Seated atop a tree stump, Leliana grunted, her foot pressing the bow against the earth as she attempted to restring it. Darkspawn ambushed them around midday, and in the chaos of combat, her bowstring had snapped. Pulling the string into its notch, she tied a tight knot to secure it in place. The bard plucked the bowstring a few times before placing it away, satisfied with its tautness. She rubbed her shoulder, thinking back on the battle.
~*~*~
After weeks of trudging through foliage, their party was only a few miles away from leaving the forest and reaching the open trade routes. Before they ventured to Redcliffe, Legam decided a side trip to Denerim was in order. After the incident with the Dalish and werewolves the previous month, they required newer equipment and supplies. The Warden mage also hoped to pick up any helpful rumors about Redcliffe and its Arl's condition before making the long journey west.
And so they marched northward. As they reached the edges of the forest, a band of hurlocks and genlocks leapt out from amongst the shrubbery. The Warden-crew scrambled into action, spells, swords and arrows flying. Alistair, Sten and Oghren managed to cut down the charging grunts, but a sudden explosion scattered them.
Knocked over from the blast, Legam rose back to his feet, spotting a hurlock emissary. While it cackled, the mage craned his neck to spot Leliana taking cover behind a tree.
"Kill it." Legam commanded, jerking his head at the darkspawn spell caster. His bard friend nodded, notching a fire arrow into her bow. She peered around the trunk, spotting the emissary some hundred or so meters away, casting another spell. Quickly, she calculated the angle, raising her bow and pulled back on the string, stretching it for optimal velocity.
Too much. The pressure snapped the string, misfiring the arrow. It zipped past Morrigan, barely missing her stomach. Instead, the missile struck a nearby genlock in the chest. The apostate turned on her heel, scowling at the bard.
"Watch where you fire those arrows, fool!"
Leliana ignored Morrigan's ire, too busy scrambling for her daggers. Her fingers grazed the hilts when she felt a piercing sting in her left shoulder, knocking her over. Gasping in pain, Leliana turned to spot an arrow protruding from her arm. Maker damn it! Clenching her teeth, the bard closed her fingers tightly around the shaft. Before she could yank the object out, a low guttural hiss rang in her ears.
A hurlock stood above her, its axe raised to strike. Cursing, Leliana reached for her throwing knife, hoping to beat the darkspawn's speed. The hurlock swung –
– And froze in mid-attack, encased in ice. Leliana chanced a glance to the side, spotting Legam nearby. He nodded at her, turning his attention back to the oncoming foes. Electricity crackled from his fingertips, spreading out into a chain and frying half a dozen nearby darkspawn. Leliana turned back to the frozen hurlock. Drawing a dagger, she quickly gutted the evil creature. When the spell effect wore off, it crumbled into a heap at her feet.
Leliana winced, pain shooting through her arm again. She leaned against the tree for support. A blue-green orb of magic flew from Legam's hand, striking the emissary. It stumbled a few steps before exploding in a cloud of gore, bites of bones slicing into its nearby allies. The most dangerous foe incapacitated, Legam turned to Leliana.
"Are you all right?" He panted, drained from spell casting.
She gritted her teeth, hissing through them, "It is not deep, I think. It just…" Another surge of agony erupted from her shoulder. "… Hurts."
The mage examined the battlefield, noting only two darkspawn remained – fleeing, at that, with Zevran and the mabari hot on their heels. Legam turned his gaze to their eldest member, currently wiping specks of blood off her face.
"Wynne!" He yelled. The snow-haired mage snapped to attention. "We need your healing! They struck Leli in the shoulder."
Leliana allowed herself a small smile at the casual nickname. Sometimes her companions used it, as had a few acquaintances back in Orlais. Yet whenever she heard the Warden speak it, it carried a certain endearment she didn't experience with anyone else. Pain struck her again, shaking her from idle musing.
Legam turned back to her as Wynne jogged towards their location. "Still yourself," he commanded gently, carefully placing a hand against her collarbone, pressing her body more firmly against the trunk. His other hand gripped the arrow shaft. Knowing his intent, Leliana averted her eyes, fighting the instinct to tense her muscles.
He yanked the missile out of her flesh with one hard tug. Leliana hissed, wincing. Legam tossed the arrow aside, pressing his hand against the open wound to help staunch the blood flow. She looked back at the mage, muttering an appreciative, "Thank you." He nodded, focusing on her injury.
