The first part of this chapter was inspired by a few requests for some Fergus/Leliana love. As tess15216 so elegantly put it…brown-chicken-brown-cow. Enjoy!

Chapter 13

What was it with those foreign women and their accents that drove him absolutely crazy? He couldn't put his finger on it, but something about them caused him to take complete leave of his senses. It been several years now since his family was slaughtered by Arl Howe, time enough for his wounds to scab over and the pain to ease. His wife and son would always be in his heart, but with each passing day he found it slightly easier to let the pain go and to focus only on the good memories.

Fergus sat in the King's study, as he went over important documents while Alistair was away on his secret Grey Warden business, when his court-appointed aid sauntered into the room. There was something about the Orlesian bard that for the first time since his wife's passing tugged at his heart-strings. Maybe it was her winning smile that seemed to brighten even the darkest of days. Perhaps it was her charming and easy-going personality that made him feel as if they were old friends when in reality they were barely even acquaintances. Or it could be the way that all of her dresses seemed to hug her body, accentuating every curve and enticing his imagination.

Today she wore a beautiful navy blue velvet dress trimmed in gold that sat low on her waist and emphasized her tiny frame. The bodice was low cut and accented the curves her creamy breasts. He would love to trace the outline of her enticing breasts with his lips and tongue.

"Fergus, did you hear me?"

The Teyrn blinked, suddenly pulled from his very inappropriate thoughts and blushed with embarrassment. "Excuse me?"

"I said that a letter had arrived from Alistair; it's addressed to you," Leliana smiled as she handed him the sealed parchment.

"Oh, thank you, Leliana. I'm sorry you had to bother yourself with this, I'm certain one of the servants would've delivered it, had you asked."

"Not at all, it was no trouble, really. It just so happened that I was returning from the market district when I came upon the messenger at the palace gates. The poor man looked so exhausted from the journey that I offered to bring this to you while he went and got a room at the inn."

That was Leliana for you, always so kind and thinking of others. The type of person who puts the needs of others before her own. She was so…

"Lovely," Fergus finished his train of thought, unaware that he'd mentioned that last part aloud.

"Excuse me?" Leliana could've sworn she'd just heard him call her lovely. She couldn't be too sure about it, though, because he seemed in a half daze, his eyes half-lidded and glossed over as he looked at her. And when he spoke he whispered the word so softly that has she not been so close she wouldn't have heard it at all.

"Oh…Um…That's quite a lovely thing for you to do-Helping the messenger that is."

Now it was her turn to blush at her misinterpretation. She found Fergus extremely handsome in a rugged sort of way and he had an easy, charming way about him. She had tried to flirt with him, but it always seemed to fluster him. As much as she would love to pursue a relationship with him maybe he wasn't ready to move on from the death of his wife. "Nonsense, Fergus, I was merely being polite."

Leliana sat down in a chair as Fergus opened the sealed letter. Fergus cleared his throat and began to read out loud.

Dear Fergus,

We have made our way to the Circle of Magi to investigate several leads for our mission. Once we leave here I don't know when I will be able to write again, but you can send a message to the The Spoiled Princess if you need to contact me.

I realized that I will not be back in time to plan and host the annual Summer Solstice Dinner and Dance for the nobles in Denerim. Could you please make all the arrangements and host this celebration for me? I am sure Leliana would be more than willing to help you with this. She loves to plan parties and this will give her an excuse to order a new dress. Be careful though she will have the royal tailor fitting you for an new suit too.

Take care and talk to you soon.

Alistair

"Ooooh, a party!" Leliana exclaimed. "That is just what we need to get over the summer doldrums."

Fergus ran his fingers through his hair. "Great! This letter was sent almost three weeks ago. I now have less than two weeks to plan a celebration for the nobles in the King's absence. They are going to eat me alive with questions about where Alistair is and when he is coming back," Fergus moaned.

Leliana leaned forward; giving Fergus the prefect view of her ample and alluring cleavage. She rested her hand on top of his as she purred, "It will be okay, Fergus. I will handle all of the details and I will help you with the nobles. It will be okay, I promise."

Fergus turned his hand over so that he could grasp her hand in his. A fiery flame coursed through both of them as their eyes fixed on one another. Fergus felt his mouth go dry as the sudden urge to lean over the desk and kiss her over took him, but he quickly suppressed it. He stared down at her lovely elegant hands and he could imagine her hand wrapped around him. Those soft hands could cause a lot of friction as they moved over his flesh and his body trembled at the thought…Bad thoughts. Very, bad, bad thoughts.

