Alistair
I kept watching Eliana. I wasn't paying attention to the card game going on around me. I was consumed with watching her. Even the fact I was playing cards with a mabari wasn't enough to keep me in the game.
I wondered what the girls were talking about as Eliana flushed prettily and glanced my way. She gave them a disapproving frown and shook her head. The others were laughing and kept on teasing her. I wished I was close enough to hear them.
"Wow, either you're really bad at this or you've got it bad." Varric said with a laugh.
"I'm guessing it's the latter." Donnic replied as he raked up the money he had just won.
"The bastard king and the reluctant champion. Hmm. Has a nice ring to it. I could work with that." Varric said and stroked his chin.
"What are you talking about?" I asked pulling my eyes away from Eliana.
"You wanting to see what lies beneath the Champion's armor." Varric replied and elbowed me. "Don't deny it or get embarrassed. You aren't the first man to want to. Void, you aren't the first man at this table who wanted to at some point."
"You and Eliana?" I asked glancing at him worriedly. Was she involved with one of these men? All of these men? I had seen how the prince was watching her. Could he be who she wanted?
"Ha! Eli's not the type of woman a man could walk away from. And I'm not the type to want to settle down. No, Eli's my friend. And only my friend. But these guys here have thought about it." Varric said and gestured to Anders and Fenris.
"Don't pretend you haven't thought about her, Varric. You can't look at her and not think about it. I mean she was made to torture men." Anders said with a sigh as he glanced over at her.
"So you and Eliana?" I asked turning to him.
"There is no someone and Eliana. I don't think the girl would even get a clue to someone being interested in her. She's too focused on taking care of everyone to ever take something for herself." Varric answered and dealt the next hand of cards. "Uh, oh. Seems Isabela's got something up her sleeve."
We all turned and watched as Isabela drug Eliana over to a corner and began to dance with her. Eliana was resistant at first, but then gave in. I watched her mesmerized as she moved. She was all grace and strength. Merrill moved over and joined them. Their laughter combining with the music and flowed over me. Aveline came and drug Donnic over there with them. I smiled at the bewildered look on Donnic's face as the girls all surrounded him.
"How much have they had to drink?" Varric asked with a laugh.
"I don't know, and I don't care. Eli doesn't look so lost now. I'm going to go and enjoy it." Anders said and took off to dance with her. Pulling her into his arms as the music slowed a bit. She was laughing as he spun her around.
"She isn't normally like this?" I asked turning to Varric.
"She used to be more carefree. But never this much. She's always been a bit shy and insecure about herself. She hides it behind her dedication and focus of protecting everyone she cares about. With her sister in the Circle and her mother gone she's been a little lost. She's been carrying so much grief and guilt that the sweet girl got lost somewhere along the way. She's just been going through the motions. When her mother died, it was like she died too. It's nice to see her starting to return to us."
"I'm afraid the stress of her new title is too much for her as well. I know it's been tough for me and some of the others. But I never thought about how it was affecting her." Fenris said watching her.
"If you will all excuse me." I said standing up. I knew what it was like to wear a heavy title you didn't feel worthy of. I knew what it was like to lose your purpose and family. I moved to her as if in a trance. I could offer her comfort. I wanted to sooth away her pain.
Anders spun her and released her. She stumbled hitting me smack in the chest. I wrapped my arms around her and held her close. She looked up at me startled, but didn't resist as I started to dance with her. Her eyes never left mine as we moved through the others. Music and people faded away and there was only her. I don't know how long we danced, but eventually we made our way back over to the table with the others. There were more drinks, more laughter, and more stories. But eventually everyone began drifting off.
First Sebastian saying he needed to get back to the Chantry. Fenris offered to walk with him since he lived close to the chantry. Then Aveline and Donnic saying they had patrols in the morning. Isabela found a man and drug him upstairs to her room. Varric walked Merrill home. Anders took Bowser and returned to his clinic.
"Well, I suppose I should get you back to the keep. Arl Teagan will be worried." Eliana said as we moved out of the tavern.
"I suppose so." I said and took her hand as we walked. She looked at me surprised, but didn't pull away. I was trying to find something to say or do to keep her beside me. I wasn't ready to let her go. "Care to give me a tour as we go?" I asked giving her what I hoped was a charming smile.
