This long chapter is a flashback-dream before the event of Inquisition.
I wanted a moment like this to happen during this story so... Please let me know what you think. :)

Also there is a small tribute to a character from another Bioware game.

Warden's POV

Enjoy

"It's going to be alright, love." Leliana said fixing the collar of my shirt and smiling up to me with that glint in her eyes that she reserved only for me.

Her smooth accent relaxed my tense shoulers but did nothing for the racing heart that I could feel pumping furiously in my throat.

I knew that this day was going to come... eventually. But I'd never thought that it was going to be so soon. I started to rub the callus on my right hand in a nervous habit in attempt to release some of the nervousness that was bubbling up inside me with every passing second.

Even the night of my harrowing I didn't feel that nervous, a bit concerned perhaps, but I wasn't certainly in that state.

I started scratching more intensely at my hand but my palms became sweaty obliging me to stop my movement and to release a frustrated sigh tilting my head down in surrender.

Leliana chuckled at that and I couldn't help but look from my very resigned position and playfully glare at my lover's amused expression.

"You are enjoying this, are you?" I asked raising one of my eyebrow and doing my best to not show the smirk that was trying to appear on my lips.

With that ever present smile she leaned in and kissed me softly on the lips.

The simple and chaste touch melt me right away and suddenly the anxiety I was feeling just a few moments before was gone, replaced by the deeper and joyful sensation that always reached my soul whenever she kissed me.

My hands came up to hold her gently on her slender waist as hers rested on my cheeks, softly running her fingertips on the sides of my face and making the skin there tingle.

Even if the kiss was meant to be a reassurance for me, I felt Leliana's body meld against mine and the thought, that after three years that we had been together I still had the power to make her whimper in my mouth and make her knees weak, just like she had me shiver in delight with just a smile and my cheek to blush with only a look, made my insides flutter and my chest ache with love.

We reclutantly parted together, I opened my eyes meeting the deeper and purer shade of blue orbs than my own, looking directly at me with pure adoration.

"You have nothing to worry about, my darling girl." She whispered running her fingers through my short dark hair as I tightened lightly the hold around her waist, unwilling to let her go and break our peaceful moment.

I knew that I had no reason to be so agitated about what we were going to do, but realizing that I was going to meet the most important person in my lover's life, the one that saved my beautiful sweet girl before I met her in Lothering and the one that was also her mentor and guide, treating her like she was her daughter, made me a nervous wreck... Even if it was my idea to do so, and Leliana was beyond happiness when I asked her to go visit Dorothea.

The gentle spring wind blew softly on us bringing with it the smell of salt and blooming flowers, a comforting touch that made me relax further in my lover's hands.

Valence was a very small village and it was situated upon a magnificent cliff that faced the Waking Sea. The sounds of the waves splashing against the rocks was barely audible from where we were but the sing of the birds was the background that accompanied our moment. Surrounding the small cloister there was nothing but and immense green valley, rich with many different flowers and cherry trees.

It was late afternoon and the sun was starting to set, almost half hiding under the visible surface of the immense sea that faced the cloister, painting the sky in different layers of orange and pink and warming us both with its soft bright rays.

And for a moment I lost myself watching the effect that that light had on my lover.

Her fair skin was glowing for the intesity of the sunlight making the small lovely freckles on her cheeks more defined, her eyes were shining and showing so much sentiment that made my breath hitch in my throat and her hair, Maker... Her fiery red hair was gently being moved by the wind and reflecting the hidden gold that only the sun was able to accentuate.

"You're so beautiful, Leliana."

I couldn't stop myself from saying it just like I couldn't help but blush when I saw her giving me one of her most charming smiles in return, making my palms sweaty once again.

"Well," She moved closer to me, bringing her arms up around my neck and leaning in, raising on her tiptoes so she could be at my own height just when I heard a familiar trotting coming towards us. "You are not bad yourself, my Warden."

And just when we were going to kiss for the nth time a loud bark made the both of us turn and then the spring air was filled with the joyful laugh of my lover.

"And of course who would be The Hero of Ferelden without her loyal, brave and smart companion always at her side?"

I laughed when I saw Krios, my inseparable Mabari hound, sit and showing the powerful muscles of his massive chest with pride at Leliana's praising words, wagging his small tail on the grass when she made her way towards him.

I only laughed harder when I saw him roll in the grass and offering himself for a tummy rub from my lover.

I made my way towards them kneeling into the ground and petting my loyal hound behind his ear just like he loved, and not even two seconds later I was on my back on the grass with him giving a long lick across my face.

"Urgh! Krios!" I tried to wipe away the saliva from my face but he kept licking me and pinning me to the ground.

