Prologue
Shine
"In the gardens, as usual, my Lady." The guard shifted in his armour, freshly crafted and not yet familiar, one hand on the hilt of his sword attached to his belt, the other hanging awkwardly on his side.
"Thank you, Alec." Lady Josephine replied, placing her quill on the desk tenderly, and slowly rising from her large wooden chair. The move to Skyhold had been rather stressful to say the least, but Josephine was at least thankful for her own office, and the size of it was nothing to sneeze at either.
Immediately, Alec dived to the chair to pull it back for her, though, was a few seconds too late as she was already stood when he had reached her. He jumped back then, as since she was almost as tall as he was, they were now nose-to-nose.
"I shall go there now; it was kind of you to let me know as swiftly as you did. I know you must have many other duties to tend to during the day." She spoke, her eyes soft and smile subtle.
"It was my pleasure, my Lady." He bowed to her, "Would you like me to walk with you to the gardens?"
"No, thank you Alec, you are far too busy, I'm sure." She watched as his face dropped a little; "But I thank you for the offer, I would enjoy a walk in your company a day we are both not so occupied."
Josephine watched then, as Alec bowed to her again, then excused himself of the room. He was a sweet boy, a recruit picked up in Redcliffe Village, who'd beaten down an unsuspecting Templar with a hammer to save his family when they lived in the hills. Nevertheless, that's all he was, despite the promise he showed – far too young and a little too inexperienced.
And all the regard he gave her could not distract her from the somewhat stoic, gentle heart of the pride of House Trevelyan: Ashlin, the newly appointed Inquisitor. Who Josephine had been watching closely (maybe a little too closely) since the Inquisition's beginning.
Collecting her clipboard and various papers demanding the Inquisitor's attention and signature, she sets off for the gardens, and a moment alone with Ashlin Trevelyan.