Chapter Twenty-Five

Paragons and Princesses – NSFW

The next morning, we were all gathered in the living room as I hashed out who was going and who wasn't. It was decided that Alistair, Aedan, Zev, Shale, Sten the Dogs and I would all go.

Leliana, Morrigan, and Wynne would all be staying behind. I was sick – but not very. Obviously I wasn't throwing up. Thankfully, Alistair hadn't noticed that I wasn't feeling all that good.

I was more than half-sure it was just from being underground for so damn long – or it could have been the loss of my powers. Who knew for sure?

We were stopped at the gates to the Deep Roads by Oghren. "So you were serious when you said you were gonna go looking for Branka?"

I snorted, "If you're coming, then let's go. We're got a lot of ground to cover."

Oghren gave me a grunt, "I've been saying that for years."

It would take us three weeks to reach the Dead Trenches according to the maps – though Alistair had confirmed it through visions. He still couldn't get them on command like I had been able to. I was also able to block them when I wanted to and he couldn't. Poor sod.

When I had first told Aedan that Orzammar would be our longest stop due to having to traverse the massive underground roads looking for someone who everyone thought was dead these last 2 years…. He'd been slightly upset to say the least.

I made sure we took care of all the Black Phylacteries so far – and the one in Caridins' Cross was no different. Alistair didn't like messing with them, but relented that killing demons was a worthy goal.

We had also looked in the Thaigs old Shaperate Center (Apparently all Thaigs were required to have a Shaperate). I had gathered all the records I could into my pack – in the pocket with my coins.

I had also learned a bit more about this pack – it did take things from other places… so long as I knew what I wanted; hence why I couldn't pull out Thedas foods before. Now I felt a bit guilty for it so I only pulled out Earth things (Usually I was think about getting them from a specific international grocery chain that didn't pay their people well and was always cutting costs despite being very capable of fixing that).

How did I find this out? The security tag on a shirt I had pulled out. I wasn't sure where things went when I put them into the bag.

I was inclined to think it was a warehouse of some kind here in Thedas. All the old stuff that I had put into the bag and thought about retrieving came back cleaned and well taken care of. One time, I retrieved a shirt I had previously worn and there was a note tied to it.

'Princess,

Where are you? Are you safe? Please respond,

Honor Warrior, Magma'

It had freaked me out. When I showed Alistair, he went into a vision and said, "This Magma person is… it isn't a trap from what I can tell. Go ahead and respond."

So I did…

'Magma,

I am safe enough with my Mate… How does this bag work exactly? And who gave it to me? What am I? Any answers you can give would be appreciated…

Arvaala Cousland… princess, I guess'

The next thing to be tied to my clothes was a book.

Alistair and Aedan looked fascinated, "What does it say? I don't recognize the rune-script?"

Alistair responded, "It says 'Sylphs, Fairies and Elements – the Textbook of our race.' Love, can you read it or was it your magic that let you read and speak… fairy?"

"Apparently it was my Magic – I can't even read Thedasian anymore. I can speak them, but I can no longer read them. This book is useless to me at the moment… which makes me wonder how Magma knew to message me with Thedasian runes the first time."

Alistair flushed, "I don't mind reading it to you…"

I chuckled, "You hate reading – and you're going to have enough of that to do when you take the throne."

"I don't mind doing this for you, love…"

I swayed suddenly. Alistair caught me with a worried expression, "What happened?"

"Nothing – I just don't feel so good right now."

He froze, "M-Maker… a-are you… could you be… again?"

I gave him a confused look, "What?"

Aedan snarled, "Tell me you've been taking precautions – tell me you aren't pregnant in the middle of the blight!"

"Of course I've been taking precautions – double time. I've been drinking the tea before and after. And if I don't take the tea before then I use a Plan B pill from home – that greatly reduces the chances of a child without the tea. I'm not an idiot…"

"But those aren't completely effective, are they?" Zevran pointed out. I rolled my eyes, "It's only been a week since we left Orzammar – which is when I started feeling like shit. In another week, I can test my blood and see if I am – but I'm pretty sure I'm not."

Oghren grumbled, "You might have a little nugget?"

"I'm like 90% sure I'm not pregnant. I have two theories as to why I feel off and neither one is that."

Sten – believing my words more than anything else – asked, "What are your theories?"

