A/N: And here comes the end of this jolly ride! If you enjoyed, please, tell me – and if you didn't, please, tell me, too! Also, many thanks (and lots of free internets) to everyone who reviewed, faved or alerted on this story. Your support means a lot to me. :)

Disclaimer: I own (or won) nothing, just this fanfic is completely my fault.

6. Point of no return

"Well, quite an eventful evening, yes?" asked Teagan, chuckling when he thought about the commotion they made at the feast earlier.

Amélie, unbraiding her hair, giggled in response. "Maker - have you seen Loren? I swear, if he reddened a bit more, his head would explode!"

Both of them laughed, when they thought about the reactions to them, back at the ball. They shocked the nobles into stunned silence, being interrupted only by grinning Fergus, who came up to them and patted Teagan's shoulder, telling them to get some room, so the rest of them can dance some more.

What did Teagan do? He carried her away in bridal style, just to add some more dumbfoundeness to the nobles. And she almost melted into his arms, enjoying being this close to him probably for the first time of their marriage.

"I should probably apologize," broke Teagan the comfortable silence.

Amélie turned around in her seat, unbelieving expression on her face. "Maker's breath - and what for?" she asked, her voice incredulous.

"For using your, well, state of intoxication like that," fidgeted Teagan uncomfortably under her gaze.

She felt a wave of irritation rise in her. In three steps she stood in front of him, punctuating her every word with stabbing her finger into his chest. "Don't you dare to apologize for... for the best damned kiss I've ever got!" She exhaled deeply. "And as for the intoxication part - well, you know the words liquid courage, don't you?" she finished, blushing madly.

He stared at her for a moment, disbelieving his own ears. "Liquid courage? Are you... are you trying to say that you wanted... wanted to kiss me but didn't dare?"

'Now is time to finally stop playing hide-and-seek, Amélie.' "Very much so. Teagan," she looked him directly in the eyes, "you're my husband. I want to be able to move on with you, to be with you." She paused for a moment, cradling his cheek in her palm. "To be happy with you," she added softly, giving him a small smile.

His breath hitched in his throat. "Amélie?" he asked, his voice strained and choked. She only gave him a gentle smile, her arms hugging him, holding him close. He closed his eyes as he relaxed and returned her embrace, hugging her around her shoulders, which caused he didn't see what she planned to do next.

Her kiss caught him by surprise, making him gasp. She used the opportunity to let her tongue enter his mouth, teasing him with her taste. From the moment they kissed at the feast she felt her blood running wild in her veins, making her feel more alive than she felt ever since Alistair died.

'Alistair is dead,' went through her head, 'but you are alive. He would have wanted you to be happy.'

And in Teagan's presence, enveloped in his strong arms, his smell and taste, she was.

Teagan himself couldn't believe what was happening. The woman he yearned for was finally in his arms and the want; the need for her was overwhelming. Releasing her shoulders, he buried his hands in her hair, savouring the feel of her silken tresses between his fingers.

She felt like possessed, her fingers moving almost on their own accord, tugging at the laces of his shirt, pulling it open, so she could run her fingers over his chest. Part of her wondered if she could still blame the wine she drank for her boldness, while the other just snorted and told her to finally admit she desired him as much as he obviously desired her. Maker, they were married for year and half now, had known each other for even a longer time. She was sure that what she feels for him is not gratitude.

'Maker curse that damned dress of hers!' cursed Teagan inwardly. He wanted to return the favour of pushing her dress down, so he could finally lay his eyes on her. But the dress was still laced tight and for unlacing it he would have to stop kissing her. What if his lips left hers and she would completely reconsider the current happenings?

Amélie decided the matter for him; breaking the kiss, she turned her back to him, lifting her hair off the way. Looking at him over her shoulder, she told him with an enigmatic smile: "Would you be so kind, dear ser, and helped me out of this gown? Suddenly, the gown makes breathing hard..." Her voice trailed into silence, her eyes daring him to do as she asked. And without wasting any more time, he did so and she was finally revealed before his eyes, wearing only sheer shift and silken panties.

