Disclaimer: Dragon Age and its characters belong to its respective owners and creators. I am merely borrowing them.

The Rose

Just give it to her already. You made up your mind a week ago and yet you still haven't done it! Alistair berated himself as they traveled through the Brecilian forests.

They made camp that night and rested up from battling werewolves and darkspawn and everything other maker-forsaken creature that prowled the forests. Alistair stood by a small stream near the edge of camp and drew some water using a bucket.

His armor was filthy, coated in blood, grime, and werewolf spittle. He knew he'd made jokes with her about being raised by flying dogs but he really didn't want to smell like one.

Sabriel Tabiris happened to be walking by as he straightened up.

"Off to chat with Morrigan, no doubt." He said to himself. He couldn't understand why Sabriel made such an effort with Morrigan but- his mind suddenly took a detour as he watched her walk.

"Maker's breath, she is beautiful." He said softly not realizing or really caring that he was staring. A buzzing numbness was filling his brain.

A gentle "I see" interrupted his happy thoughts and he turned to see Wynne holding the bucket he hadn't realized he'd dropped. Oh, no. She's got that wicked grin on her face.

"Why are you smiling like that? You look suspiciously like the cat who swallowed the pigeon." He said putting his hands on his waist indignantly.

Wynne was still smiling. "Canary."

Is she calling me a bird? Is that some new word for fool who stares at women and totally forgets what they were doing? "What?" he asked, looking confused.

"I look like the cat that swallowed the canary." She said in a motherly, explaining tone that Alistair had grown all too used to.

Alistair breathed a small mental sigh of relief. "I once had a very large cat, but that's not my point. My point is why are you smirking?"

Wynne chuckled and Alistair frowned. "You were watching her."

His eyes opened wide and the blushing began to start. Oh, no. Maker help me, she saw me!

"With great interest, I might add. In fact, I believe you were...enraptured." she continued, the wicked grin never leaving her face.

Come on man! Try to salvage some dignity! His mind yelled at him. He shifted nervously and turned away so he couldn't see that evil, evil smile. "She's our leader. I look to her for guidance."

"Oh, I see." Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "So what guidance did you find in those swaying hips hmm?"

Definitely busted. "No no no, I wasn't looking at...you know her...hind-quarters" he stammered.

He could almost feel Wynne's smile widening even though he had his back to her. "Certainly." She said simply.

"I gazed...glanced, in that direction, maybe, but I wasn't staring...or really seeing anything even." He said, his voice cracking when he said "glanced".

Back to the grandmotherly tone Wynne simply said. "Of course."

Feeling the blush running up to his ear tips, Alistair crossed his arms and pouted. "I hate you. You're a bad person."

Wynne laughed and by the way her voice got fainter Alistair knew she as walking away. He breathed a deep breath, steadying himself then walked over to the stream and dunked his head right in.

The cold water took his breath away and he sat back with a gasp, feeling the cool water trickle down his neck and onto his clothes. Ah, that's much better. He thought though his teeth were beginning to chatter. With a will, he set to cleaning his armor.

* * *

Feeling much better and much cleaner, Alistair walked back towards camp. Thankfully the others had either gone off to sleep or were busy with other things.

Sabriel was walking back from Morrigan's side of the campsite. Alistair took a deep breath and waved her over.

"Could I have a word with you?" he said, feeling more calm then he had expected. The cold stream had helped more than he had realized. He unwrapped the rose and handed it gently to her.

"Here, look at this. Do you know what this is?"

Sabriel smiled mischievously but he noticed that something in her face seemed to soften. "Your new weapon of choice?"

He laughed, I really like that quick wit of hers. "Yes, that's right. Watch as I thrash our enemies with the mighty power of floral arrangements! Feel my thorns, darkspawn! I will over power you with my rosy scent!"

She laughed with him, her smile making him feel slightly light headed. Oh Maker, the way she smiles…

"Or you know. It could just be a rose. I know that's pretty dull in comparison." He said with a small shrug.

"Feeling thorny are we?" she said, her voice almost a purr.

Alistair couldn't help bursting into laughter. They way she had said that made his heart stutter. "She'll never see through that' I told myself. Boy was I wrong."

She laughed. "Oh relax, I happen to like it."

He could tell that she did truly like it from the way that she held it and the way that her warm brown eyes kept going from him to the rose.

"I guess it is a bit silly, isn't it? I just thought…here I am doing all this complaining, and you haven't exactly been having a good time of it yourself." He felt sad thinking of all the things she had not been able to know. Duncan…the other grey wardens…

"You've had none of the good experience of being a Grey Warden since your Joining, not a word of thanks or congratulations. Its all been death and fighting and tragedy." He could see that what he said was true. Sabriel looked out towards the fire. He could guess that must have been how she was feeling. That's how he would have felt if it had been him and he probably would have made more of a fuss.

"I thought maybe I could say something." She turned back and looked right into his eyes. He could see his words had touched her and he was glad. "Tell you what a rare and wonderful thing you are to find amidst al this…darkness."

Ha! She's blushing! Oh Maker, she's really blushing! I think she likes me! He thought as he fought to keep his smile from turning into a huge ridiculous grin.

"I feel the same way about you." She replied softly. She was still looking away but she was smiling a little now too.

"I'm glad you like it. Now…if we could move right on past this awkward, embarrassing stage and get right to the steamy bits, I'd appreciate it." He said not believe the words that were coming out of his mouth.

Sabriel look surprised but she recovered quickly. "Sounds good. Off with the armor, then."

By the Maker! She's good! He knew his face must have been redder than a fireball and felt just as hot. "Ha, ha. Bluff called! Damn she saw right through me. " He said throwing his hands up.

Sabriel smiled. "You're so cure when you're bashful."

Alistair laughed. "I'll…be over here…until the…blushing stops…" He turned quickly and walked away wondering like crazy if Sabriel had really meant it.

***

Hope you liked it! More to come as we go back to Alistair sitting in Sabriel's room.