Leo cursed loudly as another peal of thunder sounded in the sky. Both he and Leigh were soaked to the bone from the driving rain. They had taken refuge under a tree, but it did little to keep them dry. He could feel his body begin to shake from the cold rain. The slight framed woman next to him was shaking more violently. He took her hands in his and they felt like ice. He swore even louder this time knowing if he did not get her warmed up soon she would get very sick, very fast. A new sound greeted his ear, Leigh's teeth began chattering loudly. He began to rub her arms to warm them up.

"I need you to stay awake Dove. Talk to me."

"W...www...what..a...a...bout?"

"Anything, everything I don't care just talk."

"I...ca...can't."

"Yes you can. Call me names, poke fun at me, anything to keep awake."

"I...don...don't want to di...die."

"You won't I promise you that." Leo tried to look out into the storm to see if he could find Shade, but it seems she had run off. Having no idea where exactly they were or what town they might be near was not helping either. In the distance he saw a light, he had to blink a few times to make sure it wasn't just wishful thinking. After a few minutes he could tell it was getting closer. Soon it was clear to him that someone was coming their way. At this point he didn't care if it was Templars or not. He had to get Leigh to shelter or lose her to hypothermia. He cupped his hands to his mouth and stared to yell. "Hello is anyone out there? We need help, please!" The light continue ever closer til the owner of the light came into view.

"Tis not a night to be out." The woman was wearing a heavy leather cloak that seemed to repeal the cold rain. In her hand she had a staff and the light Leo had seen was coming from the top of it. "Your friend does not look well."

"She's not. Please we need shelter so I can help her. We are both apostates like you, please help us." The young woman's golden eyes stared at him. For a second he could have sworn he had seen eyes like this before, but he could not for the life of him think of where.

"Follow me then. I know a place you can take shelter. I shall carry your packs. You carry her." Leo nodded and scooped Leigh up in his arms. She was trembling so violently that he had a hard time holding on to her. The cloaked woman waited patiently for him to get a better grip and led him into the woods. "There is a hunting cabin up ahead that is for now abandoned. You shall be safe there for the next few days."

"Thank you."

"I would not thank me yet. Your friend, she is in a lot of trouble. I hope you have healing herbs with you and food."

"We have some. I don't think she was planning for us to be out here this long."

"Ah and here it is. Take her inside and stripe her wet clothes off. I will build a fire for you before I go."

"Go? Your just going to leave us?"

"I am no healer. You on the other hand are. It is up to you to save her. I have helped enough by getting you shelter and volunteering to make a fire for you. Be grateful for that."

"I am, but..."

"You waste precious time questioning. Do as I said and get those clothes off of her." Leo ran through the cabin door and set Leigh on the smaller of the three beds that adorned the place. He was thankful she had decided not to put her leather armor back on since he had no idea how to take it off. As quickly as he could Leo striped Leigh of her clothes. He kept his mind on task and did not let it register in his brain that she was now naked . The mysterious woman busied herself making a raging fire in the hearth while Leo wrapped Leigh up in heavy blankets. "You will have to take off your wet clothes too. She will need your body heat to bring hers back to the way it was."

"I...Holy Maker, she is going to kill me for this."

"If you save her life I doubt it. The fire is set and there are your packs. I wish you luck."

"Thank you...I did not catch your name."

"I did not give it, let us just say I am a fellow apostate and leave it at that. Take care of her." Without another word the woman was gone.

"Maker's breath what in the name of Andraste did I do to deserve this?" He peeled his clothes off and hung them on a rack near the fire. He did the same with her clothes before heading to the bed. Her body was still shaking hard. "Maker, I know you and I are not on good terms, but if you could find it in your heart to not let her kill me for this I would greatly appreciate it." As if to answer him a loud crack of thunder made him jump. He scrambled into the bed and pulled her body close to his. In his mind he thought of things to keep him from the thought of having a naked girl in his arms. Her body was so cold next to his, her lips were almost blue. He gently pulled her head to his chest and let it rest there. "You promised to keep me alive Dove, now it is my turn. I won't let you die on me." Sometime later that night her body stopped shaking and fear clenched his heart. He gently shook her shoulder and she moaned.

