Dear Diary,
I feel a bit apprehensive as we get closer to the circle tower. I'm no mage why do I feel this way.
I think Zev took notice because as we finally hiked into the dock area he looks at me, and says, "Let's stay at the tavern tonight we can go to the tower in the morning. We will negotiate better well rested with full stomachs no?"
Alistair speaks first,"Yes that is an excellent idea."
Morrigan murmurs her approval.
Leliana beams.
"We should hurry… but it's already late and dark so perhaps you're right," I finally say knowing I was outnumbered.
So we wearily clomp into the Inn and find a table. Thankfully there are 2 rooms available much to Morrigan's delight. I pay for the two rooms and return to the table to enjoy a fairly decent stew and ale.
"Anyone up for a game of wicked grace?" Zev asks his eyes twinkling.
"I'm in," Alistair says.
"You'd better deal me," Demands Leliana.
Morrigan shakes her head in refusal and the other three look at me.
"Ok I'm in," I concur…I make a note of perhaps Morrigan didn't know how to play. I should go to her privately and offer to teach her. She would bluff well.
Morrigan leaves and takes the table next to us to observe. Zev seats himself next to me. Alistair shuffles and deals the cards while Leliana gets a fresh tankard of ale for everyone.
Once everyone is seated the trash talk begins. "Say chantry boy," starts Leliana sweetly in a sing-song manner, after bids are set, "are you always so cheap."
"We never had much at the chantry so I learned to be frugal," Alistair stutters turning a nice shade of red.
Leliana does not let up, "Alistair, you said you were in the chantry from the time you were 10 does that mean you never…"
"Never, never what," he jokes, "had a good pair of shoes?"
I lean over to Zev, "good comeback," I whisper to him, "she adores shoes." I try to sneak a peek at his cards.
Leliana giggles, "You know what I mean…"
"I'm not sure I do," Alistair responds teasingly, "Have I never seen a basilisk? Ate jellied ham? Have I never licked a lamppost in the winter?"
I turn to Zev again he looks as amazed as I feel, "By the maker!" I mouth to him as he snickers.
"Now you're just making fun of me," Leliana pouts.
"Make fun of you, dear lady? Perish the thought. Well tell me, have you ever licked a lamppost in the winter?" Alistair asks sweetly.
Leliana blushes and states, "why yes I have licked a lamppost in winter."
I start giggling after the fit has passed. I turn to Zev and say quietly, "I think we need to get chantry boy ale more often."
Zev snickers in approval.
Morrigan is even amused by this display, she is actually smiling. And not in the evil I will turn you into a frog way.
"I, myself," Alistair states, "have never had the pleasure .Not that I hadn't thought about it of course but you know…" he fades off.
"Oh that is cute!" gushes Leliana, "you're a virgin."
"Cute!...Well hearing that from a beautiful woman does make me feel much luckier. I'll say that," He says flirtatiously.
It seems Zev, Morrigan, and I can't stop giggling. At least for the moment, they both glare at us, which causes full blown laughter from us finally they join in as well.
I win the round partially from looking at Zev's hand and from the distraction the other 2 caused each other.
Zev goes to get another round of ales as I deal.
"You think I'm beautiful?" Leliana says.
"Of course you are, and you know it. Your ravishing and resourceful and all those other things you'd probably hurt me for not saying," replies Alistair flinching.
"You flatter me," says Leliana smiling.
"That's what I'm here for. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it," He jokes lightly, "let's get back to the game lest your risqué talk makes us lose every hand."
Alistair won the next round and Leliana the next. Morrigan excused herself and left for our room.
As I won the next round, Leliana is tipsy and pleads she needs some air. Alistair ever the gentleman offers to walk with her. They head outside with Leliana heavily leaning on Alistair leaving Zev and I at the table.
Zev looks at me jokes, "Well it's just the two of us shall we play so I can have some of my dignity back."
"You think you can beat me, Darling Zev," I sweetly smile back.
