'Josephine, you wanted to see me this morning?' Aeryn Trevelyan walked into the Inquisition Ambassador's office. She'd spent her morning with Sera sitting on the roofing heckling the sparring soldiers in the ring. Not a particularly dignified way to spend the morning, but it put her in a good mood nonetheless.

'Oh come I have some important correspondence, but I feel it may take some time. Drag over the reading chair unless you have another preference or should I call for assistance?'

Aeryn regarded the ruffle-clad woman and unceremoniously pulled the stuffed wingback behind the desk to sit next to her. As she settled in the chair, Aeryn observed 'You have so many little piles of paper my friend, don't you worry a stray spark will set the desk aflame?'

'Oh don't tease, you know this is much less organized than usual, but I had to spread it all out. You should have seen it before I started condensing the piles, I looked as if I was making a mosaic on the carpet!'

'Why were you making a mosaic on the carpet?'

'Because this must me done. I have been putting it away and behind other tasks far too long.'

'Making a mosaic?'

'Oh, why must you frustrate me so, you know I am speaking of the papers.'

'Right, the mosaic papers.' Aeryn stifled a giggle in her palm. It was so nice to be able to tease without the threat of the end of the world hanging over all their heads.

'Aeryn!' Josephine huffed, 'This is no laughing matter. We need to strategize. The connections we can make, the treaties to change Thedas.'

'Alright I bite Ambassador, what are my little piles are paper?'

'To put it quite plainly, they are patterns for the mosaic that I am setting in the lower area floor. Flagstone is so out of fashion in Orlais.' Josephine waited a moment for Aeryn's face to catch up with her wit, 'No. These are all offers of betrothal contracts. We should sort and think so appropriate replies can be made.'

'Wait wait wait. There is no way we're marrying off people to someone the do not know. Not happening under my watch.'

'This is why you are needed, I have narrowed the piles to matches that would make good politics, but I wish you to help me decide which relationships to further. You know everyone better than most and can help me pick the top two.'

'I am NOT doing this Josephine. Not to anyone, not even a suggestion.'

'Inquisitor, entire countries are made and broken on these grounds. There is no reason we should deny ourselves marriage that offers an advantageous position going forward. We will not be forcing anyone into anything, only narrowing it down to the best candidates and providing a full dossier to the intended. The prospective match can be called off at any time by either party.' Josephine stared down an angry blue fire and continued with vehemence 'This is a great deal better than most betrothal contracts, there is free will. If you were not chosen to be The Herald of Andraste you would not have had these freedoms in a marriage to another noble line.'

'Josephine, no.'

'Here at least review the offers for your hand' Josephine sighed, thrusting a surprisingly thick stack of papers into Aeryn's hand.

'No' Aeryn growled and threw the papers in her hand as far from her as she possible could. The papers mocked her by fluttering unconcerned to the floor, not nearly as far away as Aeryn would have liked.

'Aeryn, be reasonable, you didn't even look.'

Aeryn jumped up and strode over to a piece of paper and plucked it from the floor. 'The Baron of House Chantes in the Blessed country Orlais seeks a formal audience with the Inquisitor to discuss the possible alliance of the House of Chantes and the House of Trevelyan through the marriage of the Baron's eldest son and the second daughter of the House of Trevelyan. Please... and it goes on in some way. I have no idea who this man even is. There is no name!'

She crumpled the paper in her hand and picked up another. 'Oh, this one is from the Free Marches, at least I have heard of these people.' Aeryn ripped that paper and kicked a few more that were on the floor. 'Josephine I am NOT doing this. EVER!'

Josephine sighed. 'Alright, you will not take a husband yet. Would you at least look at another, that isn't for you?'

Biting back a scream, Aeryn grabbed the tallest stack of paper and began reading the top message. 'Cullen!' Aeryn's outrage was clear as she began shuffling the papers. 'All of these are for Cullen?'

'Inquisitor, he is a fine match seeing his position within the Inquisition. He is also a very attractive man, I...'

Josephine was cut off by Aeryn stalking to the fireplace and thrusting the entire stack into the fire, a smile crossing her face as each of the requests caught flame and curled into black ash.

'Inquisitor!' Josephine found this a bit extreme, even for Aeryn.

