Chapter 32 – Sticks and Stones

Nate wanted to kiss the ground the moment they returned to the surface. Instead he threw his head back and breathed in deeply of the fresh night air. The view of the stars glistening in the heavens above had never been more breathtaking as it was this night. Even the gnarled, dead trees of the Knotwood Hills were a welcome sight after the suffocating atmosphere of Kal'Hirol. He didn't know if it was the beauty of the night or his all-too recent brush with death, but for the first time in a long time he felt alive, truly alive.

It was done.

The broodmothers lay dead; their remains nothing more than ash in the filthy, stinking pit they had found them in. Alyx insisted they burn the corpses and Nate could hardly blame her. The broodmothers had been corpulent, deformed monstrosities made worse by the knowledge that they were once women. The very thought that Alyx, Sigrun or even Velanna could be turned into one of those things was beyond considering. As it was he was fairly certain he would have nightmares for days.

The relief amongst his comrades was palpable as they silently made camp for the night. Their journey into the Deep Roads had taken its toll on each of them in its own way, and now that they had accomplished what they came for they could finally get some well-deserved rest.

"Just what do you think you're doing?" Nate asked Alyx as she settled in by the fire instead of crawling into her tent like the others.

Alyx blinked up at him blankly at first, her brow furrowing in concentration as her sleep-deprived mind tried to understand his question.

"Sigrun doesn't have a tent so I offered to share mine until she can get one of her own. Figured I might as well take first watch while I'm up."

"I'll take first watch," he replied gently but forcefully.

"But, I—"

"Lex," he said softly, leaning down so that he was eye to eye with her. "You can barely keep your eyes open. Please consider your own health for once and get some rest. You can use my tent. I'll wake you up when it's time for next watch."

"But aren't you tired?" she asked weakly.

"Not in the slightest." In truth he was exhausted and his shoulder was beginning to ache, but if one of them was to have a proper night's rest it should be her. "Don't make me declare you unfit for duty," he added in mock reproach, a half-smile tilting up one side of his mouth. Alyx chuckled lightly, mirth dancing within her cerulean eyes.

"Very well, but know that I do so under duress," she replied teasingly.

"Objection noted," he said with a chuckle of his own as he helped her up.

Nate clasped her lightly beneath her arms as she swayed on her feet, his heart skipping a beat when her hands came up to steady herself on his chest. Though he still wore his torn and bloody armor, he swore he could feel the warmth of her touch through the thick leather.

"Thanks," she murmured as she quickly pulled out of his grasp, her cheeks flooding with color as she looked down in embarrassment. "Good night," she whispered before turning to flee into his tent.

He stood staring after her for long minute, unsure of what to make of her strange behavior. For a moment there he thought…he shook his head. It didn't really matter what he thought. Like most men, he was beyond understanding the inner-workings of any woman's mind let alone Alyx's, and would be foolish indeed to make assumptions. With a sigh he sat beside the fire and prayed for time to past swiftly.

Nate hadn't truly planned on waking her for the next watch. If anyone needed a good night's sleep it was the Commander, and yet it didn't surprise him in the least when she appeared to relieve him. The look on her face clearly said that there would be no debate on the subject, nor did he really have the energy to argue with her. It was with a measure of relief that he headed to his tent, already half asleep as he collapsed onto his bedroll. The moment his head hit the pillow he was enveloped by her warm, clean scent. Nate groaned. No matter how tired he was, there would be no sleep for him this night.

They broke camp early the next morning and began to make their way back to Vigil's Keep. There Sigrun would take her Joining and soon after they would set out again for the Blackmarsh.

Nate was hardly surprised that Alyx had offered Sigrun a position amongst them. She had proven herself a skilled fighter and had little other choice other than to 'disappear into the Deep Roads unmourned and forgotten,' as the perky dwarf so succinctly put it. Nate smiled to himself as he remembered the conversation she and the Commander had before they'd returned to the surface. Sigrun would make an interesting addition to their numbers…given that the woman even survived the Joining.

When they stopped for the night Nate found himself scrubbing away at the blood still staining the entire left side of his armor. He didn't know why he bothered, the leather was beyond repair, but he didn't relish the idea of going without armor while they were still on the road. He would have to commission a new set while they were at the Vigil. Perhaps Wade could make him something of drake skin, or maybe even dragon's wing if he had enough coin…

"So…you and the commander?" Sigrun asked Nate as she plopped down beside him near the fire and pulled out a shiny red apple. She took a large bite out of the succulent fruit, noisily chewing as she waited for his response.

