Shopping Challenge entry Fanfic
Just finished this tonight. Rough first draft I wanted to make it by the deadline. I marked it nsfw but it's not bad, just some implied adult content if you read between the lines.
“Tell me again, why this is necessary?” the large qunari demanded. Leliana tilted her head, glancing up at him with unmasked glee. “It will be fun! Is that not reason enough…”
“No,” he answered sternly. Leliana giggled. “Oh, it will be so much fun, Sten, and I know you will accompany me, because beneath that stoic warrior, you are just one great, big…”
The qunari’s lip curled up in a menacing snarl, a warning the Sister had no intent of heeding.
“…softie!…” she called, giggling a happy squeal as she easily dodged his attempt to snatch her. “La, la la, la la,” she hummed, skipping along the cobblestone, ahead of the rest of the group, her lilting voice floating pleasantly on the air. Her lithe body glided gracefully down the street. She looked as though she were dancing.
“Wow.” Alistair stated, “she really likes shopping, doesn’t she?” He asked his fellow Warden. Elissa shrugged, “After all she’s been through, would you deny her this one, simple pleasure?” His eyes lowered, “No, I suppose, not…” he stared after the bard, then turned back to Elissa, “…but still, I mean, I told you she was a little…you know…” he twirled a finger in circles near his temple for emphasis. Elissa’s fist connected with his bicep. “Shut up, Alistair!”
“Ow! Okaaayyy…just don’t hit me anymore.” he pleaded, rubbing his sore arm. Maker’s Breath, she’s violent when it comes to Leliana… I should not say anything like that again.
“I see no harm in it,” Morrigan acknowledged, “so as long as she does not keep to her promise of buying me a dress.” Elissa laughed at that, “Me too, Morrigan, I’m with you on that one!” The witch stopped and stood there with her hands on her hips, “I am not joking. I have absolutely no intent to undress before her. She undresses me with her eyes too much already!”
Elissa smirked, blushing a bit. “Well, who can blame her,” she glanced to Alistair, who nodded, as if for agreement on the matter, “I mean…your, kinda…hot…in a way.” Elissa’s blush went from pink to bright red. Morrigan’s brow knit in confusion, “ Hot, am I?” Her eyes narrowed at both Wardens, unsure whether or not to be insulted. A small electric charge pulsed to life from her fingertips and gathered in her palm.
Wynne stepped up from behind and put a hand on the younger woman’s shoulder. “It means, my dear, that they find you very attractive.”
“Yeah…” Oghren slurred, already drunk and adding to his state with a quick tip of his ever-present flask. “Yer hot…for a surfacer.” The ground trembled under Shayle’s weighted steps, she placed an enormous hand near Morrigan’s torso. “Curious…I feel no heat emanating from The Witch.”
Laughter filled the square. “Shut up! All of you!” She turned on her heel and stormed off toward the Market district. Zevran managed to look pained as she walked away. He held a hand to his chest, feigning heartbreak. He sighed exaggeratedly. “Oh, how I hate to see her leave…” he leaned in to the group and muttered in his most lecherous tone, “…but how I love to watch her go…” The group broke out into peals of wild laughter.
{The Wonders of Thedas}
The shopkeep’s eyes widened. He held the bow carefully. He gave a slow, respectful whistle as he looked it over. It was the most beautiful recurve he had ever seen. The Dragonthorn wood was masterfully carved, replete with delicate inlays along the grip. He tested the longbow, drawing the string back a few times. He carefully set it on the counter, between himself and the pretty little red-haired Orlesian. “I’ll give ya twenty for it,”
She frowned at him, shaking her head. “It’s worth more than that, I’ll just take it over to the weapon smith.”
The shopkeep scratched his head, “Ah…fine, twenty-five.” Leliana crossed her arms. “Forty,” she insisted. He narrowed his eyes at her, sizing her up. He knew the bow was worth every copper. If he got it cheap enough, he could turn a nice profit. “Thirty,” he offered. Leliana put her hand on the grip, and turned to walk away. “Ah…wait…,” he ran his hands through his filthy hair. “You drive a hard bargain, missy. I’ll give you thirty-five.” She smiled sweetly at him as he filled a small pouch with sovereigns and handed to her. He took the bow from the counter and placed it on the rack behind him.
