"I hope you know what you're doing."

Garrett sighed, one of the buttons on the white shirt he was putting on seemingly too large for its hole, making him struggle. Lousy tailor, should have hired that seamstress I put on Merrill's dress. "Mother, don't I always know what I'm doing?"

They were in the same room, a simple changing room that was far too large for its purpose in Garrett's opinion. Though he usually thought every room in the estate was too large for what it was supposed to do, which meant he was either right but with no choice but to endure, or wrong and simply still accustomed to life as the poor.

Being in the same room didn't mean they saw one another though. Since both were changing for the Reinhart party a wooden screen had been erected along the length, hiding Garrett's mother from view as their new elven servant Orana, skittish but otherwise excellent, helped the woman with all the preparations she insisted she needed. Again, Garrett thought it somewhat silly, back in Ferelden he'd seen his mother naked many times, simply because the cramped living situation made privacy impossible.But apparently, if one could afford something in Kirkwall, it became required. Somewhat annoying to talk to a wooden wall though...

Behind the screen, there was a little gasp as Leandra went through whatever she felt was required to look presentable, her voice a little strained. "Well there was that one time in Ferelden with that ogre..."

Garrett, running a hand through his hair, shivered at the memory. "I knew what I was doing then, mother."

For a moment, silence reigned. When Leandra replied, her voice was muted. "I'd like to think you didn't."

Swallowing, he sometimes forgot how little his mother knew of what he'd done and how much he'd fought to get them where they are, Garrett changed the subject back to the more immediate issue. "As to Merrill, it's done now, she asked to come and I said yes, there's no going back on it now."

"Well maybe you shouldn't have said yes in the first place..." Leandra paused, no doubt sensing Garrett's frown. "...sorry, but think about it, honey, think of how it'll look."

"I'm aware of how it'll look." Garrett grimaced. By all rights, he should have asked Merrill not to come, made some excuse...yet for some reason he hadn't been able to bring himself to do that. "However, while I know people might view this in a certain light, I'm more than willing to educate them, should they ask, and even if they don't." It won't convince many, but...do I care? He shook aside the peculiar thought. If I want to bring her, I will. "I'm not ashamed of who my friends are, you've yet to complain about me inviting Varric."

"Well Varric's...Varric." Leandra grunted. "But that elf..."

"Her name is Merrill, and you know it." Garrett snapped, frowning in irritation, he found his mother's growing dislike of the elf more and more irritating. Had she not saved Garrett's life and helped in putting the Hawkes where they were?

"And what about the Reinharts?! Their daughter?" Garrett sighed. I, well...errr... "You're bringing Merrill to their party...the richest and arguably most powerful noble family in Kirkwall...and you're very close to insulting them in public!"

"As I said..." Garrett cleared his throat, looking down to make sure the white shirt and wide black trousers he wore looked okay on him. With the heat of the spring, he'd chosen to wear the lightest of possible clothing while still retaining some acceptable standard. "...I'm more than willing to explain who she is." And who is she? He shook his head, the thought not helping."Even if it causes some issues, I believe I can moderate things. Cecei might be introduced to some other noble, but Charles is a businessman, and I have business-deals of interest to him."

"You're...ready to give up Cecei already?" Leandra asked, something in her voice seeking an answer beyond what she was asking.

Garrett frowned at the floor, then shrugged. "I've not exactly proposed, have I? I'm simply looking at what might happen, a marriage alliance to the Reinharts isn't really necessary, to be honest."

"That's not what you said before. You said an alliance of the Reinharts could be useful..."

"Well the alliance doesn't have to be via marriage." Garrett argued, finding himself bothered by his own reply. Sounds like I'm making excuses rather than looking at the easiest path...why? "Cecei is nice, polite...but seems somewhat dull, pardon me for saying."

"You barely know her!" Leandra protested, then gasped as Orana did something to her dress. Ridiculous thing.

"Yet I'm supposed to marry her?" Garrett countered. "Mother, I'll marry and court whoever I want to. I know that might be very Fereldian of me, but I do believe I'm the one making this decision. Besides, you yourself ran away with an apostate mage. I don't think you have much of a leg to stand on when speaking of who I should have romantic inclinations towards."

