Noises from the rest of the camp woke me and I felt a warm arm draped around me, something I had been missing for some time now. I smiled as memories flooded back from just a few hours ago and I turned over to face Leliana.

She was awake as well and from the looks of it, had been for a while. Leliana had a smile waiting for me when my eyes set upon her and I returned the smile and spoke.

"Good morning."

"Good morning. Did you sleep well, love?"

'Love'?

I closed my eyes and sighed.

"I did indeed. I have not slept that soundly since...since I left my home."

"I can say the same thing, though my leaving home was years ago."

Leliana brushed my hair from my face and we just looked into each others eyes for a moment before Leliana kissed me. Hands were soon traveling below the blanket and only the sound of my name being called roused me from Leliana's grasp.

Alistair was outside of my tent, calling my name and asking if I was going to get up any time soon.

Leliana and I just looked at each other and giggled.

Well, surely they would see us both emerge from my tent and then tongues would be wagging though I hoped there were more important things to tend to than discussing the goings-on of who is in whose tent.

"It seems it is time for us to get up."

Leliana stole a few more kisses then agreed with me.

"But only because we are going to see Alistair's sister today. Oh! What if she invites us to stay for dinner? I should pick out something fancy to wear."

I smiled at the thought of Leliana already assuming that she was going to accompany us to Denerim.

I was not yet sure who would be going with us today but I was sure since Leliana wanted to go, she would get her way.

She had her methods of making things happen.

As I watched Leliana reach outside of the blanket to get her clothes, I was struck by this sudden need to remind her who was in charge.

A sly smile crept onto my lips and I slid on top of Leliana, taking her shirt from her hand and tossing it aside.

"Let us not forget who the Grey Warden is here, and I say when it is time to get dressed."

Leliana was taken aback by my force but I saw a gleam in her eyes as she answered.

"Oh, I am so sorry. I shall remember that from now on."

I pressed Leliana's wrists into the bedroll.

"Yes, you will."

Leliana's soft neck was calling my name and my lips answered as I covered her with kisses, hearing her moan softly into my ear. Her nipples hardened against me and as I made my way down her body, I was properly worshipful of everything Leliana had to offer me. I slowly eased her legs open with my own body and my lips moved further south and Leliana's moans grew louder. I giggled to myself thinking of how Leliana could definitely be heard across camp and tongues would definitely be wagging without question now.

Leliana whispered to me, concerned.

"Be careful! Your wounds..."

I looked back up at her and shushed her with more kisses, though I found her consideration quite charming.

It was warm under the blanket and I would rather have removed it so I could see her, but I decided that would be too cold for Leliana.

I tested the waters with my hand and fingers and Leliana squirmed even more and I smiled. I liked having her wrapped around my little finger instead of the other way around.

After a few minutes of my teasing her, Leliana begged me to have my way with her and I finally gave in, wanting it just as much as she did.

My arms circled around Leliana's legs and my hands on her hips pulled her into my mouth and my tongue found its way to where it was now demanded.

Leliana suddenly pulled the blanket to the side and I saw her look down at me, a desperate look on her face, begging for more.

Seeing her reactions as I made love to her made my body blaze with lust and I gave Leliana all that I had, my hands wandering over where I could reach while my mouth stayed put.

My assault was unending and soon I was rewarded with continued cries from Leliana and I smiled as I felt her legs begin to tremble and I doubled my efforts.

This was one skill I knew I would not have to upgrade as I watched Leliana writhe in pure bliss as she gave me everything she had and was not the least bit concerned of her noise level.

I returned to her after a moment and her eyes remained closed as she sought to regain her breath and I could tell this had taken her by surprise. That just may have been what had made her vocal performance as impressive as it had been.

Leliana finally opened her eyes and wrapped her arms around me as she rolled on top of me, looking into my eyes.

"That was...was..."

I delighted in the fact that she could not even complete the sentence, clearly lost for words and the smile lit up my face, I could tell.

