This chapter is has one explicit sauciness bit in it. You have been warned. Explicit, but hot. ^^

Also Nimue is pronounced: Nim-oo-ay

And I made up the word teryness from the fact that Cousland's father is a teryn, her mother a teyrna, so I simply decided she would have to be a teryness. ^^

Enjoy!

BATTLEGROUNDS

ONE MINUTE SHE'S CRASHING HEADLONG towards the jagged rocks surrounding the castle, the next she feels the shadowcloak implode. It was strange feeling it for the first time. It felt as if someone pressed their palms hard against her chest then jerked her forward with force. She tumbles and rolls onto thick, soft grass grunting loudly. The pain and shock is excruciating and she whimpers feebly as she feels her life bleeding out of her.

Images flash before her eyes then she descends into darkness, welcoming the release. Bright white, light flares before her eyes, blinding her then she feels someone grasp the hilt of the blade piercing her chest. There's a quick tug and the blade cuts through her flesh as its being pulled out from her back. She hears her own blood curling scream the unbearable pain washing over her.

The elf jolted awake from her dream her heart thumping wildly as she clasped at her chest. It burned fiercely and her breath came in small gasps. The charm which hung around her neck burned at her chest, glowing like burning embers. The dream started to fade from her memory and her breathing gradually returned to normal, her heartbeat slowing. Where were all these dreams coming from, and why had her old memories resurfaced since she had faced that horrendous dragon? It was slightly unnerving to be having them she thought to herself as she absentmindedly let her fingers stroke the long, but barely visible scar across her chest.

.

Ailill. She still remembered his name, the elven healer who had worked on her injuries tirelessly since they had found her on the field that day many years ago. He barely took breaks for food and water, remaining at her side until she woke up. The first thing she had seen was his kind eyes looking at her intently.

"Belkin?" she had whispered weakly

"It is good to see you awake da'len." He said, his deep voice soothing her. "How are you feeling?"

"Ugh..." She managed to croak.

"No wonder, you were badly wounded, but we will speak of that later, you really must rest, both of you."

She nodded at this strange man before drifting off to sleep again. She had slept for another two days and when she woke up she found herself in a Dalish camp in the Brecilian Forest. She couldn't remember how she got there and all the Dalish knew was that they had heard a strange crashing sound and found her lying on the grassy field battered and bruised. Ailill, the healer who had found her had taken to her instantly, courting her with the occasional compliment, flowers and such, but Sinniralin's heart still belonged to Belkin at that time.

She hadn't told them about what had happened to her, it was easier to pretend that she couldn't remember anything and not have to talk about it rather than to go back and relive the memories that haunted her in her nightmares, but she missed Belkin more than ever. Missed his company and the silent love they had shared for one another, his suave mannerisms and deep chuckle. She missed how he would comfort her with just one look and how he always made her laugh and she missed his ability to always see life from the bright side.

It wasn't until Ailill once again had mention her as them that she realized she was with child and she broke down in a heart wrenching cry as she clutched her stomach in which the small miracle of their love grew. She didn't know where to go or what to do with a child. She knew she could live more than a comfortable life should she find another Guild to join or perhaps work on her own, but the underworld was no place for a child to grow up and leaving the child to someone else to raise it was out of the question.

"I can't believe you left me on my own to deal with this." She chided Belkin before deciding that growing up in the Dalish clan surrounded by people who would love and adore it would be best for the child. So she stayed with her new clan which in a sense replaced the Guild she had lost.

Nimue had been born prematurely the very same day the first snow fell in the Brecilian Forest for the first time since the Blessed Age. The child had been beautiful, her eyes as strangely blue as Sinniralin's, her hair as dark as Belkin's. As she had discovered later on Nimue had her father's stubbornness and her mother's abrasiveness. Nimue had also inherited both her parents' carless recklessness for getting herself into more trouble than any of the other children.

During the months that passed Sinniralin noticed some drastic changes. Her strength and speed had increased immensely, and her magic which she had always been able to control seemed to have grown stronger and flared up every now and then. The magic no longer felt as it had, but it felt dark and sinister, evil and she tried desperately to keep it pushed down, but it flared up with every strong emotion she had whether it was happy, sad, excited or depressed. Perhaps it was a side effect of being pregnant? Later on she learnt it had nothing to do with being pregnant.

