Chapter 67: More

I take another deep breath. "There's more, although of course Tenebris isn't here to hear it now," I say, and again, worried faces look at me.

"Firefly, I don't know if this crowd has another 'more' in them today," Varric comments.

"They're going to want to hear this one. I know what Corypheus is after in the Arbor Wilds."

Declan's eyes widen. "Our spies just brought back word of their movements. They said it looked like the red templars were searching for something near some old elven ruins."

"Yes, they're looking for the Temple of Mythal," I tell them.

Morrigan frowns. "An elven temple?" She inhales sharply. "Then I believe I know what lies inside."

"You do?"

"Yes...I was searching for something there once. An eluvian."

My eyes widen in shock. "There's an eluvian in the temple? A working one? No, no, that's not good."

"I take it that is not what you were going to tell us, then?" Leliana questions.

"No...there's another artifact there called the Well of Sorrows, a sort-of repository of elven knowledge. But an eluvian is terrible news."

"With an eluvian, Corypheus could enter the Fade in the flesh," Leliana surmises.

"Yes." I bite my lip. "And from there he would try to gain entry into the Black City again. Damn it, why did Tenebris have to fly off the handle like that? We could have at least warned them...the generals…" I look up at Tempestas.

"The city's defenses will hold, Stormbringer," Tempestas says. "They did before, and they will again. But none of that will be necessary if you get there before him."

"You're right," I acknowledge, and look at the others. "We'll need a plan. I had to forge a new travel ring, so I'm not sure how charged it is. I'll have to travel with you for a few days before I'd feel safe using it again. Hopefully Tenebris returns soon."

I look over at Dorian, and wish I hadn't. I hadn't even given his feelings a second thought. Tenebris just went to face both of our brothers, one of whom is the Maker. Dorian keeps his face down; but I can tell, even at a distance, that he's worried.

"Yes, let us hope he returns soon with word, but for now, the troops are home and weary," Declan states. "We will give everyone the night to sleep and talk strategy again in the morning."

"Okay," I acknowledge as the group breaks apart. I move to Dorian's side. "Tenebris can handle his own in a fight. I'm sure he'll be alright," I assure him.

"I take back what I said last time. Your family is every bit as scary as the ancient texts say," Dorian grumbles.

I nod. "There was reason to fear us. But Tenebris and I, at least, are on your side."

Varric sighs, "Thank the M-" he cuts off, and corrects himself, "thank goodness for small favors."

"If I was any bigger of a favor, Varric, you'd have to look up at me," I joke.

Varric doesn't laugh. "Let's go home, Firefly," he says, and takes my hand again.

I look up at Tempestas. "Oh, I never figured out where you'll be staying," I tell her, and turn to Declan. "Inquisitor...what about my friend? Where can she stay that she will be close, but able to come and go?"

"I can just stay out here, past the bridge," she says.

"No, that won't do," I complain, and wait for Declan to respond.

He thinks about it. "Leliana," he calls, and she comes over to speak with him. "Wasn't there another cave beneath the Undercroft?"

"Yes," she answered, "but digging an entry would have taken too long, and we had space enough as it was."

I look at her. "It has access to the outside, though? Big enough that she could land?"

Leliana nods. "There is a short ledge on the left side of the cave that should be big enough, but it is near the waterfall, so it will likely be a bit damp."

I tilt my head to glance at Tempestas. "Will that work, old friend?"

Her large head dips. "Better than outdoors," she admits. "Step back. I will find this place, then. We will speak again, past the bridge, tomorrow."

"Alright, see you tomorrow." I take a few paces back. She flaps her massive wings, enough to gain a little lift off the ground. Then she takes off, gliding gracefully through the air, her bright markings catching the last rays of the setting sun.

Varric pulls on my hand and I keep pace with him, giving his hand a squeeze. I'm sure he will want to talk, but I'm very much looking forward to being home in our room again. Most of the Inquisition forces have found their way inside Skyhold's walls, and Varric and I take up position near the back of the group. We say nothing to each other as we climb the stairs to our room. He opens the door, holding it for me, and I go in first. He closes it gently behind him and I turn back to look at him.

He touches his temple in a move that I know means he is stressed or frustrated, and I frown, guilt weighing on me.

"Firefly, in all the rush, I never got around to thanking you."

Thanking me?

"For Hawke," he continues. "You put your life on the line to save my best friend. I want you to know I appreciate it, even if it worried me half to death."

I smile and move toward him; he holds up a hand, keeping me from getting too close.

"But it got me thinking…" He pauses, then moves to sit down in the armchair, keeping to the very edge of the seat. His hands fall into his lap. "I think I'm a weak spot for you."

I purse my lips together. "Explain what you mean."

"You were in danger and got hurt, for me, and I couldn't do a thing to help you." He looks looking up at me, his warm, light brown eyes meeting mine with sincerity. "Seeing you ride in today - on a dragon, no less - really brought it home: I'm just a businessman, and you're...well, you're you."

"I'm me?" I ask, a grin spreading across my face. "Ok, so first off," I comment, leaning in to put my hands on his knees, "I didn't do it just for you. Garrett is my friend too, and he deserved better."

Varric scoots back in the chair and I follow, putting my hands on either of the armrests and climbing up to straddle his legs, my knees resting on the cushion to either side. "Secondly," I start again with a smile, "you really have no idea what you've done to me, do you? Meeting you has turned my life completely upside-down. Being with you has changed me, made me better. I'm calmer, happier than I've ever been in my whole life. I mean, did you see that sunset? Toth has even been cooperative, despite everything that's happened, and I'm pretty sure you're responsible for that, too. Varric, I see a future with you that I never thought possible."