Wynne arrived, gently brushing him aside, "Good work, Legam. Now let me take it from here." He obliged, shifting his position to Leliana's good side. The Warden placed a hand on her uninjured shoulder, supporting her balance while the elder mage tended to the arrow wound.
Instinctively, Leliana leaned her head back, resting it against the base of his neck. His fingers stroked her arm reassuringly. Wynne glanced up at the two young adults, smiling to herself before returning to her ministrations. Ah, youthful affection.
~*~*~
Leliana rubbed her arm once more at the memory. As she suspected, the arrow did not pierce far – Wynne mended it all with her magic. The only pain that lingered stemmed from her own mind if she dwelled on it too long. She'd suffered far worse injuries in her life – many of them in just the past few months since she joined Legam's mission.
The bard sighed happily, butterflies fluttering in her stomach when she thought of the mage. She spotted him across the camp, currently rubbing Benjamin's belly affectionately. The mabari hound rolled about on his back happily at the attention, his tail thumping against the ground gleefully. Leliana giggled at the scene. She leaned forward to rest her elbow on her thigh, and her chin on her hand, content to continue observing.
Benjamin flipped onto his four legs, tail swishing. Spotting Legam's staff nearby, he grabbed it in his mouth and bolted away, playful. The mage stumbled after his war hound, dismayed, "Hey! Careful with that! That is not a plaything!"
Leliana's giggle evolved into a hearty laugh. Her Warden companion certainly competed with Alistair for overall awkwardness. In her eyes though, the Rivain man certainly won the contest for adorableness. She sighed once again.
The two of them formed a fast friendship in only a few weeks after departing Lothering. Legam had accepted her into his fold, even after she mentioned her vision. He was unfazed by her unorthodox beliefs, and let her ramble on for hours about anything without complaint – even with her shoe fascination (which she knew he didn't quite understand).
He offered her a supportive hand and a listening ear after Marjolaine's death. His words brought her back from the brink of a crisis of faith, reassuring her that Marjolaine was wrong. Though the two bards shared similarities, the two were not alike; Leliana was a good person where it counted, despite her shady past.
When her mood lingered on the morose, Legam seemed to sense it. Even better, he always managed to brighten it, often with humor or tidbits of wisdom. She returned the favor whenever he sank into his own worries, bringing a smile back to his face.
He shared her love of stories and strength of faith, ever eager to listen to her tales or discuss religion. Though they disagreed on a few philosophical points, the two friends managed to keep their ideals separate from their opinion of the other.
The mage offered a helping hand to many requiring aid – often without expectation of reward, though many granted it anyway. He approached others respectfully, usually maintaining his manners in conversation and persuading his way out of trouble when things became too heated.
Of course, the Rivaini Warden wasn't perfect. Sometimes, his emotions overrode his rationale and led the group to trouble. He frequently cracked under stress, becoming cranky and impatient. When something upset him, he often moped about it for hours, sometimes even if the transgression was small.
During their earlier days, he sometimes wavered in combat and forgot to use his magic, instead running about the battleground in a panic. That changed over time as he grew more confident, but she noted a flicker of fear still lingered in his eyes whenever they first entered battle.
Despite his faults – perhaps even because of them – Leliana respected the mage. He was only human after all. Considering the level of responsibility that lay on his shoulders, she didn't begrudge him his shortcomings. Besides, he led their team through all sorts of trials. He even managed to connect with each of them, including stoic Sten and antisocial Morrigan.
Legam finally caught up with Benjamin, tackling the dog to the ground and wrestling for hold of his staff. Leliana laughed again. Perhaps what she liked most about him, she decided, was his awkward charm. True, Alistair also bumbled about and she found it endearing in him as well, but…
With the templar, his awkwardness stemmed from a certain lack of self-confidence. While Legam also doubted himself at times, he trusted his capabilities and acted with more confidence than his fellow Grey Warden usually did. The mage's inelegance was simply who he was. Though Legam retained enough social graces to crack the occasional quip or talk others through to compromise, his studious former life still affected him.
Accustomed to burying himself into books or practicing the arcane, the mage sometimes blundered through unfamiliar conversations. At the Circle, much of his time was spent at a table, reading. Their current life called for much more activity, and Legam's body did not always know how to coordinate itself, stumbling and tripping about – so unlike many heroes of legend.