"I...your father and I..." Leandra hesitated. "...it was a very tumultuous situation, and I would do it again...but never doubt I gave up a lot for him, son. You got it all back for us, and you worked so hard and gave up so much for it, bled for it, don't think I don't know it...and I'd just hate to see you lose all that."

Garrett's shoulders slumped, heart heavy with the sudden pang of grief, mixed with guilt. Sister, the blood I could spare, but...Maker, I don't pray for you often enough, as I promised I would...always something else happening...I'm sorry. "I understand that, mother, that's...thank you. But you yourself said love wasn't something one could plan or reason about, remember, back about Aveline?"

"I did, didn't I? Figures you should start listening to me now." Leandra chuckled. "Also, I can't help but notice that you're arguing as if you actually are feeling something for the girl...?"

Garrett blinked, his cheeks flushing for half a second as he stared at the wooden screen between them. "I...that's not what I said. I was merely pointing out that in the theoretical scenario of such a romance, you're really in no position to criticise. And of course, I'd take precautions not to lose everything, I've gotten quite good at coming out on top, if you haven't noticed." He caught himself clearing his throat. "Not that that's needed, since she and I aren't...you know."

The silence behind the screen was deafening, making Garrett shift where he stood.

Then Leandra stepped around the screen, her grey hair up, held together by ruby-decorated pins, her bright red dress slashed by a bone-coloured corset. Garrett, seeing her offering an uncertain smile, stepped closer to kiss her forehead, hands on her shoulders. "You look beautiful."

Leandra bit her bottom lip, looking him up and down with a strange look on her face...and then smiled, cocking her head to the side as a hand moved up to stroke his cheek, eyes soft. "I just want you to be happy...if she-"

"She and I are not-"

"Of course not." Leandra offered a soft chuckle, kissing his other cheek. "Now, go get her and Varric, we're running late."

Nodding, Garrett eagerly turned and marched for the nearest door, his back stiffening as his mother chuckled at him.

The little room he entered was dominated by a rectangular table, a hearth at the centre and a door at the other end. To Garrett's disappointment, there were only three people in the room. Varric, boots on the table and leaning back on his chair...and two guards leaning over the table, eyes wide on the dwarf as he drawled. "...and then they made me their chief." The man looked up a second later, smiling. "Hawke! Finally!"

Garrett couldn't help but give a tight smile as the two guards jumped to their feet and hurriedly got to attention. "Darren, Jeannie...aren't you two free for the day?"

"Well yes, serah, but..." Darren muttered, gesturing at Varric, as if that was all the explanation needed.

And it was. "Yes, Varric's good at distracting people...do you know where the Hanged Man is?" The two guards nodded in unison, eyes betraying their confusion. "Head there at some other date but today, and you'll likely find Varric. Knowing him, he'll have another story ready just for you." The two guards managed a pair of sheepish grins at that. "So off you go, I'm not paying overtime for story time." The sheepish grins turned to a chuckle, making Varric shoot Garrett an encouraging wink. "Go!"

The two guards moved to obey, opening the door at the far end and leaving in a hurry, suddenly remembering the time and the need to get home.

Behind the door, there was no sign of Merrill.

Garrett, frowning, turned his attention back to the dwarf. "Varric? You're wearing that to the party?"

The dwarf's eyes flashed in amusement at the somewhat gruff greeting. "What's wrong with it?"

"It's your leather coat."

"My best one, can't you tell?" Varric chuckled as Garrett's eyes darted back to the doorway. "I'll not embarrass you, don't worry...and she's coming, relax." Garrett shot the dwarf a scathing look, making Varric arch an eyebrow. "Tell me you're not looking for Merrill."

Why is everyone implying...argh. With a growl, Garrett changed the subject. "How are the Cats doing?" Varric arched both eyebrows at that, making Garrett raise both hands. "Sorry, sorry...I meant...sorry. Anyway, the Cats?"

"They've expanded a little, but carefully, as you suggested, got a lot of recruits though." Varric chuckled. "It's interesting to listen to them speak of the honour of thieves, they seem to speak of it like it existed before them." The dwarf shrugged. "Not sure what we've unleashed, Hawke, hope for a better future is great, but dangerous if things don't get better."

