A furious Josephine and fuming Cassandra waited for them at the castle. The fact that Tali was clearly not fully sober caused Josephine to sputter in frustration while Varic ducked a cuff aimed at him from Cassandra for taking out the Herald out by himself with no guards. Even Cullen spoke up about the need for safety. The only one present who was not trying to lecture the two was Leliana. She was strangely quiet and that made Varic nervous. Whenever the spy master got quiet, that meant she was plotting. Or she knew something that the other didn't. Varic looked closer at the spy master and saw she had an odd look in her hazel eyes. Did she know what had happened at the pool? Varic was sure he would have heard anyone watching them but the Nightingale was known for doing the impossible. She either knew or suspected some of what had happened. Varic was not about to read what she thought on her face. He gave up and focused on appeasing the angry seeker and ambassador. He talked quickly, trying to hush a giggling Herald then finally gave up and took his scolding. The result was the Herald being whisked off to eat and be put to bed while a shame faced Varic slinked back to his room, avoiding as many people as possible.
He tried to go to bed but the blood that Tali had ignited with her carefree sensuality would not calm. He had not bedded many people in his life. The great love of his life had been taken away early and he had mostly forgot the pleasures of a female touch simply out of a lack of interest. People always thought him a carless charmer but in reality, he cared deeply for those around him. He took care never to hurt a woman by stringing her along for such a base reason. The result was a few scattered flings but mostly him sleeping alone. He spent an hour tossing and turning. He thoughts dwelled on the way that the seeker had looked when she scolded him. He loved to see her when she was feisty. Her face flushed and she tried to glower over him till he had to resist the urge to laugh. He groaned out loud as he realized where his thoughts were heading. If he could not sleep, he would drink and lose himself in good company and that meant one thing: Bull's tavern. He dressed quickly and headed out.
When he got there he was surprised at how many of the Chargers were still there and mostly sober. Then he glanced at the sky and realized it was barley past moonrise, early yet for people to be passing out. Krem waved him over and the inn keeper immediately came over with his normal ale but Varic waved it away. "Whiskey tonight please" he informed the keeper.
"Shit dwarf, what got into you today? You never drink anything stronger than ale." Krem waved his own cup to emphasize the point.
"None of your business Chesty" the dwarf informed Krem as he took a deep drink of the whiskey the inn keeper brought over. He sighed as the fire licked down his throat as it matched the fire in his blood.
"Got a woman on your mind Varic?" Iron Bull jumped into the conversation, sitting across from them.
It always unnerved Varic just how much the big Qunari really saw and understood. Varic was good at reading people but Bull could give him a run for his money. "Back off Tiny, none of your dammed business" Varic growled.
But that had never stopped Bull and it sure as hell wasn't going to stop him tonight. "Now is that any way to treat a concerned friend?" Bull said with a play-actors air. "I simply want to make sure my dear friend is alright. If it's a woman's company you desire then I'm sure I can help you out. There are some good looking maids around here…..." he trailed off as the dwarf's laughter cut him off.
Varic's laugh was low and self-deprecating. What had gotten into him? He was no love struck lad drowning away his sorrows. He was a virile story teller that entertained the masses. "Thanks Bull, I needed that reminder. I'll be fine, just got a little taste of the wild side in my blood and was unable to shake it off." The dwarf drained the rest of his mug then called for ale.
Back in the house that belonged now to the Herald of Andraste, Tali tossed restlessly in her sleep. Her dreams were filled with heat and passion but when she woke, she could not remember them. It left her with a strangely hollow feeling in her chest. She chose to ignore it in favor of burying herself in her work. For the next few weeks, she threw herself into her new role as Herald. There were rosters to be reviewed, schedules to be done, and guard rotations to be set up. In an effort to make sure all those under her command (she was still barley used to the idea she even had a command) know that she was a person, not a figure head, she tried to get involved with everything from guard duty to kitchen duty. Some of it she simply could not do and did not try. But her people saw her effort and respected her for it. Cullen and Josephine were invaluable advisors and Leliana was always there with a quiet suggestion when Tali got confused. It was the spymaster's advice that she appreciated the most since they were of like minds. It was Leliana who kept Tali from screaming in frustration at all the expectations and responsibility that was thrust on her shoulders.
