Author's Note: This chapter is the first that actively describes events from "Blight & Bliss" as written by SnowHelm, Ch. 31. All content is viewed before publishing by SnowHelm. Please enjoy!
The remainder of their trip had only one encounter which led to fighting. While a day out from Denerim they were attacked by some rather sturdy looking bandits. Which, surprise, surprise, turned out to be well trained mercenaries doing a poor job of being bandits. Some even had paste extensions on their ears in attempt to make themselves look like elves. It was just offensive and reminded Sunshine of those lame 'black face' sketch comedies from the early 20th century. Not that she'd ever seen one in person having been passe decades before her own birth, but still a disgusting part of her country's history.
She had come to an understanding with Duncan about her gun fighting, the next opportune fight, he would stay back, if possible, with her, and watch her do her thing. She went into a lengthy, and fascinating discussion about her firearms. She explained that they were all custom made and she had named them. She started by showing everyone at camp her collection the night after they had taken to the road again. She had spread out a thick, canvas cloth and started with her sniper rifle:
Jet Setter: This is a sniper's rifle, this piece here is the scope, which allows me to increase my accuracy. He has a pretty powerful scope, but as the distance of the target increases the better my precision needs to be. I can aim up to 800 meters with Jet Setter, is that a distance that makes sense here? Hmm, well it's approximately from here to that bird's nest across the river up there. Look in the scope, and see for yourself. The bullets are like .30-06 bullets, which makes no sense to any of you I can tell. Here look at one. The biggest problem with most sniping rifles is that they are mainly single fire, but I can change this, here, near the trigger, to do three in a row. I use that when my targeting may be off from the wind, or a poor visual, and I'm not concerned about collateral damage.
Dick and Jane: These two handguns were designed for me to be fired in tandem, which means they're cool for shootouts and duels but not incredibly useful for everyday fighting use. And personally I try not to get into shootouts or duels so they don't get much use. This does turn them into fully automatic weapons when I use them together, but it suffers for accuracy. And there is double kick back, they sound cooler than they actually are. Sorry, Dick and Jane, but there's the the truth of the matter.
The Continental Op: I named this tough guy after one of my favorite fictional characters, popularized by Dashiell Hammett. He's the gun I resorted to using the other day. He's a solid piece, fires a large caliber round but suffers when I'm surrounded at close range. He's also good for beatin' down fools, but I haven't had the opportunity for that here...yet.
The Flapper: This is my fully automatic submachine gun. She has poor accuracy but her goal is just to lay people out by the sheer number of bullets she fires. She has a lot of spread so it's better to use her if I'm not at risk of doing damage with 'friendly fire'.
The Battle Axe: Okay so this bad boy is a favorite of mine, he's a shotgun, and is a close range weapon. He's pretty sexy and can do a heck a lot of damage, but is only really effective at close range. I better make sure to carry this and the Op more often here.
Big Bertha: This is my heaviest weapon, and the one I had hoped to use the other day, she's a beautiful piece and can take down buildings. The only problem is that I have to let her charge up. Which is why she wasn't fired the other day. Not enough time for her to charge up before I risked killing ya'll with her blast range. I don't like to casually walk around with her charged up so...let's leave it at that.
She spent the rest of the evening showing them how she breaks them down and cleans them, ensuring that they're fully unloaded. She told humorous stories of people shooting themselves in the foot while cleaning a gun. She explained that it became an idiom on Earth when you have just engaged in self-sabotage you have 'shot yourself in the foot'. Everyone was fascinated with the guns and wanted to try them out. Sunshine laughed and told them if they found a suitable firing range she could conduct a gun safety class with them and they could try them out. She then showed them the armor she wore when she went out to battle. Duncan groaned and asked why she didn't wear it all the time. To which she replied that it made little sense unless she was going into a hostile situation. He got a grudging commitment from her to wear it for the duration of their journey to Denerim. She grumbled about how much of a sucker she was for that man, making everyone laugh, including Duncan. Everyone was happy as it eased Duncan's mind for the rest of the journey. A fact that they all, save Oghren who was still avoiding her and Duncan who didn't think of it, begged her to do whatever it took to give Duncan peace of mind where she was concerned. She finally countered, with exasperation at Alistair, as he was the last to bring it up, that the only way to do that was to confine herself to a reinforced tower on a deserted island. Alistair wisely didn't point out that they would be okay with that for Duncan's sake.
