Chapter Eight


~O~

The half full moon, well on its way to setting, still illuminated the path Marian trudged along, with Anders following right behind her. It had been a very busy, but successful night, as far as Marian was concerned. She glanced back to meet the glowering eyes of her lover, coming to a stop and sighing.

"Are you still brooding, even now?"

Crossing his arms, Anders narrowed his eyes that still snapped with anger. "How would you feel if I traipsed off into a den of thugs, which I had to waltz past templars to reach, and insisted you stay out here and wait until I returned? Don't tell me you would be fine with it, because we both know that's bullshit!"

"I wouldn't be fine with it, you're right," she offered in a soothing tone. "But you understood why, some of those templars might know your face. Once we are out of Amaranthine, I will not ask you to remain behind again. I want you with me always, love, but I can't risk you until we are away from here." She stroked a hand across his arm, her eyes imploring. "Won't you forgive me, please? I'll make it up to you, anything you want."

He pursed his lips, his eyes turning calculating. "Anything I want? Be careful, you may not like what I choose."

She shrugged. "If it makes you feel better to punish me, then do as you will. I trust you." She smiled faintly. "You can always heal any damage," she joked.

He gave her a horrified look and gripped her upper arms. "Mari, I would never do anything that might hurt you. I hope you know that."

She laughed. "Of course I know that, Anders, it was just a very poor joke." She pouted out her bottom lip. "Am I forgiven?"

Growling, he jerked her against him and kissed her wildly, lapping greedily at her bottom lip before he tugged it with his teeth, sweeping his tongue into her mouth and dueling hers into submission. When he pulled away minutes later, she stared up at him with dazed eyes, clutching onto him until her weak knees regained their strength.

"Andraste's flaming sword," she said in a breathy voice. "Maybe you should save those kinds of kisses until we are somewhere we can do something about them...and when I don't need to walk normally."

Her gave her a smugly amused half smile. "Serves you right. Don't taunt me with that lip that makes me instantly want to fuck you, unless you are prepared for the immediate consequences." He raised his brows for emphasis. "You've been warned."

She tilted her head, intrigued by his seeming threat, and wondering what exactly might happen if she gave him a bit of a push, to test him sometime in the future. This wasn't anything she had any experience with, the corrupted Anders never really went out of his way to have sex with her, and it was usually her initiating. What might it be like to have this wonderful man so desperate for her, desperate enough that she could discover his triggers, and possibly even exploit them?

His eyes roved across her face as she stood thinking, and he laughed. "It's going to be like that, is it? Alright, sweetheart, go ahead and test me if you like. I will look forward to the challenge. Shall we carry on?"

She nodded and turned, setting off down the path again. Ten minutes later, she led him to a door that blended seamlessly into the surrounding hill that faced the coast, only discoverable by those that already knew it was there. After they both entered the tunnel the door hid, Marian called up a ball of mage light, bolted the door from the inside, then led him through the tunnel that sloped downward.

They emerged into a large cavern, with multiple small boats bobbing in the water, tied to the wooden dock. Scanning, she spotted Harlun, the man in charge of all the smuggling that came through the cove, and walked straight toward him. He saw her coming and met her halfway, his eyes taking her in and flicking briefly to Anders behind her.

"Just the two of you?" He asked in his usual, gruff voice.

Smiling, she nodded. "Yes, just the two of us and what we carry."

Turning, he stuck his fingers in his mouth and gave a shrill whistle, turning back to her when two of his men approached them. "Get the boat ready there, we're taking these two out now." His men moved to obey, and he turned back to Marian and Anders. "Alright, once I have the two of you safely off, that makes us even, Hawke."

Crossing her arms, she smirked. "Just as we agreed. I don't have any intention of ever returning to Amaranthine, so I wish you luck in your business here. There is a possibility I might send some future business your way though, if you are interested in that?"

His eyes gleamed with an eager look and he stroked his mustache. "I would welcome any business from folk you trust to deal fairly with me, Hawke, and thank you for it."

"Good," she replied with a satisfied nod. "I will keep you in mind if the opportunity presents itself."

