Author's note: I was never really happy with the way I had ended this chapter... so I fixed it. If you've read this previously, just jump down to the bit where he asks his second question for the updated parts. If you haven't read this before, you don't have to suffer through the old mediocre chapter ending.
The next morning found her yawning as she made her way up to Hightown, her bow and quiver across her back, her saddle bags tossed over one shoulder and a few other items rolled up securely in her blanket and oilcloth. Jonathan greeted her and said, "Morning, lass. He's in the back, saddling Storm. Tempe is already saddled and ready for ye to add your bags and gear. The pack horse will be ready for ye in a few minutes."
"Thank you, Jonathan. You didn't have to saddle Tempe for me, I could have done that when I got here."
"Twasn't me that did it, lass. He's been here for half an hour already. I'm not even sure the lad slept last night. Ye might need to tie him in the saddle today."
"I'll keep that in mind," she laughed. She walked past him and stopped at Storm's stall. "Good morning, Bastian."
Sebastian turned and gave her a smile. "Good morning, Bailey. I have Tempe ready for you."
"Jonathan told me. He said you've been here for a while already."
He shrugged and said, "I woke earlier than I expected, so went ahead and came here to get them ready."
"Mmm hmmm. Did you actually sleep?"
"I did sleep…some."
"Jonathan suggested that I might need to tie you into your saddle in case you fall asleep and fall out of it."
"I'll be fine, Bailey. Go ahead and get Tempe loaded with your stuff. I'll have Storm ready shortly, and Jonathan is loading up the pack horse for us." He turned back to buckling straps on Storm and Bailey went across to Tempe's stall.
The horse greeted her with a soft whicker of sound and Bailey rubbed her nose. "Hey girl. I hope you are ready for a prolonged walk today. But no jumping fences today, okay? I think we need to lay off of doing that for a little while. Now, you just stand still while I figure out how to get these things attached to your saddle." She finally found the straps at the back and attached her saddle bags and rolled up oilcloth behind the saddle. Her quiver attached to a strap just in front of her left leg and her bow stayed on her back. She led Tempe out of her stall just as Sebastian was leading Storm out of his. They went out to find Jonathan holding the reins of their pack horse, which Sebastian attached to his saddle as well.
Jonathan looked at both of them and said, "Safe travels today. Are ye going up to your father's old lodge, lad?"
"Aye. We should be there well before nightfall. I expect we'll be gone about three days. If we haven't returned by the end of the fourth day, you know where the lodge is located."
"I'll keep a watch out for your return, then. Lass? Is someone looking after your house for ye while you're gone?"
"Yes, Jonathan. My landlord has men watching it for me, and my apprentice has a key. The guards all know her so won't give her any trouble. Anyone else is just asking for it."
The horse master laughed. "Alright then. Sounds like all is taken care of. Good luck to both of ye. I hope the hunt is good."
Sebastian mounted Storm and said, "Thank you. We'll make sure you get a part of the take."
Bailey mounted Tempe and together they left through the nearby city gate. Sebastian set an easy pace while it was still dark, making sure none of the horses mis-stepped. Bailey yawned again and rubbed a hand over her face. Sebastian looked over at her and smiled. "Perhaps I should be asking if you slept any last night."
"I slept. I barely remember my head hitting the pillow." She turned her head towards him. "And you? Why didn't you sleep so well last night?"
"I had things on my mind."
"Oh? Such as?"
He shrugged. "Starkhaven, for one. I am truly worried for the people. My cousin is not exactly the sharpest arrow in the quiver, if you take my meaning. I'm afraid that he will be used as a puppet by someone else."
"Understandable. What else were you thinking of?"
"The other day, while you were in the Infirmary, I went to speak to Brian about some things. One of those things being my vows to the Chantry. He suggested that I write to the Divine in Orlais to request a pardon of my vows so that I may take up my duty to Starkhaven. He also suggested that I request an audience with her so that she may see that I am not simply seeking power, but I'm doing this for the good of my people."
"Do you think she would grant it?"
"I'm not sure. But it can't hurt to ask, right?"
"No. It never hurts to ask. The worst that can happen is she will say no. But you would have asked at least."
Sebastian thought about that for a moment, thinking about the other thing he had spoken to Brian about. "You are right. It never hurts to ask."
They continued their ride in a general north-easterly direction. Bailey asked him about the lodge they were going to and he explained it was one of three his father had owned, all within a day's ride of each major city within the Free Marches. "It gave him an escape when he needed one during political visits, plus gave him a place to invite other nobles when he wanted to make deals. I've used this one frequently since coming to Kirkwall, but I've always been by myself. It will be nice to share it with someone else now."
The stopped about midday to eat and take a break from riding for a short time. The horses grazed as the humans ate a meal of small rolls filled with slices of meat and cheese. After they had eaten and taken care of other necessities, they climbed back onto the horses and continued riding. Bailey guessed it was an hour before sunset when Sebastian turned off of the main road between two large oak trees. The trail was wide enough for two horses to walk side by side and the trees on each side formed a sort of canopy. Ten minutes later, the woods began to thin and they rode into a clearing. Bailey gaped at the house before her. Two stories tall, the bottom one was sided in stone and the second floor appeared to be some sort of stucco. It honestly reminded her of the pictures she'd seen of Tudor style houses in England. There was a small barn to one side and Sebastian led them there. "Welcome to Two Oaks Lodge. Let's get the horses taken care of then I'll show you the main house."
"Good. I don't mind telling you that my bottom might be just a bit sore."
He laughed and swung himself off of Storm, then helped her dismount from Tempe, holding her arms until her legs weren't so numb. He reached into a pouch and pulled out a key. "Here. You go on inside. I'll take care of the horses. The bedrooms are upstairs; just don't use the one at the end of the left hall. That…was my parent's room."
