"A bottle of wine please. Whatever you've got," Selise told Cabot.

"A whole bottle?" Cabot asked as he eyed her. "Where's your date?"

She have give a slight glare and sighed, "does it really matter?"

"Well, I guess not," he said gruffly as he slid her a bottle and a glass.

She poured the wine with her head swimming in thoughts, and realized she probably should have ordered something much stronger than just wine.

She'd spent the last couple hours since leaving Anders walking the full length of the battlements, studying the harsh landscape that surrounded Skyhold and trying to wrap her mind around what it would mean to try to travel those mountains on foot. She'd heard that there was a road that cut through the Frostbacks, created specifically for use by the Inquisition, but she guessed it would probably not be wise to take that route if they were trying to escape notice. The only other option seemed to be to follow the frozen river, to where ever that might lead. She hoped Anders had an idea, or at least a map.

She drank her glass of wine down quickly, eager to feel the calming effect of the alcohol on the waves of anxiety that were storming her body.

Someone sat down beside her, but she didn't look over, not wanting to encourage conversation. She had come to the tavern instead of taking a bottle back to Anders specifically because she wanted to drink alone. People here rarely talked to her, and it was early enough that it wasn't particularly busy yet. She supposed she could have gone to her room, but she had already felt stifled in there, especially knowing that Anders was just on the other side of the wall.

The fact that he loomed so large in her mind was a little disquieting to Selise. In so short a time she found herself willing to upend her entire life for him, betray all that she had ever considered important. Yet she felt like she should have been more upset by those developments than she actually was. Maybe it was because she had already spent a good chunk of her life infatuated with the infamous apostate and was still in completely disbelief that he was not only there, but that he desired her. Or maybe it was the fact that he had a good cause, one just as important to her as it was to him, as well as to every mage in Thedas. Or maybe it was the fact that all she needed do was conjure up his face in her mind and she felt herself go weak again, her mind awash in a flood of desire and affection that seemed to cloud her judgment. Either way, his affect on her had come fast and hard, a flash flood sweeping her away from everything she had used to be before.

Is this what love does? Makes people weak?

She considered all the risks she had taken for him, risks she would not even have considered in her pre-Anders life. Disregarding the Nightingale, killing a man in a horrific manner, consorting with dangerous spirits. She figured she was at least partially propelled by the fear of losing him, or of him being hurt. But she'd been feeling a sense of agency as his protector that was both galvanizing and gratifying. She hadn't felt weak in those moments at all. In fact, she felt stronger than she'd ever been.

She heard a soft, modulated voice ask for an ale and recognized it as the bald elf from the Great Hall. Why he chose to sit next to her when there was a whole bar of empty seats Selise didn't know, and she felt herself scowl slightly at the intrusion before she filled her glass again.

Four years of being one of the Nightingale's little birds would soon be gone. She had only lived at Skyhold for several months, surrounded by powerful, impressive, important people, and she was already on her way out. She would not be witnessing the Inquisition's success against the breach. Would not be walking out into the courtyard and feeling an exciting sense of purpose, an almost daily experience that she would miss greatly. And then there was the fact of stealing from arguably one of the most terrifying warriors she'd ever seen. Selise had no doubt that if it weren't for her magic, Cassandra would be able to crush her with the flick of a finger.

But, Anders was convinced that there was a cure for Tranquility, and if that was true, mages did need to know. The barbaric, malicious practice had been used as a slaver's whip, frightening generation after generation of magi into an unjust, cowering subservience for far too long. But as she had pondered the consequences, she realized that she wasn't entirely sure if knowledge of a cure couldn't also have the potential to backfire. Perhaps, if after the breach was closed and the Circles and the Order were reformed, knowing there was a cure might actually cause the rite of Tranquility to be used more capriciously than before. And how difficult was applying this cure? That alone could make all the difference in the world. If it was something that could be easily achieved, it would already have been discovered. A cure that was practically impossible to apply was almost as good as there being no cure at all.

