Chapter Text
Teo cursed as he loped up the stairs to Leliana’s roost.
Yes, he had been busy, Yes he’d had to go out again chasing another lost patrol almost as soon as they had reached Skyhold, but he still should have thought of this.
Mage he might be, but he was also a Trevelyan, trained to lead. He should never have let himself forget that, never let himself be distracted from the most basic of things. You had power, wealth and leadership and in return you took care of your people.
The soldiers were under the commander's watch; but the advisors and companions, those were his responsibility.
He could trust Cass, Josie and Leliana to house themselves appropriately, and Vivienne had a suite almost as lavish as his own. He was planning to have words with Cullen sooner or later, but at least the man had a room.
Blackwall's snug off the stable was small, windowless, but comfortable. Bull and Sera were well settled in rooms over the tavern (he wasn't sure if Cole needed an actual bedchamber but Bull was keeping an eye on the kid) and Varric and Solas had rooms tucked between the hall and the rotunda.
Dorian's nook was well known even after only two weeks, you could find him there any time of day or night, and Teo hadn’t thought about what that meant until he had been wandering the halls in the dead hours between midnight and dawn and found Dorian uncomfortably asleep in his chair, his stole draped over him.
....
“What rooms do we have, and why are we not using half of them?" He said as soon as he crested the stairs.
Leliana raised a perfect eyebrow at his abruptness. “Why, I do not know for certain Inquisitor. Perhaps Josephine….”
“No. Josie handed over the housing of most of our people to the steward, and rightly so, but she tells me that you took a hand in some decisions as well. So I am asking you.” Teo said flatly. He ignored her eyes widening at his tone. “This place is huge, I’ve already found half a dozen rooms that need only straightening to be habitable.”
“All will be seen to I assure you. Our priority has been the Great Hall.” Leliana’s drawl was very pronounced, and Teo knew her well enough by now to know that he had angered her. He didn't care.
That was done in the first three days” He retorted, “Repairs to the walls are progressing, although I am at a loss to understand why we still have rubble in the corridor to the war room and impassable eastern ramparts. But we do not need builders to make rooms habitable. There are men and women a plenty who have little to do at present, those recovering from injury, or too old or weak to fight. They can sweep and clean.”
“We have other concerns." Leliana said dismissively and turned away
Teo thinned his lips and strode up to the table, leaning over it and insisting on her attention. “Then change your priorities.” He could half hear a scout round the bend, gasp slightly and then scuttle down the stairs.
Lelians obviously heard the same and she was frowning in truth now. “Inquisitor, I understand that you might be accustomed to better conditions, but we are after all at war. Our men and women are dedicated, they do not care about fripperies and decorations.”
“Do not Leliana.” he said, planting his hands flat on the table. “I am a circle mage and a soldier. I do not care if I sleep in a tent, a barracks or a bedroll on the hearth. But I do care about my people. This is not frippery, this is about ensuring our people are sheltered, safe, cared for.”
“We lack funds.”
“Then sell half the gaudy crap in that monstrosity you call my suite.” Teo said through gritted teeth. “Better yet, given how often I am away, and how fucking obscene it is for one man to have three floors to himself, lets use that space better. House some of our people in it.”
“If you wish to fill your bedchamber with soldiers, there is nothing to stop you” Leliana shot back.
Teo looked at her. “That was unworthy of you Leliana.” He said quietly, but without a hint of shame.
Lelaina's cheek twitched and she glanced away, “What has made this so urgent that it could not wait until our council meeting?”
Teo took a breath, got a hold on his temper and said as calmly as he could, “I do not mean the soldiers. I visit the camps with Cullen, I know how he is working to house his men and women. But our inner circle, do you know where all our people are housed?”
Leliana looked back, she’d recovered her poise and there was a slight smile on her lips as she asked innocently, “Is this about Dorian?”
“Yes.” Teo had no wish to play those games, and no intention of denying his interest. It was also satisfying to see Leliana on the back foot. She was very good at what she did, but Teo wasn’t the bewildered survivor; half prisoner, half living tool; from the early days of Haven. They had named him inquisitor, he would lead, and he would do it in his own way.
He met Leliana's eyes until she dropped her gaze away. “Although it also occurs to me that maybe there are others.” He shrugged, “I want to know about those too. But the people who risk their necks alongside me, the people who have chosen to join us and fight when they could have stayed safe in distant lands. The people who risk everything by being here? They deserve at least the courtesy of somewhere to sleep.
Fire and blight Leliana, you could have found him a bed in the barracks!”
Leliana turned on him, “You think we did not? He refused it. If his pride will not accept compromise, that is not my problem.”
Teo blinked, “He refused?”
“He said,” and Leliana's voice became an eerily accurate imitation of Dorian's drawl, “Whilst I am sure your soldiers would welcome a little cheer and comfort in the quarters, I would rather sleep on the mountain side than surrounded by snoring Fereleden men at arms and templars.”
To shut his eyes against a sudden wave of realisation. “He is not proud Leliana."
She made a scoffing noise worthy of Cassandra and he opened his eyes to give her a wry smile. “Well he is, obviously, but that wasn’t pride speaking. It's fear. Some of the soldiers…”
Any other time he might have enjoyed the unaccustomed look of consternation on Leliana's face. Her voice changed, softened, “Inquisitor I am…. I apologise. I will ask Josephine to find a place elsewhere.”
Teo glanced to the balcony below them. “No. Thank you but I will handle this. My apologies also for my assumption.”
“Of course”
“Leliana?”
“Yes Inquisitor?”
“I shall want that list. I will bring it to the meeting, but consider this advance warning. I want to know who is here, and where they are housed. All of them. A full roster.”
“And where should we place Dorian on that list?” Consternation had dissolved into smugness.
“I will let you know." He said calmly, ignoring the heavy handed implication.
...
He’d got the the head of the stairs when Leliana's soft voice floated after him, “Are you going to tell him?”
“Tell him what?” He asked without turning.
“How you feel about him.”
Teo stopped and sighed, “I doubt very much that he needs to be told. And if he had doubts, half of Skyhold would be happy to enlighten him. Back still turned to Leliana he let himself smile, if it was a bit wry. “Apparently I am not subtle.”
Leliana's laugh followed him down.