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Chapter 24 - Back to Orlais
You light my life, when you're with me
You're like a sunrise deep down in the night
For you can touch my heart with sensuality
I'm in paradise, must be in paradise
Have you ever had a love like this
It's so heavenly when we kiss
Have you ever had a love like this
Such a feeling that you have missed
We are two in a million
Have you ever had a love like this - Bad Boys Blue
.
.
Alistair had been successful so far in avoiding Anders and his 'how-did-it-go' talk so far, because he stuck next to Chantalle fiercely all through the beginning of their trip back to Orlais. But now as they marched over a hill, he found Chantalle walking faster in order to reach Fiona, and found himself lagging behind for a few moments, which allowed Anders to stop staring at Leliana and gain the upper hand.
"So!" Anders remarked triumphantly, wasting no time in seizing the opportunity to tease Alistair, falling in step beside him. Alistair found himself bracing for what was to come. "How did it go?"
His reply was a deep red blush that spread right up to his ears, something that caused Anders to laugh out loud, and spur Duran into materializing right there between them both.
"Ah, you managed to ravish her over and over again, didn't you, you old fox?" Duran grinned up at his friend.
"Excuse me, you nug-humping dwarf," Anders said in icy tones. "I was actually trying to have a serious conversation here!"
"Serious, my arse," Duran remarked dryly, snorting. "You wouldn't know serious if it bit you on your boney human arse."
"Not listening to you!" He turned back to Alistair, who had been secretly hoping to have been forgotten. "Was the sex worth it?" He asked him bluntly.
"That's- that's private!" Alistair croaked out.
"Told ya! The Chantry has ruined him for life," Duran said sadly.
"I was doing fine until you happened to interrupt," Anders shot back at him, glowering.
"You were, were you?" Duran retorted.
"I was! I was going to get it out of him, but you decided to pop in and ruin it all!"
Alistair took the opportunity and quickened his pace, leaving them behind. He was about to give a sigh of relief, Fiona and Chantalle were just a few paces away in front, and he seemed to have been successful, he could no longer hear them bantering behind him. Then he turned and noticed who he was walking next to. He groaned. Audibly this time.
Oghren turned his bloodshot eyes on him and chuckled.
"Soooooooo," he said impishly. "Make-up sex, eh?"
Just when he thought things couldn't get worse they did.
In front of him, both Chantalle and Fiona burst into laughter.
Alistair found himself wishing fervently for the ground to open up and swallow him whole.
...
When they had set up camp, Alistair found himself staring at the ring. He had wanted to give it to her back in Orzammar, but after the passtionate love-making he and Chantalle had experienced, it had slipped his memory completely.
He didn't think that a proposal fit in some random woods somewhere. As a matter of fact, he had been dreaming of going down on one knee and had a very flowery speech to go with it. But he didn't like the place. It was not romantic at all.
No. He'd have to find another more suitable place to propose.
He cursed himself for forgetting to give it to her and slipped it back to his pocket where it stayed for the time being.
"Commander," Fernan's voice was heard behind him.
"Yes, Fernan, what is it?" He replied, turning to smile at the rogue. He could see Chantalle in animated conversation beside Fiona at the fire. Marcus and Oghren stood nearby while Anders and Duran were trying to cook a decent stew. Leliana sat nearby, her fingers absent-mindedly plucking the strings of her lute.
"I scouted the area as you asked me to. There is a small village up ahead," he said. "I didn't see any inhabitants around, though. It looks abandoned."
"Thanks Fernan. Keep your eyes peeled for any suspicious activity," he said automatically. Chantalle was now staring at him, blushing slightly. He grinned.
"Yes Commander. I'll also be setting up traps around the perimeter as usual." And with that he vanished.
Alistair strode over by the fire and sat beside Chantalle and Fiona, trying not to interrupt their talking, but unsuccessful at the attempt. They both fell silent and beamed up at him.
"It's a nice night isn't it?" He smiled.
"It's warm. That is something that is strange here in Ferelden," Chantalle smiled, and her elusive dimple graced her face prettily.
His eyes fixed on her dimple and he quickly bent his head and kissed it. She chuckled.
"Yes, dear. Couldn't resist. Your dimple was begging for attention." His eyebrow raised slightly, a lopsided grin on his face. His gaze shifted around the camp. Anders now was sitting beside Leliana, and she was blushing at him. He made a mental note of that.
See if he likes me teasing him for a change.
Duran announced that dinner was ready, and they all got up and went towards the pot. They each retrieved a bowl and went back to sitting, eating their stew in silence.
