Revolution

by rikkustrife

This is from a roleplay a friend and I have written together. It's placed in the aftermath of Anders destruction of the Chantry in Kirkwall and Leliana comes across him, and they begin their adventure together which in turns brings them closer together. Chapter 5 is the first sexual themed chapter for those uncertain if they want to read that part or not.

45. Chapter 45

Leliana never liked the idea of splitting up from Anders, but there wasn't much she could have done but sit there, and listen to the endless conversation and bickering. She didn't want to be a part of it as much as Anders didn't want her to be in any danger during the time of their travels. So she had stayed behind, at least for the time being taking care of Baelfire during the time of waiting. How she hated waiting too. But as time in Kirkwall had passed with her picking up some of the duties it was a help to distract her mind on worrying with how long it was taking for Anders to return to her.

In Denerim, King Alistair had quickly heard of the news of Rhy's plans for the mages. It was a good plan but one he knew would require more than a few words, the people of Theda's were stubborn people and he knew this too well first hand having to listen to the arguments that had arose up in front of him. Actually that was what he was doing now, listening to two town's folk. Each were fighting about which land was theirs, even though they both had a substantial amount of land the older man had asked for King Alistair to come to a solution, and that solution he wanted was to give him the land as the younger man was left with hardly any. Alistair couldn't remember when he stopped listen, possibly by the time when they started pointing finger and snarling at each other like two marlbari hound dogs.

One of his few men walked up during this time and leaned in towards the King and spoke in a soft tone. "Your Highness, we have important news which you may want to know."

Alistair perked up from his side slumped position and peaked between his fingers at the man. Nodding his head he rose an arm to signal the men before him to be silenced. Which they had. "Look, how about you each split the land 50/50. There's no problem then, right?"

The men looked at each other then back at their King, the older man had about fought him on the proposal but stalled. Seeing as how the Knights came walking up to lead them out. "Yes your Highness, your very kind." He spoke with a bow, which followed in the other younger man to do so in unison.

"That all I'll be hearing today, something has come up. If you have dire needs come to my advisor." Alistair instructed to the rest of the towns folk and began to stand to his feet and turn his attention to the previous man with the news. "You said you had something to tell me?"

That is when Alistair gained news of what had happened. Of Rhy and his party getting ambushed and also of the more shocking news of Anders tranquility. There was little he could do now that this was done, but one thing. Alistair was never there to give his condolences when Aragorn had passed, so the least he could have done was go to Leliana and give her the news if she hadn't heard of it yet.

"Ready my fastest horse, we're going to Kirkwall." He ordered with a nod of his head towards the man, and with that the man and rushed out and to his required duties.

It took no more than a few days for Alistair and his men to reach the wall of Kirkwall. When the ship had docked he made a haste towards the Keep where he believed Leliana to be. Though it wasn't Leliana who he'd ran into first. But more so a elven man, a Halfling. He looked to this man and the further he looked was Anders beside him. He had always hated the look on a tranquils face, it was like they were an empty shell. He wondered if even their soul was somehow still locked inside there, and if they could see all what was going around, hearing everything but not being able to do anything. Signaling for Fenris, Alistair looked over his shoulder to the second elf to wave him over. "We should find Leliana before she sees him herself." He instructed towards them both.

Leliana was in one of the many little rooms looking over a horde of papers that were stacking up before her very eyes. Thankfully Baelfire was with a staff member so then she could do this work. When she had heard the knock on the door, a bright smile had cascaded over her features believing it was Anders, though she had to wonder why he was knocking and not coming in, but this hadn't mattered as she rushed to the door and opened quickly with a full swing open.

"Alistair…?" She spoke out as a puzzeled look had replaced her once escatic one.

"Leliana…" He said plainly as he stepped past her and walked into the office which she was working. "We have news, but you should possibly sit down before then." He offered with an outstretched arm towards the chair.

Leliana looked to Alistair then Fenris and the more shocking Sven…. She began to part her lips as if to point and speak his name and ask why in Makers name he was here but hadn't. "Come now Alistair it can't be that bad." She joked.

"It is." He said in a monotone voice, offering the seat again to her. But seeing as how she wouldn't take it by her stance she protruded in an impatient pose he had sighed and looked towards the two elven men behind him. "Get ready to catch her." He warned in a whisper towards them, it was a bad joke but one he believed to be truthful if Leliana had changed over the years with her emotions. "There was a meeting, it was ambused by Templars and Anders was inside… He fought until the end… But eventually the Templars won in making him tranquil."

Leliana had stood there frozen in one spot unable to move, unable to speak. Her arms once propped to her hips had dangled down to her sides as the dreading terror running through her veins brought her hands to shake at fist. She had tried to speak but when she parted her lips a crack was all that was heard which resulted into a start of a fight inside her from crying. She didn't want to believe it, it couldn't be true. Not him, why him?

"Your lying!" She finally shouted out as her arm had extended out in a accusing point. Just from speaking those words had brought the crystalline tears swelling in her eyes to flow down her cheeks in a stream as she closed her eyes. Attempting at any way to believe this was all a bad dream. It had to be.

"I'm sorry Leliana. But he's gone." He stated with a step towards the woman, his hand had reached out for her in some form of comfort.

Leliana hadn't opened her eyes but somehow felt the approaching touch, she quickly swung her arm in the direction which she felt it. Making a solid connection with his plated armored arm. During this time she had lost her footing, as she didn't realize how weak her legs had become and moving just an inch had brought her to collapse to the floor in a less than graceful way. It hurt, but nothing like she was feeling inside. This hurt far more. She wished she could have torn her own heart out for how badly it had swelled with pain.

The two elves had watched her fall; unable to have reacted nearly as fast as the King had tried to prepare them both for doing. Though it was Fenris who happened to have even been closer than Sven at the time. Despite them both beginning their movements in unison, Sven had stopped himself short due Fenris's spiked gauntlet near him make a sudden appearance. It was as if given some unknown; unpredicted warning for him to have stayed back—most likely though it was to ensure his own safety from Leliana's certain tantrum.

No one could really blame her if in doing so, either. Fenris, for one, believed that she had every right to throw one but he'd rather have been the 'punching bag' to it than anyone else there. After all, no one in that room really distrusted Anders the most, or had any grudges against him as much, compared to Fenris—or so he had felt. The lyrium coated elf reached down in between his continued fall and rested his arm across Leliana's shoulders in order to have kept any other possible swings hopefully more directed his way instead.

"How did you find him?" He asked Sven when glancing back up at him for the moment.

Sven folded his arms and attempted in taking a small step backwards; as if trying to blend in more with the shadows around him, before giving any answer. He almost didn't want to seemingly admit of even giving any aid; considering that the forest was Sven's higher priority. So, it wouldn't have been too difficult to have guessed that his platoon of animals had in-fact attacked both armies that day. It was a battle strategy similar to a beserker, whose only concern was from a third-party's perspective.

"The ambush was destroying the woods." Sven finally attempted with some form of an answer to give to Fenris, but his stance had stood firm and his Orlesian accent remained strong. "At first, I assumed darkspawn but by the time anything was made clear the fray was too thick."

Fenris flinched at the thought of darkspawn even being brought up in the conversation. Rarely, had he dealt with them and he still had a shiver when thinking about them. Fenris didn't see how Grey Wardens had done it, but they were rumored to have fought such creatures on a daily basis. Even in between Blights, it was done just in order to keep down the population of darkspawn that still roamed the surface. Obviously such a task must of have dwindled onto Sven's lap to take care of but he seemed to have been doing it alone. That was of course if Sven continued to claim himself to have been given a title as a Grey Warden. Sven actually seemed mildly reluctant—if not completely avoiding—that assumption.

"What about their leader?" Fenris continued to ask while carefully moving to help Leliana back to her feet.

Fenris had felt that these questions needed to be answered for her sake; and to clear any confusion since himself had ended up traveling back to Alistair's side when he found himself at complete disagreements with Anders's last-displayed methods. It was a war that Fenris really didn't want to involve himself with and yet here he was—back again.

"Missing… " Sven sighed and lowered his head to rake his hand between maple and cinnamon curls. "Just like Empress of Orlais and Her Eminence still. It was rumored that the Resolutionists – a bunch bloodmages by now—united with Tevinter Magisters upon the Elven Uprising. Though, their initial disappearance was shortly after the rumored trial of Anders. Since that attack, there has been no sign of either woman."

"And you know this for certain? How?" Fenris quickly asked him within an interruption.