Within minutes, Marian, Anders, and Harlun were in the boat, with his two men rowing them out toward the open water. A small cargo vessel that looked like it had seen better days awaited them.

"Lady Luck," Anders read on the side of the ship, with an uncertain look at Marian. "Let's hope that luck holds while we're aboard," he muttered quietly, so only Marian heard him. When they boarded, she shared an apprehensive look with Anders over the ship's obviously rickety condition, then shrugged, since they had little choice in the matter.

The captain, who introduced himself as Crane, looked wiry, elderly, and even more likely to keel over than his ship did. After barking at them to stay out of sight, he headed to the ship's wheel, and they were off, finally leaving Amaranthine and all its troubles behind.


~O~

The two passengers spent the daytime sleeping below deck, snuggled comfortably together between wooden crates, but as the sun went down, a storm blew up, bringing an end to all sleep, or any comfort at all. Clinging tightly to the railing topside, as the rain pounded down on them, Marian gave a rueful smile, pointing to all the water coming in below deck. Sinking looked to be a very real possibility, despite how much the captain shook his fist and swore at the clouds above them.

"I should have known better than to get on something called Lady Luck," she sighed. "If that isn't a dare for something to come and monumentally fuck you over, I don't know what is."

"If this ship takes on much more water, we need to take that little boat over there and get away so we don't go down with it." He pointed to the boat tied securely just below the railing on the other side of the deck, the same size as the boat that had rowed them out from the cove.

"Should I go and try to talk to the Captain? See if he wants to come with us?" Marian yelled, to be heard over the wind and crashing thunder.

"If you think you can actually get him to listen to you," Anders yelled back, shoving wet strands of his hair out of his eyes. Nodding, she began the trek, pulling herself along by whatever sturdy railing or taut rope she could reach. Anders watched her until she finished talking with the Captain, then made her slow way back to him.

"He's not coming!" She shouted, which was no surprise to either of them.

Anders finished securing their packs and staffs, then gestured toward the little boat. With a last look down at the hold, where the water was now even with the top deck, they got into the boat, and slowly lowered themselves down to the surface of the choppy waves, neither of them relaxing until their little vessel was well away from the Lady Luck, which had begun listing alarmingly. Marian's lips pressed together before she turned away, her face tense. Leaning near, Anders pressed a kiss to her temple.

"You can't save someone that doesn't want to be saved, sweetheart. You aren't responsible for what happens to him." He met her gaze with an understanding smile.

"You're right, of course, but I always feel responsible, whether I am or not." She shrugged. "Just part of the curse of who I am, I suppose. What's life without a heaping helping of guilt, hmm?"

In the dark of the storm, they lost sight of the cargo ship very quickly. The thunder, wind, rain, and the turbulent waves hurried them along to wherever fate had chosen as their next destination. Thoughts of the stubborn captain who was now presumably lost, still had her brows drawn together in concern sometime later.

Observing her in the flashes of lightning that continued intermittently, Anders pulled her close and pressed another gentle kiss to her head, unable to stop his besotted smile when she met his gaze. "I am madly in love with you and your caring heart, Mari. Have I told you that lately?"

Smiling, she shook her head. "Not in the last hour, no."

He made a chiding sound. "I mustn't be remiss in my worship of my divine Marian. Have you ever made love on a boat?"

Bursting into laughter, she gestured wildly toward the choppy water and the light rain still falling on them. "You want to try and do that...in this? I would think it would be bloody awkward."

He raised a brow and gave her a cocky smile. "Slide over here onto my lap and kiss me, I promise you'll be glad you did, and none of it will be awkward, bloody or otherwise."

Biting her lip to contain her smile, she did as he said, grinding herself against his cock when she was fully on top of him, kissing him and making a pleased sound at the feeling of the delicious friction.

"Aha, see? It's almost as though I know what I'm talking about."

He moved both of his hands to her ass, pushing her against him while he thrust up, making her moan again. Through some silent agreement, he got his trousers down enough to free himself, and she managed to get one pant leg fully off so she could face him. Staring into his eyes, she slid his cock inside her, slowly, moaning when he flicked his thumb over her nipple. Dipping his head down, he sucked on her other nipple through the drenched cloth of her blouse, groaning against her when she squeezed his cock with her strong inner muscles. He leaned back until he was resting against their packs. She followed him down, lifting her arms to help him when he tugged her tunic off over her head, leaving her topless. Pulling her breasts to his eager mouth, he took turns sucking and licking her nipples, palming the breast that wasn't in his mouth, gently pinching that nipple in the way that always made her moan.

