It was four days later before the Inquisitor returned. Hawke and Alistar had confirmed that the Wardens had taken over Adamant and Erimond had been seen going inside the fortress.
When the Inquisitor arrived in the courtyard, Cassandra was on the walkway outside of Cullen's office. Her heart hammered in her chest as she watched Alvaerle dismount, and the unfamiliar bite of jealousy coiled inside of her gut when the Iron Bull leaned close and said something to the elf that made her throw back her head with laughter. Cassandra watched the Inquisitor give the Qunari a fond look and touch his arm, the same kind of smile given to Dorian before Josephine and Cullen walked over and the Alva was whisked away to the war room.
Cassandra paced along the battlements. Should she go to her now? Wait until after they had gone to Adamant? While the first thought brought another round of nervous excitement the latter didn't feel right. She should not wait, Cassandra realized. Too many things could happen in the time in between, the moment could be lost. No, Cassandra reaffirmed, turning to head into the castle, this needed to be done and she would do it.
Cassandra leaned against the broken stone wall in the hallway that led to the war room. There were many repairs that still needed to be done throughout the castle, this area was next on a very long list.
The doors to the War Room finally opened, and Cassandra's full attention was drawn to it. She nodded a greeting Cullen and Josephine and tried to ignore the knowing glance Leliana gave her as she continued down the hallway, speaking with Josephine. Cassandra noted that the Inquisitor did not emerge. She hesitated but for a breath of a moment, and then pushed forward, entering the room.
Alva was standing in front of the large table that held a map of Thedas, the surface covered with markers of various areas of import, her hands placed on the tables edge. Cassandra took in the line of the Inquisitor's back, the square of her shoulders as she contemplated the map. Thinking of the battle ahead no doubt.
"Inquisitor," Cassandra called out gently. "May I have a word?"
Alva was silent for a moment and Cassandra feared the woman would send her away. Finally she said quietly, "Of course Seeker Pentaghast."
It was such a formal way to address her. Cassandra did not like it, but she could not blame the other woman. She had hurt the elf with her rejection, Cassandra realized again. The knowledge brought a tightness in her chest and a wildly protective instinct to make it right.
Cassandra shut the door to the War Room and moved behind Alvaerle. She felt, not at all in control of her own body, felt like something other than her brain was dictating her motions and she surrendered to it, giving into the urge she'd had many, many times and pressed her face against the elf's hair, nuzzling against it's softness and drawing in her scent.
She felt Alva stiffen at the sudden unexpected nearness. "Cassandra?"
"Turn around Alvaerle. Please," Cassandra implored in a soft tone that sounded a touch husky to her own ears.
She was so close she felt the shiver that went down Alva's spine. Cassandra backed up just a step and slowly, Alva turned around. Cassandra met the elf's confused, searching gaze. Without hesitation she wrapped her arms around Alva, drawing the other woman close, cradling her. For a moment Alva was stiff in her arms, and Cassandra feared she would be pushed away. It lasted but a heartbeat though, and when finally Alva raised her arms to close lightly around Cassandra's back desire seized the Seeker, coiling hotly in her gut. Warmth flooded her chest again, and without consciousness thought she tightened her arms around Alva, drawing her closer.
"Cassandra?" Alva asked again, her tone quiet.
Cassandra understood the question in her tone. "I know the upcoming battle must weight on you," Cassandra began and turned her head just enough so that she could murmur in Alva's ear, "I would be the one to comfort you when you need it. To hold you like this, when the weight of what you must do wears on you."
Alva trembled in her arms, and Cassandra felt a thrill that she could effect the Inquisitor so strongly. Alva pulled back enough that she could look at Cassandra. Cassandra saw clearly the confusion still in Alva's grey eyes, her expression guarded. She opened her mouth as if to speak -
"I could love you, Alvaerle Lavellan," Cassandra interrupted, because she needed to say it, had to tell the Inquisitor how she felt right then. "Truly, I think I must."
Cassandra watched what could only be shock spread across Alva's face, her features tightening, her eyes becoming glassy.
"Alvaerle…" Cassandra whispered the word reverently and pressed her lips against the elf's. The Seeker almost moaned at the way the elf melted into her, and then she just couldn't move slowly. She wanted… felt like she had wanted this woman her entire life and been denied and now…
Anything that had been on the table crashed to the floor as Cassandra lifted Alva and put her on the table. The elf seized Cassandra's face between her hands, her lips parted and hot, her tongue teasing Cassandra's lips, pressing deeper into her mouth. Cassandra sucked on the elf's tongue and Alva moaned loudly.
