Freely We Serve (a Dragon Age fanfiction)

Strategically

Daniel and Judith were so comfortable, sleeping in each other's arms at last, that the knock on the door in the morning came before they awoke. Daniel jumped at the sound, and Judith woke with a start from her first dreamless sleep in a long time.

"Are you all right?" she asked groggily.

He nodded, his heart pounding, wondering how long it would be until sudden noises stopped making him jump out of his skin.

"Who is it?" Judith called out.

"Alistair."

"Damn Chantry training. He's always punctual," she groaned, climbing out of bed. "I hope you brought breakfast," she called to Alistair through the door.

"Am I a Grey Warden, or not?" he said. "Of course I brought breakfast. And it's heavy, so if you don't mind ..."

Judith hastily put on her mage robes, being the easiest and not requiring underwear. Daniel chuckled as he watched the process. "I'll never be able to look at mages the same way again," he said.

"It'll be a more accurate picture, I suspect," Judith said, grinning. Daniel pulled on his pants, but didn't bother with the shirt. "That's a good look for you," she said, her eyes resting on his bare chest hungrily.

"Later," he said, his eyes darkening with promise. It was so natural being together this way, both of them felt momentarily free of the stresses of the Blight. Daniel crossed the room, opening the door for Alistair.

"Thanks a lot," Alistair said. "What took you so long?" He looked at the scene in front of him—clothes strewn everywhere, bedcovers a tangled mess, half-dressed couple who had clearly just gotten out of bed—and thought of Leliana. He swallowed uncomfortably. "Never mind. I don't want the details."

"Wasn't going to share them anyway," Judith grinned. She shoved a chunk of cheese into her mouth.

"Er, should I be in here for this?" Daniel asked. "Grey Warden secrets and things."

Judith looked at him. "You know, most of it you'll either have to know because you're with me, or you already know because you eavesdropped on my conversation with Riordan."

"I told you before, it can be a valuable tool," he said unapologetically. "Information gathering is key."

Thinking of Alistair's probable reaction to her discussion with Anora, Judith thought he might not want to have an audience for the revelation. "This might be better off being a private conversation, after all," she said to Daniel. "Would you mind?"

"Not at all," he said. After a moment's search, he found his shirt, shrugging into it. He gave Judith a brief kiss on the cheek. "See you later?"

"We'll be leaving for the Alienage at 9. I'll need you to come along, since you know it better than the rest of us."

Daniel nodded, and he and Judith stood grinning foolishly at each other for a moment.

"If the two of you don't mind," Alistair said testily, "time is passing rather quickly while I wait here for whatever bad news is sure to be coming."

Judith started guiltily. "I'm sorry, Alistair, you're right." She looked apologetically at Daniel.

"I'm off, then," he said, snagging an apple off the breakfast tray.