"Cut it out Carver. I will get up when I am ready." She rolled her body over away from his warmth. Her body now burned with fever and her thoughts were clouded. Leo went to get some of the herbs out of his pack to help bring down the fever. It took him longer than he had wanted to brew the potion enough to be potent. Leo could hear Leigh's chattering teeth again since she uncovered herself. He could not help his eyes roving over her body. He quickly closed his eyes and shook his head to get the imagines of depravity out of his head. He was a man after all, but he was also a healer and right now she needed him on his game. He covered her back over and gently held her up to help her drink the potion he had made.

"Dove, open your eyes." Leigh's eyes opened and rolled around trying to focus on him. "I need you to drink this, it will make you feel better." Her eyes stared into his and he felt a jolt go through him. He saw trust in her eyes. It was something he had never seen before.

"Don't...l...leave...mm...me." Her voice broke his heart. The fear in it made her sound like a very young child. He pulled her up enough that she could rest on his chest. He let his lips brush the crown of her head before bringing the vial to her lips.

"I'm not going anywhere. Now drink this down it will help you sleep. I promise I will be right here when you wake." She gave him a weak smile and swallowed the bitter potion. Her lips puckered up from the taste and he could not help himself. He brushed his lips against hers. The bitter taste of the potion did not phase him as he deepened the kiss. She gave another shutter and it brought him back to reality. She needed rest and warmth. As much as he wanted to keep kissing her he knew that she was delirious with fever and he would not take advantage of her like this. "You need to sleep Dove." Leo shifted them to fit better in the small bed. Her scorching body laid on top of his. He was gentleman enough to keep a sheet between them, so as not to tempt him further. The sounds of the storm seemed to kick up again as he drifted off to sleep.

OoO

The sound of birds chirping woke Leigh out of a sound sleep. Her dreams had been improper at best. She knew she had had a fever, but even that could not have brought on those vivid dreams. The feel of a warm body next to hers made her eyes snap open. All she could see was the broad chest of whoever was holding her. She slowly tipped her head up to get a look at the face those arms and chest belonged to. She relaxed a little seeing the stubbly chin, then the loose blonde hair that had fallen out of his hair tie. Her hand slowly reached up to brush the hair out of his face, only to get caught up in his own hand.

"Morning Dove."

"Good Morning." Her eyes roamed around the room before returning to his face. "Where are we?"

"I assume a hunting lodge of some kind. That or someone who has a trap fetish. Just don't look in the closet over there."

"How long have I been sleeping?"

"Four days. I was starting to worry about you. It took two days to stop your shivering and another to break your fever." The expression of concern in his eyes made her insides turn to jelly. His warm brown eyes seemed to bore right through her soul. Leigh shivered again, only to feel him rub her arms to warm her up. The friction of his touch made her blood sing in her ears. "Your not getting cold again are you?"

"No, just a left over shiver that's all." As her body and mind became more awake, Leigh realized she wasn't wearing any clothes. Even her smallclothes were gone. Suddenly she felt very exposed and her cheeks turned bright red.

"Are you sure your alright? Your face looks flushed again. Here let me take a look." Her eyes went wide when she felt his hands on the sides of her neck. Her hands flew up and smacked his away. "I'm not trying to cop a feel, I just want to make sure your out of the woods."

