Chapter 8 - Woman

"Leavin your smell on my coat, leavin your taste on my shoulder.

I still fail to understand what it is about this woman.

If I could bottle up the chills that you give me

I would keep them in a jar next to my bed.

And If I should ever draw a picture of a woman

It is you that would come flowing from my pen

Leavin your clothes on the floor, Making me walk out the door

And I still fail to understand what it is about this woman.

Helplessly melting as I stand next to the sun.

As she burns me, I am screaming out for more

Drink every drop of liquid heat that I've become.

Pop me open, spill me out on to the floor."

Woman by Maroon 5

As Anders began to regain consciousness he became aware of movement around him. He tried to open his eyes, but they felt as if they weighed a hundred pounds. A nearby soft voice whispered, "Stop worrying. He's going to be okay, Rylee. His body is just going to need some time to recover. He lost a lot of blood, not nearly as much as you had, but enough to cause damage to his organs. I healed all the damage that the loss of blood caused and now his body is just going to need time to bring his blood levels back to normal."

"I can't thank you enough, Beth…I would have never been able to forgive myself if he had died performing a blood magic ritual while trying to save me," Rylee said gravely.

"Even though he didn't perform the ritual I still would never have believed that Anders would be involved with blood magic, but given the choice of losing you or using magic that he abhors… he chose you. It's a testament to how much he loves you."

"I wish…I wish he would have just let me go," Rylee whispered.

Anders felt his heart pound and his stomach lurch. How could she say that? Didn't she know that life without her would be no life at all? She was everything to him.

"Rylee, how can you say that?"

"I will always be the reason that he betrayed his beliefs and stooped to using magic that he loathes. How can he ever look at me the same? And Justice… he will blame me and Anders' love for me, for using a forbidden form of magic."

Well at least she has that part right.

Shut up! It's because I allowed you and her to convince me not to go on this mission that she was so seriously injured. You need to take some responsibility for the situation. Actions have consequences, my friend. If I had been there, the situation would have never reached the point that a decision to use blood magic was needed.

And the next time her life hangs in the balance, will you become an abomination to save her?

That's ridiculous, of course not!

I'm not so sure.

"Rylee, I've seen the way he looks at you. Anders loves you… he adores you and he did what he had to in order to save you. He didn't cross any lines. He didn't make a deal with a demon and he isn't a blood mage; he just used the resources that were available to him to save you."

"Then why couldn't Merrill break the bond. Why did my body continue to pull his blood out of him?"

So that is what happened.

"I've read about this in the Circle's library. When two people have a strong spiritual bond… when their souls are intertwined together as yours and Anders are and there is an exchange of blood as with that ritual. The tie that binds those two souls makes the ritual extremely powerful and dangerous because with the exchange of blood they are for all intensive purposes becoming one. If Merrill had known that you and Anders' souls were bonded together, I doubt that she would have agreed to the ritual."

"How do you know our souls are bound to one another?"

"Because if you weren't Merrill could easily have broken the link between yours and Anders hand," Bethany explained.

Wow, bonded souls… I've heard of them, but never even met anyone that had experienced it.

I knew there was a reason you shouldn't become involved with her.

"It's very rare, Ry, and it's very beautiful. Anders was made for you and you were made for Anders."

"But Anders was in love before… when we met him he was heartbroken over Lillah."

"Just because two souls are bonded doesn't mean that you can't or won't fall in love with another person. It just means that Anders is your perfect match, that there isn't anyone out there that is more ideal for you than he is. The two of you draw your strength from each and you nourish each other in a way that no other can…." Bethany paused and although Anders couldn't see her face he could tell by her tone that she was embarrassed. "Aaah… and from what I've read when bonded souls come together sexually, that it is powerfully intense, deeply passionate and highly erotic, because that is the most intimate act for any couple. But for a bonded couple it's the one time that you are truly united as one which is why you're hunger for each other is insatiable," Bethany stated.

Holy shite, that explains so much.

THAT's just lovely! Why did we have to meet her? It would have been so much easier if she had never walked into the clinic.

"You certainly seem to know a lot about bonded souls," Rylee said and Anders could hear the skepticism in her voice.

"Let's just say I had my reasons to do some research and leave it at that for now, but now that I know about you, I have some more research to do," Bethany replied.

Rylee raised an eyebrow, but Bethany just shook her head. "All in due time, dear sister."

"Well, that certainly explains a lot… S-so am I now tainted?" Rylee said.