But even Leliana could not sooth all the pent up tension. So four weeks after she was named Herald, when they got word came from the Storm Coast that some of their men had been killed by a mercenary leader issuing a challenge to the Inquisition, Tali decided to respond in person. She chose to take Varic, Cassandra, and Iron Bull with her as her guard and set out. The trip there did not take too long, a week's hard riding and they sighted the coast. The riding took some of the itch out of Tali's blood but could not fully sooth it. She fought the constant urge to just jump on her horse and ride away but she was trapped here in her role. Varic's tales helped and Iron Bull was always there with a flask. She had need of both on this trip. Cassandra did not fully approve but was smart enough to keep her mouth shut.
When they got to the mercenary camp, Tali face the leader of the group, the Blades of Hassarian.
Tali chose not to fight with her magic at all, instead she used her daggers. It was a close fight but Tali won with only a few bruises and a slice across one arm. The Blades were impressed enough to offer to be spies for the Inquisition and swore fealty to Tali as their new leader. Tali gladly accepted their help, though Cassandra was a little warier of their offer. But she had to admit they were an asset to the Inquisition and they could use all the help they could get. What worried her was the Herald's behavior. Tali grew more and more restless as each day passed. This trip had helped but there was still an air of tension around her. Cassandra decided they all needed some rest and took them to the Crystal Waterfall once all the arrangements were made with the Blades.
The waterfall was heaven to Tali. She had dismissed all of their group but her three companions back to Haven and she reveled in the freedom it seemed to bring. Even Cassandra could not look too serious when lazing by the clear waters. For the first time since she had gotten that unwanted title, Tali felt like herself. No one around her to remind her that she represented the hopes of all of Thedas. No one around to ask for her advice or her opinion. No reports, no spies, just her and her friends enjoying themselves in the water. Cassandra had looked scandalized when Tali stripped down in front of the boys to go swimming. The look on her face had Tali and Varic rolling with laughter and Bull clutching at his sides. She had looked indignant and turned around to storm off before realizing how ridiculous she was being. She smiled sheepishly. While she did take off her armor to swim, she left her tunic on. Everyone else stripped to their smalls and jumped in.
"Maker, this feels divine!" Tali said as she came back up for air.
"Not quite as much fun as last time though" Varic drawled with a sideways look to Tali. She giggled and smacked him lightly for his temerity.
"What are you talking about?" Bull asked as he settled on a submerged rock.
"Not a word dwarf!" Tali called to Varic as he opened his mouth to respond. "Not a bloody word."
"Now you have peaked my interest as well" Cassandra threw in.
"Tis of no interest to you I'm sure" Tali said with a play-actors haughty air. Then she stuck her nose up in the air and dove back under the water.
Varic watched as she dipped and twirled in the pool, looking like a mermaid out of the tales. Her long lithe frame was now well muscled and marked by the scars of battle. The thought of those battles made him wince but the way Tali moved made him think of other things too, bedroom things. He glanced over at Cassandra and the image in his mind was not of the elf blood but of another woman. He was suddenly glad he had not stripped all the way and subtly tried to adjust himself without the others noticing.
But Iron Bull noticed and nearly laughed out loud. So the dwarf had a thing for the seeker. It was an interesting possibility. The problem was that Varic would hesitate to take action and Cassandra would have to be beaten over the head to know someone was flirting with her. He was not sure how to solve that problem. Then there was the Herald. The woman was too tightly wound up. She needed some kind of release. Before he noticed Varic's thing for the seeker, Bull might have tried to hookup the elfblood and the dwarf. That still might be a possibility but it would have to stay a secret from the seeker.
Cassandra was oblivious to all this and simply enjoyed the moment. She knew from past experience that moments like this were fleeting so she held onto the ones she was granted. She had not been happy at first about the Blades joining the Inquisition but the more she thought about it, the more ideas she had for their use. They could send them places soldiers could not go and it would help Leliana to have more agents. She was about to suggest these things to the Herald but then stopped herself. She wanted the Herald to have the night off. 'There is plenty of time to plan tomorrow. Let Tali have this evening to think of nothing but herself'. She knew the dwarf and the qunari would help Tali with that.