"Where are my clothes?" Her voice came out much higher pitched then she wanted. The hurt look he gave her made her feel very ungrateful to all the help he had given her. "I...I"

"It's fine. I'll get them for you and go outside to give you privacy." Leo hopped off the bed and handed her her clothes. It looked like he had cleaned them for her as well. She waited til he had left the cabin to unwrap herself from the sheet and went to the wash bin he had set up for her. She quickly washed herself down. Once she was satisfied she was clean Leigh dressed in her leather pants and a loose fitting linen shirt. Her boots were still wet so she placed them by the fire to hopefully get them dry before they would have to leave. She did not want to have to travel with wet boots. She had seen her father treat foot rot once before and she did not want to get it. She did find a pair of boots that were a bit big, but would do for now. Her stomach rumbled at her. She decided to find Leo and see if he wanted to eat. She had no memory of how they got to the cabin so when she stepped outside she had no idea where they were.

"Leo?"

"Over here." He was standing with his back to her and she noticed he still was not wearing a shirt. The muscles in his back were well defined despite being a mage. Again a shiver a pleasure ran down her spine. The more time she spent around him the more she realized she was starting to have a crush on him. Maybe more than that. She made her way to him and stood beside him. His hand came up and pointed to the sky line. "It looks like we are in for more of the same. Those clouds look menacing."

"At least we have a roof over our heads and fire wood." Her stomach growled again, loud enough that he heard it and began to giggle.

"Now we just need food. Your family didn't pack enough for us to be gone this long. I don't know how to hunt or I would have while you were asleep."

"What do you want fish or rabbit?"

"You can hunt?" His eyebrow raised and a sense of jealousy ran through him. She could survive anywhere and he would be lucky to not become worm food.

"My father had us learn how to survive if we had to run again and got separated. I am alright with a bow and I am deadly with a fishing spear."

"There is a small lake over that hill maybe there are some fish in there."

"Alright, let me see what this place has in the way of hunting implements. You should stay here and get the fire ready."

"How bout I set the fire and go with you. Your still getting over being sick. I want to make sure you stay well."

"Yes dad." He rolled his eyes at her.

"Just get your spear and let's go. The storm is moving fast and I don't relish being out in it." They wasted no time on getting to the lake. Leigh proved she was indeed good at spear fishing. By the time they left the lake they had enough fish to last them for a few days. Leo made sure the fire was nice and set for the rest of the night. The storm blew in and the sound of the rain pounding on the roof was deafening. They ate in relative silence through dinner. Mostly because both of them were too busy eating a good meal for the first time in over a week. Leo finally put his plate down sufficiently stuffed and unwilling to move from in front of the fire.

"Did you enjoy dinner?" Leigh's eyed him hopefully.

"Maker woman you keep cooking like that and I will get fat."

"And we wouldn't want that would we?" She gave him a smirk as he glared at her.

"You will pay for that Dove." Leigh shrieked as he tackled her to the floor. His fingers skimmed over her sides and after a while she couldn't breath from him tickling her.

"St...Stop...I...I can..."

"Never mess with a mage." He did not notice her lifting her leg in between his, she used it to roll him forward off of her. He was stunned she had moved that quick, even more stunned that she did not knee him in the groin. It seemed she took great pain on not hurting him there. He was now flat on his back and found her leaning over him the same way he had leaned over her. Her fingers danced up his sides and his chest under the shirt he had put on before dinner.

"You forget I am also a mage." Her eyes gleamed at him with affection.

"And now that you have me down here what do you plan on doing with me Dove?"

"I don't plan on doing anything with you on the floor..." Disappointment passed over his face and a bit of annoyance mixed in. He did not notice a secret smile cross her lips.

"Then would you please let me up. The floor is not exactly comfortable." She leaned down and whispered in his ear. Her breath tickled his ear and neck sending a shock wave straight to his groin.\

"I said I wasn't going to do anything with you on the floor, but I didn't say I wouldn't do anything with you on the bed." Leigh never saw anyone move as fast as he did to get them off the floor. His hands felt like they were everywhere on her body as he pushed her back toward the bed. His lips locked possessively on hers. She moaned as he nipped at her lower lip only to soothe the area with his tongue. Leigh's mind turned to mush at his caresses. She felt the softness of the bed on her back and the weight of him on top of her. Her heart felt like it was trying to beat itself right out of her chest. She did not dare open her eyes for fear she would lose her nerve and not go through with this.

