"My lady, I have some dresses that you may find to your liking. They are just in here."

The elves led me into the room beside the one Leliana had been taken into and showed me dresses laid out on the bed.

I looked them over and found more than two of them too puffy and one very much too green for my taste. But there were two others that caught my eye- one red and one brown.

"By the way, what is your name?" I asked the elf doing all of the talking.

"My name, my lady?" the elf answered, unsure.

I smiled.

"Yes, your name. I am Detra."

The elf looked nervous at first and then he answered.

"My name is Maeric, my lady."

"Maeric? That sounds very close to..."

"Maric? Yes, I was named after our past King. I was born in the castle and my mother adored King Maric and so that is how I got my name."

I smiled.

"I like it, Maeric."

The elf smiled back at me, still a bit hesitant.

"Thank you, my lady."

I walked to the bed and touched the lone red dress that I found attractive.

"How about we start with this one, Maeric?"

"As you wish, my lady."

For the next hour or so, poor Maeric was subjected to trying to squeeze me into dresses that were not willing to accommodate my generous hips and I was not having a jolly time of it myself.

"I'm sorry, Maeric. It seems none of these dresses will have me."

"We will figure something out, my lady. There are some other..."

I interrupted him, shaking my head.

"I'm sorry, but if they are Isolde's as well, we're just going to have the same problem. She and I, we don't share the same size it seems."

Maeric looked helpless and I assured him it was no major dilemma.

"I'll go and speak with Eamon and see what else he might suggest, Maeric. Please don't worry about it. There must be stores in Denerim I can get to."

"Yes, perhaps the Arl has another suggestion or knows of someone, my lady."

Maeric and I walked from the room and Leliana stepped out of her fitting room just as we were leaving mine.

"Hey." I said, still disappointed about the dress fiasco.

Leliana looked excited as we made our way down the stairs and Maeric scooted ahead of us to give us privacy.

"You should see the dress that I'm wearing, Detra. It's beautiful! It's blue and gray with just a hint of white in the border and they found me the most gorgeous shoes to go with it!"

I smiled. At least everyone else had found things to wear.

"What color is your dress, Detra? What did you pick out?"

I frowned.

"Oh I could not squeeze into any of Isolde's dresses, none that I fancied anyhow. My large hips were not cooperating, getting in the way as they were."

Leliana giggled.

"Hips are one of the many things that make a woman beautiful, so I would not feel badly about that, Detra. I think you're hips are fine."

Leliana smiled at me with a twinkle in her eye and I was grateful for the Arl's interruption.

"So Maeric tells me that none of the dresses suited you, Detra?"

"It was not so much that they did not suit me. It's that they would not fit around this area."

I gestured around my hips.

Eamon nodded.

"Oh, I see. Well, we will have to find another alternative then."

One of the female elves stepped towards the Arl.

"Sir, I do know a seamstress who may have some suitable dresses available or she may be able to work quickly. Shall I go and see her?"

"Yes, by all means and take anyone you need with you." Eamon said.

Alistair was coming down the hall as we spoke with Eamon and he was back in his regular clothes and smiling happily about that.

"Hey! Did you two find dresses that you like?"

Leliana could not help but be excited again about her assigned outfit to Alistair as well, gushing in particular about the shoes.

"They are so beautiful! A shiny, silken blue with amber beads on the toe... so exquisite! Just like we have in Orlais and nothing like these clunky, fur-lined boots you call shoes here."

Alistair and I looked at each other.

"Oh, I did not mean any offense. It is what you need to walk around in this country, I suppose. But you will never see a finer shoe made anywhere than you will in Orlais."

Leliana's eyes glittered and we laughed watching her.

"So I take it you like shoes, Leliana?" Alistair said.

"Very much so! Can you not tell or would you like to hear about the blue ones again?"

Alistair held his hands up, laughing.

"No, I believe I know how you feel, Leliana."

Eamon looked as if he felt a tad out of place and interrupted us.

"Yes, well... Once we get you an outfit, Detra, then everything will be complete for tomorrow. If it is too late when a dress is located, I will not have my servants disturb you. We will have you try it on in the morning. I am sure there will be time for adjustments if needed."

"Oh, I would not worry about keeping me from sleep, Eamon. I am usually up late anyhow."

"Very well. We shall see what my helpers come up with then. For now, I am told that dinner is ready to be served."

"Yum!" Alistair cheered.

For once this whole week, I agreed with him.

Alistair and Eamon walked ahead of us and began talking and I watched Eamon put his arm around Alistair's shoulder and smile. It was really touching to see them getting on the way they did lately. The way Alistair had described his relationship with the Arl years ago, it sounded as if they had spent all of their time fighting. Even if that had been true, any grudges had obviously been put aside and it seems they were making up for lost time while they could.

Hard times bring about the toughest and sometimes most necessary responses.

We made our way into the most used room in the estate and everyone else was already seated at the table, laughing and eating as elves served the food.

I had not spoken to Zevran for the whole week so I paused at his seat as I walked past.

"Zev, what have you been up to this week? I've hardly seen you at all."

Zevran turned to me.

"Ah, Detra, it is good to see you. And what have I been up to? Hmm, let's see. Well I've had much fun exploring the city of Denerim since you haven't needed my services and...Have you ever heard of The Pearl?"

