"Why am I here, again?" Calilian stayed by the doorway and stared at the people gathered, her words barely audible.
"You're here to celebrate. You're just as important as any of us. And, you gave us a reason to investigate Howe. That's more than we had before." I wrapped an arm around her shoulder, "Hey, are we the same age?"
"I'm nine."
"We are! That's so cool." I grinned excitedly.
"Is everyone here?" Alistair called out, eyeing those gathered, "It looks like it."
"Why are we here?" Morrigan was absolutely frigid.
"We're celebrating! It'll be over soon, one way or another. Why not have a party?" I chimed in.
Zevran gave me an amused glance. Sten looked stoic, as per usual. Leliana was gazing at the food with eagerness, more than likely pushing the memories of Alistair's cooking as far from her mind as possible. Oghren had already started drinking. No surprise there. The other four Wardens were gathered in a tight knit group, chatting amongst themselves.
"C'mon, Cali. We need to get seats next to each other!" I dragged her to the head of the table, where I picked two chairs, "Here!"
We sat, and everyone followed suit. The assassin snaked his way in to the chair on my other side before Alistair could, and it was all I could do to hold in a laugh at the warrior's expression. He decided to sit across from me, instead.
Once everyone had settled at the table, I stood, "Tonight, I want no talk of the archdemon. The Blight. The darkspawn. The reagent. Kings or queens. I want nothing but fun." I put my hands on the table and leaned forward, glaring, "I. Want. A. Good. Time. Does everyone understand?"
"What'll happen if we-" Oghren belched, cutting himself off.
I smiled sweetly, the picture of innocence, "There are worse things than death."
The dwarf slapped the table and bellowed a laugh. Soon, the room was filled with giggles and chuckles. I hadn't been joking, but it was nice to hear such light tones. I hoped darkness wouldn't rear its head until tomorrow.
...
"And that's how I ended up fighting a roast at a funeral." Oghren raised his mug of ale, hiccuping after he'd finished his story.
He, Leliana, and Zevran had us in stitches all night, regaling us with tale after tale. When one story had ended, one of them would start another. I doubted I'd ever laughed so much before in any of my lives.
Cali leaned toward me, whispering, "I don't think I've ever had this much fun before."
"Me, neither." I rested my head on her shoulder, content in the knowledge that they were all having fun.
"I'm gettin' sodding bored of stories!" And there went the alcohol, straight to his attitude.
"Well, we can play a game, if you want." I offered.
"What kinda game?" for as drunk as he was, he was still really eloquent.
"There's... never have I ever." I murmured, trying to think of other ones.
"Whas that?"
All eyes were on me, now.
"It's simple, really. Everyone takes turns saying something they've never done. Anyone who has, takes a shot of whatever they're drinking. Or a large swallow of your mug." I shrugged.
"What are the rules of this game?" Leliana inquired, curious.
"Those are the only rules, really. One person goes, people drink. Another person's turn, people drink. One way to play is to make others lose their points. You start off with a set amount, and if you've done something, you lose a point. The last person with points wins. Another is the drink thing. I figured you guys would like it to be a drinking game."
"Why not both?" Her eyes were gleaming, schemes already forming in her head.
"Uh... In that case, the game would probably end when everyone is too drunk. Judging by you lot." I paused, feeling like I was missing something, "OH! That's right. If no one drinks or loses points on your turn, you're the one taking the hit."
"Hmm. Why don't you go first, to show us how it's done?"
"All right. How about..." I sat up, tapping my chin thoughtfully, "Never have I ever..." I grinned devilishly, "slept with siblings."
"You're a child!" She exclaimed heatedly.
"Exactly. Why, have you slept with siblings?" Her cheeks turned red, "Drink up, Leli."
She narrowed her eyes at me as she, Zevran, Duran, and Natia all had to down some alcohol.
"Never have I ever slept late." the bard directed toward me.
I stuck out my tongue and swallowed some of my lemonade. Which I'd made myself. The servants had been enthralled.
Several rounds later, it was my turn for the... I'd lost count.
"Never have I ever been arrested!" Everyone had taken to shouting their statements, and I was no exception.
"Gah! Never have I ever fainted!"
"Never have I ever sang in front of anyone!"
Soon, we'd devolved in to shouting the most ridiculous things, points forgotten.
"Never have I ever eaten rotten food!"
"Never have I ever bargained half price!"
"Never have I ever been scared of the dark!"
"Never have I ever played poker!"
"Never have I ever looked through someone's diary or journal without permission!" I was screaming at this point, to be heard over everyone else.
Alistair drank to that, along with almost all the others, and I burst out laughing, remembering the birthday card.
"Never have I ever paid someone for sex!"
I snorted at that one, watching as Leliana and Zevran both emptied their mugs for the however-many-th time tonight. Oghren had long since passed out, the Couslands were on the verge of falling face first in to the table, and the dwarf Wardens looked like they were making eyes at each other. Sten and Morrigan were acting like they were ignoring us, yet they kept drinking, even though they'd been knocked out pretty early on. The assassin had started slurring his words, and the princeling had announced he was, surprisingly, out of points somewhere along the line. I was honestly shocked that Leliana, Zevran, Calilian, and I were the only ones with points still. With everything those two had done, I'd expected them to lose early on, too. I had an inkling that at least one of them was lying.
"Never have I ever had a drink come out of my nose!" I laughed, pouncing on the opportunity because it had just happened to the bard.
"Andrrassste's ass, Anasstasssia!" Leliana growled, the threat of bodily harm less potent with the slurring of her words.
I doubled over, unable to stop myself from giggling hysterically.
"There's hardlyy anythinng left!" She raged, "What could we pooossibly say? Never have I ever... starved mysehlf!"
The room got quiet as I raised my glass to my lips. Her mouth fell open, and her cheeks pinked with more than just the liquor.
Before anyone could say anything, Oghren belched in his sleep and startled himself awake, "Wha-Not the teddy bear! Anything but... the... How long was I out?"
I started snorting and couldn't stop, the giggles escaping on the heels of them. One by one, my companions joined in, and the tension evaporated. For the time being, anyway. I wondered how long it would take for someone to find me and broach the subject.
Calilian left shortly after that, saying she should probably get back to her time, and we hugged goodbye. Neither of us said what we were worried about; this might be the last time we'd see each other before the fight with the archdemon, and there was no guarantee I, or anyone else, would live through it.
I, of course, was the only one who woke up the next morning without a hangover. The lemonade being a virgin, I hadn't actually had any alcohol, and Zevran gave me hell for it when I accidentally let it slip.
"You're an evil, evil child." He groaned, holding his head, "I would say you cheated, but you never specified it had to be alcohol in your cup."
It was a very long day and an even longer trip back to Denerim.