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"Ah, Warden. Come to pester me with more questions have you?" Morrigan asked
"Actually…" Tabris sighed and flopped down on the dramatically on the floor. She didn't even know how to begin. "I could use some advice?"
"Mm." Morrigan said. "What advice do you seek?"
"It is about Leliana."
"I do not know what would possess you to seek my counsel over Zevran's or Wynne's."
"I already know what they would say and it wouldn't be helpful."
"And my advice would?"
"Well, hopefully."
Morrigan sighed. "Well, what is it then? This better not have anything to do how to pleasure a woman."
Tabris blushed. "No! Nothing like that… we haven't even… uh…"
Morrigan rolled her eyes. "I do not care. Tell me what you came here for or leave me be."
Tabris sighed. "Well, we were talking about her life as an Orlesian Bard and she started going on and on about how she was so good at seducing people to get what she wanted."
"Ah, and now you cannot help but wonder if her feelings towards you are genuine or if she is manipulating you?"
Tabris nodded. "I… I want to trust her, but now I am overthinking every conversation we have ever had."
"Quite a conundrum indeed."
"What do you think?"
"I think that when one seeks to determine another’s intentions, the answer is often in what they stand to gain. You have no title nor land or money. You are an elf, a Grey Warden, and an enemy to the land."
"Thanks, I guess."
Morrigan ignored her. "If it were information she was after, she could have just as easily acquired it without the seduction. Same for any favours she may need - you are just as accommodating to those who you are not in love with."
"Lastly, if she wanted you dead, she wouldn't need to sleep with you to do so.” Morrigan shrugged. “I do not mean to offend you, but I cannot see anything that could be gained by seducing you."
Tabris pondered Morrigan's words. "Hmm. So in conclusion?"
"Tis unlikely her feelings are not genuine."
Tabris felt a weight lift off her shoulders. "Thank you, Morrigan."
"Yes, well. I still do not care about your relationship, but I am glad you have the good sense to seek out my advice."
"I will leave you to it. I need to go talk to Leliana, I think."
"Please keep it down if you do more than talk."
*****
Tabris found Leliana was sitting by the campfire, staring at the flickering flames, her eyes unfocused, clearly deeply in her own head.
She didn't look up when Tabris sat down next to her. It was as if she was remaining still, to try to not give Tabris a reason to leave.
"Hey." Tabris spoke softly, the words an olive branch.
A soft sad smile found its way to Leliana's face. "Hi."
They sat in silence for a minute, each crackle of the fire feeling like an eternity as Tabris tried to think of what words she could possibly say.
Luckily, Leliana was the first to break the silence. "Is everything ok?" She asked, her words softer than Tabris had thought possible. "I know you have been avoiding me."
"Sorry." It was a genuine apology. Regardless of her doubts, avoiding Leliana was an immature way of dealing with it. "I just… needed to think."
"Is this about what I said last night?"
Tabris could feel Leliana's eyes on her, but she couldn't bring herself to look at anything but the safety of the fire. Words escaped her, and she swallowed hard. Nodding would have to suffice.
She heard Leliana sigh. "I was afraid of this. That if you knew too much about my past that you wouldn't lo… like me any more."
Tabris's hand itched to grab Leliana's, to hold it and comfort her. She'd wished last night had never happened, had never put the seed of doubt in her head so she would be free stop Leliana's pain and let her know that she is and always has been worthy of love.
But alas. Her hand stayed where it was.
"It's not that. Nobles are hardly people anyway." She hoped that drew a small smile from Leliana, but she was still too vulnerable to look at her.
Silence again. This time Leliana chose to wait.
Tabris took a deep breath, and finally gave up the issue. Her voice weak, uncertain. "Did… did you use your skills on me?"
More silence, this time shorter.
"It hurts that you would ask me that."
Tabris could hear the pain in her voice and it echoed in her own heart.
"But, I think I understand why you feel you need to." Leliana continued. "In Orlais, it is rare that Bards end up with somebody outside of the business. When somebody deals with love and lies, they can be hard to trust, no?"
Tabris felt Leliana's hand rest on hers, and Maker it sent warmth to her soul.
"I know there is little I can do to make you believe me, but…" Leliana reached over with her other hand and rested it on Tabris's cheek, gently turning her head so that their eyes met. "when I first realised my feelings for you I wanted it to be real. That if we were to be together that I should be myself. And if you didn't like me for me then there was no point."
Tabris thought back to the conversations that lead them here. They were so chaotic that it was easy to believe that they weren't calculated. "I can't imagine that story about that noble and the birds was a standard seduction technique."
Leliana hid her head in her hands. "Oh Maker." she chuckled awkwardly. "I cannot believe I said that when I was simply trying to say something nice about your hair."
Tabris smiled. "I can't believe it actually worked."
"Yes, what was it about the bowels of little birdies that had won you over?"
"I like it when rich humans get what's coming for them. And to be completely honest, I had forgotten about it the second that you admitted to liking women."
Leliana smiled. "Those were simpler days, no?"
She looked back to the fire before talking again. "Are we going to be alright?"
Tabris thought on Morrigan's words and Leliana's assurances. She remembered the warmth of Leliana's embrace and the soft feel of her lips on hers that spoke so many promises. And she decided, that even if there was a chance that this was all fake, and Leliana was using her… it would be worth the risk. "Yes." she said, "So long as you forgive me for doubting you."
Leliana shook her head. "There is nothing to forgive."
"So, if that's sorted… can I kiss you?"
"You never have to ask" Leliana said, as she moved in closer to her lips.
Home. Leliana's lips always felt like home. Not the Alienage, where she always felt like she was walking in the wrong skin. But here, now, a connection that grounded her very soul. And through the connection any lingering doubt flew away.
They broke apart, both with wide smiles upon their face.