There's a very important reason the Mark of the Assassin DLC is featured in this fic. I won't spoil you all by telling you what it is; you'll just have to read on. I'm trying to make the whole thing as entertaining as possible and I realize that not many people like Tallis, so I'll try not to write about her much! :P

Wow! I LOVED reading your reviews! Thanks so much anesor, Violet Enigma, Pintsizedpsycho, Alexandrine Jennings, Eilonwycousland, Morninglight and Apollo Wings for your awesome feedback! I also want to thank those of you who have put this fic on their list of favorites and are now following it! You can't imagine how much all this means to me! Love you all! :D

Special thanks to my lovely beta CouslandSpitFire, who takes the time from her very busy schedule to help me out! I also want to thank my wonderful friend Apollo Wings for her help and suggestions! You totally rock!

There is mature content in this chapter right after the first break! So, fair warning: NSFW!

My disclaimer as always: Bioware owns everything! I just play with the characters! :D

Chapter 21

"You were looking for me specifically?" Rhianna asked, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Why?"

"I was looking for the woman who has an invitation to Duke Prosper's hunting party," Tallis said with a smile.

"Oh, that's what Edge was going on about! Don't you remember, Hawke?" Rhianna turned her attention on Varric and what he was saying. "Duke Prosper was one of the nobles falling all over you during the banquet given to celebrate your title!"

"Hunting party?" Rhianna echoed, the memory of Duke Prosper suddenly making her scowl. "I doubt I'd go to one of those!"

"I was hoping you'd reconsider. The duke is really delightful as a host," Tallis smiled.

"You mean there's something else, right? I hardly think anyone can say he's delightful at all," Rhianna snorted.

"I need to relieve him of something he has but shouldn't have, and I can't do it on my own," Tallis nodded. "A jewel, to be more precise."

"You want to rob him?" Rhianna understood, her words tumbling out with a sly smile.

"Ha!" Varric interrupted with a grin. "Stealing from Orlesians? If Isabela was here she'd burst out laughing!"

Anders chuckled and even Fenris smiled as they envisioned Isabela's reaction.

"She'd probably do a little dance afterwards, too!" Rhianna agreed with a laugh.

"You came to our aid," Anders commented, looking directly into the elf's eyes. "And I don't think it's just because you want to steal a jewel. What's the catch? There's always a catch."

"Well," Tallis said, walking closer to Hawke and standing directly in front of her. "This isn't exactly how I was planning to ask you. I was picturing an introduction with…less blood."

Rhianna smiled her slow smile, the one she only gave Anders, and Anders was taken aback. His eyes widened slightly and almost immediately, he felt the pang of jealousy start at the bottom of his stomach and work its way up.

"I imagine if we did this…it would be together, wouldn't it?" Rhianna purred at the redhead.

The elven redhead smiled prettily at Hawke. "That's the idea. Did you have…something else in mind?"

"I am standing right here, aren't I? Or did I suddenly disappear in a flash of lightning?" Anders growled with a scowl.

Rhianna ignored him completely and Varric chuckled at her next words.

"I just think we should get to know each other better!"

"I think I'd like that," Tallis smiled, arching her eyebrows expressively.

Varric glanced back at Anders's face, which looked like a small thunderstorm at the moment, and smirked. The trip to Chateau Haine was going to be very entertaining indeed.

They first made a stop at Rhianna's, as she wanted to pack a few things for the journey and later made a stop at The Hanged Man, where Varric could pack as well. Soon, they were on the road. Tallis and Rhianna chatted, taking the lead. Varric, Anders and Fenris trailed quietly behind. Varric had a huge smile on his face as his keen eyes observed and took in minute details.

This time he had finally remembered to pack his journal and quill.

…

Even though they were travelling to the mountains, Chateau Haine was on the border with Orlais. Tallis explained that they would be stealing a jewel called 'The Heart of the Many'. She also described what Chateau Haine was like: an impenetrable fortress designed to keep anyone out. It had been used as a stronghold by the Grey Wardens during the Fourth Blight as a matter of fact. On top of it all, there were monsters called wyverns in the hunting grounds surrounding the Chateau. The whole event they would soon be attending was actually a Wyvern hunt.

They stopped to camp in the Vinmark Mountains at dusk, a spring bubbling close to their camp. Tallis, Fenris and Rhianna went hunting for dinner, while Anders stayed behind to build the fire with Varric and help set up the tents.

"You feeling alright, Blondie?" Varric asked, breaking the silence between them. "You don't look yourself at the moment."

"I'm fine," Anders said through clenched teeth as he pounded the stake in front of him with more force than necessary.

