Anders looked back towards Leliana after she had hid closer towards his side. Of course there was a curious reaction from him, since he wasn't really expecting to have been used as a "safe" base. He couldn't have helped but to have teased a little. "Is the King trying to be bad again?"
"The Qunari seems beside itself with contemplation." Shale remarked, looking towards Sten, who at the moment was glancing from Alistair's rugged withdrawal and then towards Zevran who was in the process of helping a few other men break apart the podium. "Is this the same burial custom it is use to?"
"Quite the contrary… I was expecting more laughter and singing." Sten answered firmly but it was difficult from his tone to have been considered serious or sarcastic—as it always was.
"Are you blubbering again?" Nathaniel questioned, turning his head sharply towards Sten in return.
"No. I speak the truth. In Par Vollen, the honored dead are celebrated during their passing." Sten remarked in the same manner back, but soon turned his head to face the human beneath him. "We sing and dance… Sometimes, there is even a festival."
"Well this isn't Par Vollen." Nathaniel stated just as coldly as before and folded his arms. "That woman was not a qunari, and we don't have that kind of coin to back up that kind of drunken madness."
Sten sighed and hung his head. "You misunderstand. All I'm saying is that it is believed that the dead do not wish for us to remember them with sadness."
"He's right. I'm sure Wynne wouldn't want any of us to be upset; even on this day." Rhys added and turned towards Velnna and gave her a mild nod before taking her hand into his. "I thank you, Milady. You have been most kind to me."
He lightly kissed the elf's hand with a brief smile that still carried proudly. Velanna glanced away in a slight state of bashfulness. She was rarely ever shown such manners anymore when traveling among the Grey Wardens. She cleared her throat a little and stiffened her back some before beginning to move in helping him stand back up to his feet.
"Yes. Well… You seem to be alright now…" She spoke in light mumbles while giving her brief stutter a quick shake.
From the mid fumble that the two had, Sten had quietly moved towards keeping Velanna from possibly falling over once again. Of course, Rhys caught this; grinning from ear to ear, and couldn't help himself from continuing to speak.
"Well, that's very gallant of you, Sten." Rhys teased upon standing up. "Of course I wouldn't have minded the ever-strong Grey Warden falling to my side in return."
"Gallant?" Sten questioned while Velanna cleared her throat a little once more. She tried to rush back towards Nathaniel's side for the moment since he had continued to appear the strongest and closest person that she could trust.
"A fine gentleman; which is a rare breed in these times…." Rhys explained and looked around himself as he started to swat away the dust that was collected on his robes. "Back in your lands, do the Qunari treat women with the same courtesy; I wonder? What do Qunari women look like?"
Taken a-back by the questions, Sten glanced towards Shale, and then looked back at Rhys. Had he just not explained recently how the Qun operated, he would have probably tried to answer. Though now it just had seemed pointless to really go into any specifics. So, Sten's harsh look merely froze into place, but remained unmoving.
"It would be difficult to answer that—" Sten started to say before Rhys's sharp gasp of excitement interrupted him.
"I bet they are exquisite! Oh! That must be Par Vollen's biggest secret!" The Spirit Mage exclaimed, earning a groan from Sten in return.
Anders was glancing between the two and started to chuckle a bit at the annoyed glances Sten seemed to carry. He would have added to the chatter, but it seemed that this Rhys could handle his own conversations. Turning away, he began to follow in pursuit of Alistair's march away from the remaining isles of the funeral; and of course leading Leliana with him from under his shoulder.
Rhys looked towards the group as they began to each leave one after the other, but he was still content with speaking with Sten and continuing in his questions. "That's probably for the best, you know? I mean, if the rest of Thedas ever found out, they'd be flocking to your shores. And that wouldn't be good would it? Can't have strangers coming and taking away all of your women."
"You know, if you really wish to try your luck with a full-blooded qunari, you're welcomed to but I doubt you'd have your spleen still intact." Anders finally piped up in the hopes of sparing anymore talks about the Qun.
"You've seen them?" Rhys questioned curiously; still on his steady train of thought.
"I knew of someone… who has, yes." Anders paused a moment, trying to think of the correct answer to give and then looked away. "But I've only heard stores."
"So have I. Like how rough they are during… you know… but that's got to be just all fiction! Right?" Rhys questioned.
"Terrible." Sten answered quickly which started a brief uproar from Oghen in between them.
"Ah, I don't believe it. Not one word." Rhys shook his head proudly and laughed. "That's just got to be stuff said in order to keep the outsiders out. That sort of thing… But if it was true, I can see why you'd probably want to come here then. I mean all women everywhere are beautiful, they must be! So, then I can understand why you would come here to possibly look for a woman…or mate… You are into women, aren't you?"
"This endless chatter must be a mage trait…" Sten remarked bluntly under his breath.
"Well, I don't know." Rhys paused in Sten's more quiet words and glanced down.
"Constant prattle signifies a disquiet mind." Sten remarked again, ahead of him; once they had reached the bar. "It is no wonder that the White Spire fell."
Rhys blinked some at the insult—or something of what he thought was an insult. He wasn't too sure. So he chased after him in his mild moment of shock. "Hey!"
"He's always bad." Leliana commented back, but her eyes were more directed to the walking away King than that of Anders just to see if her words had reached his ear. When she saw he hadn't turned around a sigh feel from her lips and she began to pull out from behind Anders form. At least this way she could listen more closely to the conversation that began to arise between the ever growing group of people.
"I would have sung more Sten, as if I remember correctly you had enjoyed listening to me in camp. But I didn't want to sing so much I lost my voice." She admitted cheerfully with a slight tilt of her head after she nodded some. As she knew where Sten was coming from, she would have enjoyed it as well if there was more to the service than a few speeches and just her singing. She always thought ones passing deserved as much as all could give. But at least there were the gathering of people, and having a good time was all that had mattered in such a time. As Wynne would want it that way as Rhy's and others suggested.
In front of the bar, Alistair had given it little thought to look over his shoulder, but the rather withdraw of their voices from his pace away he was intrigued to look over his shoulder to see the group that surprisingly wasn't following him. Espically after he gave such a generous offer too. Which was odd for some of the people within that party. "Right…" He muttered under his breath as he pulled out his satchel and placed it on the bar's table for the bar keep to take whenever he pleased.
It hadn't taken long for such weary eyes to lock onto the sack and reach out for the pouch and tuck it away to his belt-line. "What can I get you your Highness?"
"Drinks for my friends and I over there… Preferably Ale." He replied back with a point over his shoulder towards the group which was obviously still conversing and being lost within conversation. One in which brought a groaning sigh to come forth as he grasped onto his single mug the man had readied for him with haste.
