DISCLAIMER: BIOWARE OWNS EVERYTHING. I Love Them and am merely frolicking in their amazing world ^_^
She stared out the window and sighed. A decade. Ten years. And nothing's changed in this room, not one thing, in all that time. She slowly stroked the pigtails of an old doll as the flame on her candle danced with each gust of wind. From the corner of her eye, she could see a soft light, as the door slowly creaked open.
"M'lady, it does you no good to sit in here, of all places, in the dark, especially tonight."
The lantern in his hands revealed his red hair, and sad eyes. The woman smiled at the confirmation of her suspicion, and then frowned.
"You don't have to look after me, Roddy."
She could hear his breath catch.
"Sorry, sorry, Ser Gilmore."
He sat at the vanity next to the window she was in.
"It's alright, my lady, I-I just...today will be especially hard on everyone." He stood. "C'mon, let's go spar in the training room, seeing as we'll probably get no more sleep tonight."
"Okay."
She threw the doll toward the bed, unaware that one of the eyes had come undone. Hopping off of the sill, her foot landed atop the glass sphere and she slipped. And would have fallen if not for the timely outstreching of Ser Gilmore's arms.
"M'Lady! Are you alright?!" the concerned knight helped her to her feet.
Taking advantage of the closeness, the young brunette tousled a piece of his red hair gone rogue from the rest. She rested her hand on a faint scar, just under his left eye, high on the cheekbone, and stared at him with her bright sapphire sparkling eyes.
"I am now. Thanks to you, Roddy."
The young man quickly averted his eyes, cleared his throat, and took a few steps back.
"Avery..." he begged, "please don't call..."
She put a hand to his face.
"Forget it. Ten years later you think you'd finally get over it."
As she grabbed her daggers holstered in her belt off the hook and headed out the door, she paused in the frame and turned her head.
"You haven't seen her for a decade, probably won't ever again." she spat bitterly, "I don't see what you're holding on to."
The young woman blew out her candle, "I'll get the lanterns going," and disappeared into the shadows.
The squire sighed, rubbed his neck, and followed the rogue downstairs.
The gardens in the springtime were nothing short of marvelous. Old stone statues covered with beautiful ivy. Animal shaped bushes aligned the cobblestone walkways and flower. Flowers as near, and as far as the eye could see. Several paths maze their way through, some connecting, others leading to different areas of the garden. The right most path led to a large field of soft grass, a grand oak tree with a swing, and a makeshift chair, sitting up a few branches too high for most. Enjoying her perch and book in hand, as always, the raven haired, eldest daughter of the Teryn peered down at the commotion below, just in time to see her brother admit defeat to his red haired rival.
"You're never going to get him if you keep pointing your toes in Fergus! keep your feet straight!" Mocked a small brunette with pigtails, kicking the dust as her brother got to his feet.
"Shut up Avery, you couldn't beat his even if he had both hands tied behind his back!" Fergus hissed back at his youngest sister.
"I totally could! I may be small, but try me!"
"Really Av? Because I remember last time when..."
The tree bound bookworm chuckled at her arguing siblings and went back to her story.
"Whatcha reading?" cam a voice from between her feet.
Without hesitation, or looking up from her book, she crossed her legs so her interrogator could take a seat in front of her.
"Thanks."
She looked up and smiled, and looked back at her book. "It's about legends and myths. More so the legend of Flemeth. It's fascinating." She closed the book and set her attention to the red head before her, "Did you need something, Roddy? You really should put Avery's money where her mouth is." She smiled warmly at the knight-in-training. The boy chuckled, "But I do hate the aftermath. She never learns, and can hold a grudge like there's no tomorrow when she loses." The boy ran a hand through his hair, "Although her incessant nagging if I refuse IS a thousand times worse."
"That's the spirit!" the girl playfully punched him, then rested her hands on his lower arms.
"The stars will be on full display tonight, Ser Gilmore." she giggled into her hand as he rolled his eyes. She always loved teasing him, knowing his dream to become a knight like his father, "You'll watch them with me, won't you Roddy?" Her emerald eyes beamed up at his.
He brought her hands to his lips.
"Anything for you, Addison."
"Stop it."
"Must I?"
"Please."
"But it's fun." *blow*
"I can't see." *snap*
"Well, until you light it again." *blow*
"Seriously, what are you, seven?" *snap*
"But...but...I'm bo-o-o-o-o-red." *blow*
"Then go to bed. Wasn't that where you were headed anyways? Or had you not finished the rounds yet?" *snap*
The handsome blond stood up, and strolled over to the other end of the large table the pair was sitting at. He took a seat next to a large stack of books and grabbed his companion's hand, effectively halting her assault on the poor parchment beneath her quill.
"Hey now..."
The woman sighed. "I'm sorry, you know I don't really care about that. It's just that today is..-"
He put a finger to her lips.
"Shhh...I know dear, I know. Sorry for agitating you." The man rustled his ponytail and yawned. "But we HAVE been down here for hours. Aside from not getting caught, I'm exhausted, all physically, not so much mentally," he winked at her and got up to stretch.
