The Last of the Couslands | By : MistressofMagic Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 4395 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0 |
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Chapter 11
The Spoiled Princess As the party exited Redcliffe Village, the clouds that had swallowed the stars that night finally erupted and rain poured down on them relentlessly. Bridget threw on her cloak and pulled up its hood. Zeus whined and shook the water off of him, splattering it all over poor Alistair. "We will not be able to camp like this. I believe there is an inn near the docks…we will have to stay there for the night." Morrigan stated. Leliana nodded in agreement. "We will all catch our deaths if we stay out in this weather through the night." Bridget sighed. She wasn't exactly sure of their money situation, but knew that Leliana was right. If any of them were to fall ill and they were ambushed by Darkspawn they would not be as quick with their swords. They traveled for about an hour and a half in the relentless downpour. Bridget was soaked through the bone and tried her hardest not to shiver. Fereldon was infamous for it's cold weather though…and the rain felt like thin shears of ice flying across her skin. At long last Bridget saw a building in the distance. "Is that it?" she asked. Leliana nodded. "Yes, this is the Spoiled Princess Inn. Let's go inside quickly!" Bridget took her advice and the others ran to the door as well. They entered the inn and basked in how warm it was on the inside. Apparently there were a lot of travelers in this area, all of the tables were nearly full. Bridget approached the barman. "Hello there, how can I be of service?" he asked. Bridget looked at him. "We need four rooms," The barman looked under his desk and retrieved the keys…but there were only three. "Sorry sweets, I've only got three rooms free." Before Bridget could say anything, Morrigan grabbed one of the keys and bounded up the stairs…as did Leliana. Only one key remained… Alistair looked from Bridget to the key. "Um…you're going to go and make them share…aren't you?" he asked slowly. Bridget sighed. She was in no mood to argue and already had a terrible headache. She shook her head. "Let's just go." She grumbled and grabbed the key. Bridget placed four silver pieces on the table for the innkeeper and headed towards the stairs, Zeus walking by her side and wagging his tail. Alistair hurried after her. "But…this isn't right, we can't share a room together…I'm a boy! It's…unethical!" Bridget turned to him when she made it to the door. "Alistair please, you know as well as I Morrigan is not going to hand over her key…and I really don't think Leliana will either. We're going to have to share the room." Alistair swallowed nervously. "B-But…" Bridget gaped up at him. "Are you that afraid of me? Do you think I'm going to seduce you or something?" Alistair's face turned a brilliant shade of scarlet and he shook his head. "Of course not I…I just wanted to make sure that you were okay with it." Bridget placed the key in the whole and turned it. "I'm fine, besides I'm sure there's two beds anyway." She turned the doorknob and pushed the door open. Bridget's smile faded as she saw not two beds…but one. Alistair chuckled. "I had a feeling there would only be one." Bridget smirked and looked over her shoulder at him. "Why does this always happen? It's like fate is trying to get us together or something." Alistair turned red again and closed the door behind him as he stepped in. "Right…" He swept his gaze around the room and noted that their was only one wash basin as well, thankfully though a wooden screen stood in front of it. Bridget noticed this too and placed her hands on her hips. "Damn…hey Alistair you wouldn't mind going downstairs while I wash up…would you?" she asked. Alistair shook his head and was already halfway out the door. "Of course not, I'll get something to eat…I'll order something for you, too." With that Alistair closed the door and hurried down the stairs. He could not believe that Morrigan and Leliana would not even think of the possibility that he and Bridget would end up having to share a room together. As Alistair entered the downstairs portion of the end, he saw Leliana just finishing a meal. He strode over to her and said, "Why did you take the key? You and Bridget should share a room, I should have my own!" Leliana stood from her seat and raised an eyebrow at him. "Oh come now, Alistair…isn't this what you wanted?" Alistair furrowed his brow. Leliana had a sneaky grin spread across her face. "What do you mean…?" he asked. Leliana smiled. "Bridget is beautiful, is she not? I've seen the way you look at her, Alistair. I recognize that look anywhere I see it." Alistair shook his head. "What are you talking about? Of course I look at Bridget, she's our leader…who else am I supposed to look at?" Leliana smirked. "Oh no Alistair…you do not understand. When you look at her…your whole expression changes! Your eyes are filled with so much emotion! I bet your heart flutters every time she speaks to you!" Alistair gaped at her. "I cannot believe we are having this conversation." He said as he buried his bashful face in his hands. Leliana patted him on his shoulder. "I took my key because I see this as a way for you and your fellow Warden to…well get to know each other a bit more. Morrigan took her key because she just wanted a room to herself. I took mine for the greater good of love!" Before Alistair could say anything else, Leliana skipped merrily off towards the staircase. Alistair frowned and turned to the fireplace. There was a table near it and he sat at the table, wanting to warm his chilled bones. A waitress hurried over to him and he ordered himself and Bridget some stew. Bridget descended the staircase and walked over to join him at the table. She sat in her seat. Alistair looked up at her and was going to explain the ridiculous conversation he and Leliana had just had…but found his voice caught in his throat. Bridget's complexion had completely changed. Alistair had always seen her tired and worn from traveling and fighting…only being able to wash up in rivers and streams but after having a proper bath…Bridget