Campfire 58

Never in his life had Alistair woken up so... happy. All he felt like doing was hug his fellows, even Morrigan, wish them a good day and feed them cheese. As far as he was concerned, the bed was nice, the pillows were nice, the nug was nice, the sunlight was nice, darkspawn were nice, and even swooping was nice.

But the redhead smiling down at him was just the nicest.

"Hello," she greeted him smugly, her chin in her hand as she lay on her side, propped up on an elbow.

"Morning," he replied, though a yawn obliterated all his attempts at a smile. "You're up early. Sleep well?"

"I have been up for some time, but yes, I slept very well. I've just been watching you sleep." Leliana poked his cheek. "Did you know your eyelids flutter when you dream? And you have such pretty eyelashes."

That woke Alistair up more than the Chantry's cold water treatment and he squinted at her.

"That's not creepy at all, but what's this about my eyelashes?"

"They're like little butterflies," she replied immediately. "I want to catch them and keep them in a jar."

Alistair chuckled. "They told us this was a bad idea at the Chantry. I should've listened. See, you're all crazy now."

"Maybe," Leliana replied with a playful smirk and snuggled into his side, nuzzling his neck. "I just feel very happy and blissful. I haven't slept so well since before I fled from Denerim. It comforts me to know that you'll be the first thing I see upon waking. I feel so... safe in your arms. Safe, loved, and accepted. This is where I belong."

"Oh, I wouldn't get complacent if I were you," Alistair said as he put an arm around her and she placed her head on his bicep. "According to the sisters at the Chantry, I should have been struck by lightning by now. Followed by the end of civilisation as we know it." He chuckled. "I'm a bad, bad man."

"But very good in bed," Leliana purred, stroking his chest. "I have never been so thoroughly worn out before."

"Oh, you know." Alistair took her hand brought it up from his chest to his lips. "You find a thing that works and rely on répétition."

Leliana laughed. "You know, I can't help but think back on my vision now. The Maker may have sent me to help you, but you have helped me most of all. Thank you."

"Speaking of your vision... hold on just a minute."

Alistair reached down and found his pack on the floor. He opened it and searched around, until he found what he was looking for and brought it up.

"Here, look at this," he said and held out the white rose. "Do you know what this is?"

Leliana looked at him amusedly. "Is this supposed to be a trick question?"

"Yes, I'm trying to trick you. Are my nefarious charms working their wonders on you?"

"Oh, yes. Overtime." Leliana took the flower and smelt it. "It smells so fresh... thank you Alistair."

"I've had it with me a long time. Picked it in Lothering, actually. A year ago. Had Sandal keep it fresh in his enchantment soup." He grinned. "I remember thinking, 'How can something so beautiful grow in a place with so much despair and ugliness?' I probably should've left it alone, but I couldn't. The darkspawn would come and their taint would destroy it, so I've had it ever since. I think the same thing when I look at you, so I wanted to give it to you." He paused. "And now I have."

"Alistair?" Her tone was different. Something had changed. Some emotion that he couldn't place weighed it down. "Where... exactly in Lothering did you find this flower?"

"Uh... there was gnarly old bush outside your Chantry and I found it there," he replied after some thought and turned to face her. "Why?"

He saw her take a deep breath and tenderly cup the flower in her hands. Her voice was quiet but shaky when she spoke.

"Alistair... have I ever told you about my vision? What it was exactly that I saw?"

He shook his head. "I never asked."

"I... I had a dream." She closed her eyes. "In it, there was an impenetrable darkness. It was so dense... so real... and there was a noise, a terrible and ungodly noise. I stood on a peak and watched as the darkness consumed everything." She breathed deeply. "When the storm swallowed the last of the sun's light, I fell."

"Fell? Fell where?"

"Into the darkness. It drew me in. When I woke up, I went to the Chantry's garden, as I always do, but that day, the rose bush in the corner had flowered. Everyone knew that bush was dead. As you say, it was great and twisted and gnarled – the ugliest thing you ever saw. But there it was. A single, beautiful rose. It was as though the Maker had stretched out his hand to say, 'Even in the midst of this darkness, there is hope and beauty. Have faith.'"

Alistair said nothing.

"It spoke straight to my soul, in a language no human tongue can ever express," she went on. "That was what led me to leave the cloister. That was what led me to join you. And now... now I see you had it with you. That you found it and kept it safe. You have protected my faith, Alistair, and now you return it to me." She opened her eyes and smiled warmly, holding the flower to her chest. "You have no idea how much this means to me, Alistair. Perhaps the Maker sent you to help me save myself. I don't know, but I like to think it. Thank you, Alistair. Thank you so, so much."

"I don't know about all that," Alistair said and cupped her cheek. "I can't say that I know how the Maker works. I've never really cared much. You know that." She nodded. "But I care about you, Leliana." He kissed her forehead. "And I know now for sure that I love you."

"I love you, too," Leliana whispered and burrowed her face into his throat. "Maker, Alistair, I love you so very much. It feels so good to finally be able to say that to someone else again. I love you."

"Yeah." Alistair pulled her into his chest. "I love you, too."

She wasn't much different from the rose, he concluded. While pretty and not without their thorns, they needed some amount of care and protection to flourish. If he could provide her with that and help her in any way, he would do it. Even if it meant holding her forever.

All too soon, however, she announced that they should get up, dashing his dreams and almost making him howl in refusal. "Darkspawn wait with bated breath for you to put them out of their misery, yes?"

Alistair snorted and kissed her gently. Then again. And again. And again.

I feel thorny. Heh. I made a punny. Concentrate on the task at hand, now. Be dumb later.

"And ignore the gorgeous woman in my bed?" he whispered against her mouth. "I think not..."

"Mmm." Leliana rubbed her nose along his and said breathlessly, "I suppose the darkspawn can wait a little longer..."

Viva la répétition!

A/N: Next chapter will be from Aedan's POV.