Chapter 13 – The Brother

"You know, watching you two is starting to make me feel nauseous," Anders sighed by the campfire, staring at Nathaniel and Sarah, who were sitting opposite to him. Nathaniel was leaning against a fallen tree and Sarah was leaning on him, his left arm encircling her waist and his right hand stroking her hair.

"What?" Sarah looked up at Anders, frowning.

"Ignore him, he's being an idiot," Nathaniel whispered, but loud enough for Anders to hear.

"I mean it, you two are worse than lovesick teenagers!" Anders almost wailed, and Sarah did her best to stop herself from grinning. "Give the rest of us a break!"

"The rest of you?" Sarah asked. "Floyd is sleeping. And he's a mabari, so I guess what humans do doesn't really bother him. Oghren is keeping watch and he's not complaining. Only you are."

"Just… Oh, forget it!" Anders groaned and got up, starting to head towards his bedroll.

"Maybe we should get you a girlfriend, so you don't have to be jealous of me and my Natey-pooh!" Sarah shouted after him, batting her eyelashes innocently when Anders turned back and shot her a dark look.

"I think getting him a girlfriend might work," Nathaniel said as they watched the mage crawl under his blanket.

"Or a boyfriend," Sarah shrugged. "Maybe I should try to get in touch with Zev and ask him to come back."

"Maybe," Nathaniel chuckled and then touched her chin, turning her head so that she was looking at him. "And one thing. You know that I love you more than anything in this world," he said calmly. "But call me Natey-pooh again and I might have to reconsider my feelings."

"Oh, I was just starting to think that it would be the perfect nickname for you," Sarah moaned, her lower lip wobbling.

"You're a terrible actor," Nathaniel said and kissed her. When he was certain he would die from the lack of oxygen, and didn't really care, she pulled away and nuzzled against him, her head resting on his shoulder.

"By they way," she whispered, her fingers tracing his chest through the coarse fabric of his shirt, "I love you too."

Nathaniel smiled and kissed her forehead. Some time later her steady breathing told him she was asleep. He should've carried her to her bedroll and gotten some sleep as well, but she was so soft and warm and beautiful right there in his arms that he couldn't. He could only hope that he wouldn't regret his decision the next day when they would continue their walk back to the Vigil.

…

They walked past two farmsteads on their way to the Vigil, both of them destroyed by the darkspawn, with no people to be seen. When they got closer to the keep, they could see a column of smoke rising up. Nathaniel felt his heart sink. Somehow he'd kept telling himself that there was no way the vigil could've fallen, but seeing that smoke… He braced himself for the possibility of seeing his home in ruins as they walked up a cliff and looked down into the valley.

"Maker's breath!" Anders sounded as relieved as Nathaniel felt.

"Now that's a welcomed sight," Oghren was smiling and loosening his grip on his axe. "Maybe they have beer."

"Alistair, you magnificent bastard," Sarah sighed, grinning and then suddenly kissing Nathaniel, who felt that he was getting the rewards for someone else's actions, but he was not about to complain.

In the fields before the Vigil, the King's Army had set up their camp. The smoke rising to the sky came from their campfires, as well as from the large fire a little away from the camp, where darkspawn bodies were being burnt. The Royal flag was flying over the largest tent, as well as on the battlements of the Keep.

"I see you were as successful as we were," a voice behind them said. Velanna was standing there, leaning on her staff like she'd been standing there for ages, instead of appearing out of nowhere. "Although we had some help, even though it pains to admit that your human king could do anything right."

"It's good to see you!" Sarah said, and was rewarded with a little smile. "Is everyone alright?"

"I guess that by 'everyone' you mean the people you know, not the ordinary soldiers who gave their lives here," Velanna scoffed. "Everyone is fine, apart from the spirit. His body was killed. Whether he perished with the body or returned to the Fade, I know not."

"Justice…" Sarah sighed. "I hope he's fine. And at least Aura will get the chance to bury her husband."

"Yes, silver lining," Velanna said dryly. "Now, did you encounter the creature that took my sister? Was he there?"

"He was but…" Sarah sighed. "Velanna, I'm sorry. Your sister would not survive without the Architect's help. She can't live in this world anymore."

"I guess that's what the creature would tell you," Velanna said, but she sounded more weary than angry. "This is goodbye, then. I will not give up on my sister. I will find her and I will see if what you said is true. If it is, then I will join this creature as well."

"Look, why don't you…" Sarah started to say, but Velanna shook her head.

"She's my sister. I will take care of her, in any way I can. Goodbye, all of you," she said, her eyes sweeping over all of them, stopping at Nathaniel for a moment and then turning back to Sarah. "And… thank you, if that actually matters." She took a step back, waved her hand and roots shot up from the earth, engulfing her and pulling her to the ground with them.

