After the battle in Orlais, everything had seemed to quiet down for a bit. When it was safe, Empress Celene and Justina VI returned back to their duties and Cassandra had been more than pleased to have placed Malachi on trial for his treachery. Since the Tevinter Mage wasn't as an important figurehead, and Tevinter had half expected of the Icon to retaliate the sentence, it was easier than usual to have condemned him. Malachi was held in prison for a life sentence; because while he didn't initially charge an attack against the Empress or the Holy Mother, he did make it clear to have been part of the Tevinter March that was invading Val Royeaux.
Anna's body had been burned to ash and sent with Fenris, who in-turn traveled back to Tevinter with Anders on a mission to return her to Alexander's and Daemon's memorials. The elf really didn't want to do it, but he knew the most respectful thing he could have done was to keep her family together. After all, Anna never really had a connection with Alexander or her own son in life; she at least needed on in death.
It was on the return back to Kirkwall where Anders and Fenris had finally made the last of their traveling. The feeling of it seeming odd for a mage and one whose grudge was normally at a high fix against mages were traveling together. However Anders and Fenris both had cried enough from almost the same side lines that there just wasn't as much fight against each other as there use to have been anymore.
It would have been simpler if they hated each other, and at times they wished that they could have loathed each other to the core. However, it was the passing women in their lives that forced more truces from between them than anyone could have normally thought possible.
Yet even so, there was a soreness there that remained, and they had both felt it was best not to look at one another or to speak to one another during their traveling. Upon returning to Kirkwall, the two had continued their moments of nostalgia by paying a tribute to Naomi's grave and catching up with Varric as well. There had been a lot more drinking involved amongst these three for the few days they remained on loose terms.
When Varric would have asked about Leliana after most of the news to what happened had settled in, all Anders could reply to him was that she had left with Alistair. He believed it was the better thing to do, since even though she had his child, it was pretty clear that all Anders had done was brought pain to her life. Of course Varric hated to see grown men sob, and nobody moped as often as Anders. The dwarf had tried to pick his spirits up.
It was later that Anders had received a letter from Denerim, stating that Leliana was waiting for him. So Anders had left Fenris in charge of tending to Kirkwall's Firing of the Magisters system –which Fenris seemed to enjoy a little—and the mage set out on his journey alone to retrieve Leliana and his son.
It had felt so awkward and out of place to be back in Denermin. At every turn Leliana had made she had looked over her shoulder to see if someone had recognized her or if she saw anyone familiar. It wasn't until she was led into the palace and then a set of Chambers by Alistair that she turned to him and asked. "How long do I have to stay here, when can I go home?"
Alistair only stared blankly at her, all he could do was give a shrug of his shoulders and outstretch his arm so she would take the room. Once the door had slammed in his face he flinched some and looked to the guard next to him, ordering him to keep a watchful eye on the rouge as he didn't want any harm coming to her as she had stayed with him. He wasn't certain how long that would be. Hopefully until she could get on her own two feet. But it wasn't as if he didn't have the rooms or food for her. He just understood how some women liked to have their independence.
With the weeks passing Leliana's hope for Anders getting her letter had slowly dwindled into hopelessness. She thought the worst of what could of happened, even if she knew the Mother wanted to avoid a war at all cost with Tevinter, there was still one on their doorstep when she left Orlaisis. But as the days had passed the less she thought of it, or tried to more so. Since she knew Baelfire had needed her alert and attentive the most. She could have gotten help from several of the servants, even gone out and drank to get rid of her feelings. But she felt that in itself was selfish.
Sighing the rouge had pushed herself off her bed and watched Baelfire from the corner of her eyes as she walked to her vanity to sit down and begin getting herself prepped for the day. When she had exited she wore Ferelden robes, after all she only had her Seeker armor when they left Orlais and that was only used for a prop and nothing else. So in mean, Alistair had tried to collect some form of clothing for Leliana and her son when they had arrived. It was nothing fancy, as Ferelden clothes weren't, but they also weren't commoner's clothes in the least. As she walked out with Baelfire in her arms she felt a pair of eyes following her. It was a daily tedious thing now, one she was getting use to since she knew he was put to watch after her.
Eventually Leliana had ventured off in the center of the market place, after her first week of being in Denermin she settled on going out for Baelfire's sake. So he could get fresh air, and not be constantly in that huge stuffy palace. Thankfully for her, no one had noticed her as the Hero of Fereldens past lover or Anders lover either. So all was fine once she had realized this and she had walked without a care in the world. Passing by all the small booths, some of which weren't here the last time she was in Denerim.
It almost seemed livelier than all those years ago as the ones trying to sell their product shouted left to right to grab anyone's attention passing by. One had caught her eye an older male behind his stall and laid across his table were a variety of flowers to choose from. Quickly Leliana picked up her pace and neared the table as her hand outstretched to one to take in her grasp.
