We've finally settled on a cook for the group. In hindsight it shouldn't be a surprise that the Orlesian can make the best food. Father brought back a personal chef from his stint as ambassador to Orlais. He stayed with us for two years before father dismissed him for hassling Elven servant girls. Thankfully by that time Nan had learned some of the recipes. She tried to teach me but I always blew it off. I really regret that now.
Zevran claims he could cook us a great meal. Most of us don't trust him with our food just yet. At the very least without someone standing guard over him. Maybe he could be a cook some day. He probably will, if only as a cover for poisoning his employer. Do Grey Wardens ever have need of assassins? I mean besides now of course. The poor man seems incapable of living any other kind of life. After being owned by the Crows basically his whole life, it seems it would be as hard for him to stop being an assassin as it would be for me to stop being a Ferelden or a Cousland. Morrigan and Sten have never eaten food this good, though only Sten would admit it, giving Leliana a curt thanks.
Morrigan said nothing but smiled when the warm soup touched her lips. She's been staying away from everyone else with that book of hers. She seems like she has some sort of big secret she wants tell us. I'll probably wring it out of her in the morning.
Shale has no memory of what food tastes like. She thinks it's probably for the best. Her existence seems so alien to me. Kind of like Zevran and Sten.
Alistair asked if I hated his cooking. I instinctively reassured him that I did not. He said that it was okay, he hated it too. I know that, we've spent basically the entire time since Ostagar mocking each other's cooking. It's just that I can't stand to see Alistair keep putting himself down. It's like he has some terrible despair demon in his head. So many fools and monsters think so much of themselves, to have such a good kind man feel so much doubt is just infuriating. Alistair never got his entire family killed. No matter what he says their is no way he could have prevented what happened at Ostagar.
Sten told everyone that cooks and warriors were different roles and Alistiar's role was as a warrior not a cook. He added further that Alistair was an excellent warrior that anyone in the Antam would be glad to serve with, in the unlikely event he embraced the Qun of course. I'm not sure what he was trying to say, but I liked that he tried lifting Alistair's spirit, even if Alistair chuckled and told him that flattery wouldn't earn him any more cookies. It seems I was right to put Alistair in charge of his own party. He later told me that Sten was tough to deal with at first but he's loyal.
A lot like my good boy Griffon, though he of course ,being a good boy has never murdered any children. He has however been guarding Alistair and barking at him whenever he does something not to his liking. I have tried to explain to him that he's supposed to watch Zevran but he doesn't listen. In fact Grifon's taken a liking to our newest associate. I suppose that's another point towards trusting him. I think Griffon's figured out about me and Alistair. I told him that I appreciate the thought but I'm a grown women and I can make my own decisions. Plus he's not in a position to talk about mistreating one's lovers. Love them leave them and run the hell away when a litter of puppies shows up. My little boy's worse than an Antivan singer. Maybe that's why he likes Zevran so much.
I have no intention of splitting the party again. We are headed east to present the Dalish with our treaty. Hopefully they will be more able to provide help than our last two allies. From their we could try to convince them to do some raiding against Loghain while the rest of us head to Denerim.