Leliana finished her entry in her journal, closed the book and held it close to her chest. It was beautiful, with roses embossed in the leather, and gold leaf trimmed each page. Another gift from Alistair. He was prone to bring her a gift from his travels to neighboring estates of noble men with eligible young daughters.
Eamon was anxious for the new king to wed and had set a plan for Alistair to meet intimately with likely candidates through out Ferelden.
“One day he’ll find the one that suits him.” Leli thought. She knew she could not bear to see that day so, she had made up her mind, she would leave and the sooner the better.
She laid the book on the side table as she walked out to the gardens.
The air was heavy with the sweet fragrance of the blossoming cherry trees. She loved this time of year when the sun was growing warmer with each day. She watched as a red squirrel scurried up a tree, chasing a smaller one. She smiled to herself.. ‘aha.. spring is certainly in the air!”
She had been in the castle for almost a year now at Alistair’s insistence, saying that he enjoyed her stories and songs. At first it was just as friends, talking war stories and laughing at the escapades of Maldon Aeducan, the Hero of Ferelden. And now Alistair would draw her into conversations of state and often sought her counsel in matters of court.
She’s not sure just when it was she discovered that she had fallen in love with Alistair. But, deeply and desperately. she did love him.
An Olesian Bard in love with the King of Ferelden. She laughed at herself, remembering a conversation she had with Maldon on forbidden fruit being the sweetest. “No”, she thought to herself, “forbidden fruit is heartbreak and sleepless nights.”
Alistair was due to return anytime and she would tell him today that she will be leaving on the morrow. She did not want to give him the chance to change her mind.
She walked to “their bench” as she was accustomed to calling it now. Almost every afternoon after supper they would find them selves sitting here. Talking of the days events. She would even listen politely to Alistair’s dismay at the young ladies Eamon was forcing on him.
The bench was nestled between two Willows next to a small stream. It was lovely sometimes just to sit in quite and listen to the gurgling of the water as it traveled its way through a maze of dips and gullies. She was in that state of bliss when she was startled out of it by Alistair’s shouting..
“Leli, there you are! What a ride today.” His eyes flashing golden glints as he spoke, We shall have fresh rabbit stew for supper tonight as there was good hunting on the road today!”
He sat himself down unceremoniously next to her and looked fondly at her “You, my dear, look gorgeous.”
“Why, thank you, kind sir,” Leliana managed a smile. She will miss their bantering, she will miss the way his hair shone gold-red in the sunlight, she would .. she stopped herself as she could feel the sadness start to take over and did not want him to see.
“Here, these are for you” he handed her a bunch of flowers. They were unlike any Leliana had seen before. She examined their green stems, a lovely shimmery green stem with leaves shaped like the blade of a Takoba with tiny white flowers hanging like a series of miniature bells, and a lovely sweet scent.
“Careful, it smells sweet but it is a poison. I thought of you when Desmon Riley described them to me. ‘Sweet, Leliana, deadly Leliana’ I thought to myself,” he paused for a moment. “ And it’s even named after you! It’s called Lily of the Valley.” He was speaking of her prowess with a blade and arrow of course and her knowledge of poisons was unsurpassed in his eyes.
She smiled at him, Only Alistair could call her deadly and make it sound like an endearment.
“Oh, wait, something else,” he handed her a small velvet case. Inside it, a lovely emerald and pearl brooch made to look like the flower he had just gifted her.
“Alistair, it’s simply beautiful. I.. I have news myself. I will be traveling tomorrow to Highever for a while.
“When will you be back?” Alistair’s voice seemed edged with concern.
“I’m not coming back, Alistair. It’s time for me to go, to travel and see the world. You’ll be wed soon and you’ll be busy with your new life.”
She almost choked holding tears back as she spoke and rose rapidly from the bench, “ I must go and make ready, thank you for the lovely gifts, I will speak to you again at supper.”
“Leli, wait!” his voice was hoarse, he took her by the arm and turned her to face him.
He leaned in to her, smelling the scent of her skin, a hint of roses touched his nose.
"You can't leave, as King I command you to stay."
She looked up into those honey hued hazel eyes she had grown to love, they were dark now with an intensity that startled her, “Alistair..”
He saw her eyes filling with tears and pulled her closer, burying his face in her hair when he whispered, "Leli, oh my sweet Leli, " his hot breath on her ear sent shivers through her whole being.
The embrace, the smell of his cologne made her heady with delight… as he held her face cupped in his hands.
Mesmerized by the copper lights dancing in her hair from the sun, he stared down at Leliana’s slightly parted mouth. Touching her chin with the crook of his finger, “I love you,” he said softly as he stroked her lips with his thumb. “I’m going to kiss you now, Leli.”
Leliana’s breath caught in her throat. She did not protest or make an effort to move away, instead she leaned into the kiss.
Alistair’s fingers entwined in her hair as he lowered his face down to hers then, slowly he caressed her lips with his.
The soft pressure of his lips awakened a longing in Leliana. Breathing faster she returned his kiss with fervor.
A low rumble reverberated in Alsiter’s chest, The unspoken love fueling his growing need to have her closer. The hunger he had denied himself suddenly and ravenously came to the surface.
Leliana tasted desire on Alistair’s mouth. He pressed her body against his own and her arms tightened around him in response.
An outpouring of love filled her. The depth of his own love went into his kiss, and Leliana knew then that she would never leave Alistair and they’d be all right.
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