Warden's Night Out
Anders and Oghren were a hundred yards or so ahead of them by the time they reached the palace gates. Juliette and Nathaniel walked quietly together, her hand on his arm.
Juliette was still beaming on the inside from his impromptu compliment. He had truly seemed set off balance by her appearance and she thrilled at it. Juliette had realized these last few nights, with nothing to do but sit in luxury, that her feelings for him had changed from friendship to much more. She couldn't pinpoint when but a part of her knew that perhaps it had always been so.
For his part, Nathaniel was finally settling into the idea that his feelings for her were not something he could limit or control. Despite the mud on his name and the shame that was his to carry she had his heart and he could not deny her anything. He had not yet concluded how he would work all this out if she would even have him, let alone with her brother, but he knew he could not live in any peace without her.
They followed the others through the gates and out across the long walkway. They chatted to each other about the people in the palace and the next step in the kings plan.
"He sent a note that he intends to have a semi public meeting, questioning me about the Architect. He wants to allow Bann Reign to put on a display. Alistair's spies have some leads and he wants to let the man talk." Juliette explained.
"Is this wise?" Nathaniel's eyebrows drawing together"He still has not uncovered the man's true purpose; the King cannot predict the course of the meeting."
"We shall find out soon enough, perhaps as early as tomorrow." she replied.
They reached the end of the walkway and followed the pathway to the Market District soon arriving at its west gate.
Anders was waiting for them to catch up.
"Oghren said he would be found in the Gnawed Noble. I'm going over to The Wonders of Thedas and then wander around a bit see if there isn't some pretty girl to talk to. Meet you two there later?"
Juliette and Nathaniel looked at the wares in the stalls. They stopped at the weapons smith's stall while Nathaniel admired a bow.
"Enchanted to enhance your swiftness, allowing you to provide more covering shots." the hawker said. "Also, has a Master Paralyze Rune in the hand piece which can be quite helpful for larger foes."
He declined and handed it back to the man and they continued on their way.
"Is there something wrong with your bow?"
"No, I just admire beauty. That was a well crafted bow and I can appreciate what it took for it to be made."
She understood completely.
A while later, the sun was setting and they were both famished. Nathaniel led her to the door of the Gnawed Noble and led her in. Oghren was seated at the bar, loudly swapping stories with another dwarf. He raised his mug in greeting and Nathaniel pointed to a table, telling him that they were going to eat.
The fare at the Gnawed Noble was simple but good and they soon were eating some beef and vegetables. There was a hearty brown bread and each had a glass of ale to wash it down. A game of dice was starting at the table next to them and a group of men were singing a ditty and drinking after each chorus.
"I must admit, Oghren was dead on. The palace was getting tedious." Nathaniel offered.
"It seems to me that any time Oghren is correct it usually involves drinking."
Nathaniel laughed "You are right, I think. The man is fierce, mean and unbelievably crass but he knows a good time!"
"Juliette Cousland? Is that you?"
Juliette turned around to see that Thomas Hayden, the son of a minor Bann was standing at the tableside.
"Thomas! Hello, how are you?" she asked.
"Maker girl but you grew into a looker!" Thomas lurched forward a bit when someone passed by. "I haven't seen in you in a long time!" he was clearly very drunk.
Nathaniel scowled at the man but Juliette shook her head minutely.
"Thomas, uh, thank you. It was good to see you again, fare well." She said hoping to dismiss him.
Thomas wobbled a bit but then stopped and scrutinized Nathaniel, his facing scrunching.
"Who are you, sir?" he asked Nathaniel.
"My name is Nathaniel Howe and you are?"
"Wait a minute…." Thomas turned back to Juliette grabbing her arm. "I had heard you were the king's piece and now you're here with a Howe?" he looked left, then right."So where do I sign up?"
Nathaniel came across the table and had him by this throat in an instant, lifting him off his feet and slamming him into the adjacent wall. Juliette leapt to her feet.
"YOU WILL APOLOGIZE TO THE LADY." Nathaniel seethed through his teeth. "OR I WILL KILL YOU HERE AND NOW."
The entire tavern ground to a halt.
"Thomas? You alright? What's going on here?" a large man who clearly was a companion of Thomas's approached.
"Your friend has insulted this lady and he WILL apologize NOW!" Nathaniel answered the man, never looking away from Thomas.
Oghren came to stand beside Juliette and Anders appeared from nowhere.
"You've got my friend by his throat so why not set him down and let him do just that?"
Nathaniel slowly lowered Thomas to his feet and he doubled over choking and rubbing his throat.
"I will not apologize to her- I got nothing to apologize for! She's my old friend and I can talk to her if"
Nathaniel slammed Thomas back into the wall.
"TRY AGAIN"
"Why don't you ease up? He's drunk and he says he knows her. Let him go or you'll have trouble."
"Why don't you shut your fat mouth and let your girlfriend make her apology?" yelled Oghren at the man.
"What did you say to me shorty?"
The next thing Juliette knew every person in the Gnawed Noble was hitting, biting, kicking or punching someone else. Mayhem ensued and the tables were flipping and the chairs were breaking, either over someone's head or from being fallen on. Anders was tucked into a corner and the light he was creating with his fingers told her that he was healing Oghren and Nathaniel.