"Me and the commander what precisely?" he replied evenly.

"You know," she said as she bumped her shoulder into his side and waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

Nate sighed, barely resisting the urge to roll his eyes.

"There is nothing going on between the two of us," he replied tersely.

"But you want there to be. Don't you even try to deny it! I see the way you look at her!"

Nate stared at Sigrun at this pronouncement. Was he really that obvious?

"How do you ever expect to win her over if you're going to sit over here and brood instead of whispering sweet nothings in her ear?"Sigrun asked him between mouthfuls of apple. "You're a nobleman. Flirting is supposed to be some sort of game to your kind, so go flirt!"

"Ex-nobleman, and I do not flirt," Nate growled.

"Grumpy, grumpy! No wonder she prefers the mage's company over yours. He at least gets the idea."

Nate scowled at Sigrun's words. He glanced across the campfire to where Alyx and Anders were talking. Anders was sitting entirely too close to her, his fingers occasionally brushing her arm as he spoke. As he watched Alyx threw her head back and laughed; a throaty, seductive laugh that made his stomach muscles contract. He gritted his teeth as white-hot jealousy tore through his body.

"You're not really going to let that peacock steal her from right under your nose?"

"It's…complicated, Sigrun."

"Why? Because of the mage? Or because she's your commanding officer?"

"Why are you so interested to know?" Nate shot back.

"Because I like you?" she replied sheepishly. When Nate simply glared at her she threw up her hands in surrender. "Alright, alright! Oghren bet me fifty silver that Anders would be the one to win her heart…but I really do like you!"

"Is it just me or is gambling a national pastime to you dwarves?" Nate grumbled in exasperation.

"Noticed that did you?" Sigrun replied with a chuckle. "But seriously, Nathaniel, you can't expect her to take notice of you if you sit on the sidelines. Prove to her that you want her, and then drive her to distraction by making her wonder what she's missing. Works like a charm."

"No doubt, but I'm likely to go mad long before such a game comes to fruition. I never cared for such things at court, and my tolerance level has only diminished over the years. If I am to win her affections it will be in my own way," he said.

"You are just no fun at all," Sigrun pouted, but then a wicked gleam jumped into her eyes and before he could so much as blink she grabbed his arm and leaned into his side, giggling coquettishly as she fluttered her eyelashes at him.

"What on Thedas are you doing?" he hissed.

"Smile and laugh as if I just said the funniest thing you've ever heard."

"What?"

"I'm trying to help you big lout, just do it!"

Nate did as she asked, trying not to cringe at the sound of his own laugh. It sounded absurdly fake to his own ears.

"Just what are you about?" he asked through clenched teeth.

"I'm trying to prove a point, and most successfully if I do say so myself. At the very least it got her attention," she replied.

Nate glanced across the fire and low and behold Alyx was staring at them, her expression an interesting mix between surprise and chagrin. He turned back to Sigrun and this time flashed her a genuine, toothy smile. The dwarf blinked in surprise before a slow, answering smile spread across her face.

"See? That wasn't so hard was it? You're welcome by the way," Sigrun said as she detached herself and bounced to her feet.

Nate shook his head in silent amusement as he turned his attention back to the armor in his lap. Perhaps Sigrun had a point after all.

"Oh, and Nate?" Sigrun called as she glanced back over her shoulder at him. "You should smile more often. It suits you."

He flashed her one last grin of appreciation before she turned to leave. No doubt about it, things were definitely bound to be interesting with Sigrun around.

The rest of the return journey passed without incident. Sigrun survived her Joining (to Alyx's relief) and before they knew it they were back on the road. Alyx found herself highly curious about their destination. She knew little about the Blackmarsh beyond the idle gossip that could be heard in any tavern across the Arling. It was said that the marsh had once been a thriving community but had since been deserted (though no one knew why). It was also rumored to be haunted. Yet it wasn't the strange tales that surrounded the secluded area that drove her to keep them moving, but the guilt of having left one of their own to fend for themselves.

It was her fault.

Kristoff had already been gone for a fortnight when Varel first told her of his disappearance, and it had been many weeks since then. With no word from the missing warden and no evidence as to his whereabouts, Alyx thought it unlikely they would find him alive if they found him at all. If only she'd chosen to go after him from the first…but there was little they could do about it now but hope for the best.

