Following supper, Ana thanked Leandra for the meal before slipping out the door. As welcoming as the little house was, Ana was relieved for the fresh air. Her eyes scanned the horizon at the remaining light blue sky that was being taken over by the dark.
"Everything alright?"
Ana turns as Nate exits his home to stand near her. "Yes. Alistair offered to help your mother with cleaning up so I figured I'd best get out of their way." She shrugs. "With it being such a nice night, I figured I'd come out for air."
He nods, turning to look over the farmstead.
"Would you like to take a stroll with me?" He suddenly asks. Ana's brows shoot upwards in surprise and he smiles. "I can give you a little tour of the place."
Ana nods. "Sure."
Together, they walk alongside one another, the three quarter moon providing enough light to at least make out their surroundings. Nate points out the various crops beginning to sprout in the small field before cutting through the small barn toward the pigpens. Ana wrinkles her nose at the stench and rushes after Nate as he continues on to a small empty pasture. As they walked, Ana found herself looking at him as if for the first time. Everything about him from the way he spoke to the way he acted made him seem so rugged yet comforting.

It had been months since Rory's passing and she felt the tug of desire at the back of her mind. It had been so long since she had been touched and kissed by a man that she was attracted to. She missed Rory's lips making their way down her neck as his hands probed and caressed. Her eyes flick down to Nate's hands as they hang loosely at his sides.
"Ana?"
Heat rises from her collar to her cheeks as her gaze snaps up the meet Hawke's amused one.
"Sorry." She mutters. "I spaced out. What were you saying?"
He chuckles. "I was asking where you'll be heading to next. I imagine there's not much Warden business here in Lothering."
"No…" She replies, trying to recall what Alistair suggested. "We don't have a fully fleshed out plan just yet. Alistair wants to go to Redcliffe. Apparently he knows the Arl and wants us to petition him for help with Blight."
"Don't you also know the Arl?" Nate asks, raising a brow. "Surely with your father being the Teyrn, you would have met. Perhaps you can use that to gain leverage when you make your case."
She shrugs. "I doubt it. I met him a couple times but none of the meetings were particularly special." Eamon's letter to the king resurfaces in her mind and she bites her lip in thought.
Stopping near a broken portion of the fence, Nate turns to her. "Well...that's about it. It's not much but it's enough. With luck, hopefully the blight doesn't make its way up here right away. I've heard horror stories about farmland drying up and becoming barren."
Ana nods sympathetically. She looks around them, biting her lower lip as she debates whether or not to speak her mind. Nate notices her silence and tilts his head, curiously. "You look conflicted. Care to share, My Lady?" He grins.
She looks up at him, her eyes glowing brightly in the moonlight. "I'm just so happy to see you again." She says. "After the battle at Ostagar, I worried that you were dead. The thought of never seeing you again..." She trails off with a frown. "Were you in the battle?"
He nods. "Not for long but yes. The battle was…" His smile falls as he looks as though he's reliving it before his eyes. He sighs, shaking his head. "Many good men and women were lost."
Thinking of Duncan, Ana felt a well of tears threaten to form. She pushes the thought away. "At least we're still here; Still fighting." She offers him a smile. "Thank you again for all your help. With the bounty on our heads, I know our presence here puts your family at risk. You truly are a rarity in times like these."
He nods, smiling. "It's no trouble. I'm always happy to help you."
As he says this, Ana bites her lip. "I know…." Averting her gaze, she feels her heart begin to race as she thinks of how to word what she wants to ask next. "You've already done so much for me yet…" She trails off.
"Yes?"
Her gaze slowly moves upwards to meet his. "I hope you won't think less of me but...I have one last favor to ask of you, Nate."
His eyes watch her, trying to gauge her expression.
"If it is in my power to give, it's yours."
She opens her mouth to speak but finds herself closing the gap between them. Lifting up onto the balls of her feet, she presses a kiss against his. Nate remains still for a moment, surprised. As Ana's about to pull away, she feels his palm slide up and cup her jaw as he kisses back. The few moments seemed like hours before they finally broke the kiss. Ana's eyes remain shut, her thoughts racing.
Nate lets out a nervous half-chuckle. "That was…"
Ana's eyes flutter open, her bright blue eyes darkened with desire as she meets his gaze. "Make love to me, Nate."