She took the key and nodded. "I'll wait for you before I pick a room. How about I get a fire started? I don't know about you, but I'm getting chilled and hungry for something hot to eat."
"Sounds good. I'll be along in a little while. Don't forget your saddle bags."
She nodded again and turned to collect them along with her roll, then went up to the front door. The key turned easily and the door swung open on oiled hinges. 'He must keep it in working order if he comes here a lot,' she thought as she stepped into the front entry. There were a few hooks on a side wall and she hung her cloak on one of them before moving into what had to be the main room. There was a large fireplace on the wall to the right, flanked by two large chairs and two sofas. To her left was another large room containing a long table and enough chairs to seat eight comfortably. A staircase rose directly in front of her and she could see hallways to either side at the top. Just behind the stairs were two doors. 'Must be the kitchen and…some other room. Never mind for now, though. Get a fire going, Bailey.'
She went over to the fireplace, dropping her bags onto one of the sofas as she passed it and found the wood box fully loaded with logs, kindling, and starter materials. Wishing only momentarily for Anders and his handy fire starting abilities, she piled the starter in the grate and reached for the flint and tender. She got lucky on the first strike and got a spark. Within a few minutes, she had a small flame going. By the time Sebastian entered the front door, she had a decent size blaze going. He walked over and held his hands out to the fire to warm them.
"The horses are bedded down for the night and the supplies are in the front entry. If you'll help me get them into the kitchen, I'll give you the tour of the place," he said.
"Of course I'll help you," she said and stood up. They walked over to the entry and grabbed bags and bundles. Just as she had guessed, the door beyond the stairs led into a kitchen. She placed her load onto a large table and looked around while there was still enough light to see by. Two large cooking hearths and a bread oven dominated the outer wall, while counters, tables and shelves lined the other three. There was a sink with a hand pump on the wall opposite of where they had entered, and two work tables took up the middle of the room.
Sebastian dropped his bundles next to hers and gave her a smile. "Come on; let me show you the room next to this one. I think you might like it." He reached over and took her hand, then pushed through a door to their right.
"Now this is a bathing chamber," Bailey breathed. There were two large copper lined tubs in the room, one on each long wall and separated by a curtain down the middle of the room. Another hearth and hand pump were at the far end, and a large standing cabinet must have held towels and bath cloths.
Sebastian grinned down at her. "Would you like to go ahead and start some water heating for a bath later? I'll go fetch a brand from the other fire to start one in here."
"I'll be pumping water," she said, already moving toward that end of the room. He laughed as he went through the other door into the front room.
Ten minutes later, three large pots of water were hanging from the pot hooks over the fire. He gave her a bump with his shoulder and said, "You still need to pick out a bedroom."
"Oh, yeah. I almost forgot."
He chuckled and said, "Come, my lady, so you may find a place to lay your head after your bath." He led her back out into the front room and up the stairs. At the top, he gestured to his left. "That was my parent's rooms. This side over here is where my brothers and I and any guests would sleep. Everything should be clean and in order; I came here last week myself to check everything." He walked down the hall to their right and began opening the doors. As he did so, he looked back over his shoulder. "Feel free to look around and choose one for your use, my lady."
She peeked into each room as he opened the door. The décor in most of them was of the woodsy type; browns and greens, mixed with the occasional red or yellow accent, and heavy dark furniture. Then she stepped into the room in the far corner. The bed was of a light oak, as were the side tables and armoire. The bedding and chair cushions were done in a blue that was right on the edge of being purple, while the drapes and bed curtains were silvery gray. The rug beneath her feet was abstract swirls of the same two colors mixed with lighter blue and creamy white. The room felt welcoming and not overdone. "This is beautiful," she said.
Sebastian stepped in behind her and bit his lip. "You like this room?" he asked quietly.
"I love it," she said, moving to the window to kneel on the seat there and look through the glass. The forest thickened about twenty five feet from the house, but there was a small pool with benches in the back yard. She could just imagine a deer coming to drink from the pool in the early hours of the morning. She turned to look at Sebastian and said, "May I have this one to use while we are here?"
Sebastian gave her a strange smile, but nodded his head. "Of course. I'll take the one across the hall, so I'll be nearby if you need anything in the night." He clapped his hands together and said, "Now, how about some dinner? I'm sure we can find something we can warm up in our supplies."
They went back downstairs to the kitchen and while Sebastian put away the items they had brought, Bailey went into the bathing chamber to get a brand from the fire so they could start one in the kitchen. After it was blazing up, she looked at him and said, "I didn't notice a fireplace in the bedroom. Is there a brazier for heat?"
"Yes, there is. Do you want me to go up and light the one in your room?"
"Would you please? I'll start some soup or something. Is that alright?"
"Bailey, whatever you make will be fine with me. I'll be back in a few minutes. I'll go ahead and take our bags up as well."
"Thank you!" she called after him as he walked out of the kitchen. She found a pot under one of the tables and went to rinse it out in the sink, then filled it about halfway with water. She placed it onto a pot hook and swung it over the fire to start heating while she went through their supplies. Dried meat, some chopped potatoes, a few carrots, and a small bit of flour all went into the water, along with a bit of salt and pepper. She gave it a stir and stepped back, her hand on one hip. 'That will take a little while to cook…which means I have time to take a hot bath before dinner.' She grinned and laid the spoon in the sink then went out the door. She met Sebastian on the stairs. "Dinner is cooking and will take a little while, so I'm going to take advantage of the bath."
He laughed and said, "Alright. I laid your saddle bags on the bed in your room, should you need them. I'll just be in the front room, then, perhaps reading. Is there anything I need to do in the kitchen?"
"Just give the stew a good stir in about fifteen minutes so it doesn't stick to the bottom. The spoon is lying in the sink."
"Enjoy your bath, my lady. I'll partake when you are finished."