"Look Baelfire, flowers." She called out softly as she gently held the flower up to his nose to smell. Though his reaction was slightly different from her own as a little achoo had fell across him in a single sneeze. Leliana smiled at the innocence and set the flower down before showing him the different flowers, naming off each one.
Everything was more difficult now that Anders had rejected Tevinter's services. He didn't have the papers of clearance anymore, he didn't have any Black Divine Templars to stand at his guarding side for protection, and with what happened after his trial gone public, there were more than just White Spire Templars from other regions out to kill him now. Not that having to be wary of templars wasn't a problem before, but now the amount of people pissed off at him just seemed to increase. They could be mad. Anders had his own problems to worry about than them…or really anyone who didn't belong in his little kingdom.
This pushed him to where a different set of clothes similar to a courier and a long hood in order to have kept his face hidden. Since Orlais had announced they were sending out letters to the other kingdoms, this had proven to be the best distraction to use. So for the most part, Anders had learned quickly just to have kept his head down and to stay quiet when around in public. His eyes had to avert from the templars that were around, and quickly, half of the time.
Reaching Denerim had been a breezed for the most part. The only main thing Anders had to worry about was his hood. He took his travels to the market, in hopes of merely finding the place that Leliana was staying. Though, instead of just finding that place, he ended up finding her instead. It brought a warm smile to his face with seeing Baelfire out in the sun. He stayed near one of the vendors across from where Leliana was standing, and watching the two experiencing the rest of the day freely.
This had been the sort of thing that Anders had fought for, to have children and their parents together; to have been able love each other openly without worry.
He crept up to her blind side from behind and covered her eyes with his hands. Quickly the mage spoke into her ear so as not to have startled her … … well, half as bad considering if he didn't say anything soon. "It's me, Love. Meet me outside of the city gates if wish to see me. I'll be waiting until sunset; after that, I'll consider it as our goodbye then."
Anders had then slipped back into the shadows as quickly as he came. Heading for the city gates and keeping a look out for the people who were normally traveling in groups; since the mage wanted to avoid the chances of being recognized at all costs.
Leliana had picked up a second flower but this time bringing it to the tip of her nose and inhaling the sweet scent. It was then that she not only felt but saw darkness. Her first reaction would have been to panic and protect herself and Baelfire. But before she could attack the man she had heard his voice. And almost on contact she froze feeling a sensation of goosebumps running rapidly on her skin. She didn't answer as the meeting was brief and to the point. Though when he let go she turned around to look for him. But he was already gone.
"You gonna buy that or smell it the whole time missy?" Asked the trader from behind the stall.
Leliana looked as if she saw a ghost before whipping her head around to see the single rose still in her hands and near her features. Was it all her imagination? Baelfire was trying to reach with his tiny little arms and hands to grasp onto the prickly rose but Leliana had pulled it away before he could and handed it back to the man behind the booth. "Not really a good flower for a baby his age. Maybe next time." She responded in a soft chuckle. As she had tried to hide her flustered features and thudding heart beat that could take any woman down after such an rush of emotions.
Losing the guard was hard enough Leliana had tried just about every possible. By going down alley ways, in the chantry, in run down buildings, but that seemed only to make things worse. So at her final attempt she had taken Baelfire to a tavern and went to one of the farthest rooms and used their window to climb out of to make her at last escape. When she stood out into the daylight once more her attention had shifted upwards to the sky to see how much time she had left until sunset. And even if she had been early, she didn't care. Because if she stuck around here she would of gotten caught by Alistair's guards and followed again. And she doubted they'd fall for the same trick twice.
"You ready to see your daddy?" She asked almost shocked by what words were leaving her lips, though from Baelfire's adorable cooing and tug of Leliana's ever growing crimson locks she had smiled as traded her hair for a finger and walked towards the gates of Denerim.
When she had neared the gates Leliana had glanced over her shoulder, just to check and see if anyone had followed her. When she saw it was clear she took it as her only chance and quickly darted to the gates and squeezed past the small opening she had opened for herself and Baelfire. She could feel already the rising of her heart beat, though it wasn't in her chest where it should have been. It felt like it was in her throat. Reaching up Leliana wrapped her hand around the base of her throat and caressed the area as she leaned against the citys gate. She didn't even look to far ahead of her yet as her mind was wandering aimlessly and her eyes seemed fixated onto nothingness. When she had finally lowered her hand, she had glanced up and no more than a few feet before her stood Anders. How long was he standing there for? She thought to herself. A part of her had wanted to leap forward but another part of her was frightened it was all a bad dream that she would awake from by any minute and that she would just be crushed by reality of it all.
"Please tell me this isn't a dream Anders?" She begged as her hues had never faltered from him. She could feel her body and hear her mind calling out for him. Though the expression on her face was shown of adoration but also fear of losing him again.
Anders had waited in an apple tree outside of the city gates. It wasn't a farm's community produced tree so it left him with freedom from anyone attempting to hassle him. Oddly enough, despite how much more dangerous it actually was for him to have been outside of his kingdom, Anders just didn't have it in him to be half as worried anymore. There had just been so much going through his mind, that the more important things had seemed to momentarily slip.
