The sun has barely begun to crest the trees surrounding the fortress when Ana slips out of Duncan's tent. The Warden-Commander was already out making his rounds when she rose from her cot and snuck past the snoring guards at the entrance with Much trailing behind her. A cold wind hits her as she leaves the protection of the tent and she shivers before drawing her cloak closer to her as she quickly jogs back toward the tents pitched haphazardly amongst the ruins.
Stopping before the long rows, her brows draw together as she tries to recall where Rory had taken her the night before. Much whines beside her and she looks down at him. "What's wrong?" She asks. "Can you find Rory, Much?"
He tilts his head before letting out a low affirmative bark. Smiling, she motions out among the tents.
"Then what are you waiting for? Lead the way."
With an excited bark he bounds forward, pausing every so often to look back to ensure his mistress is following. Coming to a tent in the slightly secluded area near the main camp, Much paws at the ground before it with a small whine. Coming up beside him, she eyes the tent curiously.
"Is this Rory's tent?" She whispers. "Are you sure?"
Once more he gives a low bark and paws at the ground before looking up at her. Pulling the flap open a little, she sees her lover sleeping soundly and backs up slightly. Smiling, she scratches Much behind his ears. "Good boy. You know the drill."
As she silently pulls the flap open, Much makes himself comfortable in front of the tent and she slips in. Removing her cloak, she shivers as she removes her boots and sets them aside before kneeling beside him. Feeling a presence with him, his eyes snap open and he looks up at her, blinking. His expression softens into a puzzled expression. "Love, what are you doing here?" Noting her shivering, he pulls back his blanket and motions for her to join him.
Smiling, she slips under the blanket and curls up to him, placing her head on his shoulder. "I figured that if we can't spend the night together, I'd surprise you and join you in the morning."
"And what a wonderful surprise it is." He mutters, brushing his lips against her as he touches her cheek. Lifting his head, he looks behind her. "Did Much not join you?"
Wrapping an arm around his torso, she nuzzles his neck. "He's standing guard outside as he's been trained to do." A smile creeps up to her lips. "He woke me up whimpering and licking my hand. It's a good thing he didn't try to join me in bed as he usually did at the castle. I imagine he would squish me if he had tried."
At the mention of him, they hear him whine through the canvas. Rory raises his head to look with a chuckle before turning to her. "He's welcome to come in." He says, his lips curling up into a grin. "Unless you had other plans for this morning visit." Beneath the blankets, his hand slips down her side and grazes the front of her trousers.
Biting her lip, she giggles as his fingers begin to work on the buttons. "It has crossed my mind…"
Lying her back on the bedroll, his lips captures hers as his hand slips to the front of her trousers. She arches her back to meet his hand, his thumb gently grazing her seam before nudging the tip of his finger between her folds. A moan escapes from her throat and he grins against her lips. He pulls away.
"You know, I think this is the first time we've ever attempted to have morning sex." He chuckles, his fingers lazily slipping in and out of her slick opening.
"That's…not true." She breathes, her eyes closed as she focuses on her lover's caresses. Her fingers grip into his shoulder each time his fingers slip into the base of his fingers. Her eyes flutter open to look up at him with a dreamy grin. "You once took me in the storage room near the kitchens while I was on my way to breakfast. Remember?"
"Ah, yes." He chuckles, nipping at her jaw. "I remember you were wearing that delightful gold dress. You looked like a dream and I had to have you then and there."
He begins to kiss down along her neck which she tilts her head to give him better access. Feeling something touch his lip, he pauses to look to see her mother's necklace with its two rings hanging around her neck.
"What's wrong?" Ana frowns. He looks at her, enamored by the way her blue eyes gleam in the dimly lit tent. Her brows furrow.
"Nothing, Love." He says, offering a reassuring smile before pressing his lips against hers once more. "I'm just so happy to have you in my arms once more."
She smiles and pulls him back down to her. "As am I."
The early morning chill coming through a loose tent flap wakes Alistair from his fitful sleep. Groaning and shivering, he tries to roll over and pull his weathered blanket over him but another gust seeps through the thin fabric. "Alright!" He mutters. "I'm up!"
Pulling himself up into an upright position, he yawns and rubs the remnants of sleep that still clung to his eyes. Turning to look about the Warden tent, he sees that most of his fellow Wardens had already begun their days. Most likely they're either in the mess tent eating or the less fortunate few were on patrol duty. Regardless of Cailan's thoughts about the upcoming battle and lack of a Blight, Duncan still had them going on hourly patrols for any indication of darkspawn nearby. Luckily everything had been quiet on that front so far.
Leaving pieces of his plate armor in his blanket, he leaves the tent in just his tabard, trousers and boots. Stretching, his eyes scan the scenery as he hears the faint sound of the mess tent not too far off in the usual silence of the sleeping ruins. He inhales the aroma of the food on the crisp morning air and lets out a sigh. I should probably go get Ana and take her to breakfast. He thinks miserably. No doubt she'll berate the serving staff again and scowl at me the entire time.
He takes the long way to Duncan's tent and the guards give a grunt of acknowledgement as he approaches. He slips in, mentally preparing himself for what annoyed greeting he'll get for coming to get her but he finds only Duncan, who busy writing at the little desk at the side. Alistair frowns and his brows crease before he awkwardly clears his throat. Duncan doesn't even look up as he dips his quill into the inkwell once more. "Just a moment, Alistair." He says.
As Alistair quietly waits near the entrance flaps, his eyes scan the room as he shifts from one foot to the other. Finally, his mentor finishes whatever he was writing and replaces the quill before lifting the parchment up to the light. He gives a brisk bod and sets it down again before turning to the lad.
