Before the sun sets they make their way to the Pearl. Everyone has a chance to bathe and change before meeting for supper in the common room of the brothel. Dinner is fairly quiet as most of the group can't help but notice the tension in the air between Alistair and Lyn. Wynne and Leliana exchange cryptic glances, but never speak. Morrigan keeps her eyes on her food, but Dean catches the witch occasionally shooting the templar dark looks. Dean still wonders what it is Lyn and Alistair fought about, but doesn't dare ask or break the tense silence. It's Oghren who saves them. The dwarf loudly orders pitchers of the best ale in the house and bottles of wine. When the alcohol arrives he has Zevran help him serve it and raises his mug in a toast to the end of the blight and Loghain's downfall. There is resistance at first, but the dwarf is insistent and Lyn is unable to deny him, so she accepts a mug of wine and joins his toast.

It's only a matter of time and a few servings of alcohol before everyone has loosened up. Dean finds that he's ended up sitting right next to Lyn, who, for a change, isn't in armor. She's in a robe similar to Wynne's, and the stitching emphasizes all her assets, causing his blood to run a little hotter. The wine has freed Lyn a little bit, helping her forget her anger. Oghren debates with her about something called a bronto. Some of the companions play cards and others just talk. Dean just keeps drinking and watching, still feeling a bit like an outsider. Time begins to slip around him like water, some of the companions slip away and go to their rooms. But Dean stays because she's still sitting next to him, their thighs occasionally touching.

Zevran disappears with one of the Pearl's workers and the pirate woman Lyn called Isabela, leaving Dean alone with Lyn, Dane and Oghren. Oghren doesn't entirely count as the dwarf is completely passed out, slumped over the table and drooling on his armor. Lyn shifts and tries to reach the last bottle of wine on the table but can't quite reach it. Dean uses one of his long arms and grabs it easily for her. She smiles thankfully at him as he refills her glass, and he can't help but smile stupidly back at her. An easy silence stretches between them only interrupted by the occasional snore from Oghren. Dean is content to stay this way if it means he gets to keep sitting next to her like this.

"So I bet you've been wondering what we fought about."

Dean blinks and focuses his slightly drunken mind on the words Lyn just uttered. After processing them, he just shrugs and pours himself more ale.

"Shrug all you want, I know you were itching to know."

She pauses and takes a large sip of her wine, then continues.

"It was about his sister."

Lyn gazes intently at her wineglass, as if the contents hold the answers to all her problems. Dean knows better then to speak, as he's certain she's not done talking, but merely taking a moment to gather her thoughts.

"She's a money grubbing bitch, but Alistair keeps bringing her money. With every coin he gives her she gets meaner, more demanding. I went with him time before last. She was dressed like a noble, but her children still looked the same as when we first met her. Small, cold, hungry."

A frustrated sigh escapes her lips before she lifts her glass and downs all of it's contents in one go. Dean refills the glass without being asked, and watches her closely. Her brown hair wisps about her face, like a crazy cloud, straining to be free from the pins holding it in the tight bun at the back of her head. He's tempted to tuck the longer bits behind her ear, but he's not quite drunk enough yet to actually follow through with his whim. When she begins to speak again, he can't help but watch her wine stained lips.

"And you know what's the worst part? I don't even think she's actually his sister. But I can't tell him, because he's so happy to have any living family that he's willing to deal with her bullshit just so he has someone to call family. Plus he probably wouldn't even believe me, with my luck. Argh! It's just so frustrating! She's using him and he's letting her, and it's stupid."

Dean does his best to digest everything she's told him, but it's hard to think with a brain all fuzzy from ale. Not sure what to say he does the first thing that comes to him. He wraps an arm around her shoulders and pulls her up against him. She resists for half a second and then melts a little bit.

"You know, I'd do anything for my friends. In fact, I've done everything they've asked of me. I helped Leilana kill the woman who dumped her by setting her up, which resulted in her being tortured. I found Sten's sword and saved him from the chantry, not in that order. I even helped Shale find the Thaig she came from before becoming a golem. I've done similar things for the others too."

