It was before the final battle in Denerim that Hanalea approached Leliana, a wrapped bundle clutched between her hands. The bard could tell from the shape and size that it was a sword, but the fact that it was bound in a cloth rather than slung over the Warden's shoulder was a bad sign. She could guess what was coming. "I want you to take this," the Fereldan said by way of explanation as she stopped in front of her lover. Her eyes were dark, shadowed, like a storm in the evening. She held out the bundle.
Instead of accepting it, Leliana pulled back the cloth at the top just enough to reveal the hilt of the weapon beneath. Her eyes locked on the insignia on the crossguard: the Cousland laurel crest. "Your old sword?" she asked hoarsely, her fears realized.
"My family heirloom," Hana affirmed. She shifted from foot to foot, looking like she wasn't enjoying this any more than Leliana was. Her jaw worked uncertainly before she continued, "I just…I will rest easier knowing it's in good hands."
"It belongs in your hands," Leliana insisted, pushing it back into the Warden's grip. This was an obvious sign that she was getting her affairs in order, and Leliana did not want to let her. She did not want to accept what it meant. She did not want to just lie down and take it when there was still a chance; still a slim, shining possibility that Riordan would pull through and spare her Warden the fate that had been so cruelly forced onto her.
But, "Leli," Hanalea begged, knuckles white around the scabbard in her grip, still holding it out to her, "please."
And Leliana could not tell her no. Not when she looked so broken; so miserable; so absolutely unprepared for what was about to take place. One way or another, they would more than likely die here today. It was the least she could do to ease her Warden's mind before it happened.
Letting out a ragged sigh, the bard reached out and closed her hands over Hana's on the weapon. "I will guard it closely," she promised, because what else could she do?
Instead of replying, the Warden leaned in and kissed her through the tears neither had realized were streaming down their cheeks.
It tasted like goodbye.
…