"Being underground too long and being stripped of my powers. I don't get monthlies like normal women – so I can't rely on those. Next week we'll know if I'm right, I guess."

Unfortunately, that week went by with torture – Alistair had become completely, unreasonably over-protective thinking I was with child… again.

Magma received a note of complaint about me not being able to read Fairy at the moment – he sent me a new book written in Thedasian. He also commented about my inability. He was furious to learn about the arm braces and said that such items had been banned more than 200 years ago so he would have to look for the information.

He was, however, quite relieved to hear that I had at least one mate by side if the Honor Guard couldn't be there.

Alistair had grumbled good-naturedly at the 'at least one mate' wording – we had already guessed that that was the case, after all.

We were almost to Ortan Thaig when the second week had passed and I took the blood test (since I didn't void anymore). It was negative and I used the favorite womens' saying.

"I told you I wasn't pregnant! I took the test twice to be sure but Blood tests are more certain that piss testing and false positives are super rare. Look at it! Not pregnant. Now will you stop with the overprotective asshole tendencies?"

Aedan was sniggering – he was relieved I wasn't pregnant again and happy I was more annoyed with my husband than my brother.

Alistair stood his ground, "I will not be upset that I protected you when I thought you… Ara, you know how badly I want that – and I know you want it too. I know now isn't the time but you told me that what is meant to be will be. If it happened then I can't say I'd be upset about it. Though I will admit that I wasn't completely in control – it was hard holding your magic back. I think… I think if it were confirmed you were with child I'd go into that strange state you did back at Soldiers Peak when I was injured. I recall you looked like an indestructible Goddess back then – so I've sort of been thinking of it as 'goddess mode'…"

I groaned, "Then I suppose it's really a good thing that I'm not pregnant. We'd never get a moment's peace! Now… now that it's certain that I am not with child… do you think you can rein it in a bit?"

"I will do my best to accommodate the request, love – but I make no promises while I am getting used to your powers."

I snorted, "You seem to have a nice grasp on some of them – you can heal better than I can, which makes zero sense at all."

He flushed, "I mean… well… yeah."

Zevran gave a smile, "He is also quite good at any spells that have to do with water. You can still use the elements but he seems quite attuned to the water spells."

I nodded, "Alistair… if I had to attribute any one element to him, it would be water so I guess that makes sense."

Alistair snorted but looked thoughtful, "What about Aedan?"

"Oh – Aedan is too hot-headed at times, but despite that he's always been steady and firm. I would say he's Earth. Zevran is playful and… he'd be air. Sten would also be Earth. Shale is obviously Earth. Leliana is Air – which is surprising that she and Aedan are together as Air and Earth are opposites while water and fire are opposites. Wynne is water. Morrigan is Earth. Even I am water. Oghren would be our fire person."

"You're water?" Alistair teased. I shrugged, "Water-attribute in personality, yes. Though I was born under an air sign, that sign was called the water-barer so I don't really know why it was an air sign."

We were n Ortan Thaig proper now. I was amazed how – unlike in the game – each desolate Thaig we went through looked like an over-grown tainted version of Orzammar or even the Thaigs in Inquisition.

I mean – I should have expected it due to Inquisition but I guess I didn't. In fact, Orzammar was more in line with Inquisition Thaigs than in the first game. I just hadn't really stopped to consider that before. We were staying in one of the rundown noble houses – we would stop at the Shaperate tomorrow for information about me if they had it, the Ortan Records and any other Shaper tomes I could get my grubby little hands on. I hated to think that all that history was lost.

We had already found and talked to Ruck – Branka had made camp in the old proving arena of Ortan Thaig.

While I was musing, my bag twitched – turned out, Magma could send things to me the same way I could summon or send them to him.

I pulled out a glass bottle that was shaped like a little dove. Apparently, I was to drink it – it would give me the link to my Honor Warriors – of which, there were four; one for each element. Magma was annoyed I wouldn't tell him where I was until he realized I couldn't.

Apparently, my reluctance to tell him wasn't unusual – all Honor Warriors had to find their charges. The princess always awoke somewhere strange – though from what I could gather it was always in the homelands and not in Thedas (The continent). Magma was unaware at the moment that I wasn't in 'Fairy' – or whatever their continent was called.