Garrett shrugged. "Then we make things better, don't we?" The dwarf chuckled, though the sound turned to an impressed snort when he noticed Garrett looking serious. "And the Coterie? How do they view the Cats?"

"Well I hear from them now and again, and as far as I recall, the Cats are 'fancily equipped, stupid and not worthy of note'...so I guess mission's a success there?" Varric replied, then shrugged. "If we remain careful, they can expand their influence without any trouble, creating peace, happiness, and a little pony for every child." A wink. "That's the aim, right?"

"The aim is to reduce crime and create slowly expanding zones of stability that'll make the city less..." At the other end of the room, Merrill slipped in through the doorway, quiet as a mouse. "...volatile...?"

I'm staring, why am I staring?

The elf wore a thin golden necklace around her slim neck, a tiny wooden halla attached to the end. Her hair, usually curled into bangs and held back by a series of leather strings, was now hanging freely back and nearly touching her shoulders, though a few rogue strands had already worked their way over her forehead.

The dress...Garrett had of course approved the design, since the seamstress had been quiet adamant about not having a refund demanded of her at a later date...looked far better on her than he'd imagined when seeing it on paper.

It was simple in its cut, as softly green as Merrill's eyes, smooth and elegant, the neckline high while wide shoulder-straps were held together with little golden flowers. Her exposed arms showed off tattoos of dark vines in the same style of those on her face, that mixed with her green dress gave her a surprisingly 'earthy' look considering the elegance of the dress, as if she'd grown from the very ground itself.

Merrill, shifting under his silent stare, fidgeted and flushed. "I...I know it's a bit much, b-but the others insisted..."

"Actually, I think it's just right." Varric chuckled, then cleared his throat. "Right, Garrett?"

Garrett shook his head, annoyed with himself for the inexplicable lapse of concentration. "What? Yes, yes of course it's all right." Merrill blinked at him, confused, making him realise how rude his comment might sound. "I mean it's fine, err, good, it looks good on you, even though it's not normal for you." Again, she blinked at him, making Garrett shift where he stood. "Not saying you look bad normally, I just meant...it's a different kind of good, that you don't normally look like this..." Wow, why don't I punch her while I'm at it? "...errr...what I mean to say is-"

"If you can't tell, kitten..." Varric interrupted with a smirk, standing up and straightening his coat. "...him babbling like that is actually a compliment. He likes your look, would probably say you're beautiful, if he wasn't so busy tripping over his own tongue." Garrett shot the dwarf a glare, one Varric happily ignored.

"Oh. Well...good." Merrill managed to look confused even as her ears turned a shade of pink. "Not that that's what I was aiming for...I mean I was aiming for good, but not beautiful...well beautiful is good but I didn't mean to make you think that...or...errr..." In the background, Varric was chuckling as Garrett watched Merrill swallow. "Beautiful is good though, thank you...I...you look beautiful too? No, that sounds wrong...good? I...handsome?" Merrill winced even as Garrett felt himself looked away. This is ridiculous. "Not that I know much about what's handsome or not, or even have looked, I mean I'm not saying you're not...errr..."

To Garrett's immense relief, Varric spoke up again. "While this is fun and all...don't we have a party to get to?"

A look of relief crossed Merrill's face, then her face split into a grin. "Oh yes! I saw the carriage we're taking! It's amazing! Come, this way!"

As she turned and hurried back out, Garrett found himself staring at an exceedingly slim, tattooed and bare back...

Moving to stand next to him, Varric chuckled at whatever he was seeing. "Garrett, Garrett, this is getting ridiculous."

"Huh?" Blinking, Garrett looked down at the dwarf, confused.

Varric just rolled his eyes. "Never mind..."

8

8

8

"You know..." Merrill smacked her lips in appreciation, the woman being on what Garrett believed to be her third oyster, the elf having exclaimed her delight at the new taste an hour ago...quiet loudly, if the looks thrown at the pair at that instant was any judge. "...I can't figure out how this roof was built? How does it stand up?!"

Garrett smiled softly at the question, unsurprised yet pleased to hear it, though his gaze scanned the great hall, his nerves on edge, expecting trouble. "You know, I asked that very question last time I was here, none could give a satisfying answer, not even the Reinharts themselves. I'd love to get a hold of the architect, if he's still alive." Not that that's my highest priority at the moment.