Sunshine insisted that Duncan stay with her for the fight with the bandits as they weren't that big of a threat, and not Darkspawn, and she was wearing armor for him. She pulled him back after Leliana had scouted them out, and found higher ground around the side of the attack point. She had given Grace some sort of device that allowed them to communicate at distance and informed Grace when she was in position. Duncan didn't like that her plan had him out of action but knew that she felt like she needed to show him her skills. She had laid them flat on their stomachs and set Jet Setter up on a tripod stand, and handed Duncan binoculars so that he could see what she could with her scope. Duncan watched as the rest of their companions got into position and began making their way to the bandits. Sunshine wanted to just 'blast the fools' as she said but Grace and Alistair wanted to give them a chance to surrender. Such sweet idealists, she thought.
Aedan approached the group of bandits, as their party leader, and stood a little ways off from the bandits and began talking to them. Sunshine had found an archer hidden a little back and had him in her sights, waiting for the go ahead from Grace. They couldn't hear what was being said but it became clear to Duncan that the bandits weren't willing to parlay and with a signal from the leader advanced on Aedan and the party. Grace yelled, "go, go, go," causing Sunshine to wince as it hit her left eardrum. She didn't falter however and fired before the archer got a shot off. She then focused on the bandits towards the back, none of her companions were close to them and so she adjusted and fired three bullets at them. One went down completely, one faltered and was confused why his arm was no longer functioning properly, and then began to howl in pain. She was able to take him out completely with another three shots. After that her precision was shot with all the movement and so her shots came a lot slower until Grace and Anders froze the bandits with magic. It was quick work after that. Duncan was truly impressed as the fight seemed to end rather quickly, and Sunshine was able to stay far away. He briefly debated the likelihood of getting her to agree to only engage in battle from afar, but quickly dismissed it as unlikely. He opted for a passionate kiss instead, Sunshine gave that to him with no reservations.
After perusing the bodies they quickly realized that this was another ambush by Loghain or Calin, or both. This pissed off everyone but Sunshine. Which surprised her companions. "What were you expecting? Them to say, 'well since it didn't work the last few times let's stop and embrace them with open arms'? No reason to get angry over it until the Landsmeet. It's only then that our anger will be useful in some way."
They regrouped with Teagan and Fergus in Denerim and barely had a chance to collect their breath before the Landsmeet. Sunshine asked to come along and dressed in what she thought of as a 'conservative black silk velvet gown'. Duncan didn't have time to ask her to change but grumbled about what was so conservative with her low decolletage. Sunshine also wore her hair loosely pinned up, and made it shine with some nice smelling 'product', as she called it. Gavarth inquired about the change and she said it made her hair color look like a warm golden brown, instead of the uninspired light brown it was. She had also applied what she referred to as 'smokey violet' eye makeup to accentuate the green in her eyes. A matte, red lipstick finished the look for her. Duncan thought she looked especially beautiful and sexy and that made him slightly grouchy. As they were walking out he noticed her putting on an expensive looking necklace and matching earrings. What was she trying to do? Advertise a dowry with her clothes and jewelry? When they were getting into the waiting carriage he noticed her shoes - strappy, black numbers with a high heel. She was trying to kill him, but only after making him kill every man who looked at her. She showed a small gun she had in a thigh holster, he groaned.
When they arrived at the Landsmeet Sunshine introduced herself as 'Lady Gwendolyn Hart' of the Tantervale Harts. Everyone of their group gawked as not one of the attendees batted an eyelash at that. And a few tried to ingratiate themselves with her. It was disconcerting to Duncan how easily she slid into this role. She went from a gritty drifter persona to a fine bred Lady in the space of an hour, even Leliana was impressed. It made Duncan slightly insecure as she made her rounds before the session was called to order. She was on the other side of the room when King Calin and Queen Anora entered. He noticed that she was standing near Loghain, and that Loghain had his eyes on her. He ground his teeth in frustration and consoled himself knowing that she had no hero worship of Loghain. He had the uneasy feeling that she was up to something and that he would have vetoed it if she had told him. Which was why she hadn't told him most likely. He drew at least a third of his brain back to the Landsmeet and watched Fergus present his arguments, and watched, with the rest of his brain, as Sunshine kept Loghain's eyes occupied on her cleavage by playing with her necklace. Duncan felt a hand on his shoulder and Danforth's voice telling him to ease up as his glare was both unnoticed by Loghain and unlikely to kill him. Duncan returned his focus to the unfolding events. Loghain was surprised when Calin stepped down to fight with Fergus. And would have protested had he been able to see the events unfolding but was no longer in a position to do so without destabilizing Calin and Anora's position.
