Warning: This Chapter Contains Explicit Sexual Content

Thanks to everyone who has read and favorited this story!

A special thanks to my wonderful reviewers: lisakodysam, Shakespira, and voltagelisa

And the biggest thanks to my Beta Reader and partner-in-crime, Lisa - without you I would be lost!

All is owned by Bioware - don't we all wish we owned it?

Zeva returned to her room after seeing Fergus and his men off to battle. She had maintained an assured countenance in front of her parents, but as she saw her brother vanish over the horizon, a chill swept over her, and she fought back the urge to cry. She prayed that she would see him again soon, unharmed and victorious.

Alone in her quarters, she finally allowed the tears to flow. Zeva had always had a preternatural sense when something was wrong, and she had a very bad feeling about this upcoming darkspawn battle. She knew that Eleanor felt it, as well, and it increased her anxiety tenfold.

Silly girl, she thought to herself. What would Fergus say if he saw you blubbering like this? He would tell her to pick herself up and behave like a Cousland should, of course. So that is exactly what she planned to do. There was a dinner to prepare for, but first there was the small matter of Dairren...

She washed her face and exited her room, the family's study her final destination.

Upon entering the library, she was greeted by Aldous, the Couslands' tutor, who was instructing some of the castle's children on the history of her family. She spent a few moments assisting Aldous with the boys' lessons, and headed through the door into the study.

Dairren stood at the back of the room, studying the collection of antique books that lined the walls. Zeva approached him and softly cleared her throat, not wanting to startle him.

Dairren turned toward her and smiled brightly, "Hello, again. Your castle's study is wonderful. Might I ask whose collection this is?"

"It was my grandfather's, but I come here often to read," she said, remembering how much she always loved to relax in this room.

Dairren nodded his agreement. "So would I. Do you have a favorite book?"

Perfect, she thought. Without pausing she replied, " 'The Art of Passionate Love' by Brother Capria." Her smile grew as she saw the flush come into his cheeks.

"Oh, that was banned by the Chantry, wasn't it? Quite.. provocative, I understand. I've.. uh.. never read it, myself." Dairren stammered.

Zeva's eyes flashed as she moved closer to Dairren and whispered into his ear, "I could show you what I learned from it." She noticed that his breath hitched slightly and her confidence grew.

Dairren flushed deeper and slowly brought his eyes up to meet hers. "Oh.. that sounds.. interesting. Um, here?"

"Why don't we go somewhere more private," Zeva purred. Behind the bookcase in the corner would suffice at this point. She could feel her heart rate quicken.

"Gladly!" Dairren immediately responded, before looking down at the floor. " But your mother is expecting me for dinner shortly, as is mine. Perhaps another time?"

Oh, you won't get away that easily, Dairren dear, Zeva mused."Why don't you come to my room later tonight?"

The slight smile Zeva gave Dairren was all the encouragement he needed. "I.. suppose I could see you after everyone is asleep for something of a more.. intimate nature, if that is what you mean?"

Zeva ran her hand slowly down Dairren's shirt, stopping just short of the top his breeches. "Is that what you want?"

He pulled her closer and encircled her waist with his hands. "I think I do."

Zeva closed the short distance between them and placed a chaste kiss on his cheek. "Then I will see you tonight."

Before she could pull away, Dairren cupped her chin with his fingertips and lightly kissed her lips. "I look forward to it. I shall see you then."

Dinner looked to be very interesting indeed...

Teyrn and Teyrna Cousland and their guests arrived in the dining hall promptly at 7:30 for their celebration. Teyrn Cousland was seated at the head of the table with the Teyrna at the other end. The chair to his left was empty, as Zeva had yet to arrive.

To Eleanor's left sat Lady Landra, with her son Dairren seated next to her. Duncan was seated next to Bryce, across from the chair designated for Zeva, and Arl Howe was on Duncan's right. Wine was poured for everyone and Bryce was about to propose the first toast of the evening when the dining room doors were opened and Zeva was announced.