Leliana giggled but our smiles rapidly turned to kisses once again and now I was caught under Leliana's control.

Leliana's usual confident smile returned and this time she held my wrists down, whispering in my ear.

"Now it's your turn."

I shook my head, arguing that we really must get going but Leliana's abrupt presence between my legs dictated otherwise and my words stopped.

I tried to uphold my statement again but I was lost in Leliana.

Now it was my voice erupting at dangerous levels as Leliana showed me again just how well versed in women she really was.

Her lips on my neck and her body against mine were driving me over the edge and then I felt her fingers inside of me and all was suddenly fuzzy. I felt as if I were in a different realm as the most delicious sensations washed over my body and I hadn't a care in the world.

When it was over, I felt myself still wrapped in Leliana's arms and her eyes upon me. We lay there for several more minutes, trying to ignore the bustling that only grew louder outside of the tent.

"This dog is digging a hole under my tent!"

We suddenly heard Zevran's outburst and then some various clanging noises and my hound barking.

I sighed, knowing that the dream was over and that real life waited, as always.

Leliana knew it was so as well and we broke our embrace, kissing one last time.

We both dressed quickly and Leliana gave me an adorable look right before she left my tent, promising that she would be ready to go soon.

I finished dressing myself and then began putting my armor on, readying for the trip to Denerim to meet Alistair's sister. The task took only minutes and I grabbed my sword and headed outside.

The camp was in disarray and my hound was running circles around Zevran, barking gleefully. Mabs had indeed started digging a hole under Zevran's tent and I shook my head as I watched his tent sag pitifully into the clay.

A few pots and pans were strewn across the campsite and it was obvious they had been thrown at my hound to get him to cease whatever mischief he was into.

I clapped my hands and Mabs immediately changed course and darted over to me, dropping down on his hindquarters before me, tongue hanging out of the side of his open mouth, panting like the maniac he was acting like.

"What did I tell you about digging in the camp? Now you have gone and disturbed the entire camp with your shenanigans. What do you have to say for yourself?"

Mabs whimpered and hung his head but I knew he was not truly sorry. Just as he had relished annoying Nan at the Cousland manor, he had now found another unwilling playmate in Zevran.

"Do not dig any more, Mabs. Do you understand me?"

Mabs barked and stood, running off again to continue his endless romp.

Sometimes that hound can be more trouble than he is worth.

Had he not been a gift from my father and had I not protected him from the powers that be, namely, the owners of whatever he had destroyed through the years, I was not sure what would have happened to him. Mabs really enjoyed disobeying and I knew one day things may end up beyond repair.

He was mine though, you could tell by his temperament and it had been fate that had linked us together. I had known from the moment I saw him that we were one and that neither of us appreciated authority.

There would be no separating the two of us.

I sighed and walked to Zevran who was still assessing the damage to this tent.

"I am sorry about this, Zevran."

Zevran just stared at his lopsided tent and shook his head.

"Let me get the shovel and I will..."

"No, no. You must accompany Alistair to Denerim for his sister because he will not stop talking about it. I do not know how many times he has asked how his hair looks but I do not want to hear any more. I shall stay here and clean the campsite but perhaps you can persuade your hound to dig the dirt the other way now?"

I laughed and assured Zevran that Mabs would not be coming near his things again.

"That sounds good, but I am sure he has other plans than what he lets you know."

Seems Zevran already knows the hound too well.

"He better not. He knows when he has gone too far. He used to do this at home too, it is from being cooped up in one area and he gets restless"

"Well, as soon as we locate the Darkspawn, he can romp and play all he likes, no? Perhaps he can simply dig a very large hole and we can then push the Darkspawn back into the abyss."

I laughed again, grateful for Zevran's sense of humor despite the mess that lay before us.

"Let me know if you need help when we return though. I do feel bad that he did that to your area."

"No, no. Take the prince to meet his sister so that we can later hear about something else for a change. If you can still walk, that is."

