A Change of the Script

Chapter 8

Entering the throne room, Lyna couldn't help but feeling a little self conscious. Bann Teagan had given her a selection of dresses to choose from but they had all been designed for Human women so did not fit her slighter and shorter Elven frame. Thankfully Keeper Marethari and Ashalle had helped her alter one to fit and had even added a little detail to represent her Elven culture.

The dress she was wearing was made of a forest green silk which came to her ankles. The sleeves had been altered so that they now reached to just below her elbows and were slightly flared but not enough to hinder her movements. The bodice had been made to fit using a piece of Dalish hunter armour which had been shined till it looked almost silver and decorated with a delicately painted leaf design that matched the colour of the dress. The back, though armoured, was still fairly low, coming to just below her shoulder blades. The skirt itself had been fitted to the waist and then flowed loosely, but was still easy to move in. They had also refused the Human foot ware, much to Lelianas' dismay, choosing to instead wrap her feet in the Elvish style with spare material from the dress. Her hair was tied back in her usual braid though a couple of strands had been left loose to frame her face and a little berry stain had been added to her lips to give them a deep red hue. The locket which Alistair had given her sat around her neck was the only accessory she wore.

"Oh wait until our dear Alistair sees you in this dress." Leliana gushed, the excitement clear in her voice. "You look simply amazing".

"As do you Leliana." Lyna said, trying to take the attention from herself as she was not used to such. "Are you certain you were not a noble?" she giggled. Leliana did indeed look amazing in a dress of reds and gold satin. The gold bodice developed into red sleeves which came to her wrists whilst the red skirt did not flare as wide as Lynas but did fall to her ankles. The sleeves and skirt were all trimmed with golden embroidery. Her shoes were also red with golden embroidery. Leliana's hair had been pulled into four plaits and then pinned up, exposing her long neck and ears. Small golden studs decorated her earlobes. She looked and carried herself as any noble woman would.

Giggling lightly, Leliana linked her arm with Lyna. "I have been to many such celebrations in Orlais, though this is not quite as grand as some. You learn a few things when you observe the nobles".

"I would rather be traveling or even fighting more darkspawn than joining this celebration." the young Elf said quietly. She felt increasingly uncomfortable, feeling that all eyes would more than likely be on her this night.

"Think of this as a different type of battle." the bard advised, just as quietly but with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "You are just using your words and not the two daggers which you have somehow managed to hide upon your person".

Unable to fight the equally mischievous grin that was forming on her face, Lyna felt the reassuring weight against her legs. The skirt had been discretely altered so that, if needs be, she could tear one side enough to grab the daggers that had been strapped to her legs. "I did not feel comfortable without accessorizing." she replied cheekily.

Finally looking around, the Warden could see many of her friends mingling with people she did not recognize. The party had obviously been going on for a little while if Oghren was any indication. He was sat, still in armour, on a bench near the ale casks with some of the soldiers and a couple of noble men and appeared to be in some sort of drinking contest. Zevran was stood not too far away from the group and looked to be watching over the Dwarf. The ex Crow was wearing what seemed to be noble clothing that had been altered to fit his Elven frame.

Wynn, in more elaborate Mage robes, was the next of her friends that she spotted, engrossed in a conversation with a group of Circle Mages whilst Shale, who was keeping an eye on a group of Dwarves nearby, had taken up a spot not far away from the 'frail Mage'.