Lyn's tone is full of sadness and frustration, and it makes Dean want to protect her. She'd done her best to help him, which had gone a bit against the grain for him. He was used to being the protector, the leader, the one who made the sacrifices. But this world placed those burdens on her her shoulders, and knowing how heavy they are, he just wants to take her burdens for his own, after all his shoulders are broader. He settles for holding her a little bit closer, so they can share the weight of her thoughts. Lyn seems to understand his unspoken thoughts, and rests her head against his shoulder.

"You know, I've had to do a lot of horrible things, kill a lot of people and make decisions I wish I'd never have."

"You did what you had to, Lyn."

"Heh, that's what Wynne is always saying. You know I had to kill Oghren's wife? He still loves her, and I killed her."

Lyn's words are full of bitterness and Dean doesn't like it. He'd been down that road more then once, there is only way to help her turn away from it.

"Look, I've heard the story more than once, even from Oghren himself. You did the right thing there. That woman was bat-shit crazy and you know it. If you hadn't killed her she would have killed a lot of people, or enslaved them against their wills. Seems to me that Oghren is better off without that bitch. So just stop right there. You did the right thing, and you know it. If you could go back in time, I know you wouldn't change your mind. You'd choose the same damn path, every damn time."

Lyn is taken a bit aback by Dean's response, and the tone of certainty behind it. She's not used to hearing such blunt answers, but rather then being angry about it, she finds that she likes it. None of her other companions would talk to her this way. The truth of Dean's words have an effect on her, she starts to feel a little bit better because she knows he's right.

"Thank you, Dean. I needed that."

"Anytime."

Exhaustion tugs at the edges of Lyn's consciousness, she knows she should get up and go to bed, but she feels so comfortable right where she is. The wine has made the majority of her aches and pains disappear, leaving just a fuzzy warmth in their place. Life has been nothing but pain lately, and it's nice to feel safe again. Dean's presence is comforting, warm, and steadying.

Right before they'd found Dean, Lyn and Alistair had had a rather heated argument. Eamon had spent the day with Alistair, and when the templar had returned he'd asked to speak with Lyn privately. What had followed had been excruciatingly painful, but she'd hidden her feelings to the best of her ability. Eamon had made it clear that when the Landsmeet was called that Alistair would have to be completely prepared to take up the role of king, which meant no more affairs with elven mages. None of the nobles would be willing to back Alistair if he planned on making an elf queen, let alone a mage. His constant mentioning of her race had hurt more then anything. At one point he'd said he loved he more because of her heritage, now he was saying it was what was wrong with her. Lyn had gotten very angry, said some hurtful things, which had caused Alistair to do much the same. She'd stormed from the room, her magic crackling around her, begging to be unleashed. Alistair hadn't followed, and hadn't tried to apologize. What had followed was a awkwardness between them that had never been there before. They no longer shared a tent, and kept any conversation light, or focused only on the tasks at hand. He hadn't actually come out and said that he was dumping her, but he hadn't given her any sign that he wanted to keep their relationship regardless of what Eamon had said either.

If she wasn't something Alistair was willing to fight for, then Alistair didn't deserve her, plain and simple. She'd always love him, but she wasn't going to let herself be his doormat either. When the two were together, even on the battlefield there was a cloud of sadness lingering over them, it had been wearing her down, making her feel like a shadow of the person she once was. She was so tired of fighting and being alone. Why couldn't things have been different?

"Life sucks."

Her voice comes out low and full of anger, sadness, hurt pride, and just a hint of bitterness.

"Mmm, I second that."

Dean's husky reply is filled with plenty of his own emotions. Lyn wonders what he'd been thinking about to make him sound so sad and alone.

"You alright?"

The caring in her voice nearly undoes him, Dean had been thinking about Sam, wondering how he was doing. Bobby would take care of him, but still Dean worries about his little brother. He glances over at her face, worry lines evident between her dark brows. Sam would like her, he's sure of it.

