An Evening by the Fire

The stars hung bright and low over the Dalish camp, their light filtering softly through the towering trees. The sounds of the forest had quieted for the night, leaving only the crackle of the campfires and the occasional murmur of voices. Alistair stood near one of the fires, speaking briefly with Lanaya. She had thanked him once again for all the group had done, her gratitude earnest yet weighed down by the responsibilities now on her shoulders.

As their conversation ended, Alistair was about to make his way back to where Leliana and Zevran were resting when an older Dalish elf approached him. His hair was long and streaked with gray, and his face was lined with the marks of age and wisdom. Despite his years, his posture was proud, and his warm smile carried a quiet strength.

"Grey Warden," the elder began, inclining his head respectfully. "I wonder if you might do us a small favor."

Alistair blinked, caught off guard. "A favor? I mean, sure. But haven't we already done enough for one day?" He chuckled nervously.

The elder laughed softly. "Indeed, you have done much, but this is a small thing. Come, sit by the fire with us. The children have been restless after all that has happened, and I think they would like to hear the tale of how you ended the attacks of the werewolves."

Alistair's eyes widened. "The tale? You mean… you want me to tell it? To children?" He looked around as though searching for a way out. "I'm not exactly… good at this sort of thing."

The elder rested a hand on his shoulder. "You fought bravely and with honor. Who better to tell the story than the one who lived it? Besides," he added with a twinkle in his eye, "they'll adore you. Children are kinder critics than you think."

Alistair hesitated, shifting awkwardly on his feet. "Well… I suppose. But don't blame me if they fall asleep halfway through."

The elder smiled, gesturing for him to follow. "Come, Warden. Let us see."

Alistair sat down by the fire, his armor creaking softly as he adjusted himself on the log. The elder clapped his hands lightly, calling the children over. Like moths to a flame, they gathered around, their eyes wide with excitement and curiosity. Some sat cross-legged on the ground, while others clung to their parents, who had also come to listen.

Alistair glanced around nervously, his gaze landing on Leliana, who stood leaning against a nearby tree. She caught his eye and gave him an encouraging smile, her arms crossed in quiet amusement. The sight gave him the confidence to clear his throat and speak.

"Right, so… the story," Alistair began, his voice uncertain. "Well, once upon a time—because that's how all good stories start—there was a brave group of heroes. And, uh… well, I was one of them, so clearly, they were a very lucky group."

The children giggled, and Alistair relaxed slightly, his words flowing more easily.

"These heroes were sent on a great quest to stop a terrible curse. The forest was filled with dangers—growling beasts, twisting shadows, and, worst of all, werewolves. Big, scary werewolves with glowing eyes and very sharp teeth. They'd sneak around in the dark and—ROAR!" He threw his hands up suddenly, making the children jump before breaking into laughter.

"And there we were," he continued, his tone dramatic, "surrounded on all sides. The werewolves howled and snarled, their claws ready to strike. But did we run?" He paused, looking around at the children. "No!"

"No!" the children echoed, their faces alight with excitement.

"Exactly! We stood our ground, swords and bows in hand, and fought with all our might. The werewolves were fierce, but so were we. And do you know what we found?" He leaned forward, his voice dropping conspiratorially.

The children leaned in closer. "What?" one of them asked eagerly.

"We found out that they weren't really so bad after all," Alistair said with a grin. "They were cursed, you see. And what they needed wasn't just a fight—it was understanding. And maybe a little convincing. So, after lots of talking, and, uh, some fighting, we helped them. We worked together to break the curse, and the werewolves became…" He paused, glancing at the elder, then back to the children. "Well, they became… nice. Nice enough to stop attacking, anyway."

The children gasped, some clapping their hands in delight. One of the older children raised her hand. "What happened to the werewolves then?"

Alistair smiled. "Ah, well, that's a story for another time. Let's just say they've got a lot to think about. Just like we all do."

As Alistair finished, the children clapped and cheered, their laughter filling the air. "More!" one of them cried. "Tell us more stories!"

But the elder stepped forward, his expression kind but firm. "Enough for tonight, little ones. The Grey Warden has done much for us, and he needs his rest. So do you."

A chorus of disappointed groans rose from the children, but they obeyed, slowly retreating to their tents and bedrolls.

The elder turned to Alistair, bowing slightly. "Thank you, Warden. You've given them something to smile about on a dark day. For that, we are grateful."

Alistair scratched the back of his head, grinning sheepishly. "Well, it wasn't that much. But… I'm glad they liked it."

A Moment with Leliana

As the camp settled for the night, Alistair made his way over to Leliana, who was still leaning against the tree, her bow slung across her back. She smiled at him as he approached.