But at least Tranquility would cease to be the fate worse than death that most mages considered it, and would provide hope for those who already had loved ones made Tranquil. Her own father had held it over her head so much that she used to have a sort of uneasy peace with the thought of it. But life on her own, since the death of her father, had changed that. Living for a time in the Circle, working for Leliana, and now, beginning to experience what felt like to be falling in love, all made the prospect of having her emotions and magic completely wiped away absolutely unthinkable.

And Maker only knows what other secrets could be in that book. The Seekers had been around since the very first blight, and the knowledge they would have about the abuses of Templars would be unparalleled. The knowledge they might have about a great many things could be utterly world-changing.

Another glass emptied, and half the bottle was gone. At least her hands had stopped shaking. She pulled herself out of her thoughts and cast a tentative glance to the body sitting beside her, her gaze meeting the sideways stare of a deep blue eye.

He was clearly observing her, so she figured she might as well acknowledge him. She refilled her glass and then raised it in a quiet greeting before taking another deep gulp.

"Lost in thought at the foot of the stairs, laying barefoot in the grass, drinking alone…" he observed quietly. "You must be in some great distress."

She gave a quiet laugh. She had at least been hoping to go mostly unseen, even if she knew how unlikely that was. "You must not have much to do," she said.

"I admit you caught my notice a while ago. But I also believe that it is important for us to see the people around us in times like these, to appreciate who might be helped by our actions, or harmed by inaction. It makes the war more meaningful."

"Well…. Thanks, I think," she said. She was finally starting to see a little bit of the fuzz around her vision, and the anxiety that had been streaking through her now seemed somewhat dulled. Perhaps he too was one of Leliana's little birds, she thought. But if so, it was awfully bold for him to just sit beside her and reveal his interest.

"You are different from the other mages here. Why is there no one that you really speak to?" he asked and then paused, "If you don't mind my asking."

Something about the man's thoughtful, silvery speech was pleasant, and put her slightly at ease despite her hesitation.

"I don't even know where to begin to answer that," she said.

"But yet you are compelled to these little revealing actions. Which means you must not exist in total isolation. There must be someone, somewhere with whom you associate. People rarely find such distress in solitude. "

Selise sighed heavily. What was it that Cole had said about him? That he sees much, even though he wasn't a seer. She flashed him an annoyed look.

"My apologies, that was a rather personal observation. And we've only just met," said the elf.

"Actually, we haven't."

"Right. I am called Solas. Pleased to meet you Selise," he said genially.

So he already knew her name. Well if he'd noticed so much else about her she figured she shouldn't be surprised.

"You are wondering why I know your name already. It's nothing sinister. It was mentioned once by Cullen and I have a good memory for names," he continued.

"Hi Solas," she said as she emptied her glass again. "I am not at liberty to speak of…" she drifted off. Of what? Of her assignment? Her companion? "…the things you ask."

"I see. I suppose that is revealing enough. We shall speak of something else then, unless you prefer that I leave you in peace."

She couldn't deny that she had her own curiosity about the man. From the moment she had first saw him she had an instinct that, despite his obvious knowledge, there was still more below the surface than she could really understand.

"It's fine I guess," she said as she rubbed her eyes. She was close to the sweet spot of tipsiness, the point where she would cease to care entirely about all the things that troubled her. She poured herself another glass of wine, the bottle almost finished.

"The veil is strange around you, Selise. It… bubbles. And sometimes you leave a tear in it when you pass by," he said, sounding fascinated, "and today it is particularly disturbed."

"You can see the veil that easily?" she asked, her interest piqued.

"I can sense it," he said simply.

She turned her head to look at him straight on. His face, like his voice, was pleasant and thoughtful, yet there was something more there that she couldn't quite put her finger on. Feeling emboldened by the wine, she openly studied his features, trying to place what it was that was so striking. He had a small pockmark on his forehead, as well as full, sensual lips and eyes that were piercing through her, but not aggressively. She particularly liked the way the bridge of his nose swelled a bit. Wide nose bridges were a common feature on elves, but his was less dramatic, more subtle and graceful. It almost gave him the look of an animal.

"You must be gifted beyond that of most mages," she observed.