Having entered the Reinhart's great hall near two hours ago, Garrett and his party had initially found themselves accosted by quite a few amused and curious nobles that were without a doubt fishing for gossip while quietly judging him when out of sight. By now they had retreated, if it was because they'd now judged Garrett as a social pariah, or unsure if he was or not and wanting to wait and see...or maybe just to gossip about 'his elf', Garrett wasn't sure...and it worried him. This was a mistake.

He was stranding at one end of the buffet table, Merrill standing by his right, eyes wide as she took in all the sights still, unable to contain her wonder, or even think that it might look silly in the eyes of others. Honest and innocent, more so than the rest of us in the room combined, sometimes I envy you, must feel nice, always looking at the world and seeing wonders, rather than problems. Maric was sitting on his haunches on Garrett's left, the hound even more quiet than usual, scanning the room as warily as Garrett, the two of them putting each other on edge with their worries that neither was allowed to show.

Across the hall, there were a great many talking and dancing nobles, just as in the previous party. Though now there were bigger groups of them just talking, too many no doubt talking about Garrett and his 'courtesan', despite him introducing her as a friend. This is bad. Further off, near the bar, Viscount Dumar was as usually being harassed by two dozen minor nobles, all fishing for various jobs within his administration, or plainly wanting to look important by being near him, unaware how little importance the man really played in the running of the city.

To make matters worse, Leandra had been dragged off by Comte De Launcet. Currently, his mother was dancing with the man, both as elegant as butterflies as they glided across the floor in perfect sync. Meanwhile the man's wife Dulci looked on from the sidelines, biting her bottom lip, her face dusted into a white mask by too much powder...though under it, Garrett no doubt thought her face either red with anger or pale with worry. Bloody...I know I'm in no position to judge, but mother will cause gossip if she continues to be so friendly with the man.

Varric was off in a corner of the great hall. At first, it had been somewhat of another disaster, dwarves were not uncommon among Kirkwall nobility, but a dwarf commoner that didn't even dress up for the occasion was another matter. Varric had taken their initial disdain with a smirk though, and by now he was sitting on a bench, regaling a large crowd of nobles with some fictional story that left far too many of them staring in a very un-noble way, their courtly manners forgotten.

Most vital of interest were the Reinharts though, and the result there had been...mixed to say the least, and Garrett wasn't sure what to make of it. As the family had come to greet Garrett and his entourage on entry, things had been awkward but manageable...yet Garrett wasn't sure what to make of it.

Cecei had looked surprised at the elf's appearance...then she had smiled, and not the previous polite one from last time they'd met, but a more genuine one...with a hint of amusement in her eyes. Garrett wasn't sure where she was now, since she'd excused herself so soon after, but wherever it was, it was not with him to check if he really meant what he'd said during the introductions about Merrill being his friend. Like she doesn't care...huh, odd, I know I'm not the most charming of men, but I'd at least expected something else but relief... Annoyed, Garrett found his ego somewhat bruised by that, despite it being such a welcome reaction.

Charles had looked displeased, displeased with a hint of dark calculations. Garrett was sure the man was too greedy to spend sums on revenge for the perceived slight, but no doubt Charles felt obliged to at least show others that his house was not to be insulted, which would probably have ended with all manners of minor headaches for Garrett. Yet Garrett had somehow managed to save things there. He'd long been bothered by Charles owning all the farmland surrounding the city and thereby having his boot on the city's throat, and as such offered to buy them...given the circumstances, he'd made the offer ridiculously generous.

Given the way he wanted to change the land to have a more Ferelden-style farms where the peasants became a viable middle-class, as well as the initial cost for the land, Garrett didn't expect to make a profit of it until on his deathbed. In fact, the cost was so great that even Garrett's treasury, with it no longer being constantly filled by returning expeditions as the darkspawn below grew in numbers, had been severely diminished.

Reinhart had of course been eager to sell for such a large amount of money, and had further been eager to make more deals with the Hawke's after that. Garrett felt fairly certain that way had stopped the man from causing trouble for him further on, Charles would always choose money over pride. Man thinks me a fool for the deal though, but there are other profits than that of gold ...as long as my trading-fleet grows, money will not be a problem, but even with me going with a loss on the farms, a happy and loyal body of citizens brings its own rewards.

