"Josie, I can't wear this..."

"Lainey, it's fine! You look gorgeous!" Josephine said, assuring her. "Don't you want to impress the King when you meet him? Edmund has been talking very highly of you."

Lainey blushed. "Josie, please. Eddie brags too much sometimes, you know that."

"True, but one would be a daft fool not to brag about you." Josie said with a smile. "Now, come on, let's join the others."

Lainey followed after Josephine and they entered into the main hall.

"I must say, Lainey, you really out did yourself!" Josephine said.

"Well, you, Eddie and the others had a lot of work to do, so I hope it's alright." Lainey looked around the main hall, proud of herself. Her hard work seemed to pay off and everyone was enjoying themselves.

"Lainey, I couldn't have done better myself." Josephine said, then looked behind them and waved. "Come, Edmund is with the Cullen and Leliana. Looks like they have the King's attention."

Josephine grabbed her hand and pulled her through the crowd towards the others. "Inquisitor, good evening!"

"Ah, Josephine! Great party, is it not?" Edmund said, smiling. "You have Lainey with you, too! Wonderful. Let me both introduce you to the King of Ferelden, Alistair Theirin."

Josephine bowed as the King turned to greet them, but when he saw Lainey his eyes brightened and he smiled- a small blush at his cheeks.

Lainey blushed when she saw the King and realized that he was the man she had run into before, the one who had not said a word to her. She bowed to him, her hands clasped in front of her. "Maker, please forgive me for not recognizing you sooner, Majesty! I should have been more respectful!"

Alistair chuckled. "It's alright. We've never met until today and I didn't introduce myself until now. My apologies, as I was rendered speechless earlier." He glanced at Edmund. "The Inquisitor failed to mention how beautiful you were."

Lainey stood straight and blushed, her hands still clasped in front of her. "Oh, Maker, I've made a mess of this..."

Cullen chuckled, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Lainey, it's alright. You're doing fine." He offered her a reassuring smile.

She looked up at him and sighed, offering him a smile in return. "You know I don't do well with these kinds of things, Cullen.

Edmund laughed. "Cousin dearest, that's rich coming from the child of one of the wealthiest noble families in Ferelden. Your family only competes with the Couslands on matters like these and you know how your mother loved throwing parties. Didn't you and Gregory Brecker have a few dances together?"

"Eddie, now that's not fair! What about you and Cecilia Ingram? I heard you two got caught kissing in the stables." Lainey glared at him playfully as he threw his hands up in defeat, then looked back at the King. "Please forgive my cousin here. He's a bit of a brat." She stuck out her tongue when Edmund snickered, then turned her attention to the King once more. "Allow me to properly introduce myself. I am Elaina Allread, cousin to Edmund Trevelyan. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, sire." She bowed again and offered the King a smile.

"It is a pleasure to meet you as well, Lady Allread." He took her hand and leaned down, kissing it, and in turn getting a deeper blush from her. "I am Alistair Theirin, as the Inquisitor said, and it is most definitely a pleasure meeting you as well."

Lainey felt her heart racing. 'What is this feeling? Why do I blush so much around this man?'

"So, Edmund here, tells me you are a mage?" Alistair asked, letting go of her hand.

"Y-Yes, sire. I am a healer primarily, but I can use elemental as well as spirit magik. I prefer not to use those kinds of spells, though, unless I have to."

"Oh?" Alistair asked, intrigued. "Perhaps you can tell me more over a dance?"

Lainey blushed. "I'd be honoured to, sire, but I'm not very good."

Alistair offered her his hand. "Let me tell you a secret." He smiled. "Neither am I."

Lainey looked between her cousin and her friends, all of whom nodded and urged her to go, then took his hand and nodded. "Alright, lead the way, sire."

Alistair's smile grew and he led Lainey through the crowd to an open space on the dance floor. Pulling her in closer, Alistair wrapped an arm around her waist and held her hand with his free one.

Lainey set her hand on his shoulder and a tiny gasp escaped from her as he pulled her in closely.

As the music picked up, they began to dance, falling in step with each other. They danced with others in the crowd, but many stopped to watch the King of Ferelden and the Inquisitor's cousin dancing.

"So, tell me more about what you prefer in battle? What are your tactics?" Alistair asked as they danced.

Lainey looked up at him. "Well, as I said before, I'm primarily a healer. If faced with a battle, I prefer to use a sword."

"Ah, so you're an arcane warrior then?"

"I suppose. I've never really put much thought into it. As a healer, I usually stay behind and care for the wounded."

"Interesting. Well, it definitely suits you it seems."

Lainey looked up at him, but then song ended and the crowd clapped. As the next song began, she watched as Alistair looked down at her with a twinkle in his eye.