Sven shrugged his shoulders somewhat reluctantly before continuing. "The Imperial Highway is a clustered gathering. A lot of rumors are exchanged between travelers... Most Orlesians claim that due to the attack against White Spire, Seekers supposedly have long-since separated their service from the Holy Mother, and Chantries all over the western lands are held in a gridlock due to the damage from it. Because of this, most of the Templar Order is also on the edge. Now, without a leader to 'Inner Sanctum', the 'Union' has scattered. This puts a high pressure on the Mage Collectives and their loyalties to the Circle which in return stretches the Chantry's loyalties back to them pretty thin."

Fenris groaned at this bit of news. He had half expected the Templars to immediately retaliate or to at least begin hunts in order to pick up the pieces. Instead they end up doomed to argue amongst themselves and are left to be sitting on their hands. However, without their Holy Mother to look to, he could see how scared and unsure nearly everyone was becoming lately. This headache was enough to almost convince Fenris into moving back to a place somewhere in Seheron, for a second time.

"It won't be long before Nevarra and Ferelden will start to feel the sting of this." Fenris concluded and looked back towards Alistair for any reassurance. "Not to mention the Free Marches. We'll start having Templars killing Templars and Mages killing Mages; and that's only to assume that Seekers or any other third parties won't be taking any sides to it. Not only that but Kirkwall is already weak; it needs a greater alliance. That was something I think Anders was trying to build; because it clearly won't stand as its own Kingdom against any opposition now."

"Everyone needs icons to guide them. Without any we fall to chaos." Sven mused gloomily and soon tilted his head towards the nearest window.

"So who is leading Orlais at this time?" Fenris pondered at the question out loud.

Sven shrugged his shoulders again, but kept his arms folded and still pressed against his chest. "A Duke from within Empress Selene's Royal Cabinet… Which was bound to happen; Political Chain of Command, and all… But I wouldn't suggest addressing this mage-issue to him, he's rumored to not exactly be the most promising of attentive rulers."

"Right… I thought as much." Fenris rolled his eyes away some and clicked his tongue back against his teeth to the thought.

To Alistair she had looked horrible, like the time he had to tell Anders when he believed Leliana was dead. Why did he have to be a bringer of bad news? When she tried to shield her puffy face with her hands Alistair felt himself budge forward a few inches, then stall as he saw Fenris come from behind him. It was best since it was him that gave the bad news and maybe someone else that hadn't would have a better chance at calming her or so he hoped. After all she had smacked him away that was proof enough to stay back. In curiosity he looked to his plated armor around his arm that indicated a small dent where she made a connection. In concern he looked back to Leliana's hand, but wasn't able to see if she was wounded from the impact due to Fenris's close standing.

It had felt like she was crumbling to a million pieces on the floor before the three before her. At first she hadn't felt Fenris approach, due to the rather quick nature of it. Though when she felt the coldness of the granulated arm wrap around her she had reacted in trying to push the elven man away at first, but immediately a sharp pain had shot through her hand bringing her to pull back and with her other hand which wasn't as sore twisted into a fist before slamming against his chest in a fury. "Let me go!" She demanded, through the sealed shut of her eyes. "All this is a lie…." Leliana argued out as she opened her eyes to look up to Alistair. "Tell me is it."

Alistair had looked down to Leliana momentarily, but cutting off his eye contact short he looked to Fenris as he asked how Sven had found him. He didn't want to repeat what he had said to Leliana, not to have a reoccurring scene over and over again wasn't his style. Especially if it had involved hurting one he had cared for.

"At least you had found him." Alistair sighed, raising his arm up as he pinched between the bridge of his nose in though. "Though that may not be a good thing with him being here." He thought out loud, after opening his eyes he looked down to Leliana knowing they'd have to keep the two a great distance away, at least for a while so she wouldn't have been a total mess upon seeing him. He couldn't imagine what that would be like, nor would he ever want to find out.

"He's here?" Leliana asked through her broken sobs, she had calmed but still was clenching at the fabrics of Fenris's attire. Not intentionally but out of the lingering pain still swelling inside. It had helped, if a little.

Alistair bit his tongue when Leliana had asked him of this question, he really needed to learn to keep quiet when it was needed ,though those that knew him would say that was one trait that would never leave him. Instead he pretended he hadn't heard her, and thankfully for Fenris ongoing questions he was saved or so he had hoped.

Leliana had listened to what she could but tried to block most of it out. Even if she wanted to know of what happened, a part of her still didn't want to know. The more she heard the more she wanted revenge on whom had done this to them. Just when things were slowly starting to go in the right direction and it seemed like there was a light at the end of the tunnel, it was snatched away in a blink of one's eye.

When she felt the pulling of her center from Fenris's end Leliana hadn't fought against him this time, instead her face was buried to the elfs right side of his chest trying to regain herself but at each moment she thought she was there a memory would flicker past her mind and bring her to her downfall again.

Alistair had looked to Fenris when he began speaking to him, he nodded to his statement that was far too truthful that it brought him to winch at the thought. "I wish I had just put my alliance with Anders when I had the chance… But that doesn't mean I still can't help Kirkwall become stronger." He added in an offer towards Leliana who had no reaction to his words. He wasn't expecting any either, he just needed to let her know he was there for her in this time of need. "I'll stay here, help in what I can… And give Leliana the time she needs to… Mourn. We can't let this place become a ruin. But that's the least of our problems… At the moment… Fenris will you take Leliana to her chambers, to make sure she doesn't see 'him'?"

Leliana perked up her head slowly and rose up her arm to wipe away the few tears that had collected to her cheeks. "No… I can do it myself." She stated with a slight nod of her head, as she attempted to try and put on a front before him. She didn't know why she was doing it, but maybe she had the alternative motive to actually see with her own eyes, some part of her still believed this was all a bad dream.

Alistair stared at Leliana for a few seconds, shaking his head in a no response. "I don't think so… Don't worry… I'll pick up where you left off… As for Baelfire, we'll watch over him so you have time to rest—"

"Do you really think I can rest right now!?" She asked in a shocking cracked tone of voice.

"I don't know, but you have to try." He said, stepping aside to allowing the opening of the door to be accessible for the two.

Fenris was having to rub the sore spot from where Leliana had socked him. There wasn't much he could say to her though, for as far as he could tell the damage had practically already been done. He took her to back towards her room since Alistair had instructed for her to rest. He was paying more attention to Leliana though; making certain that she hadn't tried to search for where Anders was. He kind of wished that Alistair would have kept from mentioning any possibilities of Anders being near though.

"I don't know of what else I can say, but I will be near as well." He finally reassured after glancing towards her.

Leliana would have done as what Alistair and Fenris had thought. She felt her wandering eyes glancing around for Anders. Even though it would kill her again a thousand times over, she still couldn't fight the urge to look. At first she didn't look towards Fenris when he spoke towards her. It was like a part of forgot he was beside her. But when his voice rang in her ears, she kind of perked up to look up to him out of respect to looking to one when being spoken to. She tried to force a smile on her face when he had spoken what he did. If it wasn't for all these bad things happening and Fenris coming at just the right time she would have noticed how these last two times he was there for her and she would have thanked him for being there when he was. But her mind was otherwise cluttered with other thoughts.

"Thank you Fenris, I'm going to need the ones I trust close by." She replied with a slight glance away to see they had approached her door. Hers and Anders chambers, she had to fight back the tears forming to the corner of her sockets with a look away. "Why are you here… I thought… You said you weren't coming back?" She asked a bit curiously, reaching for the knob of the door with what hesitation she had and began to open it slowly.

That same hesitation had stopped her from stepping inside the room, she had only looked inside the room from the opening of the provided before glancing away. There it was again that sting… A part of her was afraid to go in alone, for what reason she was uncertain but she didn't want to tell Fenris that. She didn't want him to look at her like a helpless creature, the way Alistair was in the office.

"Will you…" She started with a prolonged pause. It was an awkward situation for her, she didn't have many friends, not after so many had died. So slightly a part of her was believing Fenris could be one when he had watched over her the last time he taken care of her but when he had left that had all been a lost thought. Not to mention Anders wouldn't have been fond of the idea either, not after their fall-out. "Not leave yet…?" She finally finished in a spring of words, not once had she looked to him but more towards the flooring which she seemed frozen solid to.

Fenris had watched her from the moment that she stopped near the threshold of her bedroom door. His eyes had dropped down after the invitation. He decided that it was best not to have left her side for the time being. So, he nodded upon stepping inside. Fenris turned towards the door and closed it behind him.

"I'll just … uh… sit near the window." He said and quickly turned his attention towards the nearest sill in the room. "After Naomi was given her leadership position, I chose to stay and remain as her 'sword' in a sense. I went where she asked and followed what requests she gave; doing what I was told. One of her last requests was for me to follow Alistair and to aid him in anything—if he requested it. This eventually brought me back here."

He propped up one leg upon sitting at the window sill and looked back towards Leliana with concern in his eyes. "Considering of how this war conflicts with a lot of what I believe, I doubt I can be anyone's 'sword' again—but I can still be your 'shield' if you would let me."

