I will be writing this story as I progress in Inquisition, and write in AN etc where I am in terms of game progress in case you want to read but want to be careful with spoilers. Since this is from the pov from an OC who is not in direct contact with the trouble in Thedas, I'm not sure how much spoilers there will be. But there will be some, in terms of how Leliana is acting, or perhaps things she goes through. Otherwise enjoy!

Three weeks before the Conclave

"Giselle." She looked up at the mentioning of the name she had chosen for the night.

"Yes?"

"Clients for you."

Ali's eyes squinted as she tried to figure out if her fellow worker was joking or serious. Her preference for women was well-known in the whore house but that didn't mean that women had entered. Sometimes it meant effeminate men. Sometimes the burliest and scariest men. She was a joke. But she was a joke that was also living and breathing and human and she needed to eat. And buy clothes. And have a roof over her head.

She looked behind the other girl and to her surprise it was actually two women sitting by one of the tables. One of them were looking incredibly uncomfortable, her impressive muscles clear under her armor making Ali question why she was uncomfortable. The other was looking unimpressed with the fact that they were inside a whorehouse. Perhaps they were a couple, Ali mused, and they wanted a shared adventure. Maybe she could be that adventure, they looked like they could pay handsomely for whatever it was that they wanted.

"They brought weapons," her fellow nightworker said, "like actual weapons. I think they might be dignitaries of some sort."

"I'll go and talk with them," Ali said and willed her legs to walk forward. She didn't know why she was feeling so nervous all of a sudden. When doing what she did, female clients was a treat.

She approached the table slowly, letting her hips sway with each step. She zoned in on the uncomfortable woman and leaned forward mainly to have the woman's head in height with her bosom and her hair close enough to be smelled. She was still careful to not stand with her back to the other woman.

"Looking for a good time?" She asked in her regular voice. With some men she would force innocence into her voice, but not for all, and never for women. She also took the opportunity to inspect the women a bit closer. The one in front of her was muscled but lean with dark short hair and Nevarran looking eyes and nose, the one to her side was harder to place, maybe Ferelden, with red hair that was mostly covered up by a hood.

"No," the dark haired woman said shortly and then looked at the other woman, "Leliana!"

Leliana gave an unreadable look and then turned to Ali.

"We're just here to look at the girls and enjoy the occasional singing."

"There is a tavern in town," Ali said without thinking, "I'm sure the music…"

"We have our reasons for choosing this place," Leliana interuppted her, "you can go now."

Ali bowed her head shortly and then turned around. A quick look from her boss that was standing in the corner, showed her that she needed to do something. No, she did not need to be reminded of the fact that she hadn't had a happy customer for a couple of weeks. She sighed and went to pick up her lute. "Her" clients wanted music, she would give them music. As she passed the strange women's table again, she couldn't help but overhear that woman Leliana whisper urgently to the other one.

"Nobody will come looking for us here, it's the perfect hiding spot for the night."

Ali didn't make a face as she walked by, but Leliana looked up and their eyes met for a second. Ali couldn't be sure, but for some reason she felt like Leliana knew that she had heard. She quickly averted her eyes and hurried to the other end of the table where she placed herself and started playing the first song that came to mind. With Leliana staring at her, Ali struck up a tune on her lute and sang Nightingale's eyes.