Notes: Warden Kya Surana

Thanks to Apollo Wings for the prompt, patience, and for working with me!

I really tried to keep the conversation shoe-oriented, but Zevran didn't like that idea. ;) Hopefully it's enjoyable though! Feel free to give me a prompt to fill (preferably something non-Awakenings...) and of course, reviews are loved and welcomed!

Prompt: Pre-Landsmeet picnic with Alistair, Leliana, Wynne, and Zevran. Topic of conversation: shoes.

"Are you sure… that's what she said?"

"Yes, ser. A picnic."

"That's right," Kya piped up. "A picnic." With a wave of her hand, she shooed the servant boy away and placed a hand on her hip, raising an eyebrow at Alistair's disapproving frown. "No matter how much you sit here and fret, it won't make the nobles get here any faster. I'm so tired of being locked up in this city," she complained, letting her arms drop lifelessly to her side, "so it's a really good idea to get some fresh air."

His frown lessened, but his eyes narrowed in distrust. "Who else is coming?"

"Wynne, of course. And Leliana." Turning away with a little skip, Kya called over her shoulder, "Zevran, too."

If it weren't so easy to get on Alistair's nerves, Kya was certain she would hate the templar. But, as it turned out, he was decent enough company and it was just so delightful to see him squirm uncomfortably. He was okay with Kya pushing him around—as long as she continued to be the Warden in charge—but it made Wynne furious. Kya was tired of having the senior enchanter follow her everywhere, but things had been much nicer ever since Zevran had shown up.

"Please," the elder mage sighed in exasperation, "do not refer to any part of my body in that way."

"But it's just so—"

"Zevran!" Kya snickered. "Leave poor Wynne alone." Under normal circumstances, she would've let her assassin go on until Wynne snapped and went into a tirade, but she had decided that their current patch of grass was the nicest they'd seen so far, and therefore would be the ideal location for their picnic. As she and Leliana spread the blanket across the grass, Zevran and Alistair began pulling the sandwiches out of the basket.

Kya flopped down onto the blanket, reaching up and pulling Zevran down with her. She snatched a sandwich away from him, carefully lifting one of the slices of bread up and tugging off the tomato from her sandwich. She held it up in the air awkwardly, not sure what to do with it, but Zevran reached forward and grabbed it with his teeth, grinning at Kya's surprised squeak.

Their antics prompted a disapproving huff from Wynne, but Leliana remarked that she found it adorable. Alistair remained silent, focused on his food.

"I simply don't understand why we would all be invited when it's clear that this picnic would be better suited to the two of them alone," Wynne grumbled.

"Is it wrong to delight in the company of beautiful women?" Zevran questioned innocently, quickly adding, "And don't think I've forgotten about you, Alistair."

"No fighting today," Kya interrupted through a mouthful of sandwich. "It's about relaxing. Let's talk about something everyone likes."

"Shoes!" Leliana sighed dreamily. "And not these nasty Ferelden things. Real shoes."

"There's nothing wrong with Ferelden shoes," Kya pouted.

Zevran chuckled, wrapping an arm around her waist. "I'm afraid I must disagree. There is a noticeable lack of quality among Ferelden shoes. Especially the boots."

"The boots are awful," the bard agreed solemnly, glancing down at her own feet. "Back in Orlais, we had beautiful shoes, not these ugly things that suffocate your feet."

Kya cocked her head, pursing her lips as she inspected her boots. They were rather comfortable, she thought, but she also knew they were a size or two too big, due to the fact that the boots were made for humans. "Well, I like them."

Zevran threw his head back and laughed, pulling Kya closer to him. "You, my dear, are Ferelden in every way."

"Is that good or bad?"

He gave her a sly grin. "Oh, most definitely good. You know what they say about how Fereldens keep warm during the long, cold winters…"

"No," Kya frowned. "I don't actually."

Alistair groaned. "Oh, I know this one. For years, the other boys in the monastery would tease me and say that it was fondue. Trust me, it's not."

At this, Leliana burst into a fit of giggles. "Really, Alistair? You believed that warm cheese would protect you against the Ferelden winters?"

"I didn't know!" he insisted.

Kya crossed her arms and tilted her head up to look at Zevran, having put together enough of the pieces to figure it out. "Very funny."

From the other side of the blanket, Alistair muttered, "Can we just go back to talking about shoes?"