He lifted the mask that was protecting his mouth and pulled it slightly downward underneath his chin so that he could eat the bright red apple he had picked. It was nearing the middle of the fall season which was the best time to pick these, and apples were subsequently his favorite fruit. From what he was told as a boy, they were also a religious meaning as well. It did leave him to feel mildly ironic for choosing it, but there was another case of nostalgia involved with his choice as well. There was just so much that was changing around him, and despite knowing that changes meant losing what he had, Anders wanted to reclaim and hang onto what was left.
At first Anders had started to worry some when he hadn't found Leliana approaching, but when her form eventually slipped from behind the gates, he smiled and finished a few more greedy bites to the apple. The juice slipped from between his fingers as it slipped from his hands and hit the ground. Finding that he had given away his position anyway, and that there really didn't seem to be anyone else following after Leliana at that moment, Anders had straightened his legs and slid down the tree afterwards.
He walked up towards her, taking the longer cowl piece of his hood that rested across his shoulders to wipe his hands dry, and looked towards Baelfire in her arms before tilting his head back up towards Leliana's voice.
"Well, I'm not sure. Are all your dreams as good-looking as me?" He asked once he had stepped close enough. Raising his hand slightly over the child's eyes, he made a gesture to have kept him from looking directly at them both. "Sorry, son. Just give me a minute—"
Reaching up with his other hand, Anders curled his fingers gently around the nape of her neck. He wasted no time in kissing her in a deep passion to halt as many questions as possible. Though this tactic wasn't necessarily on a strict basis of manipulation either; in fact Anders had quite enjoyed it. The mage had missed the softness of her lips and the warmth of her kiss. Her mouth was always a blend of sugar and honey to him. He could have kissed all the way through the sunset if he was given the option; but Anders had known better.
Pulling back slightly afterwards, there had been a small voiced tone of approval from him, and the hold around Leliana's hair had relaxed. He soon dropped his hand in an effort to hug her as close it could have been allowed, considering that Leliana was holding their baby in between them. Tilting his stubbly facial hair more towards her neck, Anders started to lightly kiss her shoulder.
"I've waited too long to have done that…" He mentioned and at last had lifted his shielding hand from over Baelfire's eyes. Instead, he shifted the palm towards placing it on the boy's head as his gestured greeting to him; mimicking the same form of such that his father had once done before him.
Leliana couldn't help but feel the uncertain smile coming to her lips from his response. She didn't move an inch as he approached her, but she didn't move away neither. Once she had believed him to be in arms reach she slowly extended her arm to brush her fingers across his forearm. She was entranced by him, by his presence that when he had covered their sons eyes she had glanced down to Baelfire questionablly, or more-so Anders hand before looking back up.
It was a split second she had felt the touch of his hand to the nape of her neck, and just his touch sent little chills down her body. She could feel her breath staggering as she stood there watching as he narrowed in on her lips, with a slow motion of closing her eyes with his own. Until at last their lips met in a frenzy of devotion and love. She couldn't imagine how much or how long she had wished for this moment, that when he had come true. She began to slowly melt into him and his taste which she so desired.
When they had parted Leliana slipped out a cheerful giggle as she diligently followed in an inch after him until she had noticed, and stopped while she was ahead. Just as he was waiting for such a moment with her, so was she with him. She couldn't help but mold into his chest when she was pulled in, her face buried into his shoulder as she inhaled a breath to take in his scent. "I missed you… So much." She admitted softly into his chest as she giggled almost immediately after again but this time due to the touch of his facial hair that had danced across her skin. It was one of the many sensation she had missed, even if it had brought her to have reflectivly raise her shoulders in a attempt to block her more sensitive areas.
"Where have you been? I was worried you wouldn't come for me, or didn't did get my letter… As… Alistair… The jerk wouldn't even let me go outside the castle without an escort, I had to secretly send that letter to you after all. I'm surprised the brute didn't tackle you in the market when you approached me to tell you the truth." She had so many questions but of course the main one was where he was all those weeks. Though she was happy he had come when he did, as she wasn't certain how much more of Denermin she could take. "I'm glad you came when you did though."
"Yes. Well… I needed to take care of a few things." Anders responded and slightly suggested with his arms towards Baelfire. He reached out to grasp him and lift him into his arms. Stepping slightly back, Anders had smiled to him as he continued to talk to Leliana. "For now, traveling has been a breeze during the time I am hidden undercover, and I've had to make the best of it while I had the chance."
His eyes glanced back to Leliana as he started to question curiously afterwards. His arms reached around and underneath Baelfire to hold the boy close to him as he continued to speak. "Though more to the point why I'm here—tell me about Alistair. I know I haven't left the best impression the last time we saw him, but still I need to know where my alliances remain. Do you think he would chop my head off if he saw me or any couriers from Kirkwall? Should I even meet with him or must I steal you and Baelfire away instead?"
