A/N: So I tried to incorporate some of the cutscene stuff... xD Not sure how well it turned out but oh well. Sorry if last chapter sucked, I won't be doing more like it xD

Chapter length: 3872

Onward!

Chapter Thirty-Six: Back to the Hinterlands

Callum woke to warmth nestled into his side. He grinned before he even woke, because while Dorian sometimes slept next to him, he was careful to never be this close. He seemed afraid to touch him half the time. Memories of the night before returned, along with a headache from the alcohol. Instead of grimacing, his grin only widened as he rolled toward that source of warmth and found his head resting on Dorian's exposed shoulder, the covers coming up to just under his elbows, hinting at what was beneath. They were both still naked, he noted with a quiet, breathy chuckle.

The sound roused Dorian, it seemed, as the mage made this little noise and his eyes slowly fluttered open. For a moment he stared up at the ceiling in confusion, before his gaze drifted toward Callum.

"Still not a dream, huh?" Callum asked quietly.

Dorian smiled faintly, yawning somewhat. "No, Amatus; still not a dream."

"Good."

Even in his dreams, Dorian had never looked this good. He'd never looked as great as he had last night, and it was a shame Callum had been more than a little drunk, as certain parts of his memory were fuzzy. He didn't want to forget a moment of what happened between them. It wasn't a dream. It was real.

"I thought we'd never get here," Callum said, unaware he'd actually spoken the words allowed until Dorian chuckled faintly next to him.

"I like playing hard to get," Dorian said.

Callum quirked a brow as he pushed himself up on one elbow, looking down at the mage. "Oh? And now?"

Dorian smiled wholeheartedly. "I'm gotten."

Callum lowered himself enough to capture the mage's lips. "So you're mine now?" he whispered against those supple lips he could bite for days.

Dorian went silent beneath him, before arms suddenly wound around him and they rolled, with Dorian now sitting on top of him, looking down at him with a smile. The breath slipped from Callum's lungs at the sudden change, and the look in Dorian's eyes. Dorian needed to look at him like that more often, that was all there was to it.

"I am yours," Dorian replied with this smile which did things to Callum's heart, making it beat faster even as Dorian leaned his head down to share another kiss with him. As he pulled back, the hesitancy returned, and those brown eyes skittered away as his fingers rested atop Callum's chest uncertainly. "Forgive me; I am not usually… nervous, when it comes to sex. I don't know why I fought it for so long."

"But you're happy you stopped fighting, right?"

Because that was what really mattered right now.

"Yes, Amatus."

Callum smiled, warmth flooding through him at the title. "You know you don't have to be so hesitant, right? I mean – I would never force you into anything. All you have to do is tell me to stop and I will, no questions asked."

Dorian's expression softened further. "I know," he said, fingers trailing a pattern across Callum's chest. "That's what I… adore about you."

Callum laughed quietly. "The fact I don't ask questions?"

"The fact you accept me as I am."

"Why wouldn't I?"

Dorian's gaze skittered away again. His fingers stopped moving. "There are things you do not know about me. Things I have… neglected to tell you."

"Whatever it is, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to, you know?"

It wasn't easy telling Dorian of his past, after all. He felt better after he finally told someone, knowing he didn't have to share the burden alone, but that didn't mean it was easy to tell him in the first place. He could understand Dorian's reluctance, and he wouldn't force him to speak of what was bothering him, what he thought might change Callum's mind about him.

"I know."

"But if you do want to tell me, it won't make me think any differently of you, if that's what you're worried about."

How could he ever judge Dorian, when Dorian hadn't judged him after learning about what happened to his family?

"I… I want to tell you," Dorian admitted with a heavy sigh, his gaze still focused elsewhere, to the left of the bed, "I just am unsure how to do so right now. Maybe… Maybe later. I'm sorry."

"You're perfectly fine," Callum said, capturing one of Dorian's hands and bringing it to his mouth. If Dorian wouldn't let him kiss him on the lips, with how the mage was positioned on top of him still, and his gaze was still focused elsewhere, then Callum was going to kiss what he could. He kissed each finger individually, smiling when it brought Dorian's gaze back to him.

"What are you doing?"

"Loving your fingers, obviously."

"Why?"

"Because you won't get down here and kiss me properly."

Dorian's cheeks reddened again, but he did as asked, and leaned down, allowing their mouths to connect once more. Callum wrapped his arms around the mage's firm body and pulled him down on top of him, forcing them closer together. When they broke for air, Dorian collapsed next to him, both of them resting on their backs, looking up at the ceiling, but Callum still held one of Dorian's hands hostage, his fingers circling around the mage's.

"I'm… curious where this goes, you and I," Dorian said after a moment of silence.

"Hmm?" He rolled his head toward the mage.

