Skyhold, 9:62 Dragon
"Vex, aren't you ready yet?" Lord Inquisitor Antinnis Trevelyan felt like this was the hundredth time he'd called his daughter down from her bedroom. Didn't this girl take these kinds of events seriously? Visits to the Grand Cathedral in Val Royeaux were a big deal; he'd even put on his old red formal attire, the one he'd worn 20 years prior to the Winter Palace, the night he had all but grabbed power from the Empress and Grand Duke of Orlais.
"The Cathedral isn't going anywhere, Father," came the reply. "Why are you in such a hurry?" With that, a door upstairs opened and Vex descended the stone stairs of the keep that she and her father had called home for the past 21 years. She wore a colorful, Orlesian-style number that made Antinnis shudder. "You don't like it? Aunt Vivienne had it made for me by her personal tailor."
"And that explains a lot. All you need now is a horned hat and an aloof attitude and you're all set."
"Very funny, Father. Just because you can barely dress yourself doesn't mean I should follow suit." Avexis Trevelyan's carefree, humorous attitude and medium skin tone came from her father, a Free Marcher noble of Rivaini heritage. Her piercing eyes, that stubborn, rash streak of hers…that was all her mother. "Aunt Vivienne also braided my hair. Do you at least like that?"
Antinnis kissed his daughter's forehead and smiled. "There is nothing about you that I dislike, my darling child. Now, come, your mother is expecting us and I'd rather not be late." The Inquisitor turned and motioned for Josephine to come over. "While we are gone, the castle is yours. And Cullen's. And Leliana's, I suppose. If anyone comes for a visit or on business, ask to either wait around and give them a guest room, or have them return in a week, if they feel like making the trek to and fro again." The Antivan ambassador nodded and headed in the direction of the rookery to inform Leliana.
As they headed out into the courtyard, Vex turned to her father. "A week? But it will take us a few days to go back and forth from Val Royeaux. That's not enough time! What if it's important? Like darkspawn, or a high dragon, or –" Antinnis cut her off with a raised hand, then whistled sharply. A cry emanated from the battlements as a shadow was cast over father and daughter. The winged creature was large, bigger than a horse. Its birdlike head and lionlike body cast an air of dignity and nobility. Not that Vex picked up on any of that, as she was too busy gawking. "Is…is that a griffon?! Like from the stories Uncle Varric tells?"
Antinnis allowed himself a chuckle. "Yes. The Grey Wardens have been breeding them for some time, as one of their number found an egg clutch years ago. This one was a gift from First Warden Aedan Cousland, for everything we've done for him, the order, and his family over the years."
"Cousland? You mean Kieran's father?" Vex blushed as she spoke his name.
Her father rolled his eyes. "Teyrn Kieran Cousland's father, and Lady Morrigan's husband, yes. This particular griffon is named Oren, after The First Warden's late nephew. Flying there, it will only take us hours to reach Val Royeaux. Now, if you're done drooling all over my new mount?" Vex quickly shook Kieran from her mind and hopped onto Oren behind her father. Antinnis spurred the creature into motion, and in one graceful move it took off into the sky.
After some time, Antinnis turned back to look at Vex. "You know, Teyrn Cousland will be at the Grand Cathedral tomorrow. If you're that taken with him, I can arrange for the two of you to spend more time together."
"What?" Vex almost blurted out.
"The Teyrn of Highever, possible heir to King Alistair's throne, and the daughter of the Inquisitor…if all worked out, you could be Queen of Ferelden, much less Teyrna. Everyone wins."
Vex blushed a deeper red. "I guess it couldn't hurt for you to ask. On one condition, though: you have to promise me that you're doing this for my sake, not to tighten your grip on Thedas. You already practically rule Orlais, after all."
He sighed, then smiled again. "I promise, Avexis."