Updated 9/11/16- fixed some stuff and added some things
"And now, presenting: Alexander Amell, Enchanter of the Ferelden Circle, there are no circles, one of my many failures made sure of that Champion of Redcliffe, slaughtered a child to get that title, no one ever mentions that Lord of Vigil's Keep and Arle of Amaranthine, Abomination, that's what they call me in Amaranthine Royal Advisor to the Queen of Ferelden, two were meant to rule, not one discoverer of the Temple of Sacred Ashes, the ones rooks sell in every alley from here to Kirkwall? Vanquisher of the Fifth Blight, i vanquished nothing, not even what i was supposed to Commander of the Grey, something true, at last THE HERO OF FERELDEN Alistair is The Hero "
They were all watching him, all of them studying and evaluating him from behind their masks made of silver and skin. The man -boy- he once was would have crumbled under such a scrutiny. Not on the outside, of course, years of being afraid of the templars had, afterall, taught him to hide that fear behind a well-crafted wall of bravado, but now he no longer was that person, he didn't need to combat those vultures, he didn't need to fear their evaluating stares or their leering gazes.
He didn't care
After the Inquisitor and her entourage were introduced, too, and after the Empress feigned to not understand Adaar's words of caution, he found himself staring at some child-sized chalice, holding wine which would have made his dwarven friend cause mayhem in outrage, and a plate of food that- what the hell kind of food is that?. All the while, Leliana tried her best to feign ignorance towards the figure watching them from the shadows She's playing her game, Leli, she wants to be seen. We'll jsut have to pretend we don't For now
"Do you think this is actually edible?" Asked the Warden, lifting with two fingers the meathy thing Ambassador Montiliyet had insisted "everyone had to absolutely try". He also pretended to not notice the gasps of the nobles at his action. That was much easier to ignore, to be sure, especially since his companion's eyes had just widened in the most amusing way
"What are you doing?!" Leliana whispered-screamed "Put that dow- Stop! Don't wiggle it around and put it down! And don't look at me like that! Puppy dog-eyes worked ten years ago, now you just look like an old mutt" A smile blossomed on the spymaster's face as she addes the last part "with fleas"
"That's no-" he exclaimed in a higher-pitched-voice than usual, as she tried to her her giggles "That's not funny" he continued in a more subdued tone "Fleas are not something to make jokes about. I though you knew just how utterly despicable and evil those things are, how could you say that to me after what i w-Bucefalo went through because of them!"
"Ah, your mabari went though that now, eh?" She said, eyes full of mirth and reminiscence "Well, i can say that because, if i rememebr correctly, i was the one to wash them out of you-r dog after he somehow caught them" she could barely suppress her laugh, now "You never did tell me where you went while i did that. Indisposed, maybe?"
He made a show of putting the thing down and of re-slipping his Warden-Commander face in position. He could not hide, though, the almost imperceptible uplifting at the corners of his mouth at the sound of her laugh, even if it was somewhat forced it held some genuine amusement, and maybe nostalgia, in it "Consider me insulted, my lady. I will not storm out, nor will i scream or rave, simply because you still did not answer my question" At that, he picked up again the maybe-poisonous-meat and wiggled it some more
The former Left-Hand, once her laughter calmed down, just sighed at his antics and went on to explain just what kind of food was that- while, in her mind, she thanked him for the pretence.
As she, once more, felt eyes -those eyes- staring at the back of her head, she prayed to the Maker her only remaining family -her love a part, a big part, of her whispered- would not have to suffer again because of that traitor's machinations
Inquisitor Adaar was not having a good day. Not only she had to wear this ridiculous outfit to appease the ridiculous customs of this ridiculous people - as if a piece of clothing would somehow matter to them more than her horns, or her skin, or her ears, or her height, did - but she also had to go around, playing Detective Donnen, while ignoring the danger she knew was lurking in the shadows, just waiting for the best moment to strike. And in doing so, potientially sending the world into the pit of darkness she had seen in the future
Yes, not a good day at all, which only got worse when she realized Nightingale was not at her usual spot in the Ball Room. Where is she?! The not-really-but-maybe-Herald of Andraste screamed in her mind. They had agreed to meet here if she found out something that could be used at the Inquisition's advantage -if an outdated pair of shoes at the feast of Lord whatnot can be considred valuable for the Inquisition. But now Leliana wasn't at her place, and the information's details were already starting to fade out from her mind Duke De Launcet or De Ferret?