"Open your eyes Dove." She shook her head and kept her eyes slammed shut. "Please." His voice was so soft it sounded like it was coming from far away. Her eyes flew open and met his gaze. "Are you sure you want this?"

"I'm sure, I guess I am just nervous. You have obviously done this before and I don't want to ruin this by being horrible at it." Leo's smile warmed and he leaned down kissing her softly.

"You can't ruin it Dove so don't worry about that. I will warn you it does hurt the first time for a woman, so it is a good thing I am a healer. I can ease the pain a bit. I don't want you to think you have to do this because ….." Leigh's finger pressed to his lips to silence him.

"That is not the reason I want to. I want to be with someone who is like me even if it is only for one night. You kinda came out of the blue, but I'm glad you did.

"What were the chances of me coming down here and running into you? I mean really, most people would have turned me in or not even have bothered helping me, let alone save my sorry hide from those Templars. I know how much danger I put you and your family in. And yet here you are still with me keeping me safe, making sure I get out of Ferelden. I can never repay you for what you have done for me."

"You don't have to. Helping a fellow apostate is the right thing to do." His lips delved for hers again kissing her sweetly. Slowly his hands moved her shirt up to reveal the plains of her stomach and the fact she wasn't wearing a breast band. Heat flashed through his body making him hard. Even though her skin felt silky, he could feel small scars on her sides.

"What are these from?"

"Dagger practice. I tried to be a show off and flip them around like a master duelist and I cut myself a lot. My upper arms are worse." He lifted her shirt off and saw the small ghosts of scars that adorned her pale skin. He ran a finger over the longer one that was much broader. "That one was from my brother and his great sword. I didn't dodge fast enough, thankfully my Papa was close by. The cut was right down to the bone."

"So your family has a warrior, and three mages. Now I feel a bit sorry for your brother, he must feel left out."

"He is rather surly about it, but he is not the only fighter in our house. I am a rogue hence the pair of daggers I have strapped to my sides most of the time."

"Beautiful and deadly, my kind of woman." She giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him back down on top of her. The feeling of his erection against her hip made her blood boil in her veins. "Do you want me?" His voice was husky in her ear. Leigh could hear the lust in it. The feel of his tongue tracing the outside shell of her ear drove her to distraction. Her mouth could not form the words he wanted to hear. She moaned loudly and rocked her hips up to meet his. Leo took that as his answer and began to slowly peal her leather pants off her body. Leigh grunted in frustration on how long he was taking to get her naked. His thumbs hooked her smallclothes and shimmied them off her with her pants. She fought against her modesty to let him.

"Your over dressed." Leigh's voice trembled with need.

"I am aren't I. Would you like to help me?" She swallowed hard and nodded. His hands guided hers to his trousers. Her fingers shook and she looked up into his eyes for reassurance. He smiled at her and took her hands in his pulling her up so she was on her knees on the bed.

"I told you I would ruin this."

"No Dove, your not. Here let me." Leo stood up and with one smooth motion took off both his trousers and smallclothes. Leigh watched him in fascination. His eyes held hers as he came back to the bed and gently laid her back down. "Are you ready?"

"Yes." Leo held himself over her on one hand while his other pushed her legs apart. He heard her breath catch as he poised himself at her entrance. He lowered himself to kiss her lips as he entered her. Healing magic poured into her easing some of the pain, but she still cried out against his mouth. Leo let out a groan at the feeling of how tight she was. He had never been with a virgin. All the women he had been with were normally far older than him and much more experienced. Slowly he moved to let her get use to the feel of him inside her. The sharp pain of her nails digging into his skin made him stop moving. Her eyes were slammed shut and she was biting her lower lip to keep from screaming in pain.

"Do you want me to stop?" He really didn't want to stop, but he also didn't want to continue hurting her.