Leliana smiled at the noticeable chuckle that had emitted from Anders lips, since seeing him having a good time along side her even amoung all these people brought her a happiness that she didn't believe was possible. As she never expected Anders to even come out of his hiding through this whole ceremony. Though her glance had shifted once his led brought her to a slow walk beside him, and after she felt the draping of his arm across her shoulders, her arm had rested against his back as her hand cupped to his side.
Upon hearing Anders bringing up the Qun once more it had brought Leliana to shift her head up some towards Anders in a curious manner. She didn't say anything, as everyone else she had just heard tales and the best source of course would be a Qun. If they could pry it out of one. So saying what she had heard would have been of no use at such a time. "Maybe that's Alistair should marry a Qun then."
"A what?" Alistair had asked a bit curiously as his brow perked in such a mention.
"A Qun, then maybe you'll have some backbone on that throne finally." Leliana joked but before he could hopefully react Leliana had defended herself in a raise of her arms to stop him before he had said anything to snarky back.
Of course Alistair had to bite his tongue in such a time. But also in the time traveling with Leliana and Aragorn he was partly immune since the two had liked to pick on the Bastard King, as Aragorn enjoyed to call him. "Right, I don't think that would be approved by the people… I don't know how you put up with her Anders… Just a year with her traveling was enough for me. All that talking, I swear she never stops… Or does she?" He asked a bit suspiciously with a perk of his brow.
"Your singing is as wonderful now as it was years ago." Sten remarked to Leliana after hearing her.
"You see?" Rhys smirked and wagged his finger towards him. "There's that gallant trait again."
Of course this quickly removed the small smile that Sten had and he rolled his eyes in the attempt to ignore the other mage once again. Muttering under his breath at last when he thought the man wasn't listening. "Perhaps it is the annoyances of humans rubbing off on me…"
"I think I know what it means." Shale added in the agreement; ever the continued instigator.
Glancing from Leliana teasing Alistair and their conversation while the others had began to sit down, Anders had found himself more relaxed than before and he was laughing again. It was an odd feeling; considering that he knew for a fact that Nathaniel (under normal circumstances) would have had his head on a pike; Velanna would have had him frozen and shattered, and Anders really didn't want to even think of what Stroud would have done once he found him. Anders could only think in gratitude of this "Arch Mage Wynne" since he had only met her once in a brief passing. To have had so many people at such different odds set aside their differences nearly completely, was a rare accomplishment.
"Hm?" Anders started to question once Alistair's words had reached his ears. He smiled brightly and finally had lowered his arm from Leliana so that he could switch his hold of Baelfire into that particular arm instead. The boy was patting against his cheek and looking over his shoulder at the time. "Oh, I don't even notice one way or the other… I think it's my 'charm' that keeps the room quiet."
Though from the table Zevran had looked at his drink that was given into his hand and then back down at the menu that was on the table. He smiled brightly and stood up, waving the paper around in order to grasp the other's attention if it was possible.
"What's this? I'm drinking ale? No, that should not do!" The elf started to call once he reached the center of the table and rested the menu down on the wooden slab. "Hey, Chantry Boy. Fetch me one of these, won't you?"
Zevran's finger pointed towards an Orlesian phrase that was written near the bottom of the menu. While it wasn't really under the drink's special; it was more of the fact that it was actually on the menu that Zevran had obviously seemed to have gotten a risen interest out of it. The Orlesian phrase spelled out "ménage a trios" on the paper, and over the marking to where Zevran was pointing.
Rhys looked down at the phrase in a brief glimpse of shock—still. "… What kind of bar did we just wander into?"
"One that wishes to show patronages to show the Orlesian son dedication to half of his cultural roots, obviously." Zevran responded and nestled himself between Rhys and Shale.
"Let me see that." Oghren spoke as he walked towards the other side of the table, and leaned over to see the slip of paper. "What the sod is a… men-age-ey-trioees?"
"Definitely sounds Orlesian… Maybe some kind of cocktail?" Nathaniel asked curiously and looked up in question.
Rhys; being half Orlesian and knowing of what it meant, lowered his head in embarrassment rather quickly. "Maker's Breath… Why is that even on the menu?"
"Hey-Hey, don't knock it 'till you try it." Zevran urged onward with his bright grin still carrying high. Then he looked towards Nathaniel and Oghren with a confirmed grin. "Yes. It's a cocktail of sorts. You should try it."
"Do I look like a sissy to you?" Oghren questioned him quickly in a gruffly drunken voice. "Keep you 'cock' and your 'tails,' you sodding dirt farming nug humper."
"Suit yourself." Zevran practically cackled until he at last sank back into his chair contently into the thought of drinking his ale from then onward.
With Anders arm dropping from her shoulders, Leliana had begun to slip her arm from him as well and slowly step the nearest seat that hopefully had an empty one next to her. Thankfully it wasn't no more than a few feet too so she could easily still be within ears range of the conversation. Though a part of her was regretting what she heard after Anders prideful comment was made back towards Alistair had immediately brought a shimmering rush of a red hue to splash across her face. As she wasn't expecting Anders to go along with Alistair after all. It was a bit odd, but at least the two were getting along.
As for Alistair, a chuckle passed his lips. He said no more as a flinch if a small one came over the King as he was called such a nick-name so quickly by Zevran. After all it had been some time since he was called such a name. He almost had forgotten of such a time. "Must you hash out old names…" He whined a bit before glancing towards the elf in a suspicious manner. "As for the drink… I don't know how Aragorn dealt with all your different needs." He groaned as he picked up the menu himself and began examining the piece and the price difference, if it was a spendy drink. Even though he had the money he didn't want everyone else thinking they could upgrade to an even higher drink than Zevran if had gotten away with it. "Fine… Get what you like. Just let the barkeep know and I'll pay for the difference afterwards."
Leliana began to peer over to the men curiously as her brows perked up in a questionable manner once she had heard Rhy's ask what kind of bar they just happened to get themselves in caused her to even grasp a menu in hand and examine it for herself. It had been so long since she had come across such terms on a menu, but it had brought back memories which she would had rather avoided. Especially when Oghren spoke the few words of the 'believed' drink men-age-ey-trioees caused Leliana to chuckle under her breath before glancing over to Rhy's. If she knew what it was then so did he of course due to their lovely heritage.
"Orleasian's and their odd way of wording of things I suppose." Alistair added after Nathiel spoke his thoughts on the item on the menu.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Leliana questioned back towards Alistair. "Orlais just likes to keep things fancy is all."
"That's one way of putting it." Alistair muttered a bit under his breath as he trailed to the gathering table and set his drink down before sitting down himself.
