Chapter 3: The Bard

Thanks to Hemisphere for reading and giving opinions! I still need a full time beta, so if someone is up for the task, give me a ring. ;)

"Was it difficult to work as a bard?" Cassandra asked. She had risen from her stool and paced back and forth across the small room.

"It was at first," Leliana said. She had only managed for the first few assignments by pretending to be someone else. "But one grows accustomed to anything that is routine, no?" She had quickly stopped finding her work distasteful. She enjoyed the feeling of another woman's body beneath her hands, and loved that with hands and mouth and soft, flattering words, she could cause someone to put themselves completely under her control. It became as appealing to seduce as it was to be seduced.

"I suppose." Cassandra stopped pacing and seemed to consider. "Soldiers grow used to their work, too. Did you become completely hardened towards what you did?"

"I don't know." Leliana had long ago stopped worrying about the seduction aspect of things. She was certain she broke hearts and ruined an occasional marriage. But it had all been a game to her. If people were unable to control their lusts, then at least she was the one reaping the benefit of their indiscretions. That had not bothered her, after a few initial qualms. But even towards the end of her career, there were a few things that she could not so blithely disregard. "Seduction was not so hard. Nor was it difficult to lie or steal. But I never did like to kill."

Cassandra's brow knit at this admission, and she bit her lower lip. Leliana supposed this was one sin that the other woman had some familiarity with.

"I don't mean that I can't kill, of course." Leliana had killed easily enough in the heat of battle and to protect those she loved. "But it is hard to kill someone when they do not pose an immediate threat. It feels cruel."

"Yet you killed at Marjolaine's request?" Cassandra asked. Her face tightened and she returned to pacing about the cell.

"Of course," Leliana said. What had she not done for Marjolaine? "But I did not want to, at least at first."

DA:O

Leliana was in the process of restringing her lute when Marjolaine entered her room. "I have an assignment for you."

Leliana stopped what she was doing. She did not want to miss an important detail while fiddling with strings. "I am listening."

"Lady Angelique has posed something of a problem, of late, for the Lady Celene. She would pay a great deal for her to be subtly eliminated." Eliminated? But that meant...

"I already told you that I don't kill." Leliana had brought this up long ago. She was happy to distract clients or to steal from them, but that was where her part in all this ended.

Marjolaine sat beside her, close enough that she could feel the warmth of her body through the small space between them. "Do you think that your actions never cause deaths?" Leliana hadn't really thought about that. She supposed that what she did as a bard likely had some repercussions, for someone. But she'd never really bothered to think what they might be. "For I can assure you that a great many have died as a consequence of the work you have done for me."

"But I didn't kill them," Leliana said. It made all the difference. It was not her fault that people were executed for crimes they committed, or perhaps did not commit despite that the evidence was there for all to see. She was not entirely sure of the part she played in these games, or exactly what consequences were due to her actions. Still, she had never murdered.

"Do you think you are less culpable because you did not hold the blade to their throat?" Marjolaine asked. When Leliana turned to her, she saw that Marjolaine's eyes were narrowed.

"I don't know." Leliana considered the rumors she'd heard, of how Lady Julietta was divorced not long after their tryst and sent to live in a convent, or how Lord Marvin was arrested for treason only days after she had slipped a few papers into a drawer in his wife's desk. "All the same, I don't want to kill someone." The wreck she had made of others' lives could be forgiven. After all, she had not known that they would be ruined by her actions. "Can't you take this assignment instead?"

Marjolaine shook her head. "Angelique suspects me. And even if she did not, she does not care for my type. I could never get close to her. You could."

"I don't want to kill," Leliana repeated. It was the one line she wouldn't cross, not even for Marjolaine. "I won't do it."

Marjolaine's lips narrowed and she crossed her arms beneath her full breasts. "I have accepted this assignment on your behalf. If you do not complete it, there will be consequences."

"We can return the money." Leliana had made enough to live on for years. And she was certain they could find other assignments, ones that didn't involve killing.