Upon seeing Anders held out hands Leliana gently handed over their son to him and stepped back in amazement and awe. It was something she had wanted to see for so long now, since the only time Anders had held their son was the night of his birth. And it was so long from then now. "I'm just glad to see your okay… I was so worried leaving you when I did. You know I didn't want to. But I did do it for our son." She replied with a soft smile as she stepped behind Anders, as her arms had held to his waist while she had looked from the side of his shoulder and to Baelfire
When she was asked about Alistair she had bit down onto her lip slightly and rose a index to her chin as she tapped it a few times in thought. "Well." She started with a short lived pause. "Hes off doing his kingly things right now… Whatever that might be. That's another reason why I think he ordered accompanied me a guard, so I wouldn't go running off. Because he and I fought the first few days I was here, and eventually I just let him win… Just like I let you win." She teased with a soft poke to the mages chest. "As for alliances… I think your fine. I don't think Alistair wants to get in any brawls right now with anyone. He's more of a peace maker than anything else I guess. Or at least he seems to be to me." She added with a shrug of her shoulders. "I think though it would be best to avoid any face to face contact right now and just leave. I know he won't want you to take me and Baelfire back to Kirkwall. Though its up to you and what you want to do."
Anders had rose a slight eyebrow at her towards the moment Leliana had poked his chest. He wasn't too certain if enjoyed the way the phrase was put. Being the slightly jealous type, and wouldn't have been one to have put anything past anyone in matters of 'swooning' Leliana away from him, Anders had easily misread a few of her words. All the same, he refrained from actually speaking on it and continued to listen anyway—hoping the news had gotten better.
While he didn't want anything to have been sugar-coated, he still would have liked the thought that he could have returned the trading alliances with Ferelden again. For now, his biggest struggle was having the rest of Thedas to acknowledge that his small patch of land had done something only Minrathous had done many centuries ago. The bad news to it was no-one really liked the idea, and it just reminded Anders often of just how alone he was sometimes.
"And you're sure there's nothing else to tell me?" He questioned, but then almost wished that he hadn't. Anders looked back down to Baelfire and then towards the city's gates before turning around and pointing over towards his horse. "You know what—never-mind. Forget I said anything. Let's just get back home. My horse is right over there. Come on."
He started a brisk march towards his horse in leading Leliana along side him.
Leliana had arched a sculpted brow to the mage as she was questioned if there was anything else. Clearly there wasn't but Leliana had tried to think of something just in case if she had missed something in the mix of all what had happened in the short but long time she had been here. "No… I can't think of nothing." She whispered back. Almost confused as she slowly followed after Anders. Even if he had said nevermind on the matter she could still help but wonder what the mage was thinking. "You haven't changed, my same old Anders."
When they had reached Kirkwall the first thing Leliana had did was clean up after such a trip of horseback riding then taking a boat to their final destination would make anyone want to scrub themselves clean. Maybe she was getting use to the life she was having back in Denerim? Nah… She couldn't stand that, people waiting on her hand and foot. A part of her wondered if Alistair had even gotten word or found out for himself that Leliana was gone. She knew he was just looking after her as a friend but what he had to know was her place was with Anders.
With not only herself being cleaned, Baelfire had taken a warm bath as well as a change of clothes. From there Leliana had quickly went in search for Anders. As her reunion with the mage brought her not to want to be separated from him for a long amount of time.
Anders had spent most of his time searching for Fenris once they had returned to Kirkwall. As much as he wanted to relax, he really couldn't until he found the elf. It was almost looking after another son half of the time. Anders would have to set a curfew for him and Fenris would feel that he'd always have to break it, and when the mage had left any responsibility to the elf it almost seemed as if Fenris really hadn't cared. This was mostly because Fenris and Anders were still in mourning, but on different levels to it. So, this form of socializing between one another had its advantages in getting through the day.
Anders opened one of the doors to the West Wing of the Viscount's Keep and found one of the royal guest-beds occupied. When he saw the elf sleeping there, Anders's nerves had slightly calmed a little. Walking towards the window, the mage began to tug on the curtains and allow the sunlight into the room.
"Rise and shine!" Anders started to call from over his shoulder.
Fenris groaned, having his head still stuck in his pillow. The covers had rested over the elf's hips and a huge long-sleeved shirt. He turned towards his side and reached a bare hand over his eyes. "Mmmm… Can't you think of anything new to say?"
Anders glanced from the window that he started to open and then looked back towards the groggy elf. "…I'm sorry.—What?"
"Every morning, you say the same bloody thing." Fenris grumbled and rubbed what sleep that he could from his eyes.
"Oh. I see what you mean. How about… Shake a leg." Anders attempted another phrase, along with it the worst force smile imaginable. He started to step towards the bed and braced his hands towards his hips. When he didn't get any first sign from Fenris, then Anders tried another one. "Up and atom?"
Fenris wobbled his head some upon sitting up in the bed. He didn't say anything but he did give a no-nonsense glare back at the mage in response to his current choices.