"This stew is really good, Duran," Alistair smiled.
"Anything is better than his horrible pea and lamb stew," Anders said calmly.
"He-ey! You ate it anyway," Alistair protested.
"It was either that or starve. Obviously, I wanted to live," Anders retorted.
He did not reply, Fernan had appeared suddenly and had a worried frown on his face.
"What is it, Fernan?" Alistair said.
"Remember I told you about the village?" He answered. "Well, it isn't exactly abandoned. And one of the villagers is heading this way right now."
A girl suddenly appeared before them, trembling slightly. She was rather young, with long chestnut locks that were filthy and unkempt. Her face looked terrified of something and she kept darting her eyes and looking behind her.
Alistair sprang to his feet.
"What is it, girl? Do you need help?" He said quickly, noticing that her simple dress was torn.
"Oh, please, good ser. They have attacked the village and killed my parents. They are trying to finish the rest of the people off there. We are fighting but don't have any weapons! I beg you, please help us!"
And after uttering those words dramatically, she turned heel and ran off.
Nobody spoke for a few moments, all were properly stunned at the girl's words and appearance.
"Well, everyone," Alistair said after a few moments. "Looks like someone is trying to set a trap for us. An ambush maybe?" He turned to Fernan who gave him a nod.
"I never could resist damsels in distress," Anders quipped. "They make life worth living."
They calmly finished their stew and then got ready, taking their time, working on a plan.
When Alistair felt that the girl and their would-be-ambushers had had enough waiting, and were probably berating her for doing such a poor job, they started towards the village.
Fernan vanished up ahead them and Alistair grinned.
...
Before they actually arrived, Fernan appeared next to him, scaring him for the umpteenth time.
"Sorry, Commander," he grinned apologetically.
"Any of the villagers nearby?" Alistair smiled.
"The ones trying to ambush us are a few feet away, arguing with the girl," he whispered back.
"Thanks Fernan." He motioned them all into a tight circle.
"Surprise attack them. Try not to kill unless it gets nasty," he said. They all nodded.
They walked ahead, until angry voices reached their ears.
"Well, I say we just sneak into their camps and slit their throats while they sleep. Then we can steal whatever we want. Obviously Mary is a terrible actress and they'll never follow her here," A burly man was saying.
"Hey! I did do my part well! I resent your words!" The girl cried out indignantly.
They were standing in a small clearing. The houses of the village could be seen through the gaps in the trees.
Alistair put on his 'you're-so-screwed' grin and stepped forward.
"Looking for us?" He asked.
One of them yelped and reached for a bow and arrows, but Anders cast a cone of cold, trapping the would-be-archer and two others in it.
The burly man growled as he faced Alistair. He turned to the girl briefly muttering "I knew it" to her before turning back to the group.
Taking a step forward he smiled slickly at Alistair, whose grin now disappeared.
"Hey there, my friend. As a matter of fact we were. But since you," he glanced at his three men who were still frozen, "are clearly two steps ahead of us, we'll just turn around and leave, how does that sound?"
"That sounds incredibly dull," Alistair deadpanned. "Are you from the village?"
"No. We aren't. We, ah...happened across it and er...took advantage of the simple villagers, however. They aren't available any longer."
"You killed the people in the village?" Fiona bristled at them, her staff at the ready.
"Hey, now, no need to get all jumpy, elf!" The man shouted back at her, and this time it was Alistair who bristled. "Just surviving, that's all!"
"Surviving, huh?" He said, and charged.
The three under the cone of cold spell had thawed, and blinked once before they realized they were under attack.
The fight was relatively short. In a few minutes, they had all their weapons, and all of them were kneeling on the ground, begging for their lives.
"The people you killed probably begged for their lives too," Alistair said quietly. "And look where it got them."
"No, not all of them are dead. I was just lying back there. Ask Mary here. She's one of them. She'll tell you," the burly man was now sweating, all traces of his previous bravado had vanished.
Alistair faced the girl, who stood up, brushing her clothes with disgust.
"Yes, that's true. While they are living freely at our expense and our people continue to give them all they want, they only managed to kill the town major and set fire to his house. We were frightened of them, we don't own weapons. We are simple-minded, peaceful folk. So we have given them what they wanted, until now," she said, her voice low.
"Until now?" The burly man repeated, staring up at her.
"Well, you killed one of the kindest man in the village, and terrorized us. It's only fair that you be executed for your crimes," she said in a matter-of-fact tone.