It was a bit easier with someone beside her to walk in the room with. Even if it wasn't with the one she wanted it to be. She had to try and not think of that, and she had to somehow overcome it, but of course that would take time. She didn't know how long but she expected many years. If even that. When she entered the room she situated herself to the other side of the room from Fenris, not intentiolly but maybe her emotions were drawing on pulling away from contact even though she had offered for him to stay she was still torn on what to do and how to act around those around her. Could she trust them was the underlying question. All she had wanted was peace, to no longer get hurt. So with that fear she was just afraid of even gaining the smallest bond only have it taken away by life.

She looked up from the swing motion of her feet dangling off the edge of the bed when Fenris spoke to her of Naomi and her requests of him. She again tried to smile to note she had been listening but one hadn't come to her features. That was another thing that would take time to regain but it was one she would have to for Baelfire's sake. "Well… It's nice to see a familiar face. I'm glad you're here."

Leliana didn't look away but watched Fenris, she didn't expect to get any sleep at least for a few hours. Talking was a much better remedy than sleep, because with resting came dreams and she was afraid what those might hold for her.

When she looked to his eyes at last she saw the concern held there. It wasn't often she had seen it in the past, but there it was looking back at her. All she had done in response was stare back a bit stunned and then after his words of being her "shield" she at last felt a tug to her lips. A small one that could be noted if one had looked closely. "I would like that."

With days turning into weeks, Leliana hadn't deterred from her room. The only few times she had gone outside the door was to either clean herself up or go to the bathroom, other than that she hadn't or rarely ate, she left all duties to Alistair and the staff had taken care of Baelfire. It was like she was cutting herself off from all contact from people, she hadn't even gone to look for Anders. Which had been a shock to most but also a relief since Alistair had believed it to be best. Since he did have him transported to a different part of building where he hoped Leliana wouldn't come across him.

As much as Alistair had hated it, he was told from his advisors back home he needed to return and shortly. There was still much work that needed to be done here in Kirkwall but at least now with his help he had built a stronger defense around Kirkwall. At least one that would be safe enough for Leliana and the rest who decided to reside here. But he still needed to go home and not only do his duties there but also tie up some loose ends so alliances could be made. But first he needed to find a Fenris and speak to the elf of his departure since he couldn't leave without making sure he'd take care of what had to be done.

Upon reaching the Library, he quickly stepped inside only hearing the small sounds of pages turning accompanied by his footsteps. When he reached the far back of the room he saw Fenris, flipping through the pages of a book. He stood there for a moment before clearing his throat to grab the elf's attention before pressing forward to sit across from him. "I'm going to be leaving Fenris…" He stated with elongated sigh. "But I can't leave Leliana here alone… I was hoping you'd stay here and watch over her. Possibly become her new best friend." He joked upon speaking the new best friend term. "It's what she needs right now more than ever… Plus maybe you can push her to pick up where I left things. Kirkwall needs a ruler otherwise my work here will be unless."

Fenris had looked towards the sound of his name being spoken and listened with the highest respect. This was a man who Naomi looked up to—well to an extent, and deserved as much from Fenris in return. In a sense, Fenris wasn't surprised at all from the given request, and in no later of a fashion had the elf denied it in response.

"I'll watch over her. You just finish what you need to." He answered and soon closed the book, placing it down on the desk. "Here, I'll walk you and your guards out."

With the new duties that piled more into Fenris's lap, the lyrium coated elf never imagined himself to have wielded the Right Hand to a city that was ruled over mages. Of course he didn't truly make the initial decisions. That was mostly done between the Cabinet and Leliana; but Fenris did carry out the orders verbally when needed and he did handle petty tasks himself, such as the paperwork for the city's newest tax laws and what patrols to carry out.

He couldn't rely on Aveline to be the Captain of the Guard anymore; she and Ser Donnic returned with Alistair to go back to Ferelden. Varric and Merrill disappeared after the last stand-off between Anders and Naomi. As for Isabella, she had left with Lasher and Tempest ever since Tempest (or rather 'Vince') and killed Arlen and accepted Tranquility for his crime. The bloodmage actually welcomed it; stating that he couldn't accept the things he had done.

It left Fenris to wonder how heavy the cons were against such of a practice… if there were those who couldn't handle their own guilt, anyway. However, for Anders, this wasn't the case and he fought against this fate as much as he could.

In either case, Kirkwall was somewhat baptized with new leaders and new systems.

Fenris carried a tray of fruit and vegetables towards Leliana's bedroom after being told that she was still in there. The staff had been concerned with her eating habits and since she had seemed close to Fenris—being the last person capable there—they had requested for him to try and confront her.

"Leliana…? I've brought you snack." He spoke to the door after giving it a light tap. He sighted then and rested his forehead more against the wooden blockage in front of him. "You know you have to eat in order to keep your strength up."

There was possibly a hundred times Leliana had told the staff to leave her be. That the moment she had heard the approaching footsteps she had almost done so again without hearing the voice. She had gotten as far as parting her lips until she had heard it was Fenris. In a quick shut of her lips, she drifted her eyes away from the door and hadn't answered. It had been sometime since she pulled herself out of this room and seen his face or Alistair, though she had heard of Alistair's leaving. So at least she wouldn't have to confront him any longer.

She felt herself scrunch up her nose at the thought of food but she wasn't going to completely ignore him. That she had swung her legs off the bed and walked to the vanity. She looked upon her features, what had seemed not only tired but almost lost. It was actually a sad sight, but she had tried to make herself as decent as possible. She looked down to her dress she had been wearing since the day before and ran her hands down the light blue knit fabric which had been form fitting in some areas but more loosely towards the end.

After turning around she slowly walked up to the door and opened it. Her eyes drifted to the tray of food and then shifted up towards Fenris and had given a half smile. "Thank you Fenris." She spoke out and stepped aside if he had wished to come in. "But I really don't think I'm that hungry." She admitted in a slight lie. From there she slipped her hand from the doorknob and walked back further into the room. She sat to the nearest seat she could reach as she looked back to Fenris and gave a nod of her head to the seat across from her, for him to sit at.

"So I heard Alistair left…" She stated more than questioned as her arm propped onto the table beside her. It was a pathetic way to make small talk, but truthfully Leliana didn't want to talk about her, or her feelings for once. For the longer she kept them inside then maybe they would go away, or so she had tried to tell herself.

"Yes, he... sends his best wishes to you." Fenris answered after following her inside and turning to place the tray of food down in between them. "He is a good man; a lot more than of what I had first expected… A few of our residents have chosen to move back to Ferelden as well. The City Guard will have to petition for a new Captain to work under."

He realized that small talk had been needed, and Fenris did his best to give answers where he could. Though his attention was soon turned to peeling and slicing an apple with the paring dagger he kept near to his hip these days. His eyes remained focused to the fruit as getting Leliana to eat had been his first mission.

"It's not really that big of a deal, I guess, but just another person you'll need to acknowledge soon." He said with a light sigh to the conversation and held up one of the slices towards Leliana's periphial vision in order for her to take. "Here. I'll eat something if you'll eat something."

Leliana fixated her eyes onto the floor when Fenris had explained of the City Guards Captain leaving. She didn't like the thought of people leaving to Ferelden. One reason that meant Kirkwall was slowly becoming smaller, even if it was just a few people what if a few more had left than a few more. It was more realization that she had to stop locking herself away from society and do what the people of Kirkwall knew she could do, what Anders knew she could do.

"I'm grateful for his help. But it looks like I'll have to pick myself up whether I like it or not and do what I had promised for Kirkwall." She admitted quietly. "I just hope I don't mess up. Anders was always better at this than I could ever be." She felt a winch of her eye but attempted to hide it by shielding her face with her hand. Though she made it seem more as she was massaging her temple in thought than anything else.

Just as she was about to close her eyes she saw the peeled fruit offered to her. She had just looked at the thing with a blank stare. Her hand ran through her crimson tresses and slipped out to reach out for the exposed apple. At first she was hesitant bringing the fruit to her lips but had done so as it seemed Fenris was determined to feed her for some reason. After the first bite and chew it was then that she noticed just how hungry she was and how her pallet quenched for the juices it provided that she had taken a second bite and another until it had been eaten.

After swallowing her last bite she shifted her eyes to the corner of her sockets in a cautious manner as she wiped her lips with the back of her hand and then carelessly wiped that on the fabric of her dress. "Do you think we can go out today…? I mean if you would like to come that is. I think I should take the advice of the staff and get fresh air and I rather not go alone."

"You know you really haven't been given much of a chance to branch out politically, so you can't really judge yourself that harshly." Fenris stated; quick to defend Leliana's side when she had brought her past into questioning.