Alistair didn't like that this meant my warriors would not be around to protect me until they found me – which could be a long time in coming. According to the book, Warriors could sometimes spend 2 or 3 years searching.

I had a feeling it may take longer knowing that I wasn't in the fairy home lands.

After grabbing everything we could from the Shaperate, we moved on to the Dead Trenches. With everything that was happening with the Power Imbalance and being isolated in the Deep Roads, the only things keeping spirits up were my cooking and my singing.

Oghren tried to join in so I taught him a few drinking songs like 'Blunt the Knives' and 'Cat and the Moon' and other fun ones. They were his favorites – go figure. Despite his drunken nature and rough voice he actually did have a decent singing voice; that surprised me since the game implied otherwise.

Thus far, Oghren had taken a massive liking to 'Billy's got his beer goggles on' and I had laughed when he'd started to adapt the songs to his life.

Tonights' song was Don't threaten me with a good time – Panic! At the disco.

When I got to the part about

I'm a scholar and a gentleman

And I usually don't fall when I try to stand

I lost a bet to a guy in a Chiffon skirt

But I make these high heels work

I've told you time and time again

I'm not as think as you drunk I am

And we all fell down when the sun came up

I think we've had enough

They all laughed and Zev did a little dance.

I had made Hamburgers to go with the festivities, and Oghren ate 4 to no one's surprise.

The next morning we found Kardol. "Stone met, Kardol. I'm Ara and these are Wardens and associates… I'm gonna be blunt because I'm sick of the Deep and want to hurry back topside – have you seen Sereda? I have a delivery from her late father and a message that she's been re-entered into the memories by her brother Bhelen. She can stay here, come with the Wardens… I ain't gonna force her to do anything," I had seen the shock and defensiveness on his face.

"What do you have for me, surfacer?" a low sultry spoke from behind me. I almost shouted in joy with how easy it was to find her.

Turning, I swore. She was 4'6 with long shimmery platinum hair that reached her mid-back, pale skin, sapphire eyes, and red 'fuck-me' lips.

"Fuck me! No one told me you fucking gorgeous! Sorry; inappropriate… um, your father sent the Shield of Aeducan with Gorim in case he found you… when Gorim heard we were coming this way he wanted us to… damn. Zev! You're better around pretty women and you have the shield… you talk to her," I was flushed and saw Sereda give me a small smirk and wink as she turned her attention to the flirty Elf.

Alistair put his arm around me, and I could hear his chuckling. "Shut up. She's sexy… can I have one?"

I didn't realize everyone was listening until they hall started roaring with laughter. "Sadly, I'm taken," The Dwarf in question said with a chuckle.

"Well so am I; doesn't stop me from wanting to bed you," I winked as Alistair held me tightly and kissed my head. "Uh-huh… and he'd be willing to share you? I find that hard to believe," She was flirting with me!

"Hmmm… what was it you said back at the Dalish camp, Alistair? 'I can handle sharing you, but I refuse to lose you.' Right?" I gave him a wide grin as he nodded with a blush… he was likely imaging me with Sereda.

Shock rippled among the Dwarves surrounding us. "Well… He may share you, but I don't have that restraint," Kardol muttered. "Looks like you won't be joining the Wardens then? Pity, that. You'd have made a good one," Aedan injected, causing more laughter as Kardol held her.

"Unfortunately; if you had showed up about 6 months ago, sure I'd have joined you; but I'm already one of the dead now. But it's good to know that Bhelen feels regret."

I chuckled, "He has a son now. Little Endrin is cute as a button. those words caused Sereda to drop her Jaw. "Who's the mother?"

"You remember that red headed mistress you met on the day of the proving? Her name is Rica, a former castles noble hunter," Her eyes had widened when I mentioned that she had met Rica, causing me to explain my seer abilities.

"And… I take it you didn't come all this way for me, then?" she asked.

"Nah… Branka is across that chasm somewhere. Anvil of the Void, ya know… Caridin is over there too but he's a Golem now," I gave a bright grin. We had been talking with the Legion for a while and decided to 'make camp' next to the Legion for the 'night'.