"You do not understand." Marjolaine sat beside her and ran a long fingered hand over Leliana's thigh. "I have promised Lady Celene that Lady Angelique will be dead within a month. If she is not, Lady Celene will come looking for answers." She shook her dark head. "You do not know Celene. But I can assure you that you do not wish to disappoint her."

Leliana had heard of Celene, although she had never met her. She was the niece of the Emperor, and was rumored to be behind half of what went on in the capitol. "We can leave Val Royeaux." Much as she hated to abandon her city, she would rather flee than murder.

"Even if you do, she will have you found." Marjolaine sighed. "Celene is ambitious. Angelique stands in her way. If we have promised to remove an obstacle, then fail to do this, well...I doubt there will be anywhere in Orlais we can hide. No one would shelter us against Celene's rage." She took Leliana's face in her hands. "Do you understand?"

She could have stood leaving Val Royeaux. Leliana could even have tolerated leaving Orlais, although she did not know what she would do in a foreign country. "I do." She drew a breath, forcing herself to think the matter through. If Angelique was hated by so powerful a lady, she would die no matter what anyone did. It was better to give her a kind death than to have her tried for treason or killed by someone less gentle than Leliana. "If you think that it is best, I'll do it."

"That is my good, sweet girl," Marjolaine said. She leaned in to kiss Leliana on her lips. "Thank you for doing this for me. For us."

It was the only choice she had, even if it was one she did not want. Leliana returned the kiss and let Marjolaine's skillful hands remove all further doubt from her mind.

DA:O

Leliana met Angelique at a party being thrown by the Lady Celene. It was the sort of event that she would not have been allowed to serve drinks at, had she not become a bard. For the first hour, she did not even bother to try to find Angelique. She ate the hors d'ouvres, which consisted of a delicate meat she'd never before tasted wrapped over out of season fruit that she knew must have been cultivated in a hot house. She admired the exotic flowers that were arranged into sculptures that lined the room, and watched ladies in gowns that were living works of art. The bead work on the dresses was absolutely exquisite; the delicate embroidery formed glittering pictures of scenes from history and literature. Leliana thought that she could spend the entire evening just watching the parade of people before her. But at last she withdrew from where she watched the party and went to find Angelique.

Her mark was standing with a half dozen other women, although Angelique out shown them all. In a court where the participants had the luxury to choose any embellishment, Angelique had dressed with simplicity. Her pale blue gown was unadorned, despite that the silk it was made from had the purest, lightest weave. Her golden hair was adorned only by a simple studding of gems. That the gems were as large as ripe strawberries made her wealth and station clear enough that further ornamentation would only have been garish. Leliana felt a twinge of embarrassment over her own poor dress. It had ruffles and bows to make up for lack of expensive beading, and her hair had been set in curls. Still, she saw that Angelique moved to the side to let her join their conversation when she approached, and felt her heart flutter. There was something impossibly flattering about the thought that women who were so far superior to her might consider her to be one of their own, if only for the evening.

The women continued with their conversation even after Leliana had joined them. They were speaking mostly of trivial things. Half hated one woman's hairstyle, while another applauded it as an act of nouveau fashion and creativity. Another would say that a woman's style was garish, while the other four would claim that it fit her perfectly. Through all of it, Leliana remained silent and realized that Angelique, too, held herself aloof. She wondered what the other woman was thinking, behind her perfect features.

After a time, Angelique drew her away from the bulk of the party. Leliana followed her up a staircase to a balcony that overlooked the dance floor. They stood for several minutes, watching the party go on without them before Angelique said, "I noticed that you made no comments on the fashions."

"I was taught that if you had nothing worthwhile to say, to hold your tongue." Leliana would rather admit that than that she was intimidated to say much in front of such sophisticated ladies.

Angelique laughed. "That is a lesson more should abide by." She tilted her head to look down at Leliana. "I haven't seen you here before. I assume you were invited by the Lady Celene?"

"Yes, although I do not know why." It was a lie, but she said it with enough conviction that Angelique seemed to take her at her word. "I am no one important."