"Perhaps. You must be as well," he answered.

"Barely," she answered. "What I can do is far less impressive than most. It is just… uncommon."

"Is that not valuable on its own?" he asked, "And besides, I suspect you have yet to tap the true power of your potential."

Selise shrugged.

"Do you not want to?"

"As a friend recently pointed out to me, my magic is often very cruel. It has already hurt enough people as it is," she said, looking back down into her glass of wine. She squeezed her eyes closed, trying to block out the memories of those who had suffered at her hands. Whether by her father's direction or not, it was still she who cast the spells. Even in her attempts to help, she ended up harming people.

"Your regret only shows that this power has fallen into the right hands. It is best wielded by someone with a strong conscience," he said. "Perhaps I can help you, now that we are acquainted."

"You want to help me?" she asked, surprised again.

"If you would like," he said, tilting his head, "I confess I would also like to learn a little bit more about the effect you have on the Veil. We could help each other."

Selise was speechless for a moment… if only she wasn't about to leave Skyhold. But Anders had given no indication as to when exactly he wanted to leave.

"I would love to, but…" she began, and then bit her tongue. She took a breath. "Sure. If you think you can help."

"Excellent. I will find you again soon. You don't have to wait around," he said as he gave her a polite nod and silently slipped out of his seat. "Until then Selise," he said quietly over his shoulder. Selise noticed that his flagon of ale he had ordered was still almost entirely full.

Unlike her bottle of wine. She drained the last of it into her glass and then called for Cabot to bring her two more bottles.

He crossed his arms and looked at her unhappily.

"They are to take back to the hall, and to share with friends," she told him as she slid several sovereigns across the bar, feeling irritated. She didn't need him telling her how much she could drink.

"Very well. I just didn't want to have to carry you back to your quarters after you passed out at my bar," he explained.

"Thanks, but I can take care of myself," she told him. She wondered if he had ever said that to any of the men who ordered large amounts of liquor.

He shrugged and passed her the wine as she stood to walk back to the Great Hall. The elf had always given her a strange feeling, but she walked away from the tavern feeling strangely optimistic. She had turned herself into the Circle originally so that she could learn to control her magic better, but found that there weren't many there that had extensive knowledge of Entropy. She'd learned the basics, gotten a good handle on most of her spells and made some important, knowledgeable contacts, but she couldn't claim to be a Master of her magic. And if she and Anders were going to have the best possible chance of getting to the remains of the Denerim Circle, then she would need to make sure she was a proficient as possible

She sighed. If only she could convince Anders to stay for a little while longer so she could see what Solas had in store. Maybe she could, she thought.

Her short walk back to the Great Hall was an unexpectedly pleasant one. There was a nice breeze and the air was filled with the cheery peals of birdsong. The people attending to their business in the courtyard were all in good spirits and she definitely felt better than she had when she walked into the tavern, whether from the wine or Solas though was unclear. Probably both, she figured. She stopped in the center of the courtyard for a moment to enjoy the sunshine, mindful again that her time there was limited. Despite the warm rays that cut through the cool breeze, she shivered a little at the thought of traveling through the Frostbacks. When she originally arrived in Skyhold, it was via a caravan of wagons holding numerous other mages. She was able to doze and read for much of the journey, and all the bodies inside the wagon helped everyone stay warm. But soon she would be living outside of the protective magic of Skyhold, exposed to the icy cold of the mountains. She sighed and continued back into the Great Hall.

Anders was still sitting in his room, but had the door cracked open. She paused in front of his door, wondering whether she should enter. She looked wistfully at the back of his head, at the golden blond hair that hung in loose, silky strands over the top of his shoulders, and had a flash of a memory of that hair splayed over a pillow as their naked bodies writhed together. She wished more than anything she could erase whatever he had seen in that dream from his mind. But clearly she would just have to settle for giving him time.

Once the sun had gone down, Anders had gotten curious about Selise's whereabouts and came upon her asleep at her table, her cheek resting on the page of an open book. It had been dark for a few hours, and he had gone to the stairwell to put his ear to the door and listen for the rumble of activity, hearing almost none.

