Chapter 55: Winter's Chase

Winter in Highever, Hadrian remembered fondly and with a slight ache in his heart, was celebrated with high hopes and respect. It was a sign that summer had come and gone, with spring following close by.

The Winter solstice was treated as a special holiday by the Couslands and, while the Maker was predominantly their main God, their Wolf Protector was as equally worshiped as the Maker Himself. Thus, hunts were held in Zarieth's honour, much to the chagrin of a handful of vassals and minor lords. Even the Chantry had more than once vocalized its disapproval and even dared to kill off any wolves that would roam too closely to the Cousland Castle. However, the political power of the Chantry could not halt the coming of the wolves.

"What the-!" A large white snowball flew straight into Hadrian's mouth and a few more hit Hadrian's front until the entire dark dragonplate disappeared underneath the layer of cold and white.

"Snowball for your thought?" Alistair shouted out cheerfully over the din of laughter and giggles. Even Morrigan was not immune to the power of laughter and cheerfulness. While Zevran was too busy trying to sneak up on the distracted Alistair, Morrigan mumbled something and a row of snowballs levitated into the area.

"Zevran! Your back is open!" She yelled loudly and the witch couldn't help but smile at Zevran's shocked expression as the ten snowballs aimed themselves right at Zevran's head before firing. A slew of Antivan curses erupted into the air before the elf too succumbed to the power of snow.

"Hey! No magic allowed!" The bronze-skinned elf cried out and the elf rolled to the side to avoid another assault, this time having originated from Leliana.

"Who needs magic to hit you, Zev?!" The redhead shouted out and she giggled when Zevran gracefully jumped to his feet only to throw two large snowballs at her face. The archer dodged to the side but a third one finally struck her on her left breast and she fumed at Zevran's bark of laughter.

"I think we should kill him," Morrigan casually stated for the witch was struck on the breasts as well by Zevran's weapon of choice. Leliana agreed and as the two women began to plan on how to take out Zevran with only snowballs as weapons, the poor elf suddenly realized that he was in a rather precarious position.

"Ready, Morrigan?" Leliana asked of the dark-haired witch and Morrigan nodded her head.

"Oh no! Magic is not allowed but two on one? That is not fair, my friends!" Zevran shook his head ruefully but a smile on that delicate elfin face belied his true feelings. The elf found himself experiencing something that was lacking in his entire life: pure joy. Just stupid fun without having to get something out of it like murdering someone or retrieving a stolen artifact.

Even Sten's mood lightened up and the Qunari watched with curious eyes as his friends attacked each other with snow. His sword, Asala, hummed along his back as the men and women he called 'comrades' moved with heavy feet and light hearts throughout the forest.

The party had spent a good part of the month traveling from Denerim to the forests that barricaded the southern lands from the Frostback Mountains. Hadrian ensured that everyone bought any essentials that they might need for their journey to the icy wilderness. The supplies and equipment repairs would have cost the Warden a fortune were it not for the shrewd mind of Bodahn. Despite his height and his tendency to 'pick up' unwanted items along the way, the dwarf certainly had a talent for barter and trade. However, it was Zevran who prevented the deals from being undervalued and, of course, helping the Crows out, indirectly of course, supplied Hadrian and the others with a rare opportunity to purchase powerful poisons and grenades that Zevran loved to use.

From the poisons, Zevran made quite a handful of antidotes and the potions were put to good use, especially from an incident a week prior to their current position when a bandit slathered soldier's bane on his arrows and fired them at Hadrian.

That day, no one really wanted to get on Alistair's bad side. When Hadrian suddenly fell down, an arrow sticking out of his shoulder, the man literally went mad with rage and Sten admired the brutality, the strength behind his comrade's movements. The Qunari, unfortunately, was the only one who liked the sudden switch from Alistair's sweet and bashful side to this monstrous being who tore his opponents apart with his bare hands. The women, while they didn't exactly cower in fear of their friend, eyed Alistair warily and Zevran had to do a lot of smooth-talking to talk Alistair down and to also convince the other warden that the antidote was necessary and had to be taken by mouth.

Thus, Sten was not wholly surprised to see Alistair hovering by Kadan, all night and day. Kadan. That title weighed heavily in the Qunari's mind for it served as an acknowledgment of respect. The highest in his culture. If the Arishok himself had asked to kill this man specifically, Sten would deliberately not look for him on the battlefield should that day come. One day, he would have to decide the warden's fate but not now. Now, he can just be content in witnessing the silliness of his friends and enjoy the company of the Mabari that stood sentinel next to him.

The winter sun soon retreated back to its western abode and, with night fast approaching, the party had to quickly prepare the tents. Morrigan even cast a spell that kept out the harsh freezing temperatures and, when Hadrian thanked her, the witch just replied with a haughty comment that warden icicles were not useful in a fight. A slight smile offset the harshness of her tone and Hadrian then did something that he'd never done before. He hugged her, the way an older brother would hug a little sister. The embrace, as short as it was, touched something inside her and a speechless Morrigan was left behind to her own devices.

Alistair looked as confused as she but the bumbling idiot, for once, kept his mouth shut and simply followed Hadrian out of the campsite. Morrigan didn't have to wonder where they were going but, despite having traveled with her companions for over six months, she still didn't know why Hadrian would leave the camping grounds. Thus, tonight, when everyone slept soundly in their tents, she too would slip out and see what the two men could possibly be doing this late at night.

-o0o-

The full moon provided enough light for the two men to journey to a small alcove, a location memorized through repetitive trips. It faced away from the campsite and looked up at the sloping snowy embankments that would soon turn into rocky hills farther up north. Several creeks wound their way around the alcove but with temperatures so cold, the waters had all frozen up. Even so, the two wardens had to be careful in finding their way down there or risk falling and breaking a bone.