"I mean…" Dorian took in a long breath, keeping his gaze firmly focused on the ceiling. "We've had fun. Perfectly reasonable to leave things here and… get on with killing archdemons and such…"

Callum frowned, propping himself up on an elbow again, looking down at the mage who refused to meet his eyes. "Dorian…"

"I mean, it makes sense, doesn't it?"

"It this what this is to you? Fun?"

Dorian continued looking up at the ceiling.

"I want more than just 'fun', Dorian," Callum said quietly, wondering what was going on in Dorian's head. Was he wanting to run? Was he wanting to end things after they had sex? Uncertainty clawed at Callum's throat, but he couldn't just let Dorian walk away. He couldn't just let him leave without a fight, because things were so perfect last night…

Dorian remained silent.

Callum swallowed. "Speechless, I see."

Dorian finally spared him a glance. "I was… not expecting your answer."

"Why not? Do you really think I just want to have 'fun' with you? That after we had sex, I would just kick you out?" He stared at the mage for a moment, a knot in his stomach. "Maker, that's really what you thought! That's what you think of me!"

He climbed out of bed, flinging the covers away from him, standing naked in the middle of his room as he paced, clawing at his hair.

"Maker, I'm so stupid…"

"Where I come from," Dorian started, from the bed, and Callum listened but didn't stop pacing and didn't look at him, "anything between two men… it's about pleasure. It's accepted, but taken no further."

Silence as Callum paced. Dorian continued.

"You learn not to hope for more. You'd be foolish to."

Foolish, huh? Foolish to want more?

He spun and faced Dorian, catching his eye, watching the mag sitting on the edge of the bed. "So let's be foolish," he said, approaching the bed.

"Hard habit to break," Dorian said, but he was smiling now, the closer Callum got.

"I'm good at breaking things," Callum pointed out with a smirk, as he stopped directly in front of Dorian.

"Hopefully not everything," came the response as Dorian's fingers teased the ticklish skin of his hips, all feather-light touches. He fought the urge to laugh and flee, and instead stayed put, though he did brush those ticklish touches away for the time being.

There was a knock at the door, then, and they both sort of froze.

"Fuck," Callum groaned, running the heel of his palm into his forehead as the door opened, since they hadn't locked it after Hawke left. He threw a glare at whoever dared to enter, and wasn't amused to find Hawke looking back at him now with that cheeky grin of his, as Dorian attempted to vanish under the covers.

"You should really learn to lock your doors," Hawke said.

"I hate you," Callum snapped, glaring at him. "What do you want? And it had better be good!"

"Calm down," Hawke said, holding his hands out disarmingly. "There's even breakfast waiting for you at the tavern."

That… softened his mood a little, but not much. Right now he just wanted to lay in bed with Dorian again. Was that so much to ask for?

"And what do I have to do to earn this food?" he asked, folding his arms across his chest.

"We both have jobs to do," Hawke said with a sigh. "And before you earn any food, your first task is to put some clothes on. I don't like you that much."

Callum rolled his eyes and stomped toward his growing wardrobe.

xXx

"No matter what I do, I just can't seem to be rid of the Hinterlands."

Dorian hid a smirk at the tone of Callum's voice as he gazed from their spot on a hill, over the crests and falls of the Hinterlands. It was true; in the end they kept winding up right back where it started – in the Hinterlands, on a hill, in the woods. The Hinterlands still held a certain fondness in Dorian's mind; he lived here for years, after all. That did not mean he enjoyed returning here all of the time, though.

Currently, Hawke, Fenris, Vivienne and Sera were exploring and scouting the Western Approach. Hawke had a Grey Warden friend, as well as a Grey Warden brother, who might be able to help them figure out what was happening with the Grey Wardens, and why they seemed to be so absent right now. Even Blackwall was concerned about this. Dorian would confess to not having had many conversations with the Warden, but he seemed perturbed about it. So did Anders.

Anders joined him and Callum in the Hinterlands, since they decided to always have a healer in their group from now on. It just seemed like the best idea, and since Fenris and Anders couldn't quite get along, that left Anders in their group instead. Varric also joined them, wanting to be there for them as much as Anders. Anders was doing well enough, save for his anxiety. He seemed to think everything he did had to be worthwhile; he had a lot to make up for, in his mind. Dorian knew this was partially true; Anders was the cause for the war in the first place, but he was a damn good healer and tried his best to make up for it. In light of Corypheus and everything, his role in the war seemed trivial since the war wasn't the focus right now.

Funny how a darkspawn magister and his archdemon accomplice could throw a wrench into even the best laid plans of wars between sworn enemies. Southern Thedas had thankfully at least attempted to band together to take down Corypheus and his army. Then everyone could go back to hating each other.

There had been reports through the Hinterlands of wildfires. The first suspect was rebel mages, but that had died down ever since Redcliffe, thankfully, which left a lot of unanswered questions about what was happening in the Hinterlands. As they traveled further into the Hinterlands than they ever had before, it became evident it wasn't mages doing this.