Zeva had taken extreme care with planning her wardrobe for the evening and from the look on the faces of the men surrounding her father, her attention to detail had paid off. Each man rose from his chair and Dairren moved quickly to escort Zeva to her seat, pushing in her chair once she was seated. As she sat down, her eyes never left Duncan's, a fact not unnoticed by Howe, who hid his scowl behind his napkin, feigning a cough.

Her dress was velvet, colored a deep royal blue which complimented her eyes. The plunging neckline was trimmed in lace, and a velvet necklace adorned with a single sapphire hung between her creamy breasts. Her hair had been curled and was left loose around her shoulders. Zeva usually wore no makeup, but tonight she had outlined her eyes with dark blue powder and her lips glistened a deep pink.

"Pup, you look beautiful," her father said proudly. Murmurs of assent were heard from around the table. Eleanor nodded approvingly at her daughter and Zeva returned the gesture with a bright smile.

A toast was quickly offered in honor of the castle's guests. "We are honored to have all of you with us as we prepare to leave and defend our great kingdom from the beasts who would seek to destroy it. May Ferelden ever remain strong and proud." Bryce uttered, as he lifted his glass.

With that the meal began. It was a wonderful repast of beef and vegetables, enough to feed a small army, and the wine flowed freely.

Sometime between the first course and the second, Zeva slipped off her shoe and began to inch her foot up Duncan's leg, never altering her facial expression. When Duncan first felt the touch of her toes, he had instinctively tightened his muscles, and his eyes widened temporarily. Zeva smiled courteously in his direction and spoke over the din of conversation. "Ser Duncan, would you indulge us all with some tales of the Grey Wardens?"

Duncan returned her gaze and nodded. "Of course, Lady Zeva, anything for our honored hostess." He hoped she noticed the inflection in his words and he was rewarded for his efforts with a slight upturn of her lovely mouth. She would be the death of him, at this rate.

The rest of the dinner passed uneventfully, but Zeva's foot never left Duncan's leg, where it was rubbed back and forth, achingly slow. He was grateful that no one could see the blush that he knew had to be climbing up his neck in time with the movement of her heel on his upper thigh.

Throughout the celebration, neither gave the slightest acknowledgement of the activities going on beneath the table. They carried on conversations with those around them, as if these actions were commonplace.

Duncan watched Dairren and Zeva carefully, though he never looked directly at the couple. He noted the way Dairren leaned ever closer to her when he spoke and how he occasionally covered her hand with his own when he desired her attention.

Zeva and Dairren appeared to be quite engrossed in their discussion of the latest in literature. Duncan could feel jealousy building in his chest when Zeva took Dairren's hand to demonstrate something she had recently read regarding astrology and palm reading, a subject which caused quite a bit of laughter from them both.

Duncan also noted how Lady Landra and Eleanor watched the young couple, smiling conspiratorially to each other and he realized that Dairren would soon be seeking Zeva's hand in marriage. At that moment, he became even more determined to recruit her to the Wardens, if only to remove her from Dairren's grasp.

After dinner, Duncan and Bryce retired to the library for a drink. Arl Howe politely excused himself, saying that he was tired from his journey and wanted to be refreshed for the trip the following morning. He headed toward the guest quarters, but turned down a dark corridor after making sure that no one had seen his detour.

A locked door stood at the end of the hall. Howe used a key in the lock and entered quickly. He stepped into a storage room, and moved with practiced ease toward the far corner. A small cabinet leaned against the wall there and Howe carefully moved it aside. Behind it stood another door. He pulled out a second key and used it in the old lock. It clicked quietly and he slipped through, locking the door behind him.

A series of passageways, running the length of the Castle, lay ahead. These had been built when the castle was first constructed, as an escape route in case of a siege of the lands. There were entrances from each room in the castle to these walkways, and they stretched out before Howe, darkness all around. Yet he moved as one who was quite familiar with their every direction.