I just stared at Zevran and his facial expression told me that he was referring to what noises must have emanated from my tent earlier and he raised his eyebrow.

"What a great way to start the day, even better than breakfast. Unless...you did indeed have something to eat?"

I shook my head, trying to avoid this conversation now and repeated my offer of help when we returned but Zevran waved off any further concern and returned to his sinking tent.

As I walked away, Zevran called after me.

"But I would like an invite next time if you would not mind, Detra. I am sure that Leliana can not fulfill all of your needs and that would be where I could come in."

He had gall, I will give him that.

Alistair was approaching me when I spun around to look for him and we almost collided as I was engrossed in mentally strangling Zevran and understanding that this morning would be something I would never live down.

"Oh, there you are. I was just coming to find you, Alistair."

"It's about time that you left your tent. I didn't think you would remember what today was."

"I remember perfectly what today is Alistair, we are to see your sister. Do you really think I would let slip so important a task just because I had been stabbed a few times?"

Alistair giggled a bit but was not concerned, knowing I was fine now.

"Well, you were a busy bee this morning. None of us thought you two would make it out of your tent in one piece."

I could see Alistair's cheeks redden a bit and he smiled.

Again with this?

"What? 'None of us'? Are you all... talking about...?"

"Oh come on, as if we have anything else to do! We will talk about anything that sounds like gossip or naughty fun and you, my dear, seem to provide us with both."

I had known they would most likely discuss what had been heard and then Leliana's exit this morning but to actually hear for sure that they were; it was slightly disturbing, considering all that lay ahead of us. Surely they found preparing for the Darkspawn more important?

"So it was, wasn't it? Lots of naughty fun?"

I sighed and shook my head at Alistair, not giving him the answer he thought he already had.

"Ha ha, I know that look."

Alistair laughed and went to collect his things for the trip. I watched as he carefully gathered his mother's locket into his pack; he was planning to give it to his sister when they met. I hoped the woman was everything he expected and that she appreciated this token of his love because I knew how much the locket meant to him, especially since the Arl had gone through all of the trouble of repairing it for him.

Hopefully other happenings would occupy their minds instead of idle gossip as time went on. I personally did not want anyone contemplating Leliana and I or our actions.

My thoughts returned to my selection for the team for today's outing and I would only bring three others, besides myself. Alistair of course would be one, but I was not sure who else would benefit from the trip.

I would also need strong warriors as well in case the ever present Darkspawn threat reared its head at us yet again during our travels. I do not know how many more weapons I could take to the midsection and I truly did not want to find out.

I surveyed the camp for those who appeared interested in going and saw Leliana emerge from her tent, armored and ready to go, a smile on her face as she bounded over to me.

Alistair gave me a funny look and raised his eyebrow as he returned, pack on his back.

"Well, she is very spry for a Chantry girl."

I elbowed him and shook my head, embarrassed now that the fun was over.

So without a doubt Leliana was going now. There was no way I was going to talk her out of going and there really was no reason to do so.

That left one space to fill.

I wondered if Morrigan would want to go. It could not hurt to have her protection on the short but surely dangerous trip to Denerim and we had not talked since she had changed my bandages two days earlier.

One look at her area in camp and I saw she was not even there to ask. The only other two who might be interested in going would be Oghren or Wynne.

Oghren was in front of his tent with an enormous mug of ale, laughing to himself and I did not think a trip to Denerim would entice him to leave the spot he was in right now.

Wynne solved my dilemma by approaching us from behind and asking if she could come along as there were some things she needed from the Market District.

Problem solved.

"Do I look all right, Detra? Is my hair okay?"

I smiled and almost laughed as I remembered Zevran's earlier words. Alistair was nervous to meet his sister after all these years.

"She will love you, Alistair. Who could resist your bastardly charms?"

Alistair laughed at my sense of humor that rivaled his and we as a group made our way towards the trail that would lead us to Denerim.