Lightheadedly, I smile as I lean against the chair, taking in a few breathes to calm my nervous state and feel my frantic heartbeat as well as the burst of butterflies fluttering in my stomach as Cullen prepares the board, after winning against Dorian.
"As a child I played this with my sister she would get this stuck up grin whenever she won which was all the time. My brother and I practiced for weeks and the look on her face, the day I finally won. Between serving the Templars and the inquisition I haven't seen them in years. Wonder if she still plays" Cullen ponders, making his first move as I smile at him mentioning his family making me feel a glimmer of envy.
"I was an only child, I often played with the noble children but all they wanted to do was play dress up and such while I wished to read," I begin smiling as I make my move.
"You didn't live in the circle?" Cullen questions.
"No I did but before all that, before my magic came I…I lived with my mother and father, my mother was always the bell of the ball, all eyes on her she looked gorgeous, refined and elegant, never faltering once while my dad was the Fereldan dung in the courts eyes, often dismissing his ideas while I simply read and challenged them," I explain a sorrow in my tone.
"At such a young age you challenged adults…"Cullen whispers in awe bringing a blush to my grin.
"I was young and carefree having no idea of the consequences of such a mind back then what about your family?" I ponder intrigued.
"Two sisters, one brother," Cullen answers.
"Where are they now?" I enquire.
"They moved to south reach after the blight I do not write to them as often as I should ah it's my turn," Cullen makes his move as I play fairly, simply wishing for a fun game.
"You're lucky you can at least write to them," I sigh.
"What of you?" Cullen requests.
"Me? My father and I we were close then the whole magic thing came out and I was sent to the tower. I haven't seen him since…" I trail off lost.
"Did you not write to him?" Cullen enquires.
"I tried to but he would never write back almost pained if you ask me and whenever I thought of going on trips with him he'd always cancel last minute…" I ramble.
"I'm sorry…" Cullen bows his head.
"No. no don't be I got used to it, you see I look a lot like my mother and I think that would have bene painful for him," I reason, remembering dad sometimes just staring at me, looking so sad, so pained.
"Your mother did she…?" Cullen trails off.
"Demon possessed her, Templars had to take her out…she came for a visit, it didn't end well," Sadly, I smile at the memory.
"I'm sorry…" Cullen sighs guilty.
"No…its fine I wasn't even there, I was sleeping, " Sadly, I glance away at the painful memory.
"I'm being all bleak here sorry I'm sounding like Fen now. Come on let's enjoy this game…" Cullen apologises.
"Yeah, that sounds like fun…" Happily, I smile at the thought.
"This may be the longest we've gone without discussing the inquisition- or related matters," Cullen points out smiling.
"Do you want to?" I ask, not sure what to say.
"Oh no. to be honest I appreciate the distraction," Cullen confesses.
"We should do this more often. Seems like fun besides I hate the formality around us, you can just call me Eve you know, no need for titles and such," I offer smiling, internally screaming as I feel a familiar heat enter my cheeks, only to feel my inner self scream and swoon at his adorable smile, my green hues staring at the attractive lip scar.
"I would like that," Cullen smiles.
"Me too," Excited, I grin.
"You said that. We should…finish our game. Right, my turn?" Cullen questions as I sheepishly smile and nod.
"I believe this one is yours well played, we shall have to try again sometime," Cullen leans back in his chair surrendering the match to me as I smile feeling a joyous sense of victory.
"Agreed," I nod as Cullen stands, reaching out to shake my hand making my smile widen at the shiver of warmth and spark from it as he then leaves to return to his duties and I fall back into my chair, smiling pleased with my giddy self…
Fennic Pov:
"I suppose so, do you want a game?" Eve offers smiling.
"I don't see why not," I shrug taking a seat.
"You know how to play?" Eve asks.
"A bit," I respond recalling Denarius often wishing to play chess with someone challenging and many of the magisters would win against but when he asked me to play, he was baffled that I had won, not realizing that over the years of me watching his strategy he often used against the magisters and won, he hadn't notice me analysing and picking holes into his method of victory. Calmly, I watch Eve set the stage that is the board.
"So…what's your favourite colour?" Eve questions as I raise a brow.
"What are you doing?" I question puzzled by the strange question.
"I want to get to know you better, you've done a lot for me so I just want to know more about my team mate, I'll answer mine, it's green," Eve smiles making her move.
"Silver," I answer.
"Okay then so what's going on with you and Solas?" She asks.
"Maker everything keeps asking about that I thought it was a secret," I grumble.
"Well it can't really be, considering there are those above who can hear you and the looks you give one another," Eve points out.
"Look, we don't know, I'm not taking things seriously but what of you and blondie? Maker honestly Dorian and I were watching, just get a room already," I advise.
"Wha…what!? I can't first off for that to even happen Cullen would you know how to propose then we would…" Eve panics.
"Oh you're one of them," I realize.
"One of them?" She frowns.
"Oh I'm not being mad but yeah you seem like the type…" I mutter.
"Wait...have you?" She blinks
"No, not at all," I remark sarcastically bitterness evident in my tone.
"Oh my god. How many?" She whispers catching on.
"Lost count after twenty," I grumble.
"And you haven't had any…" She glances downwards at my stomach making me turn away pained, recalling times in a certain cell, heaving out...thanks to that bastard.
"Nah also had Anders or someone to take care of the idea…always had some sort of protection from the guy…" I shrug.
"You sound almost proud." Eve notes.