Sunshine watched with dread as Grace approached King Calin and she wanted to march over and stop her. Some lessons though, a daughter, er, person, had to learn on her own. She had to sink deeper in her persona to stop herself from shooting Calin when he put his hands around Grace's throat. If Fergus lost, by God, she was going to destroy Calin, painfully. She watched as Grace was finally let go, and she quietly released her breath. She watched as Fergus killed the son of a bitch, sorry Rowan, and everything began to fall apart for Loghain and Anora. She was happy that they were giving Loghain the choice to join the Wardens, not because she liked him in the least, but because killing a hero outright was tricky with the populace. Anora would likely give birth soon and so would be out of the picture as well, which was a relief. As Loghain was led away he cast a wistful gaze on her, and smiled ruefully. She was unlikely to grant him the warmth of her company now. Later when he found out that she was Duncan's he realized that it would have never happened but consoled himself by pleasuring himself with thoughts of her.
When the doors snapped open and Mother Lucia came in with her Templar entourage, Sunshine's eyes narrowed. She was able to tell what kind of bitch Lucia was immediately. Her eyes went to her companions to see if they were onto her as well and she watched as Grace pulled her magic into herself and made herself unnoticeable to Lucia. Something was wrong there. She watched as Grace pressed herself into the wall and then made her way to another woman in the back. Ah, Sunshine thought, there she is. She narrowed her eyes on the woman, wondering how she ended up here, in Thedas, and was worried about what she was doing with Grace. It was fascinating watching their brief exchange, and that no one seemed to notice the obvious energy signature the woman was giving off. Strange.
Sunshine kept to herself in her shared room with Duncan while the necessary Warden nonsense with Loghain went down. Grace sought her out and they talked about the night's events. Grace avoided discussion of Calin and Lucia but went on about how 'Mother Airana' had saved her life. Sunshine kept her own console on that. Grace was upset about Loghain until Sunshine pointed out the debacle that would occur if he had been killed outright. "It's hard," she said, "to kill someone with his level of popularity. Even if he has done bad things, they were covert enough to not be well known. Killing him would only turn people against the new governing body. Not that it makes it easier for those of us who know the truth, but there it is, all ugly like."
Hours later when Duncan returned, he reported that Loghain had survived. He stood there viewing Sunshine from where she was lounging on their bed, still dressed up from the Landsmeet. He leaned his back against the door and regarded her with a scowl. She met his gaze without guile. "Duncan," she began but he cut her off.
"Do I want to know?"
"Do you," she countered.
"Maker forgive me, but I need to."
She got up slowly from the bed and walked to him. She didn't saunter, she didn't sway, she simply strode up to him. She got so close he could feel the heat of her body radiate to him, filling him, he regarded her warily, but didn't move his body. She continued to meet his gaze then surprised him by wrapping herself around him and kissing him, he instinctively wrapped his arms around her and kissed her back. It was Sunshine who broke the kiss and surprised him by leading him to the bed, gently. She pushed him into a sitting position and sat next to him.
"Duncan, I love you. I'm an idiotic fool for you. I know that with the use of carefully applied cosmetics and clothes I can present the right image to capture the eyes of men of a certain age." Duncan groaned at that. "Shh, love, listen to me. None of us knew what exactly would happen. I was worried that it would fall apart so I did my best to distract a key player. It worked. That was as far as it ever would have gotten, I give you my oath. You are the only man I will kiss with the affection of a lover." He grabbed her at that.
"Show me," was all he said.
Later on as they were dozing off Duncan felt Sunshine get out of bed and he heard the rustling of clothes. No good could come of it. "Sunshine."
"Crap, I thought you were asleep! You scared me."
"What are you doing?"