He waited and watched as Leliana had eaten the apple slice before following in pursuit with his own piece of fruit to devour. Tucking it more to one side of his cheek, Fenris started to lean back some and quickly finished it. He then held up another piece to welcome Leliana to accept it next.

"No more dwindling on the past. Your future has become too vast for you to dwell on it." He reassured and almost had reached out to touch her hand, but withdrew only to rest it more against the table.

Fenris's eyes had dropped down and he soon waited until he heard Leliana speak again in her next invitation. He nodded some in his answer to her. "Alright. But the only place I know open at this time is The Hanged Man…"

They had taken the outskirts of the docks towards Kirkwall in order to reach the Hanged Man. From there the two had ate a bigger meal and listened to the music that played. They spent a few hours playing Wicked Grace with some of the locals and tried to welcome the day with bright faces. Not only had it been good for them both, but it was also good for the people of Kirkwall. They needed to reassure everyone that no matter what was to happen, the city was still going to stand as a kingdom.

Of course the games had ended once the jokes of raising the stakes to clothing had risen. The two had decided that it was best to have taken their leave by then since there was no amount of mead or whiskey in the world that could cause them top play card-games with stakes of clothing being on the betting line.

Taking the back roads of the docks yet again for their trip to head home, the two were able to admire the sun lowering merely slightly for the afternoon. The light shinned into the sparkling water that stretched out into the ocean. Fenris in the middle of also looking towards it but his elven ears had twitched some at the sound of a group of heavy footsteps headed their way.

Fenris quickly turned towards Leliana braced her shoulders into both of hands. "Leliana, you have to trust me for a minute."

Without giving much of an explanation, the elf had started to push Leliana backwards into the shadows of the nearest peer column. He had pressed his lips to hers and closed his eyes; though his ears were tilted back as far as they could have stretched. From nearby, there had been the sound of cluttered footsteps and voices approaching their way. The sounds were getting louder until at last they had started to dwindle away in a different direction. There wasn't much of what Fenris could have made out though due to all of the squirming underneath him, but there was enough information for the moment.

He pulled back slightly once he was certain that they were finally in the clear, and lowered his head close towards hers in a mild state of relief.

"You really think so?" She asked upon him saying she hadn't branched out that much politically. She had always thought she'd been one-sided or at least people had seen her since she was with Anders at the time. She wouldn't have blamed them either for making accusations either it was human nature at its finest.

"I wish it were all that easy to forget about the past." She spoke softly as her hand clenched into a small fist and her eyes shut tightly to a close.

Before leaving for the hanged man she had at least eaten what Fenris had brought her. Or at least most of it. All that was left was that of half of a banana and one more apple. It was possibly the most she had eaten all week sadly and it felt good to actually get a substance of food in her stomach. After she was full she had at least cleaned herself up enough so she wouldn't have smelled as rotten as the men in Hanged Man, or looked like one in fact. She didn't wear a dress but instead of older attire of clothing of antivan wear. It was casual but comfortable and she was surprised it still fit her after the pregnancy and all.

When they had spent their time in the Hanged Man Leliana for once was actually enjoying herself. Smiling more than she had for almost all month. She even caught herself laughing a few times at the jokes and failed attempts at the bar games the men had played to impress the women. She had taken Fenris's offer rather quickly when he had suggested they left when the card game bets had changed. Leliana was open but by far she wasn't that open. Not anymore.

After they reached the docks a second time Leliana had pleaded for them to stay a moment longer. She had always enjoyed looking at the water and how freely and careless it seemed. It had even brought her to forget about all her troubles if for momentarily and this was the main reason she had liked it most. Her eyes had never faltered from the horizon, it was an amazing sight. One she hadn't brought herself to see often as her time was spent elsewhere.

She looked to Fenris but hadn't acted upon his movements towards her at first since she truly believed the elf to be hiding her from someone. She even made a small attempt to look over his shoulder but was quickly caught off guard by the press of his lips against hers. Of course she had fought against him it was her first reaction to try and push him back but somehow he was to strong against her. She hadn't even paid attention to his words. If she had then maybe she would have went along with this charade instead of fought against it for whatever sake.

Once Fenris pulled back she had looked to him a bit stunned at what had just happened, she felt the her pulse in every inch of her body that she couldn't stop her reflexes which came next that brought her to reach up and slap him across the face. It was then that she paused and so did her adrenaline if just slightly. Her hand slowly slipped back down to her side as she pulled from his grasp in embarrassment and walked a few feet away.

"I'm sorry…" She spoke out in a soft tone. "I don't know what overcame me… I shouldn't have struck you. Especially after how kind you've been and you don't have to be." Looking back over her shoulder, she didn't look to Fenris but to the formation of the pathway instead. "Obviously there was a reason you kissed me and I doubt it was for the spur of the moment." She attempted to joke. "Then what for?"

Fenris had looked away in the direction of the slap, but didn't retaliate from the hit nearly at all. He had released his hold from her and slowly reached up to where her sting had left its mark. Closing his eyes to the memory of it, as if it was taking the action more to a deeper lesson. Leliana might have been a skilled rogue, but due to her recent events, the was just not enough time to heal any of her wounds in order for her to portray herself into certain incognito conditions.

He could hear her footsteps quickly walk ahead of him. Fenris had partially thought that she would have ran the entire way back to the gallows; locking the doors behind her just to escape from him. However she spoke to him; leaving clear tracks known that she was still standing around or nearby.

"No, I… deserved that." He reassured and slowly opened his eyes. Fenris cautiously darted towards Leliana within a few short glances before eventually turning back towards the path in which that lead back to the gallows. After her given inquiry, Fenris felt his footsteps taking the lead again. "I'm not sure if you'd really want to hear about it… Those were Starkhaven Templars. I couldn't determine if they were seeking the Union members or if they were after anyone specifically or hopefully looking to convert… In either case, the Cabinet had best be on its guard soon."

Leliana watched from a few feet as Fenris took the lead. Somehow among all this she felt badly about striking him. It was why she apologized, but if it wasn't for his help a many of times she wouldn't have gotten as far as she had today. She probably would have been still locked away in her room and still probably not have eaten. But she didn't fight him against it when he took the blame. So in truth they were both at fault and just apologizing for what they had done in the respect they had for one another. In which brought a slight tug to her lips.

After Fenris had gotten a great enough distance from her, she quickly picked up her pace in a run. But paused to look back over her shoulder to the horizon, she sighed and continued after him again in haste until she walked behind him. "Let them try and start something. I've been fed up with just the name of Starkhaven ever since what happened to Aragorn. If they want to test me so be it." She growled as her arms folded over her chest. "I'll let the cabinet know though that they're around… Thank you Fenris if it wasn't for you we might not even know before it was too late that they're here. Just give me a better warning next time before you do something like that." After saying that though she had quickly countered in hopes she wouldn't be misunderstood by her words, her arms rose up and waved in front of her as she spoke quickly before he could respond. "Not that I'm saying that it will happen again, the kiss, I mean…We just a different tactic is all… Heh…"

Fenris glanced over towards Leliana as she continued to explain what she felt that was needed to be. Although, for Fenris, he was clearly already placed in what position that he needed to be. Fenris understood that clearly that Leliana was completely out of his reach of anything. All the same though, it was still better to have seen her happy rather than upset. He was certain that Alistair would have agreed to that as well.

He smiled some and laughed a little to the view of Leliana waving her arms up nervously. The very fact that she had to point out the 'kiss' that took place, was enough to leave a sense of pride to remain firm. Fenris shook his head a little and looked away within that moment, and decided to merely leave things the way they were.

There were other things that needed a proper focus at the time. Things like the Cabinet's decisions and of what should have been done about the Starkhaven intruders. He could only imagine of what kind of thirsty vengeance Leliana would have held against them. That wasn't anything Fenris could hold against her for anything; because if anything else, Fenris understood the feeling of being wronged.

After returning back to the gallows and eventually settling the Starkhaven Templar Intrusion issue, there remained more time for Leliana to recuperate. Fenris continued to handle the more important things while making certain that Anders had remained separately away from Leliana. All of this was done within a year's time line to ensure that everyone could still press forward.

Though this wasn't out of anything malicious—but more rather just an action done in order to protect Leliana. After all, with as much work and effort Fenris had done to bring Leliana outside more and eat food and enjoy life more; he wouldn't want all of that to suddenly be shunned and buried away just because Leliana might have seen Anders even once.

On the other hand, as time had passed by, Fenris could not deny that perhaps a little bit of malice might have been there after all. From within nursing Leliana back to health, he found himself more attracted to her, and the two eventually found one another entangled in a gentle embrace of romance. Fenris didn't believe he could have ever loved anyone for a third time, but even with as much pity and care he had given to Leliana, he had found himself loving her as well. He had hoped that in some sense Leliana had felt the same way about him.

