Glancing from the floor board up she gazed to Anders as he spoke her name. A small crack in her lips turned to a brighter smile as she looked to him. As she was asked why she was here she shrugged her shoulders. Not in not knowing but more so of not wanting to speak of why she was here. At least just yet. Her attention went to the door as he opened it more to her to enter. And with a quick push off the frame of the door she stepped inside.
Leliana reached up as she began scratching at the nape of her neck as she glanced back from the corner of her eye. She waited until she heard the door made a close. As a small breath escaped her lips, rusting the edges of her bangs as she tried to find her words. She stopped in her tracks as she then shifted around, now facing Anders. "I wanted to say I'm sorry." She admitted sheepishly. Her hands clasped in front of her as she took a few steps back. Her hues stayed to herself, fixated upon her hands as she fidgeted upon them.
"I guess I let my emotions get the best of me?" She said, though it was more of a question. Or so she thought. "I also came here… Hoping we could keep each other company… Maybe to keep the mind off of what happened downstairs, what's down there and what's going on below us." She shook her head in attempt to shake the thoughts. Which clearly wouldn't help the least. But she had to try something otherwise it was going to drive her crazy.
In a slow pace, Leliana had made her way to Anders, her arm extending out as her palm rested against his chest while her fingers began to outline his chest as she parted her lips. "I guess I'm also hoping you still trust me?" Her hues traveled up to look to his in a apologetic way. "I mean what I did back there was kind of crazy… I could of gotten us both hurt… Err. Well mostly me. I doubt he would of took out on you."
He looked down at her with sincerity, seeing the emotion reflecting back into his eyes at the given moment. Anders knew that she meant her apology ; at least, which would have been enough for him. The only main reason why Anders had even spoke up when he did was to prevent any fighting at the time, anyway. Because; of course, he didn't want to see the slave in any pain, but he would have rather had Leliana and Anna protected first.
"I always do find myself around batty women; but all's well that ends well, right?" Anders started to joke and his eyes trailed away towards the chair. "Anyhow, I doubt anything here in these lands would have prepared us for the true life of a Magister of the Court. I should have read up a bit more on it, I suppose. So, that is my apology in return."
He reached up, taking Leliana's hand in his and started to guide her towards the set of table of and chairs in order to sit down. After helping her to her seat, the mage then moved towards his chair and started to sit down. Anders knew, she was probably wondering what they were to each other after all that happened so quickly. However, there wasn't much Anders could answer to in full confidence.
"It may not be quick for them to grasp, but it is for me. I'm from the Anderfels and spent some of my fondest memories alongside the Warden. You're clearly Orlesian, but perhaps some of your fondest memories alongside the Warden as well… And the Warden was born and raised in Ferelden." He spoke out loud while trying to really think as he continued to explain. His smile was quick to return and remain more assuring.
"So then, our common ground is the fact that we were brought from different lands. Well, that of course; but also that we're friends to the Hero of Ferelden, who happens to also be a Grey Warden…." He concluded proudly " and no friend of the Grey Wardens would ever seek out to shun the other person who is also…. At least not while they are being seen."
"Batty?" She questioned arching her brow. "You're lucky we're friends… You mage you." She teased right back sticking her tongue out just slightly in her taunt. She looked to her hand that was grasped from his chest and lead to a chair. She sat down, crossing her bare slender legs as she began tracing her fingers along her thighs. She nodded to every word he said. They did have a few things in common. But still they were so different. Him a mage, her a use to be chantry girl. So she could see why so many would look at them as an unlikely friendship.
She then began recalling the moments with the Warden. Leaning back in her chair as she rested her back, her eyelids closed shielding her emerald hues as she closed them in attempt to go deeper into her memory banks. A small chuckle passed through her lips as she reopened them and she shifted her gaze to Anders.
"I think the funnest time was searching for the sacred ashes." Her eyes lit up like a Christmas tree as she spoke of the urn. "So many people looked for them. And us! We found them." She spoke proudly as she stood up to her feet in her excitement, and took a few steps towards Anders. She hesitated at first but eventually she built up the courage as she sat herself on his lap once again crossing her legs as she sat on him.
Her mind then went to the least funnest of days spent with the Warden. The fade. How she hated that place. She stared to the ground for a moment, then eventually allowed her orbs to shift upward to glance up into his own. A small smile played across her lips as she reached out and playfully tapped on the edge of his nose with her finger. "What was your funniest and least part of traveling with the Warden?" She questioned curiously. "My least favorite was the fade. I… Hated that place. I feel bad for you mages having to endure such a place."