"You're what I want," Alvaerle whispered against Cassandra's lips. "All I could want. Cassandra-"
The sound of her name in that breathless tone drew a shiver down Cassandra's spine. She found the Inquisitors clothes to be a nuisance, one that she divested the other woman of, handily. She touched Alva's breast and the feel of the elf's soft skin in her battle worn hands, the soft whimper Alva made, left Cassandra hopelessly wet. Her arousal spiked higher when she saw the look of pure pleasure on the Inquisitor's face and knew that she was the cause of it. Cassandra bent her head, her lips parted as they dragged over Alva's breast. She used her tongue on the elf's nipples, listening as her lovers breath caught. Greedily, Cassandra covered the peak with her lips and began to suck.
Alva moaned loudly again, her hands fisting in Cassandra's hair. "Cassandra wait… I… oh, fuck. My room… my-"
"No," Cassandra whispered huskily against Alva's breast. "I will wait no longer. I will have you… love you now." She pressed her hand between the elf's legs, cupping her sex intimately, and a touch possessively. She could not deny that the memory of the Inquisitor coupling with the Iron Bull had not briefly run into her mind, and she was determined regardless of her inexperience with a woman to make Alvaerle feel the same pleasure with her.
Alva cried out, her hips jerking towards the Seekers hand. "I… Cassandra I've wanted you… too much… I'll come so fast if you keep… that up."
It thrilled Cassandra to no end that her usually articulate Inquisitor could barely form a sentence and the hot little sounds she made in between each word made Cassandra feel utterly ravenous to have her. She had had, only one other partner and she had never wanted him like this. "Then I will simply have to make you come again after the first," Cassandra whispered. She drew a finger between Alva's folds, her head raising to press her lips against the arched column of the elf's throat. It was Cassandra's turn to moan against her lover when she felt how wet Alva was. She pressed her finger inside, the tip of her thumb grazing against Alva's clit. The elf began panting against her, her hips rocking helplessly into her motions.
"Blessed Mythal, yes… don't stop. Please… Cassandra I need you."
Cassandra lifted her head, because she found she loved watching the elf's face in her passion. Alva was beautiful, breathtaking really with her lips swollen from the Seekers kisses, parted to give voice to her pleasure, her eyes hooded with desire, snapping closed when sensation overcame her. Cassandra added a second finger, and began pumping them rhythmically inside of her lover.
"I won't last… Cassandra…" Alvaerle curled her fingers against the back of Cassandra's neck, claiming her mouth in a searing kiss, lips parted and messy with the passionate sounds she kept making every time Cassandra's fingers plunged inside of her. It was heady to be inside the other woman, Cassandra mused in a passionate haze and knowing what she herself liked she curled her fingers so very slightly upwards, until the tips rubbed against the rough sensitive bundles of nerves inside her lover. Alvaerle's breathy moans suddenly turned into a shout of pleasure, the other woman's hips rolling in a hard, sensuous motion against Cassandra's fingers. She felt her lovers inner walls tighten around her fingers, Alvaerle's nails suddenly digging into her shoulders, her back, loud helpless moans and whimpers falling from the elf's lips as she came.
"Cassandra… yes… yes… I love you. Creators, I love you."
Cassandra shivered, unable to contain her own reaction or the quiet whimper that left her. A deep sense of satisfaction and another wave of possessiveness washed over her. She brought Alvaerle down slowly, finally easing her fingers out of her lover.
Alvaerle, still panting, her eyes hooded with desire reached down, taking hold of Cassandra's hand. Keeping her eyes on her lover, the elf brought that hand to her mouth, sucking on the fingers that had been inside of her. Cassandra's breathing flared. She would have not thought such a gesture to be so arousing but it was.
Slowly, Alvaerle drew those fingers from her mouth. "My turn. Take me to bed, Cassandra. I'm going to spend the time before this battle doing nothing but loving you."
She was so beautiful, Alvaerle thought watching her lover sleeping. Somehow they managed to make it from the war room into her chambers. Cassandra was sprawled out in bed next to her, the blankets mostly around her waist, one of her legs peeking out from underneath the furs. Her back was exposed to Alva and the sight of the seekers skin so close to her was far too tempting to ignore.
They didn't have much time before they would have to rise and begin the march to Adamant. And she'd waited far too long for Cassandra to waste any quiet moment she could get with her.