Fenris had confronted her one evening and finally she had accepted him. They took it slow, as Leliana had requested and in truth Fenris wouldn't have had it any other way. This was because Fenris's skin was always sensitive in some areas and in places where his armor mostly had him covered; he rarely ever risked removing his shields in fear that he would have been hurt like so many times before.

Within six extra months and the given extra support financial and Circle Instructors from King Alistair, Leliana had managed to rebuild of most of Kirklwall's original glory—if not better than before Viscount Dumar's reign. She had never given up on herself, nor the people and during any moment she felt herself slipping, Fenris was always behind her with encouraging words and advise to keep her decisions strong.

During the last meeting one of the mages within the Cabinet had urgent news about the Union. He announced that there was a Union member dwelling with the Free Marches nearby, and that this particular one could help with Anders's tranquil condition. Fenris knew of what this would have meant for Leliana, so when the news was brought to her, he didn't really say anything. However the expression he held truly said all of everything he wanted to say.

"Are you certain?" Leliana asked a bit hesitantly towards the cabinetent who stood before her with the news, she wasn't certain to believe it or not. For everyone knew tranquilly meant that was a life sentence and to bring one back would be in a gift from the Maker if they were wrongly turned into such. She hadn't deterred her set gaze on the man as she had felt like she was on the edge of her seat awaiting a reply. What would she do if Anders could even come back from this? She had moved on with Fenris but she couldn't deny she had still loved Anders just as the same as she did.

"Yes. Should we ready the men to find him?" He asked towards Leliana in a curious manner.

Leliana shook her head in a response and began standing from her chair. "I plan on going myself. I trust you will be fine without me for a short while?" She asked towards the man who in reply nodded his head. Not often were they ones to fight against Leliana and her ideas. Most men were bright enough to know better. But the younger ones were the ones not so much.

Once the door had closed Leliana stared at the details of the cravings in the wood as she leaned against the table, a sigh was her only sound before looking more towards Fenris. She smiled and began to approach him until she was mere inches from him. Her arms reached out towards him in a need of a hold. She wasn't completely sure how to talk about this situation with him. But he had to know Anders didn't deserve this, and that they needed to help in anyway they could. If not for her, than for Baelfire's sake of bringing his father back.

After she pulled away from their embrace a smile smeared across her lips as each of her arms still gently draped to his shoulders. "Will you come with me? My shield." She asked a bit curiously with a nudge of her arms to his chest in a playful manner, she figured he'd accept such. But it would have been kind enough for her to ask at least.

Her attention was drifted then to the opening of the door and with it brought her arms to slide down from Fenris thinking it was the cabinet men returning. Though she hadn't seen one walk in, but she heard steady footsteps approaching that brought her eyes to shift further down. To her surprise it was Baelfire letting himself in the office. How he had somehow managed to memorize which office was hers was beyond her, unless he had went to each room until he found her. But she would have expected the staff to find him before then even though he was a bit of an escape artist every time one turned around.

"Well hello there." She greeted in a kneel down towards the boy who's eyes lit up brighter than that of a flames as he shouted her motherly given name and rushed towards her at full speed that had brought him to stumble forward in his thrilled excitement of finding his prize which he was looking for. But Leliana had caught him within falling and lifted the growing boy quickly up in her arms. "Where is your nanny—"

"Right here, sorry sorry…" Spoke a younger woman of brown tresses from the hallway as she rushed in the room and held out her arms for the boy.

Leliana hadn't given Baelfire up yet, instead she had leaned in and given little eskimo kisses to the boys nose which brought a laughter to expel from the boys lips and a light one from her own. "It's alright, I'm leaving soon as it is. Best to have him with me."

Though from the separate room, Fenris had almost seemed to have wanted to flat-out argue against the thought that such of an act of tranquil-reversion could be done. His breath had been stopped short when he eard the door open and Leliana had walked towards him. Her arms were wide in expecting a hug; one of which Fenris felt himself lulled into returning, though Fenris was also quick to have left a small kiss onto Leliana's forehead before she had completely slipped and turned from him.

Leliana had questioned him and left it opened to have been more as a tease since he had started to wiggle free in between getting nudged and poked for fun. Fenris though; rarely being the one to form strong jokes in return, was still able to acknowledge when he was being toyed with—most of the time.

"I enjoy following you." He reassured and soon lowered his arms from around her so that Leliana could move on her own.

He watched her stepping away from him, more self-assured and more independent than he had ever seen her be. It left his smile to dwindle a bit despite it's persistent fading to the continued idea he's been hearing from other Cabinet Members. His eyes shifted towards Bealfire once Leliana had made a dive for her baby boy and swooped him up into her arms.

"But... it is the Free Marches we're going to be searching through, you know. Do you really intend to put your faith in this mission then?" Fenris had questioned; hoping to have heard some skepticism in the response—anything he could have used to attempt in talking Leliana out of it completely. "I don't doubt that the Union has found a way to undo the process but performing something as big as that has got to be involved with deeply messing up one's head."

"Oh don't say that I might start leading you into the scariest of places then." She joked towards him while giving a slight wink.

But Leliana had taken Fenris's words into thought. The Free Marches was a vast and it would have taken weeks if they were lucky and months if not so much to find Rhy's but they had to do it. Not to mention they'd have to avoid Starkhaven at all costs. Even if she wanted to slice a few of their throats for what they'd put herself and many through.

She wasn't even certain where to start. It was one of the many reason's she needed Fenris beside her, at least then he could help her along the way as he had been doing these past six months. She was a stronger person thanks to him which was one thing she had repeatably had tried to show how lucky she was to have him there.

"That's why I need you there. It's far too big and you know how women get themselves lost on a daily basis. I need a handsome elf perspective on it." She responded back with a slight grin. "But, I have to put my faith in this. If there's any chance to bring Anders back we have to take it. I know he would want us to, it might be a risky endeavor but we've been through harder times, this will be like a walk in the park." She didn't like the thought when Fenris mentioned of 'messing with ones head' it was true though it was a scary thought to think of what would happen if and when Anders would get his persona back she wondered what that would be like, to be a husk for as long as he had only to have the feelings box reopened. "We'll just have to see what the Union has come up with. Until then we need to find Rhy's."

When the plans were set into motion Leliana had quickly gathered her belonging she would have needed for the travels. She packed light but sensible for one not knowing how long one would be gone for. After she said her farewells to Baelfire and given what instructions she walked to her slowly in the direction of her horse and mounted it. Since the thought of riding in carriage not only seemed to take longer but it would also bring unwanted eyes they're way. Which Leliana was trying to avoid.

Firstly they set trail from the furthest point from Starkhaven, which was the Planasene Forest from there Leliana hoped to go to the more familiar areas if there was no sign of what the were looking for. Those place being of the first few she recalled going to when she had first ran into Anders. Tantervale and Wildervale at least here she had known people whom of so might of still recognized her when they first crossed paths before she became ruler of Kirkwall.

The searching had taken a long time. The farther that they traveled into the roads the more unease that Fenris was becoming. He didn't want to voice it though; since Leliana was actually working on everything on a hunch. Fenris didn't want to have mentioned of how much he was detesting the idea but the reasons were constantly replaying back into his head with every step they explored through the Free Marches.

He was thankful for them to have came across a city. Wildervale was a memorable place for them both, which had left Fenris both mildly nostalgic and at the same time still embarrassed. He could still remember the time from when he was caught and jailed without any clothes. He was just going to have to be more careful from now onward.

Though it didn't really look like this city had seemed to remember much of his presence from the past. In fact, most of the people were thankfully more enthralled with their continued daily living rather than trying to figure out who the visitors were. Fenris steadied his horse after strolling it up alongside Leliana's. He dismounted his horse and walked towards Leliana's horse. He grabbed the reigns and helped to walk it alongside himself. His eyes looked towards the horse posts, to tie them for a night's rest.

Leliana glanced over to Fenris when his hand brushed across hers to take the reigns over and tie the two horses to the post. She stood there for a second watching him and then began to turn and look more to the city around them. It was a lively place from what she had remembered and much hadn't changed. Maybe it was a good thing. As a few people that saw Leliana scanning the area started looking more towards them. This had brought the rouge to shift her eyes and look away so she wouldn't have made anyone felt uncomfortable with their new guests.

"We should probably get inside." She spoke over her shoulder towards Fenris with a little nod of her head in the direction of the tavern and conjunctioned inn. Leliana reached for Fenris's hand then in a gentle grasp to begin tugging him along playfully in the direction of the buildings entrance.