As the pair carefully made their way over the rocky riverside, Hadrian threw a backward glance at the handsome man following him and he grinned mischievously before suddenly darting forward to disappear into the evergreens that surrounded their alcove. The blonde growled at how quickly his partner ran from him and he sniffed the area before grinning lasciviously.

Tantalizing odors of sandalwood and mint drifted into his olfactory senses and alighted the arousal that burned lowly inside his very being. He crouched low to the ground and focused on what Hadrian had said to him a few weeks ago: the wolf is part of you...be the animal that calls to you...

The change had been excruciating initially and it was only the presence of another wolf beside him that mitigated his instinct to lash to kill and maim everything in sight. His Alpha instincts, with its dark sultry voice, whispered to him to take what was through strength and will. To treat the wolf at his side with utmost respect and to kill all those who dared to defile him, whether it be by name and by body. After having undergone this celestial transformation several times, he had time to fully take in what he had become.

It only took him a second to regard the watcher in the light of the small, frozen creek. His fur was dark and thus made it easier for him to discern his true face. Golden eyes blazed back at him and his ears, large even for a wolf, twitched restlessly as he listened to the sounds of the wilderness. The quiet hoots of an owl, the soft scratching of a rabbit as it tries to borrow into a dead trunk. Most of all, he focused on the sounds of his mate running through the woods and he took off, leaving no footprints behind as if he wasn't there at all.

This feeling of running wildly, into the cold, free of all the trappings of his human life, was exhilirating and he would have howled out his delight in this newfound freedom of his. However, tonight he was hunting a prey that wanted to be caught and devoured.

Hadrian for his part really did his best to lose his lover but somehow Alistair always manages to find him, even with a good head start. The young warden attempted to circle back, in an attempt to confuse his hunter, but instead, he found himself getting caught within that same loop and let out a small yip as his hunter bowled into him, straddling his back and with teeth in his neck. He made a show to struggle, to least put some effort in trying to dislodge his lover. The teeth merely tightened their hold on the scruff of his neck and a warning growl reverberated throughout his entire body.

Knowing that it wasn't of any use, Hadrian became limp and he whimpered as a hot tongue laved that small hurt in approval.

Change back...

Alistair spoke to him and Hadrian obeyed him; he shifted and found that Alistair had also shifted back. His muscular chest pressed hard against his back and forced Hadrian deeper into the heavy snow. While the Cousland was all for rutting like wild animals in the woods, he wasn't quite fond of freezing his balls either.

"...Alistair..." Hadrian started to say but the other man wasn't listening to him. Strong, confident hands kneaded his shoulders, releasing any tension from the muscles, before traveling further down to caress his buttocks. Then the hands became fingers that teased him endlessly but before Hadrian could reach his climax, they stopped and that warmth at his back soon drew back, leaving him bare to the frigid winter air.

"Hold on," Alistair murmured to him and, before Hadrian could ask what in the Black City he was doing, the dark-haired man found himself gathered into strong arms and holding onto those same arms for dear life as Alistair literally sped across the ten miles the pair had traveled from the alcove and gently deposited him into the cave that was their temporary shelter on nights like this.

Bedrolls from their first night here were left undisturbed and thus, Alistair wasted no time in taking his lover to them. He kissed Hadrian roughly, with his gentle strokes and massages offsetting the kisses' harshness. Quiet whimpers echoed in the cave as Alistair nibbled none too gently at his earlobe before turning his attention to the bared throat.

Clawed fingers tore into his shoulders when he nipped and licked at the exposed column of flesh. Hadrian jumped at the sensation of a hot tongue brushing over his stiffening nipple and he gasped out loud when Alistair tugged at it lightly between his teeth.

"Ahh! Alistair..."

"Sshh...I'm busy here," Alistair's voice vibrated through that same nipple, making Hadrian groan heavily. If anything turned Hadrian more than ever, it was sound of that voice. Whether it be in a jesting mood or commanding him, the low timbre pitch never failed to start the fires of passion in Hadrian.

Thus, as Hadrian moaned and shivered underneath the onslaught of Alistair's voice and hands, the young man was helpless in his lover's dominating grasp. He too willingly followed Alistair's instructions to hold his hands above his head, to not move them an inch even when Alistair would worship him with teeth and tongue. He obeyed his lover to not touch himself as the blonde would turn him on hands and knees; to resist the urge to take himself in hand was difficult and more than once, Hadrian discovered himself automatically reaching for himself when he was taken again and again. More than once, Alistair had to show him who was in charge by biting him on his throat, by not permitting him to come until he was commanded to.

When he was finally allowed to, with Alistair whispering sweet endearments to him, Hadrian honestly thought his sex life couldn't get any better than this. He was wrong. Horribly and yet delightfully wrong.

As he released into Alistair's hand, he collapsed into an exhausted sleep, tired by his exertions of undergoing seven rounds of mind-blowing sex with his insatiable Alpha. He was so tired that he failed to see an owl looking down upon him and Alistair with intelligent golden eyes. The owl released several hoots before flying away in a southerly direction, where the main camp was. The revelation of who the owl could be didn't dawn on Hadrian until it was much too late, to his embarrassment and a certain golden-eyed witch's delight.

-TBC-

A/N: A little more insight from Sten and Morrigan in addition to some light smut between our favourite couple! It's hard to write good smexy times without it sounding like a textbook. I'm still working on improving the semxy scenes so please bear with me! :D