Morrigan subtly watched Aedan as he warmed up some wine adding spices. He had stripped off his armour and his tunic was open, showing a firm chest with a smattering of dark hair. The Witch of the Wilds unconsciously ran her tongue over her lips feeling her heartbeat quicken. He was an extraordinarily handsome man; fierce in battle but there was a softer side to his nature and normally that would have drawn only contempt from her, but as she gazed at him as he turned, the firelight dancing across his face she realised she wondered what it would be like to allow herself to experience such tender, devoted attention. She took the warm cup taking small sips. He was telling her his mother had always made that drink for him if he had been shocked by something. The deep tone of his voice was sending delicious tingles through her body and she ached to kiss those lips, turning his voice into a moan just for her.

Aedan had managed to get out of Morrigan; despite her reluctance, just how she had been incapacitated and what the Templars intentions had been. Had they not been dead already Aedan would have gone after them. Morrigan was a strong willed woman and powerful, but the actions of the Templars had made her realise she was not quite as invincible as she had thought. Aedan was sitting as close to her as he dared and only just managed to hold back the smile as she moved closer to him mumbling about being cold. He tentatively wrapped his arm around her waist and in a moment she would later that night deem a moment of weakness she rested her head on his shoulder. She moved minutes later flushed and retreated to her tent, but Aedan simply smiled. It was a progress.

xXx

Garrett had stripped down to his smalls with a blanket covering his lower half, Jowan lying next to him still fully dressed. Garrett could feel his heart pounding as hesitant fingers caressed his chest, soft sighs emerging from the mages lips at frequent intervals. Garrett moved to lay on his side facing Jowan, not wanting to put the mage off by his steadily increasing arousal.

"They would never have taken me back to the Circle." Jowan whispered. "They would have killed me … eventually."

Garrett's jaw clenched; remaining silent, his eyes locked on Jowan's face.

Jowan glanced up and flushed slightly. "I wonder if Anders is alive, or if they found him too." Tears filled his eyes spilling down his cheeks. He shivered as strong arms surrounded him and he pressed his face to a warm chest. He sniffed dismally. "I miss him so much, what if he's dead and I never know. Or worse what if he's back in the Circle, locked in the dungeon." Jowan gave another sniff swiftly followed by a sob. "I can't ever go back there, I'd rather die."

Garrett pulled Jowan as close to his body as he could, rubbing his back and pressing his lips to the top of his head whispering softly that he would never let him be taken.

Finally Jowan calmed and pulled away, rubbing his face. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to say any of that. I should have stayed in my own tent."

Garrett gently caught his arm and moved himself closer to the embarrassed mage. "Jowan, what do I have to do to prove to you that you can trust me?"

Jowan's eyes widened. "I do trust you."

"Then why are you embarrassed about sharing your thoughts and feelings with me?"

Jowan flushed. "I only ever did that with Anders before and we were punished for it and I don't want you to think less of me. I guess I also keep wondering when you will realise you don't want to be with a mage ... with me."

Garrett pulled Jowan into his lap and kissed him gently. "Can I tell you something?" He smiled at Jowan's nod. "I remember when Bethany and Carver were born; I thought they were the most amazing gifts from the Maker. Bethany was six when she first manifested magic. I'd upset her and she froze my leg. She was terrified and cried for hours, apologizing for weeks afterwards. I thought it was the most amazing thing in the world. My father was very careful about his use of magic, but when I was little I remember him making flame dance to candles and to light the fire. I truly believe magic is a gift from the Maker and I will stand against anyone who thinks otherwise. I know what is involved in loving a mage Jowan. I'm right where I want to be."

Jowan simply stared at him. "Loving a mage?"

Garrett flushed, raking his fingers through his hair. "Too soon to say that I guess. Maybe you could forget I said that part."

Jowan shook his head. "Not a chance." His lips seeking Garrett's in a kiss that left them both breathless.

