The thing about being in command is that sometimes you have to make decisions that you don't want to. In the deep roads they have had to separate into two groups. Nathanial had been worried about the delay and sent more wardens after them that met them halfway. They were walking in a slow pace because of Marian and the children and food would not last if they were down there too long. So Anders had to divide them, one group with the oldest children clearing the way and another group that would move slowly through the passages the first group had cleared. Anders had, much to his own discomfort, been in the first group, so he was beyond relieved when he saw the second group arrive with Marian a few days after them. He ran towards them and saw that Marian was sleeping and they put down the stretcher. He healed her and realised that she hadn't healed as quickly as he had hoped, but she was in no danger. Anders stroked her hair.
"How has she been?"
"She has been in a lot of pain and sleeping most of the time. I have made sure that she got something to drink, but not much food I'm afraid." Sigrun replied.
"As long as she had something to drink. Good work Sigrun."
"Thank you An... I mean Lieutenant." She smiled.
"I have told you "Anders" is fine. Did you run into any trouble?"
"No ser. There was a straggler or two. Nothing we couldn't handle. Do you want me to carry her inside?" Mallard answered.
"No, its fine. I'll do it myself."
Anders kissed Marians cheek and casted a sleeping spell so she wouldn't wake from the pain of being carried. He then gently lifted her in his arms and carried her inside.
-OOO-
Anders had washed Marian the best he could and had placed her in his bed. He had changed the bandages and healed the rest of the damage so other than feeling a little sore she but in a few days she would have fully healed. Her body still needed to rest though and he didn't want to wake her. Lilly was with Sigrun, so she wouldn't wake Marian by accident. Anders just sat next to her on the bed watching her, taking in all the details that he was afraid he had forgotten. He held her hand and kept bringing it to his lips. Barkley was at his feet. Anders smiled to himself. The dog had missed him.
"Who is your favourite mage in the world?" He cooed in a low whisper and the dog started wagging his tail and licking his hand. He couldn't help but chuckle and didn't hear Anna was behind him.
" And here I thought you were a cat person." She smiled.
"Oh I am, but Barkly is my favourite dog." He smiled and the dog almost nodded in agreement as it was wagging its tail.
"So the most curious thing happened... The best warden healer in all of Thedas healed a woman and couldn't tell if she was tainted or not. And that despite I have seen him do this several times before without any trouble." Anna said firmly as she tried desperately not to smile. She knew why he had done it, but she wanted to see him squirm. Just a little, but regretted in when she saw his face turn pale and his eyes fill with fear.
"Commander I..."
"No need Anders. I understand. I'm glad that she is here with you. I might have to be separated from the one I love, but that doesn't mean you have to. It makes me happy that it worked out this way. And if she wants to stay and is well enough, I'm sure she will be a valuable asset." She smiled gently.
"I... thank you."
"Lilly was asking for you ten minutes ago, I think you should go see her."
Anders looked torn as he looked at Marian.
"I'll sit with her and make sure to get you as soon as she wakes up."
He smiled at Anna and for the first time since he been there, maybe in all the time she had known him, the smile reached his eyes. He then turned to Marian and kissed her lips lightly. Light had returned to his world and with it brought hope, love and a future. When he left, Anna sat down on the bed next to her cousin.
"I'm sorry Marian. I should have realised that he needs you so much. I of all people should have understood. I won't make that mistake again... I promise."
She then took a book and sat in the chair in the corner. An hour passed when the hound started whining and Marian woke up. The dog placed its front legs on the bed and started licking her.
"That's my good boy. Sorry I worried you."
The dog gave a happy bark.
"It's good to see you awake. How are you feeling?" Anna asked as she stood up and went towards her.
"A little tired and sore, but other than that I'm fine. Where is Anders?" She sat up quickly and looked almost distressed.
"He is with Lilly downstairs. You are at Soldiers Peak in the north of Ferelden if you were wondering."
"One of the wardens told me that I might be... tainted." Marian gave her a pleading and sad look.
"Oh, that was a ruse made by your husband to make sure he could bring you here. You are fine and you are free to stay here as long as you wish." Anna smiled and Marian sighed with relief.
"Why now? Why not when you came for Lilly?"
"Because... if I send you away now, my third in command is going to explode in a blaze of fury justice and run after you." Anna teased, but Marian did not smile. She wondered if Anna knew just how true her words were and how easily it could happen.
"You promoted him?"
"I had too. He didn't take orders so I figured it might work out better if he gave them." She laughed jokingly.
"I'm going to see him." Marian got out of bed and started to get dressed.
"Marian, please lay back down. You need your strength."