Sigrun was proving to be a welcome addition to their ranks. Her cheerful attitude and dry wit was like a breath of fresh air in comparison to the tempered animosity of the past couple of weeks. Alyx found that the woman had an insatiable curiosity about anything and everything to do with the surface. Her constant stream of questions kept her on her toes and, more importantly, kept her too busy to fall back into the holding pattern she'd found herself in.

Which reminded her…she still hadn't decided what she was to do about Anders and Nathaniel. Although they'd given her the space and time she sorely needed, she knew that it wouldn't last forever. Even now she could see that they grew anxious, and it was only a matter of time before one or both of them would begin to press her for a decision.

She wasn't ready.

She'd barely begun to admit to herself the secret yearnings of her heart. How could she possibly share it with them? Her nerves were too brittle, her heart still too full of pain and loss to face the ramifications of her desires. Then there was the guilt. But above everything else it was sheer, bloody terror that kept her from following her heart. Fear of the future, fear of rejection, fear of losing either one of them in the face of her own selfish needs.

The old Alyx would have taken what she wanted without thought or care of such things. She would have laughed at the absurdity of it all and then teased both men into a frenzy of lust, stealing a kiss here or there or possibly a stolen moment of passion before sending them both on their merry ways. It had been a game she'd played before, in misspent days of her youth.

When she'd come into the full blossom of womanhood she quickly found she had a natural passion far exceeding that which was typical for young women of her age and breeding. This, paired with enticing features and the voice of a siren, made her outrageously popular amongst the young men both at court and in her father's service. She'd thrilled at the sensual power she held over those poor besotted fools with a simple look or a few well-placed words. When she grew bored with her suitors or one became too attached she would cut them loose, but always in a way that would never lead to believe that they'd been used. And she had used them, out of some ill-conceived notion that she had an empty, unfulfilled existence. What a spoiled, selfish thing she'd been!

She might have done the same to Alistair had he not been what he was. Alyx swore that even had he lived to be a hundred he would still have an aura of boyish innocence about him. Even after they'd been sleeping together for months she could still make him blush at the mere hint of sex. The memory made her smile. How ironic that the only man who'd ever been able to match her in passion had been a virgin before she'd seduced him to her bed…or rather he seduced her if she recalled correctly. The thought made her smile even wider.

"Uh, Commander?" Oghren called. "Don't know what yer grinnin' about, but I think yer scarin' the kids," he said as he gestured at Anders and Nathaniel with a nod of his head. Both men scowled at Oghren, causing Alyx to laugh.

"Just remembering, Oghren. Nothing to be concerned about," she replied, her voice warmed with amusement.

"Must be some memory," the dwarf mumbled.

You have no idea, she thought with a shake of her head.

Though they still had a few hours of sun left Alyx decided they would stop for the night as the tree line broke and she spotted a nicely situated glade. Before long their tents were set up and Alyx was enjoying the relative quiet as she leaned back against a mossy stone and closed her eyes. She sighed in contentment as she soaked up the warmth of the sun playing across her skin and listened to the soothing sound of rushing water from a nearby stream. Anders and Velanna had gone off to look for firewood and Sigrun and Nathaniel had gone to see if they could snare a rabbit for the evening meal, leaving her and Oghren to watch over the camp.

She could hear Oghren grumbling under his breath as he sat across from her and lit his long-necked pipe.

"What's on your mind Oghren?" she said with a sigh. She knew she wasn't lucky enough to have more than a moment's peace. Oghren snorted as he stared off into space.

"Bein' in Kal'Hirol…got me to thinkin' about Branka," he said after awhile. "Look, Falc, I know she's gone. I know it. But sometimes I…ah, sod it."

"But what about Felsi?"

"She left me. Took the nugget too."

"I'm sorry, Oghren," she replied softly, not quite sure what else she could say. Oghren was not a man to be coddled…not that she thought he deserved it. After all, he left his wife and newborn without so much letting her know where he was going or what he was about. Had he been her husband she would have left him too.

"Can't say as I blame her," Oghren grumbled as he stroked his beard. "But she knew what she was gettin' into when she shacked up with me. All I've ever been good at is killin'. I can't play house like she wants me to, not after Branka. But the nugget…aww, damn! Listen to me whimperin' like a box of wet kittens. "

"There's no reason why you can't still have a relationship with your child, Oghren. He deserves to know his father."

Oghren grunted. She knew better than to think she'd get any more out of him than that, but she could see a new gleam in his eyes. Perhaps there was still hope for him yet.

"Speaking of wet kittens, Falc …when are'ye gonna' come to yer senses and bed down with one of them lads?