Sten loomed over the baker’s goods. His scrutinizing gaze fell upon the sweetened pastries and confections. His brows wrinkled. “C-c-can I help you…S-Ser?” the baker stuttered. The qunari looked down at the small, fat, human. “Have you any…” his voice trailed off, he had forgotten the word. He made a gesture with both hands, bringing his thumbs and forefingers together in a giant circle.
“Cupcakes?” the baker asked. Sten’s eyes narrowed. The baker pointed to an array of frosted breads with rounded tops. They were not what the Sten required. He grunted and shook his head. “Muffins?” the baker offered, showing the qunari another selection. Sten made the circle-gesture with his hands again. Then he gestured with one hand setting his thumb under his forefinger, giving the approximate thickness.
“Ah! Cookies!” A small smile came to the warrior’s face. The baker plied his trade. “We have butter cookies, sugar cookies, chocolate chip--”
“All,” Sten said, flatly.
“All?” the baker looked bewildered. “Which ones?” he asked
“All.” Sten’s face was a mask of utter sincerity.
“Y-yes Ser! All of them, right away Ser!” the baker set to gathering all the cookies he had baked that morning into one large sack for the giant.
Shayle held the crystals in her massive hands. She looked from one hand to the other. She raised both clusters of crystal to her shoulders, and turned around to face Leliana. “What does the Sister think? The green ones? Or the purple ones?”
Leliana giggled. Shayle looked as if she was trying to decide between a pair of earrings! How sweet! “Well, the purple ones are Amethyst, so they protect against spirit damage,” she offered. The golem weighed her words, then turned back to look at the crystals laid out before her. The shop worker stared in silent awe of the golem. Leliana could not blame him. Few in Ferelden had ever seen such a creature.
Morrigan stood at the far corner of the enormous gift shop. Her arms were crossed over chest. Her amber eyes searched the jewelry rack. There were many beautiful precious and semi-precious baubles. Leliana made her way over there. Morrigan held the golden, jewel-encrusted mirror with great care. She admired her image while Leliana looked on.
“It is a beautiful mir--” the bard began.
“Ow! Hey! Watch it, Shorty!” Alistair complained. He stood on one foot, holding the other tenderly in his hands. On the floor between him and Oghren, lay a barrel of ale, which they were apparently trying to roll out the door. “Oh, sod off, ya little Nancy-boy!” the dwarf muttered. He took over rolling the keg out the door by himself.
“Oh, poor Alistair! He’s such a klutz!” Leliana felt pity for the man. He had the worst luck of anyone she had ever met. Morrigan, took a moment from gazing at herself to roll her eyes at the bard’s comment. “He’s a fool,” the witch corrected. Leliana bit her tongue, she knew there was no way to win the argument.
She walked over to him. “How is your foot?” she asked with genuine concern. “Al-Alright, I guess,” he conceded. “It’s not broken…barely.” he complained, setting his foot back down. “You know, he shouldn’t be allowed to drive that thing without a license! He nearly ran me over!” Leliana hugged him like a mother would coddle a crying child. “Oh, what will make it better, hmm?” she mock-consoled him. “Well….” he began, as he led her over to small shelf adorned with miniature statuettes, “I was thinking about this…”
He picked up a dragon figurine and turned it over in his hands. Leliana noted the marvelous design. The carving was impeccable. Every scale, every sinew stood out in perfectly detailed clarity. The statuette seemed to come to life, roaring back at her in silent defiance, it’s wings spread, tail curling around it’s body.
“Real men don’t play with toys,” Zevran chided him, “unless they are of the two-legged and female variety…” he cast an approving glance at the bard, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. She ignored him. “It’s not a toy! It’s a figure!” Alistair insisted. “My toys are decidedly more…deadly…” the elf said, producing a wicked-looking dagger. It was Leliana’s turn to glance approvingly. The blade was about a foot and a half long, consisting of three vicious waves, serrated along both edges. It would gut a Hurlock with surprising ease.
