Morrigan found herself avoiding Arren's company the next morning. She had too much to think on; in her attraction to Arren, she had not considered anything beyond bedding him. And now that she had done so... she realized that perhaps she should have. It wasn't at all like it had been with any of her previous encounters. Those had merely been... learning experiences. Learning – under her mother's rather explicit instruction – how to seduce a man, how to ensnare him with pleasure, control him.

"The shortest way to a man's heart may be his stomach – either by feeding it well or by sticking a dagger up through it – but the easiest way to sway a man's brain is to have a firm grip on his balls," Flemeth had told her, more than once. There were, of course, exceptions – men who cared little more about whom they bedded, as long as they got enjoyment out of the act – but even then being their bed-partner presented opportunities that might not otherwise be available. And occasionally other advantages, in terms of protection or access to places and things one might otherwise be kept away from.

But none of that had been on her mind when she'd decided to seduce Arren. Not to control him, not to gain protection from him, just... because of how kind he was. And at least a little because he was so handsome. How different he was, than any other man she'd ever spent time with.

Odd to think back and remember how innocent and even naive he'd seemed to her at first, because he'd been so quiet and polite. But he was no innocent; sexually inexperienced, yes, but the pair of them had already made a good start on correcting that. And far from naive – his quietness and politeness masked a quick wit and a deep reserve. And he was kind. Intelligent. Strong, not just physically but emotionally as well.

She had to face it – she liked him. At least as a friend, as she'd admitted the night before. Which Flemeth would certainly not approve of, but... She wasn't Flemeth. She was herself, and if she decided to have a friend, that was her decision to make. And friendship was not, whatever her mother might say, a weakness.

They stopped for a brief lunch break. Morrigan claimed a handful of the strips of jerky and leathery dried apples they were having for lunch, and sought Arren out. He smiled warmly at her as she sat down beside him.

"So. Will we be reaching Redcliffe today, do you think, or will there be another day on the road?"

"Another day," Arren said. "If we could travel straight overland from here to the castle we could make it by late evening, but there are several deep valleys between here and there, most with rivers in them; the road curves a fair bit south here before heading west and then north again. If Alistair and I are reading the map right, it likely won't be until sometime around noon tomorrow before we reach the village."

"A pity," Morrigan said, then glanced sideways at Arren and gave him a very tiny smile. "I fear it may be a cold night."

Arren nodded, and put on a serious expression. "We should put up the tents. Just in case. I wouldn't want anyone getting chilled."

"Of course," she agreed solemnly.

Serious expressions melted away, and the two of them laughed. When the group resumed moving again after lunch was finished, they walked side by side, at the front of the group, talking happily together.