As usual I sang while I cooked. I made beef stew with carrots, onion, and potatoes with a side of garlic bread. There was enough for everyone. What did I sing? Well I was feeling playful… Wasn't Me by Shaggy

Honey came in and she caught me red-handed

Creeping with the girl next door

Picture this we were both butt naked

Banging on the bathroom floor

How could I forget that I had

Given her an extra key

All this time she was standing there

She never took her eyes off me

How you can grant your woman access to your villa

Trespasser and a witness while you cling to your pillow

You better watch your back before she turn into a killer

Let's review the situation that you're caught up inna

To be a true player you have to know how to play

If she say a night, convince her say a day

There were several jaws on the floor when I started rapping and then when they caught the context I saw wide eyes all around. Oghren was laughing… so were Zev and Aedan. Alistair looked shell shocked. I giggled and sang one more song while the food cooked; Animals by Maroon 5.

Baby, I'm preying on you tonight

Hunt you down eat you alive

Just like animals, animals, like animals-mals

Maybe you think that you can hide

I can smell your scent from miles

Just like animals, animals, like animals-mals

"And… where did you learn these songs?" Sereda asked with a blush. "I was raised in a whole culture of perverts, dearest. I know all the fun stuff," I winked.

The food was a hit, and I decided that when we came back this way I'd make food for them again.

Thankfully, it was only another two days to clear the 'Spawn, kill Laryn and get to Branka. I hadn't warned Oghren about her… he needed to see it for himself…. It was going to get ugly.

A metal barrier came down between us and the exit when we reached her.

Branka stood before us on a platform; she was 4'5 with cropped, wild brown hair – she had taken her own knife to it, from the looks of it – and her eyes were red-tinged green. Lack of sleep would cause that. She was thinner than any dwarf I'd ever seen; likely rationing any food she could get from Deepstalker to Deep Mushroom. I also noted her armor was torn and dented.

"Let me be blunt with you. After all this time, my tolerance for social graces is fairly limited. That doesn't bother you, I hope." I shrugged, which seemed to please her a bit.

Oghren cried out, "Branka! Shave my back and call me an Elf! By the Stone, I hardly recognized you." I could see why. From the way her armor hung, she used to be bigger. Her whack job on her hair and the tinge in her eyes… well, it was obvious she used to be beautiful.

Her face twisted in disgust, "Oghren. Figures you'd eventually find your way here. Hopefully, you can find your way back more easily." He sputtered and looked slightly hurt as he glanced at me.

Branka turned to me too, "And how shall I address you? Hired sword to the latest lordling to come looking for me? Or just the only one who didn't mind Oghrens Ale-Breath?"

I gave her a blank look, "Commander of the Grey and Paragon Candidate of the Shaperate."

She blanked at that – she had intended to use her status to bully us.

"Commander, then… so an important errand boy, then. I suppose something has happened. Is Endrin dead? That seems likely; he was on the old and wheezy side."

I spoke again, "Dead indeed – and the assembly is deadlocked, of course. Tradition or moving forward into a new age… such a predicament."

"Then what is your involvement in this? Why would a surfacer be interested in Dwarven politics? You must have a patron – one who's highly-placed. And they must want something in particular… now what might that be? I refuse to believe they'd elect a topsider as a Paragon."

"Bhelen sent us to look for a current Paragon to break the deadlock."

Branka snorted, "I don't care if the Assembly puts a drunken monkey on the throne. Our protector, our great invention, the thing that once made our armies the envy of the world is lost to the very darkspawn it should be fighting! The Anvil of the Void! The means by which the ancients forged their army of golems and held off the first Archdemon ever to rise! It's here; so close I can taste it."

Aedan harrumphed, "But of course, there's a catch."

"The Anvil lies on the other side of a Gauntlet of traps designed by Caridin himself. My people and I have given body and soul to unlocking the secrets! This is what's important; this has lasting meaning. If I succeed, the Dwarven people benefit. Kings, politics… all that is transitory! I've given up everything and would sacrifice anything to get the anvil."

I chuckled and shook my head, "I suppose that means us… right?"

Fury lit her eyes that I had laughed at her, "Enough questions! If you wish me to get involved in this imbecilic election, I must first have the Anvil. There is only one way out, Commander; forward. Through Caridins maze and out to where the Anvil waits."

Oghren lost it then, "What has this place done to you! I remember marrying a girl you could talk to for one bleeding minute and see her brilliance."

"I am your paragon." She sniffed and turned her back to walk across her platform.

