Teagan Guerrin loathed traveling to Orlais.
It wasn't even due to the bloody history between the empire and his home country of Ferelden, or the tensions that lingered to the present day. It was simply due to the fact that every time he found himself in Orlais, he ended up in some sort of uncomfortable situation, often by his own fault. In his youth, there were numerous times where he had fumbled in his attempts to conform to the culture – linguistic mistakes that led to him offending some higher noble's wife, misunderstanding the extravagant and ever-changing fashions so badly that he once showed up at a formal affair dressed partially in attire meant for women, or not realizing when he'd been pulled into the subtle social and political maneuverings that Orlesians liked to call The Game. It was all unnecessarily complicated for him, and he preferred to avoid it altogether. Unfortunately, he didn't always have that option.
The worst of it, however, always came with his sister-in-law, Isolde. She was of Orlesian birth, and though she loved her husband, Arl Eamon of Redcliffe, returning to Orlais after living in Ferelden for so many years seemed to trigger a sad sort of nostalgia in her. She was frantic about making sure everything about her appearance and mannerisms were just-so, desperately trying to have her identity as an Orlesian verified by the nobility of her people. It was the insecurity of a woman from a culture of beauty and extravagance marrying into a world of harsh winters and "dog lords." Were it not for the fact that her attempts to connect and impress often involved trying to set Teagan up with some random lord's unmarried daughter, he might have developed some sympathy for her over the years. But, that was simply not the case. Not on this night, nor on any of the others.
It was on a cool, late-autumn evening that Teagan once again found himself in the royal palace of Val Royeaux, wandering the crowded, glittering ballroom in search of his favorite wine as he kept a watchful eye out for Isolde. He had last seen her about ten minutes before, at Arl Eamon's side, but after he had turned his attention elsewhere for only a moment, she disappeared. Damn these masks, he thought to himself, adjusting his own decorative half-mask that was custom for nobility to wear in Orlais. Not only were they uncomfortable to wear for such long periods of time, but for a foreigner unable to identify the subtleties in their design they made it difficult to spot an individual in a crowd.
Aha! He caught a glimpse of Isolde in the far corner of the hall, on a raised platform overlooking the dance floor, speaking amongst a small group of women. They were comparing hair adornments, all coordinated in rich, warm colors for the season. One of the group, a sharp-faced woman with tight auburn ringlets of hair and who appeared to be in her late twenties, was dressed in slightly bolder colors and patterns, a style that suggested she was an eligible noble. Teagan had to assume that she was the woman Isolde wanted him to meet. Everything from her size to her stance and mannerisms bore an eerie resemblance to his sister-in-law. That wasn't a good sign at all. Perhaps if he left now, found his wine and retreated to the gardens, he'd be able to avoid awkward mingling and having to encounter the woman he had no interest in meeting.
Just as he was about to sneak away, however, Isolde's gaze caught his own. He groaned as she waved him down excitedly and her friend's gaze followed. He smiled and bowed politely. No escape now, he groaned once again, mentally preparing for yet another uncomfortable evening.
He quickly straightened out his clothing and mask to make sure his appearance was at least acceptable to the judgmental Orlesians, but as he started to make his way to the staircase, a hand reached out from behind him and grabbed on to his arm. Teagan jumped in surprise and turned around, his eyes meeting those of a young brunette woman wearing a deep olive gown.
"Hello!" she said spiritedly, quickly finishing the champagne she held in her other hand and passing off the empty glass to a servant nearby. She craned her neck to take a quick glance at Isolde, and then smiled as her gaze shifted back to Teagan. Though confused, Teagan found himself smiling back at the vivacious woman. She was very pretty, with long waves of chestnut brown hair, fair skin tinted with the golden glow of a day out in the sun, and a small, dazzling smile. A wild sort of excitement bubbled just beneath the surface of her deep brown eyes, and Teagan wondered what she was up to, having approached him so boldly, not to mention informally, in the royal palace of Val Royeaux, of all places.
"Um, hello there," he said at last. He cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, my lady, do I know you?"
"No," she replied quickly. "Well, yes you do. But, no," she sighed. "Kind of. I'm from Ferelden, but that's not important right now. Listen, unless you want to spend your evening with Lady Isolde and the second-worst person in this room, follow my lead," she winked playfully as she took his hands in hers, pulling him close. He allowed it, intrigued. She wrapped one of his arms low around her waist, and held his other hand.
