"That can't possibly be true!" Alistair exclaimed, watching Jane's mouth curl into a half smile. "You can't honestly expect me to believe that, can you?" Next to him she grinned, eyes dancing beneath the moonlight pouring through the clearing.
"What? You believe me when I say I come from space, live in a ship that floats through the stars, and that I am part of an advanced civilization, but you can't believe I've never tried melted cheese?"
He crossed his arms across his chest, drawing himself to his full height with an indignant huff. "Everyone has tried it! Andraste preserve me, for all your talk of how wonderful your world is, never to be able to taste one of the Makers best gifts…" he trailed off, eyes narrowing. "Unacceptable."
Jane full out laughed next to him, clutching her side slightly as she snorted inelegantly. "I'll be sure to try it before my crew comes to rescue me." Stilling next to him she sighed softly. Jane wasn't sure how it had happened, but what had started as a simple conversation about dairy products had somehow morphed into tales of travels and life stories, and then eventually rounded up with cheese. Alistair certainly did love his cheese. And his jokes. Trying to get a straight answer out of him was practically impossible. "Honestly, I tell you about ancient space stations and Mass Relays and all you remember is that I've never tried heating my Gouda before I eat it?"
He grinned, tilting his head down so face her. "I'm not sure how much I believe of your… adventures. I mean, riding a mechanical horse, thing, along ancient highways and nearly driving off the side? Meeting members of alien civilizations? Cheese though, no one would lie about cheese."
Jane rolled her eyes, sighing in exasperation. "I think you mean the Mako."
"Right, that was the name."
She smiled slightly at his enthusiasm, wondering if telling the story of practically hurtling herself, Garrus and Liara off the side of the Prothean skyway had been a good one to lead with. "You don't believe me?"
He shrugged slightly, knocking his arm against hers. "Not too sure really. These, Mass Relays, they sound like nothing I've ever thought possible. And that Citadel? Crazy." He paused, turning to look up at the stars. "But if even a fraction of what you're saying is true… Makers breath, but that sounds wonderful."
Jane turned to him, surprised. "Not scary?"
Alistair blinked down at her. "Why would that be scary? It sounds awesome!"
She flinched next to him, fighting as images flashed through her mind. A frozen planet, spinning beneath her, the hiss of oxygen as it vented from her suit, the roar of Sovereign as it clung to the Citadel spire in its death throws. The number on the screen counting the death toll in thousands as the explosion ripped through space.
"Jane?" Concerned brown eyes trained on her own, an armored hand awkwardly reaching for her shoulder. What would he think of her, she wondered, if he knew how much blood was on her hands?
"I'm fine Alistair." She smiled at him climbing to her feet, his hands falling to his lap. "We should go back, got a long day of travel tomorrow." As he stood next to she ignored his concerned look, focusing instead on the distant blaze of campfire. "Thanks for the berries… and for the talk."
"Of course." He walked back to camp with her in silence, occasionally casting worried looks at her. As they halted before her tent he reached out tentatively to pat her arm. "Goodnight Jane, sleep well."
She smacked his breast plate lightly in return. "You too shiny."
Alistair wasn't sure if he wanted to laugh or run screaming from the woman in the tent next to him, but of one thing he was certain, Jane had the strangest life ever. What had started as a stilted conversation about cheese had quickly dissolved into tales of exploits, and she most definitely had stranger stories. Maker, whoever these strange crew mates of hers were, they sounded awesome. At some point Alistair had stopped disbelieving and simply started listening as the cadence of her voice weaved stories of places too fantastical to exist, but so intriguing.
With a sigh he crossed the camp, heading to his own little tent, nodding to Sten as the Qunari patrolled the perimeter. What a life that would be to live. To travel amongst the stars meeting new people, new cultures, seeing lands never before witnessed by human eyes. He glanced at the forest surrounding him, the soft sounds of Ferelden wild life calling in the night. How boring a Blight seemed in comparison.
"Alistair?"
He jerked slightly hand clutching his chest as Aiden materialized from the shadows next to him. "Andraste flaming sword! Do you have to sneak everywhere?" Alistair demanded, heart racing. "Stupid stealthy rouges."
Next to him Aiden shrugged pale eyes tracking his own. "It's a useful skill."
"I'm sure." Breathing deeply through his nose he turned to face his fellow warden, warily watching the other mans closed expression. "Something you need?"
"You were gone for well over an hour."
Get right to the heat of the problem, why don't you. Alistair thought sourly, glaring. "Yes. That tends to happen when two people stop to actually talk to each other, Maker knows you should try it sometime. You might be surprised what you learn."
Aiden flinched slightly under the reprimand but Alistair stayed firm. The man had barely bothered to learn his name before flinging them all head first into suicide mission after suicide mission. Not that he could really complain, burdens of command and all that.
"Did you learn anything? Or were you too busy staring at her arse to listen to her speak?"
Alistair flushed, anger forcing red high upon his cheeks. "Not everyone gets as distracted by looks as you do Aiden!"
The other man snorted, ignoring his outrage with a casual flick of his hand. "Don't be juvenile Alistair. If you had found and ugly strumpet thrashing through the forest would you have been as quick to help her?" At Alistair's sputtering Aiden swiped his hand through the air, eyes flashing. "Enough! I don't have time to listen to you try and defend yourself all night. Now tell me what you learned."
With a glower Alistair shifted, willing the anger rolling in his chest to cool. Arguing with Aiden was always pointless. "She told me a little about her crew and how their technology works, and a mission they went on. Helped save a colony, it was all quite wonderful. Also she's never tried melted cheese before, shame that. Also, Andraste reborn? Definitely not."
Aiden frowned. "That's it?"
Stretching his hands out to the side Alistair nodded. "That's it. Maybe if you want to learn more you should try, oh I don't know, speaking with her?" Striding forward he pushed past his fellow warden, barely containing the urge to shove him in the process. "Have a good night Aiden."