Wynne perused the bookshelves, pulling a tome down and thumbing through a few pages, then putting it back and selecting another. This one seemed to hold her interest. Leliana read the words along the spine: Dragon’s Blood: Potions, Tinctures and Spicy Sauces. Hmm, maybe supper will have some flavor tonight! She sighed wistfully. She loved her friends, really, she did…but oh,…how she missed Orlesian cuisine. Granted, Fereldens could do much with what little herbs grew in this climate, but the meals were a far cry from the succulent, mouth-watering Orlesian dishes she had grown up with.
Her reverie dissolved when Elissa’s visage came into sight. The Warden cocked her head. “What are you smiling about?” she asked curiously. Leliana smiled warmly for her, remembering their kiss. “ Just looking forward to a tasty supper, but perhaps it’s only wishful thinking.” Elissa grimaced, “I think it is…Alistair’s turn tonight…”
Leliana sighed with remorse. “Ah, well… what shall I gift to you, my love?” Elissa blushed. “I-I don’t want anything.” Leliana considered her words. “Such self-sacrifice cannot go unrewarded. It would be sin,” she chided, jokingly, “but not to worry, I will think of something…” she gave Elissa a peck on the lips and wandered off.
Elissa burned deep red as she watched the bard saunter off to find a shop employee. Everyone in camp had seen them kiss, but the people in the shop were strangers. Maybe things were different in Orlais, but Fereldens did not speak openly about this sort of love, let alone engage in such public displays of affection! She felt her face burn and tried to ignore the looks from the employees and other patrons. Leliana was talking to female worker, and they were speaking Orlesian. She moved closer to hear them, even though she knew she wouldn’t understand any of it.
The shop worker spoke, the Orlesian words rolling easily off her tongue. “{ I recognize your accent…Orlesian?}”
Elissa guessed she must be a native Orlesian, a rarity here since Denerim was so far from the Ferelden/Orlesian border. Leliana replied and Elissa realized she had never heard the bard speak more than a few words at a time in Orlesian. “{Yes, but my mother was a Ferelden}”
When Leliana said Ferelden, the effect on the Grey Warden was undeniable. Something stirred deep within her body. She absently bit her lip. She listened intently for the bard’s every word. The shop girl spoke, her words ending with an upward inflection, as though asking a question. “{How may I be of assistance?}”
Leliana began to say something, but paused for a moment. It seemed to Elissa she was perhaps searching for the right words. “{Do you sell… love accessories?}” Elissa noticed Leliana blushed a little, her cheeks turning a pale shade of pink.
The shopgirl smiled, raising her eyebrows in surprise. “{Ah, yes ... We have oils, creams, herbs…}”
Leliana fiddled her hands together, her fingers picking absently at her nails. “{I was thinking more along the lines of functional equipment…}” the bard said. She tilted her head in Elissa’s direction. The shopgirl followed, eyes settling on Elissa. A sly smile crept onto her lips, her eyes darting back to Leliana.
“{Ah, yes, yes, I see ... she is beautiful, no?}” the shopgirl commented. Leliana looked back over her shoulder. She smiled at the Warden. “{She is my heart}”. When Leliana returned her attention to the shopgirl, she was walking towards a large dark curtain that fell all the way to the floor. “{Come right this way, I believe we have something that will suit your…needs…}” she said.
Elissa watched the two women leave. She headed to the front of the shop where the women’s wear was.
*******
Camp was alive with laughter, song -- Alistair’s terrible attempts to play the lyre, combined with Ogrhen’s burly voice-- and a generally jovial mood. The companions exchanged jokes and stories around the fire. Elissa held the small wooden box in her hands. She took a deep breath and walked over to Leliana.
“I got you something. I hope you like it,” she offered the box to the bard. “For me?” Leliana’s eyes were wide. She opened the box. Inside was a gorgeous pair of Orlesian heels. They were blue silk, covered in sequins, with a small flower on the toe of each shoe. The heels were a sensual, delicate taper. Leliana’s heart melted. She threw her arms around Elissa. “Oh, how dear of you! Thank you, so much!”
Leliana pulled back, a small smile forming on her lips. “I’ve got something for you as well.”
“Really?” Elissa asked, “What is it?”
“Well…” Leliana began, “…it has been some time since I left Lothering…”