When they entered the building the smell of spices and sweat filled her nostrils, bringing a rise to her upper lip. She looked from one wall to another her eyes caught sight of the bar, then Leliana looked back to Fenris where she had begun to slip her hand from his and walk towards the direction of the nearest bar stool. She had looked behind the counter it was an attempt to see if she had recognized anyone from years ago. She didn't see the older man approach her as he leaned against the edge of the upper arm height table, as she truly believed it to be another patron than that of someone that worked here. "Is there something I can get you missy?" He announced.

Leliana jumped a bit in her seat and turned to her left, examining the man as she had done so. With her emerald hues shifting down to the glass which he was cleaning she sighed propping her right arm against the table and used the palm of her hand to lean into as she looked to him. "Was hoping we could get a room for tonight?"

The older man looked to Leliana then to Fenris's approaching, though his eyes lingered at Fenris for a while longer before shifting back to Leliana. "Of course, but is that all you'll need?"

Fenris was half-expecting the giddy drunken waitress that use to parade the isles between tables that she waited on. What was the name Anders gave her? Tessy? Tess? It seemed like that was the name. It really had been a long time since he had first arrived here with Leliana, Anders, and Aragorn from before. Fenris could only assume that perhaps they were working on a separate shift at this time. He didn't want to think that anything else would have been the case; even if it would have been just as likely.

He looked towards the older gentlamen; assuming for him to have been the current bartender, and walked towards Leliana's side. Though Fenris didn't sit down right away, he remained still behind Leliana instead. It was a protective stance and one that insured of his caution before being given any direct invitation. However, Fenris wasn't completely just hovering over Leliana either. His attention had been a little less focused at the moment: searching the tavern's interior, checking for hiding spots that any Starkhaven Soldiers would spy from, and any last-minute attempt in finding Tess and …what was that older man's name-?—Pops!

"This place hasn't changed too much…" Fenris mumbled a little more to himself before at last his attention reverted back towards the bartender. He started to fold his arms and lean back against his heels for the moment. "We'll have whatever platter you've got available as well… And if you could spare a good rumor or two of the Free Marches, we'd be much obliged."

Leliana looked back feeling Fenris's approach from behind her. That she had slightly leaned back some until she had brushed her shoulders and growing red tresses against his chest. She smiled at how 'protective' he was though she didn't see it as much as many outside of their bond with one another might have. "Come on Fenris sit down." She coaxed with a reach back behind her to grasp his forearm or hand to lead him to the seat next to her. Her leaned posture hadn't changed though as she attempted a look of trying to pursue him to do what she had wanted.

"Not much changes around here." Answered the old man, as he set the glass down to the table and glanced towards Fenris. When he made his order he had given a slight nod and turned in the direction of the kitchen. "Hey Tess two platters will ya? We got waiting and paying customers." He shouted, though he hadn't waited to a response before turning back to Leliana and Fenris. "There's always rumors to be told, it depends on what you want to know."

Leliana sighed feeling her eyes drift down to the table as he explained there was a few things he could gossip about. Leliana would have preferred to make this quick, at least with the information so if Starkhaven Templars had come in abruptly at least then they would have had what they needed. She started to part her lips then as if to pull out what she needed from him but was suddenly cut off before she could speak.

"Don't quote me on this because what all comes through here isn't as truthful as some would hope. Not to mention my old age likes to make me forget a few details and replace it with what I please." He began to explain before he started to tell the gossip. "If you haven't heard already there's a Union member out here in the Free Marchs—"

"Where in the Free Marchs!" Leliana interrupted in a pressing manner as she leaned in.

"Slow down their lass, I was getting there… The member is somewhere in the Wild's and its said Starkhaven platoons are in search for this poor folk. Must of done something pretty bad to have those guys on his heels."

"Do you know how many Starkhaven's are after this Union member?" Leliana asked curiously as her eyes followed the man who begun to walk behind the bar then and refill drinks for other patrons. Though this didn't hinder their conversation in the least.

"Two… Maybe three." He replied with a light shrug of his shoulders. "There has been many of them passing through here lately, making sure I guess that this person hasn't snuck in."

The elf had finally moved towards the chair next to Lelina in order to sit down. His movements were slow though because he was still casting curious glances from around the room. Fenris just mainly didn't want to have gotten jumped on or had to deal with any surprised attacks. He listened to the old man's rumors and felt himself slightly groaning in anguish at the thought of how difficult things were going to be.

Fenris really wasn't liking this journey at all now. Nothing good seemed to have come from it; as far as he was concerned with it. He still had controversial thoughts about having Anders back on so many different levels that the elf didn't even know where to begin. For the most mutual part of it was that Fenris hated the thought of bringing back Anders, dealing with Anders, and even the journey of trying to bring him back.

"Wonderful… Venturing into the wilds with only rations to our names and now guaranteed chance of us ever coming out." He mumbled underneath his breath and reached up to pinch lightly at the bridge of his nose in the doomed thought of it all.

About that time, Tess had showed up from the back room with two plates of freshly baked trout. She placed the plates at their side of the table and then moved towards fixing two tall mugs of ale. Her eyes and smile had lit up a little after seeing the familiar faces. Of course, the woman was always back in her talkative mood when she was near the counter.

"Well, hello! Long time no see, strangers. I was wondering when you'd drop by again." She spoke happy in her chipper tone.

Fenris hadn't really taken any real attention towards her yet. His green eyes were busy staring down the plate of trout in front of him; like a child staring at a mountain of unsavory vegetables. Fenris knew that he shouldn't have ordered from the special. It was always fish! His disappointment had clearly been shown and he sighed a little before gently pushing his own plate more towards Leliana instead. His right arm had reached back for the ale to chug in the meantime, with hopes that it would do better in filling his stomach instead.

Leliana tilted her head some towards Fenris when he had made his less than optimistic statement of the Wilds. But as for Leliana she smiled and shook her head some as a soft giggle had come slipping past her lips. "Fenris, always so serious." She teased with a reach out towards him as her hand reached out to the nape of his neck to caress the area in a soft notion. "We'll get out of this mess, we have to just look at all the positives to keep us going is all."

"What, are you telling me is your going into the Wilds to find this Union member then?" Asked the older man in question towards Leliana.

Leliana's hand dropped from Fenris during this time and looked over to the one named Pops as everyone called him. She was uncertain if to give him an answer or not since she didn't want the same gossip to get around and let Starkhaven troops find out she and Fenris were looking for the same person. Then it would become a bigger race which she didn't want. "Uhh…"

Thankfully at this time Tess had walked out of the kitchen with the platters in hand. And the older man had been called off to the other end of the bar to take a second order for that of other customers. A sigh had expelled her lips of relief as she shifted her eyes towards the plates set down before them. She smiled some, bringing the plate closer to her and her mug. "Thank you." She spoke out in a cheerful tone but from looking up and seeing the familiar face she stalled in reaching for her utensil next to her plate.

"Tess…!" It was a shock to see the woman again, and still young as ever. At least the years were good to her. She wasn't sure if it was a good idea or bad one that she had recognized them, Leliana had looked more towards Fenris in a playful manner, since the last time they were here she recalled Tess chasing the elf around. But it seemed as if he was trying to ignore that memory or had forgotten it unlike her. "How have you've been, it's been a while."

Pop's had peered his head over to look at the trio, he heard Tess's words of knowing them from before and even though they had repeated customer's it was still hard to remember everyone's face. "I thought you two looked familiar." He spoke out of final clarity being able to slightly recall them now. "You two were with Lyle, right? How is that kid?"

Leliana looked down to the plate pushed over to her from Fenris. She would have pressed him to eat but by the look he had given the food she hadn't pushed it and pulled it more to her side. "Right…. Lyle…" Leliana reminisced as she pieced a piece of her sliced fish with her fork. "He's gone." She partly lied and stuffed the piece of meat in her mouth before speaking more of what had happened to Anders.

"Gone? You mean gone as in…?" Tess frowned and looked towards Fenris as for some form of reassurance.

However the elf merely turned his attention to his ale and continued to drink. He didn't want to give Tess any attention; even in that moment. He remembered too well of how she flamboyantly flirted around him but Fenris wasn't about to show her any interest and besides, the timing had been too sour and too short. His thoughts had only been on the bed; so whenever he chugged down his ale and rested it back on the counter, Fenris paid for the meal but had otherwise remained quiet for the evening.

It was eventually within the tavern room that Fenris was able to finally relax. He had left a little early for his bath, and was at the moment perched on the windowsill of the tavern. Fenris did want to give Leliana her space for when she needed it; such as the times like bathing or needing to meditate for whichever desired purpose.

