A/N: Merry Christmas, people! Thanks for sticking around for two whole years of this fic, and I hope you have a good one.

Chapter 24

"Been a while, hasn't it?" Alistair asked as he sat himself down. Leliana looked at him curiously. "Since we've camped outdoors, I mean. I for one am glad to have left Redcliffe behind."

She smiled. It was understandable, how he felt. "Being on the road has its own charm."

"Being on guard duty does too. It's almost nostalgic after a week of not having to do this. Funny, I always hated guard duty during field training. The monks would send us into the adjoining forests sometimes. To meditate, train and survive on our own. You know one time I woke Cullen up by spooning him and grinding against his rear?"

"Oh Maker. Is this Solona's Cullen?"

"Mmm yeah. So he wakes up, right? Hard not to, honestly." He grinned. "So he looks at me. And he says to me, 'Sweetheart,' and nods back off to sleep."

Leliana covered her face and chuckled. "How old were you?"

"Sixteen or something. I don't remember. I blame it all on hormones."

"Very convenient. Shall I inform Solona of her new rival in love?"

"Oh it was just a one-time thing. We both decided it would do us no good." He sighed dramatically and looked into the fire. "I'm still quite broken up over it, actually."

She punched his shoulder playfully, laughing. "You are ridiculous, you know that?"

"I believe you meant magnificent."

"Magnificently ridiculous."

"There we go."

Bantering was nice. It was comfortable and reliable territory, unlike the uncharted territory they'd somehow waded into recently. Leliana still wasn't quite sure where to draw the line, where it – whatever it was – was going. She felt that she knew where she wanted it to go, but wasn't sure whether it was the right thing to do.

Decisions, decisions.

Speaking of decisions, Aedan had decided to take a detour. Instead of continuing on to Denerim, they'd turned south.

"You're thinking about today's events, aren't you?"

She turned to him, surprised. He smiled gently. "It's almost been a year, Leli. I think I know you a little bit by now."

Laughing, she shook her head. "So you tell yourself."

"So I know." He quietened. She saw his grip tighten on the sword on his lap. "I think it's the right thing to do. I have no doubt that if nobody else wanted to go, Aedan, Wynne and I would have gone regardless."

"To Ostagar?"

"Yeah."

Travelling through Bann Loren's lands that morning, they'd stumbled onto a man being attacked by armed guards. Alistair and Aedan had both recognised the man as one Elric Maraigne, one of King Cailan's honour guard. Inevitably, they'd gone to his rescue. After his recovery, the man had told them of how the former King had entrusted him with a key to a chest containing important documents and how he'd left it hidden at Ostagar itself, afraid that he'd lose it. The man had agreed to accompany them to the place where the Darkspawn horde had overpowered the Ferelden forces and murdered the King.

Leliana knew of the events at Ostagar; how the King's trusted General Loghain had turned his back on the battle and left, leaving everyone else without reinforcements. All of the Grey Wardens had perished on that night. All except Aedan and Alistair.

She reached out and squeezed his shoulder. "I do not think anybody would have refused, Alistair." She smiled. "You would not have been alone."

He nodded and placed his hand above hers, giving her wrist a grateful squeeze. "Thank you."

It flustered Leliana how so insignificant an action caused her stomach to flip and roll like a ship caught in a storm. It was most vexing.

So she immediately changed the topic.

"Do you like the night better, Alistair? Or the day?"

"The day. I don't have to worry about ghosts coming out from under my bed and clawing at my foot then." He snickered. "You?"

"The night," she answered. "It always seems more peaceful to me. Safer."

"Safer how? Not afraid of ghosties living under your bed?"

"Heh. I just think that the night provides a reprieve from the troubles of the day, that's all." She drew up her knees and wrapped her arms around them. "I suppose it may sound silly. The Darkspawn never rest. They are always lurking in the shadows."

"Well if they are, let them show themselves and I'll turn them into a hearth-rug." She snorted. "No but really, everybody is entitled to a little silliness. Look at me. I took laying down my burdens so seriously that I made an inexperienced newcomer take the lead." He chuckled darkly and shook his head. "Best decision ever."

Humming, Leliana placed her cheek atop her knees to look at him. "You could always ask to take charge."

He laughed genuinely at that. "Yeah, right. No leading. Bad things happen when I lead. We get lost, people die, and the next thing you know I'm stranded somewhere without any pants."

At that, she smirked. "I don't know. I think it might be quite enjoyable... being stranded with you." She smacked her lips. "Without any pants."

Leliana was immensely gratified when she saw the very tips of his ears redden.