After making several turns, he stopped in front of a small door, through the cracks of which shone a light. He kneeled quietly on the ground and opened a small square that had been cut into the door. On the other side of the hole he could clearly see a brightly lit room, with a large bed, washtub and ornate oak furniture. The door opened and Howe held his breath as Zeva stepped into her bedroom.

How many times he had been here Howe no longer knew nor cared. He had stumbled upon the secret passages by accident on a trip to the castle nearly two years before.

Two Years Earlier:

While preparing for bed, Howe's pocket watch had slipped from his hand and landed on the polished wooden floor, skidding several feet away.

As he bent to pick it up, he noticed what appeared to be a doorframe behind the carved secretary in his room. His curiosity piqued, he quietly moved the desk and examined the door he found behind it. Luckily, it was unlocked and he pushed it open and ventured inside, taking a candle from his bedside.

It didn't take Howe long to realize what he had stumbled onto. His own estate had similar escape corridors, and he was about to turn around and head back to his room when he heard a feminine laugh coming from the doorway to his right.

He immediately recognized the voice as that of Zeva Cousland and, without even thinking about what he was doing, he approached the door and peeked through the small crack in the doorframe. Zeva and his daughter, Delilah, both stood near the ornate bed, whispering together and laughing, as two young women often do.

Delilah wore a casual dress, as her room was down the hallway, but Zeva was obviously preparing to go to bed. Maker's Breath, she was exquisite! He felt himself harden as he examined the beauty before him. The ivory gown she wore was of the finest silk and revealed every glorious detail of her lithe frame. The hem ended just below her knees, being trimmed with the daintiest of lace, all of which accentuated her every curve. And the curves she had...

His heart nearly stopped as he realized that she wore no smallclothes under the gown. He could clearly see a triangle patch of dark hair between her legs, and her perfect round breasts were tipped with the most beautiful pink nipples, which were more prominent from the chill in the air. They swayed seductively as she paced the room, animatedly gesturing to Delilah as she spoke in hushed tones.

Wait! Did he hear her say Nate's name?

Delilah was telling Zeva that she had overheard a conversation between Nate and their father detailing the proper steps to be taken in arranging a marriage between Nate and Zeva. Howe watched closely to gauge Zeva's reaction and felt the first pangs of jealousy as he realized how happy she was at the idea.

He knew that Nate longed to marry Zeva and had indeed encouraged his son's affections, as a marriage between their families would solidify his own position among the noble families of Ferelden. Both he and Teyrn Cousland had fought alongside King Maric and Loghain Mac Tir during the war against Orlais. When an ultimate Ferelden victory was achieved, however, the Couslands had been given the greatest honors and rewards. A Cousland/Howe marriage would benefit his family greatly.

However, such agreements with Nate had come before he had laid eyes on the woman in question in all her glory, as it were. Now Howe knew that he could never let his son have such a prize. If any Howe were to experience the joy of her body, it would be the Lord of the Howe home and no one else. It was during that fateful moment, watching the daughter of his 'supposed' closest friend as she excitedly paced her room, that a deadly plan was formed...

Present Day:

Zeva stepped into her bedroom with a bright smile on her face. Everything was working out perfectly. Her parents were so proud that their 'little girl' was finally accepting her role as a noblewoman. She had been seated far enough from Arl Howe at dinner that he wasn't able to leer over her shoulder as was his wont.

Dairren had been wonderfully charming throughout dinner, which had served two purposes for Zeva. The first was blatantly obvious. He was a very handsome man, and the attention he lavished on her was flattering, to say the least.

The second benefit was far more subtle. Zeva had noticed the looks Duncan gave Dairren whenever he would lean in close to her to speak. Though his facial expression never changed, anger flashed in his eyes with each touch of Dairren's hand on hers. It thrilled her to think that Duncan felt jealous of the younger man. Once the house was cleared the next day, she would make sure to thank Duncan properly for his rapt attention during the meal.

But for tonight, there was Dairren. She knew he would be arriving soon, and she wanted to be ready for her night with him. She took off the necklace that her father had given her on her last birthday and she ran her fingers through her hair to loosen the curls.