"Then I'll fill the pots for you so they can heat while I'm bathing." She ran up the stairs and down the hall. Sebastian had thoughtfully lit a lantern in her room as well, so she was able to located her bath items quickly. She twisted her hair up into a loose bun and secured it with a hair stick, gathered her soap and clean clothes, then went back downstairs. She gave Sebastian a brief wave as he looked up from his book then she pushed through the door into the bathing chamber. In less than five minutes, she was sinking into hot water up to her shoulders. A soft groan slipped past her lips as the heat penetrated her sore thighs. She simply lay there for several minutes, then sat up and reached for her soap.
Sebastian looked up as the soft scent of honeysuckle reached his nose. He recognized it easily, as it was the scent that always surrounded Bailey. He closed his eyes for a moment and tried not to think about the fact that she was currently naked and only a few yards away from him. "Oh, Maker, why did I think a hunting trip alone with her would be a good idea?" he wondered softly. He pushed himself off of the sofa and went into the kitchen. Perhaps the smell of their dinner would drown out the sweet scent of her soap.
Bailey finished her bath and pulled on her clean clothes. She checked the pots by the fire to see if the water was warm then went out into the front room. Sebastian was nowhere to be seen, so she shrugged and went upstairs to put her stuff away. As she came out of her room, she stopped short as Sebastian approached from the other direction. "Oh! There you are. The water for your bath should be just about ready."
"Thank you. I just checked on the stew, but you might want to check behind me."
She nodded and said, "It should be ready by the time you're done with your bath. Oh, I wasn't sure how to drain the tub."
"I'll take care of it."
She touched his arm as she went past him. 'This is going to be a very long few days, being so close to him all day, knowing he's going to be sleeping only yards away from me,' she thought as she went down the stairs. 'What made me think that being alone with him would be a good idea?'
She busied herself in the kitchen, finding bowls and utensils and breaking some bread from one of the rounds they had brought. By the time Sebastian had finished his bath, she was just setting the two bowls onto the dining table. He gave her a smile and said, "That smells delicious."
"It was just tossed together in a hurry. I just hope it's edible."
"I'm sure it will be," he said, pulling out a chair for her before taking one of his own. "We might want to consider retiring after dinner. I'd like to go out early and scout for tracks. I'd really like to get a deer or two on this trip."
"That's fine with me. It has been a rather long day." As they ate, they discussed the plan for the next day. Sebastian suggested they head northwest into the woods; he knew of a game trail in that area that might prove to be promising. Bailey deferred to his knowledge of the area. He helped her clean up their dinner ware and banked the fires downstairs while she went on up to her room to change for bed.
She had just pulled her nightshirt on when he knocked on the door. She opened it a crack and he gave her a smile. "Just wanted to let you know there are extra blankets in the chest at the foot of the bed, if you need them tonight."
"Oh…thank you. It's fairly warm in here right now, but just in case…"
He hesitated for a moment then said, "Well…good night then. I'll see you in the morning."
"Good night Sebastian." He gave her a nod then turned and went into his own room. Bailey shook her head at the odd behavior and closed her door. She opened the chest and pulled out a blanket and tossed it across the foot of the bed within easy grabbing distance, then crawled beneath the covers. The bed was wider than her own and much softer, and there was a scent on the sheets that seemed familiar…
She walked down the stairs the next morning, blinking and bleary eyed. "Oh, what I wouldn't give for some hot coffee this morning," she murmured. As she reached the bottom stair, a most welcome scent hit her nose and she hurried into the kitchen.
Sebastian turned toward the door as she rushed in. "Good morning. Did you sleep well?"
"Like a rock. Alright, where are you hiding it?"
"Hiding what?"
"The coffee. I smelled it."
He grinned and held a mug out to her. She took it from him and inhaled deeply, her eyes closed. "Oh, Sebastian…I could absolutely kiss you right now."
"Because I gave you coffee?"
"Yes." She opened her eyes and saw him smiling at her as he handed her a sugar bowl. "I haven't had coffee in ages. It's rather hard to come by."
"Father kept some here. I thought you might like some this morning."
"You were right." She took a sip and sighed. "So…still want to head northwest, right?"
"Aye. The game trail starts about a mile into the wood. No horses today, though," he said, sipping from his own mug. He tossed her a roll and said, "We'll pack travel rations for lunch."
She nodded and chewed. After swallowing, she said, "When do you want to leave?"
"After you've finished your coffee. I won't deprive you of it," he grinned.
"I'll go get my gear together." She raised her mug and said, "You'll spoil me with this, you know." She left the kitchen and Sebastian stared at the door as it swung shut behind her. He sighed and murmured, "I hope you will let me spoil you, my lady."
They spent the day without much verbal communication, relying mostly on the silent signals they had developed over the past year. They each took down a few rabbits during the morning hours and Sebastian spotted definite signs of a good size heard of deer in the area. He finally signaled time for lunch and they found a decent clearing near the head of the game trail. They tied their rabbits up in a tree and sat down on the ground to lean against the trunk while they ate.
"So, do you want to continue this afternoon, or shall we head back to the house?" he asked.
"I'm fine with continuing on. The more game we can get, the better," she replied.
"Alright then. We'll leave the coneys here for now and pick them up on the way back. This might be a good spot to leave the horses tomorrow. We'll need them to haul out bigger game."
"Good idea."
The rest of the afternoon brought them more rabbits and a large bird that reminded Bailey of a turkey. As they made their way back to collect the rest of their day's take, Sebastian said, "We'll go deeper into the wood tomorrow and follow the deer signs. With luck, we'll get at least one on the morrow."
"I hope so. If not, we can always try again another time."
"True," he replied, wondering how he was going to get through this trip, let alone consider a second trip out here alone with her.