Garrett knew Jowan was still too afraid to speak the words, but the look in his eyes and the feelings conveyed in the kiss told Garrett he felt the same. They settled onto the bedroll snuggled beneath the blanket. Jowan shedding his clothes sometime during the night and Garrett waking the following morning to find Jowan wrapped around him, snoring softly a smile on his face.

xXx

Alistair lay awake for a long time that night, replaying their brief conversation over in his mind. Aeronwen had killed Brand for him. Just as she had protected him in the Fade she was protecting him in their waking moments. He was terrified by the emotions swamping him. He had put on a mask for so long he wasn't sure who he was anymore. Yet Aeronwen knew more about him than anyone, there was never any judgement from her. She accepted him completely; willingly listened to him, was interested in him. He smiled. The best part was he knew she had feelings for him; real feelings, not the false drama Leliana was playing out.

He moved onto his stomach, resting his chin on his hands. Dealing with Leliana was a matter he needed to attend to. He could kill her and that would solve the immediate problem, yet she was the right hand of the Empress and he imagined her death would come with a price tag of his life and now he had found someone he wanted to live for that was no longer the appealing option it had once been.

Shifting restlessly onto his back Alistair interlinked his fingers behind his head and turned his thoughts to Aeronwen. She was the most amazing person he had ever met. Fierce in battle; able to talk to wolves of all things, so exotic in the life she had led and the beings connected to her. She had given up so much to help defeat the Blight and he hoped he could help to make her sacrifice a little more bearable. He roughly bit into his lip; she could take care of herself, but Leliana had a dark streak and he did not want Aeronwen to be the one to pay for his mistake.

He turned over onto his stomach again with a thump and buried his head in his arms. Seeing Leliana after Morrigan's brutal words had made him almost desperate to share a moment with someone. Then meeting her again at Redcliffe, his heart pounding when she rushed to him from the cell had made him believe he had a chance at someone wanting him for him. Michael of the Black Stone Irregulars had caught up with him at Redcliffe delivering into his hands a parchment from his Crow contact. He had been dismayed at Ignacio's information urging him to be beware of a bard whose description matched Leliana. As he had burnt the message and watched the smoke escape into the air he had felt his happiness vanish with it. He had fixed his smile, his heart hardening in despair accepting finally that he was unworthy of something as precious as love. Meeting Aeronwen, Zevran and Bethany had slowly altered that perception showing him that there were some people he could trust. It had opened the doorway to his heart and now he wanted nothing more than to coax both himself and Aeronwen out of their fear of love to embrace whatever was growing between them. Alistair sighed deeply and imagined what it would be like to kiss his exiled princess.

xXx

Aeronwen and Bethany smiled as Garrett and Jowan exited the same tent and pretended to be deep in conversation not wanting to embarrass Jowan. Both men looked sleepy, but content and as Jowan went to retrieve something from his own tent Bethany couldn't help moving over to her brother. "Did you have a pleasant evening brother?"

Garrett smiled, there was no denying he adored Bethany imp that she was. "Very enjoyable thank you Be."

"I hope you were gentle with Jowan." She said softly, flashing him a wicked grin. She enjoyed this banter with her older brother; if she tried to speak to Carver like this he would flush and leave in a huff, so Garrett's stern look surprised her.

"We are taking our time Be, Jowan has been through enough and Maker help me if you put him off through your teasing I will put you over my knee."

Bethany's eyes widened; his eyes glinted with humour, but she knew there was an edge of sincerity to his tone. "Cross my heart I won't tease him."

Garrett nodded satisfied. "I love him Be, I don't want to mess this up."

Bethany felt her jaw drop. Garrett had, had his fair share of trysts but he had never spoken of love before. "Wow, brother are you actually growing up?"

Garrett nudged her playfully and grinned. "Maybe."

xXx

The additional horses were a blessing for some and a downright nuisance for others. Duncan was relieved to have some distance from Oghren; who, now he found himself having to control the damn animal himself regretted grumbling at Duncan all day about his horsemanship. The dwarf would have given a flask of his brew to share a horse with someone, but there were no takers.

Morrigan realised she missed having Aedan so close to her despite having been rigid on the horse the entire time. She craved and cursed him in the same breath.

Leliana was furious that Alistair had not suggested they continue to share a horse and instead seemed eager to have his own horse, riding alongside Zevran and Sketch for most of the morning. Leliana seethed; Zevran was someone she deeply admired, but his betrayal was not something she could tolerate. She glared daggers in his back.