"Let's have you, Lazy-Daisy!" Anders continued a final one, but after seeing the slight snort that Fenris gave in return, the false smile from Anders had faded. The mage's arms dropped back to his sides and Anders shook his head quickly. "No… No, don't like any of them do you?"
"No…" Fenris repeated rather bluntly and shifted his weight in an attempt to sit up more.
"Wait… Are you drunk still?" Anders paused and raised an eyebrow at him as he started to reach for the covers. He lifted them to help Fenris coordinate on getting up. Though after he did so, he wished he hadn't and quickly pulled the covers back over Fenris. "Oh—kaaay. Really wish I hadn't done that."
"Mind your own business, mage." Fenris grumbled and clutched back at the covers while making an attempt to swing his knees around to the side of the bed.
"That was the bed for the Orlesian Help, and you left a brewery in it! Why do you sleep with empty wine bottles? Never-mind, I don't think I really want the answer to that—N-No-no. Don't get up." Anders started to say and pushed Fenris back down into the bed once Fenris started to make moves in an attempt to stand up.
Anders turned away and paused a moment, taking in the rest of the actual scenary. It was a sight Anders had rarely ever witnessed before—but normally, he was use to have seeing it in places like Darktown or the Docks near Lowtown. There was actually dirty laundry and filthy dishes all over the place. Fenris's armor had rested in an empty chair in the room, which only lead Anders to wonder idly when was the last time had the elf ever had it cleaned. This was the first time the mage had ever seen Fenris in anything other than his armor, and the only reason why he took notice of it was because of the sunlight that shinned into the room at this time—which also revealed with little prejudice to the slightly truth of what a pig-sty Fenris was currently sleeping into just then.
"What happened?" Anders started to ask in disbelief and turned away to walk to the foot of the bed.
"What happened?" Fenris repeated the question and swayed slightly back against the headboard of the bed. "I've had to make-do without any servants or advisors, that's what happened."
Anders looked around the room, still stunned at what the sunlight had hidden previously. "…I wasn't gone for that long…"
"And without a single notice to me." Fenris retorted back, followed by a hiccup.
"What if I was dying?" Anders remarked as bent down and began to pick up what dirty laundry he found on the floor.
"Then I wouldn't be complaining!" Fenris shouted back and in a quick fit of fighting against himself to push his upper body against the soft pillows beneath him. Once he was settled, Fenris gave a slight huff and then continued. "…But you're not. So where have you been?"
Anders paused for a moment after hearing Fenris's causes and reasons. His eyes shifted away from him and he retorted back sarcastically, "I was dying."
"—I don't believe this." Fenris mumbled after a short pause. He then turned to his opposite side and started to pull back the covers, in order to get of bed from that end.
"Fenris. Just stay in bed for a minute—" Anders started to say, but Fenris wasn't going to listen. After seeing more than he had wished to see as Fenris started to try and stand up, only to slightly topple forward and lean against the bedpost.
"You're an idiot!" Fenris shook his head in between preaching to Anders and twirling his finger straight up into the air. "You have *hic* a kingdom, and you go off frolicking doing Maker knows what—without anyone to-to-to-*hic*- Do you have any idea what kind of nug-spew I had to put up with around here?"
"Well, I did have you fire a bunch of Magisters… Write the letters of shore-leave for them and send them packing." Anders admitted, more to himself and understanding where Fenris's stress had actually came from at the time.
"Oh, shut up. I'm not in the mood for your damn pity-party.—*hic*-" Fenris huffed in return and lowered his head to stare back down onto the covers that covered him below the waist.
"No, you don't seem to be in the mood for hardly anything except drinking these days." Anders mumbled some while gathering an arm-full of clothes and started to stand back up.
Fenris's elvin ears twitched some and he slightly lifted his head to look back up towards Anders once more. "What was that?"
"I said I can't wait to see what this new salary as 'King' pays." Anders corrected himself more boldly and started to turn away. "I'm going to take these to the wash—"
"Wait just a second, Mage." Fenris demanded and started to fold his arms across his chest. His muscles had flexed from underneath the loose shirt, but the fabric wasn't tight enough on him to really leave much definition to them. "…You left me unattended to tolerate and care for a group of people I detest to the core. Just what do you have to say for yourself?"
Anders winced at him shook his head slightly. "You'd haven't had your breakfast yet, have you?"
It was almost like the mage was taunting him—again. Fenris scowled after hearing his words. She quickly turned and reached for the tin washing basin that rested on the nightstand. He grabbed it and reached high above his head.
"I'll have 'you' for breakfast!" Fenris scowled and threw the washing basin in Anders's direction.
Anders ducked the first object being broken once it hit the wall behind him. He rolled his eyes some, only to have ducked when a second object was thrown at him—this time Anders leaned to one side. "Oh! Well no wonder this place is such a mess!"
"I don't have to take this." Fenris announced and wobily stood up to his feet. He pushed himself up from the bed and started to walk forward. "I'm—going for a walk!"