His brows furrow as he tries to figure out if he heard her correctly. "What?"
She inhales a shaky breath. "I…" She stops, averting her gaze as she feels the heat of his gaze burning through her. She closes her eyes. "I know that this is a lot to ask of you. I just…. I need this." Tears well up in her eyes as she looks at him. "I need to feel something again."
Nate runs a hand through his dark hair, unsure of what to say.
Self-conscious, Ana feels the anxiety building and quickly tries to explain herself. "Since Rory's death and...that night, I barely feel alive anymore." Tears prick her eyes. "The days blur together and everything just feels so dull and grey…" Her words trail off as her eyes flutter shut. "Forget it. It was stupid of me-"
Stepping forward, Nate's hand comes up to cup her cheek before his lips find hers once more. As he breaks the kiss, his eyes search hers as his thumb slides across her cheek. "Ana, are you sure this is what you want?" He whispers, his eyes shifting between hers. "I know things have been difficult since the attack but don't want you to rush into something you might regret later."
She swallows, her breathing shallow as she looks down at his lips.

"I want this. I… I need this, Nate." She meets his gaze. "I want this to be with somebody I trust; Somebody who respects me."
Nate shifts his hand, his thumb tracing her lower lip. "Ana..." He pauses and glances around them. "You deserve better than doing it out here in the dirt." His eyes fall on the cottage nearby. "We can go back to my room near the back of the cottage. It's not much but we'll at least have some privacy."
Clinging to him, Ana shakes her head. "No." She whispers. "Let's do it here. Right now, under the stars."
"Are you sure?" He frowns. "My bed would be much more comfortable. People will see…"
"Then let them." Wrapping her arms around his neck, she lifts up onto her tiptoes and closes the gap between them. It takes only a moment before Nate immediately kisses back. His arms wrap around her as their mouths move together. Ana's lip part invitingly, a soft moan escaping before Nate's tongue slips in.
As hands begin reaching and tugging at each other's clothing, Nate breaks away. Ana stands with a stunned expression, her lips visibly swollen and her hair in disarray from when Nate moved his fingers through her hair.
"What is it?" She whispers, her heart beating anxiously in her chest.
Gently taking her hand, Nate smiles. "Come with me."

Pulling her with him, he leads her into the little barn at the edge of the farmstead.
She watches as he removes his simple cloak and lays it on one of the smaller piles of hay in one of the back stalls, smiling as he offers his hand. "Can't have Alistair see hay on you, can we?"
She accepts his hand, allowing him to lead her down onto the cloak.
Kneeling beside her, he moves a strand of hair from her face. "Now, where were we?"
Their lips meet once more, reclining back as touches grow more bold. Nate's hand rests on her hip as he pulls away slightly. "Just tell me when to stop and I will."
Her heart beats nervously in her chest yet something about his eyes were comforting. "I don't want to stop " Ana mutters breathlessly. "Touch me."
Nate lowers his head, pressing small kisses along her jaw and slowly moving down her neck. She tilts her head, a breathy moan escaping as his leg moves between her own, rubbing gently against her cleft.
Nate moves slowly, taking his time to tease and enjoy her tiny moans. Ana begins to grow restless, her need coming to a head. "Nate…" She sighs. "Please…"
Shifting, Nate's kisses move south as his fingers hook the waist of her trousers. Ana's breathing hitches as Nate slowly inches the fabric down over her thighs and down her legs, taking time to press tender kisses along the pale flesh of her exposed thighs.
Setting her trousers aside, he trails kisses on her hips, moving up her stomach. He pauses, looking up at her.
"What's wrong?" She asks, her face flushed.
He smiles, leaning back on his heels. "If you'll permit, I want to see you." He says, motioning to her silver and blue tabard.
"You first." She blurts out, making Nate laugh.
"Fair enough." He chuckles. Sitting back on his heels, he pulls off his shirt, revealing his muscular torso, defined by the downy black hair that tapers out near his navel. Ana bites her lip.
"I believe it's your turn, My Lady." He smiles.
Swallowing, she nods. He waits, watching as her slender fingers move up toward the buttons. Seeing the slight tremor in her hands, he frowns.