Alyx groaned.

"I am not discussing this Oghren."

"Aww, come on!"

" "

"I'm jest worried about ye is all. As amusin' as it is te see those two hot-heads rip each other a new one, it makes me sodding cranky te see what it's doin' to you. I don't do cranky well."

"As we all know," Alyx murmured irritably.

"Look, I know how much things have changed for ye, but ye used to laugh at this sort'a thing."

"It's one thing to laugh at a couple of drunken louts I hardly know make fools out of themselves for my attention, and quite another when—"

"—When yer heart's invested?" he finished for her. "And it is lass…isn't it?" he added gently. Alyx shifted uncomfortably. Gentle from Oghren was disturbing.

"I…" she began, swallowing hard as she struggled to find the words and looking away in embarrassment when none would come. Why was it so difficult to talk about this with him? "I have a duty…both to them and to Fereldan—"

"Te hell with yer sodding duty woman! The darkspawn don't care who yer sleepin' with, and if those boys can't take a little heartache then they're not worth my spit!"

"You're missing the point, Oghren."

"Then enlighten me, Commander."

Alyx opened her mouth, but then Anders and Velanna appeared with the wood and she had no choice but to swallow her retort. By the time they got a fire going Nate and Sigrun had returned with a brace of rabbits already skinned and cleaned for cooking.

Alyx found herself forgetting her troubles as she joined in the boisterous conversation over a delicious rabbit stew Anders had thrown together. For as different as all of them were from each other, there was never a lack of conversation for long.

She was surprised to find that their time in camp was beginning to feel a lot like it had during the blight, only with different faces and different worries. If she closed her eyes, however, she could begin to imagine that she was back in that time and place. Alistair would likely have his head in her lap, chatting away as she ran her fingers through his hair. Wynne would be sitting across from them, working on fresh poultices as she shared bits of wisdom with anyone who would listen. Zev would be flashing her lascivious glances across the fire as he sharpened his blades, and Leli would be humming to herself as she tuned her lute…

"Alright, that's it! On your feet Howe!" Anders growled, abruptly breaking into Alyx's memories. Her eyebrows shot up in surprise as Anders circled the fire to tower over Nate, red-faced in anger.

"You've got to be kidding me," Nate muttered, but he stood nonetheless. "Do you have a death wish mage?"

"The only wish I have right now is to see you flat on your arrogant arse," he said as he balled his hands into fists. "Let's go Howe. No weapons, no magic. Just you and me, mano y mano."

Nate rolled his eyes and began to turn away when Anders threw the first punch. Nate easily dodged it, his eyes snapping with intent as he came back up in a defensive stance.

"Where'd you learn to fist fight?" Nate asked as they circled each other wearily.

"You don't grow up the way I did without learning how to defend yourself," Anders replied.

"I only ask because you fight like a girl," Nate said as he flashed Anders a toothy grin.

Anders growled and shoved him hard in the chest. Eyes snapping in challenge, Nate shoved Anders back. A second later they were at each other's throats and soon after rolling on the ground like a couple of brawling schoolboys. Alyx arched one fine eyebrow as she watched the two of them kick and shove at each other, then shrugged and went back to her meal. At least they were moving away from the camp.

"What's the matter mage? Can't stand the competition?" Nate asked calmly as he gained the upper hand.

"You really are a self-righteous wanker, you know that?" Anders gasped as he took another swing as him.

"Better a self-righteous wanker than a fast-talking man-whore," Nate retorted.

"You think you know me, Howe? You know nothing about me!"

"I know you're an idiot," Nate replied in the arrogant, clipped tone that always drove Anders insane.

"A typical nobleman's response," Anders said with a snort. "There's not an original thought amongst the lot of you, is there?"

Nate cocked an eyebrow at him before he glanced about and quickly found a large, rotting piece of wood. Before Anders could move out of the way Nate swung the log across his legs, making him tumble onto his back like a turtle. The air whooshed out of his lungs as he hit the ground.

"I don't know, I thought that was rather original," Nate said as he tossed the stick aside.

"That was a dirty trick," Anders said as he fumbled to his feet.

"If you want to play fair you have to set rules."

"Rules? There are rules to this sort of thing? I thought the whole point was to beat each other to a bloody pulp."

"If you insist," Nate replied with an unfriendly smile just before his hand shot out and connected with Anders' nose.

"Aren't you going to stop this?" Velanna hissed into Alyx's ear.

"Aww, let the lads blow off some steam. They've been leadin' up to it fer weeks," Oghren interjected, obviously amused by the tussle.