"Dance with me," she commanded, once satisfied with their pose. Teagan hesitated for just a moment, but then he obeyed, though he let her take the lead.
"Oh, you do know how to dance," she remarked, her tone a mix of surprise and relief.
"You expected otherwise?" he asked, raising his brow.
The woman laughed, a carefree and clear laugh that Teagan found entirely too endearing. "It's just that I've never seen you at court in Denerim, so I wasn't certain."
"You assumed my poor attendance record at formal affairs was due to a lack of dancing skill?" he chuckled.
She gave a small shrug. "I saw that you were trying to escape from Lady Isolde, and I thought that maybe it was time to find out."
"You noticed that, huh?"
"Unfortunately the absolutely charming chevalier who accompanied me tonight has wandered off with another woman, so I've had little else to do but sit back and people-watch. Your attempted escapes just happened to be the most entertaining scene that tonight had to offer."
"Well, the chevalier's loss is my good fortune, it would seem," Teagan replied. "I expected to have an awful evening, but here I am, dancing with one of the loveliest ladies in attendance." Teagan cringed inwardly as the last word of his attempt at flirtation left his mouth.
"One of?" she repeated his words, placing her hand on her chest in mock-offense.
Teagan chuckled. "You see, I'm not so good at The Game. I could be wrong, but I get the impression that suggesting anyone is more beautiful than the empress could land me in a good bit of trouble."
The young woman laughed again, leaning into him a bit closer. He caught the scent of her perfume, a fresh and sweet scent he swore he'd smelled before but couldn't quite remember.
"Pardon me, my lady," he started after a moment, "but I must ask. Have we met before? Curse these masks, I'm sorry I don't recognize you if we have."
"We've met a few times, actually…though not in some time. I would say it's been about... four years, if I remember correctly. We – oh no, she's coming," the woman sighed, nodding her head in the direction behind Teagan from which Isolde was approaching.
"Play along," she ordered quietly, stepping even closer to him.
"It's been so long since I last saw you, Bann Teagan," the woman jumped into an Orlesian accent as Isolde arrived within earshot. She winked at him.
Teagan grinned, catching on. He lowered the hand on her waist just a bit. "Far too long," he replied, lowering his voice as if trying to speak more intimately. "How have you been?"
"Better now than I have been in some time," she continued. "My father is here tonight, you know. I believe he's speaking to her Imperial Majesty at the moment, but you should stick around. He's been hoping that we'd encounter each other again."
"To what end?" Teagan asked, twirling her away from him. His breath caught involuntarily at the sight of the olive fabric wrapping tightly around the curves of the young woman's slim figure for just a moment. He pulled her back in, closely, and for a moment as their eyes met, there was suddenly no music. No ballroom. No Isolde. No game. There was only her.
In the back of his mind he wondered how much he'd had to drink already, to be so easily distracted.
She placed her hands lightly upon his chest, glancing at Isolde before slowly returning her gaze to his own. She smiled mischievously, saying just loudly enough for Isolde's ears to catch her words "Teagan, I think you know the answer to that question."
Dragging his focus away from his distracted thoughts and back into the present, Teagan remembered what they were doing. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Isolde's jaw drop just a little. Surprised and outplayed, she turned slowly on her heel and made her way back to the staircase.
The woman before Teagan stifled a giggle as they resumed dancing.
"Well played," Teagan smiled down at her, thoroughly amused. "Thank you."
"It's no trouble," she said casually, returning to her natural Fereldan accent. "It was fun. Though, back to your question…you know my family, but you don't know me."
"Might I have a name, then?" he asked.
"Elissa," she replied hesitantly, looking away for a moment.
Though the name was a common one, a faint bit of recognition triggered with Teagan. He was confident that they were somewhat acquainted, though he couldn't quite pinpoint who she was. And she seemed to like it that way. "I take it I'm not getting a family name from you, my lady?" he asked.
She smiled and shook her head. "I haven't decided yet. I think we really need to leave Isolde behind, first, because now she won't stop staring at us." she gestured for a nearby attendant to come to them. Using Teagan's larger form for both balance and to conceal herself a bit, she subtly reached under her skirt and pulled out a bag of coin that had been secured with a band just above her right knee. She handed it to the servant.