Angelique looked her over, likely observing the frills and ruffles that were poor substitutes for beading and expensive trim. "You are pretty. And passing company."

It was not a compliment, but it was not an insult either. "Thank you," Leliana said. She met Angelique's eyes. "May I ask why you are here?"

Angelique looked at her for a second before she said. "Like you, I was invited by Celene."

"That's not much of an answer," Leliana said. She glanced at Angelique, whose attention seemed fully focused on the party.

Angelique turned towards her. "It's not. But it's as much of one as you gave me." She straightened, so that she could look down on Leliana. Angelique was nearly a head taller. "Perhaps we have more to talk about than shoes and fashion?"

Leliana froze. But no. It was impossible that Angelique knew why she was truly here. She probably just wished to discuss weightier matters than fashion. "Like religion or politics?"

"I was thinking politics," Angelique said. She smiled, and the lines it caused on her face revealed that she was not quite as young as she had first appeared. "I think that we have much to discuss about our mutual friend. Preferably somewhere a bit more private. Such as my estate."

Leliana needed to visit Angelique in her home, but not under these circumstances. She stepped back, but before she could get very far, felt Angelique's hand close over her wrist. "I am flattered by the invitation, but I was hoping to enjoy the party."

Angelique smiled, and her grip tightened. "It's about to become very dull." The nails of her fingers dug into Leliana's wrist. "I can provide equally scintillating entertainment."

Leliana lowered her eyes. "I am sure that there are far worthier women who are eager to accept your offer."

"Ah, but I have chosen to invite you." Her pale blue eyes reflected the candle light, and she drew close enough to kiss. "And surely you have no wish to disappoint me."

DA:O

Leliana watched for a chance to escape during the ride to Angelique's estate. The coach rumbled and rattled along the streets, but she could see that the latch was fastened, and that Angelique's guard sat beside her, ready to move if she reached for the door.

She saw no other opportunities as she was brought into Angelique's home and escorted upstairs to a sitting room. A maid brought pastries and tea, and Leliana sat there watching the food and the maid until Angelique entered and poured them both a cup from the same pot.

After Angelique had taken a sip of her tea, Leliana drank as well. It was unlikely that Angelique would go to this effort if she merely wished her dead. And it was impolite to refuse hospitality. "Why have you brought me here?"

"I'm not naive," Angelique said. She poured herself more tea. "You said you were invited to that party by Celene. I want to know why."

"I don't know," Leliana said. She took another sip of the tea to soothe the knot that had formed in her throat.

"Please do not imagine me a fool," Angelique said. "I've dealt with bards before. You're a fickle lot. Tell me why she sent you, and I'll compensate you appropriately for your efforts. I'll even give you what you're after. Celene never needs to know we've had this conversation."

Leliana considered her position. She doubted there was a way to escape from this predicament in a conventional manner; Angelique's estate had more guards than many fortresses. All the same, there was no way she could tell Angelique the truth. She considered what she had learned about the Lady Angelique from rumors and innuendo. "She asked me to seduce you," she said, although she doubted that either Celene or Marjolaine cared whether she seduced Angelique or not, just as long as she completed the task she had been assigned. "She wanted me to bring her proof that you were cheating on your husband with one of your chevaliers. She suspects your lover is Marc."

Angelique's eyebrow rose. "What does she intend to do with this information?" she asked, before she shook her head. "No, it is of no matter. You would not know. What did she wish you to do if you did not find proof?"

"To fabricate it," Leliana said. She closed her eyes, hoping the story rang true. "I was to forge love letters and leave them where your husband could find them. I was also to bring a copy to Celene, to keep in case he did not."

Angelique laughed aloud. "It is fortunate, then, that my husband is not a jealous man." She shook her head. "Little bard, you will have to be far more clever if you wish to lie to me."

"That is what she told me to do," Leliana repeated. Perhaps if she stuck to her lie, Angelique would believe her and she'd have some hope of getting out of this alive.

