Lainey

Lainey stood with one of the merchants, going over a report for Josephine. When she finished with her business, she decided to pay a visit to the tavern and talk with Varric. When she entered the tavern, she smiled as the warm air flushed her skin, the scent of alcohol as strong as ever.

"Pixie!"

She looked over to see Varric sitting with the Iron Bull and Sera, sharing a few drinks together. She smiled and went over to their table. "I thought I'd find you here."

Varric chuckled. "Where else would we be right now?"

"So yer the Pixie of Skyhold, eh?" a gruff voice said, coming from another dwarf who joined them.

"Yes, I am." Lainey said, eyeing the dwarf. "And who are you, ser?"

The dwarf chuckled. "The name's Oghren."

Lainey looked at him. "Are you here with the King?"

Oghren nodded. "Aye. The pike-twirler and I go way back."

"Oh?"

"Oghren here was a companion to the King and the Hero of Ferelden." Varric said.

"I see. Well, then Oghren, it was a pleasure to make you acquaintance." Lainey said, offering him a smile.

Oghren eyed her. "Yer a real pretty gal, Pixie. Very dainty and proper."

Lainey blushed a little, then turned to Varric. "I had a question for you, but I suppose it can wait until later. I will leave you to enjoy your time with your new friend." Lainey bowed to Oghren. "I do hope that you enjoy your stay in Skyhold."

"Well, ask away, Pixie. I don't mind." Varric said, looking at her. "What's on your mind?"

Lainey sighed. "I was just curious if you knew anything about the King. I suppose I could ask the same of you, Oghren, since you were a companion of his."

"What do you wanna know?"

"What is the King actually like?"

Oghren chuckled. "Well, when I met him, he was a strapping young lad who was really lost after losing Duncan and the other Wardens at Ostagar. Only James survived with him."

Lainey recalled the stories she had heard about what happened during the Blight. She had been visiting Edmund and their family in Ostwick during the time.

"Over the course of that year though, Alistair really grew up. Once Loghain had been dealt with and Alistair was put on the throne, things started to look better for him. He's been king for nearly fifteen years, still hasn't taken a wife, but the people love him and he's well respected throughout Ferelden."

Lainey looked at Oghren. "Thank you, I appreciate you telling me a bit more about the King."

Oghren took a long draw from his mug of mead. "No problem, Pixie. You know, Alistair was excited to finally meet you and the Inquisitor."

Lainey blushed and smiled a bit at that, bowing to her friends and Oghren, thanking them for their time. Turning to leave, she exited the tavern and walked up the battlement stairs to take the walkway to the garden. She hummed softly to herself as she walked, feeling better than earlier that morning. She found no one tending the garden yet, so she was able to sit peacefully in the gazebo and took out her book. It was a new spell book, or rather an old tome that had been rediscovered from the library in the keep, that had grabbed her attention in her free time. Sitting there reading, she hummed to herself and enjoyed the peace and quiet.

Alistair

Alistair finished his meeting with the Inquisitor and went to find Lainey. He still wanted a tour of the keep, mostly just to spend time with her. He would have travelled to Skyhold to meet with the Inquisitor much sooner, but between the war, the Breach, and the chaos everywhere in the lands, his attention had been fully claimed and he hadn't the time to leave Denerim. What he didn't realize he would find once he reached Skyhold, was Lainey.

When he looked at Lainey, he saw more than the Inquisitor's cousin. He saw a young woman, beautiful and strong willing to do what she could to help those in need. He was starting to like every time she blushed when they met each other's gaze and though he was used to the blushing cheeks and averted eyes of woman who fawned over him in the past, Lainey was somehow different. Yes, she blushed, and Maker did he find it adorable, but she never averted her gaze. She held her ground and gave him her attention.

When they had exchanged pleasantries the night before, she had claimed his full attention, which he found impressive considering he had grown bored of constant meetings and the same types of people over and over as the days went by. She was indeed beautiful: mousy brown hair with blonde tips cut to the base of her neck and left long in the front, her tanned skin, her peony coloured lips, her brilliant blue eyes. But it wasn't just her physical beauty that caught his eye. He knew she was a noble, but the way she held herself was more than just as a noble should. She was tall for a woman around her age, standing only a few inches shorter than him. The night before, he had really noticed her shapely hourglass curves in the dress she wore, but he could tell she was toned and well built and healthy.

When he finally found Lainey, she was reading by herself in the empty garden, sitting in the gazebo. She had her legs resting on the bench- tucked together at her side- her elbow propped up on the railing as she leaned back. He heard her humming softly to herself and smiled. He felt a new sense of excitement starting to well up inside of him as he approached the gazebo.

"I hope I am not interrupting you." he said, leaning against the archway.

Lainey looked up and smiled. "Not at all. How was your morning? I assume it was busy."

Alistair shrugged. "I met with your cousin for an hour or so, then came to find you. I must say, this is quite a large keep. I do think it wise I get a tour."

Lainey giggled and stood, closing her book. "Alright, then. Shall we?"

Alistair returned her smile and gave her a little bow, earning him another giggle and blush from Lainey. "Lead the way, my lady."