A/N: There's some of my tame smut in this chapter, just as a heads up. It's nothing incredibly graphic, but I did think I should warn you, should you wish to avoid it. If you don't want to read it, feel free to shoot me a PM asking for a chapter summary. Nothing major happens- it's just filler, but still. Enjoy, and feel free to comment and let me know what you're thinking!
As it turns out, there wasn't a strategy meeting that day. Everyone agreed that they needed a day to rest after the grueling experience at the Circle Tower, and that strategizing could damn well wait until tomorrow. Arya was free to take her nap, which she did, curled up against Cailan as he watched a movie. Morrigan had been kind enough to charge her laptop after being the reason the battery was almost dead. It'd have to be charged again soon at this rate, but Cailan was enjoying himself, and Arya was, for the most part, enjoying the sleep.
Morrigan, it seemed, had a plan for getting Eldris to agree to her ritual- when Arya went down to the inn's common room after waking up around noon, her stomach rumbling, she spotted the two of them in a secluded corner. Eldris looked nervous, and to anyone else, Morrigan looked nonplussed. Arya, however, could see more nuances in the other woman's expression, and she could tell that Morrigan was just as nervous as their elven friend. She gave them a friendly wave as she approached the bar, but otherwise left them alone, ordering enough food for her and Cailan before retreating back upstairs.
Anders had taken a spot by the fire in the common room, a stack of books that Wynne had produced next to him, and the senior enchanter herself was down there as well, knitting. Arya trusted her to keep an eye on Anders, and take care of him if he needed it. Normally, she'd feel a little guilty about leaving him to do her own thing, but she wasn't actually a healer yet and had barely knew what was wrong with him. While he was, to an extent, her responsibility, it was better if she let someone who knew what they were doing handle it. Especially considering Anders had been in solitary confinement for months- sudden contact with a lot of people was, most likely, disorienting. She would, however, put effort into a nice drawing as a thank-you gift to Wynne for picking up her slack.
"So, I've been thinking," Cailan says, as she nudges his bedroom door open with her hip. She raises an eyebrow at him.
"Oh? I doubt that's a good sign," she says, a teasing lilt to her tone, but Cailan looked serious.
"What are we going to do, when we get to Denerim?" he asks. She sits down next to him, passing him his bowl and draping her legs across his lap, bracing herself against the headboard.
"That's probably what the strategy meeting is for," she says, taking a bite. He sighs, and shakes his head.
"For the general plan, yes. I am, however, talking about what we'll do," he says, and Arya frowns.
"I don't plan on changing our relationship, if that's what you mean. I have no illusions to monogamy with you, Cailan. You're the king of Ferelden, and if you weren't married to Anora already, you'd have to marry a noble woman eventually," she says, stirring her stew absentmindedly. She'd kill for a pizza, right now, or anything resembling pizza.
"Well, there's that, but there's also Anora herself. How will she react to this? How will you two get along? And then, there's the whole matter of Eldris and Alistair. Are you going to continue traveling with them? Are you going to stay in Denerim?" he asks. Arya sets her stew aside, sitting up properly to prepare for this conversation. Cailan sets his bowl aside almost absentmindedly before he begins picking at the hem of his shirt anxiously.
"I have no idea how Anora will take the news, but if your marriage was as miserable for her as it was for you, I doubt she'll raise too much of a fuss. I can also assure you that I will make every effort to get along with Anora. I've seen some of her in my visions, and she's a woman that, while I didn't always agree with her possible actions, I respected her greatly. I still respect her. She's a powerful woman, Cailan, and that's something I can get behind," she answers. He still looks anxious, and Arya doesn't know if he really has so little faith in her ability to make friends, or if it's something else that runs deeper.
"Will you be staying in Denerim, though?" he asks, an unspoken with me hanging at the end of his sentence. She shifts, scooching closer to Cailan and resting her hand on his arm.