Alva bent over her, her lips brushing featherweight over the back of Cassandra's shoulder. She applied more pressure, gently trailing her mouth over Cassandra's back, down her spine. The soft brush of her fingertips followed the path of her mouth.
"Mmm." Cassandra slowly opened up one eye, all but purring. "You… are insatiable."
Alva laughed quietly. "I could very easily say the same about you."
"That is your fault. You are far too… touchable."
Alva found herself laughing again, moving to lie next to her Seeker, facing her. Cassandra was smiling at her, a soft look in her eyes. She drew her touch so very gently over Cassandra's face. "I love you," she whispered.
Cassandra closed her eyes and Alva watched her throat work. "And I you, Alvaerle." Her eyes opened again, and she turned onto her side, scooting closer until their noses nearly touched. "May I court you my lady?"
Alva felt a lump forming in her throat again at the request. In answer she leaned forward, pressing her lips against Cassandra's. Just the feel of the Seeker's mouth against her own and immediately she wanted, craved more. Her lips trailed a soft, warm path over Cassandra's throat, pushing the Seeker onto her back. She found a sensitive spot, just behind Cassandra's ear, and found running the tip of her tongue across it made Cassandra wet. When she sucked, the Seeker moaned, and thrust her fingers into her lovers hair.
"Cassandra?" Alva whispered, lifting her head so she could look down at the Seeker.
"Hmm?" Cassandra's eyes fluttered open, and even her attention to the question didn't stop her from trailing her foot over the back of Alva's leg, her hips lifting to press against her lovers.
Alva's breath caught and it took another moment before she found her voice, "What made you change your mind?" After the question was asked, she shifted, pressing her sex more firmly against Cassandra's and watched Cassandra's cheeks began to turn red, even as her lover's gaze darkened with her mounting desire and the elf couldn't help but grin at the expression.
"I…." Cassandra licked her lips, her hands moving to Alva's hips. "I… heard you."
Understanding did not immediately dawn. Alva tipped her head curiously, even as she rolled her hips in a slow, sensuous movement, creating a friction that both women felt against their clits.
Cassandra moaned, her eyes snapping shut. It made Alva heady with desire when she felt Cassandra's fingers tightening on her hip.
"Seeker?" Alva queried again when her lover remained silent.
Cassandra snapped open her eyes, an almost scowl on her face. "You wish to speak of this now?"
Alva laughed delightedly, rolling her hips again, but she didn't stop this time, continuing the motion over and over again. "Yes," she said her tone breathless. "I want to know. Tell me."
She watched as her lover's scowl quickly turned into an expression of pleasure. "I will… mmm… I will confess these things… if you promise not to stop," Cassandra said.
"I promise I won't stop." The motion of her hips did however, because Alva began to slid down her lovers her body, the soft drag of her open mouth marking a path over the muscles in Cassandra's stomach.
Cassandra breathed out roughly, her hooded gaze watching the elf. Alva paused, just to peek up at Cassandra expectantly and Cassandra made a gruff noise of defeat. "I came to your chambers, before you left with The Iron Bull and I… I heard you."
Alva paused for just a moment and a small wave of guilt crashed into her. She pressed her mouth lovingly against Cassandra's skin, dragging her tongue down the V of her hip, her mouth inching closer to her lover's sex. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "That you heard that."
Cassandra shook her head, reaching down to gently thread her fingers through Alva's hair. "Do not be sorry. The fault is mine. But, now that I have you-"
"You do. I'm yours Cassandra and no one else." Alva lifted her eyes briefly to Cassandra's and then she turned her head and pressed her lips against her lover.
Cassandra gasped above her, unable to stop the way her hips shifted towards the elf's mouth.
The subtle little motion turned Alva on to no end. She dragged her tongue through her lovers folds, parting her intimately, the motion unstopping until her tongue was against Cassandra's clit, slow soft teasing licks before Alva pressed her lips harder against her lover and began sucking.
Cassandra cried out, a loud wanton sound, her fingers tightening in her lovers hair. "I love you… please do not stop. I love you…."
Alva shivered instinctively at the sound of Cassandra's voice above her, the words rolled off her tongue in that incredibly sexy nevarran accent made Alva's chest tighten with emotion.
"I want to hear you say that again, Seeker," she whispered. "Maybe louder next time." A sensual smile pulled at the elf's mouth before those lips returned to the very important task of making her lover come.