"So?" he asked, his tone hopeful but uncertain. "How did I do?"

Leliana laughed softly, her smile warm. "Alistair, you were wonderful. The children adored you. I think you've found your calling—storyteller to the Dalish."

Alistair chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't know about that. I was making most of it up as I went."

"And that," Leliana said, stepping closer, "is what made it perfect. No one else could have done it better."

Her words brought a flush of pride to his face, and he gave her a small, grateful smile. "Thanks, Leliana. That means a lot."

She tilted her head slightly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Just don't let it go to your head, storyteller."

Alistair grinned and made his way back tot he camp but before he could, Leliana reached out and lightly touched his arm.

"Wait," she said softly, her voice just above a whisper.

Alistair froze, turning back to face her. The firelight flickered between them, the night around them quiet save for the distant crackle of flames. Leliana hesitated, her fingers lingering on his arm for a moment before she pulled her hand back.

"Alistair," she began, her gaze dipping briefly before rising to meet his, "I've been meaning to tell you something. Watching you tonight—telling that story, leading us through the forest, even the way you've handled… everything—it reminded me of why I believe in you."

He blinked, caught off guard. "You… believe in me?"

She smiled, her cheeks faintly tinged with color. "I do. You've grown so much since we started this journey. You've made the hard choices, even when they weighed on you. And tonight, you didn't just lead—you inspired. You're becoming the leader we need, Alistair." She paused, her smile turning playful. "Not a bad one, at least. You might even be… impressive."

"Impressive?" Alistair echoed, his voice rising in disbelief. His cheeks were already red, but now he looked utterly flustered. "I… I don't know about that. It's not just me—it's all of us. A group effort, you know. Teamwork!" He laughed nervously, waving his hand as if to brush off the compliment.

Leliana stepped closer, her gaze unwavering. "Maybe. But it was your leadership that brought us to this point. And I think… I think that's something worth acknowledging."

There was a softness in her voice, a subtle shift that hinted at something more than admiration. Her words hung between them, and Alistair's usual quick wit seemed to fail him. He opened his mouth to reply, but no words came.

A Kiss Beneath The Stars

Leliana took a breath, her confidence faltering for just a moment before she leaned forward. Her lips met his in a soft, tentative kiss, her hand brushing lightly against his arm as the warmth of the fire cast dancing shadows over their faces.

Alistair froze, his eyes wide in shock. For a moment, the world seemed to still, the noises of the camp fading into silence. Then, just as suddenly, Leliana pulled back, her cheeks flushed as she realized what she'd done.

"I—I'm sorry," she stammered, her hands fidgeting as she stepped back. "That was… I shouldn't have—"

"Wait!" Alistair interrupted, his voice rising slightly as he raised a hand. His face was bright red, but there was no hesitation in his words. "Don't apologize. You… you really don't need to apologize."

Before she could say anything else, he stepped forward and kissed her in return, his movements awkward but heartfelt. It was a brief, tender moment, and when they finally pulled apart, both of them were red-faced and a little breathless.

The quiet moment didn't last long. As Alistair and Leliana stepped back, exchanging shy smiles, a familiar voice broke the silence.

"Oh, how romantic," Zevran said as he strolled by, his voice dripping with playful amusement. "Truly, you two couldn't be more obvious if you tried. The campfire, the starlight, the stolen glances… It's almost as if you wanted an audience."

Alistair and Leliana both turned to see several Dalish elves watching them from across the camp, some with curious looks, others with knowing smiles. A few children giggled, whispering to one another before being ushered away by their parents.

Alistair groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Maker's breath, they're all staring."

Leliana, though clearly flustered, let out a soft laugh. "Well, I suppose we gave them something to talk about, didn't we?"

Zevran grinned as he walked off, waving a hand dismissively. "Do try to keep it down, lovebirds. Some of us are trying to sleep."

As the onlookers dispersed, Alistair turned back to Leliana, his expression torn between embarrassment and wonder. "So… that happened," he said, his voice soft.

Leliana smiled, her eyes warm as she placed a hand on his arm. "It did. And for the record, I'm glad it did."

Alistair's lips quirked into a crooked smile. "Me too."

They stood there for a moment longer, the firelight flickering between them, before Leliana gestured toward the tents. "You should rest, Alistair. You've had quite the day, my prince."

He nodded, chuckling softly. "I decided to ignore the my prince, but Yeah, I think we both earned it."

As they parted ways, each heading to their respective tents, Alistair couldn't help but glance back, his smile lingering long after Leliana disappeared from view. For the first time in a long while, the weight on his shoulders felt a little lighter.