After their dramatic prison break; after the second heart-stopping threat of never seeing one another again had passed, there was no putting off discussing their feelings for each other.

It was easier than Leliana had expected. There was less actual talking than she'd feared and decidedly more kissing. They hadn't stayed outside by the campfire for long. Instead they'd retired to Hana's tent, where ("no, Wynne, we were not doing anything unseemly") they could finally enjoy each other's presence in the freedom of knowing where they stood. If that involved a generous helping of more kissing, well, Leliana was not averse to it.

They were in Hana's bedroll at the moment ("yes, Wynne, fully clothed"—except for Hanalea's shirt, maybe. It had been an utter shock to Leliana that she'd been able to coax her out of her underarmor), the Warden half-atop the bard, and Leliana didn't feel the slightest bit trapped by the position; only safe. She had her arms wrapped around Hana's bare waist, fingers exploring the map of scars along the planes of her back. Somehow after thirty minutes of this, the motion of their mouths together had still not grown boring. In fact, Leliana felt positively addicted.

She was more than a little disgruntled when Hanalea pulled away for more than the usual split second required to breathe. She was less so when the Warden said,

"Hey. I nearly forgot. I have something for you."

Leliana breathed hard and deep in the absence of her lips. Her hands slid down to massage the Warden's biceps as she relaxed back against the bedroll. "Oh?" she questioned, trying to downplay her excitement. "What's the occasion?"

Hana smiled down at her and Leliana staunchly resisted the urge to just keep kissing her. "Does there have to be an occasion?"

The bard hummed her doubt. "In my experience, gifts usually accompany either a holiday or a request for a favor." Her experiences hadn't actually involved genuine caring relationships, apparently, but she was still set in her ways. "Shall I ask which this is?"

"It's because I love you. That's all," Hana said, dropping her voice along with her eyelids.

Combined with the brush of her thumb over the bard's cheek, the gesture had Leliana flushing from head to toe. This kind of tenderness, along with that simple little phrase, still tended to knock the wind out of her. It was still so fresh; so new; so shocking. So wonderful. She wouldn't trade the feeling for the world. All she could manage was a tiny, "Oh."

Hana gave a light little laugh as she rolled over to reach for her rucksack. Leliana watched her unabashedly as she dug around in the bag for whatever the surprise was, hypnotized by the ripple of the muscles in her shoulders. It still didn't feel real that she could touch those muscles whenever she wanted, now; that she was allowed to act on her feelings instead of smashing them deep down inside her. It didn't feel real that she was allowed to have rather than just want. And to have this beautiful, selfless, strong Warden, no less. She realized abruptly that the words I love you would never really be able to express the depth of what she truly felt.

Hanalea rolled back over to face her, and the almost embarrassed hopefulness in her eyes would have been gift enough for Leliana, but she had something cradled in her hand, too. Leliana reached over to gently uncurl her fingers, exposing the object resting in the middle of her palm.

A gemstone. An amethyst, if she was not mistaken. Her heart both clenched and soared with affection. "Oh, this is lovely!" she cried upon laying eyes on it. She plucked it from Hanalea's hand to hold it up to the light. It truly was beautiful; bright and clear and unblemished. She still would have loved it had it been the ugliest rock on the planet, but it really was a nice gift. Leliana turned her smile on her generous Warden. "Thank you so much."

Hanalea's cheeks might have reddened slightly. "It reminded me of your eyes," she admitted hesitantly, as if wondering if that might be too much for their fledgling relationship.

Leliana did not think so at all. But she looked incredulously back and forth between the violet gem and her dear Warden, wondering if perhaps she ought to see a healer. "…my eyes?"

Hana's blush deepened. "I mean—I know your eyes aren't purple," she was quick to assure, "but—" She reached up and enclosed Leliana's hand with the gemstone in her own so they were holding it together. It sparkled in the candlelight. "They catch the light the same way. Beautifully." She turned her gaze back to the bard, and Leliana nearly wilted beneath the heat of her look.

"Flatterer," she could barely manage to breathe out.

Hana grinned crookedly like she knew the effect she was having. "It's true," she murmured, guiding Leliana's hand to her chest so the gem was cradled between their bodies. Then she leaned down for a slow kiss, and Leliana almost dropped it.

"You spoil me, my dear Warden," she said through her own smile as they pulled apart.

"As intended," Hana whispered against her lips. Another kiss, and then, "I love you, Leliana."

Leliana closed her eyes and let those words, these feelings, wash over her like an ocean wave. She would not have traded this moment for anything. It still didn't feel real.

"I love you, too," she breathed in reply, not for the first time and not for the last, before they lost themselves in each other again.

…