Leliana woke with a gasp and felt a small pinch when she sat up a bit, staring around her.

Where am I?

Slowly she regained her memory of the past day and she put her hand to her stomach, reaching under her shirt and feeling the small, jagged edges of her new scar.

And then her eyes noticed me on the bed next to her, fast asleep.

Detra.

Leliana lay back down and noticed how dark it was outside. She turned on her side to look at me and she wondered how long she'd been asleep. Her mind went to work patching the day's events together and I sighed and made a bit of a commotion as I turned to my other side.

Leliana frowned.

I finally get her back into my bed and I can't even look at her.

Since it was nighttime and there was no reason to leave the bed, Leliana settled back down under the covers with me and forgot there was even reason for concern, she felt that good.

"So there have been no Darkspawn sightings near Denerim, then? Maybe they are going to attack Redcliffe?"

The other guard shook his head.

"Why would the Darkspawn break down a settlement small as Redcliffe? It would be instinct to tear down the capital of Ferelden."

"I suppose but why have we not seen them further than the forest?"

"I have no answer for that but that is what the scouts are reporting. We will just have to wait and see what the Darkspawn do. At least we will be ready for them this time."

The men settled back into their chairs and drained the ale in their mugs.

"I'll get us a refill." the blond one giggled, knowing they could get into much trouble if they were found drinking on the job.

The one left behind yawned, putting his feet up on the wall in front of him. He made himself comfortable and then suddenly felt a rumbling beneath him.

"What the bloody..."

The watchman stood from his chair and stared at the cloud of dust that had erupted not far from the gate. He righted the empty bottle of whiskey that had fallen over on the table and struggled to see beyond the dust.

The blond guard came rushing back just as the dirt began to settle a bit.

"Did you feel that? What is...?"

Both of the watchmen froze in horror as much movement could now be seen past the thick clouds of dust.

Groups of Darkspawn, large and small, crawled forth from the hole that now lay in the earth, just meters from the gates of Denerim.

The two men nearly soiled themselves as a gigantic ogre clambered up the fresh opening in the earth and roared as it saw Denerim ahead.

There were suddenly hundreds of Darkspawn pouring into sight and they were advancing on the gates of Denerim. The bellow from each one of them rose up into a cacophony of anger and hatred as their movement speed increased.

The two watchmen screamed at the top of their lungs and ran towards the guardhouse to warn them, barely making it down the ladder before the Darkspawn began their push against the city gates.

Leliana snuggled up against my back and smiled when she noticed that I still wore the lavender oil that she'd given me weeks ago. She pressed her lips to the back of my neck and then repeated the same two more times.

Leliana's heart felt very content as she lay there and her mind returned to earlier days, when we'd been closer and had more time together. She felt her heart quicken as memories of just the other night came back to her. She felt us kiss again in her mind, closing her eyes.

A moment later, Leliana discovered that her hands were now on me below the covers and her breath fluttered, wondering what she was doing. She did not stop however and Leliana remembered how good touching me felt, letting her hands broaden their exploration.

Leliana heard me groan a bit and wondered what I would do if I were awake. She felt a familiar pang below her waist and she smiled and pressed further against me. She was only human after all and she had needs too.

Needs that had barely been touched upon in the last week or two.

As Leliana pondered fulfilling her needs, I caused another ruckus by turning onto my back. Before Leliana could admire her view again, I sighed.

"Leli..."

Leliana stiffened for a moment, wondering if she'd heard what she did and running it back through her mind. When it was clear, any uncertainty she'd felt before melted away and she leaned up on me, breath quickening, her hand on my face and neck.

"Detra..."

Leliana grew purposely firm in her touch and a few seconds later, I roused from my slumber, my eyes falling upon her, confused and then shocked.

"Leliana? Are you..."

Leliana had had enough of talking and pressed her thumb to my lips with determined intensity, silencing me.

"Shhh." Leliana sounded with a tremble in her voice.

Leliana's lips fell upon mine after that and I struggled to wake myself up and respond to what was happening.

Leliana pulled her shirt off above her head and fell back down against me, now straddling me and pulling my shirt up and off. Leliana's lips covered my own and my neck and I could barely move.

"Detra...I've missed you so much..."

Leliana's need was distinct in her voice as she pressed herself against me. I could feel nothing else but her, accepting all that she was offering to me without fail or question.

It had been too long.

Leliana groaned as my hands covered her and she was now working on pushing my bottoms down, our lips still heavy on the others. I did not bother with Leliana's bottoms and soon slid my hand down her front and then between her legs, her arousal evident all over my fingers.

It had been unexpected apparently and Leliana gasped loudly, trembling at first then accepting my fingers as they entered her, softly and slowly.

My entire body hinged on Leliana's expressions. The way she stared into my eyes, showing me all of the pleasure I was giving to her as I moved in and out of her and I felt short of breath, given this intimacy. I kissed Leliana deeply, my other hand on her neck while her arms that held her above me began shaking more each minute.

Leliana's features became strained and I knew it was only seconds away and such a guttural sound escaped Leliana as she clamped onto my wrist with her own hand to feel what I was doing to her as it happened. She hovered a bit, sated, and then Leliana slowly slid down against me.

I turned on my side to watch her and Leliana's eyes fluttered open, her hand on my face, tenderly pushing the hair from my eyes.

"I...I love you..."

Leliana took a deep breath.

"It feels so good to be able to say that..."

My eyes never left Leliana but my mind took that same turn it always did and I hesitated, not responding.

"Detra?"

Leliana's touch and attention brought me back and I looked at her.

For once, truly looked at her.

And I smiled.

"Come quickly! The Darkspawn are attacking! The Darkspawn are here!"

Leliana and I looked at each other in total shock and nearly fell to the floor trying to get out of the bed.

All sorts of confusion and disorder erupted from beyond Leliana's door as we shouted back and forth to one another.

"Did you hear what I just heard? The Darkspawn, here, now?" I yelled, pulling my shirt on.

"Yes! They must have known to attack us at night when we'd be weakest!" Leliana yelled back while pulling her clothes on.

"But we haven't seen them even remotely close to Denerim! How did they get here so fast?"

Leliana shook her head.

"That doesn't really matter now, does it?"

Leliana pulled her shoes on and began dressing in her armor and I walked to her.

"Leliana, I don't think you should be..."

"Like hell, Detra! If you think I am letting you go out there alone, you are even crazier than you think I am."

In any other instance, I might have laughed but with the unknown ahead of us, I simply nodded.

"I must get to my room...My armor and weapons are there."

Leliana nodded, still attaching her armor.

"I will meet you there."

I moved towards the door and Leliana caught my arm.

"Wait...Detra."

Leliana pulled me into her arms and held me there for a moment or so. I relaxed in her arms and pulled her against me, wishing we needn't leave the room.

"Be careful, my love. And wait for me at your room." Leliana whispered into my ear.

I closed my eyes and breathed in Leliana.

"I will. You be careful as well."

With one last look and kiss, I moved towards the door again, leaving Leliana to finish and then meet me when her armor was complete.

I sprinted from the room and joined the array of soldiers that were moving through the hall, asking some what they knew of the situation.

Leliana frowned, angry.

Darkspawn, the only other thing that could take her away from me, did just that.

Leliana grabbed her bow.

Maker help them.