"Not around the Keep, you're not." Anders retorted almost just as firmly, but he turned his head so that he didn't look at the elf.
Fenris scoffed some at him and started to walk past him. "—And why not?"
" Because you're not wearing any trousers!" Anders explained through squinted eyes.
Fenris paused in his walking and looked back down at himself. Once he had seen his bare mid-thighs and what his shirt tail was actually covering, Fenris leaned to one side and hiccupped again. "…Good point."
Anders turned slightly and chunked a pair of worn trousers against Fenris's chest upon his blinded march out of the room.
Leliana had searched high and low for Anders. But with the changes happening in Kirkwall she found herself wandering aimlessly through the halls. It was almost unreal that Anders was fighting against Tevinter now instead alongside of them. She was a bit happy on the matter since she had never liked the idea to begin with, but it did still feel out of place in someways more than not when she thought more on it.
As she walked her attention shifted to her right and even though her hues had come to glance of the kitchen of what she saw she had already felt herself being drawn to the area. She could immediately feel the aching soreness in her belly as her arm had defensively wrapped around her core as she stepped in, in a quiet sneak.
Though she wasn't quiet enough obviously as one chef had turned to hear the creak of the door open and look to the rouge with a suspicious look. Leliana had smiled innocently as her once hand wrapped around her belly had waved off the chef to continue as she neared the table stacking with what food they were preparing. "Can I have one?" She pleaded in a small point towards on the small dinner rolls before looking back up to the male who had given a perk of his brow to her then a nod of his head as a response. Leliana had smiled brightly as she had greedly taken two and scurried out the room before also snatching an apple on her way out.
When she had exited the room she had heard a voice not that far off from where she was standing in the hall. Blinking a few times in her chew Leliana had shifted her attention from left to right, then back again until her hues had fallen to in front of her and the room with the somewhat creaked door. Her curiousty had gotten the better of her as she trailed up to the door and peaked through the cracks of the door.
After she could more clearly hear the words coming from the other room with the voices not being muffled by the walls she had recalled the voices and the figures as Anders and Fenris. She was about to make her way in to them but their conversation had peaked her curiosity as Fenris's words of being left here with no help what-so-ever. A part of his words had made her smile out of humor but also her happiness was directed towards Anders and him going out of his way to get her back, putting aside his duties and even leaving them with the elf for that matter. She wasn't expecting to find Fenris here for that matter. Espically with what had happened with Anna, but even though his physical form was here it almost seemed as if his spirit wasn't, as if it was lost.
Pushing her palm against the door Leliana had slowly opened the door enough so the two could at least see she was behind them. If they had taken notice that she was, but it seemed as if Fenris was to hungover and Anders was to concerned for the Elf to notice. So in the process of waiting she leaned her back against the baseboard of the wall awaiting for their conversation to led to an end in silence. Though that was short lived as Baelfire's impatience with the two men had ended and he struggled just to get out of his mothers arms. It was about this time Fenris had started to get up the first time and Leliana had glanced his way, as her eyes had widened at the sight of the elf and his only few pieces of clothing he decided to wear.
All Leliana had done was clear her throat to give the men a notice she was there standing behind them at last. As she should have in the first place then she wouldn't have to seen such a sight. She wasn't complaining, but just as Anders. She was used to see him in his armor more than anything else. "Nice to see you again Fenris..." She whispered as her hues had shifted down, more towards Baelfire and his pushing escape from her, as he clearly wanted his freedom as he usually had at certain times of the day.
"I swear your a hard man to find Anders..." She admitted without a glance up as she didn't want to take in anymore awkward glances towards the elf as it was.
"I—" Anders shrugged a little while taking a slight glance towards Fenris who still seemed to have been staggering. He narrowed his eyes slightly at him for taking his slow time; despite the consideration of knowing that Fenris was still drunk. "Will you put those on already?"
"Shut up. It's more difficult than it looks, mage." Fenris grumbled while hopping on one foot and stumbling back onto the mattress before finally getting his last leg through the pants.
"Yes, clearly, pants are the devil. I've heard that before." Anders remarked and rolled his eyes some while turning to block Leliana's view of the elf for the moment. He had then started to speak to her in a softer tone in hopes that the elf wouldn't have heard him. "He's been drinking the whole time I was away, but don't worry. I'll have him sobered up."
"You know my ears aren't for show." Fenris spoke from the bed and started to sit up once he was dressed. After pulling himself back to his feet, he started to stagger a bit and stumble his way to the other side of the wall. "So, what poison are you going to force down my throat this time?"
"Oh, the usual." Anders spoke almost whimsically as he took a step back and tilted his head slightly towards Fenris's direction. "Eye of Newt, nug back-fat, greasy—charred cow tongue, and just a hint of dried scraping's of a rat's toenails."