Drifting her eyes from the King, Leliana had begun looking towards the rest of her former comrades. Seeing as how Oghren seemed enthralled with his drink she looked more towards Zevran, how much he had changed over the years. Just like Alistair… And by change she meant aged. A part of her wondered how much she had changed. Hopefully not as badly she hoped. Though there was one thing she knew that didn't change and that was how they were a bit a like in ways. It had brought her to think of her past and how it slightly mirrored Zevran's before he had joined them in the Wardens fight. It had made her wonder if the elf had even remembered such a conversation between them or even if he returned to his previous life when he left the Warden's company… Not to the Crow's of course but elsewhere.
"So Zevran… Tell me what have you've been up to these past few years. I've come across just about everyone but you in such a long time… Well most besides Sten and Shale as well… I need to hear what you've all been up to. Though I believe I already heard you were traveling with Wynne right Shale?" She added with a glance towards the Qunari and Golum before directing her gaze back to the elven man again.
"Ah, I only wish I could have went too. Our marvelous maiden wouldn't have me at her side when she went to Orlais." Zevran mused at the thought and then raised his mug into the air. "A toast to the most supple woman to ever walk the face of Thedas!"
Meanwhile from the other side of the room, Rhys's eyes had widened nearly mortified from the chosen words. He turned away, he choked on the liquid and turned his head away out of politeness. Though, at that moment, Velanna blinked some and then looked towards Zevran with a raised eyebrow.
"She was his mother, you know." She stated cautiously to catch Zevran's attention.
"Yes, I know. And still a nurturing woman. Why is this, such a shock still?" Zevran questioned with his grin still broadened and looking around to the others; almost as though he had no idea why his choice of words would have been considered slightly inappropriate.
Rhys waved down one of the bar wenches and pointed at his mug weakly, "Excuse, Miss? What drink is this?"
"Regular tapped ale, Ser." The woman replied in a flat tone.
"Fascinating! I'll have another of it, please, madam." Rhys exclaimed in the mixture of trying to hide his quick embarrassment from Zevran's words.
The woman rolled her eyes some and walked back towards the counter in order to fix him his next drink. Though for the moment, Zevran turned his attention back to Leliana in order to continue his conversation.
"Back to what I was saying; I spent a grand deal of my time focusing on the elven slave trade issues." He continued and hunched his shoulders forward as if he was revealing top –secret information. Though, this was truly only because he wanted to be more comfortable from where he was sitting without being in the way of those that continued to travel. "I took to the sea, to give myself a break from the Crows, and to still do some good. I would have stayed there longer but my dear, dear Isabela found herself a new bunkmate; one who was not too keen on sharing bunks."
"This was not the kind of conversation I thought would be spoke of during the Arch Mage's funeral…" Nathaniel remarked while casting Rhys's shivered state a look of mild sympathy.
"What were you expecting?" Sten asked him from the other side of the table.
"Well not the Mourner's March, but certainly not the Bedtime Stories of an Antivan Crow either." Nathaniel remarked in a dry wit in between his stretch.
"Should I continue? I have plenty more." Zevran teased him back quickly.
"Someone put a muzzle on him…" Nathaniel groaned, causing Zevran only to cackle more.
"The Elder Mage had her last adventure with her son, a Templar Captain of Orlais, a Cranky Mage, and myself." Shale announced to hopefully dull away confusion. "The mission was top secret, but the Chantry Sister already know of most of this."
Leliana wished she could have blocked such words out when Zevran spoke them. Everyone knew he was one to compliment women, old or young. But still to hear it was still something many within this room rather not have. Since that woman was a highly looked upon person. "Be careful you might make our poor Rhy's over there run away." She suggested in a teasing tone, but when she had looked over to Rhy's the look on his face had shown as if her words might have been far too true. Chuckling at this Leliana shook her head some and shifted her gaze downwards for the meantime as such a conversation was brought up.
Alistair though had continued to listen, and this was one thing he regretted. "Is there ever a time you don't speak about women and their attributes?" Alistair had asked towards the elf. "Though I'm sure Wynne is getting a kick of it right now if she could hear you right now with how uncomfortable you're making her son right now."
After hearing Zevran's words though it had peaked Leliana's attention towards the elf and as well brought the rouge to prop an arm on the table as she rested her chin into the palm of her hand. As she had listened a slight smile pulled to her lips since it was nice to hear Zevran had slightly changed his ways, at least with the Crows. Who knew, maybe if it wasn't for Aragorn saving him after he attempted to slay him he probably would still be running with the Crows.
"I'm glad to hear you are doing some good in your life Zevran." She responded back with a smile. Her smile was shortened through when the conversation shifted towards Isabela and her new bunkmate. It was so surprise as the woman was always busier than most. One had to be if they were to lead the life she had on the Sea.
Leliana didn't reply to this instead her attention shifted to Nathaniel who spoke next ."Well its better than having a breakdown and crying right?" She asked towards the man as a raise of her brows contributed towards Zevran's offer of speaking of many more tales.
She began to part her lips, but when she attempted to speak the echoing voice of Shale's reached Leliana's ears and brought her to a pause. "Ah you got to love the luxury of secrets. But you know you guys really need to stop calling me a Chantry Sister… It's so odd now since it's been so long since I have been in the cloister." She admitted sheepishly as her gaze had shifted downward then back to Zevran. "You know I've always been intrigued by your markings they remind me of a time in Orlais since all this talk of it had made me remember of the times we use to paint our faces. Do they mean anything to you… These symbols?"
"If it does not wish to be called Chantry Sister, then what else can I personify it with other than that title? I don't know much of it since we last departed…" Shale explained within a shrug after Leliana's request.
"Oh, don't let her get so defensive on you." Anders scoffed with a light wave of his hand and lifted his mug for a drink. "I think it's just fine—"
"In the bedroom!" Oghren started to laugh and reached over to elbow Alistair a little. He started to laugh so hard that he nearly fell out from his chair. "You shoulda heard the mess that went on in Orzamar that time—bwahahahah!"
"Some little dwarves shouldn't be so nosey." Anders cleared his throat a little and hid his face behind another long chug of ale to drink. He knew if he hadn't hid long enough, the creeping blush to his cheeks would have been shown.
"Some do… Some symbols are sacred to the Crows." Zevran answered quickly to the quick topic change once it reached his ears. He shook his head a little in a minor refusal afterwards. "Though I'm not permitted to speak of what they mean."
"Not permitted? Not even after all this time?" Nathaniel questioned after putting down his tankard for the moment. He gave Zevran a stand-offish look and rolled his eyes afterwards. "Hard to believe after all this time you're still whipped by them."
"Being whipped is not always such a bad thing, you know. Cold leather can feel exhilarating against the skin!" Zevran quickly remarked with a sly chuckle.
Of course, Anders had found himself having to keep his jaw from dropping at how quick this elf seemed to… well, it was no secret the man was perverted beyond all reason… He could only glance up at the ceiling after a mild shake of his head and rolled his eyes back towards the two afterwards.
"Okay. How did we jump from tattoos to bondage?" The blonde mage asked.