The dragon roared as it flew overhead, its shadow dotting out the land below as they all looked up at it.

"Oh," Anders said, "wonderful. Dragons."

Dorian swallowed, looking up at the beast before it disappeared from view through the cliffsides along the horizon. Looking at the dragon reminded him of the last dragon he'd seen – the one which had helped Corypheus attack Haven. He'd been here, too, watching it fly overhead and knowing there wasn't anything he could do about it, as it and the army headed toward Haven. He'd never felt so helpless in his entire life.

Callum's arm brushed against his own as the rogue pushed ahead of them. "C'mon," he said with a heavy sigh, "there are rifts nearby."

It was one of the reasons they were back in the Hinterlands, after all; so he could close the rifts through here and finally be done with this area. No new ones seemed to be popping up, thankfully, but there were still entirely too many rifts out there right now, pouring demons into this world.

Dorian kept an eye on the sky nevertheless. So far, the dragon hadn't returned. Hopefully it would be easy to spot a dragon flying a them and give them ample time to seek cover and attack themselves, but the last time a dragon had been involved… that hadn't been the case.

Thinking about it only led to a headache, though, so he pushed it from his mind for the time being.

"I certainly hope Hawke's having a better time than we are," Varric said, walking at Dorian's side. Dorian nodded in silent agreement. It was quite dusty near the Western Approach; hopefully there were no dragons there, though.

They approached the green glow of a rift. Callum's fingers clenched into a fist as his left hand pulsated with that same glow, a grimace clear on the rogue's face. Dorian sighed sympathetically; he knew it hurt to be this close to the rifts, and closing the rifts brought with it its own pain. He hoped one day, soon, this could be over and the mark could be removed.

Corypheus told Callum the mark, the 'Anchor', was permanent.

No. We will find a way. We must.

It wasn't fair to Callum for him to be stuck with it forever. It might take time, of course, but they would find a way to fix this, to rid the rogue of that painful, glowing mark.

After the demons were dealt with, Callum closed the rift and then closed his eyes, keeping his hands clenched into fists a moment longer, held stiffly at his sides. Dorian knew he was in pain, but before he could reach for him, Anders was already there, reaching for his left wrist.

"I can sooth the pain, if only a little," the healer said somewhat apologetically. "It is temporary, of course."

"Of course," Callum repeated with a smirk. "Thanks, Anders."

Dorian watched as healing magic flitted from Anders' hands into Callum's left hand. A moment later it was over, and Anders stepped back, dropping his hands to his sides. "Better?"

Callum nodded. "Yes, thank you."

Whether or not it was the truth was another matter entirely, but Callum at least tried to be polite and grateful. Which, Dorian knew he was grateful for the help, even if it failed. He hoped it worked, though. If anyone could use some relief it was the rogue, he was certain.

His mind wandered, then, back toward before they left Skyhold. Back in bed with Callum. It was… wonderful, and nice, and he was eager to return to Skyhold and do it again.

It would have to wait for now, of course. It just made his mood worse the longer they stayed out here closing rifts and the like.

That, and of course the fact closing rifts hurt Callum; he didn't enjoy seeing the rogue in pain, after all.

They were currently traveling through a part of the Hinterlands they had not been in before. The further this way they went, the darker it became, and it was decided they would make camp for the night. Even as they did so, they could hear – sounds, in the distance. Dorian wasn't quite sure what that particular sound was, to be honest, and no one was very forthcoming with the answers. They preferred to leave the sound alone and hopefully whatever was making it would leave them alone as well.

A fire was lit and the tents were set up. Callum lounged next to the fire, yawning widely as he put his daggers on the ground next to him, stretching this way and that. Dorian sat next to him as Anders went to his tent to sleep, tired after a day of healing people and traveling. Dorian couldn't blame him. Varric also went to sleep, after having Callum promise to wake him in a few hours so he could take watch and the rogue could get some sleep. Callum had decided to take first watch despite a long day of traveling.

As the sun set fully, leaving them in darkness save for the fire, Dorian sat back with a yawn.

"It's been a long day," Callum said quietly, so as to not disturb the others, "you can sleep if you want."

"I will soon," Dorian said. "Or you could sleep, and I could take first watch."

Callum smiled, the fire casting odd shadows across his face. "Or you could get some beauty sleep."

"Are you saying I am ugly?"

"I would never say that, Dori," Callum said, tossing him a quick smirk, and Dorian scowled at the rogue.

"Never?"

"Never. It wouldn't be true, now would it?"

Dorian looked away, focusing on the fire.

"Hello, Denny," Callum said, not unexpectedly, and the scowl deepened.

"I am not blushing."

"You kind of are, Dear, but it's okay."