"No, Merrill assured me that the blood was cleansed during the ritual. I also asked about blood typing and she said that Anders must have already known from healing you so often that you both were the same blood type. As she started the ritual she realized that and was grateful because changing blood types would have required a lot of time… time you didn't have. I'm just curious how Anders knew about the ritual in the first place."

Rylee smiled. "It's what father always taught us… know thy enemy. Anders has been studying blood magic so that he knows how to counter it. He knew that Merrill knew the ritual because they have had many lengthy philosophical discussions about it."

Bethany giggled. "That's very wise on his part. Look dear sister, Cullen is covering for me so I need to get back to the Gallows before I am missed. Stop pacing around; Anders will be fine. I love you, Sis."

"I love you too, Beth. Thank you again for everything. I owe you," Rylee said.

There was a pause and it sounded as if they were hugging. "You don't owe me anything, sister. It is I that owe you. You did everything in your power to keep me safe and to make a better life for Mother and I, and I treated you horribly."

"I hurt you and you were reacting from that pain. I will forever regret going into the Deep Roads without you," Rylee said.

"It's over and done with, Ry. If I hadn't been sent to the Gallows and I would have never met Cullen."

"That still boggles the mind… a mage and a templar; it's rather poetic in a tragic sort of way. Please be careful, Beth. I know Cullen is a good man. I have sensed that from the very beginning, but he is still a templar and he is sworn to take your life if he feels it's justified."

"He would never harm me, Rylee, unless I became an abomination and then I would want him to end my life. He loves me, so please don't worry about me."

"Well I think I will wait for Anders to make a full recovery before I tell him about the mage, templar love fest," Rylee chuckled.

"Yes, I don't blame you. We wouldn't want to give the old man a heart attack…. I'm really happy for you and Anders. You two are perfect for each other."

"It only took three years for us to get together, but I have never been happier in my life."

"You deserve to be happy. I love you, Ry."

"I love you too. I will come visit you soon," Rylee said.

"You better or else I'll curse you," Bethany replied.

Anders heard footsteps across the floor and then the door open and close. Then he felt the weight change on the bed and he smelled her delicious scent. A cool finger caressed his cheek and he turned his head toward her hand.

"Anders?' She whispered.

He tried to say something, but he was only able to moan. "It's okay love. You don't need to say anything. Just rest and know that I'm here if you need me."

He felt her warm body press against his, he immediately relaxed as peace flooded his body and mind, and he drifted back to sleep. He didn't know how long he had slept, but this time when he tried to open his eyes, he was treated to the bright glare of the sunlight filling the room. He looked around and noticed he was alone. He leaned back into the pillows and drew in a deep breath. He brought his hand up and looked at the palm. It was completely healed… not even a pick mark where the cut had been. Maker, how long had he been unconscious?

He heard light footsteps then he her lovely voice, "Anders…you're awake."

Rylee came over to the bed and crawled up beside him. "Welcome back, Love."

He smiled at her. His voice cracked as he tried to speak for the first time in Marker knew how long. "I-it's good to be back. How long?"

"Five days."

"F-five days!" Anders coughed as he tried to clear his throat.

"Yes, you lost a lot of blood and it has taken your body a while to regenerate it. Bethany said the ritual slowed down the healing process."

"Bethany… she was here? That wasn't a dream?"

"Yes, she was here. You heard her?"

"Yes, but when I drifted back to sleep, I thought it had been part of a dream…. so the whole bonded souls, that's real?"

"Yes that is real too," Rylee said.

Anders ran his hand through his hair in amazement, but at the same time it made perfect sense and with the intensity of his love and lust for this woman it felt right. "Wow…I always knew that we had some type of connect that was different from anything else I had ever experienced, but I never thought it was that," Anders said a bit stunned.

"You've heard of bonded souls?"

"I read about them when I was in the circle, but I always thought it was more legend then something that was real." Anders paused for a moment before he continued, "So, I understand that because of the bond, Merrill had a difficult time breaking apart our bound hands. How did she finally separate us?"

"Aaah, well… we were cut apart," Rylee explained.

"Ouch, glad I was asleep for that," Anders said.

Rylee winced. "Wish I had been."

"You were awake?"

"Yes, I was the one that cut us apart."

"What?" Anders demanded.

"I had just woken up to find my hand tied to yours and was completely horrified to discover that I was completely draining you of all of your blood. Merrill was beside herself with panic as your heart grew weaker and weaker. I demanded that she bring me my dagger…and…and I just sliced down the middle."

Anders pulled her to his chest and kissed her forehead. "I'm so sorry, Ry, that you had to go through that."