'Do you know, why these are in the floor?' Aeryn started, kicking few more of the papers. 'Because the only man I would consent to marry would not be in this stack. If I wanted him, all I would need to do is walk to the front doors and call his name. He would come, without a thought. I can never love another as I love that man.'

Josephine stuttered, 'I... had no idea, that you were so serious. I just thought, perhaps a relationship of circumstance.'

'No Josephine, he is my world.'

'I see. Has Ser Cullen asked for your hand? I can begin arrangements immediately.' Upon seeing the look on Aeryn's face, she continued, 'I also owe Leliana five silvers.'

'No, he has not asked... Five silvers?'

'Yes. She bet that Ser Cullen would not ask, despite being assured of his answer. I had thought he would be bold enough to ask for you. I actually had requested a meeting with him later so I could show him a stack of requests for your hand, to attempt to stir him into action.'

'Then what is the point of putting me through this exercise? Just to aggravate me?'

'No, although I do admit watching you burn a stack of marriage proposals was more entertaining than I thought. No, I wanted to ensure that you were for him, despite the lack of advantages in the match.'

'Oh hush now Josephine, ' Leliana replied as she swept into the room, 'this match has every possible advantage for the Inquisition and the rebuilding of the Chantry.'

'How long were you listening?' Aeryn raised an eyebrow at the spymaster.

'Long enough to hear you rail against another having your man. I could hear you in the War Room you know. It would not surprise me to find you could be heard in the hall.'

'I have a host of friends' Aeryn sighed, sinking down to the floor in front of the fire.

'Back to the matter at hand,' Leliana began 'can you not think of the story that will be told of The Herald of Andraste and The Lion of Skyhold? Can you not see The Maker's hand in this?'

'No.' Aeryn grumbled from the floor. The Inquisitor had walked into many traps in her life, but one set by two of her most trusted advisers made her sorely vexed.

'Come now, listen' Leliana began:

There once was a man, mortal, of humble origin. Through The Maker's grace, he grew to be a paragon of Strength, Loyalty, and unshakable Faith. When the sky rent open, Andraste sent her Herald to save her world. The Maker sent this man to be the Herald's protector and defender. He stood by her side as she faced the trials of the world and he stood by her side as she emerged victorious. Andraste was well pleased and bound their hearts together with love, so they might show her love to the world.

Leliana smiled at the end of her story. Aeryn stuck her head between her knees and wished the ground to swallow her whole. The mantle of being The Herald of Andraste had always sit heavy on her shoulders, however making her love with Cullen divine providence was just too much. She whined in protest.

'Hush Aeryn.' Leliana chided. 'We will ensure his request for your hand, you will not have to do the asking, only the accepting.'

'What if he chooses differently?' Aeryn glared daggers at the curling ash in the fireplace.

'How can you doubt?' Leliana laughed. ' There is no man that loves you like our Commander and he will ask.'

As Aeryn started to let fly a retort, the man under discussion swept into the room. Three women stared at him, one seated, one standing, one craning her neck over her back to look at his form. He surveyed the general state of disarray and offered his hand to the woman on the floor.

'Does and one have information to share with me? Was there a Council meeting and I was uninformed?'

'No, I...' Aeryn started. 'Oh Cullen' she sighed as she banged her head wearily into the plate metal on his chest.

'Come Your Worship, I have things I would discuss with you in private.' Leliana grabbed Aeryn's wrist and led her into the War Room and through the next door.

'Josephine, why do I have a feeling that I am missing something important?'

'Because you are Ser Cullen. Do you not see the mess our Lady Inquisitor has made of my paperwork.'

'What did you do to her?' His tone playing at menacing but failing, knowing Josephine would cause Aeryn no real harm.

'I only showed her the stack of marriage proposals for herself. Her response was what you see here.' Josephine gestured to the scattered paperwork.

'Is that all? I'd have thought she'd be aware of the interest she has garnered from all corners of Thedas.' Cullen wanted to sweep every paper on that floor into the fireplace. Needing to refocus, 'so what did you want me to discuss with you?'

'Only the offers of a marriage contract for you. However that will not be possible at this time.' Josephine smiled a wicked smile, 'Your Lady thought they would better serve as fire tinder' Josephine laughed.

Cullen smiled. That's my girl.