"That's certainly an effective way to exist," Anders broke the short silence that followed Velanna's departure. "Now, Oghren mentioned something about beer and I think we should thank the king or whatever, and then see if there really is any beer. And wenches. Armies have wenches, don't they? Wenches love soldiers."

"I…" Sarah stared at the mage, not sure whether she should slap him or laugh. "Yes, let's go find you a wench and beer. And Alistair, so that I can thank him. And then I need to find a bed."

"Heh, I bet you do!" Oghren grinned.

"To sleep in," Sarah sighed, but then glanced at Nathaniel with a mischievous smile on her lips. "Of course, my plans may change."

"Now you're learning, my girl!" Oghren laughed and started towards the camp.

"Is it bad that I agree with Oghren for once?" Nathaniel whispered in Sarah's ear before taking her hand following the dwarf.

…

Alistair wasn't in the camp, but there was beer and a promise of some wenches from the nearby villages showing up later, so Oghren and Anders stayed behind to entertain the soldiers with their stories about the Mother, while Floyd was determined to get acquainted with one of the female mabaris in the camp and simply sat down in front of the mabari pen, refusing to move. Sarah and Nathaniel continued on towards the keep, and when they got there, the first person they saw was Sigrun, who gave a happy little squeak and rushed to hug them both. As they made their way across the courtyard, soldiers were saluting them – Sarah was still finding it a bit ridiculous – and when they got to the stairs, the doors of the keep flew open and Alistair marched out.

"Not late this time," Alistair said as Sarah rushed to him, hugging him tightly. "Just happy to be of service, my Commander."

"Shut up." Sarah kissed his cheek and then, unable to resist the temptation, ruffled his hair. "Your majesty," she then added, taking a step back and giving him a little curtsy, which made him laugh.

"I take it this is Nathaniel Howe," Alistair's eyes turned towards Nathaniel, who nodded, not certain what the king's reaction would be. He had nothing to be ashamed of, since he was not responsible for his father's actions. Alistair took a few steps towards him and then extended his hand.

"An honour to meet a fellow Warden," he said, and Nathaniel took the hand, shaking it. "Although from what Sigrun has been telling me, that's not all you are. By a long shot."

"Alistair, if you still wish me to introduce you to nice noble girls, you will forget everything Sigrun has told you," Sarah said, ignoring the protests of the dwarf. "Well, at least the most... graphic parts."

"My stories weren't that bad," Sigrun muttered, "And it's not my fault that my room is next to yours and I happen to hear…"

"You're as bad as Oghren!" Sarah almost wailed and Sigrun grinned.

"At least I didn't tell anything to your brother, even though after that insult I really sh…"

"Brother?" Sarah stared at Sigrun and then turned to look at Alistair, who'd been listening to their exchange with an amused look o his face. "Is Fergus here?"

"Insisted on coming along," Alistair grinned. "You're brother's a little bossy, I see that runs in the family. He's on patrol now but…"

"On patrol! You shouldn't let him go on patrols, the last time he did he was…" Sarah turned to look as riders galloped through the gates into the courtyard, lead by a familiar figure. She skipped three steps at time and met the rider – who'd jumped off his horse as soon as he saw Sarah – in the middle of the courtyard.

"Thank the Maker you're alive!" Fergus pulled her into his arms and she hugged him back, not minding that he smelled of sweat and rust, or that his chainmail wasn't the most comfortable thing to be pressed against. She tried to stop herself, but the tears came anyway. Well, letting the soldiers see the Warden-Commander sobbing like a little girl was a small price to pay for seeing her brother.

"Now," she sniffed as they finally pulled apart, trying to wipe her nose elegantly and failing, "there's someone I want you to meet. And I want you to stay calm and…"

"Nathaniel Howe, right?" Fergus asked, glancing at the people by the doors. "I already know."

"Oh Maker, what did Sigrun tell you?" Sarah sighed. Fergus chuckled.

"Only that you love him and he loves you and if I do anything to mess it up she'll have my kneecaps," he said. "Not that I have any intention of messing it up, if you really love him. Do you?" he asked, his brow furrowing in the look that Sarah had named 'the worried big brother'-look years ago.

"I do," Sarah smiled. "More than anything," she added, remembering the previous night.

"Then that's good enough for me," Fergus said and hugged her again. "But I think I still need to give him the speech explaining what I'll d to him if he harms you. It's a brother thing, you see."

"Okay," Sarah smiled. She had to admit, if Fergus hadn't been so protective, she might've been a little disappointed in him. He took her arm and they headed towards the stairs.

…

"Do you think you could talk some sense into Varel?" Nathaniel turned to look at Sarah, who had rushed into the room and slammed the door close behind her, looking tired and annoyed.