He paused for the moment after listening to her and then shrugged his shoulders a bit; finding the sarcasm slightly run dry. "Oh, it's not so bad. Justice, for one, happens to see it as his home. I guess that makes me a bit of a lucky exception."
Anders leaned back in his chair a little to give Leliana more room to be comfortable in his lap; showing that he hadn't seemed to mind. He had found himself slowly being more at ease around her in return. On the thought, Anders had decided it may just have had to do with himself being around so many others with colorful past that he gradually becomes accustomed to them quickly.
"A mage's trips are actually few, and a Grey Warden's I'd believe to be even less. Plus, I don't have much trouble from other demons quite as much." He explained and then looked back up towards the ceiling in thought. "I think… The funniest moment was during the time our Warden tried to teach Justice about picking up women. Actually, I think Oghren was doing more of the teaching, but it wasn't the proper kind."
He laughed a little and shook his head. "A drunken woman had her eyes out for Justice at the time; surely it was the beer. The whole time Oghren was trying to push for him to go home with her, but Justice ignored the girl… I don't think I ever had any moments that were displeasing during our stay together; just the night when the darkspawn came."
Shifting her posture she began to wrap her arms around his neck as she wandered her fingers into the nape of his neck, making small circular motions. She tilted her head to the side at his words, as she parted her lips. "What was it like in Anderfels?" She asked curiously. She had heard stories but venturing to that part she had never found herself. Sadly... "What kind of little boy mage were you like growing up." She teased poking at his back.
Blinking a few times Leliana sat there a questionable look smeared across her features. She wished she could have went with the Warden when he went off. Doing other business as he did. Meeting all the people as he did. It was one thing she always enjoyed was learning more of places, besides the place she resided in. "Oghren was something else." She stated her hues drifting away as she spoke of the dwarf. "Nasty little man he is. But a funny one at that." She added with a chuckle. "He always use to ask what us sisters wore under our robes... So embarrassing. Cause I actually didn't catch onto it at first since he was trying to be so sly at it."
She shook her head as she glanced to Anders, and with a quick and soft push she stood to her feet again. She reached out then, grasping onto his hand with her bare ones and began to tug on him in attempt to have him stand. "Come on." She pleaded softly as she leaned over a wide childish smile formed upon her pink lips. If he were to give in, she would lead him to his bed. And eventually lead him onto the bed, laying or sitting. She knew he said earlier she didn't have to repay him when they made their deal. But they were hear and she wanted to after all.
Leliana crawled onto the empty bed, and sat. Waiting patiently she patted the empty spot next to her. "You need to release." She finally stated, but after she said it she knew it probably weren't the best words to use. "Err... Just get over here?" She asked more than commanded, as she felt a small beaming heat hit her cheekbones filling them with a red hint.
"Oh, you don't want to know all of that…" Anders laughed towards her question of him and looked away.
He listened to her speak of Oghren; and knew from her words that her judgment of him wasn't too far off from his own. Oghren had his faults and strange habits, but the important thing was that he was loyal and honest. Sometimes, he was brutally honest and where his street's smarts were high, his naivety was higher in others.
The tugging of his hand had somewhat pulled Anders out of his memories when he looked towards Leliana, who was by then standing again. He smiled a bit reluctant after trying to be the proper gentleman again. Of course all clarity from that flew out the window when she gave her next invitation to him. Anders cocked an eyebrow up along with his following grin at her.
"Were all Sisters as much of a tease as you?" He jested but gave in to the standing and walking towards the bed to sit down where he was instructed. "Alright… As long as you don't plan to rape me again, I guess it will be safe."
She knew her words probably threw him off. A bit, but she couldn't take back what she had already blurted out. Maybe Oghrens tendencies were rubbing off on her. Not thinking before speaking that was.
As the word rape filled her ears she couldn't help but chuckle under her breath as she grasped him by the shoulders and slowly scooted herself closer to his back now straddling the back of him. "I didn't hear any complaints out of you that night." She protested in a slight tease as she leaned in, her chin softly pressed against his shoulder. She took a moment to herself, closing her eyes as she found herself staying there at least for a moment before sitting up straight once more.
"Now this night I don't think we have to worry about either of us getting out of hand. Neither of us drank so much that will get us in such trouble." She paused as she slowly took the tip of her fingers to softly dance around his shoulders. "But I need your shirt off." She added a small smirk played across her lips as she let her hands travel down to the edges of his shirt to slowly raise his clothing up and off him and toss it aside if he allowed her. "Now mister mage man… I believe you need to lay up there at the head of the bed on your tummy and let these magic finger of mine do their work." She finished with a point of her index finger towards the plush pillows.