"Dear," Dorian echoed. He'd thought he'd heard Callum call him that when they were in bed, but to be honest, he could have simply heard him wrong then. Now, though…

"What? You get to call me cute little names like Amatus but I don't get to call you anything?"

He had a point. Still…

He smirked and shook his head. "Whatever you wish, Amatus."

Something shifted in the distance, as Dorian was getting to his feet to head toward his sleeping area. He stiffened and looked over his shoulder at Callum, who was already on his feet, silent as a ghost, his daggers held firmly in his hands as his gaze carefully scanned what they could see around them.

"I'll be right back," Callum said softly, his voice but a breath of air.

Dorian opened his mouth to protest – you are the Herald; you cannot simply just run off to investigate strange sounds! – but by the time he found his voice, the rogue had disappeared from view, entering his stealth mode. Dorian found himself having a love-hate relationship with that ability; sometimes it worked in their favor, but when it left Callum disappearing from his side and left him unable to locate him…

Dorian paced in front of the fire, uncertain of what he should do next. He wanted to follow Callum, but knew he couldn't just abandon Varric and Anders. He could wake them, but what if it was nothing? They needed their sleep. As he was arguing with himself and was a breath away from waking the other two, Callum returned, turning visible in front of him.

"It's okay," he said quietly. "But we need to keep silent."

"What's going on?" Dorian asked, his voice equally as quiet.

Callum hesitated only briefly, before he shrugged. "Baby dragons."

"Baby…?" Dorian's eyes widened. "Baby dragons?"

Callum nodded.

"What…? Why?"

"Well, when a mommy dragon and-" came the smartass response.

Dorian tossed the rogue a quick glare. "You know what I mean."

Callum shrugged. "I don't know, but I'm guessing that's why that dragon's around right now. We need to be careful. I don't think it will take too kindly to us killing its babies, you know?"

Dorian nodded, scrubbing a hand over his face as he sighed heavily. "So we just – what? Sleep, knowing we could be eaten at any moment?"

"Well, I have first watch," Callum mused with another shrug. "So do you trust me to keep watch while you rest your eyes?"

Dorian scowled; Callum knew he trusted him. That didn't make this any easier, though, because leaving Callum to have first watch was one thing; letting it happen while there were dragons around… close enough to make noise… close enough for them to have to be quiet…

He could see the rogue's stubborn resolve, though, and so he threw his hands in the air in exasperation and made his way to his sleeping area, which happened to be a tent he was sharing with Callum. They only had two tents, after all; Varric and Anders were sharing, and Callum and Dorian were as well.

Dorian didn't mind this, of course. He rather liked having a warm body to sleep against, to be perfectly honest. The strange part was how used to it he was becoming, and he wasn't entirely certain what to make of that. In Tevinter, there was never really any sleeping next to each other; just sex, and then Dorian was left alone while his partner fled, or he himself fled, lest his father find out. Now, though… there were no such worries. Nothing was rushed. He could take his time, and linger.

He smiled.

Linger.

He rather liked to linger.

The tent flap closed behind him, and he curled up in his sleep roll.

xXx

Callum woke tired the next morning. Dorian had a restless night and kept kneeing him in the kidney every time he moved or rolled over, and they had to wake early anyway, which left him with only a few hours of sleep. Interrupted sleep, no less. He yawned as they packed up camp and began moving along again, attempting to navigate their way out of this area without attracting the dragons' attention.

They had enough things to worry about other than dragons.

"You know," Varric said conversationally, as they navigated the terrain, "Tiny loves this sort of thing."

Callum snickered to himself. Varric's nicknames were humorous, really. Tiny, Curly, Sparkler, Chuckles, Dicey…

"What sort of thing?" Anders asked.

"Dragons and such," Varric replied, smirk evident in his voice even if Callum couldn't see his face, as he was walking ahead of the dwarf. "He lives for this sort of thing."

"Lovely," Dorian muttered under his breath. "Just what we need."

Callum hid a smirk, which was easy since he was at the front of the group, leading the way, with Dorian just behind him, and Anders and Varric bringing up the rear.

They walked in a peaceful silence for a while, before-

"Callum?"

Callum stiffened at the use of his name, as it wasn't any of his companions who spoke it. He stopped, turning stiffly toward the sound and realized the others were doing the same, a barrier already falling over him thanks to Dorian, as Varric readied his crossbow, Bianca.

What he found, though, made him immediately stop reaching for his daggers. Instead he moved forward to intercept the others before they could get to the stranger standing in the clear just ahead of them. He threw up a hand, warning them against violent actions, and then turned to fully give his attention to the newcomer.

Sunset eyes. Dark hair.

"Emry."

A/N: And there's that chapter. I might not be doing "Here Lies the Abyss" for a while now xD I might actually do Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts first. We'll see, though. Thanks for reading and please review!

~Muffy the Dough Slayer~