"What are you trying to do? Edge him on?" Velanna practically hissed at him from between sips; which caused Anders to shrink away in his chair.
"Heh-heh… Sorry." Anders winced and then gave a light shrug.
"Bondage and tattoos always go hand-in-hand, if you must know… Now, other tattoos that I have, I can talk about. Those are to accentuate the lines of the body." Zevran retorted rather huskily and and lightly dragged his finger across the markings on his face first. Afterwards, he traveled his hand more teasingly down towards his chest and continued in his explanation. "Its curves and musculature, you see… It is rather hard to explain with armor and clothing on, though."
Just when Leliana was just starting to forget the whole ordeal with Oghren walking in on them it was replayed back in her mind. All she could manage was a soft laughter as her gaze had shifted towards Anders slightly before she looked further down to her lap to hide her oncoming blush.
"I think you should have frozen him solid that day we left maybe he'd still be stuck and not being his old pevrty pester self." She said towards Anders. Even if it wasn't possible it was still a fantasy she wished that could become a reality.
"I don't see what the fuss is all about… After all everyone could hear you in camp when you and Aragorn were involved and I can't count how many times we all walked in on you both." Alistair suggested to lighten to mood, though a part of him truly knew it would do the opposite and maybe this is why he was saying such words.
"You're lucky you're a King and have your fancy guards to protect you there buddy." Leliana sniped back. "And that Zevran's changing the subject." She added in between the elf's spoken sentences as she turned her attention back towards the elf. After all she had asked about his markings and it wouldn't be right not to listen after she asked.
Though a pout protruded from her lower lip when he mentioned the Crows and not being able to speak of them. How she got tired of hearing that over and over again when they were traveling together only to hear it again shortly after they reunited. "Darn Crows ruin all the fun." Her gaze shifted from Zevran and towards Nathaniel when his words were spoken. She was a bit stunned by his harsh nature that it had brought her to look back to Zevran to see what his response would consist of. And to no surprise it was as witty as he'd ever been before all those years ago.
"Well bondage is always a good rise to a conversation." Leliana pointed out with a nod of her head towards Anders as she gave a wink of her eye.
Through the corner of her eye she saw Zevran and his dragging of his finger across his face and chest. This of course brought the rouge to curiously shift her attention back to the elf. Which in the long run probably wouldn't have been her best idea and she was going to regret asking any more questions of Zevran since the conversation had arose to a degree she wasn't expecting. But maybe, just maybe he had went to his limit… "But I don't recall seeing many markings on your body?" Leliana stated back towards the elf as she looked to the few areas reveled to her. His arms, neck, and what legs of course when they were traveling she didn't remember seeing any markings there either.
"Ah, no… Of course not." Zevran noted and leaned back into his chair proudly. He rested his hands back against the table and crossed his fingers over one another as he continued. "They're not in the places one would easily see. But I can show you, if you wish."
"Mm. No." Anders quickly answered for Leliana after darting his eyes between Zevran and Leliana as they were continuing to have this conversation.
Zevran blinked some and looked from Leliana and then towards Anders in return. "Is this a problem?"
"Don't think I don't remember you from trying a similar pass at Hawke." Anders reminded him and pointed his finger down at him.
Zevran laughed some and shrugged with a slight tilt to his head. "Aren't you the ferocious lion, then! I'll stay clear of your pride… But it is only markings, my friend, you are free to join—"
"There will be no joining—the word even sounds bad." Anders spoke with a light shiver and returned back to his drink quickly.
Anders clearly didn't want to continue on any topics of Leliana's past lovers anymore than he wanted to hear about Zevran trying to continue his flirtatious nature over Leliana. He was content with drinking his ale for the moment and almost blending in with the shadows if he could.
Leliana began to part her lips, but the poor woman hadn't even gotten an inch for them to separate before Anders answered for her. This brought the rouge to take her gaze over to the mage as she gave off a slight smile to his protective nature, or jealously. Whomever liked to look at it and call it what it was. But just seeing his darting of eyes to each of them Leliana had raised her arms up some in a manner to show she'd stop talking, at least about this.
"Look at who's being the bold and feisty one now that he's out in the open." Alistair spoke out towards the mage as he brought up his mug to his lips, taking a drink of the darkened fluids. "If he's the lion then does that make our precious Leliana the lamb?"
"No, no, no… I have too much of a blemished history to be an innocent helpless lamb." Leliana quickly corrected with a wag of her finger towards the Warden. "Though it would be nice if I could fool you all into thinking I was such. But you all know me too well."
"That's true." Alistair replied back with a nod of his head.
A quiet scoff escaped Leliana's lips as she rolled her eyes and put her gaze back to Anders. And the mentioning of the joining had brought even a slight tug to her lips as she scooted over towards the mage and began to stretch up to rest a kiss on his cheek. After all it had seemed like he needed one after all the flirting Zevran had tossed around and mentioning of her past with Aragorn and such. So to boost his confidence she hoped this would help. "You know I'll take you on that belated offer to dance since I smashed a pie in your face the last time." She whispered towards his ear. "Though I can't promise the private one until later." She teased in a more blocked sense with her hand so the others couldn't hear even if they tried...
Intrigued Alistair began to lean in. But to his unlucky-ness he had come across only the first sentence and sighed to the fact of not being able to hear the second. "You know it's not nice to keep secrets from friends."
Anders had smiled some as he felt Leliana leaning in with her kiss. He hadn't really made any voiced response other than his smile at the time. That should have been enough to show that he would have been pleased, and he really didn't want Alistair given any more ammunition to tease them with in comparison to what Oghren already had.
Rhys was about to have tried to grasp Anders's attention when a woman in heavy templar armor walked in from the doors of the bar. She made a bee-line more towards him upon seeing that he was in fact in the current room. Rhys had jumped a little, glancing back at the gloved hand that rested on his shoulder, giving it a light squeeze, and then looked up towards the women next to him. Those who had been close around him had started to follow his gaze in a curious and guarded manner.
"There you are." The woman started to sigh in relief. She turned and glanced back from the door and then to Rhys once more. "I was told you had been hurt."
Anders shifted his eyes from her and then glanced more to Rhys at the moment. Obviously from the very sight of templar armor, Anders had been pretty high-strung. At times it was even a struggle to keep himself from attacking the individual on-sight. So he was naturally on his tightened nerves about the templar woman in front of him.
"Rhys, is this person someone you know?" He started to ask him.
"Oh—yes-… Everyone, this is Serah Evangeline. Evangeline, these are mostly the fine folk who stopped the Blight." Rhys announced and then turned down the line in the beginning forms of introductions.
Evangeline had nodded towards the other people as Rhys had finished giving off their names, but her movements had continued to remain stiff—if not polite. She was a cautious woman, and one who believed highly in her personal morals.