By the time Nimue was five Sinniralin's longing for the city has increased and she was growing restless in the stillness of life in the clan and decided to bring her daughter back to Highever. The journey had been long and slow, but Nimue had enjoyed the adventure revelling in the brush of air against her face as they rode through the lush forest.

What awaited Sinniralin when they arrived to Highever surprised her greatly and made her wish she had returned sooner. Belkin's Guild had been far from crushed and shattered by his death, but had grown to twice the size, many joining the Guild in honour of the true con master. Glub the big, stocky right-hand man of Belkin who reminded Sinniralin of a large bear had kept the Guild alive after hearing of his master's death. Not believing his eyes when he saw her he pulled her into a fierce hug nearly crushing her.

Glub was the biggest, scariest man you could possibly find in Highever and there weren't a lot of people who had never heard of him and those who hadn't usually weren't from Highever to begin with. Tough and scary as he might be he burst into low rumbling sobs, tears streaming down his dark cheeks when he saw the bewildered little girl tugging her mother's hand.

"I can scarcely believe it." He said squatting in front of the small girl as he watched her resemblance to Belkin and Sinniralin.

"Mamae..." She whispered through the corner of her mouth keeping her eyes at the strange crying man.

"Don't be shy Nimue. That's father's friend, go give him a hug."

The girl shone up in a smile putting her tiny arms around Glub's thick neck best she could giggling sweetly.

It had been wonderful coming back to the Guild, a feeling of home and belonging settling in once again. Glub even managed to get Sinniralin work as a sentinel at one of the largest estates in Highever. Living with the Guild, but staying away from the underworld had been her plan, but old habits die hard and soon enough she found herself working for the Guild once again using her new found femininity to become the most skilful seductress Thedas had seen in many years. It did not take her long to realize her body had changed in the years that had passed becoming lascivious eye candy. She quickly picked up what caught men and women's interest, how to move, talk and act. Another thing she picked up was how to satisfy her victim to the point they were convinced she was theirs. People always underestimated what a seductress could accomplish or perhaps it was Sinniralin who was exceptionally persuasive. She could get the nobles to change their votes in the Landsmeet, give up their most prized possessions, and even throw themselves in to harm's way for her sake. Later on she started going rounds in the underworld's battlegrounds.

The battlegrounds were held every fifth night in the Ruddy Tavern. Entering the battleground was easy enough – it was winning it unscathed that was hard. Sinniralin did not want her daughter to see her battered or bruised therefore winning without getting her face smashed in was her main priority. The rules were simple. No amour. No magic and NO killing – all else were considered fair play. There were no restrictions applied. Men and women fought each other, the winner meeting the next contestant in line. The more rounds you went the more coins you earned. In Sinniralin's that meant a lot of gold not to mention easy gold. It was all going well, Sinniralin had gone undefeated since she started, but then came the day when the teryness decided to enter the battleground.

The teryn's family or rather his kids were known to be spoiled brats getting what they wanted when they wanted it. Sinniralin had no patience for such nonsense, but Glub specifically told her not so much as touch the girl or to even pull a hair from her head. She hadn't argued thinking the teryn's daughter wouldn't get that far in the tournament anyway. Yet another time in life she had been proven to be wrong.

.

Smiling she eyed the blonde teryness. She was a few years younger than herself and very good looking, her eyes radiating neither arrogance nor the spoiled abrasiveness she'd heard rumours of. Instead they shone of curiosity and warmth. She's welcome to wrestle me down any day of the week. Sinniralin smirked. The young teryness took it as a challenge, charging towards her. Sinniralin met her half way using less than a fraction of her strength. She thought the teryness might shove her or maybe try to swipe her legs from underneath her, but instead the young woman twisted her body sideways swinging with her arms at Sinniralin. They connected with her chest with a loud thumping sound. The teryness used such force Sinniralin was knocked off her feet. The air went out her lungs as she landed hard on the blood splattered stone floor taking great care in not smashing the back of her head cracking it open on the floor. The girl was on top of her in a matter of seconds straddling her as she pinned Sinniralin's arms to the floor with her hands. The girl's face was so close to Sinniralin's their lips would have touched had she lifted her head slightly.