Suddenly Nathaniel scooped her up and tucked her into his chest, making a break for the exit. Two men tackled him from behind, throwing Juliette out of his arms and into the floor. She leapt to her feet chasing after the men, grabbing a barmaid's tray on her way. Scampering onto one man's back she pounded his head over and over until he let go of Nathaniel. Juliette jumped down and ducked before an out of control punch landed on her and snatching up a meat fork from the floor stabbing the other man in the thigh. He screamed and swung at her smashing his fist into her cheek but let his grip on Nathaniel go.
Oghren bellowed and head butted the man slamming him into the ground.
"You sure know how to start a good fight Commander!" he smiled before attacking someone else.
Nathaniel recovered his feet and again grabbed her and this time succeeded in getting to the door.
"ANDERS!" Juliette yelled.
Anders looked up and waved at them. "We'll meet you back at the palace! I don't think he's done yet!"
Nathaniel dragged her out the door and hurried through the street until they reached the walkway.
Once they stopped they both sat down hard on a bench panting.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
"Nothing really landed on me I'm faster than I look. Did I see you stab a man with a fork?" Nathaniel asked.
Juliette giggled. "He let you go didn't he?" she asked with a smile. "Ouch! It hurts to smile" and she giggled again as she rubbed her cheek.
"What? Did that son of a bitch hit you?" Nathaniel reached for her chin and turned her to face the light.
Her cheek was slightly swollen and showing signs of turning purple. Anger flooded Nathaniel again.
"Stop. I've had much worse and Anders can fix it when he returns."
"I'm taking you back to your room." Nathaniel stood and took her hand. She could see he was very upset but knew there was little she could say. She stayed silent while she let him lead her back.
They reached the door to her outer chamber soon enough. He opened the door and she was surprised that he came in with her.
Nathaniel dropped her hand, closed the door and went straight to her bath returning with a basin and a towel.
"Sit down at the fireplace so I can see your cheek." He ordered.
"Nathaniel, it's fine really. Anders will get here soon enough." Juliette argued but she sank down into the thick carpet in front of the fireplace anyway.
Nathaniel sat on his knees in front of her and gently took her chin in his large hand. He carefully turned her cheek to the firelight and softly rubbed his thumb over the rising bruise.
"It's not fine. It's my fault that fool hit you." he raised the moistened cloth to her cheek.
"Nate it's not your fault. Thomas Hayden was always an utter waste of breath." she winced a bit "You cannot control other people. Thank you, by the way."
He didn't answer but washed her cheek again, his eyes never leaving hers.
His nearness was overwhelming her. "I washed you that night, after the wolf attack." Juliette blurted out. "Oh, I. I shouldn't have said that."
"Your cheek is turning red Jules." his hand lowered back to the basin. "I know you did."
"You do?" shock showing on her face, she bit her lip.
"Yes, and I recall you biting your lip like that when you washed me." Nathaniel leaned in so closely the blood began rushing in her ears.
"You were asleep."
"No. Thank the Maker, no I wasn't."
He gently and carefully kissed her hurt cheek and she turned her head just a hair bringing her lips just a breath from his. Juliette raised her hand and touched the base of his jaw running her hand up into his loose black hair.
"Nate?" she whispered. His mouth brushed across hers in the softest way, lightly kissing her then becoming more. She pressed herself into him and his tongue feathered across her lips and she opened her mouth to taste him. Her breath was heavy as he pulled her into his lap, Nathaniel's arms locking around her as the kissing deepened.
Juliette ran her hands across his chest and locked them behind his neck. She never wanted him to stop kissing her she wanted him to do more and moaned at the idea.
Nathaniel turned at his waist and lowered her onto the carpet, covering her. Instinct had her pull her knees along his sides and she could feel him hard against her thigh.
Suddenly, she was lying there alone.
"Maker!" Nathaniel was standing and backing up. "Jules." He was panting, hard. "We must stop….I will not be able to if we carry on much longer."
"Nate?" she sat up and ran her fingers across her mouth. They were swollen and warm from his kisses.
"Jules" Nathaniel paced. "I think we should talk."
"Talk?"Juliette got to her feet only to find her legs were wobbly. She leaned against a chair.
"Yes, talk. I will not take you on the carpet of a common room, no matter how desperately I want you."
"I, uh" she let out a rush of breath, nodding her head. "Right."
The both stood quietly breathing hard.
"Can we agree this is real between us?" Nathaniel asked after a few minutes.
Juliette nodded. "Yes, very much so."
"We will need to return to the Vigil before we can pursue this, yes?"
Juliette knew he was right and again nodded.
Nathaniel walked over to her and ran his hand down her uninjured cheek, reaching down to take her hand.
"Until we return home then." he held her hand for a moment. "You are more than anything I deserve, we will do this the right way, Jules, you and I." He caressed her face and kissed her forehead before leaving the room, shutting the door behind him.
Juliette turned to stare at the door, lost in what had just happened. After a few minutes her heart slowed and she settled down.
"Oh my." she said smiling."Fergus is going to be livid."