"N...no." Leigh lifted her hips up letting him in completely. Leo hissed with pleasure and rocked his hips down in a fluid thrust. Leigh moaned, arching her back off the bed. Leo slipped his arm under the small of her back keeping her back arched, loving the way it felt inside her in this position. His lips made their way from the base of her throat to hers. Leo felt the pangs of his need build, but he held them back. He was not going to selfish tonight. He wanted her first time to be more than just a quickie. Leigh's hands ran down his back leaving scratch marks from her nails. He hissed as she added more pressure. Her hands rested on the small of his back pulling him against her harder.

"You have no idea what you are doing to me right now Dove. Maker's breath you feel so good." Leo picked up his pace only to slow it down again. Leigh mewled louder and louder with each crash of their hips. She swore her body was about to shatter. Leo noticed she was on the edge and decided to take her over it. His movements became erratic and Leigh clung to him tight as she climaxed. She cried out to the heavens chanting his name. Leo followed soon after, using the arm he had under her to roll her with him so he did not collapse on top of her. His breathing came out in broken gasps and his heart which had been racing began to slow finally. Leigh buried her head in the crook of his neck, still shaking in ecstasy. His hand reached up and began to smooth her hair. "Are you alright Dove?"

"I...Holy Maker I never dreamed it would feel like that."

"Should I take that as a good thing or a bad?" Leigh tilted her head up and gave him a gentle kiss.

"I would have to say very good." A smug smile graced his lips.

"I aim to please My Lady." Her body gave one final shiver before falling asleep in his arms. Leo pulled the covers over their bodies and let himself drift off.

OoO

Leigh stirred as the light of the morning sun came through the window. A strange weight around her made her freeze. Her eyes slowly went up the naked chest that belonged to the arms wrapped around her.

"Good morning." Hearing Leo's voice made her relax.

"Morning, you hungry?" She went to get up only to have him pull her back to him. His hips ground into hers.

"The only thing I want to eat right now is you."

"I..." His lips silenced her and his hands roamed her still naked body. His fingers teased her thighs coaxing her to part her legs giving him better access. She moaned into his mouth as his fingers dipped into her sex. Her back arched when his thumb found the pearl of nerves and began to swirl around it. "Maker, Leo..."

"I plan on showing you everything I know before I leave you Dove. This way you will never forget me." A keen wail sounded from her as he teased her to completion. He did not give her much time to recover before flipping them over and settling her on his hips. He arched his hips up enticing her to take him into her. Her eyebrow arched at him and she shook her head. She lifted herself up and ran her hands over his chest. Small sparks of electricity cracked off her finger tips. Leo squirmed under her touch. His breath caught in his lungs and his eyes watched as she went lower with her touch. "I...I thought you have never done this before?"

"I haven't done this to anyone else, but myself." His smile turned lecherous. "I'm not hurting you am I?" He groaned as she went lower. The closer she got to his erection the more his hips bucked. None of the other women he had ever been with did this to him and he knew damn well that some of them were good at lightning spells. Her control amazed him.

"You have to teach me how to do this Dove."

"As long as you keep your promise and show me everything you know." He growled and flipped her, pinning Leigh under him. Leigh let out a amused giggle that Leo silenced with a passionate kiss. "A girl could get use to this you know?" Leo pulled his face away from hers and gave her a sad look. "What?"

"Unless a lot of things change Dove there is no way we could ever be together more than we are now."

"I know." Her answer surprised him. He was expecting her to get all possessive and needy.

"You understand?"

"Of course I do. My father was once a Circle mage, he explained what that means. I have been told from a young age to never expect a normal life. If I ever found someone who would except me for what I am I was to try to hold on to them, but even that could be fleeting."

"So your not going to turn all...

"Oh Maker you can't leave me, no I'm not. I don't wish you to go by any means, but I do understand you have to." Leo pulled her up, wrapping her in a tight embrace.