I laughed, wondering how long it took him to find the place.

"Yes, Zevran. We had to go and speak with someone there last time we were in Denerim."

"Ah, yes of course, I forgot. Anyhow, that place has been keeping me busy so far with its many... indulgences."

I laughed.

"Once you said where you've been, I knew you could never be bored, Zev. I'm glad you're having fun."

"Let me know should you require my assistance, Detra. That is why I am here after all."

I nodded to Zevran and moved onwards towards my usual seat next to Alistair.

Alistair wasted no time diving into his plate while I casually chose some food to pile onto mine.

"Do you miss the kids, Alistair? It's strange not seeing you cut meat every night. Well, aside from your own."

"You know I do but it's so much safer for them at the Keep than it is in Denerim, even if we win this fight. I don't want anything to happen to them. Not even a scratch."

"I agree. The only threat we ever found around the Peak were those elves and that spirit we vanquished within it, so it's safe for all now. I wish I had been able to say goodbye to them."

Alistair raised his eyebrow.

"Um...when they left, Detra, you were in no shape to even stand, much less talk."

I sighed, not wanting to remember that time and Alistair thankfully changed the subject.

"Hey I wonder if Levi's family has gotten there yet. That will make getting things to Goldanna much easier, even though I sent them with about two months worth of supplies."

"I don't know, but most likely. He said they were only days out when we left and it's been over a week."

"I hope they made it there."

"I'm sure we'll get news soon."

Our conversation fizzled out and we then concentrated on the food on our plates. Food actually tasted good to me and I found myself gobbling a bit faster than I would have liked, hoping no one noticed.

Leliana gazed across the table at Alistair and I and sighed, watching us laugh and chat with one another as she cut some potatoes on her plate.

Why does she never sit over here with me?

We used to be able to laugh like that. About so many things.

Why is it only with Alistair now?

Leliana continued eating but kept an eye on us, trying to keep in check the small resentment growing inside her.

"So Eamon, I'm sorry but I have to ask this. What happens if a fight breaks out while we're at the tavern and we have no armor or weapons to defend ourselves with?" Alistair began.

Eamon finished chewing and then answered.

"Surely you know that there will be a large crowd in the tavern, Alistair. That is where most of the remaining citizens of Denerim are spending their days now with the Darkspawn attack so close at hand. Also the fact that you will not be wearing your armor will make you stand out less to the guards, therefore making the odds of attack very low."

I hit Alistair's arm.

"Will you quit trying to get out of dressing nice for once, Alistair? It won't kill you."

"I'm not! I just...I'm just going to feel very strange without my armor. It's like my second skin."

I had to agree with him there. I knew when it came time to actually be around all of those people and be in a simple dress, I would feel the same way too.

The rest of the meal went quietly with some small talk here and there but it was evident everyone was tired.

I suddenly noticed Leliana looking at me across the table and she offered me a small smile and I was a bit shocked but smiled back as best I could so as not to appear rude.

Eamon stood up and addressed the group after an elf had hurried to his side.

"Some friends have just arrived that I need to confer with so I take my leave of you all tonight. I think it best that you all get as much rest as you can for tomorrow is the critical juncture leading up to the Landsmeet. Hopefully we can meet it head on. Goodnight all."

Eamon gave a small bow and then left the dining room with some servants, more business awaiting him.

Appetites were eventually sated for the night and the elves began removing what was left of any food on the table and our group began filtering out of the room slowly but surely.

Alistair hit my arm as most everyone had left the table already, Leliana included, and smiled at me.

"Looks like someone wants to talk to you."

"What?"

"I saw how Leliana looked at you, Detra. If that wasn't an invitation to talk, I don't know what is."

"Oh hush, Alistair. She's probably just happy to see I'm not drunk and falling over tonight."

Alistair smiled.

"Exactly."

I shook my head.

"Why do you need to read into things, Alistair? It was a simple smile, that's all. You and I do it all the time."

Alistair poked at me.

"Sometimes I see things other miss. You should go and talk to Leliana or you'll probably be sorry you didn't."

I pondered what he was saying and Alistair smiled at me again as he stood up, knowing he'd set my mind off.

"Have a great night, Detra. I will see you in the morning."

Alistair squeezed my shoulder and left the room, catching up with Zevran.

Now my thoughts returned to Leliana, even as I tried to avoid them.

Was he right?

Did Leliana want to speak with me now that I was not acting a complete fool?

Perhaps it was better I leave things as they are since it appeared she was no longer angry with me.

Surely I'd just say something imprudent and we would start the cycle of anger all over again.

I made my way to my room, not in any rush at all and told Deric I would not need him again at all tonight and that he should do something that he wanted.

"I will see you in the morning then, my lady."

I was left alone in my room after that and I busied myself with changing into my bedclothes even though I was not tired at all.

After just a few moments of my solitary confinement, I'd already had enough. I quietly made my way out into the hallway and headed towards Leliana's room but knowing I could stop anywhere that I liked along the way, if the want arose.

I did not encounter anyone else in the hallway besides a few unfamiliar elves and then I found myself in front of Leliana's door, just staring at it.

After some arguments in my head, I decided it best that I leave well enough alone and turned back towards my room.

Some things should not be forced.