No Night Without Stars

Nathaniel watched Katrien as she took in her surroundings, noting the way she held herself with a mix of caution and confidence. Her sharp eyes assessed him quickly, and he couldn't help but feel a bit flustered under her gaze. He smiled as she answered him, feeling a bit better about his show of awkwardness since she didn’t see the need to call him out on it. Not only that but she suggested he should invite her to join him

Well, if you insist, besides drinking with someone is always better than drinking alone. Before his dark years, he’d always been a sociable sort, but being conscripted into the Grey Wardens and having his entire life upended had put a bit of a damper on his more outgoing and sociable nature, but now that the treatment he was taking was going so well, and he’d quit the Grey Wardens, he was a lot more his old self again.

As she examined the bottle, Nathaniel moved to stand beside her, feeling a bit more at ease now that the initial awkwardness had passed. No, this isn't my place, he replied, his voice warm. The Back Water belongs to a friend of mine, Cooper and his adopted daughter Mina. I just help myself to a drink now and then. He grabbed another glass and set it down by the bottle, then poured Katrien a drink and topped his off. Name’s Nathaniel, by the way.

Had there ever been a time when he was smooth? Perhaps smoother, he was a touch out of practise, since the last twenty years with the Grey Wardens he’d mostly kept his head down and to himself. Still, he was enjoying meeting someone new, free from the burden of having to explain he was a Grey Warden.

@Katrien