"You're holding back on me." The girl said in her sweet, half-frustrated voice eyeing her with narrowed eyes.

Having the lovely, young woman straddling her sent waves of warmth through her body and she grinned, cocking her eyebrow as she bucked her hips. Not hard enough to throw the girl off, but enough to cause her mound to grind against the teryness' heated centre where she sat on top of her. The girl's eyes bulged in surprise and shock at the lovely friction the movement caused.

"Trust me, you wouldn't want it any other way." Sinniralin sneered wiggling her hips, bucking them ever so slightly. To most people it would have looked as if she tried to slither out from underneath the teryness, but Sinniralin made sure that the young woman knew that this what not what she was trying to do.

The girl blinked fiercely wavering slightly where she sat on top of Sinniralin, her eyes searching the seductress looking for answers to unspoken questions. They both heard the crowd roar and cheer as the judge counted down seeing the undefeated rogue taken down by a new comer. The teryness blushed profoundly at the arousal Sinniralin's wiggling and bucking caused her, still not moving intent on winning this game the woman underneath her was playing. They barely heard the judge announce her the winner. Sinniralin chuckled at the girl's surprised face when two men came running up to her pulling her off Sinniralin, cheering and patting her approvingly on her back.

Sinniralin laughed and shook her head as she brushed herself off and stood up again. The teryness had been strong, very strong no doubt, but she had a few years of practice ahead of her before she would do any real harm.

"Good girl." Glub announced as her strode up to her releasing a sigh in relief. "I thought you were going to give me trouble there for a while." He smiled knowingly.

"Me? Would I ever?" She asked innocently batting her eyes at him.

"Would you ever." He chuckled a rumbling chuckle pulling her in with his left arm for one of his fatherly half hugs. "Now let's get you a drink before we go home." He added pulling her along to the bar as another battleground started.

.

She was sipping on her beer revelling in the life and excitement in the underworld. Living with the clan had been wonderful, serene, but the underworld was her home, it was all she knew. Scheming, assassinating, seducing, all different kinds of chores the nobles, kings and queens ordered from them. They were the biggest Guild in Highever, second biggest in Ferelden. This life was different, and not as bad as most people made it out to be. It was tough, indeed, to be one of the few women working this deep down in the underworld. Most women became bards doing light chores as they referred to them. That meant they stole, and manipulated, performing the occasional assassination, but not like Sinniralin. She was better than many of the men working for the Guild carrying out the most dangerous chores most men and women would not even look at. Then again she had been trained by a true master. At times she felt guilty about it, putting herself at risk when she had Nimue to think about, but she knew, as long as she had her daughter waiting for her at home she would never be caught or killed. She would not let her daughter grow up without her mother and this drove her to accomplish the most difficult of schemes successfully.

She glanced over at the dark-skinned, large man standing next to her and smiled. Glub, her companion and comrade in arms. He was like a big brother always looking after her making sure she and Nimue were always taken care of and feeling well. Not that he needed to do that, he knew she was more than capable of taking care of them, but he loved them in his own special way and he had become the father figure Nimue had never had. He taught her how to shuffle a deck of cards and how to play Dead man's Luck, a game with seven dices played by the Guilders on stormy nights when chores could not be finished. It was endearing to see the most feared man in Highever put under the thumb by a six year old girl who had become the apple of his eye. He made them both feel safe and secure and Sinniralin found he was one of the few she could be herself around. Not even when she told him what she had become after hers and Belkin's battle at the Magister's castle in Minrathous did his support and unconditional love waver. And when nightmares and sorrow took over he was the one who brought her back from it. Glub was the one who saw her magic rise and grow into something dark, and dangerous. Glub was the one who helped her battle the newborn demonic essence dwelling inside of her, making sure Nimue never noticed the days when Sinniralin was overtaken by it, left a dark shadow of herself and Glub was the one who figured out water seemed to keep it latent, rendering her magic useless.