"Maker, you're amazing."

"So are you." They both laid back down in the bed giving into their desires. It was well into the afternoon before they emerged from the cabin. The storm from the night before left a lot of tree branches down around the cabin. "I'm glad we had a place to weather the storm." Leo nodded and went to gather more fire wood. "I'm going to go hunting unless you want fish again?"

"Well since the fish you caught yesterday look like they blew away in the storm I would have to say fish are out Dove."

"Alright I will go see if I can find some rabbit or quail. Stay here."

"Oh no we are not splitting up. Where you go I go."

"I would normally say yes, but you sound like a herd of brontos stomping through the woods. You'll scare away all the animals." Leo folded his arms over his chest and stood to his full height over her. He was a good half foot taller, but Leigh was not easily intimidated. Her younger brother Carver was over a foot taller than her and far stronger than her physically and she could still knock him on his arse. She walked up to him and stared up into his amber eyes. "I know you think if you give me that look I will listen to you, but you have to do better than that serah."

"Maker you are a frustrating woman. Alright, alright! But you better hurry back. I..."

"I know, I won't be long. If someone comes shoot a fireball up in the air or scream. I won't be far away." She stood on her toes and kissed his chin. Leo ducked his head down so their lips could meet. His heart clenched a bit and he wasn't sure why.

"You better hurry back, I might get lonely and run off with the next pretty apostate that comes to my rescue." He gave her a evil smile and she just rolled her eyes at him.

"You won't find anyone who enjoys your charm the way I do."

"True, or who would do that electricity trick you do. I guess I won't run away, but please be careful."

"I will, chop some firewood and I will be back before you know it." Leo watched her leave before turning to the ax next to the pile of wood. He started chopping when a cold shiver crept up his back. He turned around to see if there was something behind him only to be wrapped up in vines. At first he thought it was Leigh having seen her do the same thing to the Templars that had chased him. When the vines tightened around his body and covered his mouth he knew it wasn't her.

"Well, well look at what we have here." A older woman stalked out of the shadows, her clothes were shabby and her yellow eyes reminded him of the young girl who helped them days ago. "Care to tell me why you are squatting in my cabin?"

"Mhumm." The vines moved to let him speak. "We were stuck out in the storm that passed over here less than a week ago. My friend was suffering from hypothermia, I had to find us shelter."

"And that gives you the right to take up residence in my home?"

"A girl brought us here and said we could stay here." The woman eyed him like he was lying as the vines squeezed around him tighter. Leo tried to scream, but the vines covered his mouth again. He struggled and thrashed against his bindings.

"The more you move the tighter they will get til the life is all but crushed from your body." Leo stopped moving, his eyes were wider than tea saucers. "You have no idea what she is do you?" He shook his head afraid to move anymore. "She will be the champion of our kind. No Templar can stand against her, nor any mage. Demons will bend to her will if she commands it and spirits will fight for her if she asks. She must survive or we are lost." Leo whimpered as the vines began to cut into his skin. "She favors you doesn't she? Be grateful for that. I do not wish her to hunt me down just yet." Tears slid down Leo's cheeks from fear and pain as the old woman drew nearer. She went to touch him only to be repulsed by something. He could see the smoke coming off her hand from where she had touched his forehead. "I should have known!" The old woman hissed. "You are marked. Fate smiles on even the fools or should I say Mercy. Her protection will only carry you so far boy." The vines loosened around his face and only slightly around his body. Leo knew his silver tongue would not help him here.

"Please let me go and we will leave. I'm sorry we intruded, but she would have died had we not."

"So I have been told, as I said it is one of the reasons you still live. For as strong as she is, she is still a mortal and fragile. Her body as well as her spirit can easily be broken. I am curious to see if she will stay the same person she is now or will life break her. Only time will tell." The vines dropped him to the ground. Leo gripped his side, gasping and coughing. "You may stay here for a while longer, but your time with her is fleeting. You must leave her behind when you get to wherever it is you intend to hide."