They reached the house twenty minutes later and Sebastian showed her the small shed next to the barn that was used for dressing and storing game. They hung the bird and rabbits from the rafters, keeping one to roast for their dinner, and stopped to check on the horses. Tempe was a bit antsy so Bailey took a few minutes to give her a quick brushing with the curry comb and promised to do a more thorough job the next day. Sebastian volunteered to clean the rabbit, so Bailey went on into the house and up the stairs to put her bow and quiver away. She rushed back down the stairs and into the bathing chamber to wash her face and hands and to set water heating for a bath later.
Sebastian found her in the kitchen fifteen minutes later, chopping potatoes and onions. He went over to the cooking hearth, grabbed the spit and attached the rabbit to it, then set it onto the hooks. "We'll have to keep a watch on this so it doesn't burn," he said over his shoulder.
"I'll watch it," she said, tossing the onions into a pan with a bit of oil then putting the potatoes into a pot of water. "I'll have to monitor this particular dish, so if you want to bathe first, that's fine with me."
"What are you making?" he said, walking over to her.
"Scalloped potatoes, as best as I can. It's a mixture of potatoes and onions, with a bit of cream and cheese on top of it, then baked."
"Sounds ambitious, but delicious. Are you sure you don't mind if I bathe first?"
"Go on. Just refill the pots for me."
"I will, of course. And after dinner, could I interest you in a game of chess?"
She looked up at him and smiled. "I would love that." She cocked her head at him. "Should we make it more interesting for the winner?"
He leaned a hip against the table and crossed his arms and smiled. "Just what did you have in mind?"
She shrugged and said, "Loser has to share a secret."
"I'm not sure if there is anything I haven't shared," he said and leaned forward toward her. "You on the other hand, my lady, must have several."
"Well, I suppose you will have to win to find out."
"I suppose I will. Now, if you'll excuse me," he said, and left the kitchen.
Bailey shook her head and sighed then turned to the hearth to turn the rabbit and check the onion and potatoes. The onions had taken a nice golden color and the potatoes were finally starting to boil. She busied herself with gathering the other ingredients needed and checking the heat of the bread oven. The potatoes were finally just soft enough, so she drained them and tossed them in with the onions. The cream was drizzled over it and cheese crumbled on top and the whole pan shoved into the oven. The rabbit was rotated again just as Sebastian came back into the kitchen. She looked up and barely stopped herself from gaping at him. His hair was wet and slicked back from his face and his white shirt was clinging to his damp skin. His trousers were dark brown and…he was barefoot. He gave her a grin and said, "The bath is all yours, my lady. I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of pouring the hot water into a bath for you. I'll leave it for you to adjust the temperature."
"I…thank you, Bastian. In that case, I'll go now. I just rotated the rabbit and the potatoes are baking. Um…they will be ready when the top is a sort of golden brown color and the cream is a bit bubbly."
"I believe I can handle that. Go enjoy your bath, Bailey." She began to walk past him but stopped as she reached his side. He looked down at her and she put her hand on his arm, rose up onto her toes and pressed a soft kiss on his cheek. He might have imagined it, but it seemed like her hand lingered a bit before she continued past him. He turned his head to watch her leave the kitchen and shook his head. "Maker, she's going to kill me before this is over," he muttered.
'And just what the hell are you thinking, Bailey, kissing his cheek like that? But, dear God…I couldn't stop myself,' she thought as she walked up the stairs to fetch her bath items and clean clothes. 'This is crazy…and making a bet with him over a chess game, too? You have lost your mind.' She made quick work of grabbing her stuff and heading back down to the bathing chamber, where she forced herself not to think about it anymore and simply enjoyed her bath.
When the water finally turned too cold, she forced herself to get out and dress, then went through the kitchen to check on dinner. The rabbit was nicely browned and a quick check on the potatoes showed they were nearly ready, too. Sebastian walked in and stopped short upon seeing her. "I was just about to check it again, but I see you beat me to it."
"The rabbit is done, and by the time I come back down, the potatoes will be as well."
"Then go put your things away and I'll take care of dishing it out," he said. As she went past him, he said, "I set up the chess board in front of the fire, if that's alright. I hope you are deciding what secret you are going to share with me."
She stopped at the door and turned to gaze at him, one eyebrow raised. "What makes you think that I'll be the one sharing a secret tonight?" His laughter followed her as she went back upstairs to put her things away and light the brazier in her room. When she came back to the dining room, she found he had indeed plated their dinner and was currently pouring a light colored wine into two goblets. "I didn't see that in our supplies."
"It was already here. I thought it might complement our meal tonight."
"Or you're trying to dull my brain so you'll win at chess."
"If I'm trying to sabotage you, then I'm also sabotaging myself." He put the bottle down on the table and pulled her chair out for her. "My lady."
She took her seat and he sat down, picked up his goblet and said, "To healthy competition and a beautiful woman sharing secrets with me."
Bailey laughed and said, "To having fun and a gorgeous man revealing a hidden truth to me."
His eyes twinkled over the rim of his goblet as he took a sip. 'Perhaps she might be amenable to my advances after all,' he thought.
Dinner was spent with the two of them ribbing the other over who would be the winner of the coming game and Sebastian raving over the potatoes. Before they knew it, dinner was eaten and the bottle of wine had been fully consumed. He went to fetch another bottle and offered her his hand as she rose from the table. "My lady, I believe the time has come to see who will triumph."
"After the dishes are cleaned, you mean."
"Ah. Of course," he said. He put the bottle down, grabbed their plates and utensils and disappeared into the kitchen, only to return five minutes later. "Does putting them to soak in the sink count as cleaned?"
She laughed and said, "You are eager to lose, aren't you?"
"On the contrary, I look forward to learning more of your secrets. Shall we?" He picked up the bottle and offered her his arm.
She picked up their goblets and wrapped her arm through his. "We shall."
He led her into the front room where the fire was dancing on the grate. He had turned the two chairs to face each other and placed a table between them. The board and pieces were already arranged. He looked down at her and said, "Now we must decide who will take the first move."
