Author's note
First time Lyla and Leliana said I love you
Lyla sat alone, staring up at the night sky. Lazily, she traced the stars as they formed the branches of 'Vir Tanadhal' or as the humans were calling it, 'The Oak'. To the elves, it was a dedication to Andruil, the goddess of the hunt, and it was Lyla's very favourite constellation.
"Ma cherie?" An Orlesian accent pierced the darkness around her, and Lyla smiled as she looked up to see Leliana, her Leliana. Steam misted around the woman's face, rising up from two large bowls of some broth. "I brought you some food."
"Ma serannas, Leli," The elf patted the ground beside her, and Leliana took the hint, sitting close to Lyla. "You're far too good to me."
"It's only self-preservation, if you starve to death then we will have to rely on Alistair to save us, and we can't have that." The bard smirked, bumping her shoulder into Lyla's, "It's not like I care about you or anything."
Lyla pushed back and looked at Leliana, a pout forming on her face and her eyes widened.
"Oh don't make that face," Leliana giggled, her laugh bouncing around the lone trees surrounding them. "You know I'm powerless against it." Lyla began to whine, pitifully, and Leliana brought a hand to her mouth, laughing harder. "Fine, I love you, and you know it." The words left her mouth before she could stop them.
Lyla stopped, instantly. Her mouth fell open and her eyes widened even more as tears began to form behind them. Her lips curved as a smile slowly began to form, and the elf placed her broth to the side.
She still hadn't said a word, and Leliana felt her cheeks start to warm. She was sure that Lyla returned her feelings, but they had never said it explicitly. Their relationship was powerful and full of passion, but it was still relatively new, and Lyla had never had one before. The bard was about to take back the words when the tears dropped from Lyla's eyes.
"I love you too," She whispered. She reached out and gently stroked Leliana's cheek, before bringing her closer and planting a small kiss on her lips. "Say it again, please."
"I love you, Lyla Mahariel," Leliana smirked and Lyla squeaked. "I love you, I love you, I love you."
The elf screeched, and wrapped her arms around the bard. She pulled them up and held her tightly. "Ma'arlath, ma vhenan." She darted forward and kissed Leliana's nose. "Ma sa'lath," Another kiss, this time to cheek. "I love you, ma'arlath."
"Ma'arlath," Leliana slowly said the words, tasting them on her tongue as they left her mouth and found she liked them. Lyla melted in her arms, her head falling to Leliana's chest as they began to slowly dance around the camp. "Je taime, ma cherie."