Chapter Text
"Are you… sure we should do this?" Anders asked, frowning. "He is a templar, you know… what if he's here to spy on all us Warden mages?"
They were in the office sitting-room portion of their personal quarters, eating breakfast. The office door was shut – it was much too early to consider any warden business.
Solona rubbed the bridge of her nose. "I know. I worry about it too. But… you examined him. His injuries were not feigned?"
Anders scowled. "No, definitely not. But that's not to say he couldn't still be a plant."
Solona sighed, getting up to stand before the fireplace, watching the flames dance. "Is it bad that I want to believe him?"
"No. But you do have to be aware that he could be a danger to us – to all of us."
Solona nodded. "I am. I just… wish it could be simpler."
Anders came up behind her and enfolded her in his arms, nuzzling the side of her neck. "You tend to see the best in people." He nibbled her earlobe, and Solona moaned softly, leaning back against him. "It's very endearing… if a little crazy."
She turned in his arms, putting hers tightly around his waist. "I went up against an Archdemon with a sword. A little crazy doesn't begin to cover it."
Anders slanted his lips across hers and kissed her thoroughly. "Fortunately for you… I can do crazy."
Solona kissed him back, her right hand sliding up his neck… her left down to his immensely grabbable buttocks and gave him a bit of as squeeze. He growled, grabbing her own derrière through her robes and, pulling her against him, lifted her off her feet and walked them both back to the bed. He lowered her gently to the mattress, and Solona smiled, putting her hand to his quivering abdominal muscles.
"So strong," she murmured quietly. "Perhaps we can put those delicious muscles… as well as a few others – to some better use?"
He grinned, beginning to unfasten the top of her robes. "I'll show you 'better use,' woman."
Solona smiled up at Anders and kissed his nose, and he carefully rolled off her and to his back, his breath rapid and ragged. "Do you think anyone would notice if we just stayed here all day?" he said breathlessly, throwing an arm across her and snuggling close beside her.
"I'm fairly sure they would." Solona couldn't stop smiling. "I'm not sure I care at the moment."
There was a tentative rap at the outer office door. "Commander?"
Solona sighed, and pouted into the side of Anders' neck. "And then, reality intruded, calling the feisty commander and her sexy and sweet lover out of the afterglow."
"So there you have it. We think that we can get you past the worst of the withdrawal if we keep you under." Solona looked searchingly into Anton's eyes, and watched as he considered it, panicked.
"Trapping me in the Fade…" he whispered. "For how long?"
Solona was honest. "I'm not sure. We're going to have to monitor you closely."
Anton was chewing on his thumbnail. "Monitor closely? Who would monitor me?"
Solona handed him a glass of water. "I would, in part. Anders. We've seven other mages too. Everyone we have who can enter the Fade at will. We'll rotate and make sure that you're never unprotected."
Anton nodded, sweating.
"I know it's a lot – asking you to trust mages. But it's the only way I can think of that we can get your through it without the physical discomfort."
Anton closed his eyes. "Yes," he said, nodding quickly. "Yes. Let's do it."