Angelique shook her head, before moving to pick up her cup. She took a sip of her tea. "You are wasting both our time." Her arms crossed beneath her breasts. "My husband loves being married into the imperial family far more than he admires my fidelity. I could engage in an affair with a stable hand before his very eyes, and he would forgive it. I know this; Celene knows this. You will need a more convincing lie. Or better yet, the truth." She reached over to touch Leliana's hand with her soft fingers. "Please. This does not need to be so difficult. Tell me why she sent you, and I will let you go."

Leliana took a breath. She did not trust Angelique, but neither did she trust herself to find a more compelling explanation for her presence at the party. "She sent me to kill you."

Angelique nodded her head and withdrew. "That does sound like Celene," she said. She rose and paced back and forth across the room, her heels clacking with each step. "My little cousin never was one for subtlety."

"What do you intend to do?" Leliana asked. If she was given a chance at freedom, she could take Marjolaine and run somewhere else. Anywhere else. She did not know where, but she would deal with those details later.

Angelique paused. "I will think. Decisions made in haste are for fools like Celene. But what I do is of no importance to you." She smiled at Leliana, her face radiant in triumph. "Instead, I mean to tell you what you must do. It is very simple. You will return to her. Tell her you are making progress, but need more time to act." Her fingers intertwined. "You will report to me tomorrow night. I will have my mind made up about you then."

Leliana nodded. If she betrayed Celene in this way, she would make a powerful enemy. And if she did not return, Angelique would prove no less dangerous. But she sold time to Angelique at the same price she bought it for herself. "In that case, I will return to you tomorrow."

DA:O

"Was it typical for your targets to be so...cordial?" Cassandra asked. Her brows drew together in thought.

"For some, yes." Orlesian society was remarkably polite, no matter what else its flaws. "But Lady Angelique did not spare me out of kindness. Likely she thought she could play me against Celene. It happened quite often. A bard would be sent to bring back information, and return with a false lead and a better offer. It is a kind of game, you see."

Cassandra nodded. "I think I do." She shook her head. "But you killed her, anyway."

"There is a loser in any game," Leliana said. She stared down at her hands. There was dirt under the nails from gardening. She thought she ought to clean it out. "If I knew then what I do now, I might have arranged it so that Celene lost. But I was young. Foolish. Confident. I think that Angelique over-estimated me, to be honest."

"How so?"

In so many ways. In retrospect, it was easy to see that Angelique had thought her clever enough to consider other alternatives before taking needless risks and acting in the least sophisticated, most brutal method possible.

DA:O

Angelique had her returned to the center of the city late in the night. Leliana initially considered returning to her home and discussing the matter with Marjolaine. But that would waste time that she didn't think she had. Instead she disguised herself; she changed her clothing, dyed her hair, and returned early in the morning to Angelique's estate.

She was able to enter the manor wearing the uniform of a maidservant, and used information she had gained from Marjolaine to find her way to where Angelique slept. Nestled in bed, Angelique's appearance mirrored her name. Her fair hair spilled about the pillows, and her pale skin was only slightly darker than the crisp white of her sheets. She looked like the perfect model of an imperial princess. It was only with the greatest of regrets that Leliana would kill her.

It was a pity that one so young and lovely had to die. But Leliana knew enough of her patron to realize that Celene would not tolerate failure. And she would prefer to kill Angelique than to give Celene a reason to kill either herself or Marjolaine. She would make it quick. It was the least she could do for the other woman.

She leaned over to take a pillow from the far side of the bed. From there it was easy. She held the pillow over Angelique's face, and gave her a quick, painless death.

DA:O

"Bullshit," Cassandra said. She had returned to pacing the room, her armor clinking with each step. "I have watched people die. They do not just pass away quietly in their sleep. Not when they are young and healthy. Not when they are being killed."

Leliana stared resolutely at a crack in the floor. It had not been so simple, no. But she preferred to think that she had given Angelique the kind of death she would have wanted for herself. "It was a bit more messy than that," she admitted at last. "But she did die."