"My husband and child are down stairs. I don't care if you slain a hundred Arch demons, you can't stop me." Marian gave a huge grin and Anna laughed heartily. Marian asked Anna for directions and almost ran out the door with Barkly at her heels. It was almost dinnertime so all the wardens, not on duty, were in the dining hall. As soon as she went into the large room, she saw Anders talking to a group of wardens. She started running and Anders only just turned around when she jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist and kissing him deeply. Maker it hurt, but she didn't care.
"I love you." She said while catching her breath and was almost shaking from happiness.
"I love you too. Maker... I love you so much. You have no idea how I've missed you. " He said as he kept kissing her. The other wardens in the room were cheering at them and making comments, but he didn't care.
"Shems and their urges." Velanna said in slight disgust.
"If that is a benefit you get for becoming Warden-Lieutenant I'm going to work harder. I want one of those!" Mallard chuckled as he pointed at Marian.
"Or you could just snatch the one Sparklefingers holding. I would give her a roll myself." Oghren snickered.
"Honestly Oghren, show some digression." Sigrun gave him a disapproving frown.
"Why? They don't."
"I agree with Oghren, share the spoils Lieutenant!" Another warden said loudly.
"Anyone who touches her will have the choice between getting flogged and roasted by a fireball." Anders said in a loud stern voice though still smiling and holding Marian in his arms. Mallard laughed and Oghren grunted.
"Misusing you position as Lieutenant?" She said teasingly.
"And as a husband." He smiled and kissed her again.
"So baby, want me to show you how to that, Oghren style?" Oghren said winking at Sigrun.
"Eight years and you are still going on about that. Just keep your distance." She frowned again and Oghren grunted.
"Maker! I have forgotten how good you smell..." Anders whispered as his emotions got the better of him and that was all Justice needed to take over. Marian saw his eyes flash blue and his skin began to crack.
"Justice..." She whispered but didn't let go of him and still had her legs around him. The other wardens starred at them and seemed worried. Justice looked into her eyes.
"I have missed you..." He said seriously. She gave him a broad smile and kissed him with the same intensity she had Anders.
"By the stone! This is just depressing... Even a spirit gets more action than me. Sod it! I need a drink." Oghren grumbled and Mallard snickered following him towards the keg. Their reaction seemed to calm the other wardens. Beside Justice didn't seem so terrifying when being kissed by a beautiful woman. Justice gently put her down and placed his forehead to hers.
"I've missed you too. I don't think I have heard anyone speak the word "justice" since you left. I never thought I'd miss that." She teased and before the spirit could scold her, she kissed him again and he slowly retreated as Anders regained control. His control over the spirit had improved.
"Hey you." She smiled.
"Hello love." He said and kissed her nose.
"I think that is quite enough of starring people. Break it up!" Nathanial ordered the wardens, who grumbled a little and sat down at the different tables. Nathanial went towards Anders and Marian.
"It's good to see you up and about, Marian."
"Thank you. It's good to see you as well. How is your sister?"
"Her and my nephew are doing fine, thank you."
A few moments after the kitchen staff brought in the dinner and the wardens almost ran towards the serving table. Anna had employed some of the mages and their families to help around the keep.
"But I'll better join the fray. You two should get something to eat as well." He smiled and left them.
"Where is Lilly?" Marian looked up at Anders, who was still holding her refusing to let go.
"She went into the kitchen to see if she could charm her way to some cookies. For a seven year old she sure knows how to charm her way to the things she wants." He smiled as he shook his head.
"You let her have cookies before dinner?" She raised an eyebrow.
"No, but she charmed her way passed Sigrun, while I was talking with one of the new recruits."
Marian smiled and kissed him again. She ran her fingers over his shoulders. He looked handsome in his warden armour, but after so many years she had gotten so use to the feathers. It didn't feel quite like him when he wasn't wearing them.
"No feathers." She mused.
"No warden issue robes with them I'm afraid." He smiled.
"Mother!" Lilly screamed and ran towards Marian. Marian got down to her knees and embraced Lilly as she jumped into her arms. It hurt terribly, but Marian didn't mind even the slightest. Lilly was crying a little and it was clear just how much she had missed her. Marian stroked her hair and kissed her cheek.
"I've missed you so much dearest. Let me look at you." She took Lilly by her shoulders and gently pushed her back a little. She had grown and her blonde hair was longer.
"How much you've grown."
"Almost ten centimetres." She stated proudly. Marian kissed both her cheeks and her forehead before she stood up. Now she began to feel the pain and Anders put his arms around her.
"Are you alright, love?"
"Yes, I'm just sore."
"Let's sit down and get something to eat. You haven't eaten in days."
