Sisters of Tevinter

For You

    Kaisen sat perched on a stool on the upper terrace, usually reserved for the passage of servants. It was empty now, she could hear music and laughter bubbling up from below. The shadows were warm and dark, it was late enough that sleep tugged invitingly at her eyelids from beneath her mask. Tonight, Jor had stood toe to toe with the whole of the Orlesian court and they'd blinked first. 

   Heh. 

   A smile twitched her lips. It figured, really. Jor had more patience than the Crow. Kaisen had been declining offers of dance and conversation all night, truly just in a bad mood. She couldn't give a rat's ass about the empire. It was empires like these that crumbled and rotted in history riddled with blood and mold. But Jor had been determined to preserve this shit show. 

   "It's late." 

   Kaisen had heard him coming from the stairs, his marching, gentle gait. "Hello, knight." 

  "Hello, Kaisen." 

  The usual fireworks bubbled and sparked in her throat as she smiled, keeping her eyes closed and her legs crossed. "Did you enjoy your night?" 

   He gave a sputtering chuckle, leaning against the rail of the terrace to watch the swirl of silks below. "No. You saw I did not. Just now, I only barely escaped the throng intact." 

   A twinge of irritation crossed Kaisen's thoughts as she scowled. "Those ladies were drooling all over you. Will you clean your jacket when we return to Skyhold?" 

   Again, that sputtering laugh. She'd surprised him. The sound rumbled in her chest. She hadn't spoken to him one on one like this since... Since the kiss. She hadn't found time. In truth, maybe, just maybe, she'd been avoiding it. But seeing all those nobles with their hands discreetly finding his or eyelashes fluttering coyly, making him turn that shade of pink the Crow had grown so fond of... She clicked her tongue. "I do hope you didn't make them any promises of land? Marriage? Your firstborn?"

    Cullen grinned. "Nothing so binding." 

    "Thank the Maker. I worry about you, you know," Kaisen drawled, letting her eyes flicker open as she teased. "Sometimes you don't know what comes out of your mouth." 

    He blinked and-- there it was, that pretty shade of rose. The Crow allowed herself to smile. The commander shrugged, his posture melting slightly. "I know it seems foolish... but tonight I found myself worrying about you." 

    Kaisen cocked her head. "Oh?" 

    "What with all the rumors of assassins and traitors... I didn't see you a lot tonight, I thought perhaps you'd gotten mixed up in something." 

   Kaisen grinned. "Me? Never." 

  Cullen smiled softly.

   "Besides, you did see me." Kaisen's expression soured. "Around eleven I asked you to dance. You brushed me off, all exasperated like." She gave a bitter smile. 

 "I hadn't known it was you," he said, dropping his gaze guiltily. "I'd received several similar offers already."

  "I'm sure. The pretty ex-templar is always asked to dance." 

  The roses were back, flashing across his perfect cheekbones as he gave another soft ripple of laughter. He held out his hand to her. 

    Kaisen's green gaze flicked to his glove, then up to his face. He gave a charming smile that made assassin's heart skip a beat in her breast. "Do crows dance, my lady?" 

   The reedy flute and strings sang and floated up all around them in their little alcove of warm shadows. Kaisen's lips twitched upward as she rose. "Rarely. Do knights?"