once I leave here…I could use some help. We should get there ideally before it lives up to its name." They agreed on that much as they left the cave and found their horses.

"Alistair, we will send word ahead of us for some of our friends to meet us. I expect this should be a rather long trip?"

I've never been so far west in all of Thedas, this trip will take a few weeks if we're lucky.

"Yes, I hope you're ready for it. The faster we travel, the better. It will take some time for all of the needed wardens to gather I expect." Alistair sighed, something weighing heavy on his mind.

"Is there something else on your mind?"

"Oh, plenty of things. I'd rather not talk about it right now, though." Alistair played off whatever was troubling him, but Samira suspected it had something to do with the hero, since she wasn't at his side.

I won't bother him with rumors I've heard of their love affair...for now. I can be such a juicy gossip sometimes.

"Fair enough, another time. Surely we'll need things to talk about on the road!" They finished saddling up and quickly stopped into the village for provisions and to send off ravens to Skyhold before starting their journey to help save the wardens.

A/N: I purposely left details on my version of Hawke scant, because I'm writing a short companion piece for her that's written in first perspective, but that won't be posted until after the events of Adamant. -Erulastiel