You Don't Have to Stand Alone

*This is the first of two, very small chapters that will serve as a transition in the story. Longer ones will again follow soon.

Thank you guys for being so patient and supportive while I've been sick again. I really appreciate all of you SO much!*

You Don't Have To Stand Alone

Chapter 23 – Plans

Allison opened her eyes to find warm honey-colored ones staring back.

A slow smile spread over her face and Anders' lips curved before they covered hers in a heated kiss.

"Good morning." he said softly.

"I don't think it's still morning, but hi all the same." Allison said with a laugh.

She figured that their sense of time might be a bit off considering that Anders had taken her several times more in between short moments of rest.

Warden stamina indeed. Isabela would have been pleased.

Anders kissed the pulse beating at her neck. "What can I do for you?"

Allison hugged him closer. "Nothing. This is perfect."

"I hope I didn't overwhelm you. I've been wanting you for so long that things got out of hand." he said sheepishly.

Allison just had to tease him. She put on a slightly puzzled expression.

"Actually I was expecting a bit… more. Isabela said that she'd heard of a Warden who went almost thirty times. But don't worry." She patted his arm in comfort. "You did fine."

The look on Anders' face made her wish she had a camera.

His mouth fell open for several speechless moments.

"What!" he finally sputtered. "That's not true."

Allison started laughing and Anders raised an eyebrow before a devilish look passed over his face.

"Thirty times eh?" he repeated, his lip curling in a wicked smirk. "Well, I'd hate to disappoint."

He pinned her arms over her head before kissing breath out of her.

They didn't make it to thirty, but they had fun trying.

At the same time, in an abandoned warehouse in the sewer district…

The young Templar recruit made his report to Alrik.

The girl was human. No signs that she had dwarven blood. She had been seen with, what Alrik considered, a second-rate pirate and a slightly recognizable dwarf.

What caught Alrik's attention was that the recruit had not been able to sense any magic from her. That was impossible of course.

A human could not manipulate lyrium in any way, and if this girl had found the means to do it then she must be using magic.

Alrik cuffed the recruit when he admitted that the pirate had chased him off.

His soulless blue eyes gleamed with malice.

"You should have been more careful. You'll be whipped for that." Alrik promised in a low voice.

"Yes sir. I'm sorry sir." The recruit said, trembling.

Alrik ignored the boy's simpering apologies and focused how he could draw the woman out.

The dwarf Umbar seemed to have a relationship with her. Perhaps he could use that to get her back to the Gallows. Then he would have her taken into custody and questioned. He would see to that part personally.

"Return to your post." Alrik ordered.

He studied the dank warehouse. Perhaps he could bring the woman here instead. No one would hear her screams and if they did, they wouldn't care.

The Templar tried not to get ahead of himself but he did so enjoy interrogations.

Soon. Soon enough he would have her. And then she would tell him all of her secrets.

He had plans to make.