"The Leliana?" The Champion asked in disbelief. "Who accompanied the Hero of Ferelden to slay the Archdemon?"
"Ah, I see it will be harder to remain anonymous so near the Fereldan border," the red-haired woman smiled, blushing a little. "Yes, I knew the Hero of Ferelden. He is… dear to my heart."
"Can you tell me what it was like?" Hawke asked to break the awkward silence. "Fighting the Archdemon?"
"If that's what you want to know…" At once, Sister Nightingale seemed distant, her eyes clouded with memory. "It was… overwhelming."
"Was the Archdemon as big as they say?"
"Oh no," she chuckled merrily again. "It wasn't much bigger than regular high dragons. The Warden and I killed them before."
"We have, too," Merrill chimed in.
"So I heard," Leliana smiled at her then turned serious again. "It wasn't very big but it was strange. It looked like a Darkspawn dragon but it was neither. The Warden wouldn't let me face it at all. He shouted something about thin armor, but I think he was just too scared for me."
She grinned at the memory.
"So what did you do?"
"Oh, he told me to get the ballistae working."
"The ballistae?"
"Yes. Fort Drakon has ballistae mounted on its top. Normally, they are aimed out and downwards but I was able to spin one around at the Archdemon."
"And the Warden?"
"He and King Alistair held it in one place so I could aim. Wynne was with them the whole time with her healing magic. I have never met a woman who impressed me more than she did that day."
"And did the Warden deal the killing blow?"
"Who else?" Leliana grinned again. "He has always been a showoff. And yet he made it look so mundane."
"How is that?"
"I couldn't see his face, but I am sure that when he jumped onto the demon's neck and plunged the swords into its eyes, he looked bored out of his mind."
"Just like Hawke!" Merrill chirped cheerfully.
"Do I?" The Champion's face reddened.
"You two seem awfully close," Leliana looked amused.
"We are lovers!"
"Merrill!" Hawke frowned.
"What? I was supposed to keep it a secret? Oh. Sorry!"
"You make a great couple," Leliana smiled approvingly. "Take good care of him, pretty thing."
"I will," Merrill replied very earnestly.
"Thank you for your story," Hawke hurried to change the topic. "And I appreciate you stepping in back there."
"Of course. They mistook you for me…"