Leliana
Cassandra looked so very different than the last time I had seen her. It was not simply that years had passed, or that she had cut short her raven waterfall of hair. Her eyes held a different light than they had the last time I had looked into them for any amount of time. The cinnamon and amber seemed softened and mellowed, becoming a quiet flame instead of the hard crystals of before. Even so, I had not yet spoken a single word to her. While Cassandra had never been given to deception, all things were subject to change, and I did not know if I could trust her with the words I spoke.
I suppose that, with the time we are meant to spend together, I shall soon find out.
"Hello, Cassandra." I berated myself internally, for even the simple greeting sounded strained and contrived.
"Leliana." she, too, sounded stiff and formal and I turned to Kathyra with a glance of desperation.
My physician did nothing to help the situation, her lips widened in a smile and her eyes veritably twinkled with deviousness and mischief. I frowned, realizing that the awkward tension rising between Cassandra and I was entertaining her. The Right Hand moved into my peripheral vision, and I saw the harsh glower in her eyes directed towards Kathyra.
"What makes you believe this is amusing?" Cassandra asked, a veritable thunderstorm smoldering behind her gaze.
"Due to the fact that it is amusing." Kathyra chuckled. "It appears that if the two of you aren't shouting at each other or arguing over something, you've no manner of idea how to speak."
Cassandra made a disgusted noise and stalked towards the door. "I will wait here for you, Leliana. I will not tolerate being mocked for no purpose."
"It has a purpose." Kathyra showed her cheeky side, a humor bright and free that I adored, even though it was so very different from Salem's levity, sarcasm, and dark humor. "My lover is soon to leave, and I am worried for her and for you. If mocking you lightens the burden of my anxieties, then is it not well worth it, for one moment, to be ridiculed? Especially if it is not in earnest?"
"Fine." Cassandra groused, crossing her arms and leaning against the wall.
I could not resist a low chuckle at that and turned a thankful smile to Kathyra. She reached out and took my satchel from me, walking to our stores and packing a supply of dried meats, fruits, and traveler's bread, which had no yeast and therefore kept longer. I watched her carefully, noticing the slight tremor of her hands as she packed my satchel, including, not just food, but bandaging, pain relievers, sleeping drafts, antiseptics…it worried me.
Ignoring Cassandra, I drew closer to my lover and rested my hand over hers, but she did not cease in her work, continuing to pack for much more than a contingency.
"Kathyra, what are you doing?" I whispered. "This is a very simple task, at most two days of travel by sea, and that is if the winds are not in our favor."
Kathyra took a deep break and looked up at me, worry shining in her spring-green eyes. "What happened the last time you and Cassandra were on a ship together?" she asked, bringing back a host of memories that were the height of unpleasantness to recollect.
"This is not then, Kathyra." I reminded her. "And we all managed to survive that last time. We made it through. We persevered. As always we do."
"This may not be then, but that will not keep me from my worries or dissuade me from following my intuition." Kathyra claimed, but her words held no anger, only soft, gentle love that whispered to my heart and warmed it. "I pray I am wrong, Leliana, but I will not rest easy until you are back in my arms."
She finished her packing and I did nothing further to distract her until she completed her task. She pushed the satchel across the table towards me, but I ignored it. I moved around the table and took her in my arms, holding her close, attempting to assuage her worry. We had faced much together, but still we were alive. Where others might have fallen, we pulled through. I tried to impart this to her as I held her close, my beating heart against her beating heart.
"I love you." I whispered against her ear, feeling her arms wrap tighter about me.
"Come back to me, Leliana." her words were gentle, but her voice felt like the intensity of the thundering skies. "Just…just come back to me."
She pulled away from the embrace and her lips were on mine, the heat of her mouth searing like a brand and a promise. I returned her love with ardor, attempting to replace her misgivings with my confidence. I walked with the Maker, and I knew in my spirit that no harm would befall me…at least not harm leading unto death.
After a moment, I pulled away from the kiss and felt the fire of Cassandra's eyes on us. I glanced up, shocked to see…longing…in the imperious woman's gaze. The glimpse of emotion shocked me so much that I said nothing, and an instant later a shield fell over the Seeker's cinnamon eyes. Kathyra lifted my satchel and set it about my shoulders, then checked one last time that my bow remained secure in its holder.
I walked towards the door and Cassandra opened it. Before stepping across the threshold, I looked back, one last time, on the woman I loved.
"Leliana, Cassandra," Kathyra addressed us, "take care of each other. Be kind to one another. You wield weapons of protection, you are the shields of Thedas. Do not turn your weapons against each other or I swear on my blood and the Maker, I will destroy both of you."
"I love you, too." I replied and Kathyra smiled, an image that I saved in my mind for the trip and task ahead. I did not know how long we would be gone, but it grew more and more difficult to leave Kathyra's side the longer we remained together.
The door closed behind us and Cassandra showed me where she had tied the horses. We mounted and the Seeker looked to me.
"Do you truly believe Kathyra would follow through…"
"Yes." I nodded, flashing a smile at Cassandra. "In a heartbeat, yes."