"Inquisitor" a stern, somewhat low, and also unmistakable, voice said from behind her "Something i can help you with?"
She quickly turned around and found herself looking in the silver eyes of The Hero of Ferelden... and promptly looked down as her dark cheeks became a shade darker Damnit, get a grip. You're trying to stop the Empress of Orlais from getting murdered, you can act stupid later
And she probably would
The first time she had met him, when he arrived, unexpectedly, at Skyhold with a group of his wardens at his back...
...well, sha had not fainted at least. She is Tal-Vashot and Tal-Vashot do not "faint". But she did find herself incredibly short for words, so short for words, in fact, that when she opened her mouth to greet him, after a full couple of minutes of staring, the best that her addled brain could come up with was, as Varric liked to remember her every day, "Hi"
All because her two-months younger, naive, self thought standing there, saying nothing, would have been more humiliating. Idiot.
But, seriously, it was not her fault The Warden saved the whole freaking world and, in doing so, gained the everlasting admiration of a little-girl not even old enough to have proper horns. She really doubted anyone would have behaved better in her shoes, standing in fron of her hero, silver eyes and white hair and dark shiny armor and all. Maker's blood, even Sera had gone quiet (and just a few weeks later Dorian, Cassandra and Rainier had had to organize turns as to oversee her interactions with the Grey's Commander, after the not-elfy-elf had confessed to Ashala her plan to jump on the Warden's back, like Hawke sometimes did, and have him carry her around)
Then again, probably most people would have stopped blushing, or at least gotten the hang of it, after hering said Hero asking to Leliana, with a straight face and a strict tone, "if Schmooples II was alright"
But no, she was most obviously not most people, which is why she was now looking looking down at the floor -which is quite a feat when you are so tall-, in meek embarassment, while she should have totally been inquiring after Nightingale's whereabouts. There you go, something to say and it ony took half a minute of mortifying silence -progress is progress-
"I am looking for Leliana" Don't greet him or anything, eh, doofus "Well, i mean, uh, Hi! Are you enjoying the, uh-" She took a glimpse of his plate what is that? "the Ball?"
Nowadays he just barely raised one of his non-existing eyebrows at her behavior Which is not really a good thing. He probably thinks i am a simpleton OR a weirdo... or both "I am enjoying it as much as you, i presume" He answered offhandedly, moving to the spot Nightingale should have been "Leliana heard something interesting and went to investigate. I'd wager she'll be back in no more than 5 minutes" He continued as he started eating the -uh, thing- in his plate
"Well, uh, then i will just g-"
The white-haired man interrupted her, without taking his attenction away from the plate "As i said, she will be back in no time. If you wish, you can wait here"
"Oh-Um-Eh-Yeah, yeah, sure. I'll, uh, wait here, yeah" She said quickly, after a small pause, and she hurriedly moved to the other side of the small table Uff, why no chairs
As she settled, she noticed The Warden's movement to come to stand closer to her, and at that she looked up with wide eyes Maybe he asked me to stay because- "The Empress will take part in the dance after this one. Keep your senses sharp and be ready to act" -because he's actually doing what we all came here to do
But, at least, that was an easy thing to talk about. It was her duty as Inquisitor, so she neither mumbled, nor blushed, when she answered him "Do you see anyone?"