Rhys then turned his attention back towards her in a moment of self pity. He attempted to pout a little, pointing back down towards his hip as he started to speak. "I'm glad that you've returned, actually…. Yes… I was injured, but I do believe if I received a kiss placed near the woung—"
"Or I could just welcome a new injury to soften the first sting." Evangeline flashed a soft smile, regardless of how sharp her words were. Giving Rhys's shoulder another comforting squeeze before taking her hand away, she had started to step back.
Rhys laughed, despite the warning he was given and waved his hand into the air in her direction. "Come and sit, Milady. There's still time to rest."
Leliana began sitting back to her seat more comfortably after her private words were spoken to Anders. It was a bit difficult to ignore the King who had seemed intent on listening in. Which Leliana rolled her eyes some to the thought as her hand moved towards Anders hand, draping across the back as her fingertips had rubbed to his knuckles. "You know Ali—" She had started to speak towards the King but just as Rhy's attention was directed to the incoming woman, so was Leliana's to this newcomer.
At first her emerald hues began examining the attire of the woman as it hadn't taken long to notice this woman was of the order of the Templars. Looking over to Anders was her first reaction to see how he was reacting if any to this Templar woman.
Alistair looked towards the woman then back to Rhy's as she had spoken of him being harmed. Reaching out for his mug is what he had distracted himself with so he would interrupted what had seemed to be the highlight in his day with pestering Leliana every chance he'd gotten so he didn't want to push it with another female. Speaking of Leliana had had glanced back to the rouge and arched a brow. "Were you going to say something Leliana?" He asked in a lean in towards the table so that his conversation with her wouldn't interrupt the one happening between Rhy's and Evangeline.
Leliana hadn't looked towards Alistair; instead she glanced over to Rhy's when her name was mentioned towards the woman. And being the polite person she was she had raised her arm up some to give off a short wave that added to her introduction. "It's nice to meet you Evangeline." Leliana spoke as a soft smile pulled to her lips.
Seeing Leliana ignore him brought a perk to his brow "It's nice to see I'm ignored." He muttered to himself as he spoke more into his mug as it was being pushed to his lips.
Hearing just the mumbling brought Leliana to glance over to the King and give off a sly smirk. Again she hadn't said anything to Alistair but turned her attention back to the group and began cupping her features with one hand as her arm propped back to the table. "This isn't the Templar you were speaking of earlier right that had traveled with you was it?" Leliana began to ask towards Rhy's as she gave a nod of her head towards Evangeline.
Seeing as how he was being ignored Alistair rose from his seat as the palms of his hands braced him in his step out from his chair. "I'm going to get more drinks. Try not to live it up without me." He joked a bit as he reached out gathering what mugs he could within his arms before walking over to the bar.
"That's what I'm talking about! Bring out the rest of the ale!" Oghren cheered happily to the sight of Alistair making the move of refilling the mugs; though to most of the others that were there, it was a little strange for the King to have been running any such errands.
"Actually, yes—" Rhys answered and blinked some from Leliana's question. He then looked back towards Evangeline, who was—at the time still standing. "I was under the impression you two had met previously….?"
"This isn't the time to be discussing such things." Evangeline spoke softly from over his shoulder.
"Then when would be the time to speak of such things?" Nathaniel seemed to question from his corner. He propped his elbow up against the table and looked towards the dark-haired woman with steady stare. "From what I gathered, this was to be the most Hollowed Ground Ferelden has to offer, for the moment, and if you cannot speak in front of Grey Wardens over the matter—"
"No disrespect, Serah, but I am no Grey Warden, and those who are that follow under the issues of the White Spire incident, have mostly abandoned what gripping duty that they have." Evangeline quickly spoke back just as coldly from the remark she was receiving.
"Well, I am a Grey Warden, Templar." Anders abruptly had spoken more towards Nathaniel's defense. His mouth clamped shut briefly; obviously feeling the regret of even speaking at that time, but he couldn't seem to stop himself. Perhaps it was the armor that the dark haired woman was wearing that really had set him off in a bad mood. "…So, I would hope that anything you would have to say would be invited in front of me, at least."
"Anders, Evangeline is not the enemy here." Rhys reassured him and reached over to grasp the other mage's hand; almost as if to steady him. He had then glanced back towards the staring-contest that Nathaniel and Evangeline were having at the moment. "Actually, we've had more than a few templars coming to our aid, as of lately…"
"Mages and Templars… together?" Anders frowned to the news and retracted his arm to cradle his son closer against his chest for the moment. "I thought we've already seen what happens when something like that happens."
"It will be different this time, I can promise you." Rhys spoke firmly.
"Empty promises don't put an entire order to ease, mage, and it does no good tempting secrets that would otherwise make others paranoid." Nathaniel warned but hadn't really moved from his chair. Rather, instead, he leaned back and folded his arms back across his chest.
"And you, Serah, truly are paranoid." Evangeline remarked after watching the man turn a slight shoulder from her. "What was your name again?"
"Nathaniel Howe, at your service, Miss." He stated almost proudly with a hidden scoff.
Evangeline shifted her weight to one heel and propped her right arm more against her hip after tearing her annoyed gaze away from him. "Is that so? Well, Ser Howe, I can reassure you that none of your services will ever be needed for me."
"It was a proclamation, not a proposal." Nathaniel quickly retorted.
Though before Evangeline could have snapped with anything witty back, Zevran had quickly piped up to interrupt them. He created a distraction—slightly—by standing up and beginning his walk around the table towards Leliana as he started to talk. "Marvelous! You can just feel the love in the air, no?"
"Heh-heh-heh! He's right-if you two keep making anymore googlie eyes at each other you'll have to get a room upstairs!" Oghren added behind him.
"Or a men-age-ey-trioees!" Anders grinned quickly afterwards.
"It has been fun, ladies and gentlemen, but I am afraid I must be off." Zevran began to say before holding his hand out towards Leliana for her to take, "Though I am afraid I cannot leave without at least a dance from the lovely Leliana. So, if you would please, join me for a few minutes…?"
"Ha, ha yes make fun of your King and let's see how far that gets you Oghren." Alistair had spoken back towards the Ale swirling dwarf. Errands or not Alistair had to do a few things on his own, sitting on a throne doing nothing but listening to people had caused one to get out of shape very quickly.
Leliana perked up upon hearing Rhy's words towards her and she even had started to begin to part her lips to explain herself. But just as he wasn't able to finish his sentence, Leliana was hindered of any words to be spoken from her lips. And with it brought her slightly parted lips to close seeing as how she could only listen to Evangeline and how she seemed to one up every man here. It was nothing which bothered her but more so brought her be intrigued by the conversation as she listened intently to each of them
"Grey Wardens, hey I'm one of those too." Alistair added after Anders little explosion as he reached the table and set down the few mugs he was able to carry back as the waiter behind him set the rest down on the table. "Maybe we should have one of those Grey Warden parties. Maybe it will be like the good old days."