"I'm getting dressed," came her snarky reply.
"Sunshine."
"Fuck, okay, I give. I'm going to go find Loghain, probably punch him, but have a good rant at him and then come back and go to sleep curled up with the sexiest Grey Warden Commander in all of history." She continued to dress. Duncan got up and slowly walked up to her, he grabbed her from behind and held her against his body. He kissed her neck. making his way up to her ear lobe, nibbling it.
"No," he whispered in her ear. "Not tonight, not until after the Blight is over." He felt her squirm and reached his hand to her breast, teasing her nipple. "You're getting back into bed with me and telling me why you want to rant at him, specifically. And then I'm going to make you forget everything but my name." He grabbed her and removed the clothes she had put on and pulled her back to bed. "Now, as you say, 'dish'."
Sunshine sighed, and put on her grumpy face. He knew she didn't know how cute she looked when she did that and he kissed her hand to hide his smile. "I wasn't completely forthcoming with you...oh, surprise, surprise, I know. But I mean about when I first came here. The first people I encountered were not the Rainsfere men locked in mortal combat with Loghain's men. It was a small family being terrorized by some of Loghain's soldiers. They were holding down the parents and beating the little girl. Now I'm sure there is never any reasonable explanation for such an act but it got worse when they began to strip her down and were preparing themselves to rape her." She shuddered in memory, Duncan's eyes darkened. "They are very, very dead. And I was able to stop them in time from that horrible act. Fuck! Duncan, do you know what the family told me? It's because soldiers were sent out by the Palace and Loghain to destabilize the populations that might possibly be involved in any civil disputes with the Crown. I'm sure that nipped that ten year old's plan in the bud to overtake the throne. What lame, powerless fuck condones shit like this? If I didn't see the importance of keeping Loghain alive -"
Duncan stopped her with a tender kiss. "Shhh, you saved them. You did the right thing. Maker knows I love you, and after this I will force Loghain to go make reparations. I hate to ask you this, but please don't tell anyone. For me, Sunshine, don't, please, everything is so tenuous..." He trailed off. His own anger and practicality warring within him.
"Duncan, I know. That's why I was going to confront him privately, and why I never told you. I know what he means to this misguided nation." They laid quietly for awhile, until Sunshine reminded Duncan with her hips that he had some promise to keep about making her forget everything but his name. Duncan is a man of his word, and obliged.
The next day Duncan was suspicious of Sunshine as she was happily humming to herself and making up a list of some sort. She was wearing her jeans and a tee shirt. He loved the look, but hated how tight the shirt was, and even though the jeans flared at the bottom, her ass was displayed in all its round. luscious glory. What was it with her clothes? Why couldn't she just throw on a shapeless robe or dress? Or better yet, a box of metal? Maybe some ugly breeches and one of his tunics? Yes, that would be good, it would mark her as his and be shapeless on her. He went so far as to suggest the last one aloud causing Sunshine to laugh at him.
"Honey Love, if you don't like men looking at me, put me next to Lel and Grace. I promise no one would notice me then." She winked at him.
"Right, because no one noticed you last night. Like all the men at camp didn't ogle your breasts. There is enough older men who look to a more mature woman, like yourself, for companionship." She laughed again, and he scowled at it. "Also, stop pointing out all the men who drool over my daughter!"
"You'll feel better once you accept that Grace is wanted, quite a bit. It's the Wild in her," Sunshine absently said while working on her list.
"The what?"
"Did I say that out loud? She has some of the Wild Magic in her. It's a creative, evolutionary magic and will pulse out to the men or women, as she prefers, who would be good matches for her. Sexually." She really wasn't paying much attention to what she said, distracted as she was with her list, and so missed Duncan's stormy facial expression.
"How do you know this?"
"I have it too," she continued to write. Duncan, exasperated, went up to her and put his hands on hers, stopping the flow of writing. He forced her chin up to meet his eyes, and then pulled her to the bed, the one sure place where he knew she gave him her complete, undivided attention.
"Sunshine, please. I need you to trust me. If you truly mean your love, tell me."
