At the mage's jest, a slow but wide grin spread over Ordhan's face. This time, he recognized it as the joke it was; Falina had said something very similar hardly an hour ago, and even his slow sense of humor would not forget it that quickly. Perhaps their personalities were so alike that they shared a sense of humor. Perhaps it was a common joke. He carefully stored the thought away for future reference. His usual response to most jokes was a blank stare, and the less he had to resort to it and look like a simpleton, the better.
When Falina tugged on his sleeve the smile froze. She was grinning at him, seeming sheepish, mischievous, and cheerful all at once as she smoothed out the wrinkles in the cloth. It was so much something Eileen would have done, her face so like Eileen's would have been, that it took him a moment to swallow the lump in his throat and continue to smile. It had all passed in a moment, a fleeting phantom memory, shown only in the brief pause of his smile and distance of his eyes. "I had assumed," he said with a quiet laugh and a reassuring touch on Falina's shoulder.
Bethen spoke with a polite, open smile ever in place, but when Ordhan mentioned that he had hoped to meet her, it seemed that confusion ghosted over her expression. He fully understood how strange his manner might seem; other mages had reacted to it with suspicion, while those not mages, disdain. At least Bethen seemed to be accepting it for what it was instead of trying to find a way out of the conversation.
"I had heard," he replied, head tilting awkwardly in a nod. He never knew how to respond to such things, these reminders that mages were different, a category of humanity set aside and shunned by most. The Chantry had much to say about them, conveniently ignored by a stubborn boy; he continued to disregard them as a man, but ignoring the practice of it was not so easily done. "I hope you have the chance again, soon."
At another mention of Rhocanth Falina was all nerves again. Ordhan listened in fond silence as she thanked Bethen. "Your birthday was yesterday?" he interjected when she had finished. "Congratulations, though I am late to say it. I hope it was pleasant, Falina."
The knight remained silent at Falina's question. He could have answered to some degree, but he knew his explanation would be vague at best, found wanting in many ways. Bethen would be able to give a better answer--not to mention he would not risk offending her. If the dwarf did not yet know of Ferelden's dealings with its mages, the sooner she understood it, the better.