A Candle in the Darkness (A Dragon Age: Inquisition fanfiction)

Deal Me In

28 Drakonis, 9:42

Antonia was walking through the main hall on her way back from the kennels when Varric caught up with her.

"There you are! I've been looking all over for you. You're just in time—we almost had to start without you."

She raised her eyebrows, mystified, and then remembered Cullen mentioning something earlier that day about a gathering at Varric's later. "Well, we couldn't have that, could we?"

"What's a party without our Inquisitor?" Varric grinned at her.

In Varric's chambers, a big table had ... well, everyone sitting around it. Antonia couldn't help but smile. Iron Bull, Dorian, Cassandra, Blackwall, Cullen, Josephine, and Cole. The latter two rarely joined them for activities, so she was glad Varric had brought them in. She wondered where Vivienne was, but the mage had been keeping to herself more recently, seeming rather sad. Antonia made a mental note to ask her about it.

She squeezed Cullen's shoulder in passing, finding a seat at the other end of the table. With this group, holding on to your silvers was hard enough without the extra distraction of Cullen within touching distance.

"I found her, Ruffles," Varric said to Josephine. "Deal her in."

"I do hope I recall the rules," Josephine said, raising her mug to Antonia. "It's been ages since I played a game of Wicked Grace."

"Grab a seat," Varric said. "We're ready to start."

"Are we playing cards or what?" the Iron Bull asked impatiently.

Josephine dealt rapidly. "Keep your pants on," she said to the Iron Bull.

"Ooh, is this going to be one of those games?" Dorian asked, with a shade too much eagerness.

Cassandra frowned at her cards. "Are three drakes better than a pair of swords? I can never remember."

"Seeker, remember how I said 'don't show anyone your hand'? That rule includes announcing it to the table."

Glaring, Cassandra flashed her cards at him.

"Very nice," Varric said tolerantly, giving up. Cassandra liked cards, but she liked to win a bit too much, so she tried to dial it back for friendly games. Occasionally she overshot. Antonia smothered a smile at Cassandra's blatant reshuffling to reveal cards she had hidden when she showed the hand to Varric.

Cole was looking at his cards intently, his head cocked to the side. "There's a crown on his head ... and a sword, too." He turned to look at Varric. "His head didn't want either."

"Don't talk to the face cards, kid," Varric told him.

Cullen looked at his hand, fidgeting just slightly. Antonia looked at him with concern. "You seem to have enough people," he said. She wondered if the cards were bringing back memories he'd rather not deal with. Catching his eye, she gave him a questioning raise of the eyebrow, and he shrugged.

"Losing money can be both relaxing and habit-forming," Dorian said. "Give it a try."

"Curly," Varric said, "if any man in history ever needed a hobby, it's you."

Cullen nodded, taking a deep breath. He gave Antonia a small half smile that said he was all right, but she couldn't help worrying a little anyway.

"Dealer starts," Josephine said. "Oh ... I believe ... I'll start at ... three coppers! Do you think that's too daring? Maybe I'll make it one. Oh, no, no ... three it is!"

The Iron Bull leaned across the table toward her. "Seriously? Who starts at three coppers? Silver, or go home!"

"Sounds good," Blackwall said. "I'm in."