Sunshine thought about Flannery O'Connor's words, 'Without integrity, relationships that call themselves sacred become demonic'. She met Duncan's eyes and began:
"Thedas is over balanced with the Arcane Magic, that's the kind that the mages here use. Grace, maybe from being on Earth, maybe from somewhere else, has some of the Wild Magic in her. It's hard for me to imagine that she got it from Thedas itself, maybe from Flemeth...anyway that's an academic argument at this point. Due to its evolutionary nature the Wild Magic develops in people like a baby develops into an adult. When the Arcane Magic comes on, it is refined through training, the Wild Magic is refined through personal growth and development. Right now it's the equivalent of a horny teenager. Oh, stop bristling Duncan. What I'm trying to say is that her Wild Magic is uncontrolled right now and will want to help her develop, right now it thinks intimate relationships are the way to go."
"So it will go away? When she's a little more developed, I mean. That calling, or whatever it is, will stop compelling people to fall over themselves trying to get to her bed?" Sunshine smiled at that and dropped every one of her shields, he could literally see golden rays coming from her and extending out, some left the room, but most reached to him. He touched one that was curling around him and felt her love for him. He instinctively thought of his love for her and watched as a silver blue ray extended from him to her, and watched her touch it. It felt incredibly intense. She kissed him and gently drew all but one of her rays back into her. Once her shields were back in place the one remaining ray disappeared from view, but refused to leave Duncan.
"Andraste! Sunshine, is that what they feel from Grace?" And then another thought dawned on him, "Sunshine! How many men are going to come looking for you?"
"Mine was probably too indistinct for any other man or woman to have found and recognized. For Grace it's more subtle, mainly because she has more Arcane Magic in her. I have only a small amount of Arcane and a whole wallop of the Wild Magic. Sadly I can't use it here very much because of the disproportionate amount of Arcane Magic. Those reasons are more complicated, but I do have a little bit, as you noticed, but I keep it shielded. Otherwise I'd be a beacon for trouble here."
"Oh, what a relief," Duncan said, "I'm so glad that you haven't gotten into any trouble here since you arrived because your magic has been shielded."
"Oh, haha, Duncan. Now let me up, I've got a surprise to plan for Grace so you need to give me up, plus you are running the risk of being late for all that 'important wardening' you have to do." She pushed him off of her, kissed him, and went back to the desk. Duncan grumbled and finished getting dressed and headed out.
Sunshine went out humming to herself and hunted down Fergus to ask him about how to find the supplies she would need. The day passed by sweetly for Sunshine, her and Leliana making purchases and plans for Grace and Alistair's wedding. Both feeling comfortable enough with each other to discuss their men openly with each other. Leliana admitted to Sunshine that she had been suspicious of her initially and had only held them in check by Grace's insistence. She also opened up about Marjoline and everything that had happened to her when her and Grace were imprisoned. They were sitting a pub in a nice, middle class neighborhood while they talked about it. Sunshine got her to discuss everything that happened to her and how she was still coping from the hurt and betrayal and torture. Sunshine encouraged her to fully open up to Aedan about it. Saying that a burden shared, is a burden halved. Pointing out how unhealthy it is to let it fester. It helped that Sunshine was like an older sister to her.
"Look Lel, this crap will keep eating you up. I know. You and Aedan truly love each other, you're experienced enough to know that's rare. Or else you would have betrayed everyone and we wouldn't be having this conversation. Take pride in your convictions and how good of a person you are. Don't let your past, and people who have proven themselves to be false and hateful, tell you differently." When Sunshine inquired about what happened to Grace at the prison she was instantly alarmed when Leliana's face fell.
"I don't know, she won't tell me. Or any of us. At least nothing more than she blurted out to Duncan when he pushed her and she refuses to talk about that. I can't tell if she is worried that she would be a burden or if she thinks that we'll think less of her or..." Leliana's voice trailed off.
Sunshine thought about this for awhile, "it's probably a combination of different issues, I doubt she could point to anyone thing and say, 'there, that's my problem'. I think too, that the more she's pressed, especially with demands, she shrinks into herself." Both women drifted into their own thoughts. The day had that complete feeling - some love, some fun, some grief, some sharing. Sunshine sought Aedan out and had a private talk with him on handling post-traumatic stress syndrome. For both him and Leliana. She told him that love like this isn't that easy to find, but it can become distorted if both people don't grow and heal. She gave him a hug and kiss on the cheek, and told him that he should propose to Leliana soon.