"Doesn't look like it from where I'm standing," Varric smiled, a twinkle in his eye.

Anders grunted and shrugged. Two tents were finally put up and he focused on gathering wood for the fire. Varric stepped next to him doing the same.

"I miss Rhianna," Anders finally confessed with a pout. "I know she's flirting with Tallis to get back at me, but I still can't help myself and get overly-jealous."

"I noticed," Varric grinned. "Trust me, she'll come around."

Anders shook his head sadly, sitting in front of the now cackling fire. It was almost dark and getting chilly already. "I don't think she will. I lied to her, you know."

"You were trying to keep something from her that could hurt her," Varric commented with a shrug. "Not a very good idea…considering what a terrible liar you are, Blondie."

"Thanks for that," Anders scowled.

Rhianna, Tallis and Fenris arrived, chatting and smiling. They had successfully hunted and caught several rabbits, so they got busy skinning and preparing them for dinner. Tallis had also found several vegetables that needed to be prepared. Anders kept his eyes on Rhianna as they cooked. Rhianna, however, continued to flirt and ignored him completely, even when they finally sat around the fire to eat.

Anders sighed to himself when dinner was done, but that didn't mean he was giving up. When Rhianna headed off to wash herself in the nearby spring, he followed. She heard him coming and turned to face him, her eyes glinting in the half-light.

"I want to bathe, Anders. What do you want?"

"I want to bathe with you," he replied without thinking, his cheekiness manifesting as it usually did in tense situations.

She shook her head with a smile. "You really are persistent, aren't you?"

"I've been called worse," he smiled back at her.

"I'm hurt," she shot back. "I'm not going to lie to you, even though you chose to do so."

"I was keeping the truth from you, because I wanted to protect you. It's ugly, Rhianna. I don't want your life to be ugly any more. You deserve happiness, not more sadness in life," Anders said quietly.

"So, you're going to try to cut me out of your life, then? So that I can find someone else to love?" Rhianna asked.

"Maybe you should," Anders answered sadly.

"You honestly believe that?" Rhianna shook her head, her eyes widening with disbelief. She walked over to where Anders was standing and looked up into his eyes.

"I don't," he finally whispered. "I couldn't live without you."

"Then stop acting like such a fool," she said, her eyes flashing angrily.

He pulled her to him without warning, his lips on hers as he kissed her with passion, his hands travelling restlessly up and down her back. She responded to the kiss, her hands on the nape of his neck, her fingers suddenly threading through his hair, releasing it from his tie. Their tongues fought for dominance and she hummed into his lips, feeling herself melt from the heat of the kiss.

Eventually they both came up for air, and he placed his forehead against hers, panting softly.

"Please say you'll forgive me."

"I don't know," she replied. "You'll have to do a lot before I can."

"Then I'd better get started," Anders whispered with a smile as he kissed her again. "Life's too short!"

Rhianna giggled into his mouth, then found herself kissing him back passionately. She had missed him. For someone like her who enjoyed the pleasure that sex brought, the past two weeks had been nothing short of torture. That and the fact that she loved him made her mewl with pleasure as he trailed kisses all the way to her ear, moan as he unbuckled her leathers with deft hands, sigh as he fumbled with the ties that held his coat and breeches together.

He brought her down to the sandy ground on top of him, once they were rid of their offensive clothes, and she teased him by rubbing her clit against his cock. He groaned as he pulled her close, looking up at her with something akin to wonder in his eyes. He still could not believe that she was in his arms right now, looking so very gorgeous as she kissed him over and over.

"I can't hold on much longer, love," he whispered urgently in her ear. "It's been too long!"

She agreed silently and positioned herself on top of him, sliding onto his engorged erection, moaning as she felt the heat coursing through her blood. He brought her closer down and captured her lips, his hands restless, settling on her buttocks and squeezing gently.

She straightened up again, and slowly began to move. His hands were now reaching for her breasts – a growl escaped her lips as he massaged them roughly, the urgency in his caress not lost on her as she quickened her pace. They had been apart far too long to do this gently and tenderly. There would be time for that later.

He sat up, holding her in place for a few moments as he tried to control himself, but she shook her head, breathing heavily as she continued her quickened pace. He matched her rhythm as best he could and let go after a short while – nearing his release as she tightened even more around him.

"I can't – oh, love!" he whimpered, his hands now digging into her hips, the heat he was feeling travelling all the way to his chest and head as he finally came, his seed shooting deeply inside her. She convulsed and tightened around his arousal, following him over the brink closely, unable to contain herself any longer.