Anders had lifted his arms up, giving in to the tugging. He knew by then Leliana seemed stubborn on returning his favor quickly. He couldn't help but to chuckle some towards her words, and then moved towards laying down.
"Uh-huh. I'll just have to stay awake longer than you this time." He retorted though, reframed from bantering any further. After all, he figured she would have pushed him out of the bed by then.
His mind had went back towards the Anderfels; while trying to think of something to keep his mind off of other current worries. Things like 'why hasn't Justice been active' and 'how long were the others going to be down in the basement' were still very fresh on his mind. Such thoughts were buried under the memories of cold slush and snow; and the smell of his mother's apple pies. She made the best.
"The climate in the Anderfels was generally cooler than Ferelden, from what I remember." He started to say eventually. "We didn't have snow year around, …but a winter in the southern lands would be a paradise compared to what we had up north. My family was of the few who were proud to stay and rebuild after the wars."
"I doubt you can stay up longer than me." She threw back in a teasing tone.
Leliana's hues followed Anders as he made his way to lay on the bed. Once she saw he was settled she finally crawled over to him and sat next him at first. She overlooked his body. Taking in every little tiny detail, eventually she let her eyes stop at the one scar that was prominent than any other. Instead of asking about it figuring is was best not too. Since there were some scars she never wished to speak of, she gently started working at his lower back, using her thumbs to press against the outer of his spine column, slowly working her way up. She continued this, applying more pressure the next time round as she listened to him speak of Anderfels.
Swinging a leg over, she now sat herself over him. Straddling his rump and hips. She shifted her head as if to swing some of her stray hairs out of her way as she worked on him. "Were you an only child?" She questioned curiously. Pressing her palms against each side of his back, she slid her hands up until her hands wrapped around his shoulders. Most likely the most tense area of all due to stress. "Have you ever thought of going back…" She paused, as she allowed her fingers to caresses into his shoulder muscles. "Back to Anderfels? It sounds wonderful there, and your parents… Don't they miss you? At times I wish to go back to Orlasis. But… There's too many memories locked away that I rather not reopen that jar of worms I suppose."
He closed his eyes to the feeling of her hands against his back. "I was an only child, from what I remember. My mother was a sweet woman and my father was the proud individual. However, parents are funny when it comes to mage-children. Once a child starts to show magic, the law of the land demands to have them turned in to the Chantry. I was no exception to this. I remember a small church mouse, probably no bigger than the size of my thumb, knocking down a rake. The whole commotion scared me and before I knew it, the barn was on fire. My father was nailing shoes on our horse nearby and he saw the fire shooting from my hands. He was afraid of me ever since."
He took in the moment to sigh and stretched some against the pressure added to his back. It felt good; emitting small moans from him and leading him to sink deeper into the mattress. The more that he thought about it, the more he was certain that it would have happened to him eventually anyway. Magic is controlled by emotions and emotions are uncontrollable in a child. So it was better to have set a barn on fire rather than a person.
"I doubt my parents would ever want to see me again, so I wouldn't have much of a reason to go back." He finally admitted and then tilted his head some to one side. "What about your family? Anything close of the same story?"
Leliana bit on her lower lip as he told his childhood story to her. All she could think of was how frightened he must have been. Just a child to show such powers and then in a flat second being taken away from everything he knew and the people that he loved and loved him… Gone. A sigh escaped her slightly pursed lips as she shook her head left to right in a small saddened way. "I'm sorry." She spoke out softly before parting her lips again. "I bet it was pretty frightening." She added as she began scooting down to allow herself to now work more so on his hips region.
She blinked a few times as she was asked next about herself. If she had anything in comparison to his story. She chuckled at the thought and shook her head in a short answer of a no. "Nah. Nothing as bad as being taken away from your parents I guess." She started to say in a soft tone as she rested her palms back to his shoulders and began massaging on his upper arms and down. "My mother died when I was very young… Than a lady who hired my mother before her death took me in, she was like my second mother. She was… Practically my everything and then she came down with some illness that as well took her life." Shrugging her shoulders she looked up to the ceiling. "Then Marjolaine found me… And well you know that story. Or enough that needs to be known." With a short pause again she looked down, again sighing. "I guess I just have shitty luck, seems as if everyone I care for leaves or well something happens."
