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Laughter echoed off the stone walls of Skyhold’s hallways, growing increasing louder. Confused, Cassandra moved to pull open one of the fortress’s many doors, only to have it yanked from her grasp and a shorter woman slamming into her shortly after. Grey Warden Commander Katalia Mahariel, a more recent guest to Skyhold, and a well-desired ally of the Inquisition forces. The silver haired elf’s cheeks were bright pink where blue tattoos did not cover them, and her breath came in short gasps. With how she kept looking over her shoulder, she appeared to be running from someone.
“Sorry! Have you seen Leliana?” The Warden’s distinct Dalish accent grew thicker as a result of her fatigue, and for a moment Cassandra wasn’t sure how to respond.
“No, I have not.” In truth, she hadn’t seen the Spymaster in a matter of days, since the Warden Commander’s arrival. The pair’s reunion had been private, as requested by the Inquisitor herself, but she had gathered from Varric that the two were quite close.
“Are you sure? I thought I saw her coming this – Shit!” Katalia suddenly lunged past Cassandra, sprinting toward the entrance of the Main Hall.
“You’ll have to do better than that, Spymaster!” The title was spoken with an air of playful mockery, and Leliana’s own laughter joined that of the Warden as she suddenly appeared, hood down to exposed her messy hair.
“Says the one getting distracted by conversation.” The bard retorted, but her smile conflicted any insult the comment may have gained.
“I’m a great multitasker, you off all people should know that.” A wink finished off the potentially lecherous comment, and Katalia took off once more, Leliana close on her heels. Cassandra shook her head, and followed them.
The pair’s game took them outside, where their antics grasped the attention of several soldiers in the middle of training, much to their commander’s chagrin. Katalia’s weaved a path through them, though her pleading calls for aid were returned with some grins, and many of them giving Leliana a clear path to her. The spymaster slowed her stride just long enough to nod her thanks, then sped up once more, the Dalish elf’s fearful yelp loud enough to be heard from across the courtyard. At one point they found themselves at Cullen’s map table, one on each side and warily watching the other, though they laughed and taunted all the same. Just as the former Templar was yelling at them to “stop acting like children” Leliana made a bold lunge across the table, which Katalia conquered by going under the table, and running out the other side, cheering in victory.
‘Did she really need to smack Leliana’s arse on the way, though?’ Cassandra wondered to herself, watching Leliana indignantly stand and chase her supposed lover up the stairs to the battlements.
And that’s where things went poorly for the Warden Commander.
Cassandra wasn’t entirely sure how it happened: if the foundation was still weak in that particular spot, if she slipped, or perhaps she was even given a vengeful push. Regardless, Katalia suddenly fell off the battlement steps, landing on a pile of hay below. Why it happened to be there at the time, no one was certain, but needless to say, many voices were hushed before she caught her breath and startled laughing, to the relief of everyone nearby. Most of all to Leliana, who had rushed to her side, worried she may be gravely injured. Cassandra had started to move toward the pair, but upon discovering her worries to be naught, she instead changed direction for the training dummies – though not without picking up bits of their conversation first.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” Leliana asked, reaching out to brush a few bits of hay from Katalia’s hair.
“I’ve been through worse.” Her lover reminded her, then laughed a bit. “Want to call this a penalty and give me a head start?”
“I would, if this was not part of my plan.” The Warden Commander squealed as the hay stirred beneath her, and wide, muscular arms shot out, grabbing the elf in a firm grip. Iron Bull stood up, shaking the last of the hay from his large frame and joining in the laughter as Katalia struggled to break his grip.
“Where should I take her?” He asked Leliana with a grin.
“No fair! You didn’t say we could recruit help!” Katalia complained.
“Take her to my quarters.” Leliana replied, ignoring her protests. “Josie’s waiting there with an Orlesian party dress we ordered for her.”
“No!” Katalia whined, kicking at Bull as she was carried off. “Come on Leli, best two out of three!”
A distance away, Cassandra shook her head, turning to look at the Inquisitor as they trained side-by-side.
“Such behavior does not benefit their reputations.” The Seeker commented. A blast of magic firing from her stave, Solera Adaar shrugged.
“Let them have their fun.” She said. When Cassandra continued to scowl, she reached out, pulled her closer and kissed her on the cheek, enjoying how it instantly bloomed pink.
“We’ll do the same, later.”