"A drink for Lady Isolde, please," she instructed the young man. "Tell her it comes from the handsome young man in the blue jacket."
The servant weighed the bag in his hand and smiled, bowing before backing away. Teagan and Elissa watched as moments later the servant reappeared at Isolde's side. The women standing with her exploded in a burst of giggles as Isolde's face went pink and she started scanning the ballroom for a man dressed in blue.
"Now," Elissa said, grabbing Teagan's hand and quickly leading him in the direction of the gardens. She was much smaller and more agile than him, and Teagan struggled to not stumble as she quickly turned corners and dodged groups of Orlesian nobles throughout the hall. He did notice her snatch a bottle of wine from a distracted attendant just before they exited the large, glass doors to the garden.
Once they shut the doors behind them, the young woman called Elissa dropped Teagan's hand and inhaled deeply, face and chest raised to the cloudy night sky, taking in the fresh air. She sighed happily as she exhaled.
"I did it!" she exclaimed, turning around to face him. She tossed the bottle of wine from one hand to the other. "I played The Game…sort of."
He couldn't help but smile at how proud she was of herself. "It was well played," he indulged her, "but I must ask, what was the significance of the blue jacket?"
"Oh, that? It's autumn. No noble in Orlais would be caught dead in blue this season."
"Ah, of course," Teagan responded as if he'd already known that.
Truth be told, he'd nearly chosen a blue ensemble for this evening. He silently thanked the Maker that he hadn't. "Now that we've successfully escaped, my lady...what now?"
She lifted the cork from the bottle of wine and took a generous gulp of it, before handing it off to him.
"Now you're free, and the night is ours, Bann Teagan," she responded as he drank. "If you'd be kind enough to keep me company, of course. What would you like to do?"
Teagan offered his arm and led her to a nearby tree. Once underneath its cover, he sat down on the grass, and she followed. "I think I'd like to get to know the woman who saved me from such an awful fate tonight," he said with a smile, handing the bottle of wine back to her.
"Alright," she agreed, drinking once more. "What would you like to know? And no names. No family details, either. Those are the rules," she insisted.
"Is this another part of The Game?" he asked.
"No, this is your punishment for not attending court or Landsmeet, like you should. I know you'd recognize me straight away, in the proper context."
"Do you intend to drive me mad with curiosity until I figure it out?"
She nodded, placing her hand gently on top of his. "I do, however, intend for you to enjoy it as well," she admitted, looking him in the eye.
He felt his cheeks go red, and for once he was thankful for the mask that hid most of his face. "Are you flirting with me?" he asked, disbelief clear in his tone.
She shrugged and said nothing, though her mischevious smirk conveyed her answer clearly enough. Teagan grabbed the wine from her, and took a rather large sip from it before handing it back.
"Well then," he started. "What brings you to Orlais?"
"Do you want the real reason, or the so-called official reason?" she asked him.
"They're not the same?"
"Definitely not," she sighed, taking another long drink of wine. "The official reason is that I'm a student at the University of Val Royeaux. I do work in herbalism back home. It's always been a hobby of mine. I came across a promising remedy for the cold that swept through southern Thedas last year, and it caught Empress Celene's attention. I was invited here."
"That's…that's quite amazing, actually," Teagan said, impressed. "But it makes me wonder what the real reason could possibly be."
"The very same reason you find yourself in Orlais tonight. I'm worrying my family with how shamefully unmarried I am," she laughed. "I'm a few years past the ideal heir-producing age, and if I don't act soon the world is going to burn."
Teagan laughed, instantly becoming more comfortable at the familiarity with her problems. "Oh, I can definitely relate," he said, taking the wine back from her for another sip. "Though I'm a bit more than a few years past that."
"And why is it that the eldest available Guerrin has remained unmarried for so long?" Elissa asked. "You're a bit of a mystery amongst noble women."
"Oh?" Teagan raised an eyebrow, curious. He knew people thought it a bit odd that he'd not married yet, but he didn't realize anyone gave it much thought beyond that. "What makes it so mysterious?"