looked completely well rested. Her skin looked smooth and soft, like that of a baby's. Her eyes shined with laughter and her hair looked clean and brushed…still pulled back into a bun. Alistair noticed that she decided not to put her armor back on and she sat in front of him wearing a simple tunic and trousers. "I'm starving!" she exclaimed. Alistair blinked and smiled. "I ordered you some beef stew…is that alright?" Bridget nodded and grinned. "It's perfect." The waitress returned with their bowls of stew and poured them each a steaming cup of tea. Bridget thanked her and took a large sip of her tea and then tore into her stew. Bridget pulled a piece off of the loaf of bread that sat in between their bowls and dunk it into her stew. "I'm really sorry about how this turned out, Alistair. We'll have to have a talk with Leliana and Morrigan about it." Alistair shrugged. "It's alright…I was more worried about how you would react. I don't mind sharing a room with you though…" Bridget raised her eyebrows and looked at him. Alistair blushed and cleared his throat. "Not that I'm expecting you or us to do anything I mean…um…great stew isn't it?" he asked nervously. Bridget chuckled and returned to her meal. "You're cute when you're bashful." Alistair laughed nervously again and cleared his throat. "Well, I've finished. I'm going to go upstairs and clean myself up…looks like you've still got quite a bit food left so I'm sure I'll be finished by the time you're done." He quickly stood, banged his head on a hanging beam and hurried off back upstairs. Bridget chuckled to herself. "Funny…he's not afraid of a wave of Darkspawn but of a simple conversation with me." Bridget continued to eat her meal slowly. She savored the stew, as it was quite delicious…better than anything they had had on the road so far. It was nice to have something other than dried meat and stale bread for once. Bridget cleaned her bowl and sat back in the chair, patting her stomach. The waitress came by to remove the bowls and Bridget was about to pay for the meal but the waitress said, "Oh no need, the gentleman that was with you already paid." Bridget smiled and thanked the waitress. She stood and walked towards the staircase and up the stairs. Bridget stood outside the room and knocked gently. "Alistair…are you decent?" she asked. Alistair, who had been looking at something in his pack immediately pushed the item back inside and stood. "Y-Yes." He replied. Bridget entered the room, much to Zeus's delight as he ran towards her, tail wagging. She closed the door behind her and rubbed Zeus's belly before walking over towards the bed. Bridget noticed a pillow and a blanket splayed out on the floor and raised her eyebrows. "You don't intend to sleep there…do you?" she asked. Alistair looked from her to the floor and rubbed the back of his neck. "Well…" Bridget rolled her eyes and climbed atop the bed. "Oh Alistair, I'm not going to bite! Come on up and get in with me, our body heat will keep both of us warm, and you're not going to be comfortable down there in the least." Alistair blushed and slowly handed Bridget the pillow and blanket. He slowly began to walk around to the other side of the bed. Bridget rolled her eyes. "Oh Alistair if you are that frightened I can have Zeus lay in between us." Alistair looked over at the war dog and shook his head. Zeus would easily take up most of the bed and that would mean either Bridget or Alistair would end up landing on the floor. "N-No It's alright…" Alistair sat on the other side of the bed and faced Bridget. She raised her eyebrow at him. "Are you really that afraid of me?" she asked softly. Alistair shook his head. "No…that's not it. I-I told you I grew up in the Chantry…didn't I?" he asked slowly. Bridget nodded. "Well…in the Chantry we were taught to be gentlemen to women…and I was there all my life…and as I've said before there were no other women in the Grey Wardens…" Bridget's eyes widened. "Oh…you mean…you've never…" Alistair smirked. "Never what? There are endless answers to things I've never done." Next thing he knew, Bridget had hit him with a pillow. Alistair laughed, as did Bridget. "Oh you know what I mean." The tips of Alistair's ears turned bright red and he felt himself become warm under his collar. "Well…it's not like I haven't thought about it, not saying that I have, because I haven't," Bridget giggled and rose up her hand. "It's alright Alistair, you don't have to explain. I understand now why you were not keen on the idea of sharing a room with me." Alistair sighed happily. "Thank you for not pressing the matter…it's not something I like to discuss. On a completely different note…I'm glad we're seeking the help of the mages…why did you decide to spare Connor's life when the easiest route would've been to kill him, not that I wanted you to or anything…that's more of Morrigan's thinking." Bridget smiled and adverted her gaze to stare out the window on the far wall. "Connor reminded me of Orhen. That was the main reason. That and I was not about to kill a child." She replied softly. Alistair nodded. "I'm glad things turned out this way. I hope the mages will be able to help us." Bridget looked at him. "So do I. It would tear me up if we had to go back and…" she couldn't finish the sentence. Bridget sighed. "We need to get some sleep, Alistair." Alistair nodded. "Agreed, I'm exhausted." Bridget laid back and got under the covers, as did Alistair. She turned and blew the candle out, leaving the room in darkness. Bridget turned back and looked at Alistair. "Good night." She whispered. Alistair stared at her. "Good night." He replied.While AFF and its agents attempt to remove all illegal works from the site as quickly and thoroughly as possible, there is always the possibility that some submissions may be overlooked or dismissed in error. The AFF system includes a rigorous and complex abuse control system in order to prevent improper use of the AFF service, and we hope that its deployment indicates a good-faith effort to eliminate any illegal material on the site in a fair and unbiased manner. This abuse control system is run in accordance with the strict guidelines specified above.
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