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A/N: This chapter hasn't been through the same wringer as the previous ones, so apologies in advance if I've missed something, please let me know. Otherwise enjoy. :)
With Firstfall coming, Funalis was in full force painting the countryside in her seasonal colors: rich reds and bright oranges, joyful yellows and the evergreens. The evenings were getting chilly but during the day it was a comfortable temperature. They were hoping to make it to Soldier's Peak before the mountain road became too mired in the snows.
The first night of setting camp in the dying light, Calitae tossed a bedroll and a small tent at Alistair. She noticed the look he gave her, somewhere between disappointment and resignation. She put a hand on her hip and met his look with a raised eyebrow.
He sighed, "I know, it's just -" He stepped over to her, standing close enough that she had to resist the urge to step backwards. "You probably think I'm a dog and a hypocrite, no insult to your mabari." The crow's feet at the corners of his eyes deepened as he nodded towards Fifth who was stalking some unsuspecting creature at the side of the road.
Calitae merely blinked in acknowledgement, "You are still married. You're the one who made it very clear that you couldn't share me, even though there wasn't anything serious going on between Zev and I, and here you are asking me to do that very thing with you."
He gave her a crooked grin, hoping to alleviate the tension slightly, "If I remember correctly, it took you three days to apologize for how you reacted. Those were a bad three days."
She rolled her eyes and blushed slightly, "And it took you another day to apologize for how you took my apology.
He laughed and rubbed the back of his neck, "Well, accept another apology from me. I just want to be with you, however you feel comfortable. Just try not to hurt me too badly if I sometimes forget."
She laughed and shook her head, "You get first watch, how about that? Wake me up when it's my turn."
"Oh, I think I can manage."
That first night when he wasn't walking around the edge of the camp, he would sit where he could watch her sleep. He knew she was tired, so when it came time for her shift, he quietly woke Alder instead. The young man was confused at first, but happy to do his part when Alistair explained.
"Tae, wake up. Breakfast is ready and Meron says we roll out shortly."
Calitae groaned and rolled over, groggy until she realized it was morning, "What? Don't tell me you tried to stay awake all night out of some sense of chilvalry." She scowled as she rubbed some warmth into her arms.
He held out of steaming cup of thick tea, chuckling, "No, I'm too old to be staying up all night. Alder took your shift when I told him you were finally sleeping. Merta said you needed rest."
She grunted her thanks as she sat cross legged on her bedroll, mornings never were her best time of day. Alistair squatted at the mouth of her tent, "I was thinking there's no reason to not have Alder share in all the duties. He may not be a Warden, but he's still capable and did his fair share of training with Silvers and Wardens at Vigil."
She looked at him over the top of her mug, sipping the hot liquid, "Mmm. Greenies get the middle shift."
"My thoughts exactly!"
They soon fell into a routine; the three of them would rotate between two leading point on the caravan and one bringing up the rear, allowing time for Alistair and Calitae to be together as well as father and son to continue their lively discussions. She would always smile when she could hear their voices drifting back to her, mage versus templar. While the Circle had relaxed minutely under Alistair's influence, the mages still had to deal with the stigma and fear and the accompanying watchful eye of the Templars.
Several of the merchants were proficient with a bow, so their evening meals were always augmented with fresh meat. After the meal, they would game with the merchants or spar with each other, partially to help push Alistair back into fighting form, but mostly for the joy of being able to put their skill to use. Calitae was by far the superior fighter, but Alistair quickly dusted off his abilities and Alder's unusual style would often present a challenge. Given the same twenty years his parents had, he would be quite formidable.
Calitae would often take third watch, mostly to give herself time to wake up before dealing with people. One night she woke up early and was surprised to hear low voices talking by their fire. Alistair apparently hadn't gone to sleep yet. She was about to get up when she paused at Alder's voice.
"So, if you don't mind me asking, what's with you and my aunt?"