Oghren prodded me for answers – and I gave them as we listened to her tirade.

We moved forward and heard Branka rambling, "I needed people to test Caridins' traps. There is no way to break through except by trial and error. I sent them in… they were all mine; pledged to my house, and they didn't want to help! They tried to leave me… even my Hespith."

By now we were mid fight with all the trapped Darkspawn. They were furious and needed to fight, after all.

Her voice continued, however, "But even she couldn't understand that when you reach for greatness, there are sacrifices. As many sacrifices as needed. She shouldn't have gone; she was pledged to me. She swore she would do whatever it took to find the Anvil… There was no other choice! Most of them were dying of the taint anyway, but some… some of the women were… transforming."

Half the group looked ill. Sten was waiting for me to tell him he could kill her. I shook my head and mouthed, 'wait'. He nodded firmly.

"I knew what they would become. There would be an endless supply! Fresh Darkspawn to test the traps. They could still serve me, let me find the Anvil. It was the only way…"

I shot her a glare; she shot one back and once more continued, "You have no idea how they carried on, holding my hand and begging to die. They had pledged me their loyalty! They had no right to fight me! They say the Wardens are renowned for their wits as well as their brawn – perhaps you'll do better than my poor clansmen. There's something about this place… it makes people despair."

I knew that was the end of what she would say – we were out of range by now.

I was pretty pleased with how swiftly we were able to get through all four traps… despite them deadly, the only major injuries were Aedan breaking a leg, Zev getting knocked over the head by a falling rock, Alistair getting sliced by a Hurlock.

Everyone seemed surprised when I didn't go into 'Goddess Mode'… until Alistair explained that was his thing at the moment. Aedan commented that he was impressed that Alistair hadn't gone into it then.

I took a Genlocks' dagger to the leg. Aedan had fretted and Alistair had frantically began cleaning the wound with alcohol when we realized that there had been Darkspawn blood on said Dagger.

I had to remind them that I was immune to the taint. Alistair said, "Are you immune to infections too?"

I shook my head, "N-no… I can still get infected wounds."

"Then shut up and let me clean it." He sassed. I snapped my mouth closed with a small grin – I loved when he got like this.

This meant that we did need to explain to Oghren about my Anti-taint blood since he was the only one in the dark about it, but he was so drunk Aedan was sure he wouldn't remember; I snorted at that. Oghren had been drunk for the last two years and still remembered his wife… he was smarter than many drunks.

The 12 foot tall Golem was taller than all the others by 2 feet with Ortan markings along his chest. His shoulders were higher than his head. He spoke in a deep voice, "My name is Caridin. Once – longer ago than I care to think – I was a paragon to the Dwarves of Orzammar."

Shale stepped up to my left side and said, "Caridin; The Paragon Smith?"

The giant Golem looked over to Shale and sighed in nostalgia, "Ah… there is a voice I recognize. Shayle of House Cadash, step forward."

She glanced at me so I nodded. "You… know my name. Is it truly you that forged me? Is it you that gave me my name?"

"Have you forgotten, then? (Sigh) It has been too long. I made you into the Golem you are now, Shayle, but before that you were a Dwarf… just as I was; the finest warrior to serve King Valtor, and the only woman to volunteer."

"So the Fairy was right… a woman and a dwarf."

He jerked but nodded, "I laid you on the Anvil, here in this very room, and put you into the form you now possess."

"The Anvil of the Void – that is what we seek." She muttered as she glanced at me.

Caridin, noticing this, looked to me too, "If you seek the Anvil, then you must hear my story; or be doomed to relive it."

I nodded, "I know your tale…"

That was when Branka burst in demanding the Anvil, rather than respond I flicked a dagger that imbedded in her forehead. Caridin was staring at me as I went about burying her at once.

"Will you destroy the Anvil of the Void?"

"Well we ain't here to have tea, sweetie. You make us a crown for the new king of Orzammar, and we'll smash the Anvil to itty bitty pieces… Also, I got a question for ya."

Caridin was watching me. "You have my interest."

"Is it at all possible to make new control rods for existing Golems? Or give them sentience like you and Shale?"

"I… could make new rods, but the Sentience isn't likely to happen quickly. Might I ask why?"