She slumped over him, breathing heavily and he held her close, gasping for breath himself, still inside her.

"I missed you…so much!" she murmured finally as she tried to catch her breath.

"I love you," he whispered, kissing her forehead gently – his eyes twinkling like stars, catching the light of the full moon. He smirked immediately afterwards. "How about that bath now?"

"Only if you bathe me," she replied, her slow smile making him kiss her again.

"Your wish is my command."

…

When they got back to the camp, Tallis was nowhere to be seen, but Fenris and Varric were sitting in front of the fire, having a drink. Varric had brought a bottle of wine with him and they were doing a good job of drinking it down while playing a game of Diamondback.

"Hey lovebirds," Varric called out with a grin. "You want to play a game with us and have a drink?"

"You can't be serious!" Rhianna said as she disentangled herself from Anders's arms and marched up to them, seething. She yanked the bottle from Fenris's hand and quickly turned to Varric who held up his hands in a defensive gesture. "You know we have to set out early, we can't deal with hangovers tomorrow morning! Besides, we'll have to set up watch! We have no idea what's around, and I don't intend to be eaten by some…wyvern that comes along! You know we're really close to Chateau Haine!"

"All right! All right!" Varric protested, still holding out his hands. "I got the message!"

"We're sorry, Hawke," Fenris added. "You two were gone for hours. We…were bored. It was Varric's idea."

"Was not!" Varric shouted quickly.

Anders felt a mad desire to laugh, but bit the insides of his cheeks. As far as he was concerned, Rhianna and he were together again and he didn't want to tick her off.

"Don't you two understand that we are in a place that is foreign to us and therefore should be more alert?" Rhianna still scolded on.

"I understand that it's too bad that you and Blondie made up! Before, you didn't pay much attention to us, you focused entirely on him!"

"Where is Tallis?" Rhianna demanded, ignoring the comment Varric had just made.

"I think she is in her tent," Fenris pointed to another tent set up to the right of the camp.

"I am," the redhead's voice drifted up to them. "And I had successfully fallen asleep. Thanks for waking me up!"

"Sorry, Tallis," Rhianna called out contritely before turning back to Varric and Fenris, her eyes flashing angrily. "See what you've done? Get some sleep, both of you! Anders and I will take the first watch. We'll wake you up when it's your turn."

"Yes, mother," Varric mumbled as he went past Hawke and into the tent he shared with Fenris.

Anders just pulled Rhianna close as they sat in front of the fire, extremely grateful that for once, he had not been the object of her ire.

"So," Rhianna said in a low voice, keeping her eyes on the fire. "The Taint will eventually kill you?"

Anders sighed pulling her closer to him before he spoke. "Yes. It takes 30 years for it to spread. What happens then is that you begin to have nightmares. You start to...change. This is when the wardens send you to the Deep Roads."

"There is no cure?" Rhianna asked in a small voice.

"I'm sorry, love," Anders replied, his arms tightening slightly. "This is why I kept away from you. I was trying to...find the courage to -"

"Don't even say it!" Rhianna sat up, turning to look at him, her gaze stern and determined. "I won't let you go, Anders! And I refuse to believe there is no way to help you!"

Anders could only look at her and take her in his arms again, holding her as closely as he could, a lump in his throat as he battled against the tears that threatened to fall.

"I never give up," Rhianna said after a while. "You should know that by now."

…

When they arrived at Chateau Haine, Duke Prosper and his bodyguard, who happened to be a Chasind, greeted them personally. The Duke expressed extreme surprise in seeing them there, but Rhianna assured him that it was quite normal for her to find and kill things. The Duke burst out laughing at that comment and then turned to compliment Tallis. He then hurried on to say that he was pleased that Hawke had brought a manservant or two with her and Fenris bristled at this visibly.

When all was said and done, the group met a man who introduced himself as Gabriel, one of the Duke's personal stewards. He hurried to tell them that the Wyvern's poison was fatal – leading to death in all cases.

"So people hunt these creatures just to go and die? That's comforting," Rhianna quipped.

Gabriel chuckled under his breath. "There is a cure, Serah. Equal parts drakevein, Andraste's Mantle and winterberry are the ingredients necessary for the antidote."

"Thank you, kindly," Rhianna said earnestly. "Any other advice?"

"Try not to face the beasts. Flank them or blind them if you can, Serah," Gabriel cautioned.

Rhianna expressed her thanks again and they turned to head out to the wilderness. As soon as they were out of earshot, Fenris expressed his anger.

"Manservant!" he growled, making Anders snicker behind him.

"Shh!" Tallis warned. "It's only a cover!"

