Salem

A knock at the door roused me from the bed. I threw my clothes on, casting a lingering look at Leliana as she lay sleeping.

So beautiful.

I froze the image in my mind, to cling to, to keep my hope alive.

I opened the door and leaned against the frame, a sloppy smile on my face that I could do nothing about. Wynne stood there, hands on her hips and a knowing eyebrow quirked upward.

"Feeling better, warden?" she asked.

"Much." I reached out and embraced the healer. "Thank you, Wynne. For everything. We could not have made it this far without you."

Wynne, clearly uncomfortable with my rare show of affection, backed away, blushing red.

"I am glad that everything seems to have resolved itself. But the night is ended, morning is fresh, and most of us are prepared to get underway."

Of course. A warden's duty is never done. "I understand." I nodded. "We will join you soon."

I made to close the door and Wynne stopped me. "No distractions?" she asked, slanting her eyes.

"I can promise nothing." my smile widened and the mage laughed, muttering something about "lovestruck children" under her breath.

I walked to Leliana, sitting on the edge of the bed and stroking her hair.

"Wake up, dear heart." I spoke in a voice I reserved only for her hearing.

I leaned down and pressed my lips against hers. Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled into my kiss.

"Good morning, my love." she mumbled, only half-awake.

I ran my hand along the outside of her thigh, kissing her neck, coaxing her into the morning.

"We have to go." I whispered. "Arl Eamon is waiting for us."

She batted me away from her, playful.

"You are an incorrigible tease." she muttered, glaring at me from under tousled red hair. "Wake me with pleasure then slay me with duty. How dare you."

I laughed as she staggered from the bed, dressed, and combed her hair, skillfully weaving it into the ubiquitous braids she was so fond of. I watched, smiling.

I wish I could give you this forever, a pang went through me; faded. At least we have this moment to cherish, to remember. That will be enough for me; enough to sustain me through the waves of enemies and oceans of blood we are certain to be forced to slog through. I love you, Leliana.

I pulled my boots on, fastened my belt, and slung my swords across my back, feeling their familiar weight settle in. When we rejoined the rest of our tag-along party, I would see if Levi could find me better steel. However, until then, I felt certain the cultist's blades would hold.

Leliana turned to me, frowning. "No armor?" she asked.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Most of it was destroyed beyond repair." I informed her, watching as familiar worry creased her features.

Not this, not now. Not after we have this chance to start again.

"I will be careful." I promised her. "I swear it. After all, I am no longer going into battle blind."

It was her turn to falter, to realize that she seldom met my eyes, and when she did it was not long until she had to close her own or look away. I did not know how to reassure her, how to tell her that if I were forced to meet a mirror every day, I was uncertain if I could hold my own gaze.

"I apologize." she lifted her head at last. "I do not doubt you, Salem."

"I know." I walked forward, taking her hands in mine. "We need not traverse the entire ocean at once, dear heart. This...us...will take time."

"What if there is no time?" she wondered, a question I had asked myself as well. I did not hold it against her.

"If it comes to that." I smiled, pressing my forehead against hers, closing my eyes so she need not feel guilty, "I will walk into the heavens and freeze the sun in its place. I love you, Leliana. A glimpse, a candlemark, thirty years...all that I have left belongs to you. There will always be time."

She drew away, a grateful smile on her lips. "I still do not know how a warden who screams like a banshee in battle and who emerged victorious from a drunken swearing match with a dwarven berserker can possess the level of eloquence that you do."

"You are deafened by love!" I claimed, wrapping my arm around her as we exited the house. "My speech is as gutter-sunken as the rest of my miserable countrymen."

She laughed and shoved me away, falling into old, familiar, comfortable patterns. My heart beat faster, with joy this time, not anguish, not fear, not sorrow.

We will be all right, I swore to myself. There will be moments of doubt, come the future, and if Morrigan is any judge, there will be pain yet again. But there is also hope. Hope for Ferelden, for Thedas...even for me.

I looked back on the Frostback mountains, whispering a prayer of thanks to the Maker who had not abandoned me.

"Thank you." I whispered in the direction of the temple. "Thank you for giving her back to me. I will not fail you. I will not fail her."

Rest well, Andraste. Thank you for your gifts.

Burrow barked with joy as we approched the others, racing to me and Leliana with ridiculous loping strides. He jumped between the two of us, tongue lolling out, begging for affection. All would be well in my world; he knew that now, and his euphoria was catching.

Leliana laughed in her musical voice and scratched Burrow behind his one ear. The others approached us. Wynne returned Leliana's bow and I glanced at Morrigan as my bard took her weapon and said her thanks. The witch nodded at me in approval and I smiled at her with gratitude. She returned a sneer of disdain.

"Are you ready?" Alistair's hand landed on my shoulder.

"I am." I answered, clapping him on the back. "We have a mission, after all."

"For a moment," he said, a cheeky grin stamped on his face, "I thought you had forgotten."

I smirked and shook my head. "No." I told him. "I remain well aware of what is to come."

"Salem, I'm..." he cleared his throat, "I'm...happy for you."

"Thank you, Alistair." I replied, knowing that with those stilted words, he meant much more than he said. "We should go. Redcliffe is waiting."

"As you say." he teased, falling back to the group.

I strode out in front of them, into the warmth of the rising sun. The weight crashed in again, the stresses of a country trying to tear itself apart, the magnitude of having to kill a monster from myths and legends, the pressure of staying alive. I steeled myself and continued forward.

In war, I remembered the warden's vow, victory. In peace, vigilance. In death, sacrifice. And in life?

I had asked myself this question before, the only part of living that the warden's creed did not illuminate. I glanced back at my strange assortment of companions. Leliana caught my eyes...and smiled. I had the answer now.

In life...love.