"Both of us were still in grave danger so Isabela went to the Gallows and spoke with Cullen, he helped to sneak Bethany out. She has become a very gifted healer. You would be very proud of her. She healed you and then healed both of our hands." She paused for a long moment before she continued, "Why did you do it Anders? Why did you resort to blood magic?"

Anders sighed and leaned back against the pillows. "You would have died without the ritual. Blood magic was the only way to save you, so I really didn't have a choice because living without you was not an option for me. I heard what you said that day about betraying my beliefs and you're wrong. Not using the only means available to me to save you would have been a betrayal to me, because you're a part of me, Ry. I need you to survive. So you see, I did it because in the end I am really just a selfish bastard."

Rylee shifted, slid onto his lap and straddled him. She lovingly ran her fingers through his tangled hair. "Anders, you are the most unselfish man I have ever met…you're kind, gentle and loving. This whole situation is my fault. If I had just listened to you and not Jus… if I had just listened…."

"What the hell were you about to say?" Anders interrupted feeling a surge of anger.

Rylee's eyebrows furrowed. "Aaah, which part?"

"Rylee, you know damn well which part! The bit about if you had listened to me and not…to who? Who shouldn't you have listened to?"

"No, what I was going to say was not try justify my own anxieties about being in a battle with you," Rylee stated as her eyes looked away from him.

Anders slid his finger under her chin and forced her to look at him. "Please Ry, please be honest with me. Did Justice talk to you somehow?"

Her eyes were filling with tears, but she fought them back. "Anders, it doesn't matter…"

"It does matter. I have done everything he has asked me to do. I've done it willingly because we both have the same goals, but the only thing I have asked is for him to stay out of my relationship with you. He should not have spoken to you without my knowledge."

"Anders, he was concerned about your safety. He didn't tell me not to take you, he asked me to observe your behavior during a fight and after watching you place yourself in danger numerous times because you were trying to protect me, I agreed with him. I made the decision not have you accompany me, not Justice. Please don't blame him for this."

Anders looked at her with stunned curiosity. "Why are you defending him? I thought you didn't like him."

"I never said I didn't like him. What I didn't like was him interfering in our relationship and keeping us apart, but when he came to me, it was out of concern. It reminded me of something my father would do."

Anders was silent for a long moment before he spoke. "I need you to promise me two things, Ry."

"Anything, Love."

"First the next time Justice pays you an unexpected visit please let me know." Rylee nodded her consent. "Second, I promise you that I will keep my distance during a battle if you promise to take me with you from now on."

Rylee smiled, "I promise. Besides the terrible inconvenience of being gravely injured, it was extremely lonely without you, but I have found a solution for you regarding your compulsive need to be close to the battle to keep me safe, and my anxiety of worrying about you so close to the battle. "

"Really? How?" Anders asked.

"One of Aveline's guards is a master in staff battle techniques. He has offered to train you to use your staff as a weapon in a non magical way. That way you have an extra skill to help during battle."

"I think that is a brilliant idea, Love," Anders said as he pulled her to his chest and kissed the top of her forehead. He ran his hands up and down her back gently caressing her. The feel of her skin pressed against his immediately began to stir his desire and need for her.

Rylee must have felt it too, she lifted her head and smiled, "Glad to see you're so eager to jump back in the saddle, but the plans that I have for you require strength and stamina so why don't you just rest and relax for a few days till you're up to it."

"Sweetheart, I'm not sure if you have noticed, but I very up for it."

She giggled, but smiled coyly at him. ""If you are patient enough, you can do anything you want with me once you're healed."

Anders crocked an eyebrow and gave her a mischievous grin, "Anything?"

"Anything!"

"Well now, think of all the possibilities."

"So be a good lil' boy , get your rest," Rylee's voice dropped into a low, seductive tone. "And dream up all the delicious things you would like to do…" Rylee slid her hand across her breast, "…touch…" her hand slip between her legs and Anders eyes rolled back. "…And taste."

"Argh," he growled. "It's not nice to tease the inviolate mage. It will only make things harder on you when I'm recovered."

"Hard, huh? Let's just see how much harder a little teasing can make you," she sighed as she swirled her hips against his.

He grabbed her hips and pressed her harder against him. "Wasn't it you that said I needed to recover?"

"I'm just adding some wood to fire to help out your imagination," Rylee purred.

"Now you're just being cruel and you will pay for this," Anders groaned.

"You gotta be cruel to be kind, baby," Rylee said with that roguish grin that drove him crazy.

"Or in this case, cruel to be kinky!"