She set their goblets down and took a pawn of each color, one in each hand. She then put her hands behind her back and shuffled them around, finally putting one into each hand and bringing them back in front of her body. "Choose a hand."
He tapped her left hand. When she opened it, the black pawn lay on her palm. "It appears I will take the second move. I would say good luck, but as I wish to win…" He grinned and took a seat behind the black pieces.
Bailey returned the grin and sat down, poured more wine into her goblet, and moved a pawn into play. The game was begun.
An hour and another bottle of wine later, Bailey stared at the board and her remaining pieces. She was down to two pawns, a bishop, a knight, two rooks and her king. She had sacrificed her queen earlier to one of his knights, but not before capturing his queen first. Sebastian was in almost the same shape, having three pawns, a bishop, two knights, one rook and his king still on the board. She moved her king two spaces to the right and moved her rook two spaces to the left.
Sebastian blinked and said, "I completely missed that. Very nice use of castling. But I think it's too late to save your king." He moved his knight and captured one of her pawns. "Check."
She blinked this time and smacked her forehead. "Well, crap." She nibbled on the end of her thumb and moved her bishop. She removed his knight from the board and gave him a smile. "Have you decided what secret you're going to tell me?"
He studied the board and said, "Ah, my lady, I should be asking you." His rook moved sideways and she watched in dismay as her last bishop disappeared. "Check."
"I would make a horrible battle strategist, I can see that. I completely missed that move from your rook." She sighed and reached out to touch her king. "I also shouldn't have had that last goblet of wine." She knocked her king over and said, "I resign."
He sat back in his chair and templed his fingers against his chin as he gazed at her. The firelight threw the right side of his face into shadow but his eyes still gleamed at her. "I shall give you a bit of time to decide upon your secret, my lady." He stood and fetched a box from a nearby bookshelf and placed it next to the board. He slid the top to the side and she could see it was divided into several sections, with two long sections right through the middle. He began to put the pieces away, with the pawns going into the long sections and the others going into their own spot. The lid slid back into place and the board was set on top of it.
She leaned back in her chair and watched him return the box to its place on the shelves. He then moved the table back into place next to one of the sofas and finally took a seat again. She took a sip from her goblet and said, "I honestly have no idea what to tell you."
He leaned his head to the side and propped it on two fingers. "Then I propose that we change the stakes. I'll ask you three questions, and you answer them honestly. Does that seem fair?"
"One question. It was to be only one secret."
"Two questions."
Bailey stared at him for a moment then nodded. "Two questions, answered honestly."
He leaned forward and said, "The day I met you in the garden, I found one of my arrows on the ground beneath the target you had been using. I know that none of the arrows that I shot missed the target. So, how did that one come to be there?"
She shifted in her seat and smiled. "Alright. Fair question. I was in the Chantry courtyard the day you pinned your request to the Chanter's board with that arrow. That was the first day I saw you; you said something about your duty and then you walked away. Hollie spoke to Elthina and found out what had happened and when she took your request from the board, she handed me the arrow. That was also the day I began training in archery with the city guard. The captain is a friend of Hollie's from Fereldan. I didn't realize I'd left that arrow there until later that day and figured you had discovered it by then. I had meant to return it to you anyway."
He sat back and said, "So you saw me shortly after I had found out about my parents and brothers. I'm sorry you had to see me in that state."
"Sebastian, I'd be the same way in that situation." She leaned forward and put her hand on his knee. "Your reaction was understandable."
"Thank you, Bailey." He covered her hand with his and squeezed it.
She smiled and drew her hand back. "And your second question?"
He smiled and said, "I'll save it for another time."
She cocked an eyebrow at him. "Why does that sound ominous?"
"It's not meant to be." He yawned suddenly and looked horrified. "Oh, I apologize! It's not the company, I swear."
She laughed and said, "It's alright, Bastian. We've had several early mornings and more to come. Perhaps we should retire."
"I agree. I'll bank the fires down here. Go on upstairs." He rose from his chair and offered her his hand. She took it and rose to her feet, and smiled as he lifted her hand to press a kiss to her fingers. It could have been her imagination but his lips seemed to linger before he raised his head and smiled at her. She slowly pulled her fingers from his hand and turned toward the stairs, feeling his eyes on her back the entire time she walked up them.
She closed the door to her room and leaned her back against it and closed her eyes. "God, if you are listening…please help me get through the next two days without attacking the poor man. I know he's not sworn to you, but he is sworn to his belief system and it would be too much like corrupting a priest or a monk. Give me the strength to resist, please." She opened her eyes and pushed away from the door to get changed for bed. A large yawn escaped past her lips and she was asleep only minutes after burrowing under the blankets.
Sebastian sat up and blinked bleary eyes as he tried to figure out what it was that had jerked him from a sound sleep. He listened for a few moments and heard a cry coming from Bailey's room. He flung the covers back and swung his legs over the side of the bed, stopping only to pull his trousers on, tying the laces as he hurried to open his door and dash across the hall. He opened her door and found her thrashing in the bed and crying out "No! God, no!" He sat on the side of the bed and gathered her into his arms, stroked a hand down her hair and back and murmured quiet, comforting words. "Bailey, wake up. It's alright; you're safe, my lady." She eventually stilled and he pulled back just enough to see that she was awake. "What happened? Are you alright?"
She turned her eyes up to him and bit her bottom lip. "I…I think so. Oh, god, Sebastian. I just had the most horrible dream."
"It must have been. Your cries reached me through two solid wood doors." He pulled her against him again and said, "What was it about?"
Bailey closed her eyes and shuddered. "There was fire everywhere. It was like the city had exploded…or maybe the world. And I kept hearing this voice saying something, over and over."
"What did it say?"