He placed a hand on her shoulder and gave a gentle shake. Even if she didn't want to take him up to the garden now, surely she didn't want to sleep all night at the table.

An open, mostly full bottle of wine sat next to a half full glass. Anders picked up the glass and took a drink.

"We're not leaving now are we?" she asked, her voice but a rasp as she sat upright.

"What? No, of course not." Anders said gently, "It should be soon I think, but not tonight." Cullen hadn't given a time line for his possible transfer other than "soon", but Anders didn't want to wait too long. He had been able to get Cullen to mention that the Seeker was out traveling along with the Inquisitor, Hawke and Varric in the Western Approach, and wanted to be long gone by the time they all returned. Even if that meant not getting to see Hawke again, at least not until after she was finished with whatever she was helping the Inquisition with. Hopefully the Seeker hadn't been foolish enough to take the book along with her. That seemed to be too obviously bad a move for him to bother worrying about it.

"Okay, good," she breathed.

"I'm sorry to wake you, but I was wondering, would you mind taking me up to the garden?"Anders asked. "Whenever you're up for it. I can wait."

Selise rubbed her eyes. "Yes. Sure," she said as she looked toward the window.

Anders sat himself down in the chair and covered her hand with his own. "It would be good to have a supply of herbs to bring along, just in case we find ourselves in need."

"Of course. Just give me a minute to wake up," she said.

Her hair was down, a rare occurrence. The full black locks draped down her back and Anders couldn't help himself, reaching out his free hand and running his fingers down a shiny strand. She seemed to shiver a little, though if that's what the little tremor was she covered it up by shifting in her seat and leaning forward.

"Would you like a glass?" she asked, gesturing to the wine.

"I'd love some," he said. She topped off her own glass and filled another, pushing it toward him.

The book she'd been been sleeping on was open to a page of maps. She drank deeply from her glass of wine, her eyelids lined in pink. Despite how she clutched his hand, she seemed to be trying not to meet his eyes.

"Is that a map that of the Frostbacks?" he asked nodding toward the book.

"It is. I might be a little… nervous. Just how detailed is your plan? Have you already figured out a route through the mountains? "

"We'll follow the river most of the way. It will be long and cold, but we'll get through it," Anders said as he caressed her hand.

"Don't worry love, I have spent a good deal of time in the mountains over the past few years. Right after Kirkwall I spent several months deep in the Vimmarks. It won't be easy, or fun. But we'll be together," he said, trying to sound as reassuring as possible. He was still a little bit in shock that she had agreed to come with him so quickly. He'd thought the chances good that she'd decline completely. He'd felt much calmer, much more optimistic about his chances knowing that he would have her aid, and her company. And also quaked inwardly with the fear that she might change her mind. If she decided to stay, would he be able to leave her behind? It was unthinkable to him to be separated from her entirely, so soon. But he also felt a deep pang of regret, knowing he would taking her away from everything she knew.

As the day had progressed, the memory of the dream had begun to lose its sharpness, fading into softer, more distant scenes and pictures. He found himself wondering throughout the day what she was out doing, why she was staying away from him for so long. Despite the fear that the dream had struck in his heart, whenever he considered the possibility of her out somewhere, conspiring to complicate his plans, the idea just seemed to ring false and he gratefully let go of the notion. She had given him no real reason to doubt her, and every reason to believe. But she had left him alone for most of the day since their talk that morning. She just needed to process their conversation, he figured. Or she was giving him space.

By the time the sun had begun to descend and darken the sky, the dream of the night before had been relegated almost completely to the back of his mind, and he found that he was itching to see her again, longing to hear her voice and feel the caress of her fingers. When finally he tiptoed out of his own room with a lantern to conduct a little search, he discovered that she had been in her own room the whole time, apparently having slipped past him at some point without his noticing.

Anders felt a rush of tenderness as he watched Selise blinking the sleep out of her eyes and fidgeting in her chair, clearly nervous and looking paler than usual. The pink around her eyes seemed only to enhance the silver grey of her clear irises, and almost matched the the pink of her lips. But despite that, she retained a straight posture and a surety of movement that quietly belied her inner strength. The longer he sat and looked at her, the more overcome with awe and admiration he felt.