"And what if she won't leave me?"

"Then you will have to do whatever it takes to make her leave you. Your a smart lad, use your head."

"I..." The old woman held up her hand to silence him.

"It will be kinder to leave her behind for now, than to keep her with you and risk the Templars getting her."

"For now?"

"Fate is a funny thing, it might be in the cards that you both will meet again, but who can tell the future."

"I...I understand. I don't wish harm to ever come to her. She has been far kinder to me than anyone else I have ever met."

"Good lad, heal yourself and get back to the firewood before she gets back. And be a good lad and not tell her about me or our conversation or I shall have to let my vines finish their job."

"I...I won't, I doubt she would believe me even if I told her."

"Smart lad." The old woman turned into a swarm of bugs leaving Leo stunned and shaken. He looked down at his shirt and found it ripped to shreds. The thorns had left deep scratches and pin pricks all over his chest and back. On shaky legs Leo stumbled into the cabin stripping his bloody shirt from him and throwing it into the fire. He healed himself and washed the blood away disposing of the bloody water when he was done. He could not stop his body from shaking, all he wanted was for Leigh to return at least then he knew he was safe. The old witch did not look to keen on trying to fight her, which was a good thing. Something told him if it came to that the witch would use him against the young girl. It was not something he wanted.

"I see you worked up a sweat chopping wood, your shirt is off again." He forgot he did not shut the door when he had stumbled in, to find her standing there with a few rabbits in hand made relief spread over him.

"Well it might also be that you like looking at my bare chest that makes me want to not wear it." She gave him a small swat on the arm and set herself to clean the rabbits off for cooking. Leo tried to calm his racing pulse and sound normal. The last thing he wanted was to have that old woman come back.

"Oh guess who I found while I was out hunting?"

"Shade?"

"Yes, poor thing is pretty beat up. I was wondering if you could heal her for me?"

"Two conditions. First your out there with me when I heal her and second, well really this should have been first come over here and kiss me." Leigh gave him a wry smile and crossed the room. Leo wrapped her up in his arms and buried his head in the crook of her shoulder. His body was still a bit shaky and did not go unnoticed by Leigh.

"What's wrong?"

"My mind played tricks on me and I thought I saw..."

"I understand, I jump at every sound and shadow too." Her arms tightened their hold on him trying to bring him comfort as her lips slanted over his. He leaned into the kiss making it deeper. He pushed her back against a wall pinning her there. She lightly pushed his shoulders to break the kiss. "First heal Shade, then we can have some fun."

"Alright but afterward we finish what we started."

"Try to stop me."

"I've created a monster haven't I?"

"Well you do have a lot of things to show me and I still have to teach you the electricity trick. I would prefer to call this a learning experience."

"Funny you don't look like a school marm to me."

"You'll pay for that serah I swear it."

"Aw Dove I like to be punished, the rougher the better." When the crimson flush blessed her cheeks he knew he got her flustered. She turned away from him to try to regain her composure. He let his arms slip around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to push it that far. I speak before I think. I keep forgetting you are new to this."

"You just caught me off guard. My virgin ears are not use to such talk." Leo nibbled on her ear eliciting a groan from her. "Leo please I need you to heal Shade first."

"As you wish my lady." He headed for the door with her right behind him. The filly was standing close to where he had been attacked earlier in the day. Leigh went to Shade's head and spoke calming words. Her hands stroked the filly's forehead as Leo looked her over. "Poor thing looks like she ran through a bramble patch. Her legs are covered in small cuts and I can feel bruising under her skin."

"But nothing is broken?"

"Nope, looks like she was lucky in the respect. Just keep talking to her this should take but a moment." He poured healing magic into the filly, but something in the back of his head did not feel right as he healed her. It felt more like healing a human, not an animal. He shook his head to clear it. "Must be still shaken up from the visit the old lady bestowed upon me. My magic is a bit off." Once he was satisfied she was thoroughly healed he turned back to Leigh. "All done."