She swallowed and hesitated for a moment, then closed her eyes and concentrated, trying to remember it exactly. "Friends betray. Panic is high, and so she rises higher. Tempers fray. The end is nigh. The world explodes in fire. Followers obey and the Leaders die, consumed by their darkest desire." She opened her eyes and looked up at him. "I have no idea what it means, but it seemed to be important, since I kept hearing it over and over."
"We need to write them down. We can consult with someone when we get back to Kirkwall. For now, though, put it out of your mind. It was only a dream," he said, and leaned his head down onto hers. His hand slowly trailed up and down her back.
Bailey sighed and closed her eyes again, letting his touch bring her fully back into the waking world. "Sebastian?"
"Mmmm?"
"Would you…stay with me? Just until I fall asleep again." He hesitated before answering and she pulled back to look up at him. "I just don't want to be alone right now. Please. I swear I won't strip naked and violate you."
He gently touched her cheek and gave her a small smile. "And there goes my fantasy out the window, but alright. Until you fall asleep." She gave him a smile and lay back down onto her pillow. He stood and pulled her blankets back over her, then moved around to the other side of the bed and lay down on top of the blankets. She turned over to face him and laid her hand on his shoulder, then closed her eyes. He watched her face for a few moments then quietly said, "Bailey…I have to confess…this room…is actually mine."
"I know. I realized last night when I lay down. The sheets smell like you." She raised her head and gazed at him. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"Because I wanted you to be comfortable here."
"Not at your expense."
"My lady…my room at the chantry is one quarter this size, with nothing more than a cot, a writing table and stool, and a chest for my clothing. I knew I would be comfortable no matter what room I ended up in here." He paused. "But it is nice to know that we share the same taste in décor."
"And why is that nice to know?"
"Just an observation, Bailey. Now go to sleep. We have a deer to stalk in the morning." She lowered her head to his shoulder and closed her eyes. Within a few minutes, her breathing took on the steady rhythm of sleep. He waited another ten minutes then carefully extracted himself from the bed. She rolled over onto her left side and pushed one arm under her pillow. He tucked the blankets around her and brushed her hair from her face, then turned and left the room, closing the door behind him gently. It was after he was back in the other room before he quietly knocked his forehead against the door frame and prayed for strength.
She awoke the next morning and rolled over, stretching her arm across the bed as if reaching for something…or someone. When her arm encountered emptiness, she opened her eyes and blinked a few times. There was still an imprint on the other pillow from his head, but he was nowhere to be found. Bailey sighed and sat up, rubbing her eyes, still feeling the effects the dream clinging to her mind. She flipped the blankets back and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. With a yawn, she climbed from the warmth of the bed and got dressed, gathered her equipment, and stamped her feet into her boots. Another yawn and she went downstairs, hoping Sebastian had made more coffee.
Sebastian looked up from the paper he was writing on when she entered the kitchen. "Good morning, my lady. I made more coffee for you."
"Good morning, Bastian. And thank you, thank you, thank you." She grabbed a mug and walked over to the hearth to pick up the pot and poured herself a cup. As she sweetened it, she said, "What are you writing?"
"The words you told me that you heard in your dream last night. I didn't want either of us to forget them before we got back to Kirkwall. Prophecy is not unheard of, and we may find someone that can determine what they mean."
"And they might be nothing more than some random words heard in a dream." She sipped her coffee and sighed. "Let's get the day started, shall we? I want to get a deer today."
"As you wish, Bailey. I'll gather my gear and get the horse ready while you finish your coffee." He rose to his feet and left the kitchen, leaving her to grab a roll to munch on. She finished her coffee and went into the bathing chamber to fill the pots and set them near the hearth so they could warm while they were gone; she would want a bath upon returning later. She then grabbed her own gear and went outside to join him in the barn.
He looked up from bridling the pack horse and gave her a smile. "Finished already?"
"Yes. If you'll give me the key again, I'll go lock the door." He dug into his pouch and handed it to her, then turned back to finish getting the horse ready. Bailey went back to the front door and locked it, then joined him as he exited the barn and gave him the key. "All locked up and secure."
"Excellent. Ready then?"
"Oh yes. Let's go take down a few deer, shall we?"
They reached the clearing they had found the day before and he tied the horse with enough of a lead to allow it to graze. They fell into their silent communication and began to follow the deer sign. It led them off of the game trail, but Sebastian made some blaze marks on trees as they went deeper into the woods. They had been following the signs for about an hour when Sebastian held up a hand to signal a stop. She knelt down next to him and he turned to look at her. He pointed at his eyes then pointed in front of him. She peered between the trees and smiled as she spotted the animal. She counted the points quickly and held up seven fingers. Sebastian nodded and raised his eyebrows at her. She gave him a thumbs up and quietly pulled an arrow from her quiver. She nocked it against the string and slowly stood. Her breathing slowed as she focused on the deer and pulled the string back. With a short and silent exhale, she released the arrow and watched as it punched the deer just above the left flank. The deer jerked and ran.
Sebastian grinned and quietly said, "Nice shot. Let's go track it."
The followed the broken underbrush and spots of blood for a good fifteen minutes before finally finding the deer collapsed on its side. They knelt next to it and Sebastian placed a hand on its side. "No breath. A clean kill."
Bailey pulled her arrow from it and looked at it. "I wish my brother or father were here to see this." She looked up at him and shrugged one shoulder. "It's my first deer and…" She lifted a hand to wipe away a sudden tear.
He reached over and touched her cheek. "Bailey…what's wrong?"
She shook her head and said, "It's just something silly."
"It's obviously upsetting you, so it can't be too silly."
She hesitated a moment and said, "It's just that…we have a tradition in our family when someone gets their first deer."
"And that is?"
"The hunter is marked on their face with the blood. It was a symbol that the boy or girl was now a full hunter and capable of providing for a family. The marking was usually done by an older hunter of the family." She looked at him and said, "The tradition goes way back to our ancestors by a couple of hundred years."