He pulled on her hand, urging her out of her chair and toward him, feeling an intense need to close the distance between them.

"You are so beautiful," he said as she rose from her chair. He didn't even know he was going to say the words until he heard himself say them.

"What?" she asked, her surprised eyes finally meeting his as a flush of red begin to creep up her cheeks.

"I am a lucky man, to have someone like you by my side, and willing to do so much for me. Please know that even if I haven't said it yet, I truly am immensely grateful," He could tell she was pressing down a small smile, and her body relaxed and softened as he pulled her down into his lap, enclosing her in his arms. "The maker has blessed me beyond what I deserve," he said and he nuzzled his face into her neck, breathing in her clean, rainy day scent. She exhaled a deep breath and rest her head back against his shoulder. The softness of her smooth skin and fragrant hair, and the way she fit so perfectly into him, made the rest of the world fall away and he closed his eyes, letting time pause for a moment. He pressed her against his aching chest, trying to feel her heartbeat along with his own.

After several moments passed, she begin to fidget again, her thighs shifting in his lap. Mostly it only made him think of other things he could be doing with her thighs.

"Let's go to the garden then, so we can hurry back here," she said, almost breathlessly. Before he could protest, she was up and was now the one pulling on his hand. He rose from his seat and was tempted to pick her up and throw her down onto the bed, but she was urging him enthusiastically toward the door.

"Wait!" he said and broke free, heading behind him back toward the table. He threw back the remains of his glass of wine and then grabbed the open bottle to bring along. She gave an approving smile and he clasped her hand again, trailing behind her through the hall and across the main room.

It was cool in the garden, cooler than any other evening since he'd arrived. But it was still refreshing, the thick green scent of herbs feeling comforting and familiar. There was a silvery crescent moon, and he noticed a few freshly dug flower beds in a corner. The covered walkway surrounded the full perimeter of the gardens, and contained many corners hidden deep in shadow into which he could barely see. Someone could easily hide in there he noticed, but saw no movement within the shadows. He stood contentedly and considered where to begin. He'd hoped to spend more time up here, but other matters seemed to have gotten in the way.

He took a deep drag off the wine bottle and turned to hand it to Selise. Her eyes glinted darkly as she took it from him, her wavy hair still unleashed and flowing wildly down her back. He watched her for a moment, admiring her curvy silhouette and the sharp, delicate angles of her profile. The darkness seemed to enhance her womanly figure, and he felt the breath leave him as he studied all the details of her graceful form. She was tall and lithe, nicely muscled but still curved in all the right ways. She looked healthy and was certainly no waif. In many places on her body he could grip a solid handful of milky flesh, a fact that he found absolutely delicious and sexy. Hawke had always been so hard, wiry and strong with toned muscles and sharp angles that barely yielded under his touch. But Selise was softer, and it was so easy to find a grip on her her during their lovemaking. His hands ached to be filled with her flesh, feeling as hungry as any other part of his body. She seemed to fit up against him as though the maker himself had made her just for him. He recalled places on her womanly figure that bounced tantalizingly for him on the few occasions their lovemaking had gotten particularly impassioned, and just imagining it made him begin to grow hard. Feeling an intense desire creeping over him, he took two long strides toward her, and in seconds was hovering just inches from her mouth again, ready to take it with his own.

"I… I seem to have forgotten why we came here," he breathed, and he pressed his mouth to hers, sliding one hand around her waist and the other under her jaw, pulling her to him.

Her soft lips eagerly welcomed his, parting with a relieved exhalation, and he channeled all his desire, every erotic thought that had flitted into his head into his kiss. Her body fell against him, the soft mounds of her breasts pressing into his chest, the curve of her waist drawing his hand down to her round buttocks. Her breath came sharply through her nose as he pressed his hardness against her. She opened her hips and he grinded into them, beginning to ache, straining against the confines of his breeches.