However Fenris was always watching her; always keeping his eyes towards her sights and when he couldn't actually see her, he still remained near-by. That was how he was now, dressed in only a sheep's skinned attire of small clothes; ones that Tess had offered as a spare for ' ' to wear during their brief stay there. He remained hugging his right knee and leaning against the glass while his left hand still had his blade tight in its grasp.

He was watching Leliana cross the road from the outside bath; making her way back the tavern. She had been dressed in a similar fashion thanks to Tess's donations. It wasn't anything flattering, but it was meant to have been meant for cleanliness than to hug any specific curves. Though it was the idea of just knowing that Leliana would have been coming inside soon was enough for Fenris to have quickly rested the blade against the wall next to him.

His eyes had soon turned towards the door, staring at the solid wooden slab and expecting it to have opened at any given moment. Fenris was the patiently waiting one; expecting to greed his companion, or rather now his lover, whenever she finally would cross over the threshold.

Leliana wasn't certain when the next time she would come across another actual bath. That she had quickly jumped at the notion of taking one when she had the chance. When she was soaking in the tub scrubbing at her skin in a frenzy until her fingers scraped across something near her chest. She flinched from the random scratch and retracted her wounded fingers to her lips quickly if not quicker than she was scrubbing. When she looked down to her rising chest and saw through the suds hiding her breasts was the ring Anders had given to her shortly before he was taken from her. It still shined as bright and radiant as the day he'd given it to her, though she didn't wear it on her hand as she use to she hadn't for some time now, but on a chain around her neck. Because she had always loved him and realized she would until her dying days, it was a form of her devoting to him still.

It still hurt every time she was reminded by it, the memories were the worst part of it all. It hurt worst when she was alone and even though she talked to Fenris a great deal about her troubles with Kirkwall she tried not to talk to Fenris about this. Not after they had been becoming closer. As she didn't want an awkward moment between them that she had caused.

Leliana sank further into the depths of the waters and began to snake her hands through the waters as she grasped the ring between her fingers. A part of her was uncertain why she was doing this quest. If it was for Anders sake, for her own feelings or so Baelfire could have his father back. She told herself she didn't want him growing up finding out that his father was forced into a state of submission and she knew Anders wouldn't want his son to see him as such. Leliana just didn't know what to do, if it was the right thing and if and when it would happen of bringing him back to her—She shook her head of the thought as quickly as it came and dropped the ring back into the waters where it had rested back to the center of her chest.

When she reached the inn again Leliana reached for the door knob and quickly allowed herself in. Immediately her eyes were brought to Fenris who she saw sitting and waiting for her. Due to this a smile had formed onto her lips as she closed the door behind her and walked up to him. "I hope you weren't waiting for me…" She asked with a glance past his shoulder. There she saw a bird's eye view of the bathhouse she was previously at, it wouldn't have surprised her to know Fenris was keeping an eye on her. He was always there for her, making sure she would stay out of harm's way beyond what he had to. "Did you get something to eat yet?" She asked curiously as she leaned in towards him then and met his lips with her own in a brief meeting kiss.

Fenris smiled a little towards Leliana's approach and then tilted his head towards the downstair's below after she had questioned of his well-being. "Yes, I managed to find something that wasn't fish-related. Pop's gruel isn't half bad once you get use to the after-taste."

He wouldn't have pressed on it, when thinking about the actual food that he ordered, but he could have sworn that Tess or Pops were most likely mashing in tiny bits of fish into their gruel too. Fenris had spent enough of his life near the docks and shores between Kirkwall and Seheron. He certainly wouldn't want to eat another fish in his life ever again.

The elf then reached out for Leliana's hand and merged its hold with his own. He wasn't wearing any of his arms so it was much easier for his fingers to have collapsed over hers in return. Fenris had paused in that moment, merely looking down at their hands. Giving a light smile, Fenris had started to move up from the windowsill. His arms moved towards holding her close to him in an embrace afterwards. His arms were tight; not just because he enjoyed the feeling of her warmth next to him, but because he wanted to be certain that Leliana was still near him.

"I get the feeling that you're slipping away from me." Fenris began to mumble quietly against her neck. He paused some and started to sigh, still holding her close. His eyes lifted up from her shoulder to look towards the closed off space from across the room. "What do you plan on doing if we manage to bring Anders back?"

Right when Leliana was going to walk away to do whatever she planned on doing at that time she had been stopped by the touch of Fenris's hand against her own. It was a quick motion of movements that had brought her to slightly jump and look back towards him. Even though she stopped she had felt her body moving back towards him in a lean until he embraced her. Leliana closed her eyes as her head rested more to his chest listening to the rhythm of his beating heart, one which she was growing fond of listening to every night before she fell asleep.

With her arms reaching up more towards his chest, she had clenched at the fabrics of his wool shirt. It was as if she was at peace. Besides what she had gone through on a daily basis with the stress of this quest to find Rhy's. But when Fenris spoke and his breath bounced off her skin she had rose her shoulders in a ticklish manner as she smiled. But soon her smile diminished as she had felt her once calm beating heart quicken in its pulse. She wasn't certain what to say to such words. As she may have been withdrawing herself from Fenris from the travels or other underlying reasons she wasn't aware of. But it was true with these travels brought her to even notice how different she may have seemed.

Leliana was about to answer when her lips parted but when Fenris's second question was asked and she felt herself stalling in silence. Whenever Anders name was brought up she was like a helpless animal prey to its dominant one hovering above them. She just hoped her face hadn't shown it.

"I'm sorry Fenris, I just think with this traveling has brought me to become weary." She attempted to explain it wasn't all a lie as she knew she was losing sleep on the task at hand. "Just know I'll always be here, as you have for me… As for when Anders comes back… If he does…" She paused here almost in her train of thought. Her arms had slipped to his shoulders as she leaned back to catch glimpse of him. "I'm not sure what will happen then I really haven't thought about it."

Leliana shifted her eyes away then and sighed in the thought of him coming back. But she tried to make it out to seem like she was sighing for other reason as she leaned her head in towards his and pressed her brow against his own. "Why are you having second thoughts on trying to bring him back?"

Fenris's eyes shifted slightly, as though looking into Leliana's own green hues for the first time in between the talk. He blinked a couple of times at the question, knowing that she really wouldn't have wanted to hear his answer in the matter. He paused some and glanced down momentarily before lifting his head back; turning his attention towards the bed and pulling back the covers.

"I am here because you are here." He claimed simply. He turned around to sit down onto the bed. "You are my only priority in anything anymore, Leliana… Even though I don't feel real assured of where this may lead us in the future… So, you don't want to know my thoughts on any of this."

Leliana felt herself smiling to Fenris when he had said the reason why he was here was for her. It was all she needed to hear since it was no secret that Fenris had a rocky past with Anders and their personalities clashed worse than two children. At times she wondered how Naomi had put up with the two of them bickering back and forth as she had gotten a glimpse of it when all of them were together the few times they traveled together or alongside Aragorn.

When Fenris's movements were made towards the edge of the bed Leliana's grasp had almost slipped from his fingertips then but she stepped in and pressed her palm against his as her fingers interlaced with his own. She looked to their joined hand as he spoke to her, she was afraid if she looked him in the eyes then he would be able to read what she was feeling inside about all of this.

"Fenris." She whispered softly, Leliana stepped in further to the elf then and propped one leg hugging to the side of one of his legs as she braced herself with her free hand to his shoulder and bent her other knee to his other side in a straddle before sitting comfortably on his lap. She had wanted to make him feel more confident in their flourishing relationship, but it was difficult when she was having the same doubts. Though she was probably better at hiding these feelings, or so she hoped. "We just have to take this one day at a time as we had promised each other, it might seem like a rocky road ahead but it will just bring us closer together in the end and you know you can talk to me with whatever's in your heart. I'll always listen, and try to keep my womanly argumentative behavior at bay." She teased lightly as she leaned in towards him where her brow pressed to his she was able to lock her gaze with his.

He smiled some and wrapped his free arm back around Leliana's back as she had started to move towards sitting onto his lap. He did enjoy it when she made at least a small confirmation to his slightest suggestions. However, it was the closeness that he was going to have to adjust to feeling all over again.

"Then why don't you review the guidelines of 'us' again…? Let me know of what I'm allowed to do because I'm not certain how much slower in this we could go." He smirked some and glanced back towards the mattress that he was sitting on. He then started to tease, but hadn't released his arm from around her waist. "Unless you'd rather sleep on the floor…? I've already called dibs so you'd have to persuade me to give it up otherwise."

"How about I just show you?" She teased towards him in a little nudge of her nose against his own. When she felt his touch against her, she had closed her eyes in slow flutter as her hands had grasped onto anything she could at that point, and that was the fabric of his clothes which she scrunched between her fingers and released upon hearing his next comment towards her. It brought her eyes to open momentarily as she giggled lightly with a nod of her head in a no response. "I don't think that will be necessary."

