Disclaimer: I don't own DA.
Leliana smiled broadly, eyes squinting against the bright afternoon sun. The squeak of a door closing behind her, as the guards shut it close, accompanied her soft steps as she joined Cullen at the first landing on the top of the stone stairs.
She mimicked his posture, leaning her elbows against the banister and intertwining her fingers. Her ginger hair slipped from beneath her hood and the wind made it tickle her face. She smiled as she caught the few fidgety strands in her glowed hand. "What's so fascinating about them?" she asked him, but her eyes watched the busy scene in the courtyard.
"Mages," Cullen replied simply. It was strange to see him shift his weight without the omnipresent soft clank of his armour. Him wearing a casual clothing had a strange calming effect on Leliana. It created an illusion of peace and quiet.
It also made obvious his taste. His dark red shirt, simple breeches and beige embroidered waistcoat had nothing to do with the ostentatious orlesian fashion Running around in full plate armour couldn't be exactly easy, thus Leliana understood his want to wear something more practical and plainly more comfortable.
Unlike her. Her supple, leather armour was so light she didn't mind wearing it most of the time. It was old and already shaped to hug her figure comfortably, never restricting her movements. "Meaning petty mages cannot learn to fight with real weapons?" she asked with slightly raised eyebrows. "I believe Solas is doing great job," she nodded towards the place where the elven mage practised swordfight against a dummy. One of Cullen's men circled around him, supervising the training with his hands clasped behind his back to give himself the air of importance.
She tilted her head and smiled for herself. Many years ago she had watched Shani train just like that, only her sparring partner had more vigour to him; Alistair could give as generously as he got. Only after he learned about her noble family had he gone soft on her. Or maybe it had been his feelings that made him so careful with his slashes and strikes. On the other hand, she stopped holding back after her origin had been revealed, showing him what a proper martial training she had received at her father's castle.
While she drowned in the past, Cullen's eyes narrowed at the two trainees down below them. They slovenly scanned Solas and his efforts and focused on the other mage. He took a deep breath, examining her every move critically. Years of training and hard work enabled him to see every single mistake she made, every misstep and wrong move that would result in blood and pain if the spear had a proper edge. However her recklessness had her laughing each time she got hit instead. Her inability to realize severe consequences of her inexperienced fighting made his lips curve in contempt. This wasn't a game.
"I am actually convinced it's a good idea," Leliana finally went on, awaken from her daydreaming. She had noticed the object of his attention and leaned closer to him. "She's obviously enjoying herself." She paused for a moment, watching Cullen.
Feeling her eyes on him, Cullen reluctantly shifted his attention on Solas. The elf was exceptionally skilled and what he lacked in muscle and stamina he made up for in enthusiasm and endeavour. Even from the distance it was obvious Solas put his heart into the training.
"I mean, Vivienne and Dorian both think swordplay beneath them. Solas, I am sure we can spare a sword for him. And Ana's already got her blade. Why not to teach them to fight in case their magic is useless?" She looked at him expectantly, elaborating her thought.
"I suppose that wasn't just a rhetorical question," he said slowly, finally turning his head to her. When she smiled at him and shook her head, he turned his gaze to the hustle below them once more. "I am not sure I'm comfortable with making their kind even more dangerous."
Leliana chuckled and bumped into him with her shoulders. "Is it the reason why you keep watching over their training sessions?" she asked quietly. Unlike him, she watched the mages' efforts with a small smile playing across her face.
"Cassandra appointed me to it," he replied dryly, taking a slow, deep breath. He focused his attention on the action in the courtyard after hearing another of her breathless laughs.
Anastasia tried her best to ignore the two advisors up the Skyhold main stairs. Her hands ached from holding the spear so firmly and yet it was still slipping from her sweat-slick grasp. Her eyes were fixed on the guardsmen in front of her. She was too aware of the bruises forming on various spots on her body from the beating, but she was determined to return a few of them. Only maybe not today. Either way, she couldn't let the throbbing distract her.
Garret feigned an attack aimed at her upper body, but twisted in a middle of the slash to strike her across her hips. She blocked his thrust awkwardly and winced at the impact of his spear against hers. The wooden sound echoed around the courtyard as he spun and retreated out of her reach before she could react, making a show of whirling the spear around him in the process.