Fenris groaned some, turning more towards the window beside him. He held his head out of the window and as though upon instinct hurled a spewing vile liquid outside. Of course Anders couldn't help but to have grinned, seeing the Fenris's body shuddering from heaving most of what he drank down last night—or the past last week. Anders didn't know how much Fenris had drank since he had been away, and he didn't want to take the chances of losing the elf completely to the drink. Besides of what excuse he'd use, it was still amusing to him; and so the smirk on Anders's face remained.
"Oh and after that, you can have breakfast!" Anders beamed quickly; which only gave him the response of Fenris hurling chunks a second time. The mage chuckled a little and looked back towards Leliana, and nudged his head to the side in a quiet invitation for her to follow him back out of the room. "See? I'll have him on his feet in no time."
Leliana had arched a curious brow when Fenris head hung out the window. When the puke had spewed out of his lips she couldn't help but flinch, averting her eyes from the scene so she wouldn't be accompanying him just from being sickened by the sight. "Your so mean Anders." Leliana said with a shake of her head as she took Baelfire's hands into her own and gave them a gentle sway to try and calm his fight against her.
When they exited the room Leliana had looked to the soiled clothes in his arms. She felt badly for Fenris, since he truly did love Anna and then she was taken from him so suddenly. She didn't even know if the elf had even gotten to confess his feelings to her as he wanted to. But she wasn't about to ask Anders nor Fenris that, as she didn't want to reopen fresh wounds.
"I hope your right." She responded as she had taken the apple and bit into it, chewing onto the sweet flavors, she tried to allow her mind to avert from Fenris. But mostly Anna who she had missed almost just as much as she missed Anders when they were separated. "I'll let you tend to the elfs dirty laundry." She started in a stall in her pace alongside him as she reached to the mages shoulder to stop him. "And try not to work to late otherwise I might just have to come and hunt you down." She joked in a teasing tone as she leaned up towards the mage and had pressed her moist lips to his scruffy cheek. She didn't want to leave him, but when Baelfire had begun getting so restless like he was, she knew the little boy was beginning to go through his hunger stage and wanting nothing more than her, and Leliana had liked to do that in the privacy away from everyone else. "Who know's when I'm done tending to Baelfire's needs I might try and find you. Though I'll be sure to make it a surprise." She whispered with a wink of her eye while she had pulled away from the mage in a few backwards steps before turning and walking in the other direction to their room.
Anders's grin had remained ever more proud at the moment. He turned slightly and watched as Leliana had walked away from him. While Anders had continued to walk; he ended up stumbling into the corner, only to step back and finally look back to where he was going. He shook his head some and then turned around the edge so that he could deliver the clothes to where they needed to be.
After delivering the laundry specifically to the housecarl to take care of, Anders had returned to the dinning table. It was only moments later he had watched as Fenris groggily stepped into the room. The two hardly exchanged any glances towards one another as they went about their daily routine. Anders had munched on a baked chicken leg he had grasped for the morning while Fenris had went into the kitchen only to come out later with a bowl of sugary-coated fruit.
"Fruit again?" The mage finally piped up; one for not being content with the silence for very long.
"And what's wrong with that?" Fenris demanded; casting a dull glare towards his direction.
Anders blinked for a moment and shook his head before sitting upright in his chair. "Nothing—nothing. I just thought… that you'd have your fill of grapes and strawberries for a while..."
Fenris sighed and grabbed a handful of the blackberries into his hand and began to pop them into his mouth. "I do not have a drinking problem."
"I-didn't-say-you-had-a-drinking-problem.—Who-said-you-had-a-drinking-problem?" Anders spoke rather quickly and took a bit of his cooked chicken leg.
"I just don't feel all that hungry, is all." Fenris said and kept his head down at the bowl as he continued to eat. "And I don't need you chattering away about things that make my stomach turn."
"Well, that will be difficult. " Anders retorted in thought and kept his eyes towards ceiling after swallowing down a bite. "There's not much that I can say then, is it?"
"Exactly. You disgust me. Now leave me alone." Fenris grumbled and continued to eat.
"Didn't I come in here before you?" Anders questioned lightly only to receive a scoff back from Fenris in return. He paused a moment and leaned forward, outstretching his arm in an attempt to offer his chicken leg to Fenris. "You know what you need? Some good ol' fashioned—"
"Get that dead, greasy animal out of my face." Fenris growled at him and flared his nostrils.
Finding that this was the most intense that Anders had in dealing with the elf, the mage shrugged his shoulders into a light pose and started to inch away. He shook his head some and waved the chicken leg around almost as if it were an extension to his talkative-hand motions. "….I don't see why your stomachs that queasy. I left a tonic for you in your room."
Leliana had glanced to Anders one last time before turning the corner and leaving. Though when she carried on down the hall she had heard a thump against the wall, she paused some to hear the footsteps stall and regain moments later. Shaking her head some she chuckled as she could only suspect what had come over Anders and made him to make such a noise.