"Kinky, huh? You are a naughty mage," Rylee coed as she grinded against him.

"A naughty mage that will be having his way with you very soon," he moaned as he pulled her off of his lap and down beside him. He turned to face her, "A naughty mage who if you don't stop doing that thing with your hips is going to say fuck it and take you right here, right now even if it kills him."

She grinned up at him, wrinkled her nose and winked at him, "I love it when you play forceful mage."

He laughed as he shook his head and then buried it in her hair, "You're going to be the death of me woman."

"Never! I'm the one that is here to make your life worth living."

"Maker, you have no idea how true that is, love," he sighed. That little interaction with her was more than his weary body could handle. Exhaustion quickly over took him; he curled up beside her, breathing in her comforting scent and drifted into the Fade.

xxXxx

It had actually taken Anders a month to fully recover and gain back his strength. True to her word, Rylee had turned down all missions that would take her out of the city. However, even city missions were proving to be just as dangerous. He had been less than thrilled when she came back to the estate coughing and hacking up poison from her lungs all because some deranged elf wanting to prove a point. His strength had almost completely returned and he quickly healed her then pulled her into his arms and passionately welcomed her home.

That had been two weeks ago, now as they sat around the campfire on their way back from Sundermount after helping Merrill retrieve a dalish tool for carving. Anders wasn't thrilled that Rylee had agreed to give the tool to Merrill; she just didn't see the danger that Merrill was placing herself in. They had argued over it and now she was sitting on the opposite side of the fire chatting with Isabela.

"Oooo, Bells what do we have here?" Rylee cooed as she pulled a book out of Isabela's backpack.

"Oh that's nothing," Isabela said sharply as she tried to snag the book out of Rylee's hand, but she was too quick for her. Rylee jumped to her feet and began to leaf the through the book.

"Oh my," Rylee cooed as she waved the book at Isabela. "My dear pirate wench, I would have never thought you were the type to read cheap trash romance novels," Rylee purred.

Isabela's face turned red, "Well it's the cheap trash part that attracted me, but it really does have a good plotline."

Rylee continued to thumb through the book and then stopped. An impish grin spread across her face, "Ooo, I can see why you bookmarked this page."

Rylee lowered her voice into sultry tone and she emphasized certain words as she read just to drive the point home.

Tristen spun her around; drew her back into him and dipped her as he pressed harder against her thigh. He brought her back up and his face was inches from hers. Her face was flushed with want and need. He took her hand and led her away from the crowd into the woods nearby. When he was sure they were far enough in that they wouldn't be discovered, he pressed her against a tree and leaned deeply into her.

Rylee looked up at the group that was captivated by the story, "I would just love doing it up against a tree, I'm sure the bark would feel just wonderful against my ass." The companions all laughed as she continued.

His lips were inches from hers as he breathlessly whispered…before Rylee could read the line Isabela stepped up, dropped her voice to make it rough and huskey. "You haven't answered me yet, Brin."

Rylee grinned at her, "Have you memorized this section?"

Isabela grinned shamelessly back at her, "It's a smoking hot scene."

"Okay then, you can be this mysterious man, Tristen," Rylee said.

"Well, just so the audience has a visual, Tristen a roguishly handsome fellow with long blond hair and warm honey brown eyes…"

Rylee giggled, "Isabela, if I didn't know any better I would say you have fallen in love with a fictional character."

"If you read this story you would love him too. Anyway, his soon to be lover, Sabrina, looks like…well you she looks like you Ry, except she has dark brown chestnut hair."

"Well obviously the writer has excellent taste in creating characters," Rylee snickered. "So should we continue on with the story?" Everyone eagerly nodded.

Sabrina looked at him questioningly. He moved his lips to her ear and whispered, "Did you tremble in the arms of those other men?" Isabela asked in rough voice.

Rylee continued, He reached up, adjusted the material, exposing her breast and ran his thumb over the nipple.

"Did your nipples become hard and erect at their touch?" Isabela gasped.

In a raspy, passionate voice that Anders knew quite well, Rylee read, He slid his hand down her side, gathering up the skirt of her dress. He pulled her small clothes aside and slipped his fingers into her exquisitely hot, wet center. A moan tore from her throat.

"I can't imagine that what they are doing is good for that poor tree. You really should have more respect for a tree than to have carnal fornication against it. Trees have feelings too," Merrill stated.

"I wouldn't mind being a tree if I had a gorgeous ass pressed up against me," Anders said with a grin.

Rylee raised an eyebrow, "Oh, I've pressed up against your tree plenty of times."