"Why should I?" Alyx agreed.

"But…aren't you afraid they're going to kill each other?" Velanna asked in shock.

"Hardly," Alyx replied with a soft snort. "They'll give it up once they wear each other out, either that or one of them gets a good blow in…what?" she asked when Velanna stared at her like she'd grown another head. "It's not like I haven't ever seen a brawl or two in my time. I do have a brother you know."

Velanna stared at her in disbelief, her lips thinning in disgust as she crossed her arms over her chest.

Meanwhile Anders and Nathaniel had taken the fight clear across to the other side of the glade. Alyx could barely make out more than the outline of their figures against the glare of the sun kicking up off the surface of the stream at their backs.

"Tell me the truth, Anders. Is this really about Alyx or is it more about your pride?" Nate asked as they circled each other.

Anders opened his mouth to retort, but instead he plastered a look of fear on his face and pointed behind his opponent.

"Look out!" he cried. When Nathaniel turned to look Anders sucker punched him. Nate went down on one knee and glared at Anders as the mage began to laugh. "I can't believe you fell for that! That's the oldest trick in the book. Who's a tosser now?"

Nate stood slowly, a muscle in his jaw ticking as he took a step then two in Anders' direction, but he refused to move or even flinch. Anders didn't know what he was planning to do, but he refused to show the panic that was steadily building in his chest as Nate leaned down to look him dead in the eye.

"You still fight like a girl," he rasped.

Anders lunged at him and they both went tumbling to the ground.

"If none of you are going to stop this I will," Velnna cried as she jumped to her feet.

Alyx's eyebrow went up as the woman stormed across the camp. Ander and Nate had found their footing again and were currently trying to choke the life out of each other. Without a word of warning Velanna's hands shot out and shoved them both hard in the shoulder. Both men flailed their arms in search of balance for a long moment before they lost the battle and toppled into the stream with a splash.

Alyx, Oghren and Sigrun burst out laughing as the two men sputtered to the surface looking very much like a pair of drowned rats. Alyx laughed even harder as she watched Anders shoot Velanna a murderous glare and Nate slap the surface of the water in indignation. It was just about the funniest thing she'd ever seen. She was laughing so hard that tears sprung to her eyes and her stomach ached, but it was worth it. For just this moment, in this glade amongst these people, she was Alyx again…the old Alyx; and although she knew it wouldn't last, she would have the memory of it forever.

"Wonderful, just bloody wonderful," Anders muttered as he sloshed his way to the shore. "That was my last set of clean robes," he added as he flopped onto the grassy knoll.

Nate ignored him as he walked past without so much as a word. Anders could still hear the others chuckling as he began to work at his boots. The soaked leather suctioned to his foot, making it ridiculously difficult to get off. He stopped and wiped his nose with the back of his hand and scowled when blood came away with the water.

"Bloody perfect," he ground out as he slapped the ground in frustration. He took a deep breath and casted a quick healing spell, sighing with relief as he felt his broken nose realign. He supposed he should have left it the way it was after the way he acted, but it was too late now.

Anders blew out a long breath and sat back. He knew he had behaved badly, but he hadn't been able to help himself. He couldn't even remember what Nate had said to set him off, but beneath it all he knew it was simple jealousy and fear that drove him to act out. Nate was threat, more so than the man could ever know, and it scared the hell out of him.

Anders didn't have many skills, but there had always been two topics he'd always excelled in: magic and women. Both came naturally to him and both gave him a great deal of pleasure. He'd never been turned down by a woman he wanted (well, except that one time…but he didn't talk about that time) and he certainly hadn't ever had to compete for a woman's affections…until now. Ironic that it was only when it mattered, and Howe was proving to be a formidable opponent indeed. Not by his actions (for the man had been a bloody saint around Falcon lately, doing little more than staring at her when she wasn't looking) but by who and what he was.

The man reminded him of a cobra; lethal power and strength coiled deep within a cool, measured façade; laying in wait for the poor bastard thick enough to disturb it, and then striking with terrifying speed and grace. He supposed that's what made him so brilliant both on and off the field. One never knew what to expect from him, and it was getting dreadfully tiresome. The question was what was he to do about it?

"Here," Nate said as he dropped a clean tunic and leather leggings in Anders' lap. "That should suffice until your robes dry, and for the love of the Maker remember to bring provisions with you next time."