Once she had finally returned to their room, she had laid Baelfire onto the bed and hoved over the boy with her hair dangling above him, as his little outstretched arms had reached for the ends of her silken hair. She smiled brightly as she leaned in pressing her lips against the boys brow as she picked herself up to remove the bits of clothing she had on so she would be more easily accessible to her son. As she had laid there thought, her rounded digits encircled around his dome as she had gazed off across the room in thought. While she was here she had wanted to do something, anything to keep her busy since she wouldn't be able to fight as she had grown accustomed to after all these years.
Thinking of all the possibility's though was an endless thought in itself. But she had wanted to also have the freedom to be able to be by Anders side and Baelfires when they had needed her most. So it would have to be something not to exerting. Looking down to Baelfire in her thought she had started to part her lips and gaze down to the boy. Almost as if she were to say something to him, but had paused and blinked silently as she closed her slightly parted lips seeing as Baelfire had already fallen asleep. "Funny boy." She whispered as she slowly slipped her hand from his head and scooted away from him on the bed as she had started to piece back on her clothing as she walked to the door to peak her head out.
One maid had walked past, Leliana had followed her with her eyes for a few steps as she parted her lips as she whispered out. "Psst." To grab her attention. The young woman stopped in place and glanced to her right to see Leliana head peeking out the room. At first she was uncertain what to think but that hadn't stopped her in walking up to her.
"Is there something I can help with?" She asked almost curiously with a warm smile pulling to her lips.
Leliana had nodded some as she pulled back and opened the door some so she could step in if she desired. "I was wondering if you could stay with my son while he rests. I wanted to go do a few things without him for a short while. If you can't though do you know someone that can?"
"No no I can do it, I would be glad to help." Replied the younger lady as her smile had beamed even brighter. "I have a bunch of siblings and being the eldest has given me the chance to watch over them, so watching after your son would be a gift."
Leliana smiled brightly to woman and nodded her head some to her response. "Alright if you need me, like if he wakes up… I'll be in the teaching room, speaking with the fellow teachers." She reassured as she walked out the door and down the hall towards her destination for the day.
Again there was just silence for the moment. Anders turned his attention back to finishing his chicken leg. When he was done, he stood up and walked towards the waste bin to throw away the bones. Then he walked back to the table to grab a napkin and wipe his hands clean.
Fenris had kept his head down, still eating from the bowl until he finally spoke up in a question that rattled a bit in his brain ever since his harsh awakening. "…How's Leliana?"
The mage paused some, looking towards Fenris curiously. He didn't think he'd ever hear Fenris ask about her; so this was something new. Though, on the other hand, he did happen to have seen Leliana speak to him in the guest room earlier—and the elf hadn't really said anything to return; and that was only considering if Fenris could have even remembered that far.
"She's in perfect health." Anders responded after a while in order to keep himself from looking at Fenris too awkwardly.
"…And the baby?" Fenris asked secondly though had kept his head down still.
"Just as perfect." Anders responded and the silence developed between them again. He paused some, looking down at the quiet elf and tossed the napkin back to the table. "You know… That was really moving of what you said about Anna, at the Shine. I wanted to thank you for that."
"Don't. None of it matters, now. It needed to be said and so I did. Leave it be." Fenris quickly mentioned and shoved another piece of an orange into his mouth.
"It wasn't just about Anna, though was it? You meant it." Anders said and leaned against the backrest of his chair. "I know you did—"
"Does this have a point, Anders?" The elf questioned in his quickly aggravating tone and lifted his head from his bowl.
Anders paused for a moment and lightly shook his head to the side. He shrugged his shoulders some and looked towards him. "I just never had seen you cry before, that's all… And you know, it's alright to cry. I know it's been difficult—"
"Shut up, mage."
Anders gasped and shook his head in a playful manner. "Oh, that's just horrible. I had really thought you'd change."
Fenris merely stared at him with a mild look of annoyance and pushed away the bowl of fruit upon his moment of standing back up to his feet. "…And you're as stupid as you are nauseating."
The mage watched as Fenris turned away from him and started to head towards the exit of the room. Though once Fenris had reached the doorway, Anders took the moment to call back to him in a continued debate of having the last word.
"So—Does this mean there's no chance we could have a hug?" Anders boasted in his continued tease.
Fenris paused from the doorway and turned back around, marching towards him. Anders had his arms up in a welcoming manner, but even he knew how annoyed Fenris truly was with him. The glare in those green eyes just continued to boil down at Anders with annoyance. Considering the option of running, Anders turned on his heels and bolted towards the other side.
The elf chased after him faster; leaving a few circles around the table until at last he jumped onto it and crossed over. Colliding against Anders, Fenris braced the man against the wall and punched him into his chest roughly. Anders hollered and winced from the pain, leaving Fenris his moment to finally walk away without anymore smart-ellic remarks being whistled his way.
It was only moments later that Anders had left the dinning area and looked out into the hallway. He was checking to make certain that Fenris had walked in the different direction that he was going to take. When he had recently seen flashes of Leliana's form heading into another room, Anders rubbed his chest and walked after her next.