Lowyn Reinhart though...there was no love to recover there, her eyes had flashed daggers at Garrett ever since he'd entered with Merrill on his arm, and his attempts to explain that the elf was his friend had merely been met with a haughty look and jowls trembling with indignant rage. Even now, he could feel her eyes on him, eyes smouldering with anger. One would think, given Cecei's reaction, that the mother's reaction would be more...tempered? Perhaps I have missed something.

What Garrett hadn't missed was that any future marriage proposals to Cecei, and perhaps most noblemens' daughters', was on ice for the near future...at least until he made it clear he was on the market, as it were.

Garrett found that oddly relaxing.

Still, he was now stuck in a party where none really was sure if they could approach and talk to him, which was not only worrying, but annoying. I'm supposed to be the ruler behind the throne, I can't rule without people willing to speak to me...Maker, I'll have some letters to write after this, more deals to make, people to remind of our previous deals...I'll mitigate the impact of this, and then when they see Charles still working with me, they'll come back around.

It did leave him nearly alone at the party though, which was somewhat humiliating whenever he thought on it. At least Merrill's here, Maker knows she's more fun to talk to than most here anyway. Garrett shot the elf a brief smile, gaze lingering on her lips as they found their way to yet another oyster. That looks tasty. He shook his head. "Your stomach will rebel if you keep eating those, you know."

Merrill offered a toothy grin rhyming poorly with her elegant dress. "Worth it."

Garrett chuckled, looked about...and froze as he caught sight of Meredith. The Knight-Commander was scowling...and heading right for Garrett. "Merrill, go to the balconies, I'll find you there."

"Wha..?" Merrill looked about, trying to find the cause for Garrett's sudden hard tone.

"Go!"

The elf, recognising his urgency, quickly moved, making several nobles gasp in shock at the speed which the Dalish elbowed her way through them without a sign she was aware of the disparity between their social standings. Despite the seriousness of the situation, the look of horror on a noble-woman's face as the smaller Dalish pressed past her with nary a curtsy made Garrett smirk.

Then Meredith was in front of him, standing tall and straight like an oak. "Hawke, we meet again." There was a chill in her voice, face twisted into a scowl. "I have things to discuss with you."

"Knight-Commander, always a pleasure." Garrett lied, smiling with as much friendliness as he could muster. In contrast to last time, he now felt ready to face Meredith, prepared and even looking forward to it. "I actually have things to discuss with you too, so it's good that you've come." The templar blinked in surprise, the two guards at her back looking at Garrett in shock...as did a few of the nearest nobles as the eavesdropped. No one spoke like that to Meredith. "But by all means, ladies first."

Meredith recovered quickly, scowl deepening. "It seems you've been funding the city guard quite a lot of money as of late, a city guard with your friend as Captain."

"I have many friends, Commander." Garrett smiled politely. "As for funding the guard...thank you, I'm glad someone has taken note of my contribution to those upholding law and order in the city. Though I feel compelled to say it's just me doing my patriotic duty, your appreciation is none the less kindly received."

"My...?" Meredith blinked, then somehow managed to straighten her back even further, making her seemingly grow an additional inch as she glared at Garrett. "Did you know that the city guard is refusing to obey my commands to search buildings containing potential apostates? Or rather, that the new Captain, your friend, is?"

Garrett cocked his head to the side, playing the part of a puzzled man. "I'm sorry, serah, but I have little knowledge of the day to day actions of the guard, Aveline doesn't like me 'butting in', as she would say it." He frowned in thought. "That said, I do know the law and I don't think templars are allowed to demand that the guard does...well...anything? It was admirable of the previous captain – his other corruption charges notwithstanding – to have been willing to assist in your duties, but it was hardly demanded of him. As I understand from my talks with Aveline, the city guard is taxed with works as it is...so her refusal to help you is hardly a case of spite, is it?" He smiled. "Of course, why thirty thousand templars would need the assistance of the guard that's a tenth of their numbers is beyond me...perhaps you could enlighten me?"