"Alright alright! I love you too!" At that he raised his head barking once again to reciprocate the sentiment and then he moved, finally satisfied, allowing my chuckling and very amused lover to help me stand from the grass as he ran on the open space all around.

I picked up my staff that fell into the ground during the playful moment and then I started cleaning the dust from my clothes that fortunately were no torn or stained.

A wet-lukewarm sensation on my face was what distracted me from my examination, realizing that Leliana was using one of our towels to wipe away the drool on my face.

She poured a little more water from her flask on the cloth and started rubbing my face with it.

I wasn't the kind of person that was used to certain things, I was used to do everything by myself since I entered the Circle. But I welcomed her delicate but secure touch everytime, completely addicted to it whether it was of a more intimate nature or even an attempt to brush away some dirt after playing with my hound.

"There." She pulled the cloth away with a satisfied smile, handing to me a small bottle of lotion to apply on my face.

I smeared the cream all over my face and the smell of Andraste's Grace filled my nostrils making my stomach clench with the same powerful sensation I've always felt whenever I smelled it, bringing back the most intimate memories of my redhead bard and I when we were at the very beginning of our relationship. Travelling around my country, fighting darkspawn and exchanging timid looks at every possible occasion.

With a final check that everything was in order I secured the staff on the strap on my back, ready to turn and enter the cloister to finally meet Leliana's dearest friend.

"Are you ready, my love?" I turned towards her when I felt her soft hand slip into mine, offering all the reassurance that I needed with that simple touch and her most comforting smile.

I breathed out shakily, composing myself and straightening my back, feeling a bit more secure and less nervous thanks to the playful moment that managed to distract me, for as silly as it was.

I offered to her my elbow for support, making her laugh softly at the gesture.

"Shall we, my lady?" I asked and when she nodded giving me another smile in return, I opened the doors of the main entrance.

The long shadows of our forms was the first thing I noticed, greeting us on the long red carpet before disappearing into nothing as the heavy doors closed with a soft thud behind us.

I slowly raised my gaze, meeting high magnificent statues at both sides with small contained roaring fires at their feet following the lenght of the main entrance and leading to the center of the cloister, where the statue of Andraste watched directly whomever entered.

The light coming from the high stained windows was still very bright, offering a good enough illumination to let me see some of the paintings decorating the walls behing the columns of the aisles.

Despite its decoration and the pieces of art that surrounded the entire chantry, I didn't expect to feel such a deep feeling of protection and comfort entering for the first time that place. I wasn't a woman that believed very much, the Chantry had never brought to me any good and when I was sent to the Circle I felt resentment for a very long time toward the ones that decided that I needed to be locked up into a Tower, because they thought that people like me were dangerous.

But Leliana believed so much in all of this, the Chantry, the Maker and in all of Andraste's operate that made me reconsidered my belief, even if over the years I never became as devoted as she was.

I was so lost in my own thoughts, admiring the beautiful structure that I didn't even feel when Leliana pulled her arm from mine, leaving my side, but when the sound of her smooth voice speaking her native language reached my ears, I blinked several times focusing on the figure that was making her way towards us.

When I first asked Leliana if she wanted to go visit Dorothea I didn't realize what I was asking. I suppouse that I really wanted to meet the person that helped my Leliana during the most difficult period of her life, giving her new hope and also contribuiting of making of her the wonderful woman that she became. And even if I really wanted to meet her, part of me was so very nervous during the travel that brought us there, and the reason beyond my anxiety was that I was disperately afraid that I wasn't going to like to the dearest friend of my lover, and the thought was inexplicabily frightening.

I saw as Leliana's arms wrapped around the Revered Mother holding her tightly before pulling back and turning to smile brightly at me as they closed the small distance that was separating us.

I was frozen on the spot.

Every muscle in my body was refusing to collaborate and take even a small step forward.

The only thing I could do was close my mouth and swallow hard a second before Leliana stopped less than a couple of feet from me, ready to present me to her mentor.

But before she could say a word, I was on my knee, suddenly having found the strengh and courange that I needed, bowing my head in respect before saying

"I'm honoured to make your acquaintance, Revered Mother." Pleasantly surprised to hear my own voice sounds clear and steady even if the emotions that were running through me were visible on the slightly tremble of my hands.

A small chuckle was definitely what I wasn't expecting as a response and when I raised my head to meet the gaze of the older woman whose eyes were kind and full of wisdom, shining with a hint of amusement, all the nervousness came back to me with a vengeance.

"I think I should be the one to say that, dear girl. And I should also be the one to kneel in front of The Hero of Ferelden, the one that saved us all from the Fifth Blight." I stood from my position blushing furiously hearing the title that was given to me all those years before and the one that still hunted me whereverI went.