He hummed lowly "No one seems to be acting unusualy at the moment, no, and there are no enemy mages in the room" They way he said mages, though, it was as if he was saying a joke only he could comprehend Venatori are more like lowlife thugs and less like mages, i suppose
As she, too, started to look around for danger -much less discreetly than the silver-eyed man infront of her- she noticed, for the first time, that everyone, absolutely everyone, was looking at them. Which promted her to quickly turn her head back towards The Warden, face filled with tensity... and be greeted by the sight of him nonchalantly taking bits and pieces from his plate, seemingly ignorant to the dozens of, almost hungry, eyes on them
"Don't give them an opening" He suddenly said, undoubtedly perceiving her panicked gaze upon him "Play The Game, and play it well, or don't play at all. Either way, don't let them breach"
Easy for you to say. Some may look at you strangely, but others look at you in awe, they all leer at me in disgust. The Hero who saved a nation and The Qunari Beast who is a sham She realized she had spoken those words outloud when his eyes, from his plate, moved to hers and, for one moment, and just for one moment, they turned into ice
And, for the first time since she had met him, she felt afraid, caught in the stare of a predator
Just as suddnely that moment had come, though, it was gone. His eyes returning just as quickly to their normal silver-y shade, and the man himself going back to eat from his plate, so unperturbed by it all that she started believing it all a trick of her brain
The next few minutes passed in silence, as both Warden and Inquisitor looked out for danger, but it was broken by the Grey's voice, that adopted a softness he sometimes used when talking to Hawke or Leliana or his closest wardens "You, and only you, know who you are. Some will call you a Hero, because they need something to give them hope. Others will call you a Monster, because they need to blame someone for their misfortune. It doesn't matter. You matter. You know who you are"
"And if the stares still bother you, long ago i found out that imagining my detractors naked or shitting, or both, helps to make them somewhat less scary. I mean, everyone shits" Added Alexander a few moments, his voice and face returning to their usual stoicity
And with that, from sad and tired she went to loudly laughing her heart out, completely unconcerned by the gasps around her
"That you mustn't care about them doesn't mean you should attract attention so, yes?" He said in a more relaxed tone, when her laughter subdued
"Ah-Sorry" The Herald gasped out as she tried to recompose herself Vivienne will talk-or take-my ear out for this That thought sombered her up quite quickly
"Thank You, Warden" And she truly meant it, not just for the laugh, but for the words before that, too. It was nice talking to someone who just understood. Someone who had gone through what she was going through. Someone wise, and smart, and kind, and nice, especially to look at
She was taken out of her thoughts, but not out of her newfound blush, when he spoke again with an inquisitive tone "At times i wonder why people still call me only that. I'm hardly the only warden around these days"
Adaar answered without a moment's thought "Because you are THE Warden, of course. No one is like you"
The Warden looked intently in his chalice, as if he could see something mesmerizing in it and was not sure if he liked it. He then said something she didn't catch and hastily looked up, as if waking from a dream-or a nightmare?- and told her "You still remember what you had to say to Leliana, yes?" And it was right at that moment that said woman appeared with a brilliant smile, maybe somewhat forced to the eyes of someone who knew the spymaster better than the Inquisitor did Just a couple of months ago i never would have thought Leliana could smile, especially like that
"Lady Inquisitor, sorry for the wait, i had some matters to attend to. I trust Alex was good company, and didn't simply enjoy staring at you to make you uncomfortable" The first part was in her usual firm voice, while the second was for The Warden than to for Adaar herself, and a more playful tone was used
"Tonight you're more nefarious than usual. I don't always do that, and never without a worthy motive" Even tough the words were meant to be as playful as Leliana's, the tone was somewhat stiff. It wasn't just the two of them, afterall (and he had already showed more than he ought to)
Leliana put her arm in his He usually stiffens when someone touches him, only her, and Hawke, and some of his wardens can get away with it "I don't think wanting the tailor to not put sleeves on your uniform can be considered a worthy cause. Poor boy run away, trembling"
"It builds character, if we meet again he'll thank me"
Ashala, though, didn't catch the next few words from both of them, still somewhat trafixed by the easy way the spymaster had approached the Warden. Or, well, the easy way most of his friends seemed to effortlessly approach him. She could not imagine herself as much as laying a finger on him, much less standing as close as the Nightingale was now. He had such a nobility to him, a fierceness, that seemed almost unapproachable.