She could hear Alistair cough followed by a thumping noise, as if he had choked and Alder was hitting his back, "Uh, how do you mean?"
"Tell me if I'm overstepping here, but you're king. Yet you're here. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade this for the world and Cal definitely seems in a better mood. But you're married. One would have to be blind to not see the looks you give her."
She strained to hear Alistair mutter, "Blind or her." His voice drifted from above her, as if he had gotten up; she pretended like she was asleep. "She never told you about our past?"
"More like what she didn't say. She would tell me of your battles together. But unlike the rest of your companions, she rarely spoke of you. Some times Oghren would start to say something but would pass out before he'd tell me more."
Alistair's voice moved about some more, she guessed he was pacing again, "I, uh, guess you could say we were close. But I had a duty to Ferelden, so we parted ways after the Blight. Not very amicably, I might add."
"And now?" Calitae was curious why Alder was pressing.
Alistair chuckled, "I count myself fortunate to have the same number of holes in me as when I left Denerim." His voice lowered, serious again, "I still care for her a great deal, I lo- Fifth! What are you doing? Stop that!"
He was interrupted by the mabari pawing at the foot of Calitae's bedroll, pulling the blanket off her. She didn't realize she had been concentrating so hard to hear what Alistair was saying that the wardog took her by surprise and she let out a quiet yelp. Sitting up, she gave her best confused look and stuck her head out the tent. "I guess Fifth has decided it's my turn to stand watch. Alistair, shouldn't you be asleep by now?"
She couldn't help but notice the relieved look on his face as he retreated, "Right. Yes. Headed there now. Good night!"
Fifth was bouncing around her like an untrained pup, "What's gotten into you tonight? Getting a little stir-crazy even on the road? Go on then, no barking until daylight." In a blur, Fifth was lost in the darkness. Shaking her head, she went for a stroll around the camp. She expected Alder to have disappeared by the time she finished her loop, but he was still sitting at their fire, working on his latest carving. Sitting down, she watched him work.
She realized he had been waiting for Alistair to fall asleep when they heard the soft snores coming from his nearby tent. Alder held up the carving, "What do you think?" It was the likenesses of her and Alistair in relief.
She smiled, proudly, "I think that you should give up this whole fighting business and go become a scholar in the Chantry, they could use an artist like you. Maybe find yourself a noble patron and grow fat and wealthy while decorating their latest palace."
He grinned at her familiar argument, pleased with the sincere praise. As he put his tools away, he gave her an innocent look, "So are you going to be Alistair's mistress?"
She was wondering how he would approach her turn, but she wasn't expecting quite that blunt. Taken off-guard, she stammered defensively, "I- I hardly think that's an appropriate question."
He grinned mischievously, "Sure it is! If I'm going to be travelling with you two, I need to know if I need to make myself scarce or not."
She covered her face with her hand, "Andraste save me. I'm going to get some water for breakfast." She was making her way to the nearby stream when he fell in step next to her, skipping and looking altogether too pleased with himself, "Shouldn't you be getting some sleep?"
He shrugged, "Not tired. It's more fun to see the calm, cool, collected 'Hero of Ferelden' get all flustered."
"You are such an imp."
"Admit it; you're happy he's here."
"So what if I am?"
"So maybe stop being so gruff and condescending at him?"
She paused and frowned at him, he seemed sincere, "I'm gruff to everyone, or so I'm told."
"Yeah, but you're worse to him. You're like the younger apprentices at the Tower, soon you'll be leaving a toad in his bedroll and he'll be putting mud in your hair."
She laughed at the thought and flicked his ear affectionately, "I thought the mages were supposed to keep you sheltered. When did you learn so much?"
He ducked as he grabbed one of the buckets from her and danced ahead, "At least it's better than you two making kissy faces at each other." He crossed his eyes and demonstrated the face at her before darting ahead.
She watched his disappearing back as she contemplated throwing the other bucket at him.