"You're from a well-respected family and have an excellent reputation," she noted casually. "And there's certainly no shortage of good women who find you attractive," she added. "I and many others find it curious that you remain single when you could likely have almost anyone you wish to have. So, what is the real reason?"
He sighed heavily, leaning backwards until he was lying in the cool grass. He put his hands behind his head and thought for a moment, staring up at the tree branches above him.
"It's not that complicated, actually. I'm not some man trying desperately to hold on to his youth or fearing commitment. I want to be married. I think about it a lot, actually. But, the Bannorn keeps me rather busy, and I just…haven't really met anyone I wanted to marry."
"You want to marry for love?" she settled down on to her side next to him, propping her head up with her hand, elbow digging into the ground.
"Is that a bad thing?"
"No, of course not," she said, looking down at the ground between them and tracing abstract shapes in the grass with her free hand. "I'm just…jealous that you have that option."
Teagan frowned, pushing his mask away from his face as he sat back up. Gently, he lifted Elissa's chin with one hand, until she was looking him in the eyes, and with his other hand he reached behind her head and unlaced her mask. Setting it on the ground between them, he softly rubbed the faint red lines on her bare face where the mask had been digging into her skin the entire evening. A smile escaped from his lips as he watched her blush intensely from the close contact.
"The chevalier you spoke of earlier, he is your betrothed, is he not?" Teagan asked quietly. Elissa sat up next to him and nodded.
"It's not official yet, but it will be once I return to Ferelden," she answered quietly.
They sat in silence for a moment, Teagan pitying the young woman but not knowing what to say that wouldn't make her feel worse. In the absence of words, he put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"You're an interesting woman, Elissa," he said sadly, after a moment. "I dare say that were I any younger, you would find me at your family's castle, hoping to win your affections."
She looked up at him, brows raised. "Do you not think you could win them anyway?" she asked him.
Teagan froze. Despite their flirtations thus far, her words surprised him. Was she simply paying him a polite compliment, or was she actually challenging him to try courting her? Excitement pounded through his chest at the thought, but insecurities told him to not make assumptions.
"I'm sorry, my lady, I'm not quite sure how to respond to that," he admitted.
She smiled but said no more. Grabbing both of their masks, she stood up, and then extended her arm to help him up as well. She handed his mask to him as she put hers back on. "Let's get out of here," she suggested.
"And where will we go?" Teagan asked, intrigued once again.
"The grand ball is just one of the many celebrations happening tonight, and by no means is it the most fun," she said. "Festivals in the streets, with merchants from all around Thedas. I've always wanted to experience them, but I've never had the chance," she explained. "Let's explore them, together."
Teagan grinned at the invitation, but looked wearily up at the cloudy sky as he replaced his mask. Way off in the distance, to the west, there were flashes of lightning. "As much as I'd love to, Elissa, it looks like a storm is coming."
She rolled her eyes playfully, taking a few strides ahead of him and gesturing for him to follow. "Teagan," she said in a pleading sort of whine. "Please don't tell me you're afraid of a little rain."
It took Teagan some time to convince Isolde and Eamon to let him part from their company and retire for the evening, and he was slightly worried that it had taken him so long that Elissa would have changed her mind and returned home. But, much to his relief, she was waiting for him outside of the palace gates. She smiled and took his hand, leading him out into the city.
They first went to the docks, where fishermen from both Orlais and Antiva had set up stands selling small portions of fresh and unique foods that Teagan had neither seen nor heard of before. He followed Elissa's lead as she made random purchases, and sampled what she suggested. It was difficult for him to focus on anything of the information being shared between her and the merchants, because all he could think about in that moment was her – how she talked to everyone in such an interested and lively manner, how her eyes closed when she tasted something delightful, how she covered her mouth and laughed when his face distorted as he tried something he didn't like. It was an almost instant infatuation he'd not felt in a long time. And maybe it was just the wine playing tricks on him, but he could almost swear that she felt the same. Even as their minds cleared from the drink, she was getting closer to him. She touched him as they talked, and she looked at him almost wistfully when she thought his attention was elsewhere, blushing every time he caught her. But maybe she's just enjoying your company because she's lonely, he thoughtas doubt crept into his mind. She certainly seemed to adore Orlesian life, but from what Teagan could tell, she was a free-spirited, Fereldan woman to her core. Perhaps she was just thankful to be in the company of someone she could relate to after living in Orlais for so long. Perhaps to her he was just a friendly, familiar face in a sea of masks.