He looks at me, a frown of concern wrinkling his forehead. "Are you sure this is still what you want? I mean, you're the twin of the Maker…"

"Ah, so this is about my brother," I reply, finally understanding. I move in closer, one hand resting on the back of the chair, and sit on his upper thighs. The fingers of the other hand glide over his hair, holding his head to look up at me. "Yes, I'm sure, you stubborn dwarf. I told you before, it might seem strange, but it's just magic, and I'm just a woman." I smile. "I've been yours since the first time you kissed me."

He smiles back and I rest my forehead against his. "You're more than enough, Varric Tethras. You're not a weakness, you're my strength...my everything."

"I love you," he whispers, and our lips meet, not in our usual hunger and desperation, but gentle reassurance and connection. Varric's hands travel down my sides to rest at my waist when we break off the kiss. "I like this purple color on you," he comments.

"It's my favorite," I tell him. "And I'm glad we cleared that up," I conclude with a grin. "For a second there, I was worried I'd finally scared you away."

He shakes his head. "No, but I think I understand how Andraste must have felt now."

"Oh, you mean happy?" I tease.

"Exactly," he chuckles, and pulls my face down for another brief kiss. I shift my body to rest my head on his shoulder and his arms tighten around me.

"So what'd I miss?" I ask casually, to a small sound of amusement from my dwarf.

"Well, you know Hawke left," he leads, and I nod.

"Yeah. Good for him," I respond. "I really hope he finds her, Varric. Garrett deserves something good after all he's been through. I don't know Isabela, but from what I saw in Kirkwall and after listening to you two and Alistair talk about her, it sounds like she might need him as much as he needs her."

"He told us that you battled the Nightmare," Varric says, stroking his hand over my back, and I shiver at the sensation.

"Yeah, not that it did much good. I think it would take an army to kill that thing now."

Varric sighed in frustration, but planted a kiss on my temple. "I'm just glad you're both okay."

"Me too," I reply, smiling against his skin. Neither of us show any indication of moving, and I'm comfortable on his lap. It's nice, this closeness. "So what else happened?"

"The demons - as you know - all left once the Inquisitor stepped back out of the Fade," he continues.

"Hmm, I remember talking with the Archdemon, but I guess I didn't really notice."

"You mean you actually managed to talk to it?"

"Yeah, well...it wasn't much of a conversationalist. Red lyrium was growing inside it, causing it excruciating pain. Death would be a mercy at this point."

"Ah," Varric says quietly, pausing before moving on. "So then the Inquisitor goes and recruits the Wardens, saying they're going to work for the Inquisition. Alistair is running the show now."

"I'm glad. He's a good man, Alistair."

"Yeah, well, it didn't go over well with everyone. Solas got angry about it and took off. Well shit, I guess he's not really Solas, is he?"

"Yes and no. One name is as good as the other, I suppose."

"Things were a whole lot easier when it was just 'make friends, seal the giant hole in the sky'. All this talk of fighting gods and the end of the world…"

"No one is going to take my future from me if I have anything to say about it."

"That makes two of us, Firefly." I glance up at him, and find him looking at me with a determined expression. Struck by the urge, I kiss him again, deepening the kiss this time. Varric growls, deep in his throat, his hands on my hips, his thick fingers digging into my flesh.

"Stop," he says, pulling away with a pained rasping breath, and I immediately back off, looking at him.

"Did I do something wrong?" I ask.

"No, but you've just been through something horrible. You probably don't want to be together that way just yet."

"Love, I just had the longest nap of my life, and we're back together for the first time in weeks. Of course I want you, and quite frankly, I could use the exercise."

That's all it takes. The grin that takes over his features makes my heart race. He pulls me in close to whisper harshly in my ear, "In that case…" He picks me up, ignoring my surprised giggles, his hands under my thighs and carries me to bed.

Later that night I wake, already missing the warmth of his arms. But I hear the familiar scratching of his quill and I know he's at the desk, writing again. I glance over. He's remembered the blanket this time. I smile to myself and don't bother getting up, but mumble, "Not too late, okay, Love?"

He grunts in way of agreement, but the sound of his quill doesn't even stop for a second. It must be something good, I think, as I drift back into the comfortable darkness of sleep.

The next thing I'm aware of is the soft pressure of kisses on the skin of my back and the rough scratch of Varric's stubble creating the most interesting sensations. He traces a finger across the surface of my scar from the snowy wyvern, and I turn to look back at him, my eyes still blurry with sleep. "Mm Varric?" I manage to get out through my drowsy haze.

"I have news," he announces, and I try to focus. "I got a letter while we were gone. Bartrand's doing much better, thanks to the treatments Tenebris designed for him." His happiness is infectious, and I find myself smiling back.

"That's amazing!" I exclaim and sit up, pulling the blanket up around me. "I can't wait to meet him! Wait, he's going to like me, right?"

"Well, he did want me to settle down with the daughter of one of the members of the Merchant's Guild," Varric answers, breaking eye contact.

"That's a joke, right?" He doesn't answer. "Varric..."

"Of course I'm joking," he replies, humor lighting his features. "You're too gullible, Firefly. And no, Bartrand is my brother, not my keeper. Anyway, I'm pretty sure he'll like you." Varric sighs, reluctantly standing up out of the bed. "We need to get dressed and find out when we're leaving this time. There's never enough time," he says, shaking his head as he reaches for his clothes.