Hello! It's Zeden!*hugs to all*

This story does not follow the rules of the DA2 game. It's a weird twist on my part. I hope you like it or at least tolerate it :D

Chapter 1

Madeline concentrated on her knitting while her granddaughter, Grace, continued to rage. This was the third time in less than a year that her granddaughter had returned from Val Royeaux heartbroken and sworn to take a vow of chastity. André de Béthune, son of a well-known Orlesian noble, had openly declared his love, only to renounce it after Grace publicly embarrassed him at a dinner party by using the wrong fork.

"Grace, my precious, why do you care what those Orlesian men think of you?" Madeline inquired. She glanced up from her knitting to catch her granddaughter's eye. The tears were beginning to well. "They are pompous asses. You should know that by now."

Grace collapsed into the nearest chair with all the exaggeration one would expect in a third rate melodrama. What an overreaction, thought Grandmother Madeline. The University of Orlais may be the most prestigious place of learning in all of Thedas, but it is making my Grace soft, and, if I am honest, a bit too Orlesian.

"You do not understand, grandmother," Grace whispered. A dramatic sigh bellowed from her lips as she sank further into the chair. "I am a minor noble from Starkhaven in their eyes. It is simply awful and so unfair."

Madeline hid a light-hearted grin. "Yes, it is quite unfair to be a simple noble in a place of wealth and opulence." She ignored Grace's eye roll. "Maybe, if we are lucky, one of your wealthy Orlesian suitors will deem us worthy to serve them and their estate."

"Oh grandmother, that is why the Maker created elves," Grace flippantly remarked. The sound of the knitting needles stopped. When the familiar repetitive click did not start again, Grace looked to her grandmother. "Is something wrong?"

For as long as Grace could remember her grandmother knitted while she listened to her every word. When Grace was younger, she would walk to her grandmother's cottage and they would sit near the hearth and talk. Of course, it was mostly Grace who did the talking, but those were fond memories when life seemed much simpler.

Two years ago, her Grandmother Madeline had admitted she needed assistance. That was the day she had moved from her cottage to live in the estate. Grace enjoyed having her grandmother close. She had learned that the old woman enjoyed scandalous gossip, unlike her mother, who always worried.

Grandmother Madeline gestured for the young servant waiting near the door to come close. Thalia was her name and she was an elf. The elven girl nodded her head and curtly crossed the room to speak with the elderly woman. Grace heard only whispers and that in itself was odd. Her grandmother had never deemed it necessary to exclude her in a conversation before today.

The young elf girl smiled brightly before taking her leave. After the door to the sitting room had shut and they were alone, Madeline unclasped her necklace and laid it in the palm of her hand.

"Grace, I want you to take this and open the old chest over there in the corner." Madeline's shaky fingers held the silver necklace aloft to reveal a key. Grace had never noticed it. "You will find a book inside and I want you to bring it to me."

Grandmother Madeline's voice was more insistent than Grace could ever remember. The granddaughter did not hesitate to do as she asked. "Of course, grandmother," Grace said in an obedient voice. "A book you say? May I ask what kind?"

The elderly woman watched her granddaughter glide across the room. Grace is such a pretty girl. That dark hair, those long legs and big green eyes could paralyze a man at ten paces. Madeline sighed loud enough for Grace to hear. The young woman turned her head briefly, but decided it was best to retrieve the book instead of asking more questions. Maker, this grandchild is worldlier than the others. I do not know if it will do more harm than good this time.

The wooden chest was splintered and Grace was certain she could smell sea salt as she opened it. Inside, there were enveloped letters, official documents and a large book bound in leather. These are my grandmother's private things. I shouldn't snoop, thought Grace. She eyed the letters tied in red ribbon with interest. I wonder if those are love letters. Hmmm, maybe I will have a peek one day when grandmother is visiting the countryside.

Grace grabbed the dusty book before it became obvious she was dawdling and walked to her grandmother. "Is this what you wanted?"

Two wrinkled hands reached up and reverently took the book. Grace had never seen her grandmother look at something with such fondness.

"Thank you, Grace." Madeline wiped the dust away from the cover. Weather-worn fingers flipped through the brittle pages, and as they did, the old grandmother smiled. "It has been some time since I have read this."

Emotions that Grace had never witnessed crossed her grandmother's face. It was as if she were staring at a different woman. "What...is this book?"

Her grandmother smiled without reserve. "I read it when I was about your age. It was one of my favorite romance novels so..." She handed the book to her granddaughter. "I thought you might enjoy it."

My grandmamma reads romance novels? Grace could hardly believe it. But... she knits and embroiders my gowns. She doesn't think about those... things.

"Something troubling you dear?" Grandmother Madeline inquired with an angelic look on her face. "I was once your age you know and I daresay was a bit less concerned with my noble status."

Grace fidgeted. "I would never have thought you would read this sort of story, grandmother."

"Oh?" Grandmother Madeline said. A devious smile gave the old woman a hint of mischievous youth. "Well, maybe you do not know me as well as you would like to think."

If she did not know better, Grace would have taken the comment as a challenge. "You..." She placed her palm on the book. "You really want me to read this?"

"Yes." Her grandmother did not hesitate to answer. "Why not, dear?" Madeline leaned over and whispered: "I think you will find it scandalous." She gave her wink.

Ah, it makes sense now, thought Grace. Grandmother is trying to appeal to me, be my friend as always. The young woman smiled. "Of course I will read it."

"I would like you to begin by reading it to me... now," Madeline firmly stated. "Later, you may read at your leisure, but please indulge an old woman and read for me, Grace."

The words and demand in her grandmother's voice had frightened Grace at first. She felt as if she were being scolded. But, when her grandmother finished her sentence with a smile, she put the feelings aside as a simple misunderstanding.

"As you wish, grandmother," Grace answered in a proper manner. The young woman primly sat down across from Madeline. "I think this will be entertaining."

Madeline smiled. "Yes it will be," she said with an air of smugness. "I expect it will be most entertaining."