"Well, think about it, Caridin. People are less likely to try and make new Golems if you stick around to prevent it. I happen to know that people WILL try, regardless of the loss here. If you can 'rescue' Golems from the lost Thaigs then they could not only help with the blight, but they could also protect Orzammar. Are you aware that Dwarves are getting to the verge of extinction?"

For someone with a metal face, he was able to show a remarkable amount of concern. "They are? Much has changed in the last thousand years, then. I will make new rods and try to collect more golems for Orzammar. It is the least I can do for my mistakes," The Golem nodded and headed over to the Anvil.

The process of making a new crown took only three days. Had Caridin still been a living person, it would have taken longer. The crown was beautiful, unlike the clunky thing in the game. It was obsidian in color, and more of a mens tiara style rather than a helm. It had an array of gemstones imbedded in it; sapphires were in every other spot and diamonds in the other ones. I noticed a velvet lining on the inner ring so that the metal wouldn't dig into someone's head. He had set it in a deep box made of white wood.

I'm pretty sure my hand twitched, I wanted to try it on… Caridin actually gave me a grin and pulled another box out. This box was a polished brown wood. He handed it to me, and I raised an eyebrow. He looked over to Alistair who was red in the face.

I opened the box and gasped. It was a silver circlet, polished to a shine with swirling Celtic designs and Amethyst stones. "I've been told you'll be a queen, and a queen needs a crown. Alistair here helped with the design."

"I… I remembered that one you wore in Redcliffe that last day… I drew him a picture and and…" I knew I had tears on my cheeks as I gave him a kiss. "Why must you be so perfect? I'm finding it hard to keep up."

He blushed again and I heard laughter from our friends. When we set camp halfway back to the Legion, I dragged him into our room in the pocket realm tent.

"You, my love, are the sweetest man I've ever known. Might I show you my… appreciation?" his eyes darkened as he groaned.

I slowly helped him out of his clothes, stripping myself down to only my grey tank top.

I had him lying in our bedroll and this time I wasn't going to let him stop me. I kissed my way from his lips to his jaw, nipping at him and electing a gasp. When I bit down on his neck I had my hand stroking his hard length.

"Ara…" his voice was rasping and ragged. I softly kissed my way down his chest, his hand tangled in my hair, giving soft yanks. I moaned and continued lower.

"Mmmh, Alistair… I really want to taste you… you are not stopping me this time, love," I gave a smirk as a flash of desire passed his face and his member twitched in my hand. I kissed the tip before allowing my tongue to dart out and circle the tip.

His hand tightened in my hair and I sucked his length into my mouth. I stroked as I sucked and licked, causing him to gasp. "Ara…"

I moaned around him when his hand started to pull on my hair, attempting to pull me up.

I heard his ragged groan as the vibrations of my throat around his cock caused his hips to jerk. I allowed my free hand to begin playing with his balls. "Ara… please, love… I can't…"

I sped up, feeling the tensing in him as he growled his release, hand tightening against my head as I moaned and swallowed every drop.

Finally able to yank me away from his cock, he flipped me onto my back and slammed into me. I gasped as my hips thrust up to meet his. His lips came down hard on mine, kissing me and gripping my hips as he took me roughly.

"Alistair!" I shouted as he bit into my neck. "That was… I love you, Ara." He was panting as he slammed into me over and over. I whimpered as his fingers pinched and pulled at my nipples.

He'd always been passionate, but never so rough and I felt myself crying out and digging into his back as I crested into ecstasy, his name ripping its way from my throat. I was surprised when he slowed for a moment, moving his hand away from my nipple and sliding it behind my waist and holding me closer to him as he rolled us over.

I groaned and sat up on him, moving my hips in slow, torturous circles. He hissed a breath and gripped my hips, helping me to move faster as I played with my own nipples, crying out in pleasure. "Alistair…" the rest of my words dipped into panting in Fairy that I had been teaching to Alistair.

I begged and pleaded, wanting him to be rough, needing him to take me; he obliged, gripping my hips and slamming me down his length and holding me there as he sat up. "Ara, I love you," He growled as he bit into a nipple, tearing a moan from my throat.

My hand came up to cup his cheek and pull him into a kiss. His hands explored my body as we made love, and I loved it. Suddenly I was slammed onto my back, knocking the wind from my lungs and causing me to cry out.