And yet, all those closest to him were never affected by it. They, in the contrary, seeked every chance to stay near him. Even if they had nothing to say, nothing to talk about, they seemed to prefer silence in his presence rather than on their own
She was so caught up in her thoughts that all she did was blink, when she realized the Warden was now addressing her. "Errr"
"I was telling Leliana that you had something to report, and that i have something to collect" Said the silver-haired man, gesturing to his plate "Inquisitor" continued the Warden as he slightly bowed to the Herald-cue another blackening of her cheeks-, slightly poked the spymaster's midsection, retrieved his plate and started towards the food
As they watched him go, both amused at the way the Orlesians seemed to part to allow him passage, they turned to eachother. One with a smirk and the other with a retreating blush "So, he truly didn't stare to make you uncomfortable?"
"No, no, no, of course not" The Inquisitor hurried to answer "He actually-well, he helped"
The Nightingale didn't need to ask why, or how, or about what "Yes, he does that" She said in a slightly sad voice
As they went to discuss the matters at hand, Inquisitor Ashala Adaar, with a much lighter heart than she had mintues ago, found herself wondering what The Warden thought of her horns
After the foiled attempt at the Empress' life at the hand of her cousin, thanks to The Inquisitor, and the pledge of loyalty from Briala and Celene to the Inquisition's forces, Alexander Amell found himself drinking some pisswater wine in one of the most secluded balconies of the palace. Waiting.
As he drank, he midly wondered what he would feel once she arrived. Rage, maybe? Unlikely His rage towards her ended when he came to the realization he himself was the one who let His King die. Regret? Can't change the past And if he did look back, then he would be truly and wholly lost. Happiness, Love? Didn't she say i hadn't loved her enough? Fear?
Alas, it seemed the wait has ended he thought, hearing the door of the balcony slightly creak as someone quickly came to stand by his side
He didn't say anything, he didn't look at her, he coudln't allow himself to be the first one to cave in. Not this time.
And, in the end, it was her who broke the silence
"Hello, Alexander"
Hadn't he said something similiar, 6 years ago?
Maker, she was just as he remembered. So beautiful, so far away, so
Sad? After all she's done how can she be sad? Sad to see him again? Sad that he lived? Sad that her plans didn't work? Sad because she knew why he had come?
Sad because she misse-No, that wasn't why he was here. He didn't come to dwell on things that -never- were and never could be. The Warden gripped the dagger he kept latched to his belt, a comforting presence in the chaos of his mind, and started towards her
"No further, please. One more step and I leave. For good, this time."
"Hello to you too, Morrigan"
"Hello to you too, Morrigan"
More silence. It seemed conversation didn't come easy for the two of them, now And to think that once- Don't. Then again, he wasn't the one who had seeked her, he wasn't the one who had needed to see her. The weight of the conversation rested on her shoulders
"Twas a surprise, when i came to know you would have come here. Even more so because of the company you arrived with. It seems when trouble does not find you, you find it"
She was looking at him now, from the corner of her eyes, studying him. Maybe she was comparing him to the memory she had of him, just as he himself, once, had done with her. Or maybe she was comparing him to someone far closer, someone that, maybe, was even in the palac- Don't
"Hm, the same could be said about you, wouldn't you agree?"
She smiled slightly then-he knew because, damnit, he was looking too-, and he found himself idly wondering if smiling had become easier for her as years went by
"In more ways than you think"
His eyes slighlty narrowed at her words. They had just met and already she was alluding he didn't know as much as she. Just like that night 10 years ago when his pride and hers had costed Ferelden its king, and him a brother
"Tell me, throughout the night did you mean for us to notice, or have your skills withered in the service of Her Imperial Majesty?"
