Author's Note: First of, all the characters belong to Bioware. Now, Gorim/Aeducan was one of my favorite pairings. He is duty first and then love. My Aeducan was his counterpart of heart first then duty.
A pig tailed dwarf walked into the room.
Gorim didn't even have to look up to know that she had entered the room. His mother used to say that she had a certain spirit, a way her energy travelled and touched everyone that you didn't even need to see her to know that she was near. Even as a child, when she'd walk into his home, she stood straight and with a certain aura that wasn't command but could very easily turn into that.
He stood from the chair in the hall, and walked to the door. She was staring at a wall, examining its carving with a quietness that made him wonder what she was thinking. Casually, he leaned against the door frame and waited for her to notice him.
It wasn't long after that Theola Aeducan turned around, her face warming into a smile.
"Greetings, my lady," he forced the words to be friendly and formal, "dressed and ready, I see. Excellent." He hid a smile from her when she raised her hand to her chest in thanks. "I found this fancy longsword to go along with your suit. You wish to wear your shield to the Nobles' Feast?"
"I do," she replied, grasping the shield and weighing it, "the whole point of this feast of for them to see me as a warrior, is it not? Might as well look the part as well."
"Mind you, the idea of you charging naked into battle hold a certain appeal…" He waited nervously after he'd uttered the words.
Theola's eyes flickered to him, calming his nerves. There was a playful spark in her eyes now, "close that door and we'll talk about naked charging, Gorim."
Before he could succumb to the offer, he grinned and walked away a bit, "Cute. Don't you remember how this game goes? I get undressed and one of the Aeducan boys comes in and trashes me. I think I'll take my chances outside the palace if you don't mind… After the feast, perhaps? Well. Thoughts for later, I suppose."
"You have a place of your own now, do you not?" she countered, tilting her head, "though if you prefer to think it through…."
He merely stared at her. He could tell she was enjoying this, mulling over her proposal. "Moving onto business," he muttered, ignoring her sigh, "Your father expects you to show at the feast. But not till later so no rush. "
She shrugged, "I suppose the nobles will bore my father with petty grievances… The art of ruling is never boring but…. Alright, what shall we do till then?"
"Permits have been auctioned off in the Diamond Quarter," he said before she could suggest anything, "There's merchants selling all sorts of things out there. There's a proving being held in the Aeducan name. There's a rumor going around that Lord Harrowmont hopes you'll be swept off your feet if a well-placed young nobleman wins the proving in your name."
"I could use a little sweeping off my feet. Not by any of those nobleman though. I was thinking more my best buddy and second in command," she frowned at him in irritation, "come on, Gorim. I'm all but throwing this out there for you."
Gorim's heart quickened, unable to believe that the Princess of Orzammar and his best friend wanted him. "I've got a well built, magical broom just for you. But … that's for later," he tried to ignore the way her eyes lit up with delight at his words, "what shall we do for now?"
"Merchants or Proving… let's do a bit of both," she beamed at him.
Gorim bowed his head at her, "with you as always, my lady. Lead on."