For a moment, there was a deathly silence as Garrett wondered if he'd gone too far. When Meredith replied though, it was with clipped words and a change of subject, the woman visibly fuming as nobles and servants alike looked on in wonder. This'll be talked of, good, as long as I keep it up. "We've had a lot of mages escaping lately, there seems to be some kind of resistance growing in Darktown You wouldn't know anything about that?"

It was a shot in the dark, and Garrett waved it aside with eyebrows arched, unimpressed and not about to reveal any guilt. "Of course not, Commander, but I'm glad we have the Maker's finest hunting them down. Do try to keep damages to a minimum though, the city's treasury is strained as it is."

In the crowd of nobles, someone chuckled at Garrett's words, only to go silent as Meredith shot a glare in that general direction. "Very well...as you say." The words were growled, the woman apparently realising she'd come in too boldly, not having anything prepared for someone not simply shaking in fear before her icy eyes. "Good bye."

"Before you go, I did mention I wanted to speak with you as well?" Garrett took a step forward, hand raised and a polite smile on his lips as he stopped Meredith in her attempted escape with nothing but courtesy. Sword on your back won't help you now, nor the thirty thousand templars, nor your guards...oh I've waited for this.

"Yes...?" Meredith slowly, unwilling and angry, turned back to face the noble.

"It seems there's some issues in your administration." Garrett begun, polite and correct. "I've heard worrying rumours of the rite of tranquility being performed on people not guilty of anything befitting such a punishment...?"

Meredith looked at him, eyes narrowing. If you try asking me how I know that, it'll be easily explained, but you lash out if you like, it'll only make you seem foolish. In the end though, the Commander thought better of it. "There was, but the guilty got their punishment." An image of Alrik with a hot poker glowing with lyrium stuck through his head flashed before Garrett's mind. I bet. "It's no longer a problem. Now if that was all...?" She turned to leave.

"Actually...it just makes me happy to know you are capable of so swiftly dealing with inaccuracies in your administration." Garrett took another step forward, making Meredith visibly hold back a groan as she turned to face him. "It seems several of your clerks have been coming to the Viscount's keep, more specifically, its treasury, and making withdrawals for..." Garrett feigned pondering the number. "...about ten thousand sovereigns in total?"

Meredith stared at him, face blank, unable to comprehend.

Garrett frowned back, as if confused. "I'm surprised our own clerks allowed it, especially without any papers written to when such a loan should be paid?" He smiled softly as Meredith's face turned hard. "Surely the Templar order doesn't think it can simply take money from Kirkwall's treasury whenever it wants? There are laws to consider, I hardly think the Templars an order capable of willingly breaking them, no? Unless...has the Divine requested this? And the Viscount signed it? I've seen no paper for this, so I'm curious...perhaps we should ask her?"

Meredith squeezed her lips together, glaring at him. Her final reply was a dull growl. "I'll see if I can have the money...returned."

"Thank you." Garrett kept his hand raised though, not about to let the templar leave. "Also, there is the issue about that new keep of yours being built...it seems there was no permission asked of the Viscount? Nor any exchange of gold for the buying of the land it's built on? The ground is the Viscount's property, you know. I'd hate to see you spend so much money on the keep..." Money taken from our treasury. "...only to find it the property of the Viscount and not your order, or even worse, find yourself forced to demolish it."

"I'll send a clerk to you to go through it!" Meredith snapped the words now, scowling at him, daring him to continue.

Garrett gladly answered the challenge. "Also, there seems to be an issue with the way taxation works..." He frowned, shaking his head in confusion. "...someone must have written things wrong, for as it stands now, the state is being taxed by the Chantry three times at least, depending on what the money goes to. I find this odd since the law, as well as Chantry law, says the state and Chantry incomes should be held strictly separate...as in, there shouldn't be a tax in the first place?"

"The clerk can deal with that." Meredith darkly growled, turning to leave, barring no arguments as she begun to move.

Garrett, keeping his tone polite, took a third step forward, his smile struggling to remain polite rather than turning into a smirk. "Excellent, I look forward to meeting this clerk so we can go over this...could you send her over in maybe a week from now? Or is five days sufficient? I know there's a lot of papers for her to find before meeting me, so I'm not going to rush."

For a moment, Meredith was still as a statue...then she nodded without even glancing back, voice a low grumble. "Seven days it is."