"And what were the good old days like Alistair?" Leliana asked.
"Oh look who's talking to me now…" He gasped in an acted shocked manner before continuing. "Well you know we would drink and who ever had passed out first from their drunken state would have to run and kiss a Chantry Sister. Or steal something which belonged to them."
"I'm not sure I want to know the stolen things." She replied back as she began shift her eyes towards Anders suspiciously and if he had ever involved himself in these games. If one were to call them games.
"Trust me you don't." He grinned back as he looked back towards Anders and the mentioning of Templars and Mages working together. He knew from his time in the Chantry and "almost" becoming a Templar himself it was also near to impossible for the two to co-exist. But if it had happened in their lifetime it would have been a great feat. One which he would have liked to see one day.
When the distraction that Zevran had thankfully made towards Leliana's way. She had looked up towards the fellow rouge and gave a slight friendly smile when he spoke of love. "Ha wouldn't that be nice? Though I think its going to take a few more than a few kind words." She joked back and had even laughed a little to the mentioning of the 'men-age-ey-trioees'. "Be careful how loudly you say that… You might grab unwanted attention."
Speaking about attention it had seemed as Zevran was grasping hers at each open oprtunity. She looked towards the elfs hand and then over to Anders to see his thoughts on the matter. But seeing as how it was a harmless dance. She figured it would have been okay and actually fun. After all Sten had mentioned dancing being incorporated into a ceremony. So looking toward the elfs hand a moment longer she gave a quick shrug of her shoulders as she leaned in a gave a quick peck to Anders cheek and secondly grasped onto Zevran's hand.
Leliana hadn't looked back, for the fear of seeing Anders possible shocked or "he was going to kill Zevran" look on his face as she was led to the dance floor.
Thankfully for all of them when they had reached the dance floor the tempo of the music filling within the area was at a faster speed than what worried her if it had been a slower one. Twirling around Leliana brought herself in this way to face Zevran finally while still managing to hold onto his hand. "Hopefully you can keep up." She said cheerfully as she grasped onto his other hand. Keeping a good distance away (and possibly a too far of one) Leliana looked over towards the musicians who had begun filling the room more with the sound of their drums, lutes and many other versed instruments that had meshed well into a harmony that brought Leliana's body to slowly start to move with the beat as one of her hands had released from his and held more to his shoulder. "Alright just know to keep your hands high enough." She informed as she took her other hand from his and grasped onto his left hand and placed it to the middle of the curvature of her side before moving to taking his hand again within her grasp.
"Why so concerned of where my hands go? It is the rhythm that makes the choices of that, not mine." Zevran responded with a bright grin as they continued to move to the beat.
With as much distance as she wanted to have kept in between them, it would have only been pressed close in between themselves due to quick spins and twirls. There was a distinct cultural clash of the dance that seemed to have somehow worked together for the both of them. One being, the Orlesian method of twirls and heel-to-toe dancing while the other was a classic movement of swayed hips and sharp poses. Antivans seemed to have been known for the powerful stances that they took, which only brought the fluid movements of an Orlesian dancer to contrast such movements with soft features.
Of course Anders didn't approve of it. Of course Anders was staring after them with his eyes still watching to where Zevran had rested them over his woman. Of course if looks could have killed, nearly every person standing too close to Leliana at that point—well especially including the elf—would have already been on the floor and gasping for air.
But Anders was trying to be civil and calm. This was Hollowed Ground, and he had to respect as much excused standards as he was already granted by not being thrown in shackles and hauled off to some Grey Warden prison cell. That didn't leave the abomination to have felt any less frustrated though. Baelfire, in his arms, had eventually dozed off to sleep due to the practically angered heat that Anders was already reflecting from his body.
"—ers, ….—down" –That was the only few blurred words that Anders had even heard at the moment before his head quickly jerked towards the person who was speaking to him.
"I am calm!" Anders started to snap, but as quickly as he felt the rush of his elemental heat rising, it was already dispersed.
He blinked some around the table; eventually tearing his previous gaze away from Zevran and Leliana dancing, and saw in a slight shocked state at the tankard in his hand. There was a high steam that was rising from it, and it took Anders a split second to even realize that the mug was even hot. Anders could only conclude that he had been boiling his beverage without even thinking.
Glancing at a bright light from underneath the table, was where Anders had spotted a cleansing spell-no doubt, Templar magic, but Anders wasn't about to question who actually placed it down. All he really need to acknowledge—and quickly—was that he almost had caused something dangerous. That, and he really needed to keep his anger under better control.
"You were boiling your ale." Velanna remarked and pointed down at his mug.
Anders glanced towards the elf and after a few glances between her and the others, he tried to flash a more confident grin and carefully attempt to grasp the tankard back again. "What? Oh….Well… Of course! I like my ale hotter than the lava of a thousand suns..."
"Seems kind of backwards to me… You're boiling out all the good stuff!" Oghren pointed out and then leaned back as a large bellied belch erupted from him.
The others had started to lean away from it, of course; followed by the few vocal disapproved grimaces and remarks at him for doing it.
It was almost too difficult for her to keep up with Zevran's stamina. He kept carrying on without a care in the world and with each passing second she eventually felt herself filling her lungs at any chance she had gotten, just to keep in toe with him. Eventually though with each movement it was obvious Leliana had become looser and in general comfortable with dancing alongside Zevran. It wasn't as if she had forgotten about Anders presence nearby, though if she had looked there she would have tensed up just by the sight of him even though she wasn't doing anything that would have been considered "wrong".
Among the others Alistair had watched Leliana and Zevran from afar. Though he was more looking through his mug as he drank the last of his tankard down. "Foreigners and their fancy dancing." He commented as he slipped his mug from his lips and looked more to the party around him. Though who mostly caught his eye like everyone else, was Anders. He looked to the mage then the babe in his arms to see Baelfire somehow rested peacefully on his father through his roaring rage. "Umm Anders?" He called out towards the mage as he began to set down the mug. "You okay?"
So that was probably and idiotic question. Seeing as how he looked completely red in the face and if one person had made a joking comment about his woman he would have blown his top. No matter how tempting that was Alistair hadn't done so. "That's a good waste of Ale I have purchased." He said with a nod towards the drink. Though it wasn't meant seriously, and he hoped Anders could sense this as he didn't need to be reprimanded vocally by the mage anytime soon.
"You know if you want to go interrupt the dance and join your woman you can… If you're not quick who knows she might use those moves for Zevran she had always wanted to use on you up there. Trust me I have seen some of her moves from her wilder nights at camp." He teased a bit as he quickly swung his legs out from under the table and began to stand and walk over towards Anders "heated" self. "I can take Baelfire after all… Haven't held the kid since Leliana was in Denerim last." He offered with an outstretched arm towards the sleeping boy. Alistair was always fond of children, well at least those he could give back once they had started crying or being little boogers.