"It's just life… But whatever challenge you survive from molds you into what you are now, right? You're stronger and more prepared." Anders replied, but had still frowned to the thought of how her past troubles had been.
He looked back over his shoulder after a while; feeling her hands still working over him. One brown eye had lifted back open towards her and it raised a slightly darker brow in return. "You don't have to keep going, you know. Not unless you're prepared for a happy ending involved."
Anders started to turn though; as his bluff being called was obviously shown. He reached for the corner of the bed and pulled back the blanket to snuggle under.
Leliana shrugged her shoulders as Anders spoke of her past experiences possibly making her stronger. They obviously had, because if Marjolaine hadn't forced her to leave than she wouldn't have left finding the Warden and becoming physically and emotionally stronger from their encounter. But she couldn't help but miss the good times she had. Even with Marjolaine.
The ends of her slender and long fingers halted as he spoke of a happy ending, she couldn't help but chuckle lightly as she reached up, curling her index to her thumb after reaching the back of his scalp she released, flicking him lightly on the back of his nape. She took a moment before swinging her leg over and off his side. Making her own way to lay on the plush bed with him.
Her hand never left his back as her fingertips softly slid up and down his spine in attempt to let him be in his relaxed state just a bit longer. After what seemed like a moment of silence of Anders drifting off into sleep she began humming to herself a small tune as her optics took in the details of his face. She looked away as she brought her hand to his shoulder letting out a sigh she moved closer to him and with a small whisper of parted lips a few words spilled out.
"I know I shouldn't…" But if he is asleep it's not even like he'll notice. She told herself, as convincing as she could in her own mind. As she laid there she began shifting her hips until she laid no more than an inch away from his face with her own. Her body felt as if it were becoming stiff, from either the thumping in her chest or the butterflies that fluttered in her stomach. But she fought them even with broken breathing she began to lean in, eyes coming to a close as her lips slightly puckered so her pouts could have made a soft contact with his.
She hoped he didn't wake, but part of her did, that she bravely kept her soft lips pressed to his a moment longer, until she was unsure if he was waking or not. To be safe she broke the kiss, reopening her hues to examine him with obviously a guilty would be smeared across her own face as she tried to look as innocent as she did before laying a kiss on him.
Anders had fallen asleep for some time now. Leliana's body was warm and comforting; easily to snuggle into. Anders was clearly the snuggling type too. He held her close until he couldn't consciously anymore. He hadn't felt her shift against him. Leliana's movements were soft and subtle. Though it was moments later, had he felt something tickling his lips; brushing the softness against him. He opened his eyes, looking back into Leliana's own –and much wider- ones. He wasn't certain if she had done what his mind had first believed, but he had to be certain.
"Leliana…" He said and gulped down a nervous building inside his throat. He reached up and placed his hand against her shoulder, almost as if to have held her back. "I tried to hold back… You've seen what I can do. You've seen what I am, but I'm still a man."
His eyes darted down some, feeling his worried expression stretch some when he looked back into her eyes. "You can't… You can't tease me like this, and expect me to resist forever."
He caught her… A blank stare came over her, and she began to avert her orbs from his as she felt the warmth filling her cheek bones. But as he spoke to her she couldn't help but feel a smile tugging at her lips forming into an even wider one with each passing second. It was either from the guilt of doing what she had done or she was being her usual self, embarrassed as she made the first move… Again.
Finally she looked to him as one hand reached over cupping the side of his jaw outlining the structure of it. The words she had said to him had passed through her mind. That she wanted not to be treated as a one-time thing, one night girl. But the more time that had passed between them the more it was harder for her to resist him as well. Leliana had wanted Anders in every way he would have allowed her. That she gave a shake of her head as she inched closer to him, seeing if he would back away or resist himself. With parting her lips she spoke two single words as her eyes held the want of him even if it was for a short time. "Don't resist…"
His eyes had seemed to sparkle against the moonlight reflecting into them. He barely had even recollected of what she had said, before understanding it fully. As if upon instantly after hearing Leliana's words, Anders's arm had lifted from her shoulder in order to touch her beautiful red hair. He leaned more forward into her embrace, which wasn't that far of a dive considering that Leliana had scooted closer to him once more.
He kissed her, but with certainly more passion than he thought he received. Anders wasn't completely certain as to why in his decision. Perhaps it had been because for once in a long time, he started to feel safe again, or maybe it was simply because he hadn't felt Justice taking up his presence upon him. It could have been both mixed with a touch of alcohol; or at least enough to liberate him from his broody behavior. Though, despite his booze-talking, he did mean everything he said.
