Hey, my life has been a mess lately so I haven't been able to write much. But I'm hopefully back now. I apologize in advance for any typos. And spoiler warning for the quest "wicked eyes and wicked hearts". Enjoy!

A ball

"Lady Inquisitor Trevelyan, daughter of Bann Trevelyan of Ostwick." At the mention of a familiar name, Ali walked closer to the railing. She didn't think it would incriminate her since most of the people standing near the empress went a bit closer to get a look at the Inquisitor. But Ali was more interested in Trevelyan's party. She barely listened as the the man kept announcing all of Trevelyan's titles and then went on to list all of Cassandra's name. At the sight of Cassandra, all proper and dressed up, Ali wanted to chuckle. She wondered if any of the people there could imagine that the first time she had seen Cassandra it had been in a small whore house in Ferelden. The man announced more names, but Ali hardly paid attention, they didn't mean much to her. She recognized Cassandra, Cullen and Trevelyan, but otherwise there was just one name she wanted to hear. And then:

"Lady Leliana, Nightingale of the Imperial court, veteran of the fifth blight, senechal of the Inquisition and left hand of the Divine." That was an impressive amount of titles but Ali couldn't care less. They meant nothing until she had seen Leliana with her own eyes. And soon the redhaired walked into her line of sight. Ali had to grab the railing to not fall. She didn't know if Leliana could even recognize her with her mask and unfamiliar way of dressing, but it didn't matter. To Ali, it felt wrong that Leliana's eyes didn't imidiately zone in on her.

She listened with half an ear, until the empress finally stopped talking. Ali watched as the guests moved to the front, did cursty and then moved to different places in the ballroom, Ali counted the seconds. Then minutes. Eventually when the empress left to go somewhere, Ali approached Leliana.

"Hello," she said, shyly. Leliana turned at her and nodded.

"Lady… Amaléone, is it?" No recognition could be seen in her face. Ali's smile fell.

"Yes, Lady Leliana," she said, "I just came to ask you if you have everything you need."

"Thank you," Leliana said, "yes, I do. You are new to the court, yes? How are you finding it?" Ali searched Leliana's gaze but it revealed nothing. To any outsider it would look like normal conversation but Ali knew what Leliana was really asking.

"I'm enjoying it, thank you," she said. Then she went closer and whispered, "I'm glad you're alive." Leliana looked angry for a moment, but the next second her expression was neutral.

"Why wouldn't I be alive?" She said in the same joyous tone, "now if you excuse me…" she left, leaving Ali to look at her back. Ali felt ridiclous, she knew it was dangerous to reveal that they knew each other but she couldn't help it. Seeing Leliana alive was more than she had ever dreamed and she had needed to tell her that. She didn't want to stay here, she didn't care what anybody said, she didn't want to stay in Orlais anymore. She didn't care what she had to do, she needed to leave.

…

While the Inquisitor was dancing with the empress' cousin and all eyes were on them, Ali looked for Leliana again. She found her whispering something to Cassandra, just outside the Grand Hall. Ali didn't care anymore, she walked to them quickly, ignoring the warning look Leliana gave her.

"Hello," Cassandra said, "wait, I recognize you from somewhere…" her eyes went wide and she clasped her hand over her mouth. Ali had to giggle, apparently she had been the last person Cassandra had expected to meet here.

"Leliana, do you have something to do with this?" Cassandra sounded angry, "you need to tell me when…"

"I'm a left hand," Leliana said, "and I don't think this is the right place to discuss this." She turned to Ali, "is there anything we can do for you, Lady Amaléone?" Ali ignored Leliana's annoyance, and smiled sweetly.

"As the matter of fact, there is," she said, her heart hammering in her chest, "when you leave, I would like to come with you."

Leliana nodded, seemingly not interested.

"There is a room at Skyhold waiting for you," she said dismissively but then she continued in a neutral tone of voice, "the empress seems close to her cousins." Ali eyed her curiously, understanding the unsaid question.

"Yes," she said after a little while, "she keeps Gaspard at an armslength which isn't so strange, but it's different with Florianne, to me she…" Ali lowered her voice, "to me she seems like a spoiled brat but the empress is very fond of her." Leliana's eyes glimmered with approval and Ali couldn't help but beam a bit with pride. The bell rang and the women returned to the ballroom.

