Chapter 4

"Ah, yes, these are the papers I needed." Marjolaine glanced over the papers approvingly. "You did well, My Pretty Thing. Now, come join me tonight." She said setting the papers aside and laying down on her bed. I don't know what came over me but I remained standing. "What is it?" She asked a little alarmed and slightly annoyed.

"perhaps we should not lay together tonight. We have a long important night ahead of us tomorrow." I said acting more concerned than I was.

"I suppose so." She agreed but not happily. Not in the least.

"I shall go rest now." I said leaving, but instead of going to my room I went a room further and knocked on Sketch's door.

"Come in." He called. I opened the door, and there was sketch sitting at a small desk writing something. He looked up "Oh, Leliana, um…sit down?" He said questioningly and a but nervously.

"You seem quite busy, I suppose I shouldn't have barged in." I started to turn to the door chastising myself. Why did I even come? What was I thinking? It wasn't as if we had anything to talk about and now I'm just digging my own grave with Marjolaine surely knowing I came in here tonight. This was nothing but-

"Leliana, don't go." Sketch said cutting through my inner chatter. "have a seat." He said gesturing to a chair beside him.

"May I ask what are you writing?"

"Nothing now that I can thank you myself, thank you for the robes Leliana they are perfect." I blushed. I had nearly forgotten them.

"I, uh, did not know much about robes but the Tranquil there said that they were great ones."

"They are, they must have cost you everything you've been saving. What can I do to repay you?"

"Nothing. It is a gift, so no repayment needed." I smiled.

"So, not to over step my boundaries but shouldn't you be with Marjolaine, er, celebrating?"

I sighed. "I should yes. Actually she is mad at me, I told her I was too tired tonight and that we had a long mission ahead of us tomorrow. But she knows I came in here instead of my room."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why did you come in here?" He asked confused but not rude at all, almost like he wanted me here.

"Because…I." I paused thinking. "I do not know entirely."

"Well then what do you know?"

"I know that I enjoyed talking with you these last few days and enjoyed being around you and so I guess that is why I came here." I explained hurriedly.

Sketch looked away, "I know how you feel."

"You do?" I was shocked.

"Well, yes. You just want some one you can talk to about all this. So you do not feel so alone, so you feel like maybe if you die tonight someone might miss you. Even if it is only a little bit, the feeling is consoling."

" I had no idea you felt that way."

He looked up at me then. "That is the problem, is it not? That we know little of each other."

"Yes it is a problem. We know each others skills but nothing more. It is strictly business."

"But doesn't it have to be like that?"

"I do not think it does." I said honestly. If someone had asked me that question a week ago I would have said a flat out yes and told them to pay attention to business at hand. But since we came to Ferelden just 4 days ago everything has changed in me.

"Then why do all of us bards act this way?"

"In this game that we play, it is kill or be killed. If it came right down to it and we were supposed to get something important from someone and one of your partners was going to get killed you would have to choose the important item over the one you work with."

"It is sad but true, I suppose." he agreed.

"That is why in this game we are close to no one."

"But you are…close, with Marjolaine, are you not?"

"I was…once." I admitted.

"What do you mean?"

"I am not sure. But Sketch, I think I am growing out of her silly games."

"You are not going to try to quit being a bard are you?" He asked shocked and wary.

"No, of course not. There is almost no way out of this game."

"Almost." He agreed because we both knew the only way to break from your bard master was to kill him or her.

"But it is not that I want out of the bard trade, I just want out of Marjolaine's games she plays with me."

"It is not fair to you, what she does."

"No, I do not think so either. I have finally outgrown her. It has taken 3 years, but I do not want this! I do not want ot be risking my life for papers for her while she is off laying with some other person!" I exploded with more rage than I had intended. "I am sorry, I should not be telling you all this."

"No, this is what I want. Someone to confide in and they to confide in me."

"Then may I tell you something, something secret?"

"Yes." He nodded with anticipation.

"I do not know why we are here, in Ferelden, not completely. I know it is something to do with the papers we collected tonight. Tomorrow we are to plant them in some important Arl or Bann's home or something. But the way Marjolaine's face lit up tonight when she glanced them over. Something was wrong. It was not her usual mischievous look it was some other look, almost evil." I shook my head, "Perhaps I imagined it, but I have had a long standing feeling something is off."

"You mean this may not be just another petty mission?"

"Exactly."

"Then I believe you, completely."

"You do?" I was confused.

"Of course, your judgment has always served us best, I mean, we are all still alive." I looked over at his hand that was now covering mine, he followed my gaze and then quickly removed his hand looking away he hurriedly explained, "I apologize, you tend to make me feel…safe and then I get so bold." He shook his head chastising himself.

"Its okay Sketch." I smiled at him and we just stared at each other for a bit. I was wondering what he is thinking and he is probably wondering the same thing. I looked outside and it was nearly dawn.

"Well we should probably head off to bed." I opened my eyes wide at what I said, "our separate beds, and, erm, get some sleep." I chuckled nervously. He smiled.

'Yes, we should." we went to the door together and he opened it for me. "Your hair looks nice Leliana. I've never seen it down before."

I had forgotten I took my hair out of its usual ponytail. "Thank you Sketch." Then I walked into my room and fell asleep happily.