I'm alive! I've been super busy, which is why I gave that warning about updates.
To clarify, let us pretend DA2 and DAI did not happen, okay? I want this to be a fluffy, happy ending for my favorite pairing of all time. This is basically a "Plot? What plot?" thing since I write whatever comes to mind. Like I said, this is dedicated to a special friend of mine that has let me disclose her name after my insistence: Selena Shepard. She writes on here so if the name rings a bell, that's why.
Anyway, enough about all this. Let us take a look at this incredibly short chapter, yes?
(c) Bioware, EA. I don't own anything (sadly).
Chapter 2- As Long As You Live
"Are you sure you won't stay longer?"
"Alistair, for the last time," Karin huffed, "we're fine. As a matter of fact, I want to leave from this place as soon as possible due to your nagging." Karin smirked as she ended.
"Fine." The king conceded. "So long as you write us."
"We'll write every month, we promise." The red-haired bard responded.
Karin and Leliana had stayed at the Denerim Palace for a week after the inauguration of Alistair as king. Now, the two were ready to head out to explore, just like they had planned. In truth, Leliana had not thought the Warden was serious at first. When the topic arose again, however, she had felt quite surprised.
"So where do you want to go?" the Warden inquired as she ran her hand through the red mass of the bard's hair as they lay in bed. They had just retired to their room after dinner with Alistair.
"Go? Go where?"
"You said you wanted to travel. Where would you like to go first?" Karin clarified.
Leliana remained confused for a moment until realization struck her. "Are you serious?! I-I thought you were joking."
"Leliana, you suggested it yourself. You know I would not have agreed to something just to go back on it."
The bard was speechless. Truly her lover surprised her in every turn. A feeling of giddiness arose and suddenly she felt like the child living with Lady Cecile, awaiting a new story to be told.
"I…I don't know what to say! I-"
A finger fell onto the bard's lips, silencing her stuttering words. "Just say 'yes.'" Karin said softly, her warm breath washing over Leliana's cheeks.
Leliana took her lover's hands in her own, a wide smile covering her features. "Yes. Let us leave Fereldan and travel the lands. I wish to do this with you, mon amour."
And here they were now, on their way to the Free Marches, where adventure, danger, and excitement awaited. It was feeling Leliana had never felt before. A feeling that filled her and made her smile like an idiot. But she did not mind. Let the world see what was the cause of her happiness.
They were to take a ship from Denerim to Kirkwall, a city in the Free Marches that was the couple's first destination. They waved goodbye to Alistair, Wynne, Oghren, and Zevran from the ship as it set sail. Slowly, the docks of Denerim became smaller and smaller until they were nothing but a dot on the horizon of the setting sun.
She felt a warm hands snake her way to her own, grasping it gently.
"Well, here we are." Karin said, a smile on her face.
"Indeed." The bard replied, a widening grin on her face.
The Warden laughed. "Why are you smirking like that? That's your 'I'm going to do something naughty' smile."
Tiptoeing to reach her tall lover, she took Kaitlyn's lips her own, tasting that sweet flavor that was Karin and Karin's only. Their tongues warred with each other, both trying to make the other succumb and give in. Neither backed down, however, and their lips left their embrace with heavy breaths.
"I need to get you to our bed now." Karin breathed out.
Leliana slapped her lover's arm gently. "You are incorrigible!" she laughed.
"You know you love it." The Hero of Fereldan said, lowering her voice to that tone that she reserved for Leliana only, making the bard melt.
The trip to Kirkwall will be long. How Leliana was going to survive her insatiable lover was beyond her. She did not mind, however. This is something Leliana needed after all their strife. Time to reflect and to calm down. To be able to relax without the ever-present danger of being attacked by Darkspawn or Marjolaine.
She knew this would not last forever. Karin will die much earlier than Leliana will. The bard did not know what will happen to Karin as her Calling comes closer, but she does know one thing: she is willing to spend every moment with Karin Cousland; her life, her love, the breath she breathes.
For as long as Karin lived, Leliana would be at her side.