Once their group finally left Redcliff behind, Cat couldn't help but be relieved. Everything had gone, mostly, as expected. The mages from the Tower had arrived, Wynne had been sent into the Fade, and Connor was freed from the demon's grasp.
Bann Teagan had pleaded with the wardens to assist them in finding Andraste's ashes, the last hope and miracle cure to assist in waking Arl Eamon. The Arl's knights gave them everything they had found on their search for the ashes, and that meant the wardens' next stop was Denerim.
The unexpected part had been last night, as a feast was thrown in their honor. Leliana had shown up in her room with a dress for Cat to wear, and insisted on helping her look "like a lady". She grimaced as she remembered all the awkward posturing, as she had had no idea how to conduct herself. Bann Teagan had been very kind, however his compliments were lost on Cat and she found herself confused more than not. Alistair gawked and turned red whenever she tried to speak to him, and after speaking to Oghren, she blushed so brightly that she avoided him the rest of the evening.
Zevran hadn't been much better, acting somehow like a jealous lover and an overprotective brother at the same time, giving her moments of complete exasperation.
Later, after several failed attempts to sneak out, Cat had finally made it to the door. Leliana, who had brought her back into the thick of things each time, was on the opposite side of the room and Cat grinned as she eased out into the hallway.
She had made it halfway down the hall when she felt a tug on the back of her dress so strong that she was halted where she stood. She turned her head to see Dog had a mouthful of fabric, and his "sad puppy" eyes on her.
She tried asking, she tried bribing, she even tried begging him to let her go but he wouldn't budge and started dragging her back to the party by her dress. She keep walking in the opposite direction, thinking that if the dress ripped it would solve all her problems since Leliana wouldn't keep her there with her dress in that condition.
Either the fabric was strong as steel, or Dog knew what he was doing, because she was losing their tug of war and was pulled back through the door before she knew it. Everyone got a hearty laugh seeing a red faced Cat dragged in by the war hound. She knew she had been bested when Leliana had walked up with a treat and a smirk, patting him and saying "Good Dog."
The following morning, they were back on the road, and Cat couldn't have been happier.
She placed herself in the front with Duran and Zevran, enjoying their banter. For a time they walked in silence, but she found it to be comfortable rather than awkward.
"What's that look?" she heard Alistair ask. "You look like the cat that swallowed the pigeon."
"Canary." Wynne replied.
"What?"
"It's the cat that swallowed the canary, not pigeon," she explained.
"I once had a very large cat," Alistair replied dryly, causing several snickers of laughter. "But, that's not my point. Why are you smirking at me ?" he asked.
"I saw you," Wynne teased. "You seemed in quite a trance, staring up ahead…"
"Well, yes. I look ahead to see where they are leading us" he replied. Cat looked over at Duran with a questioning look only to receive a smirk in return that she didn't understand but she wasn't surprised. She and Alistair were always the last to get the jokes.
"Oh?" Wynne continued. "And where exactly were her swaying hips leading you, hmm?"
Cat joined in giggling softly at Alistair's misfortune as he tried to talk his way out of it.
"No, no. I wasn't looking at her… hind-quarters…"
"Of course," Wynne replied.
"I may have gazed… er, glanced! In that direction, maybe. But, I wasn't staring! Or even seeing anything… even," he said, giving up.
"Mm-hmm," Wynne agreed sarcastically.
"I hate you," Alistair muttered, barely heard over the soft laughter.
"You do realize," Zevran looked over to Cat as she giggled, "that said 'swaying hips' are in fact, yours?"
Cat stopped laughing, and turning, gave Alistair a highly offended look. The group's laughter was even louder, as it was difficult to tell who turned a brighter red.
Three weeks later, they walked into Denerim. Their eclectic group drew stares, but they were left alone as they made their way to the nearest tavern to get directions.
"Can you not simply tell us where to go from here?" Morrigan said disdainfully at Cat.
"The story didn't come equipped with a map, Morrigan," she sniped back while thinking, 'as far as you know.'
"Ugh" Morrigan's trademark noise of disgust made Cat smile.
"But, knowing our luck, it's probably that one across the street, eh Leli?" Cat said to Leliana.
Leliana giggled as the wardens returned outside. "Apparently, it's that one, right across the street" Alistair said. His words were met with stares of disbelief. "What did I say?" he asked Duran.
They made their way over and knocked on the door. Cat immediately frowned at the young man who introduced himself as Weylon. He noticed her animosity and was taken aback, then somewhat frightened by her demeanor. Duran questioned him about Brother Genitivi and caught him lying to them, forcing the younger man to attack.
Zevran took the opportunity to stun the fake Weylon, and Sten caught him as he fell over.
Cat hurriedly ushered everyone inside, trying to avoid anyone's notice. By the time she
closed the door behind them, the man was dead with Duran cleaning his dagger before
re-sheathing it.
Cat pointed towards the back bedroom, and Zevran went with Duran to investigate.
Morrigan and Wynne began perusing the shelves of books, while Oghren and Alistair raided
the kitchen.