"I'll go get something!" Lilly said eagerly and ran off. She had become so much more confident after meeting and playing with other mage children. She was responsible with her magic despite being so young and Anders was very proud of her. He helped Marian to an empty table and sat down.
"I have a bone to pick with you, messere healer." She said in a stern voice and nudged Anders between his ribs. He faked pain and knowing she was partly teasing him he started nibbling her neck.
"That so?"
"You let me believe I was tainted, you bastard." She tried not to smile because she had really been worried and the look Anders gave her told her that he was truly sorry for it.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart. I had to. You see one of my wardens was terribly unhappy and barely coping, so I had to get his wife back to him. I fear he might have gone mad otherwise." He said with a serious note even as he was smiling.
"Your wardens? Since when did you get so fond of them?" She said a little surprised.
"That is what you took from that?" He raised an eyebrow and feigned offense.
"I also heard a very sweet declaration of love." She kissed him and he sighed with contentment.
"It's easier being here than when I left. There are no templars to watch me and I am part of something I truly want to do. Anna has placed a lot of trust in me despite... everything... and since I got my command I am respected as a leader as well as a mage. It's... uplifting somehow being somewhere, where you are respected rather than feared." He kissed her deeply again.
"And now that both you and Lilly are here it might even be tolerable." He smiled and this time she kissed him. Lilly crossed the room, caring a tray very carefully with some stew and bread. Anders got up and helped her with the tray. They sat down and spent the rest of the day just talking. Lilly would talk about all the friends she made and about Spotty and Ser Pounce-a-lot. Anders would tell about Lilly's progress and of some of the mages they had helped and of course about Bethany's pregnancy. He had made sure Ramous sent word about it along with the resistance information.
- OOO -
To Anders' surprise, while having dinner, Anna had arranged a slumber party for the seven children currently in the keep. They would be sleeping in one of the halls were tables and blankets were used to make small tents. Anna would be telling them stories and giving them snacks. Lilly was of course invited and was eager to join them and after dinner she left with Barkley. Anna came up to Anders and Marian and whispered.
"So you can have some privacy..." She smiled suggestively and walked away. Marian blushed, but Anders laughed heartily.
They went up to their room, but a few meters from the door Anders lifted Marian in his arms and carried her through the door. Marian giggled all the way and he carried her towards the bed as he was kissing her. He then dropped her on the bed and she almost jumped.
"Wreeeooow!" The ginger cat hissed and jumped of the bed. Marian chuckled as Anders reached for the cat and cooed.
"Oh, I'm so sorry my friend."
"The famous Ser Pounce-a-lot I take it?"
"The one and only. Anna brought him back for me a few months after I arrived here. Guess she thought I was lonely and that he would comfort me."
"Did he?"
"Not really, but it was a sweet gesture none the less."
Anders put down the cat and lay down on his side next to Marian on the bed. He took one hand and started healing her. There wasn't much he could do, but he wanted to make absolutely sure that if there was even the slightest pain he could ease, he would do it. His hand was hovering slightly over her body and then brought it to her cheek still glowing. She took his hand and pressed it down on her skin. She guided his hand from her face down her neck to the front of her throat then further down to her breast where she gently added a little pressure. Anders felt his throat tighten and his pulse speed up.
"You should res..."
"Shh..." she put her other hand to his mouth where he kissed it. She guided his hand down her stomach down her abdomen. When she guided it between her thighs she added a firm pressure and moaned slightly and Anders felt himself shiver.
"We... shouldn't do this. Your still sore... and need rest." He said as he swallowed. He tried to remove his hand, but she kept in place. She added pressure again and moaned.
"Don't you want to make love to me?" She whispered knowing full well he was under her control.
"I do... so much, but... I don't want to hurt you." He almost pleaded. She released his hand and placed her own around his neck pulling him down their lips almost touching.
"I trust you not to."
He let go of any pretence that he didn't want her and kissed her deeply and passionately. He straddled her and starting removing the clothes on his upper body as well as hers. When her upper body was exposed he gently massaged both breasts while kissing her neck. Her hands were running up and down his chest.
"I can't resist you." He said in a deep voice.
"You never could." She said with a smile between moans and he gave a chuckle. He felt her shiver from being cold, so her removed the rest of her clothing and gently helped her under the covers. He hurried removed his own clothing and got in bed next to her. She kissed him deeply and he placed his body above hers, careful not to crush her. He started kissing her neck and felt her hand guiding him inside her. The feeling of her and the scent of vanilla was his undoing. He was lost in her so deeply and completely. Without her he lost himself to Justice alone. He felt the spirits happiness alongside his own and only one thought was present in their shared mind.
"I love you."
"I love you too."