"Ana, wait." He says, leaning forward to touch her hand. Her eyes shift up to meet his. "We don't have to do this if it's too much. You're allowed to change your mind."
"No." She shakes her head. "I'm just nervous." She says with a small smile. "Besides, I want to take my life back. After all the craziness and feeling powerless through it all, this is my choice. I want this."
Watching her struggle for a moment, he leans forward slightly. "May I?"
She nods. As Nate undoes the buttons, Ana watches him before allowing him to pull it over her head. Immediately, his eyes move down to her bare breasts. Resisting the urge to cover herself up, she feels her heart begin to pound. "At least say something." She mutters.
His gaze moves up to meet her anxious one and he smiles. "Sorry. I was simply admiring. Your body is a beauty to behold."
Feeling a blush rise up to her cheeks, she looks away as she moves a lock of hair behind her ear. "Thank you."
"I truly mean it." He nods. He waits, trying to gauge her reaction. When she turns back to him, she tries to keep her eyes on his face.
He kissed her and the world fell away. It was slow and soft, comforting in ways that words would never be. His hand rested below her ear, his thumb caressing her cheek as their breaths mingled. She ran her fingers down his spine, pulling him closer until there was no space left between them and she could feel the beating of his heart against her chest.
"May I touch you?" He asks, his voice husky with desire.
She opens her mouth to reply yet finds herself devoid of words. She nods.
Her eyes flutter shut, her mouth open as a sigh-like moan escapes as his hand, strong and warm, cups her breast as his lips move along her jawline and moves along her neck.
Time seemed to move slowly as Ana focused on Nate's kisses and caresses, anticipating what was going to happen next.
He pauses, asking if she's okay before gently parting her legs. It takes a moment before she feels his tip teasing her opening. Nate watches his partner's expression before sinking himself inside her, inch by inch with surprising restraint. Once fully sheathed, he waits… allowing her to get used to him pulsing inside her as he showers her with small kisses along her jaw.
He started slow, rocking in and out. Her eyes close, focusing on the gentle thrusts between her legs and the soft groans as Nate picked up speed. The sound of flesh slapping together grew louder, filling the space. As it intermingled with the moans as Ana clung to him while moving her hips to meet each thrust.
For a while, they were lost in the sensations and each other's of what was to come and what had happened melted away as they inched closer to climax. Nate curses under his breath with each thrust, preparing himself to pull out at the last second.
"Ana…" He huffs, pumping away between her legs. His breath is warm against her neck. "I'm so close… I'm going to….AH!"
As he makes to pull out, Ana locks her ankles around the base of his spine, pushing him deeper inside as Nate spends himself deep inside her.
Warmth spreads through her, her mouth open as her own climax washes over her. The remnants of their climaxes fading, Nate removes himself, tucking his cock back into his trousers before collapsing back on his cloak. His heart pounds wildly in his chest. As he catches his breath, he gapes up at the worn rafters of the barn above them, reliving the intensely intimate moment they just shared.
For quite a while, neither of them speaks. Ana lies back, her dark hair fanned around her as she savors the burst of post-coital bliss.
"I, uh…." Nate begins, trying to formulate his thoughts. He turns his head to look at her. "Are you alright?"
It takes her a moment but she eventually nods. "I am."
He frowns, rising onto his elbow to face her. "I'm so sorry. At the end, I didn't-"
He doesn't get far before she rises, touching his cheek before leaning in for a surprisingly tender kiss before breaking away.
"Thank you." She whispers.
Blinking back his surprise, he smiles. "It was my pleasure, literally."
She chuckles. As Nate lies back once more, his heart leaps as she snuggles closer to him.

Curling her leg around his, she places her head on his chest as he carefully holds her close.
"I suppose we should return, shouldn't we?" Nate sighs after a while. "I imagine Alistair will worry if you're gone for too long." He moves his head to look at her just as she lets out a small sniff.
"What's wrong?" He frowns.
A tear slips down Ana's cheek as her fingers move through the downy hair on his chest. "It's just been so long since I've done this." She says, half whispering. She glances up to meet his gaze. "I miss him, Nate. I miss him so much."
Pulling her closer, he closes his eyes. He presses a kiss to the top of her head, sighing. "I know."