She visits the Commander every once in a while, a lovely redhead with a smile that stirs Nathaniel’s blood. He wonders about her relationship with the Commander - Elissa is married, sure, but he’s also known her long enough to know that fidelity may not be at the top of her priority list. Perhaps she and the King have an understanding of some sort. If that’s the case, Nathaniel can’t help but be jealous - of both women, he admits to himself.
One day, though, he finds Leliana in the Keep’s sitting room, her travel pack at her feet. “My lady,” he says, giving a shallow bow.
“Nathaniel,” she acknowledges him, with that smile that seems to hint at a dozen different secrets. “My usual room is apparently in use by an Orlesian Warden, so I’m waiting for the housekeeper to find me another.”
“Your room?” Nathaniel raises an eyebrow. Before he can think better of it, he continues, “I thought you stayed …” His mouth clamps shut, and he looks away.
Leliana laughs. “With Elissa? No, I don’t think Alistair would care too much for that.”
“Ah. I’ve only met the King briefly, so I wouldn’t know.”
“He’s an old fashioned sort. It’s one of his many charms.” She pats the seat next to her. “Come, sit down, if you have a moment.”
For her, he’d take a hundred moments. He sits down, close enough to her that he can feel the warmth of her body next to his. “What brings you to Amaranthine this time?”
“I’m leaving for Orlais next week, and I may not be back in Ferelden for a long while. I wanted to say goodbye to Elissa. And everyone else here.”
“We’ll miss you.”
“And I, you. But there’s a story that needs telling in Val Royeax.” Her expression is thoughtful, but she doesn’t elaborate. Then, Leliana looks away - is that a blush staining her cheeks? It’s not anything Nathaniel has seen from her before. “I wonder …” she begins, then trails off.
“What?”
She’s silent for a long moment. “It’s been a while,” she says, looking back at him, “since I’ve invited myself to a man’s bed. I wonder if I’ve lost the right words.”
Nathaniel blinks. The half smile on her face leaves no doubt as to whose bed she’s referring to. A smile spreads across his face, and he leans over to press a light kiss to Leliana’s mouth. She giggles, her breath fanning across his face. “I think you’ve got the words you need,” he murmurs.
“Good.” She pokes him lightly in the chest. “Because there’s a story here I haven’t yet learned the ending of.”
“I’m not much for endings. Beginnings, however …”
“A beginning, then.” Leliana captures his lips for a more thorough kiss, one that tangles their tongues and steals Nathaniel’s breath. “I’m very fond of a good beginning.”
A Good Beginning (Leliana/Nathaniel, G)
One day, though, he finds Leliana in the Keep’s sitting room, her travel pack at her feet. “My lady,” he says, giving a shallow bow.
“Nathaniel,” she acknowledges him, with that smile that seems to hint at a dozen different secrets. “My usual room is apparently in use by an Orlesian Warden, so I’m waiting for the housekeeper to find me another.”
“Your room?” Nathaniel raises an eyebrow. Before he can think better of it, he continues, “I thought you stayed …” His mouth clamps shut, and he looks away.
Leliana laughs. “With Elissa? No, I don’t think Alistair would care too much for that.”
“Ah. I’ve only met the King briefly, so I wouldn’t know.”
“He’s an old fashioned sort. It’s one of his many charms.” She pats the seat next to her. “Come, sit down, if you have a moment.”
For her, he’d take a hundred moments. He sits down, close enough to her that he can feel the warmth of her body next to his. “What brings you to Amaranthine this time?”
“I’m leaving for Orlais next week, and I may not be back in Ferelden for a long while. I wanted to say goodbye to Elissa. And everyone else here.”
“We’ll miss you.”
“And I, you. But there’s a story that needs telling in Val Royeax.” Her expression is thoughtful, but she doesn’t elaborate. Then, Leliana looks away - is that a blush staining her cheeks? It’s not anything Nathaniel has seen from her before. “I wonder …” she begins, then trails off.
“What?”
She’s silent for a long moment. “It’s been a while,” she says, looking back at him, “since I’ve invited myself to a man’s bed. I wonder if I’ve lost the right words.”
Nathaniel blinks. The half smile on her face leaves no doubt as to whose bed she’s referring to. A smile spreads across his face, and he leans over to press a light kiss to Leliana’s mouth. She giggles, her breath fanning across his face. “I think you’ve got the words you need,” he murmurs.
“Good.” She pokes him lightly in the chest. “Because there’s a story here I haven’t yet learned the ending of.”
“I’m not much for endings. Beginnings, however …”
“A beginning, then.” Leliana captures his lips for a more thorough kiss, one that tangles their tongues and steals Nathaniel’s breath. “I’m very fond of a good beginning.”