But she raised her hands against his chest and gave a gentle push. He obeyed, but stayed close, feeling his breath coming short, desperate for his body to be rejoined with hers.

"You said you wanted some herbs," she said, her chest also heaving. He could feel that she wanted him just as desperately, but she kept her hands to his chest.

"That can't be right," he said as he nipped at her jaw. "Are you sure we didn't come up here so I could make love to you under the stars?"

Her elbows bent and he fell toward her again, his mouth finding her neck and sucking at it, covering it with open mouthed kisses. Maker, he thought, if he could put every inch of her in his mouth, he would do it, right then and there.

"Someone will see us. There are soldiers about… And actually someone else is going to be coming," she said between pants of breath, "and soon." He ran a hand up to close over her breast as he dipped his tongue into the hollow above her collarbones. He felt her knees go loose, her body sinking slightly, pressing deeper into him as he tightened his arm around her waist. His arousal grew into desperation. It had been a full day and night since he'd had a taste of her body, and suddenly it was the only thing he was able to think about.

"Let them see. Let the whole world see, I don't care," he said, taking her mouth in another deep kiss. She let out a little whimper as his tongue slid over hers. And then her hands were pushing again.

"Anders, just hurry so we can get back to the room," she said again. He supposed it wasn't unsurprising that she was nervous at getting too hot and heavy out where they could be discovered, considering she was still relatively new to sex in the first place. He let himself be pushed away, his body stinging with arousal, with the need for more of her touch.

He took a moment to try to calm himself, to steady his breathing and adjust his breeches into a more comfortable position. The fact that he was wearing breeches under his robe at all now revealed itself to be a very poor decision.

He took the bottle of wine and emptied half of it, hoping it would help his body to relax.

And then he blinked the rush out of blood out of his eyes and tried to focus. Herbs. Yes. There were several that he wanted to have on hand. The typical supply for a healing potion, as well as an anti-venom and one to increase frost resistance. That one in particular he wanted to have in abundance, just in case. The cold of the mountains could be very cruel. He sighed, wading through mental images of bare skin as he looked around.

He reluctantly walked away from her and traversed the length of the garden yard, taking deep, calming breaths and trying to locate the items that he needed as quickly as he could. It was difficult to discern what was what in the darkness, but he couldn't help noting again that many of the plants were not paired well together. Perhaps if there was time for one more visit before they departed, he would fix that.

He broke stalks from the herbs that he needed and conjured up his healing, which surrounded his fingers in a golden corona of light. He repaired the plants in the places he'd severed them, and restored health to others that were wilted or hadn't been given the proper care. It was such a shame to have such an admirable variety of herbs, he thought, only to have so many of them struggling.

"We only have a few more minutes before we'll need to hide," she warned him, her body going completely still as she watched the pictures in her mind. Under the sliver of moonlight her eyes looked black and glazed, and once she was roused from the vision, she looked over to him, giving him an impatient, lusty stare that resounded down his spine and between his legs.

Anders took deep breath, steeling himself against the demands of his body, and looked around. Wishing it was easier to see, so that he could move more quickly. He conjured up a ball of energy and tried to illuminate the nearest bed of plants, but heard Selise let out a warning hiss at the emergence of the light. He crouched down, trying quickly to get a closer look before extinguishing the light, but before he could pull at the leaf that he needed, he felt hand grasp a handful of his coat, yanking him back toward the covered pathway.

"Okay, okay…" he whispered, picking up his own pace toward the direction she was pulling.

He found himself deep within the shadow of a corner of the covered pathway, and as soon as they reached it, he registered the faint musical trill of a whistle. A soldier on patrol was wandering languorously along the battlements just above the stairs that led down into the garden.

Anders stuffed the handful of sharply scented herbs into the pouch at his belt and then became aware once again of Selise's hands on him. She was frozen into place, focused on listening to the soldier's movements, and barely seemed to notice when he took a step closer, brushing the length of his body along hers. The shadows almost completely obscured her face, leaving her as only a dark shape within a pool of blackness. But he could feel the warmth radiating off her, the light, delicate breeze of her breath. When he felt a light puff of air over his lips, he knew her face was close.

