Kadan

Kadan, Part 5

Five years later

"Do you ever think we'll have a normal date, my love?" Alistair quipped, coming to stand behind Louisa.

Their eyes remained trained on the land before them. All around them, their troops buzzed. Men were telling war stories. Women rolled their eyes and continued to sharpen their swords. Even Louisa's fingertips gently stroked across the feathers of her arrows. At the moment, things were quiet. Peaceful.

They would remain anything but. With a sigh, Louisa turned to face her betrothed. He wore his hair longer now, the hair flopped adorably across his forehead. His brown eyes twinkled with mischief as he gave her a quick wink before lowering his face to hers. She met his lips, enjoying the feeling of warmth that spread throughout her body. He playfully nipped at her bottom lip before he pulled away, his gaze returning to the scene before them.

"Five years ago we were taking down an archdemon," Louisa replied on a sigh, leaning against Alistair. "And now we're here as a favor to some noble who poked one too many times at the Qunari."

She frowned, her mind drifting back to another time. Another battle. Another Qunari – a specific Qunari. Sten had parted ways with the companions shortly after the archdemon had been slain. His goodbye had been brisk, bordering on unpersonal. Her heart still ached as she replayed the scene in her head. She had barely woken after the archdemon had fallen and the dark claimed her before Sten burst through her tent, gruffly telling her that his obligation was no longer to her and he was returning home.

"Ah, yes," Alistair replied. "Always one favor after one another. Do you think they'll pay us this time?"

"Doubtful," Louisa replied with a snort.

"If they don't pay us do you think they'll at least feed us? I cannot tell you, darling, just how badly I crave a few pieces of roast lamb. Oh! Roast lamb with toasted bread with cheese on top. Doesn't that just sound divine?"

"Did you not go check our tent, dear? I know for a fact I put a cheese wheel on the table for you this morning."

Alistair gave her a slow blink. "That was this morning. You think that cheese wheel is still there? Maker! Do you think I really have that much self control?"

It was Louisa's turn to blink, this time in surprise. "You are the entire cheese wheel?! Alistair it's only been a few hours!"

His laughter was barking and quick. It warmed her heart just a bit more. The past five years with him had been comforting and warm. She never wanted for anything. He catered to her every need. Showered her in endless love. He made her feel safe. He felt like home.

But how she wished that he would cause her heart to race or her stomach to flutter with nerves. He would move heaven and earth if she asked him to. He was wholly devoted to her. She had love for him. She was in love with him. But he wasn't... It. He wasn't her true love. Her love for him didn't burn with the intensity of a thousand suns or take her breath away.

The very thought of love taking her breath away conjured more images of a certain Qunari. How their arguments were full of passion. The stubborn set of his jaw. How he would roll around and play with Thane. She recalled how she could feel his heated gaze upon her flesh when he thought she didn't know. How gentle his touch could be when he thought she was as fragile as a baby bird.

Recalled just how painful it was when he ripped her heart out when he left.

Alistair was rubbing comforting circles on the back of her hand. He hated when she got that far off look in her eyes. She did it all too often, crawling into her own mind.