She rebuked, slightly, but enough for The Warden to notice. She wasn't expecting a frontal attack, but what he wasn't wasn't expecting was a defense. Unlike her, to prefer the shield to the sword "I've not been in the service of Celene for nearly enough time for my magic to grow weaker. And even were it so i would never do such a poor job of hiding my presence, if i didn't wish it so. Tis' quite insulting that you would even consider the possiblity"
"Than, if you needed to make yourself known, there was no need to do it for the entirety of the Ball. You made Leliana quite uncomfortable" As he said that he drank a bit from his glass
"If a pair of eyes make the Spymaster of the Inquisition uncomfortable, then i am worried for us all" She replied in a clipped tone
The Warden tensed at that, cursing himself for brining Leliana into this "As far she knows you abandoned the group" me "the night before the battle. Her uneasiness is fair, and a better option than her rage"
A-calming-breath "I wanted to speak with you, privately, and i had to make sure you would want that too, for one reason or another. Your presence here tells me it worked" A slight pause, and in a lower, gentler tone "If i caused you discomfort then i.. apologize, twas' not my intent"
Yes, she either wants something or someone is controlling her Thought Alexander as he, without making himself noticeable, started looking for any kind of blood magic on her
Apparently not enough discreet, it seemed, for she laughed. A quite little laugh, filled with something he didn't wish to recognize "Tis' an apology from me such an unlikely event that you can't believe it to be true?" She stopped for a moment and then continued with a different, more serious, tone "You should be more careful about using your abilities. The War between mages and templars has hardly gained the formers any sympatizers, and with demons at every corner those like you should be even more mindful"
"You said i insulted you, but now you insult me. I am more than capable of watching after myself"
She was annoyed now. He remembered that look; slightly narrowed eyes, lips downturned, a magical surge foretelling of the jolt she -probably- wanted to send his way. Why was she annoyed?
"Forcing a Grand Duchess under your control, in front of the entire Orlesian Court no less, is being careful to you?"
At that he couldn't stop his eyes from widening for a second How did she notice? and, of course, he couldn't stop her from seeing his reaction
A huff, from the raven-haired woman "Any mage gifted with something resembling a brain would have noticed, and so could have any templar whose mental capabilities exceed those of your mongrel"
No point playing around, then, he thought as he noticed his glass had emptied itself during the converastion "The Inquisitor had to be the one to unmask the Duchess, to gain the Orlesians' support, which wouldn't have worked quite as well if Her Emperial Majesty found herself lacking a head"
Morrigan scrunched her eyebrows in disapproval, finally turning towards him "And having The He-" She stopped herself "The Warden-Commander Of Ferelden accused of using magic, magic some would call forbidden, on a Grand Duchess of Orlais, the Empress' cousin no less, would have been a much better way to put an end to the evening, yes?"
The Warden threw the glass down into the garden down below, hopefully hitting some masked idiot's head 5 minutes with this woman and already my every action is under questioning "It did not happen, for i am good enough to have not let it happen, and that is all there is to say about it. Regardless, i think you should rather take care of how you use your words, or it may even seem like you care" He didn't have to say that last part, but he wanted to, for he, now, was annoyed too
Watching her flinch and turn her head away from him, though, didn't give him any satisfaction, just as he knew it wouldn't. Especially because of the uneasy silence that followed
There was a time too much silence made him uncomfortable; templars, in the tower, were always watching, always silent, ready to strike all of them down at the first sight of demonic possession or blood magic. He didn't like silence, back then, so he used to cover it with stupid jokes and shows of bravado. As the years passed, though, as he travelled the road, fought darkspawn and men in equal number, bled and killed, silence became a welcome friend. Silence meant safe, it meant that he could rest -because at times he was so very tired- while one of them, one of his, watched over him. Or while he watched over them
But this silence of theirs, now, just weighted of unspoken truths and old regrets
The Warden didn't like that "You said you wanted to tell me something. It has been a long day, so, if you would do so, i'd be much obliged"
Morrigan half-smiled, maybe grateful for his steering of the conversation, or maybe something else "Not as long as the night, i'm sure" She took a breath "I would be most grateful if you could look me in the eyes for what i'm about to tell you"
The mage raised an eyebrow at that. The smartest-?- part of him enouraged him to end their meeting right there and then. Walk out and never seek her or see her again, just as he had promised himself he would do the last time they met, and the time before that
That part of him, though, was quickly crushed by curiosity, and something else
And, of course, by Pride. Her words were a challenge and challenges are meant to be faced, my friend When it suits you Us
The Warden turned and, for the first time in 6 years, Silver met Gold