The soldier was descending the stairs into the garden, but unless he walked all the way around the perimeter, he wouldn't come too close to them. Even if he did, Selise had chosen the best spot in the garden to hide. A dark, dead end corner with a thick pillar nearby would obscure them completely from many different angles. Selise's hands were clutching a different part of his robe, and she pulled him back slightly, until they were both up against the wall. And then her hand found his jaw and he felt the delectable brush of her lips against his. Immediately his body reawakened, the initial arousal only having been slightly dampened in the first place, and he kissed her again, forcefully, his mouth pressing her back into the stone wall behind her. Her other hand snaked around his waist and pulled him in closer, her body warm and strong against his. She breathed a jagged breath into his mouth and kissed him back with an equaled force, before pulling away again to turn an ear toward the courtyard.

"Damn it," she whispered.

"What?"

"The garden is about to get even more crowded," she responded quietly.

Anders felt a low, whispery growl escape his throat. More people meant more waiting to get her back down into bed. He shifted his weight, feeling restless with need.

A door let out a quiet creak as it opened, and three women streamed into the garden, laughing as though they too had a bit to drink. They wandered clumsily into the clearing, and then over toward the gazebo on the far end.

"Hello ladies," he heard the soldier say, as he turned and walked toward them, engaging them in inaudible small talk.

Anders sighed. It looked like they might be here for a while, unless Selise decided to break out the magic.

Her hand connected with his chest again, running up the front of his robe and laying just over his heart. He tightened his grip on her waist and pulled her close, his mouth finding hers in the dark. Unable to help himself, he let his hands loose, grabbing and kneading at the softness around her waist, coming up to grasp a breast again. His fingers found the buttons of her robe, and he slowly released them, keeping his mouth on hers and penetrating her deeply with his tongue. Her mouth was warm and tasted like sweet wine, and she sucked lightly on his tongue, pulling back slightly so she could nibble on his lower lip.

Finally his hands found their way inside her robe, curling under the light undershirt and hungrily cupping a generous breast. He groaned quietly and she tensed, covering his mouth with hers again to keep him silent. She stayed still, listening to the others in the courtyard who were only several yards away, but they seemed too engaged in their own conversation to be mindful of any small noises coming from within a deep shadow.

Feeling bold, he unbuttoned the rest of her robe and let it fall open. She had her usual undershirt and leggings on beneath, and despite how she tensed at his noises, she was not stopping the wandering of his hands. Indeed she was moving into his touch, welcoming him in and responding warmly. He slid both his arms into her robe and around the small of her waist, pulling her flush against him, luxuriating in the soft curves of her body, her hips and her stomach. He pushed his face into the hollow of her neck and sucked at the flesh there, feeling her arch beneath him, her hips grinding into his again as she sounded a sharp intake a breath that she was clearly trying to stifle. His hands found the soft handfuls of her buttocks and it was all he could do not to lift her up and rip her leggings right off her her.

But he began to develop a desire for something else first, feeling his mouth water at the prospect of making her squirm. A sharp thrill raced through him as he considered how no matter what he did to her, she would not be able to vocalize without getting them caught. He felt himself smile in anticipation as he pushed her back against the wall and slid a hand down to her leggings. He pressed his palm against the hot mound at the apex of her thighs and felt her quiver. Then he brought his hand back up to squeeze between the band of tight fabric and her bare skin, and then fully down into the warm, wet center between her legs. When he finally reached it, sliding a finger into the wet depths, she tensed again and he could feel her struggling to suppress the cries collecting in her throat. His own body tensed in increasing arousal, and she bucked her hips into his hand as he slid his fingers over the little pearl of nerves nestled within. He raised his other hand to her face, his fingers sliding under the strong curve of her jaw, his thumb finding her lips and resting on them, reminding her that she needed to remain quiet. She opened her mouth and took his thumb in, sliding her tongue over it, sucking gently and making him have to stifle his own moan. He realized he was as aroused as he had ever been, his breeches feeling so tight he might as well have been bound in rope and chains. Each time he felt her suppress a cry, his own hardness only increased, and he began to feel like he might be brought to orgasm without any additional assistance.