"It looks like everyone's getting ready to leave," the disappointed tone in her voice interrupted his thoughts, and his eyes followed hers down the streets leading to the marketplace, where merchants were starting to pack up their wares.
"Not ready for the night to end?" he asked, leading her toward the square.
She smiled. It was not one of the dazzling and bold smiles she'd shared with him earlier, but a small, shy smile as she averted his gaze and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "Not ready to part from your company," she admitted quietly.
Pushing any remaining doubt aside, Teagan grabbed her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers. Her eyes widened a bit in surprise, but then her shy smile widened into a happy grin and she squeezed his hand gently. They stood in the middle of the square, unsure of where to go next.
"Excuse me!" an Antivan man's accent called out to them from one of the remaining stands. A merchant and his partner were beckoning them. "Would the lovely young woman like to finish this lovely evening by trying one of the finest wines of Orlais?" he asked as they approached.
Elissa nodded, thanking the man and his partner as they handed each of them a glass. Teagan and Elissa tapped their glasses together in a quiet toast before drinking. Teagan found it delightful, a typical Orlesian flavor but with a perfect, subtle sweetness. Elissa's eyes widened as she set her glass down, clearly just as impressed as he was.
"We'll take a bottle," Teagan said, reaching into his pocket.
"Yes, yes," the merchant said. "We'll be happy to take care of that, but not before you've tried the best part."
"The best part?" Elissa inquired.
The Antivan man's partner chimed in. "Do you know why this wine is so popular, my lady?" he asked.
"Because it's delicious?" she assumed.
The man chucked. "Yes, yes. It is! Certainly. Our wine is top quality, known all over Orlais for its sweetness. But," he said, leaning in closer to Teagan and Elissa. "It is known far and wide for being even sweeter when tasted on a lover's tongue."
As the man backed away once again, Teagan and Elissa stared at each other, frozen for a moment, understanding the hint but unsure of what to do. Teagan studied her expression, trying to figure out what she wanted, but too embarrassed to ask.
"Well, go on!" the Antivan man said eagerly, encouraging them.
Teagan faced Elissa directly, placing one hand on the side of her cheek.
"May I?" he asked, looking her in the eyes, hoping his expression was gentle and gave no indication of his eagerness.
Elissa swallowed nervously, but nodded her consent. Stepping closer and sliding his hand from her cheek to the back of her head, Teagan closed the distance between them, leaning down to her height and pressing his lips against hers. He felt her body stiffen at first, but she quickly relaxed and gave in to the kiss, holding on to him tight for balance as she rose to the tips of her toes to deepen their contact.
Despite barely knowing her, despite being in public, Teagan swore he could have stayed there and kissed her forever. She smelled so great to him, tasted so sweet, and he found a darker part of his mind longing to spend the night with her. He shouldn't do such a thing, in fact he hadn't in a longer time than he cared to admit, and he wasn't sure if she'd allow it. But he wished…
Though his eyes were closed, Teagan felt the night suddenly grow darker around them. Within seconds, a downpour had started. Teagan and Elissa parted quickly in surprise, and the merchant hurriedly handed a bottle of wine to Elissa while Teagan counted out the coin for it.
"What now?" Teagan shouted over a loud clap of thunder.
She quickly grabbed his hand and started to run. "My home isn't too far. We can stay there until the storm passes," she shouted back, leading him down an alley way and through a maze of stone-paved streets.
Teagan shivered as he stepped over the hearth and into the quaint little temporary home that belonged to Elissa, thankful that her housekeeper already had a warm fire blazing in the sitting room. The said housekeeper rose from her seat on the couch upon hearing their entrance, and Elissa said good night to her before she bowed politely and slipped out the front door, closing it behind her.
Elissa took her mask off and set it on the small dining table, and Teagan followed suit. She opened the bottle of wine and poured a glass for him, speaking as she handed it off. "Here, you should warm up by the fire. I'll change and see if I can find some of my brother's clothing for you to wear while yours dries."
"Thank you," Teagan nodded politely and Elissa dismissed herself, walking through the sitting room and disappearing through a door at the other side.