"I think I can do many things to you," he whispers in my ear while running his hand up my back.
I shiver slightly at his touch. Pulling myself together I say, "Very well a game then. If I win you tell me an assassin adventure. If you win I will tell you how I bested King Cailan."
I move to other side of the table for my own safety and so there will be no peeking of cards.
His eyes twinkle as I move, "Afraid of a little elf, dear warden," he snickers.
"I'm not afraid of a little elf," I retort sweetly.
"Oh! You wound me!" Zev dramatically holds his hand over his heart, "I set myself up for that one didn't I," he says laughing.
"Yeah…you sure did," I agree laughing.
Zevran wins the hand. After gloating a moment about his victory, he moves to sit by me and says, "I think you owe me a story."
He is so close I can feel his breathe on my neck. I shiver again. I turn toward him and grab my ale taking a long draught. When I pull my mug away his eyes are twinkling with mischief.
"I was about 7 and King Maric came to Cousland Castle to speak with father, he had brought Cailan with him(I think Cailan is about 3 years older than me), I was in the courtyard practicing my daggers of course they only gave me wooden ones so I wouldn't hurt myself. My mother threw fits that I would not be a good little girl and just learning etiquette and dressing up. However Father said I should have some training to defend myself and I was allowed these lessons. So as a compromise I learned about being a lady and swordplay," I start.
Zev looks at me with wonder; "it seems your parents understood you and each other very well."
I smiled painfully remembering for a moment.
"I apologize; I didn't mean to bring up any bad feelings," He quickly says.
"No harm done I was remembering the good things," I said smiling at him.
"Anyway," I continue, "my lesson was over and I was in the armory putting my things away and Cailan came running in. He asked what I was doing when I told him he looked me up and down and said "girls can't fight they do needle point and wear dresses. At which point I kicked him in shin and knocked him down, by the time our parents found us I had my wooden daggers crossed at his throat."
Zev's laughter rang out across the almost empty room.
"The king didn't have you executed on the spot," he laughs.
"Well the King thought it was funny and that Cailan deserved what he got for acting like an obnoxious prat, thankfully. However my father was not amused and grounded me from my swordplay lessons for a month while my mother taught me how to deal with difficult people," I continue.
"Funny when I saw Cailan at Ostagar he mentioned that I taught him a good lesson that day," I smile, "He was pained when he heard what happened at Cousland Castle. You know he offered to turn his troops on Howe after he heard what happened to my family once we were finished at Ostagar so I know he held no grudge."
"It's funny at one point my parents were vying for a marriage between Cailan and I. I rejected the offer. So Cailan married Anora instead, it was better I am told he loved her dearly," I say smiling.
"You had the chance to become the queen and you didn't take it," Zev's mouth hung open.
"Could you really picture me hanging around with ladies in waiting discussing needlepoint?" I ask.
I notice Leliana and Alistair walking back in actually Alistair is almost carrying a drunk Leliana at this point. He tries to quietly get her up to the women's shared room.
"Good point," he concedes, "but don't you wonder?"
"Back then I didn't but I do wonder now who got the better end of the deal? Anora is on the throne or her father is and he is now trying to kill me. If I had married Cailan I might have spared my family Howe's treachery" I think out loud for a moment.
"No," I decide, "it is better this way I would not have been able to stop the blight. Could you imagine Alistair trying to do all this on his own?"
"My dear warden, you definitely make a valid point," Zevran agrees.
"And on that note I will bid you goodnight Ser, before you try to make any more points," I tease getting up and heading to the women's shared room, "Good night Zev."
I walk to our shared room and Alistair is standing there holding Leliana. He looks at me, "I didn't want to incur Morrigan's wrath," he whispers desperately.
I open the door and grab Leliana's limp body.
"No worries, Alistair. I'll get her tucked in," I say smiling.
I lay my friend on her bed and take to mine for a good night's sleep.
Feeling a bit generous as I finished my schoolwork early this week. I have some play time whoohoo!
Edited for grammar errors:)