With that, neither looking left or right, or acknowledging anyone in the room, Meredith marched away, heading straight for the exit and a humiliating retreat.

Only when she left, did Garrett notice the absence of the great hall's music by virtue of the musicians beginning to play again. Around him, nobles were still keeping their distance...but grins were being exchanged, a few chuckling under their breath as they tittered at one another, shooting Garrett the odd look. Some with amazement, others with shock...but most with approval, many even nodding at him, a few discreet thumbs moving up to show their support.

Taking a deep breath, finally allowing himself to relax, Garrett managed a numb smile and nodded at all acknowledging his victory. That went really well...I was prepared but...Maker, glad it went well. He felt a little dizzy. I need air.

Offering an apologetic nod and smile to a minor noble heading his way, as well as one towards a worried-looking Dumar in the distance, Garrett headed for the nearest balcony.

Yet when he came closer, he found a woman coming out from the twilight out of the balcony. Cecei? The woman didn't slow, she merely looked to him when she strutted past him, smirking and shooting him a decidedly dirty wink. What the...!? Garrett couldn't help but watch the woman brush past him and walk away, everything about her looking so different from what he'd seen in the previous party and their introduction. Did that just...what is...wha? Shaking his head, wondering if he was seeing things, Garrett resumed moving for the balcony, the fresh air brushing in through the open glass doors welcoming him.

Outside, he found Merrill turning to look at him, hands behind her, resting on the balcony's banister. "There you are, I saw you talk to the Knight-Commander from a distance...I was...worried." Merrill looked away, biting her bottom lip.

Garrett, taking a deep breath, senses slowly coming back to him, couldn't help but look at the elf's face. "It's hard to see in the darkness, but are you...blushing?"

"Oh, am I? I didn't...well..." Merrill swallowed, looking back to him, eyes wide. "I just had a wonderful talk with this...Cecei, isn't it?" Again, she bit her bottom lip. "I'd heard you were going to marry her..." Garrett blinked. How did she...Aveline? Isabela? Oh for bloody... "Didn't sound like that when speaking to her though, not considering the things she told me..."

Garrett, shaking his head, moved to stand next to Merrill, resting a hand on the banister as he offered a reassuring smile, not sure why he was. "No, I'm not marrying her." Something flitted behind Merrill's eyes, but was gone in moments. "Now...what's this about her telling you things...?"

"Well she was telling me about this man she'd met..." Merrill begun, making Garrett blink in surprise. So she's been...that's why the Reinhart's daughter isn't well-known and why they were trying to offer her to me...? Before I learnt of her...dallying? "Actually...it was odd, she kept changing his name." Garrett blinked as Merrill frowned, tapping her lip with a finger and looking up at the night's sky. "I think she actually meant that there were several of them, sometimes, erm...sometimes at the same time..." The elf's blush flushed once more. "...I...maybe I understood it wrong, but Isabela tells such stories too, so I thought, maybe...I don't know." Garrett found a little laugh escaping him. "She's perfectly nice though! Once you get past the...graphical descriptions." Garrett's laugh turned into a chuckle as he struggled to contain it and keep it from exploding. I can see why they wanted to marry her off! No wonder no one else has gotten her before me! "Garrett? You okay? You look like you're about to explode..." Merrill snickered.

"I...it's nothing, nothing at all." Garrett, grinning, shook his head and looked back to Merrill, his mirth fading somewhat as he realised his laughing had drawn him a little closer to her. Shouldn't be this close, anyone seeing us might...think things...

Merrill smiled back at him, then gave a little shake of her head, the movement causing the halla hanging from her golden necklace to roll across her skin, her smile turning uncertain before she looked away, gazing upwards. "The...sky's pretty tonight, isn't it? I can see all the constellations...I like the human ones, they're more varied than the Dalish ones. Funny how both have stories tied to them though."

Garrett looked at Merrill for a moment longer, then mimicked her stance, putting both hands against the banister as he leant back against it, his gaze moving upwards, to the darkness above and the twinkling points scattered across it.

Silence.

Then he found himself speaking. "Tell me about the Dalish ones, please."

Merrill's reply was soft. "O-okay..."

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Thank you to Abydos Jackson for fighting time and space itself.