"What is it?" He asks, rising from his seat. By the way the lad looked, he had a bad feeling it wasn't good news. So far this morning, they had already been told about a group of soldiers that went out into the wilds the other day had yet to return. Before that, he had overheard one of the women who worked on the hill in the infirmary complain that they were beginning to run low on bandages and that the shipment was late.
Duncan waits patiently as Alistair shifts uneasily. "I was coming to escort Ana to breakfast." He says with a helpless shrug as he motions over to the empty cot in the corner. "Seems like she's already left."
Turning from his junior warden, the ghost of a knowing smile rises to his lips. I bet she's in the arms of her lover right now. He thinks to himself, a wave of envy catching him off guard. I imagine they're enjoying their first morning sex together. Might as well experience it while they can…
"Duncan?"
He's pulled from his thoughts as he strides over to the desk and picks up the paper and rolls it up. "Hm?"
"Do you know where she is?" Alistair asks.
Swiveling around, he offers the lad a smile. "Why don't you go ahead and head over there. I'm sure you're hungry and you'll need your strength for the wilds excursion today." He strides past him, scroll in hand, and holds open the tent flap. "I imagine she'll find her way there eventually."
The lad nods but Duncan sees his reluctant expression.
"Is there something else?" He asks, raising a brow.
Alistair remains silent for a moment before finally nodding.
"Will Ana be accompanying the others into the Wilds?" He asks. "I know you spoke of preserving the Cousland line in regards of the Joining but what about collecting the darkspawn blood? Surely she'll be able to take part in at least that. The other recruits will think we're favoring her if we don't make her take part in that test."
Duncan frowns. "That wouldn't be wise." He states, leaning back against the tactics table near the center of the room. "Yes, all wardens should go through that preliminary test to collect blood for their joining but Ana has no fighting skills or weapons training. Sending her out into the wilds would endanger everybody including herself. The others can at least wield some weapon; She can't."
Alistair's brows furrow. This was so unlike Duncan to recruit somebody with so little skill. If she could not at the very least defend herself, why would he recruit her? Typically Wardens conscripted people who committed some type of violent crime or former soldiers given their duties; Especially during a time when battle could happen at any moment, like right now. What makes her so special?
"Duncan?"
"Hm?"
"Why did you recruit her then?" He blurts out, his cheeks pinkening from the anxiety of asking such a question. "Why recruit somebody who lacks the necessary skills? I mean… I know she's nobility but still."
Duncan sighs. Might as well tell him now .
"She had little choice in joining." He begins. "Her home was overrun with soldiers as their old family friend, Rendon Howe, betrayed them. Everyone with exception of Ser Gilmore, Ana, her brother Fergus and myself was slaughtered in the beds in the middle of the night. We just barely managed to escape." His frown deepens. "I conscripted Ana to protect her from Howe by giving her the protection of the Wardens."
Hearing all this, the lad's expression softens. Her entire family save her brother were slaughtered? No wonder she's so defensive!
"Oh." He mutters, wishing he never said anything. "So that is why she talked about how she was a noblewoman."
Duncan nods solemnly. "Yes and while I know you are trustworthy, it is the utmost importance that we keep Ana's identity as Bryce Cousland's daughter a secret for now. There is a slight possibility that we may have some Howe's men in our midst. It was rumored that the Arl has dispatched some of his men to help aid the king in the battle against the darkspawn."
Alistair's brows furrow. "You don't think they're coming here to assassinate her...do you?"
The look Duncan gave him sent chills down his spine. "Honestly, I'm not sure. For the meantime, we will have to keep an eye out."
Leaving his mentor's tent, Alistair glances around him. Could Howe's men really be lurking around the King's camp of all places?
"Pst."
Alistair jumps slightly as he turns toward the sound. One of the guards beside him nudges his arm. "You lookin' for the girl?" He asks.
"Yeah. Have you seen her?"
The guard nods and points a gauntleted hand in the direction of the Grey Warden dormitory tents. "I saw her with a red haired lad and dog. They headed back toward the mess tents. I'd check there first."
Nodding, Alistair thanks the man and quickly takes off toward the mess tents.
Burrowing in the warmth of her lover's embrace, Ana sighs. She touches his hand, the pads of his fingers and his palms rough from his countless hours training with a sword over the years.
Gilmore turns his head. "What are you thinking?" He asks, pressing a kiss to her hair.
"I'm thinking about Fergus."
"Yes, that is exactly what every man wants to hear after making love to his woman." He quips.
Placing a hand on his chest, she pushes down to lift herself up to look at him.
"I'm serious, Rory."
He frowns. "I know. My apologies. I was only trying to lighten the mood."
Ana sighs again. "I don't know which is worse; Finding out Fergus is alive and giving the news about Oriana and Oren or finding out my only remaining family is dead. Both seem equally unbearable." She buries her face in his chest. "It's all so unfair."
"I know." Gilmore sighs, smoothing down her hair that raised from the static electricity. "The world is a harsh and unforgiving place."
Had her stomach not growled, she would have been fine with lying under the covers, their naked bodies still tangled together. Hearing the noise, Gilmore frowns. "Have you not eaten yet?"
Ana shakes her head. "Spending time with you was and still is far more important." Also I doubt that bitch cook will serve me.
He smiles. "Well, as much I wish you would have taken care of yourself first, I'll admit I'm kind of glad you didn't. It'll be nice being able to eat together in public for once without the leers of other nobles."
With the help of some urging from Gilmore, Ana reaches out to her pile of clothes near the corner of the damp canvas. Keeping the blanket on for warmth, she dresses and lies back as she watches Gilmore pull his boots on. Once finished, he shoots her grin. "Now, shall we, my lady?"