"I will, yes. While I think it'd be interesting to go to Orzammar, I highly doubt I'll benefit from it. I'll write down everything I know to prepare Eldris and Alistair, and after that, there's no real point in me going. I'm not good in combat, and while I can defend myself, I'd rather not take any chances traveling with the Wardens," she says, softly and reassuringly. She didn't mention about how desperately she wanted to see the Dalish. She knew that, as a human, there'd be a sharp distrust of her. It was better for everyone, really, that she stay in Denerim. There, with Cailan's backing, perhaps she could do something. Or, at the very least, and more realistically, be of some use to someone.
"Are you sure you're comfortable staying in Denerim?" he asks. Arya leans forward, pressing a gentle kiss to his cheek.
"So long as you don't abandon me there," she answers, an easy grin falling into place on her lips. He rolls his eyes and leans forward, kissing her properly. The angle is awkward, leading to too much teeth in the kiss, but he seems much less concerned whenever he pulls back.
"You know, I think we'll have some time to ourselves for a few hours," he says, fingertips trailing up the side of her leg. She looked at him innocently, fighting to keep a wicked grin off of her face.
"Whatever shall we do to pass the time?" she asks, and she's reminded of the first time Morrigan tried to seduce her with that godawful pick-up line and she has to fight to keep from ruining the moment with ugly laughter.
Cailan gives her a smirk, shifting so that he's on his hands and knees, crawling up the bed until he's definitely close enough for it to be suspicious should anyone come through the door. "I can think of a few things," he whispers, before ducking down and pressing his lips against hers. Her hands came up and tangled in his hair, pulling him closer. His knee pressed against her through her shorts. She shifts, spreading her legs and grinding against him as he leaves her mouth, peppering kisses along her jawbone to her throat. She feels his teeth press against her skin, feels him hesitate as if asking for permission, and she tilts her head to the side. He sucks a bruise onto her skin, his teeth skimming against her as he moves on down, a hand creeping up her shirt.
"Aren't we both a bit overdressed for this sort of activity?" she asks, slightly breathless. He pulls back, a smug grin on his face.
"Not fond of waiting?" he asks. She rolls her eyes, her hands moving down his chest to the hem of his shirt. She gives it a soft tug, a grin slipping onto her face.
"Oh, I can wait. Can you?" she asks, and then she lets go of his shirt and lets her hands drift upwards, underneath it, tracing scars and the lines of muscle. She pushes him back gently and crawls on top of him, a glint in her eyes.
"Maybe not," he concedes, and she laughs before pulling his shirt up and over his head and tossing it over her head. Hers soon joins his in a pile beside the door, her bra following, and then he is pressing kisses and bruises across her chest. She gasps, arching into the contact, and he chuckles against her.
Minutes later, she is laying on her back, her shorts and panties somewhere across the room and Cailan is between her thighs, her hands tangled in her hair. He glances up at her, a wicked glint in his eyes. "If you say anything about having a clever tongue right now, I will leave this room and I will not come back," she warns, panting. He doesn't say anything, only goes back to what he was doing before with renewed vigor. She gasps and her hips thrust up, a needy whine rising in her throat.
It is only when he thrusts into her that the burning stretch reminds her how long it's been since she's had anything more than fingers inside her. She groans, her nails digging into Cailan's back as his hands ghost along her sides. He is far gentler than Morrigan ever was in the handling of her, running soft fingertips over her sides and stomach and thighs where Morrigan raked her nails across the skin. Cailan presses kisses to her face and lips and neck where Morrigan would bite, her teeth bruising. She wonders, for a moment, if it is wrong for her to prefer the roughness before she sinks her teeth into Cailan's shoulder to muffle a cry. "Fuck," she pants, and curls up, hanging on to him as she shudders through her release. He wraps one arm underneath her, supporting her until he finishes and rolls off of her, landing on his back beside of her. He glances at her and then pulls her closer. She nestles against him for a moment, content, and the two of them fall asleep in the tangled sheets.
