Sorry about the update gap (and lack of PMs). Life, the universe and technical difficulties decided to get in the way, but it looks like things have been getting it the way, but it looks like things have improved.

Anyway, more story...

Basing this on wondering about some of Leliana's briefly mentioned in-game "wooing tips", as well as many disastrous experiences of self-teaching guitar and piano (and even very minor, equally disastrous experience with a lute).

Lessons

Morgana

The bottom of Soldier's Mount

Twang. A small, light thwack. "Ow!"

She frowns, more than a little concerned, and heads toward the noise.

An Orlesian-accented, very disapproving voice filters through the camp from the direction of Leliana's tent. "Non! You put your hand here - see, it is all in the wrist - " A laugh. "Dear, dear..."

"No, Lel, I don't think I'll ever see. Surely there's a better way..."

She steps round the neat canvas construction to be greeted by the sight of a very embarrassed Grey Warden staring despairingly at a lute, Leliana tutting next to him before saying, "Mastery of an instrument is very charming, Alistair. It requires more finesse than swinging a sword, and certainly appeals far more..."

Morgana silently disagrees; actually, the "sword swinging" is very appealing, but she files the thought away for another day.

"I do not 'swing a sword'! Years of training and discipline were not for - " He looks up and emits a very quiet "Oh", finally noticing her.

She thinks his ears are red, and the sight nearly makes her laugh - she decides that it would be unwise with him cringing visibly in front of her; instead, she says, "Never had you down as a musician."

"Ah - I..." He gestures gracelessly to his companion. "Blame Leliana. She roped me into this."

The former bard darts a sly look at her and stands with a smile, gesturing to the now-empty seat. "He wished to learn. And I am sure you would be a far better teacher than me."

No. She isn't going to...

Unfortunately, the slightly smug woman is already walking back to the main fire, still smiling, and she's left watching her fellow Warden warily.

He looks up at her with a sheepish grin, and waves a hand back in Leliana's direction. "Is there any bread...?"

A poor excuse. She sits next to him with a sigh. "If you wish to learn, I'll teach you. Perhaps as repayment for the 'sword swinging' lessons - ?"

He grins at her, then says, seeming to warm to the idea a little more, "I suppose I could try."

She nods. "Well, let's see what you have so far..."

She winces at the discordant ring of strings, and actually has to ask him what he's trying to play, a fact which embarrasses them both beyond belief.

"Ah," she says. "Here." Another, still discordant, and she exhales. "No, here."

"I did say I was useless..." he begins, swiftly silenced as she walks round him, her hands settling over his own at different points on the strings, showing him the precise right places - the angle is awkward, but it'll suffice. "The... the third, there." She shifts closer, leaning over his shoulder, and finds herself, once again, very aware of him; the warmth of his presence is both tense and soothing, somehow, and she... enjoys it.

Another ringing twang, this time somewhere approximating tuneful. She smiles and looks at him, their eyes meeting. "Aha. You show promise already."

He gives her a wide grin, raising an eyebrow. "You're a terrible liar."

They both seem to realize each other's proximity at the same time, the smile fading from his face, and he seems far away...

She swallows, remembering the offers of the desire demon, but this is him; her eyes flicker to his mouth, andshe can't help wondering how much closer she would need to be, to simply lean down and find his lips with her own...

She coughs, looking away, the both of them very red, and stands. "Well. It looks like you could... make progress. If you wanted to."

He looks at the ground, muttering something that sounds like, "I am never listening to that woman again. Ever." He removes the lute, leaning it against a tree, and stands, brushing himself off. "I should probably stick to swords. A lot less danger of death."

As they walk back to the fire together, she shakes her head, holding back a laugh. "You'll learn. If only you could have heard my first version of 'Little Langdon's Lady'..."

He isn't so subtle, letting out a small snort. "I heard it a few times down in Redcliffe. It can't have been worse than the stable boys'."

"You would be surprised," she says warningly. "In the Tower, there was another version. With..." A pause. "Fireballs," she finishes, quietly and reluctantly. "And winged sheep."

A small, slightly disbelieving silence, then, "Now this I have to hear..."