The next few weeks were all so equally exciting for Leliana that they melted together in a blissful daze. Leliana was happy. She had nice light room, with a soft bed that had proper bedding, but nothing could compare to the feeling of being clean and no longer be plagued by flees.

Leliana didn't recognize herself when she saw a mirror for the first time in over a year. During her mirror-less existence at the girls' home she had grown into a young woman. Her eyes still held innocence and but her face was longer and had lost its childhood roundness. Leliana liked the way she looked. Especially when properly dressed in pink silk with matching gloves.

"You're a sight, pretty thing," Marjolaine said one day at breakfast. Leliana blushed and awkwardly fingered the fabric on her blue satin sash.

"Today," Marjolaine continued as Leliana sat down at the table and poured herself some tea, "we have a party to attend to; it's hosted by Comte de… something… I can never remember. Oh well, it does not matter. Either way, it is important for us to attend. Important people will be there and I want to start introducing you."

"What kind of people are going to be there?" Leliana asked, wondering if there would be any of Lady Cecilie's friends there.

"Don't worry your delightful little head with it," Marjolaine said, "I doubt there will be anyone there from your old life. That is what you worry about, no?"

Leliana nodded.

"No, my pet," Marjolaine said, "this is your new life. Nobody will recognize you."

Your new life. This was Leliana's new life. Her proper life. The life she had dreamt of all those dull days when living with Lady Cecilie. All those parties where she had had to live by the principle of Les petits enfants devraient être vus et non pas entendus, having to be quiet and just watch. All those cold, hard days at the girls' home. But now her waiting was over. Her new life. Leliana had arrived.

Marjolaine had kept her hidden for a few weeks, letting her land in her new life, but also check if had proper manners. Leliana sometimes wondered if she wasn't the first girl house girl that Marjolaine had taken on. Marjolaine checked her movements, her behavior and how she talked. It was almost insulting at times. Lady Cecilie had taught her well. Leliana knew how to walk in high shoes, she knew how to bind corsets, how to sit ladylike; she even knew how to be silent. But Marjolaine had a very different philosophy on silence that Lady Cecilie.

"Be silent for now," Marjolaine told her, "because soon, I'm going to teach you how to sing."

Lady Cecilie hadn't taught her how to sing. Proper ladies didn't, only bards, minstrels and peasant girls sang. But Marjolaine told Leliana that some ladies did sing. Lady Cecilie had been wrong.

The party was different from any other that Leliana had been to. The widow had given her specific instructions for the party, making sure that it was about business rather than pleasure. It was part of her budding training. The girl wasn't supposed to talk. She was supposed to listen. Marjolaine was curious about what the girl would pick up on. Under no circumstances was she supposed to mention Lady Cecilie or the girls' home.

"It doesn't matter where you're from," Marjolaine told her, "all that matters is who you are now." Leliana repeated those words as they went into the house, staying close to Marjolaine the whole time.

Instead of elderly nobility the party was full of the top of Orlesian society. Young, colorful people. Painted faces, shiny clothes. Laughing and dancing. As the night proceeded Leliana could see how men and women gathered in the shadows, kissing and touching. Leliana had never seen anything like it.

"Marjolaine!" A woman said and came walking towards them. She was young, but older than Leliana and her eyes practically shone when fixed on Marjolaine's painted face.

"Francesca," Marjolaine said absentmindedly, she turned her face slowly to the blonde woman when Francesca without warning leaned forward and kissed Marjolaine. Leliana gasped, not sure how to react. The kiss was over quickly and Francesca looked at Marjolaine with a hopeful expression.

"Marjolaine," Francesca breathed, "when will I see you again? It's been weeks since…"

"Francesca," Marjolaine interrupted, "I have been very busy. You understand, no?"

Francesca looked embarrassed, blushed and looked away. That was when she noticed Leliana.

"Who are you?" She asked, her eyes narrowing. But Leliana couldn't answer. Around Francesca's neck, dangling on a golden chain, was the nightingale. Her nightingale.

"You can answer, pet," Marjolaine said, thinking that Leliana was quiet because of timidness and fear.

"Leliana," the girl managed, unable to take her eyes of the nightingale.

"This is Leliana," Marjolaine said, casting an irritated look at the girl, "my new student."