"I could use a bit of fresh air away from all this. Would you care to join me?"

Lainey thought for a moment, then smiled. "Sounds like you don't want your guards to follow. Come with me, then, I know a perfect spot." She took his hand this time and led the King to her favourite spot in all of Skyhold.

Alistair let Lainey lead him through the crowd and slip through one of the side doors, smirking as she made sure no one saw them. She led him up some stairs and through a few hallways to one of the battlements. She led him up the stairs and out to the top level of one of the towers and let go of his hand, smiling.

"Welcome to my little spot, sire. Here, you can see everywhere around Skyhold and the Frostbacks. The only place that has a better view is Eddie's room up there." Lainey pointed to the tallest tower in the keep. "I come here whenever I need a place to think or just to take a moment to myself." A breeze blew through the keep, causing Lainey to reach up to tuck her hair behind her ear and look up at the sky, breathing in the sweet fresh air.

Alistair felt himself blush as he looked at her, her mousy brown hair swaying in the breeze, her tanned skin glistening in the moonlight. She wore a gold and dark magenta dress, fancy filigree embroidery decorating it. She wore matching earrings and black kohl eyeliner. Her lips were supple and coloured like peonies. Her body was accentuated with hourglass curves. She was indeed beautiful.

Lainey caught Alistair staring at her and blushed. "Is something wrong, sire?"

Alistair felt his blush deepen and he shook his head. "Not at all, Lady Allread. I can see why you like it so much up here. The moon lights the scene in ways the sun could not."

Lainey giggled. "Sire, please, call me 'Lainey'. I've never been one for formalities."

Alistair smiled. Her smile was so warm, her giggle adorable. "I could never refuse a request from such a beautiful woman." He watched her blush, the moonlight brightening her rosy cheeks. "To be honest, I don't care for formalities much, either. Call me 'Alistair' then, if we are dropping the formalities. Besides, I'm sure we'll see each other quite a bit over the next few weeks."

Lainey was really enjoying her time with him and smiled. "You are staying then? For a bit at least?"

Alistair chuckled. "Yes. Until our business with the Inquisition is finished."

Lainey blushed and clasped her hands in front of her. "Perhaps I could show you around the keep then? Help you get acquainted with Skyhold? It is the least I could do for you, you know, since I was such a dolt about our first meeting."

Alistair blushed and rubbed his neck. "I'd like that."

"Your Majesty! Lainey!" someone called from the main hall.

They looked at each other and smiled, both blushing.

"I suppose we should return then?"

Alistair nodded. "James will feed me to a mabari if I don't hurry back."

Lainey giggled at that. "Come on, then, before anyone gets suspicious."

They walked back to the main hall together, Alistair having offered her his arm, and returned to the party.

"Ah, there you are!" Edmund said, coming up to them. "Where'd you two run off to?"

Alistair and Lainey looked at each other and smiled, both blushing. "Lainey was just showing me a great view of the keep."

Edmund looked between the two of them, then over at James as he joined them.

"Your Majesty, it's time to retire. The Inquisitor has a room prepared for you." he said.

Alistair sighed and nodded. "Very well." He turned to Lainey and took her hand in his, bringing it to his lips. "It has been a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lainey. I look forward to spending more time with you and the Inquisition in the weeks to come."

Lainey blushed as he kissed her hand, then bowed to him as he stood. "It has been an honor, Alistair. Try to rest up, you've had a long day."

Alistair smiled, then followed James towards his room after bidding Edmund and the others a good night. When he disappeared through the door, Edmund turned to his cousin and looked at her.

"Lainey..."

"What?" Lainey asked, blushing profusely.

"Be careful, cousin." Edmund warned. "The King is a good man, but I would hate to see either of you get hurt."

"Oh, hush, Eddie. We talked, I offered to give him a tour of the keep, and that's it. Now, stop being a brat and trying to start a scandal when there is none." Lainey said, then hugged him. "I'm going to bed as well, so I will see you in the morning."

Edmund rolled his eyes and hugged her back. "Fine, but if you start anything with the King, be prepared there will be rumours flying no matter what."

Lainey turned away, ignoring him with a smile, but stopped when he added, "You did do really good with the party tonight, Lainey. Everyone is really impressed, even the King."

Lainey smiled and went through the door into the living quarters wing. She made her way to her room, hearing the sounds of the party fading through the closed door the further away she got. She reached her floor and went to her door, only stopping when she saw Alistair bidding James a good night and turning towards his own room, just down the hall. Alistair noticed her standing by her room and he raised a hand in greeting before going into his room. Lainey blushed and hurried into her room, quickly closing the door.

"Maker, this will be a long few weeks."