Sunshine knew that the Wardens were still up to their planning and so she pampered herself and put on a lilac silk gown with a completely sheer bodice. She smiled when she saw Duncan's personal journals and grabbed his newest one, that was only slightly filled. She flipped about twenty pages into the blank pages and wrote him a note. Smiling, she impulsively put on lipstick and left a kiss mark on the page. Her inner teenager giggled in delight. She lit candles and lowered the lamps to cast the room in a warm glow and waited for Duncan on their bed.
When Duncan came in, after checking on Loghain, he was amused to see the candles lit and Sunshine snoring softly from the bed. He took off his clothes and rinsed the sweat off of his body. He went up to her, noticing her gown fully, his groin tightening in response. He touched the skirt of her gown and smiled when he noticed it was silk. His hands began to roam over her body, eyes admiring the way her breasts stretched the sheer bodice. Maker, he was insatiable with her. She began to stir and her eyes found Duncan's and she smiled. She reached up, pulled him close and whispered 'mine' into his mouth. He found himself on his back with her laying atop him, kissing him hot and open mouthed.
Sunshine was enjoying the friction of the silk between their bodies and moved her body over his. Massaging him with her. His hands were everywhere, his moans encouraging her, making her feel sexy and loved. Her mouth started to travel down his chest, her teeth nipping him, her breasts rubbing his erection. When she finally tugged his cock into her mouth, he groaned and grabbed her legs towards him, lifting her skirt up. His mouth found her and caused her to writhe in pleasure as he found her clit with his tongue. She moaned deeply around his cock in what had to be the sexiest sensation ever. He dug his tongue deep into her needing her to be as wild as possible with him. He knew he had achieved his goal when her mouth lost focus. He thrilled in this power over her; his ability to make the perpetually controlled woman out of her mind. He flipped her around and brought her to climax by pushing his fingers into her and finding her secret spot. Making her yell for him, making her orgasm coat his fingers and the bed. He crawled up to her and rammed himself inside her fully. She felt so hot and tight around his cock causing him to shudder. She tightened further and made her controlled lover lose himself to the frantic pace of lovemaking she inspired. His own orgasm hit him and his seed rushed through her body. He rolled off and held her in his arms noting that she was still in her silk. He was the most satisfied man in Thedas, he was sure.
"Hmm, you minx," Duncan said after a period of recovery, "I had planned to come in here and share my good news with you. Guess what happened tonight?"
"The Archdemon commit suicide, thereby sparing us the trouble, and Loghain was conveniently nearby and we are all spared a massive battle?" She replied, bouncing on the bed.
Duncan laughed, "Oh, we could never be so lucky. But it is almost as good - Grace broke Loghain's jaw. I was proud. Of course I can't actually condone her actions, as Warden Commander, but as a father, I was proud." Sunshine laughed and they talked about what happened. He shared some of their plans for the upcoming battle, not wanting to admit that they would likely use Grace as bait, he knew Sunshine would react poorly to that.
"So what am I going to do?"
Duncan blinked. "Err, nothing?"
"What! That's stupid, I'm going with you."
"No!" Duncan shouted. "It's bad enough that I have to risk Grace, I will not allow you to be risked as well. No, not this Sunshine, please don't ask this of me. I can't lose you both. Even if I die the thought of both of you being gone too, I can't bear the idea. Please love, please. Stay at the Palace with Fergus. I can't avoid taking Grace, but you...no, I will not be able to fight if I'm constantly looking after the both of you." Duncan subsided then, knowing that he needed to give Sunshine time to think about it. When he looked at her she was silently weeping. He gathered her in his arms and gently comforted her.
"Duncan," she finally said, "I can't make that promise." Duncan stiffened and his hands stilled. "I can compromise though." She thought for awhile, making Duncan fill with dread. "I promise to do my best to come to the Palace when the horde presses into Denerim. I also promise to stay within the Palace so long as there is no extremely compelling reason to leave. I also promise, and you have to return this promise, that I will do my best to stay here, alive, for you."
Duncan realized that Sunshine was very serious. "I promise that I will do my best to stay here, alive, for you." The promise felt heavy and weighed against his heart, like an anchor. Sunshine wiped her tears away and sealed their promises with a kiss.