He gazed at her as she looked down at the deer and placed her hand on its side. "Bailey…do you think your father or brother would allow me to stand in for them? Because I would be honored to continue your family's tradition for you."
She turned her eyes up to his and bit her lip. "I…well, you are someone close to me…and you have been hunting longer than I have. I don't think they would mind."
He smiled and said, "What do I need to do, then? And where do the marks go?"
She traced a finger from her forehead and down over her nose, then across her cheeks. "With your fingers," she said.
"One or two?"
"Doesn't matter."
He nodded and pulled the glove off of his right hand, then dipped his finger into the blood still seeping from the wound in the deer. He leaned across it and slowly traced the path she had indicated. She closed her eyes as his finger slid over her skin. He swiped his finger across each cheek, and pulled his hand away and wiped it on the grass. She opened her eyes and smiled at him. It might have been a grisly sight any other time, but knowing the reason behind it simply made her… "Beautiful," he murmured.
Bailey lowered her eyes and bit her bottom lip. "It itches. I didn't expect that."
He chuckled softly. "Wait until it dries." He slapped his hands on his knees and pushed to his feet. "Come on, my little huntress. Shall we attempt to bag another one today?"
She pushed to her feet and said, "Oh yes. Most definitely."
The dragged the deer back to the waiting horse and strung it up in a nearby tree to keep predators away while they searched out more prey. Sebastian took down a young stag and commented that the spike horns would make decent dagger handles. They called it a successful day and loaded the day's take onto the horse and made their way back to the lodge. Together, they strung the deer up in the shed with the rest of their game then checked on the horses. He brushed the blood from the pack horses coat while Bailey scratched the muzzles of both Tempe and Storm. As they walked to the front door, he said, "I'll make dinner tonight. You go ahead and bathe, my lady."
"Why, thank you, my lord. I have to admit, I'm ready to have this gore off of my face." He unlocked the door and she darted upstairs to grab clean clothes. Ten minutes later, she sank into a hot bath and sighed happily. When she finally emerged from the bath chamber into the kitchen, her face was scrubbed clean, she was greeted with the smell of vegetable soup. "That smells wonderful, Bastian."
He looked up from the pot and said, "Just wanted to use up any perishables before we left. There was some leftover roasted rabbit from last night, so I tossed that in there as well."
"I'll take over if you want to go bathe."
"Thank you, and aye, I do desire a bath." He walked past her, touching her cheek as he did so. She turned to look after him, a small smile on her lips. As the soup just needed time, she wandered into the front room and examined the books on the shelves. Finding one that appeared interesting, she pulled it down and opened it as she settled onto the closest sofa.
That was where Sebastian found her twenty minutes later, her eyes closed and her head leaned against the arm of the sofa. "Bailey," he whispered loudly, reaching out to touch her shoulder. Her eyes snapped open and she sat up.
"I'm awake, I swear," she said.
He laughed a little and shook his head. "Come now; at least try to eat something before you fall asleep. The soup is ready."
She followed him into the kitchen where they filled their bowls before taking them back out to the dining room. They discussed the distribution of the game, with Bailey getting half of the deer she had taken down. "Plus the horns. I want those, at the very least," she told him.
"Of course you'll get those. I'll have them mounted properly for you." He took another bite of his soup before continuing. "You know, the book you were reading while I bathed is much better when someone reads it to you."
"Well, then…why don't you read it to me after dinner?"
"I'd be delighted. We'll have another early morning, and it may take us a bit longer to get back to Kirkwall, since the third horse will be weighted more heavily."
"And I am going to sleep late the day after." He laughed and finished eating. Together, they cleaned the dishes and put them away. They had just enough supplies left for a quick breakfast and their lunch the next day, so they were quickly packed. The fire in the kitchen was banked and he went into the bathing chamber to completely extinguish that one. She took a seat on the sofa again and smiled as he joined her and took the book from her hands.
Before long, she had her head leaned against his shoulder and her eyes closed as he read. He turned his head to look at her and found she was once again asleep. His heart leapt a bit in his chest and he closed the book. With his free hand, he reached out and began to gently trace his fingertips over the curves and planes of her face and down her neck. Before he reached her collarbone, she took a deep breath and opened her eyes and blinked a few times. "Oh, did I fall asleep? I'm sorry, Bastian."
"It's alright. We've had some very long days lately." He laid the book aside and turned sideways on the sofa to face her. "Bailey…I think I'd like to ask my second question now."
She shifted so she could face him and slowly said, "Alright."
He hesitated and finally said, "There are actually several questions I'd like to ask, but one easily encompasses all of them." He reached out and took both of her hands in his and turned his head down to look at them. His thumb traced across the back of one of her hands for a moment before he continued speaking. "I would like to know…how you honestly feel about me." He turned his head up to meet her eyes with his own.
Bailey stared at him in complete surprise. This was a question she never expected. Slowly, she pulled her hands from his and stood up to walk a few paces away, her back to him. Biting her bottom lip, she turned her head upward and stared at the ceiling for a few moments before she finally said, "Should I explain the theory of relativity to you at the same time? Because what I feel for you is just about as complicated." She turned her head to look over her shoulder at him. He appeared to be calm, but she could see the tenseness in his shoulders and the corners of his mouth. She turned away again and took a deep breath before speaking. "It seems that I am destined to care for men that are… unable to return those feelings." Her words almost seemed to stumble upon themselves.
Sebastian sat very still upon the sofa as he listened. He wanted to deny her statement; to tell her that not only was he able to return them, he longed to do so. But he stayed silent and let her continue.
"Anders…Anders wouldn't let himself, because he claimed it would be too dangerous for me." She stopped speaking and took another deep breath.
He gazed at her back and quietly said, "Because of that…thing within him?"