For a moment, he just stood there and drank in her image. Amélie standing in front of him, a playful smile on her lips, her hands crossed on her chest to prevent him from seeing her bosom through the shift.

"Perfect," he breathed at last, his eyes boring into hers.

"But you are imperfect, my husband," said Amélie briskly, snapping him from his reverie. After a few confused blinks she added: "You have way too many clothes still on. Let me help you?"

Being bold was refreshing, as well as a bit scaring. She used to call herself a timid and shy woman. It was interesting to see what a little of wine, together with need for someone can do. Together, with trembling fingers they undid laces of Teagan's pants and got rid of his shirt, breathlessly taking in sight of each other.

Amélie physically felt Teagan's eyes slide from her face, down her neck, down... down to rest on her bosom. His lips slowly created a smirk. "Are you cold, my dear, or are you just... happy to see me?" As if to answer his question she felt her nipples even harden under his gaze. Suddenly feeling shy, she wanted to cover herself with her hands, but Teagan would have none of that. Taking a firm grip on her hands, he placed them to her sides. "Don't," he whispered, "you are perfect to my eyes."

With her blood singing she grabbed his face to kiss him again. She was told about the increased appetite, as well as the rumours (which were completely true) about the Grey Warden stamina, but she almost forgot the part about the fact the Joining increased those urges as well. He gripped her waist, pressing her against him again. She could already feel signs of his arousal against her, as his lips moved from her lips to lay kisses all over her face. Nuzzling her neck he placed small kisses on her skin on his way lower.

Her soft whimpering made him stop when he reached her clavicle. "Tell me, Amélie," he whispered heatedly against the soft skin, "tell me what you want."

Thinking clearly was difficult with him so close, her breath ragged and her knees weak with desire. "Make love to me, Teagan," she moaned, throwing her head back, "just make love to me."

'Make love. She said make love. She feels something,' run desperately through Teagan's head. 'It will mean something to her...' Reaching down, he started to pull the shift up, over her head, only to toss it carelessly aside when he freed her from it. As before, he picked her up and without breaking the contact of their lips he carried her over to the bed in bridal style.

Laying her down he stepped aside to gaze at her for a moment. Her skin was flushed, her eyes bright, lips slightly parted and swollen from their kissing. Half-sitting, she gave him a gentle smile. "Come, Teagan," she whispered, "join me. This is what our wedding night should be..."

Before he knew it, he was laying beside her, holding her in his arms, kissing her hungrily. Kiss for kiss, touch for touch. If there was any struggle for control, it was soon decided, leaving Teagan to lay kisses all over her body while her back arched, up from the mattress to meet his lips, to be closer to him. Hearing her moan his name as invocation he returned back to her mouth, letting his hands roam over her body while his lips found hers again.

The feeling of him so close was too much to bear, her body screaming for release it was depraved of for so long. As if he sensed her trouble, one of his hands slid inside her panties, only to find her already wet and more than ready. Slowly, he teased the pearl of her womanhood, drawing a soft whimper from her. She was moving her leg over his, when her eyes closed and the sounds which came from her mouth were the ones of pain, not of pleasure, as he expected.

It startled Teagan. "Amélie?" he asked worriedly, "what's the matter?"

Amélie opened her eyes and gave him a pained smile. "Well, isn't it just wonderful - I was about to finally have the late wedding night with my husband. But no... that damned crick in my leg just has to stop it all."

He knew he should be serious. Yet after hearing her deliver him the reason of her pain in that tragic tone just made him chuckle, almost against his will. She stared at him in the beginning, her lips pursed together. And then she chuckled and soon after that both of them were laughing like madmen at the absurdity of the whole situation.

"I still want to make love with you, Teagan. It wasn't an idea striking me out of sudden," said Amélie softly, when their laughter ceased. "If only that damned crick stopped," she finished, the muscles in her leg twitching painfully.

And that was when Teagan got an absolutely great idea. Gently moving her leg he offered: "If you lie on your stomach for a moment, I may be able to help you, my dear."