She just laughed, letting her arms drop. "Did you see that?" she asked, breathless. "I've parried it!" She let go of the shaft with one hand and touched the top of her head. She had tied her hair back in a firm ponytail, making sure shorter strands didn't escape the ribbon with a couple of hair clips. As she touched it, her hair was drenched with sweat.
The guardsman relaxed his stance, using the spear as she would her staff, leaning on it. He wasn't anywhere near as tired as her, so smiles came easier to him. "You're making progress. Only you better not close your eyes next time you expect being hit."
"Baby steps, Garret, baby steps," she beamed at him and then made a face. "How about to call it a day? I'd like to study after the supper and it's difficult to do so with my eyes closed from exhaustion. And tomorrow's another day," she said pleadingly, brushing off her bodice.
Garret nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow after breakfast, then," he said and, hesitantly, bowed to her before walking up to her to get the training spear from her stiff fingers. He looked at her over his shoulder before disappearing in the armoury.
She glanced towards Solas who did his best to defeat the poor, smiling dummy. Despite being beaten all day, its silly smile always stayed on, and she loved how ludicrous it made the dummy look.
Seeing Solas wasn't done yet, she shrugged. Her steps headed to the grand stairway as her only desire was to wash off the dust and sweat and find a calm, quiet place to read a little before supper. Her legs protested as she climbed up the stairs. Her thighs burnt just like they had during the training, but it was just a few more steps, so she ignored the hurting muscles. A hot bath would soothe all of the aches and pains.
"Ser," she nodded to Cullen. "Leliana," she smiled at the spymaster of the Inquisition when she passed them by and only with her back to them did she allow her face to grimace with the effort. Sometimes she got the feeling a foul magic was at work here; she could swear there were more and more steps whenever she climbed up and the more tired she was, the longer the stairway grew.
"You're sloppy," a voice called from behind her. She frowned and stopped, whirling around.
Leliana was smiling softly, her eyes on the Templar beside her. Cullen's face was glowering as he fixed the mage with a strict gaze. "You're too awkward with the spear. If it had a sharp edge, you'd cut yourself before cutting down your enemy."
To Leliana's amusement, Anastasia replied to his criticism with a curtsy . In her riding breeches, she had no skirts to hold, so she simply spread her arms slightly as she performed the formal bow with a grace fitting a highborn lady like herself. She was surprised at the easiness of it considering it had been years since she had curtsied last. Obviously, some things were hard to forget. "I am sorry for offending my lord. I shall remove my humble, abject self from his adept sight this instant." She spun again and ran up the remaining steps for which she chided herself when she was finally in the welcoming coolness of the fortress. She massaged her sore thighs before heading through the maze of corridors to her room, muttering under her breath.
"Or maybe she needs a better trainer," Leliana commented, touching her chin thoughtfully. "Garret seems stricken by her to me. He's too soft on her either way."
Cullen frowned. "Does he?" he asked in a strangely tight voice. "Is he? I haven't noticed," he added and looked down at the courtyard. The elf was still practising, but his movements were getting slower and slacker despite his efforts. "What makes you think so?"
She gave him a half-shrug. "Just a feeling," she said nonchalantly. "Maybe it's nothing and I'm wrong. I've seen Alistair train with Shani and he had the same..." she paused briefly, seemingly looking for the right word, "...gleam in his eyes," she finished with a soft smile. It was known how the two of them ended up. She still remembered Alistair's face as clear as day after Shani had made the fateful announcement at the Landsmeet. She and Zevran had shamelessly eavesdropped behind their door after all the fuss was over.
Those were good times.
"It was just your imagination, I am sure," he said firmly. Pushing away from the banister, he began walking down the stairs. Leliana watched him making his way across the courtyard and straight to the armoury.
To Bright Sparky: Thank you for following my story. I'm glad you found it interesting so far.
I've just discovered the most terrible thing about writing more stories simultaneously. Swapping names. I almost published this chapter with Liara starring in it instead of Leliana, heh. If this happens in the future, just insert a similar name from DA franchise, please, and forgive my absent-mindedness.
And thank you all for reading!