She walked across her room and opened her credenza. Several silk gowns hung inside. She pored through them and selected a powder blue knee length gown. It was the perfect shade to set off her bright eyes, and sheer enough to get Dairren's blood boiling. She changed into it and laid back on her bed, sighing with contentment.

In the secret corridor, Howe's heart was racing. He had watched her enter the room smiling to herself. She quickly crossed the room and began rummaging through her dresser, coming away with a beautiful silk gown.

She removed her dress and smallclothes. She was pure perfection! Howe thought to himself. He had been present, behind this wall for many baths and other more 'intimate' moments over the last couple of years, and the sight of her naked form had never failed to arouse him deeply. He dreamed of touching her, bringing her to completion as she had so often done to herself. It was a dance between lovers, at least in his mind. She would pleasure herself and he would imagine his own hands touching her as she did, his own fingers brushing across her breasts, entering her...

He was shaken from his reverie by a soft knock on her door. Zeva called quietly, "come in".

NO! It couldn't be that bastard Warden - not yet! Thought Howe furiously. I'm so close to having her! She cannot give herself to that beast!

The door opened and the noble brat from dinner walked in. THIS boy is no match for me, Howe thought with relief. When the plan is set into motion tonight, it will be simple to deal with this one.

The Warden would have been a problem; however, Howe had taken certain precautions to ensure that Duncan would not interfere with his victory.

Let the boy have his fun now, thought Howe, moving closer to the door. His time will soon be over and Zeva will be mine forever! In the meantime, I may as well enjoy the show...

Dairren's heart lurched as he entered Zeva's bedroom and saw her lying on her bed in a most seductive pose. She rose from the bed and walked toward him, hips and breasts swaying seductively as she came closer. Unable to control his desire, he strode forward and grasped her around the waist, pulling her hard to him and claiming her mouth in a crushing kiss.

Zeva's breath escaped her body as Dairren kissed her, parting her lips with his tongue and plunging his own into her mouth, taking the last of her strength with it. He lifted her into his arms and carried her the few steps to her bed, where he laid her down and climbed on top of her, his hardness apparent against her thighs.

He looked deep into her eyes and whispered, "Now, Milady, I believe you promised me a demonstration of the techniques we previously discussed in a certain Chantry-banned book?" He grinned mischievously as he bent his head to place a gentle kiss on her lips, parting them and teasing her tongue with his own.

"I believe I did make that promise, Ser." Zeva purred against his mouth. "Never let it be said that a Cousland went back on her word." With that she hooked her right foot behind his leg and pushed up with her hips, rolling him over and climbing on top of him, her legs straddling his waist. His hands dropped to caress her thighs and he slowly began to lift her gown, wanting desperately to remove the clothing which so cruelly separated them.

"Uh-uh," she chided, wagging her finger as she removed his hands from her gown and placed them above his head. "For a proper demonstration of the techniques I learned, it is necessary that I be given complete control. You, good Ser, are now at my mercy." She bent to kiss him, and whispered in his ear, chuckling softly "Believe me, you will not regret a single moment."

With that, Zeva reached down and began to remove Dairren's shirt, ever so slowly. Once she had the buttons undone, she pulled it open and gazed upon his broad chest, eyes wide with desire. He was very muscular, with soft blond curls covering him, and a thin line of blond hair leading down to the top of his breeches. With a soft laugh, Zeva dropped her head to his chest and began to circle her tongue around his nipple, blowing lightly on it to stimulate it further.

Dairren began to squirm beneath her and moaned her name. Her tongue travelled from one nipple to the other, making sure to give equal attention to both. As she licked his chest, she slowly dropped her hands to his waist and began to coax the strings from his breeches, opening them with her fingers.

Dairren slowly raised his hands to her shoulders, hoping to pull Zeva closer to him. She cuffed him lightly, adding in a determined tone, "If you don't behave, the lesson will be ended and you don't want that, I can assure you." The fire in her eyes confirmed the gravity of her words and he once more placed his arms above his head. "Good boy," Zeva purred and went back to opening his trousers.