DA:O

When Leliana leaned over the bed to take the pillow, Angelique woke. She tried to scream, but Leliana managed to slam her hand against her mouth before she could make more than a startled gasp. Angelique bit her, hard enough to draw blood, but Leliana forced her hand farther back into the woman's mouth, until she could feel Angelique gag against her fingers.

Her wide blue eyes stared at Leliana for a second, before she swung at Leliana with her fist, hitting her on the side. It hurt, but far less than the sting of her teeth on her hand. Angelique must have realized that her movement was futile, for she next tried to push Leliana away, using the full weight of her body.

Leliana shifted to get a better grip, but Angelique was taller and heavier than her. She managed to tear herself free long enough to scream for help, and Leliana knew that she didn't have much time. She reached for her boot and freed the dagger she kept hidden there. She jabbed it at Angelique, and managed to lodge it in her throat. Angelique's mouth opened in another scream, but this time no sound issued past her lips. Leliana pulled at the handle of her knife and managed to dislodge it. She slashed at her neck again, and this time found a vein. Blood dribbled past her fingers onto that pristine, white bed, and a second later Angelique's stopped struggling.

Her task was done, but the footsteps Leliana already heard just beyond the door made it clear that Angelique did not intend to die alone. She was glancing about, preparing her next course of action, when the door to the room swung open to reveal several of Angelique's guards.

Their shock at the scene gave Leliana a few seconds. She jumped to her feet and threw herself at the window with all the force her small body possessed. The window cracked, but did not shatter. A guard shifted his attention to her and ran in her direction, his sword raised. Leliana stepped out from under the swing of the blade just in time for him to hit the pane of glass rather than her. This time, the window did break, and she dove through the opening before he could strike again.

The pain on hitting the ground was nearly enough to cause her to black out, but Leliana found her wits fast enough. Angelique's guards knew what she had done, and it was a short run from the second floor to the first. She glanced about. A forest surrounded the estate, and she might have some luck if she could make it to cover. She ignored the pain that lanced through her body and ran in that direction, determined to save herself in anyway she could.

DA:O

Cassandra paced back and forth across to cell. "So you survived."

"I ran as fast as I could and found a ditch to lie in." It had been a pool where waste too foul to feed the pigs was dumped. But there was no real need to add in that little detail. "They eventually went in another direction, and I managed to return home."

"And no one connected you to this Angelique's death?" One of Cassandra's eyebrows raised in a way that made it clear what she thought of this tale.

Leliana had to admit that her luck was, at times, uncanny. "I don't know," she said. "We left Val Royeaux soon after. Everyone knew that Angelique had been murdered. I was too unimportant for gossip, although I'm sure people discussed Celene's role in her death. But such things are difficult to prove. She was never convicted, nor was I." Leliana shook her head. "I stayed away for a while, and by the time I returned, people had found other things to talk about."

"Like what?" Cassandra asked. Her eyes were narrowed in thought.

"New fashions and new intrigues. The most recent gossip, after I returned, was about the marriage of King Cailan to Anora MacTir."

"I hadn't thought Orleisans cared about such things," Cassandra said.

How could she think they did not? Their marriage was a slap in the face of Orlais. It was one thing for a colony to rebel, another altogether for the king to marry the common born daughter of the man who had led that rebellion. "It was very romantic," Leliana said, letting her eyes gaze off into worlds more exciting than the mundane. "The son of a king marries the daughter of a great hero? It's like a fairy tale!"

Cassandra laughed at this. "So I suppose their marriage had nothing to do with your appearance in Ferelden?"

"Oh, it did," Leliana said. She had not known it at the time, but she had eventually learned how few coincidences there truly were in life. "Just not perhaps in the way you'd expect."

Thanks to my reviewers! You encourage me enough to keep me at this (rather than, you know, write original fiction...) Especial thanks to: LeNymph, Kalen_Caelli, mille_libre, Ygrain33, Enaid_Aderyn, Arsinoe, Shooting Star, Snafu, Interesting, and Lehni.