Fortunately I found my words before it was too late to offer a proper answer.

"It was more than three years ago, Revered Mother. But I may be kneeling in front of the next Divine." I offered a smile at the older woman that waved a dismissive hand in front of her.

"Please dear, just call me Dorothea." She said giving me a sincere smile and squizzing my arm affectionately, like a mother would have done.

The kind and comforting touch was a small gesture that helped to put at ease most of the anxiety that was threatening to make me appear like a fool.

There was something in the woman's voice that made me feel so very light and accepted even after only a few short minutes from our incounter, a light coming from deep inside of her, showing itself through her eyes and that touched my soul, leaving me with a deep sense of peace.

I watched how she and Leliana interacted with each other like they were sisters and the sight that my lover had someone beside me that cared so much about her and that would have done anything for her, warmed my heart. Because if anyone in this world deserved all the kindest attentions that someone could offer, it was her. Even if the thought that someone knew her better than me settled a small uncomfortable and irrational feeling of jealousy in me, a feeling that was immediately pushed aside when she turned towards me, looking me in the eyes with the intensity and love that she only reserved for me.

"The other Sisters would be so delighted to see you again, Leliana." The Revered Mother's voice pulled me from my thoughts after a few minutes. "They are probably in the garden watering the plants now."

My lover looked at me, knowing that it was probably the excuse that I was afraid of, that would had me and her mentor alone so she could finally give me the speech I knew I was going to receive during the visit.

With my emotions under control once again and confident that I was in the right condition to face the talk, I locked eyes with my redhead bard, smiling reassuringly and nodding my head in consent, telling her without words that she didn't have to worry about anything. I saw her returning the nod to me just before she turned heading towards a door that probably brought to the garden on the other side of the cloister.

I watched her form retreating, unable to pull away my gaze from her until she disappeared behind the solid wooden door.

A small chuckle made me turn my head and look at the amused expression on the older woman's face. "You have nothing to worry about, Warden. Your lover will be at your side soon enough. I just wanted to spend a few minutes alone to know you better."

Well, that was what I had suspected, but hearing her actually say it made me feel a bit unprepared once again, making me swallow hard in an attempt to bring some moisture in my suddenly very dry throat and while I was recovering, she continued talking and leading me towards one of the small altars used to pray.

"Leliana wrote to me so many times during the Blight and even after your incredible success." She said as I looked intently at the flickering flames of the two red candles that were resting on the altar, one was so consumed that its flame was starting to burn the melted wax pooled under it raising in the air small black clouds.

When the Revered Mother's words sink into me I winced a little as my gaze met her compassionate one.

"She wrote to me all the adventures you have encoutered during those long and difficult months, and how you managed to face every choice with your head up, helping anyone wherever you were headed."

I heard the smile in her tone, like if she was remembering an old tale... And the end of the tale was the part I was afraid to hear coming from her.

"I wasn't alone. I don't think I could have succeded without the help of my companions." It was true. I never though that my title was really earned. Because I felt like I didn't deserve it. A houndred of men gave their life, leaving behind everything, for a chance to protect what meant the most to them. Their land, their families, their children... Their lovers.

Dorothea turned slightly to look at me a small smile played on her lips.

"I'm sure they were a great part of your operate. The people that surround us always have a certain effect on us and also on our choices."

I smiled at that thinking about how it was true. Since Leliana joined us in Lothering I started to see things in a different way, I was no longer guided by that deep sense of revenge that boiled in my veins since after the events in Ostagar. She was the light I needed to see when darkness was threatening to fall upon my soul.

"Useless to say that you had a certain effect of your companion too." Dorothea continue. "The way Leliana talked about you in her letters," She sighed deeply shaking her head and chuckling after a few moments. "I knew that she was starting to fall for the dashing Gray Warden that accepted her into her entourage."

I blushed at that. But when I looked up from my position meeting the gaze of the older woman, the small smile on my lips was wiped away as I saw the concern on her features and the pain in her eyes.

"And when she suddenly stopped writing to me, I thought I knew what had happened."

Our eyes were locked and I couldn't help showing some of the guilt I still felt when those painful memories were brought up, forming a lump in my throat and making my vision blur with tears.

Several long and agonizing moments passed and she kept looking at me, silently asking for an answer. An answer that she already knew. Because it was the reason that had me stand there breathing... Alive.

The light coming from the windows was less bright with every passing minute, meaning that the sun was almost completely gone for the day. Swallowing down the tears I felt forming in my eyes I took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of incense mixed with the smell of the slowly burning candles.

"I-I couldn't-" Was all I managed to say.