Releasing her breasts, he placed his hands just below her waist, pushing her more upright so he could enjoy the sight of her riding him, grinning when she looked out over the choppy water all around them and giggled. It made her sound much younger than she was, and he smirked, calling magic into his hand before he slid it over her clitoris.

"Such a good little girl to ride me so well, I think you deserve a treat." As he increased the power of the magic in the hand he held against her, her moans grew louder and her movements more erratic. With his free hand, he gripped her ass, helping her go faster until the spasms of her climax rhythmically squeezed his cock, pulling him into his own orgasm, far more intensely than he had anticipated, leaving him gasping for breath when Marian collapsed on his chest.

As awareness of the world around him returned, he realized the storm had passed on, with only the choppy waves left as proof. A lazy grin tugged his lips up when Marian nuzzled against his neck and sucked his earlobe, her tongue gently pulling on the earring he had in that ear.

"You were right," she whispered. "About everything. You're always right, my wise, older, learned man."

"And don't you forget it," he replied in a smug tone. "All this wisdom and experience is for your benefit, young lady. You should take advantage of it constantly."

Raising her head, she bit her lip, trying to contain her laughter. "If I did, I think I might wear you out, old man. You probably need a long nap now, to recover your strength and vigor."

Pulling her lips to his, he ran his tongue along the seam of her mouth, catching her bottom lip between both of his before releasing her. He smiled, a challenge in his eyes. "Do you really think you can keep up with me, sweetheart? I dare you to try."

Her mouth fell open when he hardened inside of her again, giving him an incredulous look. "How?" She asked, sucking in a sharp breath when he lifted his hips, sliding deeper.

He brushed his lips over her earlobe before he sucked it gently into his mouth. "You want to know my secret?" Pulling back, he met her gaze with a lusty smile when she nodded. "All I have to do is picture your face when I make you come, or remember the sound of your passionate moans when I have my tongue inside you. Think of how good you smell and taste when my face is buried in your cunt." He thrust even deeper, smiling at her gasp. "Remember how it feels to have your mouth sucking my cock. Or, best of all, what it feels like to be balls deep inside of you, like I am now. All of your tight, wet heat surrounding me, enveloping me, the way your body pulses and pulls on my cock when you come, demanding I experience the same pleasure as you."

"Anders," Marian moaned, circling her hips and tightening around him, drawing a groan from him. "I want to fuck your voice. Keep talking."

"You want to fuck my voice?" He repeated, in an amused tone. "By all means, sweetheart, you can fuck every part of me you want to. If I had to pick another part of you I want to fuck, it would be your lips, and you know what that pouty bottom lip of yours does to me. I know you want to test me, to see if I mean what I say about that pouty lip. I wonder what you would do if I bent you over a table, right out in public, where anyone could see, and fucked you hard, hmm? Would you like that? Letting anyone see me pounding into your tight, wet cunt, while I make you cry for me?" When she moaned again, louder than before, he smiled and kept talking, letting her completely control fucking him, however she wished.

"Or, what if I laid you out on that same table, out in the open, flat on your back, your thighs spread wide for me, while I feasted on you. Lapped up all your delicious desire for me, sucked on your sensitive clitoris, fluttered my tongue across it, teasingly, in the way that drives you wild. Would you care if someone watched while I made you come on my tongue? I wouldn't care. It wouldn't bother me if anyone watched us, because I know you are mine, and only my cock will be inside you. Only my mouth will ever get to suck your nipples, only my hands will caress your beautiful breasts. Your glorious cunt is just for me, my tongue, my cock." Her movements sped, and his breath started to stutter in and out erratically, but he wasn't done yet.

"Yes, Mari, you're nearly there, I feel it, you're so close. You're fucking me so well, you're so tight and hot around me. This is all yours, sweetheart, you're in control now. Are you ready? Yes! Do it now, you're making me come with you, oh, love… Fuuuuuck!"