Anders's eyes had shifted towards Alistair while he attempted to try and stubbornly drink his (practically re-brewed) tankard of ale. This was difficult though since the liquid was still searing hot and the sugars that it once contained was already boiled out of it. The liquid was bitter, blistering to the tongue, and it didn't provide any kick-back to ease Anders's need for being drunk either. So, he really had no achieved goal in drinking it what-so-ever, but he wanted to hide in any mundane activity that he could at the moment.
He listened to Alistair's offer, but he turned his head away and placed the mug back down onto the table. From the way he swayed a little and leaned protectively over his child, Anders had almost reacted as though he would have been reluctant to surrender his son over to anyone else. After all, he didn't know Alistair beyond the occasional greeting and that one time where Anders had been compromised to travel alongside him briefly. In truth, Leliana probably knew more about him. He could have had the most perfect record in all of Thedas, and Anders still wouldn't have normally given him much trust.
On the other hand, Anders didn't like the thought of being threatened by Leliana's dance moves possibly being displayed to someone else. Sure, perhaps dance moves that were appropriate—but only the ones that signal importance like…an Orlesian banquet or Birthday of the King: things that commonly wouldn't even happen for the Queen of Kirkwall. But Anders knew this wouldn't be the case. He knew ever since Leliana displayed what she learned from Tevinter culture, that Anders was going to have to forever remain on his toes.
He continued to watch though, as Zevran started to move in for the final dance moves. It was closer contact than before. The elf's hands were more centered towards Leliana's shoulders and the small of her back. When he picked her up and finished with much of a warning other than lifting her up against his hip, that was when the cracks of light along Anders's skin briefly had started to reveal itself. Though again, just as before when it came quickly, it was gone. Anders could sit through much more; not after witnessing the slow guiding slide down along Zevran's side until he had placed Leliana back to her feet.
Anders couldn't let it continue. He abruptly stood up and lifted Baelfire gently towards Alistair for him to take. His eyes hadn't once left from the dancing couple on the dance floor. "Hold him for a moment. I'll be right back."
He didn't wait for much of a confirmation, or warning, at that point. Once Anders was free from his child, he marched towards the center of the dance floor. He could hear the drunken singing from other as he walked up to Zevran and Leliana. He tapped the blonde elf's shoulder before reaching for Leliana's abandoned hand when Zevran wasn't looking.
"I think I'll cut in here." Anders announced and started to pull Leliana in a gentle tug towards him.
Zevran had spun some and then spotted that Anders had stolen his dance partner. He smirked some and stepped back with a politely given bow. "Oh? …Hah-hah. Very well. As you wish. It was a lovely dance, Leliana. Hopefully next time the tempo will be more sensual with its rhythm."
Leliana's laughter couldn't be withheld any longer as with the sudden raise of her body was taken on behalf of Zevran. She wasn't expecting such, even though she knew the elf was strong he was still built smaller compared to most men she had danced with. After she had been allowed back to her feet, she quickly swayed over to his side more to follow in his lead. And for some odd reasoning when their gap between them had been non-existent she had no longer felt the placement of his hands. Due to the fun she was having. Which years ago she believed to be hardly possible with the elf. After all she saw him more as a perverted elf that wanted nothing more than sex, but having this dance had showed he was like everyone else that had enjoyed a good time.
Back at the table Alistair had looked back and forth between Zevran/Leliana and Anders. His gaze was more shifted towards Anders for a moment though when he had noted the spark across his skin illuminate. "Hey now be sure to keep your cool. We don't want no bar fights. No matter how fun they may be." He joked with a wavering of his finger towards the mage.
He wasn't expecting Anders to take his offer, even though he had tried at every turn to push him out there. Since even he had recalled the times Leliana had asked Aragorn to dance and being the sap he was he would even at the most oddest of times too, just for her. It was rare but it was a noteable thing he knew she liked, and if she was dancing with Zevran than any man would know she would want to dance with her lover as well. Or maybe that was his romantic side coming out…
Glancing down Alistair had begun to situate Baelfire in his arms more too where the boy would be comfortable as he gave a nod towards Anders. "Alright just don't leave him with me all night." Uncertain if his words had even reached him he shrugged his shoulders and began to pat the boy lightly on the back to sooth him if he had tried to wrestle in his sleep. "And that ladies and gentlemen is how you work off of jealously." He announced towards the few that would listen to him as he went to his previous seat to sit down.
On the dance floor in the middle of beginning to turn to grasp onto Zevran's hand again Leliana yelped out suddenly as her closed eyes had widened as she had tried to stop the impact from the pulling stranger. But either her grasp was too loose on Zevran's other hand or the one pulling her was too sudden and strong that it brought her to collide into his chest. When she had looked up finally, ready to push the one away as the palm of her hand already readied to his chest. But as her gaze took in the attire and lastly the appearance her furrowed brows had softened rapidly to a warm smile.
"Anders?" She whispered as her hand shifted from his chest and went to his jawline and lastly traveled to the nape of his neck. "What are you doing up here… And why are you so warm?" She asked a bit concerned in the process of looking over the mage. She had little to no paid attention to Zevran but she had at least gave him a final goodbye smile with a nod of her head towards him before shifting her attention back towards Anders.
Moving closer Leliana's legs had stepped in the open gaps which Anders legs provided as her hip bone pressed to his. She couldn't recall the last time he had danced with her, but to have this moment made the thought not even matter to her as she slowly began to move to the tempo of the drums humming within the room to the end of the song. A part of her was hoping their next song play would be a slower tuned one as Zevran's exertive dancing had gotten to her. But even if it wasn't she would have been pleased to show Anders the many special moves she had learned while in Tevinter.
"Bah…! I was expecting a bar fight to break out over that." Oghren mentioned before chugging down another big gulp of his ale.
"Don't antagonize the sore scene any further; lest we wish it to fester." Velanna reminded him, but kept her eyes averted away.
Nathaniel glanced from the dwarf and looked back towards the elf next to him. "Pay no attention to him. The dwarf's got more booze in him than common sense at the moment."
"When did the dwarf start drinking?" Shale asked and looked towards the table.
"Probably from the time he left his mother's breast, actually…" Nathaniel mentioned in a quick aloof tone, which was quickly followed by the abrupt laughter of Oghren across from him.
"Dear Maker…" Rhys sighed from the vulgarity being spoken, but seemed silently thankful that it wasn't about his own mother at least…
"I had my first beer… I think when I was twelve.. And I can still drink all of you dusters under the table now just as I coulda done back then!" Oghren continued to laugh and leaned back in his chair.
