[sandbox]

[bringspeopletogether]

Back to Skyhold. Back to work.

Alistair resumes training with the Chargers a few days after his and Cullen's return; the company got back from Halamshiral just before the Basin group showed up, Bull explains, so he was giving them a rest before picking up exercises again. Krem fills Alistair in on all the details as they're exchanging blows. Some of it is just Orlesian Worst Game Ever nonsense, but since it ends with a whole lot of shamefaced nobles with no mercenaries to their names, Alistair's pretty damn pleased.

(Maybe he can get the new mercenaries in on his plan to dress up the training dummies in Orlesian garb. Hmmmmmm.)

Cullen's in a war room meeting by the time Alistair's done. He throws some water on his face and heads for the kitchens -- maybe he can split a small meal with Kieran before Morrigan's return.

Comments

[bringspeopletogether]

Ten paces from the door, he recognizes one voice: Leliana. Unsurprising.

Five paces out, the second voice joins it, and Alistair stops in his tracks.

He hasn't heard Cullen sing very often; not since they were young. Age has roughened his voice, but it still carries clear and sweet. He rests a hand on the door frame, debating -- and then silently slips inside to lean against a wall near the back.

...And all I've done for want of wit
To memory now I can't recall
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all

[howtoactfereldan]

After some silent communication, Cullen drops out to let Leliana take the last repeated line on her own.

He stretches, feeling -- calmer. He'll be a little unsteady on his feet, he thinks, but nothing that a few more hours of sleep won't fix.

Leliana sings the last line without the lute, and as soon as her voice fades, there's silence in the hall.





"Isn't there any more?" asks a plaintive voice from the floor.

Josephine immediately gets to her feet, leaning over the balcony. "Yes, but we're coming down to join you, and you simply must sing with us." This is met with a cheer.

Orlesian bards are good for something, Cullen muses. Like morale.

Josephine goes down the stairs first. Then Leliana. Cullen lets them make landing in the hall before he goes through the door, starts down the stairs.

[bringspeopletogether]

That could leave him with time to escape before Cullen sees him, if he wanted.

He doesn't move.

Leliana catches his eye; he smiles, faintly, and tips his head in a nod, but doesn't approach. It's reasonable that everyone else will mistake him for part of the wall, right?

[howtoactfereldan]

There's Alistair.

Without Kieran, Cullen notes, and -- not visibly cringing, or pacing, or anything else that might give away panic.

So there's warmth in Cullen's smile, and a little relief, too.

[bringspeopletogether]

That's --

All right. That's good. Cullen's actually pleased to see him.

Alistair's smile stays small as he pushes away from the wall, picking his way through the crowd to reach Cullen's side.

[howtoactfereldan]

There are shadows under his eyes, but Cullen is calm.

"All right?" Quiet.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair nods.

No louder: "You?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"Did something a little foolish."

He folds his arms, turning toward Leliana and Josephine. If his shoulder touches Alistair's, what of it?

"But it turned out to be useful. Let's hope the side effects are worth it."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair certainly doesn't mind. He gives Cullen's shoulder a small, companionable nudge.

"You'll tell me later?"

[howtoactfereldan]

A wry half-smile.

"As long as you promise not to scold me."

[bringspeopletogether]

"I promise." He holds up a hand. "Solemnly sworn on a wheel of cheese, if need be."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Yelling counts as scolding," he informs Alistair.

[bringspeopletogether]

"So noted."

His smile goes a bit crooked, though it remains fond.

"Does saying 'this is beginning to sound more than a little foolish' count as well?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"Yes." Firm.

[bringspeopletogether]

"All right."

Another small nudge.

"Then I never said it." Lower, "You'll tell me if I can help with any of the side effects too, yes?"

[howtoactfereldan]

Well. No. Not after this morning.

"Shouldn't need to." No louder. "They're better than they were. But thank you."

A little too formal. Maybe just a product of being surrounded by people.

[bringspeopletogether]

Maybe.

It's still enough for Alistair to lapse back into silence, after another nod, and turn his attention to Leliana and Josephine.

[howtoactfereldan]

Josephine is fielding song requests, Leliana thinking, testing out quick melodies in different keys.

Cullen says, softly, without looking Alistair's way, "Want to get out of here? We can stay, if you'd rather."

[bringspeopletogether]

He shakes his head. No louder: "Let's go."

It'll be nice to have some privacy. Or something like it, being as the alternative is a crowded hall.

[howtoactfereldan]

"Where to? -- did you make it to the library in the cellars?"

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair schools his face in time, before anything resembling sheepishness can make its way to the surface.

"Not yet." Mild. "Now's as good a time as any."

And they aren't far from the door leading down to the cellars.

[howtoactfereldan]

They aren't. Cullen drifts in that direction.

"If there's somewhere you'd rather be..." he murmurs.

[bringspeopletogether]

"No," he answers, low. "This is fine."

The music fades to silence as they descend the stairs. Absently, Alistair tucks his arms around himself to ward off some of the clammy chill.

(It's familiar, the same way the green light is familiar. It calms him further: another piece falling away. This'll be over soon.)

When they reach the library, he leans against one of the shelves -- then frowns and sweeps a cobweb off his shoulder.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen stops moving when Alistair stops. He's facing the desk, not looking at Alistair.





"I spoke to Samson today."

[bringspeopletogether]

Well. That explains the talk about side effects.

Alistair close his eyes and knead his forehead. His shoulders rise and fall on a silent sigh.

"All right." Quiet, and level. "Why?"