She gave him a sinful smile as if she read his mind she cooed, "Dressing you up is going to be fun." She thought it would be more fun to undress him and from the electricity that had just passed between them for the first time since his arrival she had a feeling he felt the same way. "I need to send a message to the royal tailor immediately so that we can begin having you fitted. Alistair will want you to look your best."

Fergus let out a long groan as he shook his head in frustration – over the party and over his growing feelings and desire for her.

xxXxx

The group made their way out through the Frostback Mountains toward Orzammar. Darrian had pushed them and they were about a half day way from Orzammar when Alistair insisted that the group needed to stop to rest for a while. They had found a road side inn to spend the night in. Darrian was exhausted from the fortress ordeal, but still mentally keyed up about seeing his daughter, but he eventually drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

Darrian stood in a beautiful meadow that was covered with mountain laurel and poppy flowers. At the edge of the field was a very green and rich looking forest. He started to walk towards it when he saw a hooded figure emerge from the trees. He paused as he watched the cloaked figure materialize from the shadows. The woman who carried a mages staff removed the hood and Darrian immediately recognized her, a smile spread across his face as he quickly made his way toward her. "Morrigan," he breathed out as he approached her.

She smiled as the two lovers embraced each other, "Lindarin," she said warmly as she pulled away from him and continued, "I see that you saved our daughter."

"Yes, she is safe and I can't wait to meet her," Darrian replied.

"She is beautiful, Darrian and there is an ancient goodness that I feel in her. She will accomplish great things if raised properly and I know that you will do a wonderful job raising our little girl," Morrigan said.

Darrian reached out and ran his fingers along her cheek to her lips. "I will do my best; I promise. How is it that you are able to visit me? Alex said that were not able to enter the Elven Fade," Darrian asked.

Morrigan kissed the tips of his fingers as she replied, "It's not that I couldn't enter, it's that I was unable to find the right entrance into your Fade. It has taken me a long time, but I finally found it."

Darrian leaned into her and brushed his lips against hers, "Well, better late than never," he murmured as his lips pressed against hers; oh, the velvety feel of her soft lips and the sweet taste of her mouth was better then he remembered and he was enraptured with the feel of her back in his arms. She parted her lips and their tongues entwined and danced together. He couldn't get enough of her; her taste, her scent, her feel. "Oh Morri, I have longed for you. I have missed you desperately," he sighed against her lips.

"I know, my Lindarin, I know," Morrigan whispered into his ear as she placed feathery light kisses there.

"I don't want to leave here. I don't want to leave you," Darrian moaned.

Morrigan smiled. "Love, this isn't real. This is a dream. You must leave. Our daughter needs you," Morrigan sighed.

"I know, but now that you have found your way into my Fade we will be able to see each other again. Right?"

A sad smile settled on her face, "No, Darrian, this is the only time that I will be able to visit you."

"What? Why?" Darrian questioned.

Morrigan took him by the hand and led him to a shady tree to sit under. "I was given this opportunity to travel to other worlds in order to save our daughter. Because of whom she will become and what she will accomplish – losing her would be a great loss to the greater good. Now, that she has been saved my time left here in the Fade is limited. I have a few more things that I need to accomplish and then it will be my time to move on."

"What else do you have to accomplish?" He asked.

"I can't tell you the details, but I can tell that over the next couple of months Alistair is going to need your love and support as he makes the biggest decision of his life."

"What are you talking about?" Darrian demanded.

"Like, I said I can't tell you details, but as you counsel and give guidance to your friend you need to put aside your own feelings and give him advice that will be best for him," Morrigan replied.

"I don't understand," Darrian retorted.

"I know," Morrigan said as she kissed his cheek and worked her way down to his lips. She pressed her lips against his and he melted into her. "We only have tonight, Lindarin. Let's not spend tonight talking about Alistair." She ran her tongue along his mouth; his lips parted as their tongues sought out each other and intertwined together. They spent the rest of their time getting reacquainted with each other's bodies.

Darrian woke the next morning feeling better than he had in months. He knew that was the last time that he would ever seen Morrigan again, but they had spent an incredible night making up for the upcoming years that they would be apart, but he knew his time in this world was short and he would be with her again soon enough. For now it was time for him to focus on his daughter and to prepare her for her destiny…whatever that was supposed to be.