Anders looked from the garments in his lap to Nate's stormy expression in surprise. He wanted to throw the clothes in the smug man's face, but he knew better than that. If he remained in his wet robes for much longer he'd catch his death and then where would he be? He muttered a thanks and went back to pulling off his boots as Nate peeled off his own wet tunic and turned to place it over a nearby shrub to dry. Anders looked up just in time to get a good look at the long, welted scars that criss-crossed over the entire expanse of the other man's back.

"Andraste's tits! That had to hurt," Anders gasped before he could think better of it. Nate stiffened in response to his words. "What happened?" Anders asked cautiously.

"I'd rather not talk about it," Nate growled before pulling a fresh tunic over his head, quickly covering the evidence.

Just as well, Anders thought. He'd seen a lot of injuries in his time and something like that, well…it was more a matter of who was responsible rather than what. The thought was discomfiting. He opened his mouth to speak but no words would come. What did one say in the face of such brutalization? He turned back to the task of pulling off his boots. His mind desperately searched for something to say to fill the uncomfortable silence.

"You had a lousy healer," he finally said. "Any decent harrowed mage should be able to heal something like that without leaving scars."

"I wasn't allowed a healer," Nate replied through clenched teeth.

That surprised him. But why? Could they not afford one or was he forbidden out of punishment? It was on the tip of his tongue to ask, but in Nate's current mood he would likely be taking his life into his own hands. Anders eyed the other man speculatively. He knew that Nate hadn't exactly lived the typical life of a nobleman and yet…yet he still assumed that he'd lived a life of privilege. Apparently he was wrong.

"Do me a favor, Anders. Don't mention this to the others, especially not to Alyx."

"But why?" he asked in surprise. "She's bound to notice eventually," Especially if you plan to bed her, Anders added silently, wincing at the thought.

"I…I'd rather not explain unless it becomes necessary. It is a memory I dislike to think of let alone share," Nate replied eventually.

Anders nodded. That he certainly could understand.

They grew quiet again as Anders finally struggled out of his boots and peeled his wet robes away from his clammy skin. The soft breeze that had felt so good before sent a chill straight through his system. He quickly pulled on the breeches, scowling as he noted they were entirely too large for him. Then again, Nate was a few inches taller and likely had at least twenty pounds of muscle mass on him…Anders stiffened in sudden realization. Nate could have very easily finished their fight before it even begun. So why hadn't he? Which reminded him of something else…

"Nate?"

"Hmm?"

"I never properly thanked you…for saving my life. In Kal'Hirol."

"There's no need—"

"There is a need. I was overtaxed and foolishly trying to play hero when I should have fallen back. Had it not been for you I would have been paste beneath that inferno golem's hand."

"Unlikely, but…you're welcome."

"Why did you save me?" he asked before he could think better of it.

"Why?"

Anders nodded.

"Do you honestly think I want you dead, Anders?" Nate asked. "I don't. We might desire the same woman and I might very well find you annoying some of the time…well, most of the time if I'm to be honest…but you are still my brother. You know as well as I that this warden thing is a life sentence. No matter what Alyx decides, we're in this together until one or both of us goes to our Calling…or gets killed, which is a more likely outcome."

"I—yes, I suppose you're right," Anders replied, a small grin crossing his face. "And I suppose I should apologize for attacking you."

"Don't worry about it," Nate replied with a shrug and a smile. "After all, we made her laugh."

"Yeah…that we did," Anders murmured, a slow smile crossing his face as Nate's words sunk in. "That we did. Well, come on then!" he said as he jumped to his feet.

"Aren't you going to put that on?" Nate asked as he gestured to the tunic in his hand.

"I'd like to dry out by the fire first," Anders replied with a shrug,

Nate scowled but didn't comment. A slow, wicked grin spread across Anders' face. He might not be a man of the sword but he certainly could still make an impression on the ladies. Finally he found something that Howe couldn't, or rather wouldn't, ever do himself.

When they walked back into camp, Anders soaked in the appraising glances of the trio of women sitting by the fire. He especially made sure Alyx got a good, long look at his naked chest and was awarded with an appreciative stare that set his senses aflame. Anders smiled to himself, feeling ten times better about himself then he had just a few minutes ago.

Yep. He still had it.

Muse Tunes for this chapter: "Under the Stars" by David Arnold (Dawn Treader OST); "Better Together" by Jack Johnson; "Kayla" by Harry Gregson-Williams (X-Men Origins OST); and last but most certainly not least "Little John and the Band in the Forest" by Michael Kamen (Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves OST)…this song is what inspired the fight scene.