She wakes up a couple hours with the sharp ache of hunger in her stomach. Cailan grunts when she moves, pulling her closer and burying his face in the pillow. "C'mon, get up, I'm hungry," she complains, and her voice is husky with sleep.
He groans and releases his hold on her, rolling onto his back and wiping his eyes with the palm of his hand. She leans over and presses a kiss to his lips. "Go get something to eat. I'll be down in a minute," he tells her. She smiles and carefully untangles herself from the sheets.
"Want me to save something for you?" she asks. There's a moment of consideration before he answers.
"Nah. I'm just gonna go to sleep again," he admits. She rolls her eyes, but pulls the blankets over him.
"Sleep well," she said, and then went about the process of getting dressed, gathering her clothes up out of the floor. She folds his, as well, leaving them neatly on the nightstand before heading outside, letting the door close gently behind her. By then, Cailan has started snoring, his arm thrown across his face.
Once she gets to her room, she does her best to clean up and look presentable before pulling on one of the dresses she'd gotten in Redcliffe. The bruises on her neck aren't that visible, and they're down lower, where her clothing should cover them. That was…thoughtful, she decided. She brushes her hair, and as she does she things about the whole situation. She had enough birth control to last for another week. After that, she'd be shit out of luck, so unless she wanted a bunch of little Aryas. Wynne or Anders would probably be the best to talk to about that, but she found herself more comfortable with Morrigan. There couldn't be any harm in asking her fellow apostate, she supposed as she headed downstairs.
Eldris is still sitting in the corner, but he's alone now, Morrigan having gone somewhere else. He doesn't look absolutely miserable, so she takes that as a good sign. Alistair and Leliana have settled into a cozy spot near the door and Arya notes how close they're sitting and the way they're looking at each other. Anders has fallen asleep in his spot by the fire, and Wynne is knitting on, making good progress on what Arya thinks may be a scarf.
She slides into the seat next to Eldris. "How'd it go? I saw you two talking earlier. Making friends?" she asks. Eldris grunts and motions to a waitress.
"I can't tell. I think it went all right," he said, gruffly, and she could sense an underlying anxiety. The waitress comes over and the two of them order something. Arya orders some wine, hoping it'll be sweet enough for her to tolerate. When it arrives, she takes a sip.
"So, I have a question. It's awkward, so you might not want to answer it," Arya tells him as their food is slid into place in front of them. Her stomach clenches painfully and she realizes that she hasn't really eaten anything aside from breakfast.
"What is it?" Eldris asks. She frowns, her foot scuffing the floorboards underneath the table. He was Dalish, and while he wasn't a Keeper or a healer, he probably had some knowledge.
"If I wanted to avoid a pregnancy, how could I do that?" she asks. Eldris makes a face, and she can't tell if it's disgust or sympathy or somewhere in between.
"The Dalish use herbs, but since you're a mage there's some spells that you could learn. Morrigan might know them, and if she doesn't, Anders will," he says, slightly less gruff and a little more sympathetic.
"Thanks. There were ways to prevent it back in my world, too. This wouldn't have been a problem if I was back there- I took medication regularly that made it hard for that to happen. I'm running out now, but it wasn't a concern a few days ago," she says, and even though part of her wants to dig into the food enthusiastically the way Eldris is, but there is still a hard knot in the pit of her stomach at having to get a sex talk from Anders.
"I'd go talk to Morrigan if I were you. She probably knows the herbs that can help, and the spells," Eldris tells her. She sighs, picking at her food. She'd still kill for a pizza.
"That's a good idea. Where is she?" she asks. Eldris motions vaguely towards the door, his mouth stuffed with stew and bread. She eats a few more bites, and then stands up, wiping her mouth.
"I'll go find her, then," she says, and she walks outside in the cool evening air, passing a table where Brett and Eliza are sitting.
Morrigan is sitting near the lake, surrounded by three piles of herbs and a mortar and pestle, along with multiple flasks. Arya sits down next to her, and the witch gives her a smile.