They had a lovely evening. They built up a bonfire and roasted fennic meat that Varic had hunted earlier. They played cards, sang songs, and teased Cassandra when she blushed at the tawdrier tunes. They swapped stories and drank toasts. When Tali finally fell into bed, she was more relaxed than she had been in a while. But she did not sleep long. Some noise from Bull's tent (she did not want to think about what) woke her up. When she did not fall right back to sleep, she decided to go for a night swim. Since no one else was around, she stripped completely and dove in.
Varic had been woken up by the same noises from Bull's tent. He swore to himself when he could not fall back asleep. But then he heard noises from the water and decided to investigate. What he found was Tali coming up for air, her glorious raven hair falling over her shoulders and sliding back to reveal the tempting curves of her breast's. He did not even pretend to himself anymore about what he was thinking when he watched her. His gaze hungrily drank in her bare moonlit skin. His blood was on fire and she was the right cup of cool water to slake his lust. He did not fool himself. What he felt for the woman was not love. He carefully avoided thinking about another raven haired woman sleeping a couple hundred yards away. But he could be happy with some fulfilled desire and he knew he could satisfy her. He was trying to decide how to approach Tali when she solved that problem for him.
She suddenly turned and looked him straight in the eyes. "So how long are you going stand there staring? Don't you want to come in?" She added in a sultry voice, arching her back invitingly.
Dam the woman was tempting. He undressed quickly and hoped in. He did not even try to hide his desire as she floated over closer to him. "So how long where you watching?" she asked archly.
"Long enough" he replied, eyeing her naked body.
"See anything you like?" she asked then gave a sexy gurgle as his blush crept up his neck. It felt good to be herself entirely. She did not have to hide anything from the dwarf in this moment because they were of the same mind. She slid her body along his and bent to whisper in his ear "So are you ready to show me that dwarven prowess yet?"
"As you wish my lady" his voice took on a husky tone as his hands clamped onto her bum. He flipped her till he was straddling her and buried his face in her neck, nipping and nibbling. His hands wandered up her body to fondle her breasts. She arched under him and let out a throaty groan. She buried her hands in his hair to tug him closer. When he entered her, she sighed with pleasure. She let him take control of the pace. It was nice to not be the one making all the decisions. He kept his promise, not stopping till she was a sated heap of satisfied female flesh. He carefully cleaned her then carried her back to her tent. They did not spot the crack in Bull's tent or the smug smile he wore. Varic laid Tali out on her bed, covering her up. Then he kissed her forehead before creeping back to his tent.
The morning dawned on a sleepy but happy Herald. She was more relaxed than she had been in a while. She even whistled as she packed up her tent. Cassandra stared at her as if the woman had grown a second head. What had gotten into the Herald? Was this the same woman who had jumped at every noise from the woods and set such a punishing pace the whole way here. She glanced at her other two companions. Varic was wearing a very satisfied smile and grinned when he met Tali's eyes. She grinned right back.
Iron Bull was saddling the horses and looking rather pleased with himself. She walked over to him. "Did something happen last night that I should know of?" she asked directly.
"Nothing that is cause for concern. The Herald simply found another way to blow off steam besides ridding the horses into the ground. I would expect she will be a little more relaxed for the ride back to Haven, Varic too." He laughed at her astonished face. "What? It's not serious. They aren't in love. It's just a great way to relax the body and let go of stress."
"It should be more" she muttered to herself with a dark look at the dwarf. "If he hurts her, Maker help me I will kill him."
"Don't worry seeker" Bull assured the glaring woman. "They are both too smart for that. It's just a passing bit of fun for them. They both know the rules. No one's heart is in any danger."
"Shouldn't it be more than that? How can you….with someone you don't love?" she asked him seriously.
Bull sighed at her nativity. "You surprise me sometimes Seeker. You are all tough and skilled with a sword. You know tactics and how to run a campaign. You know how to motivate and encourage. But when it comes to the heart and the flesh, you know so little."
Cassandra sniffed at his words and stalked away. She was no child. She knew about bedding a man but in all her books, the heart was always involved. She was smart enough to know her soldiers took tavern wenches to bed but surely that was different. Deciding she was tired of thinking about it, she focused on the ride home.