Cat watched as Dog paced in front of her, looking bored. She nudged Leliana, "Hey Dog," she said, getting his attention. "See anything interesting?"
They giggled as Dog perked up, and with a bark ran into another room, shortly returning with something in his mouth.
"Well, let's see it," Cat said with a smile pulling the item from Dog and holding it up.
"Is that… someone's small clothes?" Leliana asked with a giggle.
"Yes," Cat drawled. "Some lady's small clothes." She winked at Leliana and said "wonder where these were hiding in the chantry scholar's house?"
Everyone was now focused on them, and watched in interest as Morrigan angrily strode up to Cat and snatched the item from her. Holding it out and creating a flame, she burned it to ash in her hand. Shaking the dust from her hand, she then sniffed in disdain at them, and strode out of the house.
Cat looked around at her friends with a smile as they all burst out laughing. Dog received many an extra treat that day.
"All right," Duran said as they sat around the tables in the Gnawed Noble Tavern. "I think the best way to do this is to split up." He held up his hand at Alistair's protest. "There is much to accomplish, and we can finish more quickly this way," he said.
He paused, but receiving no argument, he continued. "Alistair, you, Wynne and Dog will help Sergeant Kylon. He has several tasks to help make the city safer for the citizens. Once you're done with that, you should have time to look up your sister." Alistair and Wynne nodded, and Dog gave a bark.
"Leliana," Duran continued, turning to the bard. "You, Sten, Oghren and Morrigan will track down this Marjolaine. Scout out the situation first, but if you can end it, go ahead. We can always return with you later if you four are not enough. After that, try to handle some of these tasks we received from the bartender." Leliana looked nervous, but determined, and the four of them nodded their understanding as well.
"Zev, you and I will take Cat with us," Duran said, causing Cat to look at him uncertainly. "We received information on a few lucrative jobs in the area, that are also perfect for Cat to test her skills on" he continued, to her dismay. "Don't give me that look Cat," he said to her. "We're going along to make sure nothing goes awry." She nodded, though she didn't feel any better about it.
Having gotten their assignments, the group went their separate ways, agreeing to meet back at the tavern in time for dinner.
"It's your turn Little Dove, are you prepared?" Zevran asked Cat.
"If I say no, can we skip my turn?" she asked, and they both smirked at her.
"I suppose, if you are afraid…" Zevran started.
"Oh, I know what you are doing, and I'm really not happy that it is working," she said as she glared her worst glare at him.
"You can do this Cat," Duran said. "Now, what's your plan?"
"Hmm…" she thought. "Since my pick pocketing is mediocre at best, I don't think I can do what you both would and simply take it off her. Maybe if it was something small, but not a sword," Duran nodded, but said nothing, letting her work it out, like he was her stealing coach or something.
"Couldry told us she is somewhat of a hypochondriac," Zevran added helpfully.
"That might work," she mused. "I could give her some reason to take off her armor, which would make it easy to swipe the sword."
She looked at them for approval, but couldn't read their expressions. "You'll make sure and intervene if it all goes sideways, right?" she asked, uncertainly.
They glanced at each other then turned back to her. "No," they said in unison.
"What?" She looked back and forth between them. "Why not?"
"We won't always be there," Duran started. "We'll keep you from being killed or hauled off to prison," Zevran added. "But you need to see this through, no matter what may happen" Duran finished.
Cat frowned at them. "I knew you had some epic sort of bromance developing, but I never expected you to finish each others' sentences," she groused.
They glanced at each other again, before turning to her with twin smirks. "That wasn't meant as a compliment!" she said, though she couldn't help but laugh.
Cat would never claim to be a rogue, now that she had seen Duran and Zevran in action, but she was pleased with her contributions. She had easily stolen the decorative sword from Ser Nancine while pretending to work at the Wonders of Thedas shop, once she convinced the woman to try on several dresses.
She had also been an instrumental distraction for a Seneshal's guards, allowing Zevran to sneak in and steal a crown that was in the Seneshal's care. However, she most proud of successfully sneaking into a seemingly abandoned warehouse. Though she had been caught, she managed to convince the guards that she was an innocent woman that had simply gotten lost. Her "coaches" had heaped praise on her after that one.
Having finished the jobs, Duran and Zevran had led her into a small armor shop in the market district.
While Duran spoke with Wade and Herren, Cat was fan-girling. She was wondering what Duran was ordering from the best armorer of exotic materials in Thedas.
"Alright Cat, we will come back to pick you up once you're done," Duran told her.
"Wait, what?" she asked. "Why?"
"You were not listening again, were you my dove?" Zevran asked, "Caught unaware, how disappointing," he said making a tsk sound with his tongue.
"Whatever, Zev" she said, rolling her eyes. "Why?" she asked Duran again.
"Master Wade will measure you for some simple armor," he replied. "We have plenty of materials, and with you doing more fighting we need to see that you're protected."
"Wow, thanks Duran," she said excitedly. "My first armor!" She then gave them a questioning glance. "And where are you going to be while I am getting measured?" she asked.
The only answer she got was two identical grins.