"She was a pretty little thing the teryness, wasn't she?" He interrupted her amiable thoughts of him.

She laughed at him slapping his arm. "I suppose she was, surely I would not kick her out bed at least." She winked as she felt someone tap her shoulder. Turning around she found herself face to face with the blonde teryness. The battleground behind them had reached its boiling point and the crowds were roaring so loudly in excitement she could barely hear the young woman talking to her.

Glub caught the interested look in Sinniralin's eyes smiling slyly as he leaned in towards her ear announcing his departure and that she needn't worry about Nimue. She nodded and grinned before motioning for the girl to follow her. The teryness obliged and followed her into one of the women fighters' back room.

"Well?" Sinniralin inquired as she turned around facing the girl.

"You let me win." She accused her narrowing her eyes.

"Should I not have?" she asked flatly.

"No you shouldn't. I could have taken you in a fair game." The girl was obviously annoyed.

"Still you won without bruises or injuries on that pretty face." Sinniralin purred with a wink.

The teryness cheeks flushed. "You're changing the subject." She objected.

"To quite a nice subject, wouldn't you say, hm?" She asked as she let herself drop into a soft leather armchair eyeing the girl hungrily. She knew the innocent girl would be flattered, eventually granting the seductress her wish.

The teryness tilted her head. "You are flirting with me."

Sinniralin stood up again walking up to the girl. The teryness was a head shorter than her and she leaned in closely their bodies brushing against each other as she whispered. "Should I not have?"

The girl seemed to waver, swaying a little. "I... am not sure it's appropriate." She said her voice thick.

Sinniralin chuckled seductively. The girl was inexperienced, it would be so easy to bed her, but much to her dismay she felt it was perhaps not fair to the young chaste teryness. She was probably saving herself for her future husband.

"Well... if it's not appropriate then perhaps we should not stand so close." She whispered huskily as she withdrew, the girl's body trembled in protest.

"Now, did you come talk to me just to tell me off for letting you win?" Sinniralin's eyes twinkled as she knew this was not why the girl had come to fetch her, question was, did the girl know that as well?

"Yes, well, I don't like being treated like some orlesian wall flower." The girl said indignantly.

"Well, then I apologise. Is there any way I can make it up to you?" She asked a little sultrier than she meant to causing the young woman to smile coyly.

"No, there's no need... I think..." She answered slowly as if to think of something or was she trying to insinuate something?

"Well you are too kind." The seductress murmured as she leaned in and gave the fair teryness a soft kiss on her silky cheeks. As she withdrew she felt the girl's hands intertwine themselves in her long hair as she was pulled into an eager kiss a little surprised at the sudden boldness the teryness displayed. She let her tongue slip into the other woman's mouth kissing her. At first carefully treading this new territory, then their kisses deepened and they kissed feverishly as passion overtook them both. The girl pressed herself up against the seductress desperately trying to close whatever distance lay between them.

Still kissing they stumbled towards the leather armchair Sinniralin falling backwards into it with the teryness on top of her. Her hands roamed passionately across the leatherclad tight body, the teryness straddling her once again. She gasped in pleasure as Sinniralin loosened her leather top taking one of the pink, ripe nipples in her mouth sucking and nipping on it, kneading the other one gently. The teryness pressed herself into her mouth moaning contently as Sinniralin's tongue swirled around her hard nipple, her head hanging, eyes shut, fingers clasping the seductress head.

"No..." She protested when Sinniralin withdrew, but sighed contently again as the seductress kissed the base of her neck, hands slipping in underneath the armoured leather skirt she wore, deft fingers slipping in between her wet folds. The teryness gasped at the wondrous feeling, grinding her mound at the seductress fingers stroking her into near madness, though avoiding the pink, swollen bud demanding the other woman's attention. Growling in frustration she bit into Sinniralin's neck causing her to groan in pleasure adding to the sensation of the teryness' hand which found its way inside her briefs giving the seductress the same treatment she herself was receiving. The girl was not as innocent as she appeared. The seductress finally granted the girl her wish stroking her bud with her skilful fingers alternating between pressing hard and flicking gently. The teryness' hair came undone from the bun it had been pinned up in as she grinded her hot, wet snatch against Sinniralin's fingers.