Bethany was floating on cloud nine as Fergus had suggested they continue to ride together to allow a horse to carry the supplies. She was unaware that Aeronwen had spoken to Fergus in hushed tones telling him truthfully of Bethany's nerves given the Templar incident and wondering if he would stay close to her during the ride. Aeronwen had never mentioned continuing to share the same horse, but he would have had to have been a fool not to pick up on her hint and Fergus was no fool.

Tug and Carver continued to ride alongside each other having struck up a companionable friendship, Carver finding something of a kindred spirit in the gruff dwarf.

Jowan and Garrett had grudgingly accepted separate horses, but were riding so close they kept bumping legs.

Now able to get the horses into a comfortable gallop they made good time; Aeronwen and Sten riding ahead, thundering along the Imperial Highway delighting in the brief sense of freedom. Sten motioned for them to slow down as they were some distance from the others. They trotted on to allow the horses to calm when Aeronwen halted them, both seeing the badly concealed traps further along the road. Sten backtracked a little way signalling the others to slow down as they came into view. Aeronwen slid off her horse looping the reins around a tree branch and slipping up the side of a bank. Her eyes widened in alarm there were at least twenty of Loghain's soldiers and a group of at least six mercenaries. She moved silently back down the bank to relay the disturbing information.

Sketch and Zevran moved back up the bank she had used getting into cover, Morrigan and Leliana moving up the far bank getting into a similar covered position. Duncan and Alistair took the lead, the others spread out behind them. The horses had been kept out of the way no-one wanting them to get hurt. An arrow whistled by embedding into a tree and in seconds it became complete chaos. Leliana and Zevran fired arrows on the unsuspecting soldiers while Sketch and Morrigan lit up the road with a variety of spells to confuse and debilitate. Bethany was kept to the back to provide healing while Jowan sent lightening into the group of mercenaries.

Alistair gave a battle cry and ploughed into the oncoming soldiers; Aedan and Duncan on either side of him, Oghren following, the wide arc of his axe catching those who managed to get passed the three Wardens. Sten and Fergus followed with Garrett and Carver, Tug and Aeronwen bringing up the rear.

Aeronwen span around as Bethany gave a cry of alarm seeing a second group of mercenaries they had completely missed heading for her and Jowan. Aeronwen span on her heel and ran back the way she had come, Jowan fending them off with fireballs. Aeronwen jumped onto a fallen tree and leaped towards the nearest mercenary driving her dagger into his chest, landing and taking the legs from another, bringing her blade across his throat. She felt hands grab her; fighting furiously as she hit the ground, her head wrenched back at a brutal angle, hot breath against her ear making her shudder.

"You're going to pay for killing those of my Order."

Aeronwen glanced to Bethany and Jowan seeing two Templars moving towards them. She suddenly went limp, feeling the Templar reflexively ease his grip. Aeronwen drove her knees into the ground to give her enough leverage to twist them. She couldn't dodge the blows rained down on her so instead she drove her body closer to the enraged Templar knocking them over, managing to free her arms. She twisted her body and brought her knee to his throat ignoring his clawing hands and gripped her dagger embedding it in the head of the Templar reaching for Jowan, the other Templar was on the ground screaming as Jowan set him on fire. Aeronwen pressed harder until the Templar became limp beneath her.

The continuing sounds of battle floated to them and they hurried to join the others. The ground seemed littered with dead soldiers, and the remaining one was cowering. Aeronwen pushed passed them and grabbed him. "Are there more Templars?" She hissed.

Garrett and Carver's eyes widened in horror immediately moving back to Bethany and Jowan, the others looking to them in surprise.

The Captain shook his head. "No but you really pissed them off. Ser Brand was favoured by the Divine herself."

Aeronwen rolled her eyes. "How much more corruption can there be in one land." She hissed in disgust. "You work for Loghain yes?"

"Yes. He gave the Chantry permission to take into custody all mages, Wardens or not."

"Maker damn him!" Duncan muttered.

"You are all to be taken into custody and tried as war criminals."

Aeronwen raised an eyebrow. "War criminals?"

The Captains voice became slightly higher pitched. "If … if you surrender you will be imprisoned, if you continue to resist you will be hung."