Eyeing him carefully, Amélie did as he asked. 'It's not like we are both naked in bed and were only so far from making wild love just moments ago...' she thought with the dry humour her mother liked, as well as would be rather find it missing in her daughter. But then Teagan finally touched her again, his fingers masterfully massaging first the hurting muscles in her calf, only to slid lower, to start anew from the tips of her toes.

His touch was setting the fire in her underbelly afire again. She purred under his ministrations, as he ascended from her feet to her calves, to her knees and tights, only to spread his fingers over the cheeks of her butt, throughout in massaging the muscles there.

She rolled out of his reach, leaning into half sitting position on the pillows once again. "You," she said, pointing her finger at him, "are immediately going to make love to me, otherwise I'll go crazy. We can massage each other later, yes?"

"Much later," agreed Teagan as he swept her to his arms again, kissing her ferociously, almost ripping her panties off. The excitement he felt before didn't lessen during the time he massaged her; right the opposite it seemed, her soft moans of pleasure only adding to it, making his erection stone hard. And he was still just a mortal man. When she pulled him above her, all he could do was to enter her slowly in one motion, enjoying every second of being one with her.

With their bodies joined she could almost sense their souls mingling together, as they rode the waves of ecstasy together. Maker's breath, it was as if the whole world came to become silent, with the only sounds of their hearts beating and their breathing breaking the silence. Her name was sweet on his lips, his name an invocation on hers. His hand found hers on the covers, weaving his fingers with hers while her head rose to press her lips against his neck.

"Teagan..."

"Amélie..."

The fire started in her underbelly was expanding. Expanding to every fibre of her being, setting her aflame, rendering her mind of any coherent thoughts, overcoming them with need.

'I have to satisfy her first,' was one of the last coherent thoughts Teagan had. Pleasure building in him was too much to bear. Instead of slowing down his hand left hers, only to reverse their position. Her legs were still around his waist, but now he could hug her close, tease her easier than before, sent her over the edge and let her see the stars before he joined her. When his lips started kissing her neck softly, his thumb playing with her pearl, she felt the pressure built inside of her snap. She never was much of a screamer before - but now, now was his name loudly out of her mouth sooner before she could control herself.

"Teagan!"

She moved above him a few more times, her inner muscles tightening around him in response to her release, making him follow her on the ways of ecstasy. As he spilt himself inside of her, it felt good; it felt right to make love to her, to hold her, to kiss her. As she collapsed into his arms, breathing heavily, he could feel wetness where the right side of her face rested on his chest. Holding her close, brushing his fingers through her hair he kissed the crown of her hair time to time, giving her time to calm down.

He didn't know how much time has passed before her tears stopped and she looked up to his face, making his heart skip a beat with the softness and certainty showed in her gaze. Cheeks still wet, she gave him a gentle smile. When he saw her looking at him like that, he could no longer stop the words from spilling from his mouth.

"I love you."

He felt her stiffen in his arms at his words at first, only to feel her relax only a moment later. Raising her hand, she gently touched his lips, caressing them with the warm tips of her fingers.

"How," she whispered, "how can it be true that you love me, Teagan? How can you love me after the hell of time I've put you through during my mourning for Alistair, during my pregnancy and uncertainty afterwards?"

"I think I loved you from the moment you gave me that embroidery all those years ago," answered Teagan in the same soft tone. "And ever since then I was waiting for my opportunity to show you..."

Tears flew freely down her cheeks again, her heart too full of emotions. Did she feel the same? Or didn't she? How to say, if she did? How to say, if she didn't? But decision has been reached, her spirit calm and content as it hasn't been for such a long time. Drying her eyes, she looked deeply into his. Saying the words was like being set free.

"And I love you."

The light of the new dawn slowly crept between the curtains, bathing them in its rosy rays. None of them noticed. Instead, they kissed again. And for the first time during their marriage they fell asleep in each other's arms.

A/N: Well, when I read it now I'm aware it's still missing something - but that's me, posting stuff only to rewrite it again. And. Again. *head desk*