The small room was dark and hot their bodies glistened from the heat they radiated as they pressed hard against each other. Their kisses deepened becoming more intense as Sinniralin pushed her two fingers into the teryness' snug, feverishly hot core, stroking her velvety walls, pressing upwards with her fingertips on the soft cave's ceiling drawing lecherous, loud moans from the young woman's pinkish lips. Sinniralin marvelled at the blonde teryness tightness as she withdrew and slid back into her. She let her one hand come up to the girl's hair grabbing a fistful pulling it so that the girl's head fell backwards exposing her inviting neck as Sinniralin's fingers thrust into her. She could feel the teryness mimic her movements as she rode her vigorously, bucking and grinding as she whimpered and gasped, breathing heavily. Feeling the girl's wall swell around her fingers, starting to contract Sinniralin thrust faster and harder, pushing deeper into her the girl meeting her even more eagerly. Sinniralin closed her eyes drinking in the feel of the young woman and her fingers inside her, heat building up until she had to bite down her bottom lip to hold herself in check. The teryness' breath came out in ragged and irregular thrusts until her walls clenched around Sinniralin's fingers and their ecstasies caused them to cry out softly with one final thrust.

The girl tensed, moving in slow, shaky thrusts on top of the seductress fingers until the extreme wave of heat ebbed out and she slumped forward, collapsing on to Sinniralin, breathing heavily. Her hand came up to stroke Sinniralin's face when the door burst open and the man yelped in shock at the sight of his sister in such compromising situation.

"Deanna!" He called out in shock.

The girl jolted upright. "What? Fergus!" She cried in despair as she tried to cover up withdrawing her hand from Sinniralin's pants.

"By the Maker sister! Anyone could have walked in here!" He chided her, covering his eyes with his hands. "You know mother would be infuriated if someone were to... find out about this."

The two women covered themselves up quickly, the teryness standing up. "What I do is none of mother's business, and as she said, as long as I keep it clean and nice..."

"Well what about her?" He said nodding towards the white-skinned elf.

Sinniralin snorted. "You needn't worry. We had our little fun and I hardly remember who the girl is, and by tomorrow she will be well forgotten." Sinniralin said coldly.

"I... that's is fine." The girl mumbled looking hurt.

"Good." Her brother agreed, nodding in appreciation at the seductress.

She cast one last glance at the girl before leaving her and her brother standing as she slipped out into the crowded tavern disappearing into the night.

.

.

The Harpia cried its shrill cry bringing the elven rogue out from her memories. Shrugging off the memories of a life which did not belong to her any more she rolled out of her bedrolls a dull ache rumbling through her heart. She crawled out from her tent and found the Harpia sitting stoically by the fire as if to guard their small camp. The darkness lay across Ferelden like a punctured canopy, a millions tiny glimmering stars staring down at her and She rubbed her eyes tiredly. She hadn't meant to sleep for this long. She had lain down that afternoon thinking she would rest for a little while.

In the beginning when she had first started to deal with what she was after Lesdra seemed to have pushed her over the last threshold to the gate's of Tes'Hathr's that day in Minrathous, sleeping was the only way to keep the darkness residing within her at bay. Later when she met Glub again he taught her about water's effect on creatures like her. Then two years ago Glub suggested trying Lyrium arguing that Lyrium restricted the use of magic and in that way she could still use her magic and be in control of it as long as she took Lyrium not using any more magic when she felt the substance leave her body. She objected at first arguing that it might increase her magic even more, releasing the sinister essence inside of her she fought so badly to keep at bay. After much persuasion from both her daughter and Glub she finally decided to try it. Lyrium had a similar effect on her as water had, but instead of disabling her use of magic completely it just limited it.

She looked over at her leather bag. The lyrium was gone. She shook her head. She would have to get more somehow. She didn't need it to finish the chore given to her from teryn Loghain she could easily rely on her rogue skills for that. She needed it to keep the monster in her where it should stay.