"What did he do this time?" he asked.

"He's refusing to stay in bed and rest! He almost had his arm chopped off! He needs to rest! But no, it's all 'I have a duty' and 'this needs doing'," Sarah slunk into the chair opposite Nathaniel. "I swear, that man is incapable of just relaxing!"

"What did you do?" Nathaniel asked, doing his best to hide his smile. She was simply too adorable, with her hair a little messy and her eyes sparkling angrily.

"I shouted at him. Didn't work. So I left Floyd there to make sure Varel stays in bed."

"You ordered your mabari to guard him?" Nathaniel couldn't help it, the grin spread on his face. "That is about the hundredth reason why I love you," he added, reaching to take her hand over the table.

"I'm a very lucky girl to have someone so easily impressed in love with me," Sarah said teasingly. Nathaniel got up, moved to her side of the table and pulled her up into his embrace. He loved the little gasp she made when started tracing her neck with his lips, and the way she buried her fingers in his hair. He loved everything about her, and it made no sense waiting any longer.

"Marry me," he gasped out the words between kisses. She tensed, her fingers sliding out of his hair, and she took a step back.

"What?" she was staring at him and he realized that he'd actually said those words. Out loud. To her. But it made perfect sense.

"Marry me," he repeated, taking hold of her hands. "I love you. I've never loved anyone like this and I never will. I've been carrying this ring with me and I've been planning to propose after a perfect evening with the right food and mood and whatever, but… Every moment with you is perfect, so why wait? So," he smiled at her, and let go of her hands to find the ring in his pocket and held it out for her, "will you marry me?"

"I was just complaining about Varel and now you're asking me to marry you," Sarah said slowly, staring at Nathaniel, her face almost blank. Then she looked at the ring, and back at Nathaniel, and her face broke into a smile. "One more reason why I love you, I guess."

"Is that a yes?" Nathaniel asked, arching an eyebrow. "With you, it's sometimes hard to…" Sarah kissed her, her body pressing against his so suddenly that he almost dropped the ring, but managed to hold onto it.

"Yes, that is a 'yes'," Sarah said, her arms wrapped around his neck. "I will marry you."

…

It was a couple of hours later and they were lying on the bed.

"I think Sigrun got some new stories to tell," Sarah giggled, stretching and then curling against Nathaniel. He pulled her into a kiss and she returned it slowly, savouring his taste. Maybe this wasn't exactly how she'd imagined getting engaged was like when she was a kid. Those dreams had entailed all the romantic necessities such as the man kneeling down and maybe giving a chaste kiss afterwards. Wearing nothing but the engagement ring in bed with the fiancé right after the proposal hadn't been featured in any of the romance novels she'd read. But those books were rubbish.

"If I had any strength left, I'd suggest we give her something more to tell about," Nathaniel said, his head dropping onto the pillow.

"I think she has enough material for now," Sarah said, pulling the bed sheets over them. "Speaking of telling about things, do you want to be the one telling about the engagement?"

"Oh Maker, can't we just elope and never talk about it?" Nathaniel sighed. "I want to marry you, more than anything, but… The ceremonies and the party and everything! I know for certain that Delilah will insist on planning the whole ceremony, or at least tag along to give you advice on the wedding dress and decoration and what to serve and... And Anders, Anders will insist we get only good-looking bridesmaids. And Oghren… Oh sweet Andraste, why am I thinking about Oghren when I'm in bed with you?" Nathaniel sounded so desperate that Sarah gave him a quick kiss on cheek.

"We can get Oghren so drunk he forgets to come to the wedding," she said. "And I don't mind Delilah planning the whole thing if she wants. And Anders, well, I'll get Zev to distract him. But I think you should tell Fergus, and ask him for my hand. It's pretty silly, since you already have my hand, but… You know, tradition and all. And he'll enjoy being the protective brother."

"I already have your hand?" Nathaniel laughed.

"Yes, you do," Sarah replied, wiggling her fingers in front of his face. "And since you have it, would you happen to have any wishes to as what I should do with it?" Her attempt at an innocent smile was ruined by the impish spark in her eyes and Nathaniel suddenly realized he wasn't as tired he'd thought he was.

"I might have some ideas," he said and pulled her into a kiss, during which her hand did manage to travel quite interestingly across his body. Yes, Nathaniel thought hazily before concentrating completely on her, certainly a hand worth asking for from thousand protective brothers.

...

Note from the writer: Comments are once again welcome, if you're able to think after all that fluff. :) There's still one chapter (or epilogue, I'll have to see how it turns out) to come and then this is done. Wow. I hope you've enjoyed reading as much as I've enjoyed writing this, and I hope you check out the last chapter (it will be posted before the 22nd, when the demo for DA2 comes out, that I promise).