"We were talking about today." Velanna wrinkled her nose at him and then looked towards Shale. "He's been drinking since last night and then started to binge drink earlier this morning…"
"I've seen in many fleshy creatures that doing that cannot be good for the stomach." Shale mentioned back idly.
"It's alright—" Oghren waved his hand a bit and then paused to hold down a burp. "I had cake—"
"You ate my cake?" Sten narrowed his eyes at the confession, but didn't give time for Oghrne to answer. Instead, he looked towards Alistair for help. "I demand justice. Can't you throw him in the brig for something like that?"
From the dance floor, Anders had been more focused with casting his eyes towards Zevran in the assurance of watching him leave the tavern; rather than actually dancing at the time. Even though Leliana was certainly taking more steps and swaying to the rhythm, Anders had remained more stiff in contrast to the actions around him. He had barely even heard Leliana's words to him before shifting his pupils back towards her at last.
"Nothing-I… Think the drinks are just getting to me." He spoke softly to keep her from worrying.
His arms had soon tightened around her hold and held Leliana closer. Despite whatever rhythm that the band had chosen to play next, Anders was intent on a slow dance. It was mostly for her sake, in order to give Leliana a slight breather from all of that movement, but also to keep himself from falling over. Anders would have rather savored the moment of holding Leliana in his arms anyway. It almost felt, as if in a sense, she was the only thing to calm him—or so that was what Anders wanted to believe.
The two had danced most of the day through while the others had continued to talk and pass the time drinking with one another. It had seemed almost surreal to have been in the same building with so many enemies and neutral parties who were all willing to cast aside everything for that moment. It was a dream, subtle in its sudden appearance and soon to be fleeting by the next day. Anders could only imagine of what would happen upon the following morning; though for right now, he didn't want to think on it. All Anders wanted to do was allow himself to be lulled into what comfort that he currently had.
In the next day, everyone had seemed to bid each other farewell without any nugatory remarks or less of a scowl. There were one or two glares but nothing was said or done beyond that. It was more of a miracle to Anders that a gathering of so many who were so diverse had managed to remain peaceful for one evening. Perhaps that had been what funerals did; Death and Fear had an odd displaced sense of humor when it came to bringing people closer together.
Though, Anders's head wasn't really as clear as he had wished, to focus over it. He had a hang-over, and the sad thing to it was that he really didn't drink that much. Then again, he was considered a light-weight—and always had been. The other people in the tavern sure had enough stories though; they didn't need to tease him of swinging from the chandelier or trying to get the qunari to sing "The Posies in the Valley" with him.
For now, he found himself slowly waking up in a carriage that was continued to have been traveling on the road. In his arms was Leliana snuggling close to him. She hadn't awoken yet, which had given time to allow Anders to regroup his surroundings. It was a startling sense: waking up with no idea of where he was, what he was doing, or where he was going. His time in the Fade and transitioning of waking up into the real world had always been a little nerve-wrecking for him. Preconceptions were always the biggest enemy to any mage.
Then came the sudden thought of where his son was. Anders was almost going to curse himself and begin moving with the memory of leaving Baelfire to Alistair. He should have been more responsible; should have turned down the offer of drink and allow at least one parent to keep a clear head. But as his eyes darted across from himself, he saw Rhys holding his son.
Rhys had his head looked down at watching the boy sleep. From the corner of his blue eyes, he glanced towards the stirring sound of Anders waking, and he started to smile. "Good morning- -or afternoon. How do you feel?"
"Cramped…" Anders winced in his slight joke; though there had been a truth to it, but Rhys only chuckled to the answer given.
"Get use to it." He said and looked back down at Baelfire resting against him. "It's going to be like that for a while."
Alistair looked to Sten in his question towards him and began to let out a small chuckle. "I don't think that would be accepted to toss him in the 'brig'." He explained as he slid his hand from Baelfire's back and had reached for his mug to quench his thirst as this babe had seemed like a little furnace himself. "I'll get you more cake Sten… Don't you worry." He spoke as the rim of the cup had finally slipped from his lips before placing the drink back to the table.
Leliana had shifted her head some when she had noticed Anders attention was directed elsewhere, only a slight hum had shifted through her throat as she arched a curious brow. Seeing as how he hadn't made any motion to look towards her she begun to part her lips as if she were to attempt to grasp his attention, again. But after his final shift towards her was finally made a slight grin had smeared across her lips to see his attention was put where she had desired it as she whispered out. "There's that handsome face." Her fingers had shifted back to his cheek in a short dance before sliding down to his shoulder.
When she had heard his explanation about the drinks a bright beam had spread across her face before the parting of her lips came to an slight open. "Oh really now? You know drinking and you don't get along. Why do you think I'm avoiding it?" She asked with a little lean in towards him as she brushed the tip of her nose against his. "So I can watch over you." She finished with a slight chuckle pushing through her lips. She noticed he hadn't been moving, at least much to go along with the beat of the music. That it had brought her to look between them momentarily as she pushed more against him in a sense of being closer after she felt the warmth of his arms intertwine around her, making her feel secure as they had danced the night away. It had almost seemed as if they were the only two on the dance floor, and even at times they were. Which Leliana had enjoyed most since she felt it was a more open expression of their love and commitment to one another in front of everyone.
Leliana didn't even remember getting in the carriage which was the odd thing. Since she didn't drink or involve herself in anything that would cause her to have a dull memory. Maybe it was from the crazied dancing she had participated in with Zevran, and then finishing the rest of the day with Anders in dancing. But in what dreams she did have, it was in the carriage. She had felt the rocking of the movements and bumps. She wondered where she was heading. Home maybe? Or somewhere else. Whatever it was this dream had felt real enough since she could sense herself looking out the window and pointing out the different sights to Baelfire.
It wasn't until she heard a voice echoing subconsciously in her dream that it had brought her to stir and nudge her face more into Anders chest. Then the second voice filled her ears but this one was clearer since it wasn't muffled that she had finally began to raise her arm up enough to rub at her eyes. She believed herself to still be within her dream as she pulled her hand away and began to look around the carriage. When she saw Rhy's though Leliana gave the man a bit of a confused look. Since she wasn't expecting to see him for a multitude of reasons. She didn't know why the man was in here with them, or where they were going for that matter. But none of that mattered, as long as it was home right?
"Where are we?" She spoke softly towards both of the men after she started to look up to Anders in the process of sitting up and against the backing of the carriage so she wouldn't have been smothering Anders. She gave a little stretch and a yawn before running her hands through her hair to fix any strands that had been out of place. "Thank you for watching Baelfire. Has he been any trouble?" She asked curiously as she slightly stood as far as she could in the small carriage as she walked over to Rhy's side and sat down next to him so Leliana could look over her son as her hand had also brushed through the boys golden hair.