Chapter 108
As they rode up the winding path, Emma got her first look at Skyhold. "Bloody hell! It's huge!" Aedan nodded in agreement, then turned to Lavellan. "I don't suppose you have a map for this place, do you? Emma has a terrible sense of direction, and it could take weeks to find her if she gets lost here."
Emma slapped his arm. "I got lost once or twice and I'm never allowed to forget it."
Aedan stared at her in disbelief. "Angel, we were wondering around Kal-Shirok for hours until we realised you had the map upside down."
She shrugged and defended herself. "That place was like a maze."
They rode through the massive stone arch, and there in the courtyard stood Commander Cullen, Leliana, Hawke, Fenris, Shale, and Dagna. The Inquisitor chuckled. "It seems you two have a welcoming party."
Emma quickly dismounted and hugged Leliana. "I'm sorry about the Divine."
The bard smiled sadly. "You tried to warn me, but I guess there are some things that just can't be changed. Anyway, how are you? Have you done something different with your hair? We have to go shopping in Val Royeaux; there is an exquisite shoe shop I want to show you."
Emma laughed and answered her questions before her attention was claimed by Shale. "It took its time getting here."
She hugged the golem. "It's good to see you. I was saddened to hear about Wynne."
"Yes, it... she was a good friend."
Dagna excitedly told Emma of her workshop and all the things she'd accomplished over the years. They talked for a few more minutes before joining Hawke, Cullen, and Fenris, who were talking to Aedan. Emma chuckled when her husband rolled his eyes as first Hawke, then Fenris hugged her; Cullen stuck to a friendly handshake. As they all conversed, Emma noticed that the Commander's eyes kept drifting over to the Inquisitor who would smile, blush and look away. Emma was over the moon; if anyone deserved some happiness in their life it was Cullen.
A dinner was held in the main hall to welcome the Warden-Commander to Skyhold. Emma was about ready to burst with excitement when she saw more of the companions enter. Aedan nudged her when a dark-haired man with a moustache wandered in and poured himself a glass of wine.
"Who is that?" he asked, looking a little dazed.
She sniggered. "Ah, that's Dorian. He's very sexy isn't he?"
Aedan nodded and only just about remembered how to speak when Dorian walked over and introduced himself. "If I'd known we were going to be graced with the presence of the Hero of Ferelden I would have packed my finest clothes."
Aedan chuckled, his face flushed as he took the mage's hand. "There's no need to dress on my account," he stammered.
Dorian arched a brow, and his lips pulled up in an easy smile. "Oh, you would prefer I was naked?"
Aedan's eyes widened as he realised what he'd just said. "Oh, Maker! No! No, I meant there's no need to dress up."
He glanced over to Emma, his eyes pleading for some help, but she grinned at the sight of her usually unflappable husband blushing adorably, and then took pity on him. She held out her hand to the Tevinter mage.
"Dorian, it's an honour to meet you."
He turned shocked pale green eyes towards her. "I have to say, that's not something I hear very often. Doesn't it bother you that I'm from Tevinter?"
She smiled. "Not at all. You're a good man, and I think if anyone can make a difference in Tevinter, it will be you."
A warm smile lit up his handsome face. "Oh, I do like you. Bull told me to expect the unexpected when meeting you for the first time."
After Dorian had moved on, Aedan rubbed a hand over his face. "Maker's breath! Well, that was embarrassing."
She chuckled and slipped an arm around his waist. "Don't worry, love. I have those moments too." He cupped her cheek, his fingers sliding into her thick hair, and tugged her head back so that her face was turned up to his, then he dipped down and kissed her.
"You've... you've played the future?"
Emma broke the kiss, already knowing, from the soft voice, who had spoken. She saw Cole, his large blue eyes, partially hidden by his blonde locks, staring at her in confusion. She should have been aware that he might say something revealing, but to be so close to the truth – the shock was like a slap in the face and she couldn't think of how to respond.
A calm, deep authoritative voice spoke then. "It would be best to forget that, Cole."
She saw Solas approaching and met his gaze, and found herself pulled in by his blue eyes which were filled with so much ancient knowledge. He smiled at her. "I'm glad to see you're still with us."
She lifted a brow. "What do you mean?"
"Well, if Flemeth had her way, you'd have been stuck in your world. I ensured that did not happen."
"But..." Emma went over the timeline in her head before finishing her sentence. "Weren't you asleep when that happened?" She spoke quietly, not wanting to give away his secrets.
He gave a short nod. "But I was still aware of what was happening, especially when the activity took place in the Fade."
Aedan grabbed Solas by the hand. "I can't thank you enough for saving her." The mage looked taken aback by the physical contact and politely extricated himself.