Teagan sipped at the wine as he removed his shoes and walked toward the blazing fire. The fire eased his freezing and shivering body, but the comfort did nothing to quell his racing mind and heartbeat. In fact, once the cold wasn't there to distract him, he could only think of one thing: how badly he wanted her. He'd blamed it on the wine earlier, but after that kiss…Maker's breath, she was more intoxicating to him than the wine could ever be. But again, doubt crept into his mind and he wondered if she'd really brought him here just to offer him shelter from the storm. The nobler part of him, the part that long ago put an end to spending the night with beautiful young women and not speaking to them again, hoped that was the case. She'd walk out of that room with dry clothes for him, and she'd politely tell him good night and allow him to rest on the sofa as long as he needed.
"Mind giving me your shirt so I can wring it out?" Teagan's head turned as Elissa stepped out of her bedroom.
Maker's breath, Teagan thought as he began fumbling with the top button of his shirt. It was both better and worse than he'd imagined. Her hair, just slightly damp now, was freed from the elegant twist it had been styled in earlier, loose chestnut waves cascading around her shoulders. Her face was washed, clear of the thick Orlesian cosmetics so that Teagan was able to see the light dusting of faint freckles that ran across her nose and cheeks. Teagan had always liked freckles. And she was dressed in a robe, a pale pink robe that, whether she intended it or not, was tied loosely, giving it a daringly low neckline. She carried a set of dry clothes in her arms, which she set aside as she noticed Teagan having difficulty with the buttons of his shirt.
"As much as I love the attention to detail Orlesians put into…well, everything," she mused at the scalloped edges of the buttons on his shirt as she walked toward him, "I do believe buttons are typically round for a reason."
Teagan chuckled lightly as Elissa gently pushed his hands away and took a hold of the top button, carefully freeing it from the fastening and then moving on to the next. After successfully undoing a couple of the buttons, she turned her gaze up at Teagan, smiling. "That kiss," she said quietly, trailing off.
Teagan tried to suppress a smile, and failed. "What of it?"
"It was…nice," she said, unsure of herself.
"Just nice?"
"Well, if I'm being boldly honest, I'd have to say that…it was amazing. I've not had a kiss like that in some time, if ever."
"We could always have another. We've plenty of wine here now," he said with a smirk.
She let out a small laugh as if to dismiss the suggestion, though her fingers began to work more quickly at the buttons.
"They weren't kidding about the wine being sweeter on…what was it? A lover's tongue?" she tried to remember.
"Does this mean we're lovers now?" Teagan joked, though he was curious for her answer.
She turned her gaze toward the lowest of the buttons as she unfastened it. Slowly, she parted the fabric, placing her hands on his bare abdomen, sliding her hands up to his chest as her gaze followed, up to his shoulders and then down his arms, pushing the rain-soaked shirt off of his body. Instead of setting it out to dry, however, she merely tossed it aside as her gaze returned to his. Her eyes were darker as she stepped closer and raised her arms around his neck, standing on the tips of her toes to reach, leaning into him as her fingers ran through his damp auburn hair.
"Would you like that, Teagan?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper, breath a bit ragged.
Teagan reached for one of her hands and brought it around to his mouth, kissing the back of it gently. "I'd like to spend the night with you, Elissa. If you'll have me."
"I'd like that," she replied, and the moment the last word left her, Teagan's lips were on hers, kisses no longer shy and restrained, but now passionate, hungry. Her hands slid down the front of his body and she quickly began unlacing the front of his trousers. She broke away from the kiss only to tug his trousers and underclothes to the floor, smiling wickedly at him as he stepped out of them and lightly kicked the pile of clothes aside. He then grabbed her by the hand and pulled her close to him again, lips locking back on to hers as he tugged at the tie of her robe and pushed it off of her shoulders.
Elissa stepped back once again, taking Teagan's hands in hers and guiding him down to the floor. As they were situating themselves, Elissa on her back and Teagan over her, he stopped for a moment, gazing at the figure of the lovely woman he'd been desiring the entire evening. She smiled, reaching up to wrap her arms around him and pull him down to her.
For the first time in his life, Teagan thought that perhaps Orlais wasn't so bad after all.