"I'm just dandy..."

A disbelieving snort escapes Lyn, causing Dean to answer with an amused noise and a smile. Lyn lifts her gaze so she can study Dean's expression. She notes the laughter lines at the corners of his eyes, and feels that funny little feeling in her gut again. The man is far too good looking, it isn't fair. The scruffy beard outlines his strong jaw, and brings your focus to his lips, she wonders if they'd taste as good as they look. As if sensing her thoughts, Dean turns his head and gazes down at her, his green eyes locking onto her brown ones with a wealth of emotion seeming to be waiting just beneath the surface.

"Dean?"

"Yes, Lyn?"

He bites his lower lip a moment and then licks his lips and whatever question she'd had in mind completely disappears. Maker, he has a fantastic mouth. She can't help but keep staring at it. Dean's gaze had wandered to Lyn's ears while he waited for her to ask whatever question she wanted to ask. When no question comes forth after a little while, he glances back at her face and his breath stops when he sees the want and hunger in her eyes. That look is too much, he can't take it anymore.

He turns his upper body so he can pull her closer, as soon as they're in reach, he captures her lips and crushes them against his. She doesn't resist, in fact she behaves quite the opposite. His kiss is like food for her starving heart, she gives herself completely to it. Her body melts against his, her arms finding their way to wrap themselves around his neck. Dean deepens the kiss, finding that she tastes like wine and honey. The sound of loud laughter coming from the other side of the room brings both of them crashing back to the present. Dean reluctantly ends the kiss but doesn't release the hold he has on her. Her cheeks are flushed, but she looks anything but innocent or offended. He notes that her eyes seem to glow with restrained passion, and he finds it hard not to start kissing her again. What stops him are the dark circles beneath her eyes, she is always the first one up and the last one to go to bed. Until now he'd never thought much about how much sleep she was actually getting. Concern for her well being dampens the lust that had flared in him.

"When was the last time you got more then four hours of sleep?"

His question catches her by surprise, and her dark eyebrows knit together in confusion at the stern look he gives her.

"I don't know..."

Stupid stubborn woman, she should take better care of herself. And here he is keeping her up when she should be sleeping, but he doesn't want to leave her company either. An idea flits across his tired, ale soaked brain, and he instantly seizes at it.

"Well, I'm going to make sure you get some sleep tonight."

"Dean, what are you doing?"

"Shut your pretty little caketrap, I know what I'm doing."

His rebuke wasn't what she was expecting and she opens her mouth to ask another question, but when he gives her a steely look she keeps her mouth shut. Dean shifts his grip and pulls Lyn onto his lap, and from there lifts her up so that he's carrying her. He glances down at the mabari hound who had been sleeping at his feet until he moved.

"Lead the way to her room, your mistress needs to sleep."

Dane looks from the man to his girl, and then wags his tail and leads the way to the room she'd reserved for herself. Once inside Dean gives Dane a pat on the head, and throws a spare blanket on the ground next to the fireplace for the hound, after depositing Lyn on the bed. He then removes his boots and the various weapons on his person. Lyn is too tired to resist when he does the same for her. He blows out the candles in the room and then climbs onto the bed. She gives him a confused and questioning look as he moves over next to her.

"I'm going to do what you did for me, help you sleep. Get under the covers, I'll keep you safe."

His tone is soft and gentle, but firm, and Lyn is amazed to find that the thought of him staying nearby while she sleeps very comforting. It only takes her a minute to get settled under the covers. Once she stops shifting Dean pulls her close, so that she's leaning against him. As soon as their bodies are touching, a warm peaceful feeling washes over her. She can't help but let loose a little sigh of happiness. Dean smiles into her hair and drapes an arm across her middle under the blankets. Sleep beckons, but she resists a moment longer.

"Why are you doing this Dean? You didn't have to."

Lyn's curiosity is the only thing keeping her awake.

"Because you got me pie."

Lyn can't help but utter a sleepy chuckle before curling up against Dean and letting sleep claim her.