I begged him to fuck me harder, reaching up to pull on his hair. His hips moved faster, his groans deeper, and I screamed my second orgasm. I heard his own cry of pleasure as my clenching walls tightened around him, coaxing his own release from him. When we collapsed together, I snuggled into him.

The next morning was when I realized… our door was cracked open. It hadn't shut all the way last night… oh, shit.

"Um… Alistair, my love? Be prepared… the door is open…"

He groaned as he got dressed and I chuckled.

When we exited there was a silence before the ribbing began. Zev and Oghren teased Alistair while Aedan glared.

Oghren gruffed out, "What do you do with her legs?"

I sniggered as Alistair glared, "That is none of your buissness."

I said, "Sometimes he ties them up – other times I wrap them around him. Looking for ideas?"

Oghren snorted, "That's the problem with Dwarven legs. They're useless as an accessory."

Zevran laughed, "He is certainly well versed. I did not wish to believe it when we were in Denerim, Little Rose – he is so innocent it physically pains me. I thought I could get into your bed based on that alone."

Alistair let out a snarl – halting us all with its inhuman sound. I blinked, "Ah… I forgot he's dragon-blooded. Zevran, sweetheart, I wouldn't rile him up until we can get the Brace off. For all I know, he may shift into a dragon and maul you to little pieces."

Alistair was holding me to his chest possessively and glaring at Zevran. I squirmed until I was facing my mate and reached my arms up around him. His eyes had flashed gold and now held a bit of a slit. I pulled him down and nuzzled his neck.

His arms tightened around me as he buried his face in my hair. Everyone stayed quiet while I calmed my mate.

Aedan spoke once we were sure Alistair was calm, "If you hurt her, Alistair… I will kill you. King or not, I will…"

My wings flared out and encircled Alistair and me. As they were no longer transparent, I took advantage to kiss him before whispering, "I find it sort of arousing that you got that possessive of me…"

"I uh… I know you do…" he flushed. I giggled, "The joys of empathy."

"Not… exactly – I can… smell it. My senses heightened the moment I snarled at Zevran and that hasn't gone away yet."

I blinked, "I should see if Magma has any information about that. You're dragon blooded so it might be a permanent thing going forward that you gained Dragon attributes while holding my powers."

He groaned, "I sort of hope not."

"Aw… look at this, Alistair – I can tell you gained more strength with it… and you like picking me up for some reason I can't fathom. And these senses could help you find me if something happened."

He considered my words, "That's… true…"

I folded my wings away – I had been getting better at building up the strength to use them again – so that meant that the magic just allowed me to use them at once rather than build up the wing muscles. I still couldn't fly again… yet – but I was getting there as demonstrated in Ortan Thaig – I'd used the wings to fight against darkspawn.

Zevran cleared his throat, "Bellisima… what was that language, exactly? I noticed you have now taught it to our handsome Templar if the sounds last night were anything to go by, but you never did tell us how you learned it."

Alistair had a growl begin in his chest so I snuggled into him like a cat would – he calmed at once.

"Zev… I told you I don't know what that language is. The first time I ever heard it was back at the Dalish camp when I started speaking it… in the middle of the night. I like to call it Fairy or the language of the Fae, but I really don't know. I've adapted to it, learned more about how to speak it and teach it… and no, I will not be teaching you, Zev. The last thing I need is for you to understand exactly what I'm asking Alistair to do to me," I glared.

Alistair nodded firmly, "Good – there is no reason for the assassin to know the language."

Zev gripped his chest dramatically and said, "You wound me!"

"You want to see me wound you, Zev, I can think of much worse things than rejecting you." I smiled.

I had made steak and egg burritos with pepper jack cheese for lunch on the go… turns out the only one of our group who didn't like spicy things was Sten… who knew? I made Stens with Colby Jack instead.

It was getting time to wind down when we finally made it back to the Legion camp. Seeing Caridin and a small detachment of Golems following us caused quite the stir.

Deciding to make camp, I made chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, sausage gravy, and buttered green beans. I sang again that night; I See Fire – Ed Sheeran.

Oh, misty eye of the mountain below

Keep careful watch of my brothers' souls

And should the sky be filled with fire and smoke

Keep watching over Durin's sons

Sereda got a kick out that one – turns out she knew her name would have been Duran if she had been male.