Anders pulled back slowly, his eyes fluttering more to a close as he tilted his head to the opposite side and dove forward to return again. His kiss broke past Leliana's lips once more, as if with slightly more force. He took as much conditional love as he could give, and his need was great. His hand lowered more towards her back and over her arm as he started to hold her tightly against him. His lips crashed against hers and upon finally breaking the kiss at last, he was leaving slight feathered kisses back to her bottom lip. Panting for a breath, he lowered his head slightly; letting his eyes start to open in a partial manner.
Her body began to melt into his as their lips met. It felt as if the whole world stopped and if it did she didn't want it to end. Her arms wrapped ever so tightly around his waist as she took herself all into him. Her soft pearl like lips brushed against his as she found pleasure within. Parting her lips she began to slip her tongue out to then slide within his own mouth meeting his. A muffled moan pushed through her lips as she fought against his tongue. Her traveling hands reached up to the nape of his neck as they intertwined with his golden ashy locks. Her palms pressing, as if to bring him closer as she tangled her legs with his own.
After they had broken, small pants of desire had escaped her lips. She couldn't help but look down, biting onto her lower lip as she did. Again she felt the rush of heat filling her cheeks. She tried to shake it before looking back up to him. A nervous smile and soft giggle escaped her as her hands began to cup his face once more. "I really need to stop doing this." She admitted sheepishly. "I bet you'll stop allowing me in your room if I keep pursuing you the way I am."
Anders trailed his finger lightly in between Leliana's red tresses, and left a soft touch against the outlining of her ear as he listened to her. Hearing her giggles made him smile. He felt seduced by her again, though surely this time (as it was with so many others) there was a grand meaning to it. Anders enjoyed such a thought. After all, who didn't love and wish for that love returned? Anders guarded away from love; he felt it's sting when it was gone and then juggled it's penance when it returned. Denying Leliana of what was left of him; well by now, the mage could not fully determine if it would have been for the better or worse.
"It is… a little 'too-little-too-late' for that thought now. Don't you think?" He mused, smiling brighter. His head lifted back towards her, looking over her half-lit hues and sobering blush before turning his head back into the pillow. "I don't know whether it's because I am with you, or just because I am here…but for the first time in a long time, I am at peace… I would like to think it is the first reason and not the latter."
Anders closed his eyes and he relaxed, coddling his draped arm underneath Leliana to keep her close. "I never thought I could ever love someone this openly again. There are so many obstacles, you know. For what I have planned later, …I don't really expect to live… But in spite of that, …I… I want to at least try again. You've pulled that of me; fueling a fire that had been long-since dead."
The warmth of his fingers trailing across her ear had made her eyelids come to a slow fluttering close. She tilted her head just slightly in attempt to have his palm press against the side of her head, as she then reached up taking his hand with hers and laying a soft kiss on the inside of his bare hand. When he spoke she reopened her hues reveling her gaze to him. They held a bit of curiousness in them as well as spark of happiness as he spoke what he spoke.
"I guess you're right." She added to his first statement, as she leaned in placing a gentle kiss on his rough unshaven cheek and tucked her face into the side of his neck, she took an inhale taking in his aroma. One she tried so desperately to forget from the night they shared. She shook herself from her memorized state as she listened to his next set of words. She nodded for a moment as she parted her lips. "I hope it's the first one too. Because I know being with you has brought me a sense of security of my own."
She was taken aback for a moment, tilting her head up as she placed her chin softly upon his sternum. She blinked a few times as a small yet serious look had formed over her. "I won't let anyone hurt you." She replied. "I'll be damned if I'm going to lose another person I love." She shook her head as she felt her grip tighten around him. Her face reburied into his chest as to hide any form of tears emotions which fermented within her. "If we happen to do this. And we become more than what we are. Promise me one thing… That you won't leave?"
He glanced down towards her and reached up to stroke her hair soothingly. He wanted to believe in her words, but he couldn't; at least not entirely. He had been told and promised these things once before so it would naturally take time for him to adjust in believing in the statements of love again. Though her request shouldn't have came as surprising as it did to him, Anders was still paused with a moment in thought.
"Leliana, I can't promise that no more than you could promise anything similar to me about the future." He softly coaxed, "But know this, of what I have left to give, I am willing to give it to you; and no matter the cost, I will tear down anyone who claims I cannot do this."