"Thank you and Shade thanks you too. I better clean the rabbits and start them cooking."

"Yum rabbit."

"Hey you could always eat deer jerky if rabbit isn't to your liking." He gagged. "I thought that would change your mind. Really if you ever hope to survive outside the Tower you must learn to eat what you can get your hands on or you will starve. A weak mage is much easier to catch than a healthy one."

"Very true. That's normally how they are able to catch me."

"Stick with me and I will show you the ropes of Templar evasion. I learned from the best."

"Your father."

"Yes, he has been free for a little over seventeen years."

"That sounds wonderful. I hope one day I can say that."

"I hope so too Leo. I would hate to think of you caged again."

"Not as much as I would hate to see you caged ever. You have been good to me Dove, far better than I ever deserved. The Maker smiled on me the day I met you." Another crimson blush graced her cheeks. "I am starting to enjoy making the blood rush to those perfect cheeks." He cupped her face and kissed her. "Now go cook our rabbit woman." She turned and he swatted her in the ass. She let out a yelp and glared at him. He chuckled and turned his back on her, a mistake he will never make again. He heard the lightning before he felt it hit his ass. "What in the Void was that for?"

"For smacking my ass, I reserve the right to shoot lightning at fools and you serah should know better."

"I will give you that one, but Maker that hurt."

"Don't worry I will kiss it and make it all better after I start our lunch." She spun on her heels and went back into the cabin. Leo stared at her retreating form. His hand absentmindedly rubbed his ass cheek.

"I can't believe she did that. Maker's balls that hurt. She is so going to pay." He plotted his revenge while waiting for lunch. He was lost in thought when the sound of an angelic voice reached his ears. He crept up to the window and saw Leigh sitting at the spit over the fire singing softly to herself. Her voice was sultry and sweet all at the same time. He couldn't help himself as he sat down and listened.

"Flowers fade, the fruits of summer fade. They have their seasons so do we, but please promise me that sometimes you will think of me." The strange feeling of his heart fluttering made Leo uncomfortable. It was if she was singing to him, begging him to remember her, to think of her once in a while. She stopped singing and was now humming the same tune. Leo smacked his head against the side of the cabin trying to stop the feeling that had begun welling up in him. The feeling he was having was not new to him, not really. He had loved the first girl he had been with only to have his world crushed when she died during her Harrowing. He vowed never again, his heart was closed to such feelings, but now he felt them creeping up on him.

"How long have you been sitting there?" His eyes snapped open and found her staring down at him.

"Not long, your voice is amazing." Again the blush he had come to love swept up her neck to the cheeks. "I dare say you could have given Andraste a run for her sovereigns."

"I...thank you."

"What were you singing?"

"It is called Think of Me."

"Was that for me?" Leigh wrung her hands together and stared at the ground. Leo rose to his feet, wrapping his arms around her. "Dove, I will never forget you as long as I live." She turned in his arms to rest her head on his chest. "Can you teach me the song later?"

"You really want to learn it?"

"Yes, so when I think of it, I will think of you." Leo led her back in and helped her finish cooking. After eating they went outside and laid in a sun soaked patch near the cabin. Leigh sang to him the song over and over til he could sing it word for word with her. They stayed laying side by side til the sun had long started to set. Leo helped Leigh to her feet before sweeping her up and taking her back indoors. The rest of the night was spent in the bed tangled together making good on the promise to never forget the other. Both knowing all too soon they would have to say goodbye.

The song Think of Me is from Phantom of the Opera. It belongs to Andrew Llyod Webber I own nothing. Again thank you to all my readers for sticking with me. To my reviewers you have my heartfelt thanks as well. I started writing this for me, but it is inspiring to know others are enjoying it as well. I still have a long way to go and with the new DLC coming out in a few weeks I might have even longer. It depends on how long it takes for me to get to the end.

Raven