Chapter 1 - A Breath of Fresh Air

Bethany tried not to look too enthusiastic when the invitation to Chateau Haine arrived. It wouldn't do to seem too eager. Meredith might take extra pleasure in denying her anything she perceived as a treat, so she kept her face carefully expressionless and gave a bored shrug when the Knight Commander asked whether she wanted to attend the hunting party.

"Well, my dear Bethany, your feelings are of little account here, anyway, since your sister, the mighty Champion requested your attendance." Meredith's icy tone made it abundantly clear how much she hated having to acquiesce to Hawke's wishes.

"But you won't go without an escort. Knight-Captain Cullen!" The Templar saluted smartly, his face giving nothing away. "You will take Lady Hawke here to the castle and back safely. I rely on your discretion to prevent any unfortunate incidents."

Cullen nodded. "Certainly, Commander. But may I suggest that I wait for the mage's return outside the castle? There's no need to provoke the Orlesians by having a Templar from Kirkwall amidst their revels."

Meredith snorted contemptuously. "So you think your grim presence might spoil their fun? Agreed, Knight-Captain. But you will keep a close watch on her for the journey there and back, understood?"

Bethany would have been glad of any excuse to get out of the Circle for a while, but as her horse was treading along the forest path toward Chateau Haine, her heart sang with joy. It was so beautiful out here, the deep green of the leaves, the bright, clear blue of the sky, the majestic mountains in the distance, birds singing, a faint breeze ruffling her hair. And she was going to a party! She would get to dress up, lose the stuffy Circle robes for a day, drink wine, make conversation, be a normal person for once.

Her sister Tabitha, "Tabby" to her friends, was riding right in front of her, with Isabela at her side, exchanging fond glances and saucy remarks with the pirate. Tallis, the elf, led the way, and Cullen brought up the rear. She felt his eyes on the back of her neck, all the time, but it was not an entirely unpleasant feeling.

Ever since they had left the Gallows in the early morning, Cullen had been unfailingly polite and courteous to her. He had kept his distance, just like he did in the Circle, but he had smiled quietly at her joyous face, and he hadn't protested when she took off her heavy hood. For a moment, when she had shaken out her long hair with a happy laugh, something else had flashed in his hazel eyes, a passionate longing that made her breath catch in her throat, but it was gone in an instant, and now she wondered if she had imagined it.

On impulse, she turned in her saddle and flashed him a smile. "Have you been up here before, Knight-Captain!"

He smiled back, but his eyes were guarded. "No, Serah Hawke. I'm Fereldan, like you. I haven't seen much of the countryside around Kirkwall since I came here."

"Please, call me Bethany." Maker, was she flirting with him? "Such a pity! It's beautiful, isn't it?"

He nodded. "It certainly is, Bethany."

The sound of her name, spoken in his deep, quiet voice, sent a pleasant frisson down her spine. Cullen. She tried the sound out inside her own head. A Fereldan, like her. And a damnably attractive man, with his strong build and his tanned, handsome face. She hadn't seen a lot of him in the Circle, as his duties took him outside more often than not. Yet her fellow mages had spoken well of him. Even Orsino seemed to respect him, and some of the younger girls would have been only too happy to warm his bed. But he was too honourable for that kind of thing. Or maybe he just wasn't interested in women?

Just then, Isabela made a particularly salacious remark, and Cullen flushed deeply, his eyes lingering for a moment on the pirate's ample curves. Definitely interested. Bethany bit back a grin. Well, he wouldn't have much luck with Isabela. She only had eyes for Tabby. Right now she was reining in her horse and reaching over, ruffling her lover's short brown hair and pulling her into a brief, but heated kiss.

"Watch it, Tabs. You'll pay for your insolence once we make camp." Isabela's tone left no doubt as to the nature of the payment she was referring to.

"I look forward to it." Tabby's bright blue eyes were flashing with mirth. "Just wait until you see what I have in store for you, Bela!"