She nodded and said, "Yes." She laughed bitterly and her voice was thick when she spoke again. "But I still loved him. Despite that, I loved him." She turned her head just a bit and Sebastian caught the sparkle of a tear on her cheek. She lifted her hand and wiped it away. "Part of me always will. But he didn't trust me, not completely. And when he accused me of…" She stopped speaking and bowed her head, crossing her arms over her chest.
His heart ached for her. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and hold her and show her that not all men were as selfish as Anders had been. But he held himself back, waiting until she revealed the answer to his question.
Bailey took a shuddering breath and pushed those feelings into the corner of her heart and locked them away again. She opened her eyes and turned to study Sebastian. "And then there is you."
He shifted his positon on the sofa to watch her walk over to the fireplace, where she stood and stared into the flames. Her voice was quiet when she spoke. "You have been such a calm and steady presence in my life, although a bit judgmental when it comes to mages - which is why I kept my friendship with Anders a secret from you. But that day, even though you were angry at me, you still listened to my reasons for being there with him. And the next day that we were to meet in the gardens and you were late…I thought I had lost you as well. It was…almost too much to bear." Her eyes filled with tears. "Since then, I feel as if we have grown closer, and with that closeness, new feelings have taken root within my heart. But I have to keep reminding myself that you are already being torn between duty to the Chantry and to Starkhaven. I shouldn't be harboring these emotions nor having these thoughts about you." She glanced at him quickly then turned her face back toward the fire. "The truth is that you are –for now - a sworn Brother of the Chantry and it would be wrong of me to influence you away from that calling. Otherwise," She paused and took a breath, then almost whispered her next words. "I would let myself fall in love with you in a heartbeat."
Stunned by her words only for a brief second, his heart jumped into his throat. His arms and legs seemed to move sluggishly as he pushed himself to his feet and moved to stand behind her. He placed his hands on her shoulders and gently turned her to face him. She kept her head bowed and he placed a finger under her chin. His voice was soft as he said, "Bailey. Look at me." She lifted her head at the gentle nudge of his finger, but kept her eyes closed. He moved his finger to trace over her forehead and down her cheek. "Please, open your eyes, my lady."
She swallowed harshly and slowly opened her eyes to look at him. His blue eyes seemed to sparkle in the firelight as he gazed down at her, his fingers still trailing softly over her cheek. His tongue darted quickly over his lips and he took a deep breath. "And if I were no longer a sworn brother? Would you…"
"But you are sworn. We shouldn't even entertain the idea…"
"Just answer the question. Please." He pleaded softly.
She uncrossed her arms and placed her hands on his chest. She could feel his heart racing beneath her fingers and knew hers was pounding just as hard. They stood together on a precipice, and he was allowing her to take the lead as to whether they stepped over it together or remained on the edge. He folded her hands in his own, holding them against his chest as he gazed down at her. She finally understood what Althea had been telling her about the way he looked at her; it was in his eyes at this moment. She bit her lip and slowly nodded. "Yes. Yes, I would. In a moment."
He closed his eyes and let out the breath he'd been holding. His head dropped down and he lifted her hands to press a kiss against them both. When he opened his eyes to look at her again, he said, "You have no idea how happy you have just made me and made my decision so much easier." He cupped her jaw in his hands and leaned his forehead against hers. "Knowing that you will be waiting for me, I will go to the Divine and beg her on both knees. I will grovel, I will pledge a tenth of my city's wealth to the Chantry, whatever it takes…if it means that I will be with you."
His words hit her like a punch to the stomach. Hearing him confirm that he felt for her the same way she felt for him was almost overwhelming. Without thought, her hands slid up his chest to touch the sides of his neck, her fingers brushing against the roughness of his jawline. His name slipped over her lips in a soft whisper. Time seemed to come to a standstill as his hands slid down to her waist, pulling her even closer against his body. His lips touched hers in a kiss so gentle, it was as if a butterfly had grazed against her mouth. It wasn't enough. With a soft moan, she pulled his head forward and pressed her lips more firmly to his.
Sebastian answered her unspoken need with a matching fervor. His hand lifted to grasp the back of her head, his fingers tangled in the strands of her hair. The taste of her lips, the scent of her skin, the feel of holding her the way he had wanted to do for so long, all combined into something more heady than the most potent wine.
They parted with a deep sigh and Bailey leaned her head against his chest. "Now what?" She whispered softly after a few moments of listening to his racing heartbeat.
He leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of her head, delighted that he could do so. "Now…I think we should probably go to bed."
She pulled back to look up at him. "I mean when we get back to Kirkwall."
He moved one hand to cradle her cheek. "We will have to be…discreet. As far as the Grand Cleric is concerned, I was foresworn on my vows the day I hired Hawke to kill the men that killed my family, but I don't wish to cause her anymore pain. She has been like a second mother to me, and I want to at least maintain an outward appearance of civility until the technicalities and legalities are met."
"So…maintain a façade in public…but anything goes behind the doors of my house or when we are away from Kirkwall?"
He gave her a naughty smile and let his hand trail down from her cheek, over her neck and across her collarbone. Her chest heaved slightly as she took a sudden breath. "Aye, my lady," he said, his voice dropping into a soft growl, his brogue suddenly more pronounced.
She swallowed against the lump in her throat and darted her tongue over her lips. She moved her hand to place it over his, pressing both against her heart. "I'm not sure I'll be able to maintain a distance when you look at me like that," she murmured.
"Nor I, not when you speak so sweetly," he replied. "But we have to try, at least for a while." He paused as cocked his head to the side. "I think we shall have to take a lot more hunting trips in the near future, my lady."
"And daily studies at my house. Scholarly discussions, of course," she nodded in agreement.
He laughed and bent his head to capture her lips once more, letting himself forget Kirkwall and the Chantry as the scent of amber and honeysuckle wrapped around him.