"You're a bad person," he muttered and poked the fire with a stick. "Though I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. You're a bard. You're supposed to be good at swooping down on hapless men with your wily seductress-y charms."

"Wily seductress?"

"Yeah. You're a seductress. And you do so in a wily manner."

"Is this your way of telling me that you find me..." She twirled a coil of hair innocently with a finger. "Seductive?"

Alistair barked out a laugh. "Pretty sure I'm immune to your charms by now, lady."

"Oh, that's what they all say. Then I toss them a glance and a smile and they turn to mush." She grinned and shook her head. "You men always read promises into such things and go to great things to see them promise fulfilled."

She'd meant it as a joke, but she didn't miss the frown that crossed his face momentarily. Before she could overthink on what she'd said, however, he sighed.

"Maybe you could smile at the Blight and tell it to go away."

There was some bitterness in the way he spoke. Leliana frowned. Could it be that he was bothered by her past? Why would he be? It wasn't like he was jealous or anything...

She gulped.

Is he jealous? Truly?

Why would he be jealous? Did he feel for her as well? But that was ludicrous! He'd never done or said anything that pointed towards that. Or had there been signs and she'd missed them?! How could she have missed them? But there were none. She was sure of it.

Or am I?

Then she realised that she hadn't responded and coughed into her palm for an excuse.

"Aren't you funny," she said and smiled at him. "Don't worry. We'll defeat the Darkspawn with more conventional means – pointy sticks and all that."

That earned her a chuckle and Leliana sighed in relief. At least he wasn't cross.

"Just can't leave aside the Princess Stabbity, eh?"

"Oh you know me. I'm dangerous like that."

"And that's why you frighten me." Alistair's posture relaxed. He seemed tired. "Though seriously. How'd you do it?"

"Hmm? How'd I do what?"

"Be all dangerous and nefarious and seductive-y. Was there a trick to it?"

Hmm. "Everyone can be seduced by the right woman, Alistair. The trick is predicting who she is, and becoming her."

"Right. Scary." He scratched his cheek.

"Still think you're immune?"

"I know I am."

She laughed. "I suppose we shall never know."

Alistair turned and smirked at her. "Why not? Afraid you'd fail?"

"I'm more afraid I'll strip you of your dignity," she responded with a smirk of her own before shrugging. "In all seriousness Alistair, we are relying on each other. It would be unwise to have a relationship based on insincerity, yes?"

She really hoped he understood what she was trying to convey. I want there to be trust between us. Enough for something like that.

Alistair smiled and shrugged, turning back to the fire. "Yeah, that'd be dumber than a second coat of paint."

Leliana felt the need to say something further. To provide some sense of reassurance. Though of what kind, she did not know. It was... confusing. She knew she wanted him, but there was no meaning in forcing herself on him. She wanted something... more. Something more than frivolous attraction, and she wasn't sure whether Alistair was of the same mind. Romance was not something they'd taken the time to discuss overmuch.

"Maybe I'll turn my charms on you."

That surprised her into a chortle. "Hah! Now that would be something to see. He thinks he'll charm me."

"What, you think I can't? Clearly you've never been exposed to the awkward, virgin Templar boy charm. Works wonders, let me just tell you. Ask Solona."

"I didn't say that. I said it would be something to see, didn't I?"

"I suppose it's worth a shot." Alistair paused and grinned. "Just to see how spectacularly I fail at it. Hmm, now that would be something."

"No, don't say that!" Leliana held up her fists encouragingly. "I'm sure you'll be fine! Just be yourself. If it'll make you feel better, I can always fake being charmed?"

"Oh I'd hate for you to fake anything with me."

"Ooh, very clever! I see what you did there."

In response, Alistair smirked at her and raised his left eyebrow. "You know you want me, Leli."

It was true, but the way he said it with that look on his face just made her giggle. She slapped his shoulder as she laughed. "Silly boy! That was so clonky. Try again."

He shrugged good-naturedly. "Least it made you laugh. You think it's cute."

"Maybe." She grinned. "You're tricky."

"I'm positively nefarious. It's the awkward, virgin Templar boy charm, you know? Tried and tested. Though I was wondering..."

"Hmm?"

"Will you teach me how to be the right woman to seduce others?"

"...dare I ask?"

"Oh I just want to freak out Aedan with my lonely lady Alistair routine." He placed his hands over his pectorals as if adjusting a towel and then patted the back of his head as if making sure his bun was still in shape. "See, I've got the action down, but I don't have the words."

Leliana fell over laughing.

"Oh come on! That's good stuff! I worked hard on that!"

Wiping away the tears from her eyes but unable to do away with her grin, Leliana said, "Let me show you how to do it right."