She couldn't help take a large inhale, just to release it second later into a sigh. With eyelids closing, as she pressed her forehead to his chest as she nodded her cranium to him in a response. It was the best they could do for now. Reaching around she attempted to take his hand in hers. Intertwining her fingers with his as she brought his hand up to her lips placing a single kiss on the tip of every fingertip. Her hues came to be reveled once more as she gazed into his chocolate brown ones and she smiled. Her hand then released his own, grabbing the back of it as she placed his palm over her chest. As she did this she felt her own pulse rise within her. "When we met, I wouldn't of thought of us getting this close, but I'm glad we have... I do love you Anders."
Finally she leaned in again placing a tender kiss on his lips, her hand leaving his as she did to be placed on his jawline. Once her moist lips left his she opened her eyelids contemplating her next sentence. She bit down on her lower lip while her fingers found his chest, tracing invisible doodles upon it. "Can I sleep here tonight?" She asked, her orbs trailing up his chest and to meet his own optics. "I promise I won't be a blanket hoarder."
He smiled some, listening to her declaration; and wanted so much to have simply relished in the thought that it was true. Reveling in the thought more, his eyes had followed her upon the moment Leliana shifted her movements around him. "Do you really?"
It was a fool's question, or rather one from someone who had not been told of such for very long. Of course to love someone as empty as him, would have been like throwing a copper down an echoing well. The long awaited splash would have been greatly anticipated.
However, his question remained fleeting and purposely unanswered to be forgotten. Anders's eyes fluttered open to find Leliana kissing him once more. She had paused just inches away from him and started to give her request. This left a rather interesting cat-and-mouse game that left the mage in a mild fit for contentment. Leliana's touch across his chest left as much of a tease to him as the few inches away she held her lips back from him.
"You can take whatever you want; but if you a set foot off this bed, I'll have to lock you inside here with me." He pre-warned, finding his own tone grow rather sultry.
Quickly, he leaned towards her current escape and claimed her lips for his own once more. If she was to have played him, she would have done so well like an instrument finely tuned to any melody the bard had wished. It did bewilder even himself to find that he was in fact chasing after her graces from time to time. Though mostly, Leliana had sworn to be his; to give her love to him, and it was more than Anders could have expected to welcome. He cuddled her when his 'needy' kiss had ended. His arms wrapped more securely around her, and his head lifted to kiss her forehead before coddling her close like a pillow or cherished prize in his preparation for sleep.
It was only the remaining late hours to have passed when a light tapping came to their door. The first couple of wraps were quick and solid; but they were so fast that it only caused a slight grumble from Anders's sleeping form. Then the tapping came as a knocking, causing the mage to roll slightly from the bed, but not to awaken. Then the knocking came as a solid flat beat against the door. Anders rolled carefully out of the bed and looked himself over; making sure he was dressed this time before walking to the door.
Well, he wasn't fully dressed. He was at least still wearing his trousers. It was an odd thought for him, that this was the second time Leliana had crawled into bed with him and Anders ended up waking up from a barged awakening with no shirt. The first time, he wasn't dressed at all! At least for now, he was wearing pants.
He opened the door, still rubbing his eyes, and mildly giving one blushing maid-in-waiting a sight to see from his large pectoral muscles. Anders wasn't the strongest of the strong, but his broad shoulders and wide biceps did account for something to show if anything he was still athletic.
"I hear you…" He started to say between a loud yawn. "Is it breakfast time already?"
"Shh, shh." Melina quickly hushed with her finger pressed tightly against her worried lips. She paused, looking in both directions down the hall before looking back up at him in a pleading expression. "The masters are not yet awake... Please, don't wake them just now."
Anders blinked a moment and then covered his mouth to finish his yawn. It took him a brief pause to even calculate her request before looking back down to her again. "The masters…? Oh. How is Anna doing….? After her… you know…"
"Milady is not taking it well, Serrah. Not well, at all." Melina shook her head and frowned. "She asked me to relay a message to you. A slave beckons your presence, and I am to take you to him without the Master's knowledge."
"….Can I see Anna before this?" He asked and started to raise a brow in question.
"No, Serra. You cannot. She wished for you to not." Melina hesitated a little and glanced down in her explanation. "She has… changed. Like something died in her. She requested not to be seen that way…and in any case, she is sleeping now, so the answer is no."
Reluctantly, Anders sighed at the rushed explanations. He reacted like a kid being scolded or pre-warned against something he'd rather not listen to. Turning away, the mage looked back towards the bed once more. "Alright, alright… Just… Let me get dressed. I'll be out in a minute."