"Then go to bed, Anders. I promise you I'm okay, really. Just one more tome...-"
The blond mage held up his hands and chuckled. "Okay, okay." He bowed, "I shan't disturb you any longer, M'lady."
The woman smiled sadly, "Anders..."
"Right, right. sorry." He hugged the sitting woman and kissed her temple. "I'll be in my room -alone- if you need me. Promise."
"Thanks Anders, goodnight."
"Goodnight, sweetheart."
The mage left the library, and the young woman went back to her feverish note taking in silence.
"Not uh. We came out for you two. I'm still sore from yesterday."
Sitting in her perch, engrossed in yet again another book, Addison glanced momentarily over her shoulder to see the trio of silhouettes cresting the top of the small hill leading to their open field. She smiled, and went back to reading.
"You don't have to go easy on me Gil," Avery happily chimed as the three made their way toward Addison and the tree.
"We'll see."
He patted the brunette's head and laughed as she squirmed out from under his hand. She scowled at him before standing tall and putting on a tough face.
"I mean it! I'm stronger now you'll see!"
"I don't know why you actually engage her, she'll only bug you more!" Fergus called, now slightly trailing behind the other two.
They set their things against the tree, found a nice spot a few yards out, and readied their wooden weapons. An inquiry of readiness, a positive reply, and the two combatants began encircling each other. Addison decided to climb down from her spot to watch. The ebony haired youth started her decent to -thuds-, -clunks-, then an "Yes! Ooh no! Ha! I got you!", and finally a wail as her foot landed on the soft grass underneath. She chuckled to herself and turned around to see Avery on the ground, whining, with her hands waving in defeat. "All right! All right! I give!" She cried.
The opponent sheathed his "sword".
"It's just not fair," The young brunette threw her sword and sadly sniffed, trying to coax out any extra sympathy, "I'm just no good with close combat."
"It's okay, Avery, everyone has their weaknesses," The boy said to her as nonchalantly as he patted her head, eyes fixed on the other sister smiling warmly from underneath the tree. He started toward the tree before turning to look over his shoulder, "Your strength is more long-range."
"Ugh...and below the belt, did you not see me standing there!?" Fergus croaked and fell to the ground, Avery's sword apparently hitting a different target when tossed aside. He rolled side to side, arms tucked between his legs, when something slim and silver fell out of his waist band, and caught the slightest glimmer of sun, shining right into a young spiteful rogue's eyes.
He sat on the bench next to the basement doors and sighed. he always disliked the late night shifts. During the day, upstairs, there was always something happening. Someone coming or going, playing games, or telling a story. Some distraction. But here, in the wee hours, everyone was sleeping, and he was left alone, lost in thoughts, all about her. Her beautiful bright green eyes. Her raven black hair, at the longest it's been since he's met her, and Maker does it make her look sexy. That not quite so high but still dangerously distracting hem line that showed off just enough of her upper thighs whenever she walked or crossed her legs. The bright colors she loves to wear, even though he somewhat knew her more recent past was anything but. He closed his eyes. He could see her now, smiling at him from her study desk, it taking every force of his will not to stare down at those luscious legs, and then her going back to her study book "Advanced Summoning Sciences".
He shook his eyes open, "Maker, I need to get a grip." He said aloud, and shook his head clear.
He reached down for his lantern and got up to stretch. Suddenly aware of how tired he had become, he silently thanked Andraste the library was his last stop.
"R-o-o-...Avv-..."
He stopped in the doorway.
-thud-
'Just my luck' the man thought as he ran a hand through his curls and put on his best stern face, 'Let's hope this isn't Anders and some other new...acquaintance of his.'
Addison laughed into her hand and waved at the red-head.
"I dare say, you will make quite the knight one day, Roddy!" the middle Cousland called.
The boy waved back, stopped to pick a flower for the young man, and ran to meet her.
Avery was pissed.
'Your strength is more long range' she scoffed and rolled her eyes, then narrowed them at the couple deviously. Their being so wrapped up in one another made her blood boil more.
"I'll show you long-range."
She crawled over to grab the shimmering object she saw moments ago, the only thing in the distance between her and them. Fergus still lay on the ground, back turned to the rest, completely unaware his prized possession had fallen, and was about to cause more trouble, more life-changing events, than it was worth sneaking into the armoury to steal.
He scanned the first section of the library, empty. He couldn't have just been hearing things, could he? Two more -thuds- and a moan.
"Oh, Maker help me."
He held his lantern up to the second section, no one. he rubbed his temple and made his way to the third section, pausing after taking two steps. He froze. Was that...snoring? He let out his breath, completely unaware that he had even been holding it in. Maybe this wouldn't turn out as awkward as he thought. 'just a young apprentice who fell asleep trying to study I'm sure' he reassured him and chuckled as he held his lantern up to illuminate the third section and his culprit. It took everything in him to keep the light from hitting the ground, after realizing he had accidentally let go, and his whistle of relief after steadying himself made her stir slightly and drop the book she had in her hands. He took in the sight of her and frowned, the Maker sure knew how to rub it in.
"Oh, Addison..."