Leliana leaned back to where her hands had released their hold against his clothing and went to the edges of her dress which had risen upon her sitting above Fenris. She crossed her arm diagonally down until her fingertips bunched the dress in her hands where she begun lifting the garment overhead and tossing it aside. "I can't lose you too, like I've lost so many others." She admitted quietly towards him. She leaned in and pressed her lips against his own in a gentle greet since Fenris had spoken to her of some areas of his body being tender, she had learned to be softer all the way around than how she previously use to be. As for her wandering hands, they had slipped under his tunic, where the palms of her hands softly glided up his sides and chest. This was her process to hopefully help sooth him enough to where her touch wouldn't be as foreign to him. As she slowly raised the shirt up high enough she also grasped the edges of it and began pulling it off after she pulled from their kiss with a light tug and love-bite to the pout of his lip.

Fenris had leaned back as his eyes traveled up and along Leliana's body once it was revealed to him. His green hues glittered from the moonlight; leaving a darker ambiance across his features when he drank in the sight of her being so near. Though her words mildly had stung him, even when he knew they were meant to have been for a better reassurance. Fenris wanted to reassure her in some way, but Leliana had already moved forward to have stolen his lips for a kiss.

He allowed his eyes to drift into a close and gently traced his left hand along the small of Leliana's back while his right hand had traveled more towards her left breast for attention. Being lulled this deep and so fast was enough to make his heart twist into knots and his lungs practically flutter. He wanted to remain lost in the tenderness of Leliana's touch; and to seek for the healing that her love could have offered.

However, the nightmares had always left their mark on the surface of his memories, and it was Fenris's curse that they were left on his skin. No matter how gentle some caresses could be, in certain areas the only thing that Fenris could see in his mind was the images of the magisters' hands. This in turn had only brought back the memory of the pain. This was a problem that he always seemed to carry and why oral sex had been his most fixated rule; even when he had a decently working relationship. Skin upon skin contact was just too much at times.

The slight growing moan that Fenris had turned more into a frustrated wince in between the few passionate kisses that Fenris had attempted to give. His arm from around Leliana's back had briefly tightened only to quickly relax. Remembering of where he was and who he was with, Fenris's hold on Leliana's breast had loosened and he started to turn. He cradled Leliana onto the mattress and further into the covers before at last parting his kiss.

Lifting his head slightly away, he looked back down into her eyes and smiled a little still. "Alright, you've earned it, Leliana. It's yours."

He then shifted the blankets to where they had tucked Leliana underneath the covers securely. Fenris then stood up and searched for his shirt to use as a pillow on the floor.

Leliana had felt her breath being caught within her throat as she felt the warmth of his hand grasp to her more sensitive areas. She tried not to drill her fingertips into his flesh when she was given such a touch. To counter this lingering action she had leaned closer into the inviting touch of their bodies meeting in a short greeting as she bent forward and put her attention more towards the lining of his jawline and cheek with kisses before returning back to his lips.

Between the moments of their separating lips a gasp and small whimpers had slipped past her lips in soft sounds. She tried in small attempts to muffle these sounds with a clench on her lower lip, but eventually she found herself seeking him out again with a desire running through her veins. She reached for him, allowing her arms to wrap around his neck as she drew herself closer into him while her hands had wandered into the mess of his hair that she had entangled between her fingers.

When she was being moved to the mattress, she hadn't fought against him by any means. But she had felt her arms jerk and tighten around him since it was an awkward position for her to go to from straddling his lap to laying down. Her eyes had never faltered from his own when his gaze pierced her own and as a smile began peaking to the corner of her lips she had begun to slide her hand from the nape of his neck more closely to his cheek. Leliana expected for him to continue, after all she had wanted to somehow push aside Fenris's fears, if that's what they were and she was determined in this. She couldn't deny the more time she had spent with him the more she had become more attached and didn't want to let go. Somehow he filled the emptiness inside her heart and for that she was eternally grateful. She never thought she could have gone past Anders to where she could welcome someone new in her heart.

Leliana watched curiously as Fenris's movements were made to sit up and get off the bed. She quickly sat up to realization of him leaving but hadn't grasped his arm in means to stop him. "Fenris… Wait…" She pleaded with a outstretch of her arm towards him. Leliana was far too kind to have him sleep on the floor and clearly they have slept in the bed together before, so what was the problem now? She reached over patting the side next to her which was open and looked to him. "Please, come lay with me…? I don't like sleeping alone."

Fenris had let his arm drop when he turned back towards Leliana's call. He chuckled some in a light tease and started his way back towards the bed to sit down. "I get the feeling that if I lay down, neither one of us will get any sleep."

Though he didn't really refuse Leliana's offerings; he never seemed to have been able to these days. So, he curled over the blankets almost as if he was reclaiming lost territory. The fetal position had seemed more than inviting for him, and Fenris curved his body alongside Leliana's covered one for comfort and support.

It was actually later on in a couple of weeks that Leliana and Fenris had eventually found the trail of the Union member. They had to fight off two platoons of Starkhaven templars; none of which either of them exchanged remorse towards. After all, Leliana was known to have held a grudge against the group and Fenris never really cared for them either way.

The injuries they had were different in density and number. Fenris had to admit that things were a bit tough when they couldn't rely on a mage to heal them anymore. It was almost all that a mage would have been good for these days; or at least to him anyways.

The two eventually had caught up with Evangeline, who too had been in searching for Rhys. The three had pressed onward to the streets. It was near one of the lower branches of the trees that a snake had began its long drop towards Leliana. However, Fenris had prevented his by attacking the snake; snatching it witch his gauntlet shielded ands. He turned away and tossed the snake as far away as he could from that vicinity.

"You're alright, aren't you?" He questioned her upon turning towards her and smiled. "You won't have to worry with me here. I'll always be your shield, Leliana."

No sooner had he mentioned those words and came close towards her, the sound of something rushing towards them quickly; bounded its way up towards them. Fenris's ears had twitched and he jumped back just in time for a mabari to jump from the grassy plains and onto Leliana. It was a sight that caused Evangeline to quickly rush towards her rescue and for some reason the trees above them to start snickering.

"'I'll be your shield.'" A voice mimicked from the tree branches, causing them to shake a little.

Leliana was excited to get back on the road to find the Union member when they had. But the longer this journey had taken them the more Leliana was aware of the awkward gap that was either forming between her and Fenris or how less talkative they seemed to become. She had tried not to think much on it since she wanted her head clear of anything that could cloud her judgment when she was out here in the Wilds searching. There were far too many dangerous things that could jump out and scare a person out of their skin if they weren't on their toes.

When they met up with Evangeline Leliana was thrilled to see and familiar face and it had brought her hope that they were getting closer in finding Rhys. Not to mention it did help fighting off Starkhaven troops when and if they became present. Since it was just the two of them, it was quite difficult, but one they could overcome if they played the tactics right in their favor.

For some odd reasoning Leliana was leading the group deeper into the Wilds, here she had to rely on her strength which she had lost to get her through the muck and over grown areas. At times she used one of her longer daggers to push aside the brush that stood in her path. But as she took a swing she was quick to jump back upon seeing a snake. Her eyes widened and a frightened screech passed her lips. For some reason she swung around her unarmed hand to push the snake away and closed her eyes. This was when she heard Fenris's quick movements towards her that she opened them again looked to him.

She was about to part her lips as if to thank him, but without a warning sound of a running or panting,the malbari had tackled her to the ground. When her head collided with the hard surface she could of sworn she saw stars. The blade that was once within her hand flung from her grasp and had went far off in the distance and she wasn't sure where it had went. She wasn't about to wait for Fenris to save her, so had to have faith her muscle memory would have kicked in.

Her first reaction was to put her hands out in front of her and grasped the shoulders of the malbari to hold back the snarling and snapping jaws trying to chop down on her. With a final push, Leliana bent her leg in between herself and the straddling dog as she forced her kneecap up towards the stomach of the malbari. Upon contact the dog roared out in pain, but this gave Leliana the leverage to fling the dog quickly off. All she heard was a thump of the animals large body and then the thing quickly running back into the woods.

Leliana laid there for a moment longer, gazing up to the tree in disgust at the slobber from the war-dog. "That… Was… Gross…" She admitted in a blink, though her eyes stayed closed for a longer time than that of a regular blink. When she reopened them, she had caught glimpse of a figure sitting perched in the branches like a bird. At first she had thought it was an assassin, and one that would have attacked her next, that she quickly scurried to her feat in haste without taking her eyes off the figure one time.

"Who are yo— Wait… Rhy's?" She asked out of curiosity after being able to finally have her dazed eyes finally focus past the darkness and distance to tell out some familiar aspects. "Is that you?"