With the laces removed, Zeva pulled his breeches apart and reached inside his smallclothes, slowly running her fingers over his hardness, causing him to groan and flex his hands, itching to take her. She lifted herself from his lap and moved to one side, tugging on his breeches and pulling them down to his ankles, discarding them onto the floor. She then crawled slowly up his body, stopping to hover just above his now throbbing manhood.

Dairren nearly whimpered as she placed her hand over him on the outside of his smallclothes. She looked up into his eyes, smiled and said, " I think it is time for the final demonstration, don't you?" He groaned in response as she pulled on the thin strip of cloth covering him, tearing it away and releasing him into her hand. Before he had even had time to react, she leaned down and ran her tongue along the length of his shaft.

Ignoring Dairren's growls of protest, Zeva continued to tease him with her tongue, swirling it around the sensitive head before finally encircling him with her lips and taking him fully into her mouth.

"Maker, the heat!" he gasped. It was almost more than he could bear. She moved her head up and down slowly, running her tongue along the underside of his erection.

"Please, Zeva, I can't take anymore," Dairren moaned loudly, " I need to feel you now!"

Never one to disappoint, Zeva slid her mouth from his manhood and crawled up his body. His control shattered, Dairren grasped the back of Zeva's head and crushed his mouth to hers in a furious kiss. Never letting his mouth leave hers, he rolled her over onto her back and lay between her legs. In one swift moment, her gown was torn down the middle and she lay fully exposed to Dairren. His eyes took in her nude form hungrily and he bent down taking a pert nipple into his mouth and teasing it with his teeth. Zeva arched her body into him and wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him toward her center.

He could feel how ready she was for him, but he wouldn't take her until she'd had a taste of her own torture. He pulled her legs from behind his back and slid down her body, parting her legs wide, giving him full access to her sweet core. He quickly found her nub with his tongue and began lapping slowly, causing her to buck her hips and gasp his name.

He held her hips down with one hand and thrust a finger deep inside her, reveling in the damp tightness of her center. He continued tasting her while adding a second and then a third finger, angling them toward her sweet spot and thrusting them mercilessly in and out. Zeva could feel herself getting close and she wanted it so badly! Suddenly her world was spinning and she had to cover her head with her pillow to stifle her screams, lights exploding behind her eyes.

Dairren moved to lie next to Zeva and kissed her gently, running his fingers down her arms until her breathing slowed. "That was amazing!" she whispered to Dairren and kissed him again, tasting her own sweetness on his lips. She pulled him closer to her, looked deep into his green eyes and said in a husky voice, "I need to feel you inside me, Dairren. Please love me!"

Dairren growled deeply from within his throat and moved to lie above Zeva. His eyes met hers and she nodded slowly. With one slow movement, he pushed himself into her and marveled at how tightly her insides gripped him. He began to move inside her slowly and she thrust her hips up to meet his with each stroke.

He felt his control starting to slip and his movements increased. Zeva's pace matched his own, and she closed her eyes tightly, giving herself over to her feelings.

Just as Dairren felt himself reaching his climax, he moaned to Zeva, "Open your eyes. Look at me. I want to see you as I make you mine." She opened her eyes and smiled at him, but never really saw him at all. In the final moments of their passion, she wasn't looking into Dairren's bright green eyes. All she saw were dark brown eyes flecked with gold, and long ebony hair framing a deep olive complexion.

As Dairren and Zeva slept peacefully, arms wrapped around each other, they were blissfully unaware of the danger which lay only a few feet away. Rendon Howe had witnessed every moment of the couple's lovemaking, all the while picturing himself in Dairren's place - Zeva's lips against his, her arms around him, his own hardness buried deep inside her. Well, soon there would be no need to imagine. The time had come for him to take what was his by right, and take her he would...

Howe, spent and disheveled, hastily cleaned himself up before heading back to his room. Preparations needed to be made for the night ahead.