She then focused on Alistair and smiled at him. "Thank you kind, ser. Without their weapons they are quite manageable. I would like to invite you to our village to repay your kindness."
"Thank you but that isn't necessary, we-" Alistair began, but Anders's voice interrupted.
"We would be delighted, my lady." With a flourish, he bent down and kissed her hand.
Alistair rolled his eyes.
"Sleeping in a bed would be nice," Chantalle breathed into his ear, sending sparks up his spine.
"Thank you so much," Alistair smiled at the girl. "We'll help you tie these bandits up, and pull up camp. Then we'll be ready to follow you into the village."
Before Chantalle turned, he grabbed her hand and this time it was he who whispered huskily into her ear, causing her to blush.
"You saucy minx."
...
It turned out that the villagers were so grateful that they found themselves accepting free rooms at the local inn for the night. It was clean and nice and the beds were comfortable.
Alistair shot Chantalle a meaningful look as the innkeeper and his wife hurried around preparing their beds. Anders was still busy chatting to the village girl, while Leliana sat thoughtfully in a corner.
Alistair saw that. He went and sat next to her.
"He's not one to settle for just one woman," he told her, smiling sadly. "I'm sorry."
Leliana smiled brightly back at him.
"Oh, it's fine. I know that. It's not like I'm heart-broken. And besides, he won't get me into bed that easily. I'm a bard after all," she chuckled.
"Oh, I know you aren't fooled. I just felt I had to say something...I thought you looked withdrawn and you were unnaturally quiet," Alistair replied.
"Oh, thanks, Alistair. But I'm fine, really! I have a couple of tricks up my sleeve. But it's kind of you to be concerned," she smiled prettily up at him and he smiled back.
"The rooms are ready, my lord," the innkeeper stood before him, wringing his hands. "I trust they are suitable for you and your companions."
"Thank you so much. I think we will be retiring for now, we're very tired." Alistair said.
"Of course, my Lord. Should you need anything, please do not hesitate to let us know." He bowed slightly and smiled.
There were four rooms at the inn. Chantalle and Alistair shared one, while Fiona shared another with Leliana. Marcus, Fernan, Oghren, Anders and Duran would share the other two rooms.
They made their way to the rooms and while Alistair and Chantalle fell into each other's arms, the rest welcomed the sight of beds and pillows and promptly fell asleep.
...
Alistair sighed as he lay back on the bed, trying to catch his breath and quiet his heavy breathing. Chantalle was breathing heavily as well and she nestled on his chest, his thumping heart soothing and lulling her.
He moved to reach for his pack, bringing out a cloth which he used to clean himself and her before bending back down and searching for something.
"What are you doing, my love?" Her eyes were curious.
"I- ah- I'm looking for something," he smiled, as he finally found what he wanted. Sitting up in bed, he took her hand and looked deeply into her eyes.
She looked up at him, her heart thumping wildly. It was clear to her that he had something to say, and it wasn't something light or funny, but serious. She saw him struggle for the correct words and a light blush on his cheeks. Finally, he cleared his throat.
"My love," he said, looking tenderly at her. "I love you more than life itself. I cannot think of a life without you, you complete me in each and every possible way and I am a better person because of you."
She smiled tenderly at him, the thrill of his words sending sparks throughout her body.
He held something in his right hand in front of her, and continued to talk, nervously wetting his lips.
"Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
She froze at this, and looked down, and saw the ring. It was a beautiful silverite ring, and had a small diamond chip in the center, surrounded by two sapphire chips on each side. Her breath hitched as one of her shaking hands shot forward to touch it lightly.
She then looked up to him, and saw the longing and fear on his face.
Longing for her. Fear of rejection.
"But I am an elf..." she began, her voice trailing off when she saw the effect her words were causing.
Alistair shook his head violently, gathering up the courage to protest and interrupting her train of thought when he did.
"You think I care about that? You are a wonderful woman and I love you dearly. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. That is all that matters," he replied firmly. "We only have thirty odd years to live. I want us to be together for as long as we can."
His words intoxicated her. They held promise. A promise of feeling safe. A promise of being loved and loving back in return.
"Yes, Alistair. I would like to marry you very much," she said softly.
He gave a sob and gathered her into his arms, and as she sat on his lap, and felt his feathery kisses on her cheek and neck, she sighed.
He then took her right hand and slipped the ring on. It fit perfectly.
They kissed passionately and everything else blurred and disappeared as they let their desire take over.
Chantalle would never forget that night for as long as she lived.