"You're welcome. It seemed to me that you both deserved a reward for your tireless work in stopping the Blight."
His eyes then held Emma's. "I'd appreciate you keeping my secret as you did with Flemeth."
She hugged him. "I will." She faltered for a moment; there was so much she knew, and so much she couldn't say. In the end, she left it at a simple statement of gratitude. "Thank you."
From a conversation with Varric, she was saddened to learn that Fiona had died at Haven. She'd truly hoped to be able to get the Grand Enchanter to tell Alistair the truth about being his mother, but it seemed that secret would never be revealed now.
Apart from that sad news, Emma was having the time of her life. Josephine was delightful, Dorian and Bull were hilarious, Cole was lovable, and Sera was... well, confusing, for want of a better description. Even Vivienne made a brief appearance, and Emma was surprised to find she liked the mage more than she'd expected to. The party went on long into the night – there was talking, stories, drinking and of course, games of Wicked Grace, which Josephine inevitably won.
When the party broke up, Aedan and Emma walked to their room, slightly drunk, and very horny. The latter was due to the fact that the two of them had been playing footsie under the table for a large portion of the evening. They found themselves in the garden, and she had an idea. "Do you want to see the War Room?"
He shrugged. "Is there something special I need to see there?"
She grinned. "Yeah, a very large table."
A shot of lust gleamed in his eyes. "Well then, lead the way."
She grabbed his hand and pulled him down the hallway towards the large double doors. She pushed open the doors and then stopped in her tracks. Bull had Dorian bent over the thick wooden table and was vigorously thrusting into him; the mage had a look of bliss on his face. The two Wardens slowly backed up, quietly closing the door behind them.
"I don't think they noticed us," Emma spoke in hushed tones.
"I think that's a fairly safe assumption, Angel," Aedan said with a laugh as they crept back down the hallway.
"Damn, I'm feeling hornier than I was when I left the party," she said while climbing the flight of stairs leading to their room. Their quarters were spacious and nicely decorated, and a side-door led out onto the battlements. Aedan stepped outside, and inhaled sharply at the sight that met his eyes; against a curtain of stars in a midnight blue sky, a full moon shone down onto the snow-tipped Frostback Mountains. He heard Emma's quick intake of breath as she joined him.
"It's beautiful," she whispered, as she leaned forward against the thick stone wall. She felt the heat of Aedan's body move up behind her, a second before his arms curled around her waist. He pressed his erection against her pert backside.
"I'm thinking this location is better than the War Room."
One hand moved under her shirt and slid over smooth skin until finally cupping one firm breast. His other hand slipped beneath her skirt and teased along her inner thigh, which was already wet with her arousal. She whimpered and shifted a little, allowing him to slide his fingers between her legs. With a deft movement, he pulled the damp knickers to one side and met hot, slick flesh. She reached behind to hook an arm around his neck, and turned her head to meet his warm lips; as their tongues slid together, his thumb did the same against her clitoris. Her hips flexed instinctively, and she moaned into the kiss as both of his hands worked in unison to bring her pleasure. She rolled her ass against his engorged cock in the hope of bringing his teasing to an end and getting him inside of her.
It worked.
He growled, and her knickers were pulled down as her dress was pushed up; she felt the heat of his body as he unfastened his trousers, and then he slid deep inside her passage.
"Oh fuck! Yes," she hissed.
He gripped her hips and began a fast and hard pace, and she moaned as his balls slapped against her pussy. Her hands gripped the wall, and her head tilted back to look at the splendour of the night sky, letting it enhance the beauty of their coupling. His mouth skimmed along the sensitive skin of her throat, and the flat of his tongue licked at her rapidly beating pulse.
His warm breath teased the shell of her ear. "Touch yourself, Angel."
She freed one hand from the cool stone, and slid it between her thighs, warming her fingers against the swollen bundle of nerves with a familiar rhythm. A muffled groan fell from his lips as she painted the underside of his cock with her juices. His fingers tightened on her hips, and she knew she would have small bruises left as a proof of his passion. His thrusts became erratic, and his teeth pressed into her skin; it was all she needed to push her over the edge, and she cried out as an orgasm ripped through her body, leaving her shaking with the intensity of it. At the pressure of her sex clamping around his cock, he groaned and emptied his load into her tight heat.
Aedan turned her in his arms and kissed her. "I love you, Angel. I can't imagine life without you."
She tightened her arms around his shoulders. "I wouldn't have had a life without you, Aedan. You're my very heart and soul."
With the post-orgasmic state swiftly receding, the chill of the wind started to invade their little bubble of happiness. With one more glance at the beautiful scenery, they went back into their quarters to get some much-needed sleep.