"You seem troubled, my friend," Morrigan says, by way of inquiry, and Arya wants to curl herself against Morrigan and stay there with her forever.
"Cailan and I had sex and while I currently have some birth control left, that won't last for long. I need help," she says. Morrigan purses her lips thoughtfully before a grin turns one corner of them upwards.
"I can help with that, but I suppose you're sorely missing my company right now," she says, lightly, teasingly. Arya laughs and nudges her friend gently.
"Actually, I kind of was. You were always rougher with me. He was good, he was just…gentle. I like a little teeth," Arya admits. Morrigan laughs, a clear and bright sound, and Arya wants to frame this moment forever. She wishes she had a sketchbook or a camera or anything to capture the expressions on Morrigan's face.
"Yes, I know all about how you like a teeth," she answers, a playfulness to her tone that Arya hadn't heard in a while.
"Perhaps you should give Cailan some lessons. After you keep me from birthing his spawn," she replies, leaning back on her elbows, turning her face up to the sun.
"Perhaps. To the matter at hand, however, I know several spells. There's a few to be cast before intimacy to prevent any worry, and there's one that can be cast afterwards. There's also a few to…resolve the situation if you end up with child," Morrigan says.
"Could you teach them to me?" Arya asks. Morrigan looks over at her, the sun glinting in her golden eyes.
"Of course. It'll take a few days for you to learn, but we'll start work tomorrow. You may cramp, it may hurt, or it may be an incredibly pleasurable experience for you, so prepare either way," Morrigan says, her tone now business-like.
"Tomorrow sounds good. Thank you, Morrigan. I'm not sure where I'd be without you looking after me," Arya says, a grin creeping across her features.
"You are welcome. By the way, Arya, if that…brute does anything you don't want, let me know," Morrigan says, and there is a fire in her eyes. Arya grins at her.
"I will, Morrigan. And if you need me for anything at all, you let me know," she replies. Morrigan returns the smile, a fierce thing full of teeth. Arya was her first friend, and while Morrigan was almost uncomfortable with these new feelings she was experiencing, she would fight for this friendship.
"I will not hesitate, my friend," Morrigan remarks, going back to her herbs, crushing them into a fine powder. Arya sits with her for a long while, until the sun sinks towards the horizon. She helps her gather up her materials and bring them in, feeling lighter than she had in weeks because of everything and nothing at all.
She heads up to bed, helping Anders up the stairs. She says goodnight to Cailan with several kisses in the darkened hallway before Eldris walks by, clearing his throat loudly with a sideways glance and a smug smirk in Arya's direction. She rolls her eyes, kisses Cailan once more, and then joins Anders in their bedroom. Despite having slept quite a bit earlier that day, she fell asleep rather quickly.
The next morning she was woken early for the meeting. There, they worked out a plan for what would come when they arrived in Ferelden's capital city. Anders was still too weak to travel long stretches at a time, so he would stay at the inn, with Wynne, Leliana, Zevran, Eliza, and Sten. Eldris, Alistair, Cailan, Arya, Morrigan, Brett, and the dog would all travel to Denerim, stopping in the Korcari Wilds at Flemeth's Hut. While they did that, Morrigan would continue ahead, reaching Denerim a day or two before the rest of them. While she was there, she would use an animal form, most likely a raven, to get a feel for the political climate in the city. They'd meet up outside the city, and then head for the palace, where Cailan would arrive and publicly excuse the Wardens after reassuming his throne. Once everything was settled, word would be sent to Wynne and the others, and they would join them in Denerim. This would give them time to plan everything carefully, and time for a message to be sent to the Dalish.
Arya spent the entire rest of the day packing, and once she was finished, she began another drawing, this one of the Circle Tower in the sunset. She'd need to get paints to finish it later, but once she did, she figured she could give it to Wynne. She went to sleep early again, knowing that the next day would be full of grueling traveling.