Perhaps that's why Leliana found him so endearing, so… Lovable. The bard twirled her braid around her index finger. Over the past month or so, she found herself drawn to the mage more and more often. She felt a level of affection for Legam she had not experienced since her happier days with Marjolaine. Leliana was unsure if she loved him, but knew at the very least she adored him.
This reality was not new to Leliana – she realized the level of influence Legam held on her some time ago – but had yet to act on her feelings, not overtly. Instead, she dropped hints every now and then: a slightly flirtatious remark in response to a question, giggling when he smiled, lingering a tad long when touching his arm or shoulder. The bard hoped to gauge his reaction, to guide him towards a confirmation of some sort.
Unfortunately, she couldn't read his reactions well enough. True, the mage bumbled more around her than he used to, but Leliana knew not if this was due to attraction, or simply lack of experience with flirting. Though he'd complimented her beauty and teased her in the past, his manner belied friendliness rather than lust.
Leliana pouted her lower lip, frustrated. Ever since leaving the Dalish, she'd tried to coax a clear response out of him. Maybe he required a less subtle approach.
She watched Legam snatch his staff out of the mabari's grasp, rising to his feet. He dusted himself off indignantly, scolding Benjamin. The dog whined sadly, manipulating Legam into giving him a reassuring scratch behind the ears. Again Leliana felt adoration surge through her being, and decided then on her future course: When the next opportunity presented itself, she would be a bit more direct.
Maybe the Maker pitied her, for opportunity greeted her door only a few moments later. Legam strode over, plopping down on the ground next to her tree stump. He panted a bit, tired from chasing Benjamin around camp.
"Maker's breath, but that mabari is a troublemaker sometimes." He chuckled.
Leliana grinned, "Indeed he is, but that is what makes him so charming, I think."
"Perhaps." Legam set the wooden staff down on the grass beside him. "How is your arm doing?"
Reflexively, she rubbed the spot of the old injury. "It is not troubling me much. Wynne's magic worked well. It only hurts if I dwell on it, and then the pain stems from my mind at the thought, nothing more."
Legam smiled, relieved. "That's good to hear." He looked at the night sky, "The calm of night also helps to wind down after a fierce day of combat as well, no?"
Leliana pondered a moment, seeing how she could steer the conversation to its desired location. "Indeed it does. The night seems more peaceful, safer."
"That it does," he agreed. "Though I suppose danger is just as viable now as it is during the day." As if expecting such danger soon, he rose to his feet, stretching.
"Perhaps it is a bit silly to find reprieve from the day's troubles at night." She admitted, hoping to keep him near and continue the conversation. "The darkspawn never sleep, and they lurk in the shadows."
Legam looked back at the bard, shaking his head, "No, it is not that silly. Seeking moments to lay down your burdens is only natural. Rational or not, we all need to set aside our worries sometimes, lest we go insane with anxiety."
"You speak true." Leliana smiled softly, encouraged. She ventured on, pushing their dialogue further towards her goal. "The nights I enjoy most are when we stand guard together, talking to pass the time in those small hours..." she chuckled self-depreciatingly, "Well, I talk and you listen, mostly..."
The bard paused, playing with her braid again. She recalled the nights where exhaustion from the day overpowered her, and she no longer resisted the siren call of dreams. "Sometimes I succumb and fall asleep. When I wake later, you're still watchful, and I know you're watching out for me."
He smiled, also recalling those nights. Usually, Leliana lasted throughout their shift. Occasionally, Legam noticed her talking dwindle, her speech slow and eventually, stopping altogether. Whenever he looked to check on her, he'd find her fast asleep. Content to let Leliana rest, Legam fought his own urge to nod off even more, determined to keep an extra watchful eye open. Not just to fulfill his own duty, but to protect his dearest companion while she lay vulnerable.
"I will always watch your back, Leliana." He promised. "You never have to feel afraid if I am around."
Leliana gathered her courage, her throat suddenly dry. "W-what I'm trying to say is... Is that I trust you. I'm comfortable around you." She averted his gaze, unable to keep her thoughts collected while she met his eyes. "I know you'll be there when I need you."
Beginning to suspect where she headed, a knowing smirk began to spread across Legam's lips. He placed his chin in his hand, listening intently.
"You are our... Our leader, and my friend and..." Leliana inhaled deeply. No turning back now. "Sometimes I think that m-maybe… we could be more than that..."