I had so many answer ready for this woman and this was the one I knew she was going to ask me for sure, but the overwhelming feelings that were running through me at the moment, the pain of memories that still hunted me at night, the ones that had me hearing the cracking voice of my lover praying for me to come back to her when she thought that she was going to lose me forever, were still able to shatter my heart everytime, and the only person that somehow always managed to put the pieces back together, was her.

My gaze landed on the small altar, where I watched as the flame of the consumed candle burned out, a small thin gray filament raising in the air as the caratteristical smell of burned wax filled my nostrils.

I heard a few soft steps and then the Revered Mother was at my side picking up the consumed candle.

I was so terrified the second before our eyes met, thinking about what expression I would have found on her features.

But nothing could have prepared me to the small smile playing on her lips and to her glistening eyes.

"When I finally received some news from Leliana, I could feel the happiness radiating from the letter as I read about her beloved Warden finally waking up after the battle with the Archdemon that almost had her killed."

I watched as she replaced the candle with another one, lightening it with the light of the one next to it and placing it at its side. And when she turned towards me once again, her eyes were shining with unshed tears looking at me with relief and gratefulness, and the next thing she said was what made all the guilt and fear that was wrapped around me lift from my shoulders, leaving me free to breath for the very first time in a long time.

"Thank you."

She took my hands in hers before continuing and the simple gesture made me feel even more at peace.

"You are the air that feed her light, making her so bright and sheltering her from darkness."

A small tear slided down my cheek hearing those words. I wanted to say that she was my light and that she protected me from darkness more times that I could remember, but my voice was nowhere to be found.

"I saw how you two look at each other, child." She smiled brightly at me feeling her hands starting to tremble slinghtly in mine for the emotion. "The light in your eyes speaks louder than any word, and the choice you took, was guided by love. You have nothing to feel guilty about."

I looked at her unable to understand how she could know all those things, and when I opened my mouth to speak having found my voice once again, I said the only truth that lived inside of my heart.

"I made her a promise. And I would go into the abyss and return in this world only for her."

She released my hands, gesturing for me to kneel in front of her.

I felt the warmth of her hand resting on my head as I heard her barely whispering.

The words were not from the Chant of Light, but a personal prayer.

A benediction.

And when after a few moments I felt her hand rest on my cheek and urging me to stand, I raised on my feet looking into those kind and reassuring eyes.

"There is another mission waiting for you, dear girl."

I nodded, breathing out shakily, knowing exactly what mission she was referring to. The one I didn't know it would take so many years to accomplish, but also the one that would have given to me and my lover a chance to live together, without worrying about the future and about the inevitable destiny of a Gray Warden.

"I won't leave her in this world alone." The determination in my own voice gave me strenght as I continued. "I saw how broken she was after she nearly lost me. I can't let that happen again."

Everything I've ever done, I did it for her.

To see her smile. To see her happy.

To make her feel loved... Just like she deserved.

And then I saw Dorothea pulling something from one of her fingers, she took my hand and hold it tightly in hers.

"She belongs with you. In this life and in the next." A single tear of happiness slided down her cheek as I realized what she had put in my hand, leaving me breathless.

It was the answer to the benediction I wanted to ask to her, for when all of that would be over and I would be free to do what I desired to do with all my heart.

I woke up slowly from my half dream and half memory with a deep sense of peace, finding myself in a small bed, the stone walls and the surrounding around me wasn't very familiar, but the weight resting on my chest and the soft breathing that caressed my skin, it was.

I blinked a few times allowing my eyes to adjust at the light coming from the window behind the bed and when I focused on the sleeping figure resting on top of me, my heart fluttered inside of my chest and my breath hitched.

Leliana's head was resting between my shoulder and chest, the contrast between her creamy skin and my slightly tanned one was what had me blink several more times to reassure that I wasn't still dreaming. Her soft hand rested on the left side of my chest, right above my heart that was starting to beat faster in front of such a beautiful sight.

A sight that I wanted to see every day for the rest of my life.

I ran my fingertips on the thin tress that was glowing with gold from the light coming into the room, moving it behind her ear, careful to not wake her from her peaceful sleep.

A small smile appeared on her face as she snuggled closer to me unconsciously, I wrapped my arms tightly around her, desperate to feel her pressed against me and share the warmth of our naked bodies.

I looked down at her slowly releasing a deep breath as I replayed the memory I had dreamt about.

I kissed her forehead softly and with my voice craking with emotion I closed my eyes, whispering a few words against her temple.

"I belong to you, my dear heart."

The image of Dorothea sliding something into my hand flashed again in my mind as I concluded, smelling her incredible comforting smell and allowing a small tear to run over the side of my head.

"Please, be mine forever."

...Thoughts?