Pain flashed in Francesca's eyes and glared at Marjolaine. Marjolaine pretended not to notice and instead focused on Leliana, wondering what had made the girl so flustered.

"That's nice," Francesca said eventually, her voice thick as if fighting back tears, "I got invited to…" she muttered something about a dinner.

"That's nice, dear," Marjolaine replied but it was clear that she wasn't paying attention. Instead she hooked her arm into Leliana's and pulled her away to a more secluded place by a staircase.

"Puh," she said dramatically when they were out of earshot, "there are some girls who just can't let go." She giggled like a girl, a very different sound from the seductive laughter she usually produced. Marjolaine was slightly intoxicated from the fine wine they had been served earlier but Leliana was too inexperienced to recognize the signs. Leliana, herself, hadn't drank the wine she had been served, she had not been able to stand the unfamiliar taste.

The girl liked how Marjolaine leaned close to her as she complained about the other people, their shoulders bumping. It made Leliana feel like the widow's confidante. Like they were friends. The thought made Leliana's stomach fill with butterflies. She promised herself to never become one of those girls that Marjolaine disliked.

"But darling?" Marjolaine said after a while, "what was it that made you freeze up so when that stupid Francesca was talking with us?"

"She is wearing my necklace," Leliana whispered, almost scared that Marjolaine would be angry. Instead the widow leaned forward, her eyes glittering.

"Tell me," she ordered. Leliana sighed and told Marjolaine the story about the nightingale. She didn't mention that it had probably been her mother's, but otherwise she told Marjolaine everything. She even told how sad she had been when the matron had taken it away.

"You should take it back," Marjolaine said as soon as Leliana had stopped talking.

"What?" Leliana asked.

"You should take it back," Marjolaine said matter-of-factly, "it is yours. Take back what is yours."

Leliana stared at Marjolaine, unsure what to say or do.

"I… I don't understand."

Marjolaine went around until she stood behind Leliana, and leaned forward so that she could whisper next to Leliana's ear.

"It's easy, sweet things," she murmured, causing the fine hairs on Leliana's neck to stand up, "first you have to create a distraction. I would help you, but I want to see how you handle it. Talk with her, get her attention, lean forward, whisper something in her ear and after that, it is all in the wrist." She gave a Leliana a push forward. "Go. Entertain me."

Leliana stumbled forward, not sure whether Marjolaine was serious or not. The widow didn't actually mean that she should steal the necklace did she? But then Leliana thought about her little nightingale. It was hers. Marjolaine was right, it was only fair that Leliana took back what was hers.

She walked slowly through the room, trying to hold herself with dignity. She picked up a glass of wine on the way. She was young. She didn't know that she could easily distract using her eyes or sweet smile. But she was not stupid. She walked right up to Francesca, pretended to trip and then spilled the wine all over Francesca's chest.

"Mon dieu, you stupid girl!" Francesca yelled.

"Oh no," Leliana exclaimed, "I'm so sorry," she grabbed the napkin that a servant had come running with and reached forward to wipe the wine of Francesca's dress. In a corner, Marjolaine was seeing everything, amused and pleasantly surprised.

"I can't apologize enough," Leliana said, sounding genuinely sorry, "I think you're going to have to change." Francesca groaned, her face red from embarrassment and anger.

"Just get away from me, you clumsy swine!" She pushed Leliana to the side and ran off. Leliana felt momentarily guilty, but then a pounding happiness started spreading through her body. She turned and gave Marjolaine a triumphant smile. Marjolaine lifted her glass in Leliana's direction and then nodded towards the veranda.

"I did it," Leliana said when they met together outside on the veranda. It was still winter but Leliana didn't feel cold, her cheeks heating up.

"I know sweetness," Leliana said, "let me see it." Leliana held the nightingale up and let Marjolaine hold it. The widow made a sound of glee and threw her arms around Leliana's waist, twirling her around before letting her go.

"You're perfect," Marjolaine said, "I knew you would be!"

Leliana couldn't help but giggle, not sure what Marjolaine meant but feeling that it was positive. All she understood was that Marjolaine was very pleased with her.

"What happens now?" She asked.

Marjolaine smiled wickedly before replying.

"Now, my lovely, you are ready for the the Grand Game."