Inquisitor Trevelyan was dancing with Florianne and Ali leaned her arms on the railing, wanting to look at them. She glanced at Leliana who was standing not so far away. Leliana looked happy and neutral, a front Ali knew, but one of her feet was beating ever so lightly to the music. It was if Leliana's body wanted to dance. As more couples joined the dance floor, Ali itched to ask Leliana to dance. The thought of pulling Leliana close and moving to the music together with her was enough to make Ali dizzy. Suddenly Leliana turned her head and caught Ali looking at her imidiately turned her head away, ashamed, but not before seeing Leliana's gentle smile.

…

The rest of the ball was quite boring. Ali wandered aimlessly between the buffet table and groups of gossiping people. She got asked to dance a couple of times but politely refused, not wanting to loose Leliana from her sights. Ali worried that if she did, the Inquisition would leave the Winter palace without her. Ali was standing by a bowl of punch when Leliana approached her again.

"Lady Amaléone?" Ali did a quick curtsy to keep apparences up.

"Lady Nightingale?" Leliana pointed to the other side of the dance floor.

"Do you see the Inquisitor agent there?" Ali squinted and thought she could make out a man in a red coat. She nodded.

"His name is Blackwall," Leliana said, "I think you should stay close to him for the rest of the night."

"Why?" Ali asked but Leliana had already left, walking toward Trevelyan who looked like she had just been in a fight. Ali didn't know what was going on but she could feel the tension in the air and she made her way to Blackwall quickly. She did recognize him as she got closer. He had always lingered near the stables in Haven but they hadn't exchanged words before this.

"My lady," he said as she got closer. She nodded in greeting. Then they stood next to each other, rather awkwardly. Ali wondered if Blackwall knew that Leliana had appointed him as Ali's bodyguard. Still, she felt safe next to the warrior. If things got dangerous there was no doubt that he would protect.

…

Things happened so quickly. One moment, empress Celene was addressing the ballroom, the next there were gasps, screams and the sharp metallic sound of swords being drawn. Ali's heart starting beating faster, happy that she was standing next to Blackwall even though it meant that she couldn't see anything. Then, before Ali knew it, things were over and Leliana came over to her with a triumphant smile playing on her lips.

"Go and pack your things," she said and handed Ali an envelope, "and put this on your nightstand. There is too much excitement for poor Regina at the court, she has no choice but to return to her uncle's estate right away." Ali nodded, eager to finally leave. She left a surprised Blackwall and hurried to her room.

…

Ali took a deep breath of fresh air as the gates closed behind them. She was finally free of that place. Now she couldn't wait to go home, wherever that might be. She threw a look at Leliana who was muttering something to a woman with dark hair and golden skin.

"Who are you?" Ali turned around and was faced with an elf with chopped blonde hair and a bow on her back.

"It's Sunniva, right?" Cullen came up on her other side, "Leliana mentioned you were working for her."

"Actually, I'm Ali," Ali said, suddenly feeling sick of other names than her own.

"I'm Sera," the elf said, "get ready for a rough trip, yeah? I thought my arse was going to fall off on the way here."

"You'll need to share a horse with one of us," Cullen added. They had reached a small stable and everyone started preparing their horses. Ali looked at Leliana who was gently whispering to and patting a grey horse. Ali knew who it was that she wanted to share horse with, but she didn't think she dared to say it out loud.

Nobody said anything as they finished preparing the horses and then led them out of the stable. Eventually Cullen, without saying a word, grabbed a hold of her waist and put her on his horse before jumping up behind her. The horse seemed nervous in the evening wind and Ali felt safe sitting in front of Cullen with his arms on either side of her waist. It felt good even though she would have preferred to be sitting in front of Leliana.

They started riding, Trevelyan and the dark skinned woman in front, Sera and a huge qunari second, Cassandra and Blackwall third and then Cullen with Ali and Leliana in the back.

Ali looked up at Leliana's face but the woman was looking forward. Then, almost unconsciously, Leliana's eyes drifted to Ali. They landed on her lap, looking at Cullen's arms that were basically resting on top of Ali's thighs, they travelled up, looking at Cullen's arms that were around Ali. Eventually they reached Ali's eyes and Leliana turned around imidiately. But Ali couldn't help but smile. If she didn't know better she would have thought that Leliana was jealous. Leliana's annoyed and tired impression as she looked forward soon got Ali to doubt though. It had been a silly thought. Ali yawned and before she knew it, she had fallen asleep against Cullen's chest.