Waste Not, Want Not
The wind was whipping around the camp. It scoured Sareyna's cheeks raw and wrung stinging tears from her eyes. Even in her naturally warming dragon hide armor that covered her completely from the neck down she was cold. She pulled the hood of the wolf fur cloak further forward on her head, trying to shield her face at least a little from the cold; then wrapped the cloak tighter around the rest of her body. She hoped that between the armor and the cloak that she would not freeze on her perimeter walk of the camp.
Sareyna was on watch, not that she could see much in the thick snow. She had Pentheryn with her; even though her senses were sharper than most having Pentheryn there was reassuring. He was a great war hound, definitely the best present she had ever been given by her parents. Not only was he a lethal warrior, he was a good sentry, and the extra body heat helped keep her warm.
Getting Alistair to let Pentheryn into their tent had not been easy. Her two favorite men didn't always get along. She had finally convinced Alistair that making him sleep outside was cruel. Alistair had still balked and suggested they bed Pentheryn down in the now spare tent. But Alistair had finally relented, so now on a good night she slept between Alistair and Pentheryn under their bear fur blankets.
The nights were especially bitter in the Frostbacks this time of year. Sareyna had never been so happy about dead animals before in her life. Alistair had suggested awhile back that instead of selling the animal pelts they should use them to make blankets and clothing for the upcoming weather. Everyone had decided it was a good idea.
Since they were the only ones with any experience Morrigan and Sten had ended up with preparing the hides. Then Wynne and Sareyna had joined in to help with the sewing. Alistair seemed to escape relatively chore free. And although toting all the fur items was a pain, it had definitely proved worth it over the past couple weeks.
The temperature fell sooner in the Frostbacks than elsewhere and the higher they went the more they all were hoping for any building, even a deserted barn. The tents offered little protection against the wind and snow. But as they went higher there were fewer and fewer trees and not a single building to see.
Hopefully, soon they would reach Haven. Although Sareyna was more and more sure every day that Haven would have no inn for them to stay at. How many travelers would they even get this far into the mountains? She was still amazed that Brother Genetivi had managed to find anything at all out here.
Finished with walking the perimeter she walked back to the camp fire and tossed more wood onto it trying to ease the dull ache in her frozen limbs. Her watch would be up soon and she could crawl into the bedroll she shared with Alistair and get warm.
Pentheryn walked around the fire and sat down next to Sareyna, she absently scratched his ears and he thumped his tail appreciatively and leaned against her. She was thankful for the added warmth. Although he was a war hound and was used to a lot of conditions, the sheer pain from the ice laden wind and the constant snow would make it impossible for him to continue sleeping outside. She knew she had been neglecting Pentheryn lately, having been so wrapped up with Alistair. She needed to make it up to him. He had been her best and most faithful friend for years. He protected her more fiercely than any warrior.
"Including Alistair. You are like the best parent a girl could have. Always there when I want to talk, protecting from anything and everything. Do you think it strange that I see us all as a family? Or is it stranger that I see you as the parent? We're definitely a weird family, but I feel like maybe it's why we've been so successful. We work harder not only to live but to protect each other."
Sareyna looked around to see if anyone was awake, or if there were any signs of possible danger. Once she had discerned there was no immediate threat she went on. "Though I don't really believe in the Maker or anything like that, sometimes I feel like we were all drawn together for a reason. I mean what are the chances we would find this many people with fighting skills and no family to speak of? Unless you count Flemeth, which I don't, especially since Morrigan asked us to kill her. I mean at this point, technically speaking, Alistair has the most family. Even if she is an evil harpy. Maybe we should go back and recruit her and she can belittle and screech demons to death." With that she started laughing and laid backwards in the snow picturing Goldanna screeching a pride demon to death. "Maybe not, Alistair would probably never forgive us." She giggled again and then yelped and jumped up when she heard a voice behind her.
"You're right, probably not, although I can understand the laughing, it is a pretty funny picture." Alistair walked up to her. "Wow, you are terrible at watching the camp. You didn't even hear me. I understand Pentheryn is a wonderful conversationalist but how shall I ever feel safe at night again." He grinned at her as he pulled her into the circle of his arms.
She let him pull her against him, against his warmth. She shivered realizing the cold was making her fingers numb, even through her gloves. "Ali, what are you doing awake? And where is your cloak, it's freezing out here."
"Well I guess you'll just have to keep me warm until your watch is over, I couldn't sleep without you." He slid his hand inside her hood to caress her cheek.
"Ack, your hand is freezing." She jerked away from his touch.
"Alright, hands off for now." He smiled at her and wrapped his arms back around her waist and stood with her waiting for Zevran to relieve her. He didn't have long to wait Zevran was early as he usually was.
"Ahh, so I have to suffer through your cries of passion yet again. When will you let me join? You are both so delicious." He leered at them both, raking his eyes over Alistair standing in the snow and wind without armor, the wind pressing his clothing tight against his body.
"Not tonight." Sareyna giggled.
"Not ever." Alistair added glaring at the elf.
Alistair quickly steered Sareyna towards their tent. Once they were inside he watched her as she took off her cloak and leathers and finally her small clothes. When she reached for some fresh clothes he grabbed her and dragged her to the bedroll. He pinned her beneath him, one knee between her legs pressing against her sex. He kissed her hard, biting her bottom lip a little. She was grinding herself against his knee within a few seconds. He sat back on his heels and watched her as he deliberately used his freezing hand to cup her breasts.
She yelped and then tried to pull away from him but Alistair kept her pinned. He ground his knee against her again as she glared at him.
"Ali, please your hands are freezing."
He looked at her thoughtfully for a second then leaned over and sucked one of her puckered nipples. Sareyna couldn't help herself, she moaned and squirmed beneath him, grinding herself against his knee again. He rose above her again and grinned at her wolfishly. His eyes were dark in the lamp light. He trailed his icy fingers down her side. She tried to squirm away from his hand.
"Alistair!"
"I just want you to help me warm up my hands." As he was speaking he had slid his knee backwards away from her core. He slid his hand between her legs touching her wetness and rubbing his thumb against her clit. She rubbed herself against his hand. "Besides, you don't seem to really mind."
"You're a very cruel man. I created…OHH…a monst..." Alistair kissed her again sliding his tongue between her lips and sliding along her tongue, effectively silencing her. He moved his hand faster between her legs. His other hand squeezing and massaging her breast while he circled her nipple with the pad of his thumb.
He could feel her muscles starting to tense. He knew she was close and started to move his thumb faster over her. Sareyna moaned louder against his lips and then went completely silent. About a minute later her hips jerked and Alistair stopped kissing her and whispered into her ear as she reached climax. "You are so beautiful, I love you."
Sareyna shuddered and then laid still looking dazed. Alistair stood and got her some clothes to sleep in while she recovered. He sat down next to her. "Here, you might want to put these on; someone told me it was pretty cold tonight." He laughed quietly and Sareyna sat up taking the clothes.
"Are you sure?" She asked.
"Yes, I'm sure. I enjoyed that thoroughly." He smiled at her and moved around her to lay down on the bedroll.
She slipped her clothes on and then slid back into the bedroll, snuggling up against Alistair. She held the fur blanket tight around her while she finally got rid of the chill still clinging to her skin. Sleeping with Alistair was like having your own private camp fire; he seemed to barely feel the cold and warmed up quickly. He threw off so much heat he warmed her up as well.
Sareyna tilted her head and kissed Alistair. "I love you too."