One Night in Lothering - Chapter 3
One Night in Lothering
Chapter 3
In the Still of the Night
9:30 Dragon, Spring 2, Day 24
It had seemed so very practical at the time, like such a good idea, but with Leliana’s elbow poking into her ribs for the third time, Elinora had come to the realization that camping might have not have been such a bad idea.
No sooner had the thought dragged through her sleep-deprived brain, then Leliana shifted and Elinora went tumbling off the bed.
She hit the floor with a thud and found herself sprawled nose to nose with Alistair, now awake and trying very hard not to laugh.
She slammed a firm hand over his mouth and put the other to her lips to shush him. Easier said than done; his shoulders shook as he tried to keep his giggles from escaping and waking the entire room.
They listened a moment; Elinora didn’t even breathe.
No one else woke up, except Finn who just glanced at the two and went back to sleep.
Ferocious war hound indeed.
Alistair’s quaking subsided. He pulled her hand away from his mouth and smiled at her, still gently gripping the formerly silencing hand. She smiled back, a bit more chagrined, but amused nonetheless.
“Mind if I stay?” she whispered.
“As long as you don’t mind sharing,” he whispered back.
She shook her head slightly, and reluctantly pulled her hand from his. With it, she reached up on to the bed for her empty pillow. She looked for an extra blanket too, but had no luck. She shrugged to herself, rolled over, then curled up tightly.
A small knot of disappointment slunk inside of him, but he set it aside. Now was not the time. Alistair watched her back until her breathing became slow and steady. He drifted to sleep with her scent teasing his dreams.
Dawn came far too soon for any of them.
Elinora woke to Finn buffeting her face with his wet doggie nose. She began to get up and go walk him, then encountered a slight problem.
Alistair’s arms were wrapped firmly around her waist.
Oh. Sweet. Andraste.
She jerked away quickly, which woke her sleeping companion.
“Hm? Oh.” One hand still lay on her waist. “Oh…. Uh-oh.” He drew away his hand. “Um… one of us must have gotten a little cold…”
She nodded and pulled on her boots much faster than was necessary. “Yes, of course. I’m going to go walk Finn now.” Boots on but not buckled, she dashed out of the room, Mabari at her heels. The war hound gave Alistair judgmental look as he followed his mistress.
Alistair was most certainly not cold now. Bacon could have cooked on his cheeks. Even worse, he couldn’t escape Morrigan’s glare and Leliana’s amusement. Mornings were often not kind to men and this one was a little extra cruel. He sat up with a sigh and tried to subtly adjust the blanket for decency.
“So….” he said, carefully keeping his tone conversational. “How did everyone sleep?”