"Someone obviously doesn't like sharing, too bad," Isabela with a pout.

"Can I now proceed?" Rylee asked and they all nodded.

"And were you dripping wet with the anticipation of their mouth on your body, the way you are right now?" Isabela groaned.

She shook her head no. Tristen heard her breath quicken and her body trembled against his fingers. Maker, he wanted to bury himself in her and get lost forever, but now was not the time.

"Now isn't the time? By a paragon's ass when would be the time?" Varric asked.

"Maybe he wants to polish her up first, Varric. You know, like you polish Bianca," Fenris said sarcastically.

Anders shuttered, "Now there's a scary image."

Rylee resumed reading. His fingers continued to slide in and out of her as his thumb stroked the swollen nub. She was getting close, but he wanted to time this just right. He slipped his other hand up her back, resting it on the nape of her neck.

"Do know why that just holding you in my arms right now is sending fire burning through my veins?" Isabela moaned erotically and Rylee had to bite her lip to keep from laughing so that she could continue.

He pressed himself into her thigh, trying to relieve some of the pressure just so he could think.

"And do you know why just the mere thought of you makes me so unbelievably hard?" Isabela grunted.

Sabrina slid her hand down and grabbed him through his pants. A hungry growl ripped from his throat as she began to stroke him through his trousers.

"And do you know why for the past two months, every morning I've had to relieve the sexual frustration myself before I can even be around you, just so that I can think straight?"

"That must have given him an impressively strong ...fighting arm," Fenris grunted.

"Those must have been some impressive fantasies he had while polishing the old iron rod," Varric stated.

"I don't understand why he can't think straight and how can relieve that frustration himself?" Merrill asked.

"Well Daisy, he was walking the one eyed bronto…"

"Taming the dragon," Fenris interjected.

Merrill shook her head still confused.

"The five finger shuffle… pinch the one eyed snake," Anders offered.

"Polish the flaming sword... beat around the bush," Rylee said.

"Kitten, he used his hand to…" Isabela said as she made an obscene that was universally understood for masturbating.

Merrill's eyes widened, "Oooh."

Rylee waved the book and asked, "Would you like me to continue or should we continue to dream up phrases for getting ones self off?"

"I don't know, both have very tantalizing possibilities," Anders smirked.

"Finish the story. I want to know what happens," Merrill said.

"Your wish is my command," Rylee said as she started to read again.

She started to reach inside his trousers, but he grabbed her hand and stopped her.

Isabela grabbed Rylee, took her into her arms and pretending to be Tristen as she groaned, "It's not because of lust, although Maker knows I want you more than anything I've ever wanted anything my entire life."

Still in Isabela's arms, Rylee held the book up and read. He paused and slid his hand around from her neck, cupped her hand and forced her to look at him. Isabela did what Rylee had read and the whole scene was quite comical if it wasn't for the fact that Isabela was Rylee's ex-lover. Anders ground his teeth together.

"It's because I love you, Brin. I am so head over heels in love with you I can't think straight, I can't sleep and I haven't eaten a decent meal since we arrived here, even though Nan is a fantastic cook. And I know deep down, even though you are afraid to admit it, you love me too."

Before Anders could even stop himself a guttural growl tore from his throat. Both Rylee and Isabela turned to look at him.

"Don't worry sweet cheeks, I'm not trying to steal your woman," Isabela cooed.

"As if you could," Anders retorted.

"I already have," Isabela countered.

"I know for a fact that I can dance the horizontal Remigold better that you can, my dear Isabela. If you recall, I've seen your tricks before and you don't even come close," Anders sneered.

Rylee pulled out of Isabela's embrace and feigned a laugh. "Well, I think that's enough excitement for one night."

"Aaah, but I want to know if Tristen and Sabrina ever got to beating each other's bushes," Merrill said innocently. Everyone burst out laughing and it was enough to break the tension.

"I'll let you borrow the book, Kitten."

Rylee sat down beside Anders, "Not before we do." He turned and grinned at Rylee as he whispered, "I wouldn't mind my own personal reenactment."

Rylee looked around at the woods that surrounded them. "Wherever will we find a tree?" She said dryly.

A/N - I truly appreciate everyone who is following this story and has taken the time to review it. It's wonderful hearing your thoughts and comments. Also thank you to everyone that has added this story to your favs and alert lists. I'm glad you are enjoying the story.
**Special thanks to the Beta Wizard Jinxy for working her beta magic on this chapter. You're a rock star! I appreciate all that you do for me. Thanks.