He pulled his hand away from her legs, and she let out the tiniest whimper in response. He tugged at her leggings, sliding them down her thighs to expose her to the night air. Giving her one last penetrating kiss on the mouth, he pulled away completely and let her linger, her body plastered against the cold stone wall. He could see as much as feel her heaving chest, and her body trembling with the same need that was rocking through him. The women behind them laughed enthusiastically, and he distantly recognized that they were flirting with the soldier, who seemed to be enjoying the attentions.

But Anders could barely care anymore about the possibility of spectators. He was relishing the deliciousness of the moment there with her, smiling to himself at the irresistible tension between them, at the way she responded so powerfully to his touch. He was aching to see her squirm some more and he slid down to his knees, finding her bare thighs with his hands. He nuzzled into her legs, inhaling the intoxicating scent of aroused female, and pressed his mouth into her, finding that little nerve center with the tip of his tongue and pressing into it, moving in solid, circular motions. Her knees almost buckled at the contact and she slid slightly down the wall as her breath came in jagged rasps. With one hand he reached up, trying to again to find her lips to remind her to be quiet, but getting waylaid by the softness of her heaving breaths.

As he worked on her, he felt her muscles contracting, trying to thrash about in response to the movement of his tongue, choked gasps and sobs just barely coming from her throat. He was sucking forcefully, enjoying the musky taste of her, and feeling his own body throb in response to her quaking when he felt her hands pulling him back upright, clutching his jaw and running through his hair, urging his face to come back up to hers.

He obeyed, bring himself back to a stand, and he soaked for a moment in the taste of her that remained on his lips, in the frenzied, lusty energy that was radiating from her body. Her hands found the clasps of his breeches and within seconds she was tightly gripping his bare length sending shock waves of need up his spine. She kept her grip tight and pulled him between her legs, frantically urging him to enter her. He let go of all restraint and claimed her mouth forcefully at the same time that he plunged into her welcoming, tight heat. His own cries were struggling to escape his throat at the wash of exquisite sensations that flooded through him, energizing his muscles and inciting his thrusts to quicken, pounding as furiously as he dared while still trying to stay quiet. She mashed her mouth into his even harder at the first whimper that escaped his throat, biting down onto his lip and bringing him back into focus with a sharp sting of pain, but it only barely cut through the overwhelming rush of intense pleasure that was building into a giant wave. He realized as her hands clawed hard into his back that she was right there with him, and they arched together, bodies grinding as forcefully together as they were both inundated with the sweet, quaking release of orgasm. She panted into his mouth, squeezing down cries of ecstasy that collected in choked sobs at the base of her throat, and he throbbed inside her, pressed as deeply into her as he could manage, letting the last of the orgasmic waves wash over him and fill her up with his seed.

As they were descending from the wave of sensation, he noticed that the gardens were eerily quiet. He tried to listen over the pounding of his own heart for the sounds of the people who had been there behind them, but didn't have the handle on his senses yet to know for sure what was happening.

Selise still held him tightly, her forehead down and resting against his cheek as she gasped for air, trying to restore her body's equilibrium.

In what could have been seconds or minutes, he finally heard the rustling of movement of people behind him, but it remained slightly distant and was followed by another distracted giggle. He relaxed back down into Selise's arms, their bodies still joined and pulsing, but finally beginning to calm. If the people had heard them, they didn't seem concerned enough to go exploring or looking for the source. And even if they knew exactly what was happening, Anders couldn't quite summon the energy to care.

He caressed her cheek and inhaled deeply, giving a quiet, giddy laugh. He couldn't remember the last time he'd experienced something so agonizingly erotic. Probably not since those days of sexual discovery in the Circle, when every one was coupling off and stealing a rushed few minutes away from Templars, squeezing into corners and exploring each other's bodies. He shivered, feeling an electric thrill rush through him. Her face came up to his again, and as he bent down to brush another light kiss against her, he felt that her lips were curled up into a wide, satisfied smile.