"Is that so wrong? You live your life I live mine," I shrug.
"But Andraste…the maker, I mean does Solas know?" She questions.
"Probably…" I confess.
"Does...does it hurt?" Uneasily, Eve asks as I note the fear in her tone.
"Okay, I don't wanna talk about this but depends on the guy that's all," I mutter scowling at the sensitive topic.
"Sorry," She whispers as I sigh at the literal teen.
"Whatever, so you going to make your move on Cullen or not?" I huff.
"I…I…maybe in time…" Nervously, she turns away.
"He's going to be nicked if you don't hurry up is all im saying…" I warn her recalling a keen Dorian and a few suitors.
"Whatever…"She grumbles.
"Now look whose being the broody teen…" I smirk at her pout.
"So you and Dorian seem okay?" She changes topic as I furrow my brow.
"Oh you saw us," I respond.
"Sort of, I saw you guys drinking together…" Eve smiles hopeful.
"Yeah drinking can make you do some weird shit," I mutter.
"And i believe I just won," Eve smirks.
"Heh, good for you buddy, now all you got to do, is sleep with blondie," I smirk coyly at the blushing mess.
"Fennic!" She groans as I snicker and stand leaving the blushing mess alone to think her next move…
Rowdy, the tavern cheers as I smirk watching the chargers, Sera and Blackwall have a blast with one another, me joining in on the tavern brawl between some lout who stole some assess girl…
"Fennic! Fennic!" Curious, I turn to the eager voice of Varric eyebrow raised as I drink my liqueur.
"How have you not vomited yet from the amount of alcohol you drink?" He questions.
"Years of experience and vomiting can help you out somehow…you should know that Varric," I tease lightly.
"Yeah, yeah listen to this remember swords and shields?" Varric leans in greening eager as I raise a brow at the familiar title that Cassandra, oh so cherishes.
"Yeah?" I continue feigning ignorance to the topic.
"So turns out mean old grumpy Cassandra is a fan of my book, sword and shields in particular." Varric reveals snickering.
"No!" I gasp with hint of mockery as I snicker.
"Yeah, bookworm wants me to write a sequel to it," Varric smirks.
"But didn't you plan to quit that series due to the poor writing and barley making ends meet from it," I frown recalling his ramblings about it.
"Yeah, wanna join me in giving this to Cassandra rub her face with it a little…" Varric invites me. Quickly, I stand up, downing my beer as I smirk wildly at the thought.
"Count me in," Ecstatic I nod, standing up leaving the roaring crowd of eager drunks and people alive, enjoying their time together as we leave the tavern, approaching Cassandra with Eve, a small smirk on my lips excited at the reaction this will cause.
"What are you two up to now?" Cassandra frowns at our smug expressions.
"Nothing Cassandra im hurt you would excuse us innocent souls," I gasp, placing my hand on my heart, earning a eye roll.
"I get it seeker you're still sore from our spat," Varric points out.
"I'm not a child Varric do not suggest I did not have reason," Cassandra hisses.
"Said the girl who manhandled Varric and was about to punch him," I bring up frowning.
"Don't," She growls as I smugly smirk and shrug.
"A peace offering, the next chapter of swords and shields I hear you're a fan," Varric smirks passing the book to her.
"This is your doing!" Cass turns to glower at the smiling Eve nervous.
"I was hoping you'd be happy about it, to cool the tension between you and them," Eve shrugs.
"Well if you're not interested still needs editing anyhow," Varric reaches out to take it back.
"Yes especially the steamy scenes between the knight and the guard," I smirk coyly smirking at Cassandras brief expression of panic as she leans forward, stopping Varric in his tracks.
"Wait!" Cassandra calls out desperately, her tone itched with shock and concern only making Varric and I exchange a coy smirk, a glint in both of our eyes at the smug victory.
"You're probably wondering what happens to the knight captain after the last chapter," Varric teases Cassandra.
"Nothing should happen to her she was falsely accused!" Cassandra blurts out panicked.
"Well it turns out the guardsman…" Varric begins teasingly.
"Don't tell me!" Angered, she strides over to us, yanking the book out of Varric loose smug grip as we both chuckle at the flustered girl.
"This is the part where you thank the inquisitor," I remind her.
"I don't normally give sneak peeks after all," Varric smirks.
"For free anyway," I jokingly add.
"I…thank you," Cassandra sighs after a moment of silence, staring down at the sequel of the book she had been dying to read even if it had been a terrible one.
"Don't thank me thank Varric," Eve smiles at us.
"I am but a humble servant to my loyal readers," Varric bows jokingly.
"I wonder if I have time to read the first part," Brightly, Cassandra smiles looking down at the book in glee and excitement evident in her tone and the gleam in her eyes.
"Don't forget to tell your friends about…if you have any," Varric remarks dryly turning to me as I nod, the pair of us turning our backs to the eager Cassandra.
"Those poor poor victims," I shake my head jokingly.
"So…in the end how do you feel…?" I question the author curious.
"It was completely worth it…how about we celebrate with some drinks, on me," Varric offers giddily.
"Agreed," Smirking, the pair of us leave and head back to the tavern, enjoying another fresh drink…
"You're going to need to tomorrow," Varric smirks and I frown.
"Why?" I question.
"The ball of course!" He snickers as I feel al the colour drain from my face at the recollection of today's date…
Shit.
"Enjoyed your little match there?" Startled, I turn to a smug Fen and release an awkward laugh, oh boy…