"I'd like to 'cover' him with six feet!" Fenris scowled.

"Technically, it would be 'elfservant'," Varric joined in, trying to calm Fenris down. "But he specifically said 'man'."

"Let's just start our hunt," Rhianna commented, looking around.

"So, what do we do to get a wyvern to notice us?" Anders wondered. "Beat the bushes with sticks?"

"We could always run around and shout, 'Here, wyvern, wyvern, wyvern!'" Varric grinned.

"Honestly, you two, sometimes!" Rhianna shook her head with a smile. "It's like taking a couple of children out on a family outing for the first time!"

"Let's look for some bait so that we capture it sooner," Tallis advised. "I hope I don't have to say 'be careful' to any of you."

"I can speak for myself and say 'no'," Rhianna nodded. "But I really think you should mention it several times for Anders and Varric's sake."

"I resent that!" Varric scowled.

But Anders just laughed and stepped right beside Rhianna to embrace her.

…

Excerpt from Anders's journal:

So now we're hunting a creature that can kill us with its poison.

We're sooo lucky.

I'm only writing because we've stopped for a while to rest and eat something. Also because I'd like to write something before I die:

"I, Anders of the Anderfels, solemnly bequeath all my worldly possessions to the love of my life, Rhianna Hawke, in case I die on this stupid hunt…"

Wait a minute! I don't have any worldly possessions!

Sigh.

So far, we have found a lot of things that qualify as 'bait' to get the wyvern to come to us. I would prefer we just ignored the damned thing, but Rhianna and Tallis seem to think that we'll make a good impression on the Duke and the party will be more agreeable. Yes. Partying with a half dozen Orlesians chevaliers staring makes it so agreeable! They carry mean weapons around and never smile! And I thought templars were scary!

Anyway, where was I? Ah, yes! The bait! We managed to find some wyvern blood along the way and Tallis had the great idea of bringing it with us. Her explanation was that wyverns fight each other and this blood could lure a wyvern to us, since wyverns had a strong sense of smell and apparently did a lot of fighting, especially during the mating season. And according to Tallis, they were always mating, which is why Duke Prosper organized Wyvern Hunts every year.

We fought some dragons and dragonlings shortly after collecting the blood. They must have smelled the wyvern blood we were taking with us. We managed to kill them all, but they nearly burned my coat off. Rhianna wanted to bring along a whole dragonling corpse, but I put my foot down on that one! There was NO WAY I was carrying one of those. They weigh a ton! So she settled for a leg instead, and we went along our merry way.

Then we discovered the ghasts.

To those of you who think darkspawn are the only nasty creatures in Thedas, think again. Ghasts are not only ugly and creepy, they are bloodthirsty. I imagine they collect the hunters that fall into their holes and eat them. They're small, but don't let that fool you. They will swarm around you faster than you can say 'Ghast!' and try to topple you down with their poisoned darts.

Afterwards, it takes forever to remove the stupid darts embedded in your body. Not fun!

Of course, we also ran into a man calling for his two dogs, and Rhianna assured him we would find them. We did find the dogs, but one of them was poisoned. Rhianna immediately brought out some of the antidote we had made and gave it to the poisoned dog. The dog got up afterwards and wagged its stumpy tail, perfectly fine. I managed to make more of the antidote after that. It didn't hurt to have as much as we could carry. The man who had been looking for his mabari hounds was so grateful to Rhianna, he gave her a gold sovereign while thanking her profusely, and then ran off towards the Chateau, with his dogs trailing behind.

Lucky bastard.

We also found some wyvern dung along the way. Rhianna put her hands in it, looking for more bait, and I took a step back. It smelled dreadful! She found some nug bones, and Tallis told us she could imitate a nug call to lure a wyvern to us. Rhianna took some soap from her pack, walking towards a lake that was next to a path that led to the north to wash up and we stopped for a few minutes to enjoy the scenery before us and have a snack.

So far, we hadn't seen a single wyvern – which to me clearly meant they were smarter than we were – but we did hear them mating further up one of the hills. Tallis listened carefully and told Rhianna she could imitate that, too. That really didn't surprise me, because Tallis struck me as the type who would do anything to get into the Chateau. And that made me feel a little bit uneasy.

When we found some halla remains and took some of the carcass with us to use as bait, I informed Rhianna that we simply couldn't carry anything else with us. I was very serious about the whole thing and used words like 'under no uncertain terms' and 'refuse', but Rhianna just smiled her slow smile at me and I felt myself melt.

Damn that woman and her wily, wily ways! She'll be the death of me for sure!

…