Risa padded down to the kitchens in the middle of the night. As usual, her stomach had awakened her, rumbling. A rather interesting and somewhat troublesome side effect of the Joining; your metabolism revved up. You absolutely NEEDED to eat far more frequently to keep your body from becoming emaciated.

She had been gathering up some fruit, cheeses, and cubes of sausage, and grabbed a jug of the local Amaranthine rustico to go with it. She had to admit: surface food was far more varied and interesting than what she had generally gotten in Orzammar. Hearing a light step behind her, she automatically grabbed a second plate and another glass to take to the small table in the kitchen she and Loghain had commandeered for their late night larder raids, and turned. "Well, thank the Ancestors THAT day's ov-"

Anora Theirin, queen of Ferelden, stood frozen in the doorway, partly turned away. It was obvious that once she'd seen who was in the kitchen she'd attempted to leave quietly; now she stood there warily, as if unwilling to seem as if she were fleeing.

Risa was too tired to even think about protocol. "Hungry?"

Anora seemed taken aback. "I… would not interrupt your meal, Commander," she said stiffly.

Risa shrugged. "You won't." She nodded toward the table as she started setting down the platter and the plates. "Sit."

Anora looked as if she might take offense, and Risa continued quickly, "Look, it's late, I'm tired, and I don't feel like playing games. You wouldn't be here without a reason, so grab a seat." She splashed wine into both glasses, then grabbed a loaf of bread and sliced it deftly, bringing it in a basket to the table with butter and jam.

"My – the King often raids the larder at night," Anora said quietly as she perched at the edge of the facing seat.

"I'm not surprised." Risa offered her the platter of fruit, meats and cheeses first, and Anora speared a few cubes with her fork, transferring them to her plate. "Common complaint of all Grey Wardens."

"My husband…."

"Still is a Grey Warden, even though he's been given an indefinite leave of absence." Risa saw Anora's face darken, and before the queen could retort said, "I have no intention of calling him back. He's needed where he is. Frankly, he wouldn't BE where he is if I didn't see the need for it."

"Do you intend to let me get a word in edgewise?"

Risa shook her head. "No, not really. Ma'am." She took a long drink of her wine.

Anora's eyes narrowed. "Is insolence a Dwarven trait, or just yours?"

Risa shrugged. "No. It's not inherently Dwarven, though Ancestors know we are just naturally superior to you stick-like surfacers. My particular brand of insolence comes from having been a princess, and from being just that damned good at what I do." She took another sip of wine. "It also tends to come out strongest when someone's been spiteful and rude to me."

"You're a rather direct little thing, aren't you?" Anora said with surprise.

Risa raised her eyebrows. "And you aren't?"

Anora looked at the dwarf thoughtfully. "Perhaps," she said.

Risa reached over and refreshed Anora's glass. "Look," she said gruffly, "life's too short – and for me, Alistair, and your father that's not just a figure of speech. So: I don't have any designs on your husband, Anora. I stay far away from Denerim and the palace to give you both the time and space you need, and so's no one spreads gossip about him being unfaithful." She looked away a moment, then met Anora's eyes steadily. "Know this. That man is honorable. He would never step out on you. Never."

Anora simply watched Risa.

"For what it's worth, I wish you both the best and hope you'll… you'll be happy together." Risa put her fork down. Suddenly she didn't feel very hungry any more.

"Warden… Risa." Anora watched her steadily. "Do you still love him?"

Risa shrugged. "He's your husband. I'm not about to whore around with him." She took another long drink of wine. "If you're asking if I'd come running to defend him if his life was in danger, yes. Yours too. Anything else… well, that nug's slipped the snare long ago."

"But you do care."

Risa shrugged. "Do you still love Cailan?"

"I don't see how…."

"No?" Risa shrugged. "Got to be uncomfortable for Alistair, thinking he's second best… always being compared to his half brother, don't you think?"

Anora's eyes narrowed.

Risa nodded. "So let's all cut each other some slack, shall we? At least we can all try to be happy with what we've got."

Anora was quiet for a few minutes, sipping her wine and watching as Risa got up and began gathering the detritus of their late night snack. After a moment, she got up and started to put things to rights as well.

"Thank you for sparing my father's life," she said softly.

Risa nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

"He does seem… very much in his element here."

Risa nodded. "He's been very useful in helping running this Keep and the Wardens. I'm lucky to have him."

Anora raised an eyebrow.

Risa laughed, a throaty, easy laugh that surprised Anora. "Shards and sand," she chuckled, "physically, you resemble your father not one bit, but that expression of yours – that's purely him."

Anora was not to be put off. "I would very much like to know your intentions towards my father."

Risa scoffed. "Loghain Mac Tir is no blushing maiden to have his virtue defended, surely?"

"Nevertheless."

Risa shrugged. "He's my second, and a fellow Warden. I trust him with my life."

Anora gave her another piercing glare.

"Ancestors, lady! What would you have me say?" Risa rolled her eyes. "Seems to me we're well enough as is without courting disaster with any notions of… of anything more. Your father's of an age not to be ruled by passion, surely… and, and I've…. I've had enough of that nonsense." She shook her head, putting the dishes into the sink for the scullery maid to wash in the morning.

Anora looked faintly amused, seemed to gather her thoughts, then nodded. "Well, then…." She headed for the door. "Thank you for sharing your meal with me."

"Welcome." Risa said gruffly, and when Anora turned away, she said softly, "Your Majesty…"

Anora paused, her back to the dwarf.

"I don't imagine we'll ever be easy friends… but there's no need for us to be enemies."

Anora turned. "No. I quite agree. Sleep well."

Risa nodded. "You too."

They each headed back to their rooms with plenty to think on.