"You wouldn't happen to have any lyrium?" She asked looking tiredly at the Harpia. Today was a bad day and she felt unusually tired. Perhaps it was the intensive travelling she had done the past couple of days after her close brush with the Chantry.

"No, you probably don't." She said as the Harpia hopped up to her nudging her cheek with its cold beak. She patted it gently on its head, scratching its soft neck. Her eyes fell on the map with the large circle indicating where she would find the Grey Wardens and her face lit up in a wicked grin.

"Ok, looks like we've got work to do." She said and stalked over to the leather bag filled with potions and oils. Grinning she uncapped two of them getting ready for a fun night of stealing.

.

.

"You there!" The dark-haired witch snapped at the man with short, blonde hair.

"Me?" He answered with a question.

"Yes you, you fool! Do you see anyone else next to you?" She asked impatiently.

He looked around then back up at the witch with a sheepish look. "No, I guess not. What is it now?" He sighed.

"There seems to be missing lyrium from my stash?"

"And you would tell me this because..?" He seemed confused.

"Because you're a templar and have gotten it into your air-filled, thick head that I'm going to turn you into a toad anytime soon." She stated. "Now hand it over to me before I make you regret it."

"But I haven't got it. Look!" He said holding up his hands before her, adding. "Besides, where would I possibly keep it?" He gestured towards his heavy amour.

The witch's eyes narrowed. "I could think of a few places, but I suppose I would rather not have them back if that would truly be the case..."

Sinniralin hid among the lush shrubbery only a few feet away fiddling the vials of lyrium triumphantly. She smirked a little to herself. Finding the small band of companions had been fairly easy, now with the rogue doing a very good job to confuse her and shake her off their trail. Sneaking into their camp had been child's play. Scrubbing the Sinai herb disguised the neutral body odour making her blend in with the smells of her surroundings enabling her to move freely without fear of being discovered. Not even the large mabari hound had noticed her. This was a nice little trick she had picked up from the Dalish while living and hunting with them.

"You aren't really bickering over some lyrium, when the Ferelden is about to be swarmed by bad breathed little mongrels?" A soft voice with a heavy orlesian accent cut through the dark night as the rogue came into view.

An Orlesian? Who would have thought? Sinniralin was surprised the rogue was Orlesian. The orlesians weren't generally known to have good rogues over there. She peered closer as the well-toned rogue advanced on the two companions sitting by the fire feeling her curiosity peak. There was something strange about her. She didn't possess magical powers still there was something peculiar about her whole being.

"We're not bickering, she is." The blonde man said nodding towards the witch who scoffed and threw her hands in the air.

"I give up. I'll sooner have a rational conversation with that filthy fur bag over there."

The rogue chuckled throatily as the female warrior came stalking out from her tent.

"What is this I hear, someone laughing in times of peril?"

Sinniralin froze when she heard the familiar sweet voice. Deanna? Peering over she saw the well familiar blonde, the pinkish lips she used to adore and the toned body that once writhed in pleasure underneath her. She tried to stay focused, but her vision had become blurred a strange and familiar coiling stirred within her. She blinked in confusion as the she heard the rogue say something rounding the campfire standing only inches away from her. The pain struck her like a sledge hammer, racking her body as the sinister darkness fought to break free taking control of her. Something was wrong, why was the rogue having this effect on her? She squeezed her eyes trying not to cry out from the intense pain, sweat breaking out. Something with the rogue drained her of strength and she fell forward.

The rogue caught the sound immediately staring into the thick shrubbery behind her. Sinniralin, weakened by the rogue's presence, could only stare helplessly as the rogue stared straight at her advancing on her hideout.

"There is something out there." The redhead declared with a warning, the companions following close behind her.

Blasted! Sinniralin cursed silently trying to uncap the vial of lyrium. Only a few more steps and the group of wardens would be right on top of her and in this state she would be no match for them.

TO BE CONTINUED...

A/N: The plot thickens, questions are only answered with more questions. What exactly is it Sin is? And why is Leliana having such strange effect on the seductress? Keep reading to find out. :)

Huge thanks to those of you who have reviewed this story! Sending you lots of fluff and luuurve! ^^

Hope you enjoyed.

Till next time!

~Elmjuniper~