They set up their camp in a pleasant, secluded spot, under a huge elm tree. Tallis went looking for firewood, but they had brought along everything else. This was no Deep Roads mission but a trip for pleasure, and they would sleep in large, airy tents, as befit the Champion and her entourage.

As soon as they had finished their evening meal, Tabby stretched with a long, lascivious sigh, her shirt riding up to expose her taut, freckled stomach. She winked invitingly at Isabela. "Come here, sweet cheeks. Kiss me."

Of course the pirate didn't have to be asked twice. Within moments she was straddling Tabby's long legs, and the two were exchanging deep, hungry kisses, while Tabby's dexterous fingers were caressing her nipples through the thin linen of her tunic. Isabela moaned hungrily, her long brown legs flexing tightly, her back arching with pleasure.

Bethany was used to such blatant - and usually futile - attempts to shock her, and Tallis had already disappeared into the dark to keep watch, but Cullen was blushing furiously. It was enough to make her pity him, Templar or not.

"Tabby. Please!" She threw her sister a pleading glance, but got a smirk in return.

"Don't worry, baby sister. I'm not going to corrupt you by ravishing her right here." She whispered something into Isabela's ear which made the pirate shiver voluptuously.

"That would be much appreciated," Bethany answered dryly.

Of course Tabby thought it was all a huge joke. "What about you, my dear Ser Templar? Do you find our behaviour... offensive?"

She pushed Isabela aside a little so she could face Cullen. Her voice was deep and sultry, her lips red from kissing.

Cullen turned his face away, but didn't answer. Bethany could see his fists clench and unclench furiously, but he wouldn't be provoked, and she admired his restraint.

Isabela laughed raucously, her hand sneaking up under Tabby's tunic, eliciting a rough gasp from her lover. "I believe offensive isn't the word you were looking for, my dear."

Bethany sighed and shook her head. She loved her sister dearly, but Tabby could be insufferable when she was in one of her moods, and Isabela did little but spur her on. She didn't mind much herself. In fact, their taunts carried little sting for her. No matter what her sister and Isabela thought, she was anything but a blushing virgin.

Her first lover had been one of Athenril's smugglers, a pretty, blond Fereldan boy who had taken her in a dusty attic room above Kirkwall's rooftops. It hadn't been perfect, far from it, too quick and too clumsy to yield much pleasure for her, but she had been starved for affection after Carver's death. It had gotten better too, with time and practice, but the boy had died a few weeks later, when they were attacked by a rivaling gang on the Coast.

There had been others. Smugglers, mercenaries, brief affairs that brought her pleasure but little peace. For a while she'd slept with Tomwise, the poison maker, who knew of potions that intensified every sensation to the point of pain and made her see swirling multi-colored lights when she came in his arms. She shuddered at the memory, then her face softened when she remembered his unexpected gentle and caring side. He might be a purveyor of death and chaos, but he had made sure she knew what she needed to avoid getting in trouble.

It had been more complicated in the Circle, at least at first. Meredith didn't tolerate liaisons among mages, but the enforced secrecy had its own charms, and being with other magic users had taught her a few new tricks. As for the Templars, she had avoided them as best she could, and they had mostly left her alone, no doubt thanks to Tabby's considerable influence. Still, she had seen enough abuse and pain to make her appreciate Cullen's innate decency rather than despise it like Tabby did.

"Leave him alone, sister." She got up with a pointed glance at the Templar, but Tabby just laughed and pulled Isabela closer, planting a long, lingering kiss on the pirate's throat. Of course she won't listen. Well, she'll get bored with this sooner or later. Bethany crawled into her tent, casting a quick silencing spell to muffle the noises coming from outside. As an afterthought, she added a second spell, doing the same for Cullen. The poor man needed some rest.

As usual, zevgirl checked this for me and found all the little glitches. Thank you so much, my dear!