Somewhere in the depths of Legam's mind, he whooped for joy. Outwardly, he continued to smirk and let the bard speak, finding her uncharacteristic stumbling adorable.
The butterflies from earlier returned, spreading their sensation from Leliana's stomach to her chest. "Maker... Look at me, stumbling over my words like an ill-educated peasant girl. Some bard I am..." Her cheeks burned. How did a goofy mage manage to turn an experienced seductress like herself into a babbling fool?
His amused response did nothing to help. "You know, you are quite cute when you're embarrassed."
"I'm not embarrassed!" Leliana defended, briefly looking at him again. Her hands waved at the fire, struggling to find an excuse. "I'm just... flushed because... of the... heat!" Oh, how smooth. She felt quite the fool. Perhaps this wasn't a good idea…
Still Legam danced around the issue, reveling in the turned tables. "Well, I'm flattered someone like you is interested in a man like me."
Leliana regained some of her composure. "Do you mean to imply my taste is poor? Why can't I like you? You're a good person, a great listener, a... A remarkable warrior." She felt her wit returning.
"You often show signs of intelligence and… you're fairly good-looking... Most of your facial features are in the right place." The bard grinned slightly, teasing. True, Legam was not the most handsome man in Ferelden, but he certainly wasn't ugly. His features carried a certain charm all their own. She found his nose especially cute, but decided to leave out that particular detail for now.
Legam, to his benefit, rolled his eyes and smirked. "Thanks, you're so complimentary."
"You're welcome, I try." Leliana quipped. He eyed her expectantly, to which she shrugged. "There... Isn't much more I can say. My feelings have been laid bare. You are... Very special to me." She played with her fingers, simultaneously anticipating and dreading his response.
Legam weighed his options, knowing what he said likely set them on one of two very separate paths. He knew he loved the Orlesian, and was elated to know she shared his affection, at least on some level. What gave him pause was the uncertainty in such a future.
The mage knew her past as a seductress and assassin, though that did not bother him. His main concern was his lack of experience – his entire past love life consisted of a few kisses exchanged with a crush during his adolescence. How well could two such different people get along romantically?
His heart spoke up, shoving his rationalizing aside. What was life without risk, without chance? He loved her, she adored him. In the end, did not the possibilities far outweigh the risks? Legam's doubts vanished, meeting Leliana's hesitant gaze. "My heart mirrors yours, and I'm elated to know you feel the same as me."
Leliana felt her heart soar, though a degree of surprise mingled with it. "Really? N-no one told me." Alistair and Wynne teased her on occasion about Legam, but nobody ever outright confirmed his mutual attraction, least of all the mage himself. "You... You felt the same way and didn't do me the courtesy of informing me?"
Indignity seeped into the bard's joy. "Y-you made me say all those things! Why can't you have said them first?" Legam only shrugged helplessly. Her earlier unease returned. "Oh, you... Oh, how very awkward...!"
The Rivaini man grinned, hoping to ease some of her apparent frustration with jest. "Did you not just say you were comfortable around me, dear lady?"
"Well, yes, b-but..." Flustered, Leliana failed to find a legitimate excuse. "D-don't question me! I am a woman and I reserve the right to be inconsistent!"
He laughed, enjoying this rather clumsy side to Leliana. She exhaled in exasperation.
"Oh, chivalry is so dead. Making the lady spill her guts like that..." Honestly, did no man understand how to woo women anymore?
Legam tilted his head, further amused. He felt a surge of unusual boldness and decided to act upon it before the moment passed. The mage stepped forward a few paces, closing the short distance between them.
Noticing his movement, Leliana eyed him cautiously. "W-what are you –" Legam leaned down, placing a hand to her cheek. He coaxed her face upwards and pressed his lips against hers before she could protest. Her eyes widened, taken completely off-guard.
Though the kiss was rather clumsy, like many other things about Legam, it nonetheless sent sparks down her spine. It ignited a long-forgotten fire the bard had not felt in years. Recovering some of her senses, Leliana reached up, wrapping an arm around his shoulder to press him closer. Her eyes closed, losing herself in their connection.
They separated countless moments later, breathless. Leliana found her voice first. "Well... I... Hmm..." Her voice, but not complete coherency. "That settles it then."
Legam chuckled, leaning his forehead against hers affectionately. Tonight, no further worries burdened his mind. Tonight, the Blight felt far away. Tonight, he forged a new, unfamiliar, yet exciting trail. Everything was right with the world, if only for tonight.