Duncan grabbed the soldier bringing his face close to his, his voice taking on the menacing tone that made even Morrigan pay attention. "You will go back to Loghain and you will give him a message. You will tell him that unless he wants this country to fall to ashes he will support the Wardens in defeating the Blight. You will remind him that without Wardens he cannot hope to succeed and you will inform him that if he tries to harm another person in this company I will remove his head."

The soldier stared at him wide eyed. "You ... you can't do that!"

The Warden Commander straightened fixing him with a piercing look, the taint and his rage making him a fierce unstoppable force. "Watch me."

The Captain whimpered and ran.

They took time to see to wounds and strip the dead of valuables and supplies. Duncan had moved away from the group leaning against a tree staring at nothing, lost in his own thoughts.

Aeronwen nervously approached him. "Duncan?"

He glanced to her feeling old and tired. He had forced himself to think of anything other than the death of Maric and Loghain's betrayal, but it was being thrust upon him and he was losing the battle to maintain control.

Aeronwen was aware through Alistair that Duncan had been friends with both Loghain and Maric. "Do you know why Loghain would do this?"

Duncan sighed and turned away. "He took the death of his wife and daughter extremely hard, he was never the same. Yet I never suspected he would go this far." Duncan glanced to her. "Aeronwen forgive me, but I cannot speak of this it is too painful."

Aeronwen nodded resting her hand lightly on his arm before retreating.

xXx

Though grateful for the sun, the heat had become unbearable by midday to all but Aeronwen. The oppressive weather eased its grip by evening and Duncan was in half a mind to continue to push on, but tempers were fraying with the heat and the threat of Loghain's soldiers and the Templars, so reluctantly he called for them to make camp.

Alistair glanced over to Aeronwen who was talking softly with Bethany. When the two women parted company he moved over to Bethany offering to help her clean the dishes. Everyone was more relaxed and the occasional laughter had replaced snapping tones and harsh comments. Of course a particular herb added to the meal courtesy of Bethany had helped with that, not that anyone other than the mage was aware of the addition to their food. When they had reached the stream he glanced to her. "So Bethany, you're a woman."

"Thanks for noticing." She chuckled softly at the flush on his cheeks.

"What should I do if … if I think a woman is special and … I want her to know just how special I think she is?"

Bethany glanced to him startled, following his gaze to the others realizing he was looking at Aeronwen. She felt a rush of excitement quickly followed by anger. Bethany put her hands on her hips and glared. "What you need to do first is decide which woman you want!"

Alistair looked to her startled. "I … um … what?"

"I get the distinct impression you are asking the question about Aeronwen, not Leliana."

Alistair's flush deepened. "I … um … "

"I really like you Alistair, but if you think I'm going to stand by and watch you go between the two of them … Aeronwen is my friend and she deserves better."

"No that's not …."

"Good because I'd hate to have to freeze your bits off!"

Alistair swallowed hard wondering why the women of this group appeared to like the idea of emasculating men so much. "I just …"

"Alistair; I happen to think you and Aeronwen would be great together, but I'm warning you, hurt her and I will hurt you." They cleaned the dishes in silence before Bethany took pity on him. "Why the sudden interest in Aeronwen?"

Alistair flushed. "I've never known anyone like her. I … I feel differently when I'm with her, I want us to be more than friends."

Bethany raised an eyebrow. "Aeronwen deserves all of someone. I don't like Leliana and I'd be the first to cheer if you ended the relationship, but I won't stand by and watch you have them both."

Alistair glanced to her startled. "You don't like her?"

Bethany shrugged. "The way she looks at you sometimes, it's like you're a possession not a person."

Alistair rubbed his neck. "That's how it feels sometimes."

Bethany gave him a gentle nudge. "Then why are you with her?"

"It's complicated."

Bethany bit her lip. "Look Alistair I don't think she loves you, in fact I'm pretty sure she is just using you to get something."

"What makes you say that?"

"Woman's intuition."

Alistair smiled. "I see."

"Whatever reason you are with her she isn't worth it, but that's just my opinion."

Alistair glanced at her tempted to tell her just who Leliana was, but not wanting to put her in danger. "If you were me what would you do?"

"Without knowing your reason for being with her I can't really say; but I will say this, when you look at Leliana it is as though you have a weight on your heart, the way you just looked at Aeronwen was as though you had been given all your name day presents in one go. Perhaps you should let that guide you."