"Anders," she moaned loudly through her orgasm, then bit into his shoulder when he spurted inside her, scalding her with his hot essence. All the tension drained away, out of her body while she laid in a weak, sated heap on top of him. The constant bobbing of the boat on the waves was like being rocked to sleep, and she dozed in a half aware state for a time. His fingers slid through her hair, gently, over and over, time growing fuzzy while she drifted in and out of consciousness.

"Are you asleep, sweetheart?" He asked quietly.

She smiled drowsily against his chest. "Yes, I think so."

"You sound awake to me," came his amused reply.

Lifting her head, she squinted at him in the pre-dawn light. "Is there any reason to be awake? We can't exactly go anywhere." He shifted and she sat up, sliding off to the side, looking down at her mostly naked body, one leg still in her trousers and boot, while her other leg was bare, without any shoes. Laughing quietly, she shook her head, wiping the grit from her eyes and feeling desperately in need of a bath.

"I am looking entirely fucked up," she announced, with a general wave at her body and another shake of her head as she tugged her tunic back on.

Sitting opposite her, he stretched his arms over his head, smiling in amusement while watching her try to get her clothes back on properly. "Who cares what we look like now, remember what we felt like earlier, that's the important bit. I discovered all new things about you since we climbed into this boat."

With her top and pants finally back on, she reached for her boot before she looked up. "Really, like what?"

"Well, either my voice is a turn-on for you, or erotic descriptions are. Which is it?"

Considering, she tied her boot and nodded her head slowly. "Yes," she said emphatically.

He smiled and tilted his head. "It's both, then, is it?"

Thinking back over what they had shared just hours earlier, she couldn't keep the wide smile off her face. "Definitely both," she confirmed. "Not sure how I would actually feel about someone watching us together, but your descriptions of it... Maker's breath! Maybe you should try writing erotic fiction for the lusty Orlesian market. I bet you could make some good coin if you wrote down some of what you said to me earlier. Any time I need to get myself off, I just have to remember your voice and words."

He narrowed his eyes and gave her a severe, chastising look. "You aren't allowed to get yourself off, Mari, that's my privilege. All your pleasure belongs to me now."

"It does?" She gave him a startled look and hurriedly looked away, but he had already seen. Scooting closer, he reached out and gently turned her face back toward him, wiping away a stray tear.

"What's this for? Did I upset you?" He asked in a soft voice.

"No." She blushed and wiped the tears off her other cheek. "It's stupid, really. It's just….the other Anders never cared about sex with me, never wanted me, really. I always had to initiate, and sometimes it was too much trouble, or I didn't feel like being rejected and I would just take care of myself. Knowing that you want me...that you care so much about my pleasure…" She glanced up, the vulnerable look in her blue eyes reaching into his chest and squeezing his heart. "It really means a lot to me. I don't think I realized just how much until you said that."

Taking her face between his hands, he kissed her tenderly. "I will always want you, Marian. You are a beautiful, sensual woman, inside and out, and those parts of you should be appreciated and adored. Any normal man with a pulse would want you, for Maker's sake." He shook his head with an incredulous look. "I know there's probably something really wrong with me wanting to kill another version of myself, but I really do. What an asshole, a bloody bastard he sounds like, to me." He kissed her again, his voice falling quieter. "But please don't paint me with his brush. I'm nothing like what you've described him as."

With wide eyes, she shook her head. "No, I don't see you the same at all. It was the little bits of you that I saw in him that I adored, but I never knew I only had a pale imitation, the smallest sliver. That there were so many more wonderful parts of you that I never got to know until I came here, to you. I love you so much, Anders, the full you, the real you, that I ache with it."

Smiling gently, he stroked her cheek. "I suppose I do have to be grateful to the bastard, after all. If it wasn't for him, you would never have come here to save me from becoming that. I do love you so, Mari, truly, madly, deeply, forever. There is no Anders without Marian."

"And no Marian without Anders," she finished, with a glowing smile, sighing happily when he kissed her again. They sat watching the sun rise together, painting the world around them in orange hues, heralding the start of a bright, new day.


~O~