Author's Note: This is just another little thought I had- let me know if it has merit!

Evelyn Entertains a Proposal

It was easy to tell when Dorian had something on his mind. He avoided your eyes, discoursed on literature, sent witty cutting banter that had absolutely nothing to do with the subject at hand flying like knives, anything to throw you off the scent. Inquisitor Evelyn Trevelyan had learned to hover and wait, to let him bring forth issues on his own time. He was her dearest friend, and if anyone knew the heart of Dorian Pavus, it was probably her.

Evelyn sat on the small couch in her quarters, patted the seat next to her. Dorian sat but from the way he was twisting his robe in his hands, Evie could tell he was nervous. "I don't bite." She told him gently. "Well, not hard anyway."

"Yes," Dorian chuckled, but the sound died quickly and he was on his feet again. "Inquisitor…Evelyn…I wondered if you might entertain a proposal?"

"Of course," Evelyn said lightly, but her heart was in her shoes. 'This is it,' She thought grimly. 'This is where he says he's leaving for Tevinter. First Solas, now Dorian and Maker knows who'll go next…'

Her train of thought was interrupted by a strange sight. Dorian was on one knee on the rug before her, his grey eyes filled with a strange, almost manic light. "Evelyn, will you marry me?"

"I…you… what?" Evelyn's mind had ceased to function. She felt like she had the time a red Templar had given her a concussion with a well-executed shield bash.

"Marriage. Surely you've heard of it."

It was the return of Dorian's snark that helped her think again. "I didn't realize you meant an actual proposal!"

"Strange, perhaps, but true."

"But Dorian…I'm a woman."

The Tevene cracked a smile. "Oh, is that what you are? I hadn't noticed."

Now she glared at him, "You know what I mean. You don't like women!"

"I like women just fine. I just don't choose to seek them for my sexual gratification."

"But…I'm with someone!"

"Yes, The Iron Bull, I know." Dorian sat beside her once more, grasped both her hands in his. "Listen, please Inquisitor. I thought that all marriage would be for me, especially a suitable marriage, would be torture. A slow, waking death. But you…you are the best friend I've ever had, not to mention an influential, beautiful, well-bred woman. I could bring you the allegiance of a powerful house and a foothold in Tevinter and you in turn give me a legitimacy in front of my peers that I will sorely need if I am to get anywhere in the Magisterium. Besides…don't you want a family? Little magelets running around with your lovely sapphire eyes?"

"Yes, of course." Evelyn said, a blush flaring through her cheeks. "But you realize that would mean we would have to…"

"Do you find me that hideous to look at that you have given no thought to spending the night in my company?"

"No, that's not…" If she had been blushing before, it was nothing compared to now. "Dorian, don't tease. You know what I'm saying. And none of this explains to me what happens to Bull."

"Keep him. Consorts are the expected thing in Tevinter; it would be odd if you didn't have one."

"I can't just bear your children and then go skipping off into his arms as though nothing happened!"

"People do it all the time. Besides, he doesn't seem to be in any hurry to marry you."

"Qunari don't marry."

"But humans do. Surely, if it was important to you- and I know that it is, and if I know, he certainly does- he would have at least considered it."

Dorian could see that the point had hit home. Evelyn was chewing the thumb nail on her right hand with a rapidly darkening expression. He took the offending hand gently in his own and gave it a squeeze, his voice uncommonly gentle.

"I won't lie to you, Evelyn. You know my proclivities- I don't expect they will change. You would be free to pursue your own life as long as I have the courtesy of pursuing mine- barring the few times when we would have to play nice for appearance's sake. The only difference is that we would both gain legitimacy instead of being the pariah and the Inquisitor with a Tal-Vashoth lover. Just…" He stood, her hand still in his. "Think about it. Please."

"I…will."

"Truly?"

"I promise."

Dorian pressed a gentle kiss to her knuckles and took his leave. It was a while before Evelyn could command her legs to move, but when she did she headed straight for the one person she knew would give her truthful advice...whether she wanted to hear it or not.

"Sparkler did what?!"

"You're no more shocked than I was, believe me."

"Well…damn." Varric sat back in his chair, dark eyes wide with disbelief. "Are you really considering this, Bright Eyes?"

"It's a good offer. Dorian's powerful, talented, smart…"

"…gay. Let's not forget gay. As in, he sleeps with men. Men like…not you."

"Thank you Varric, I'm well aware of the parts I have and don't have." Evelyn interjected icily.

"Ok, you know who is a man though? The Iron Bull. Who, last I checked, was your very own exclusive Qunari lover. Where's he fit into all of this?"

"Dorian suggested I take him as a consort."

"Yeah," Varric hooted with laughter, "Suggest that to him and see how it goes. Make sure I'm there to see it though, ok? I need new material…"

"It's just…Varric, this thing with Corypheus…it proved to me that I'm not getting any younger. I want a family, I want children…I want the damn title ok? I want someone to introduce me as their wife, and be proud to do it. I don't want my mother still writing me about all the eligible men she's met because obviously a relationship with a Tal-Vashoth is nothing but a novelty and of course I'll come to my senses and see that simply having a lover cannot possibly be as legitimate as having a husband."

"Do you believe that?"

"Yes…no…" Evelyn sat heavily, burying her face in her hands. "I don't know."

"Ok, so you know what you do?" Evelyn shook her head. "You take what you just said to me, walk your ass down the stairs and across the yard to the tavern, and tell it to Bull. Word for word, you understand? I think you owe him that much."

He was right. Damn him to the Void, but he was right. What she didn't know was that Dorian had gotten to Bull already.

"I wanted you to hear this from me first." He took a deep, fortifying breath. "I…asked Evelyn to marry me."

The words hung in the air for a few moments before The Bull started laughing. "Good one, Dorian! You almost had me…"

"I'm serious."

"Well, I hope she let you down easy."

"She didn't let me down at all. She promised she'd think about it."

"Is that so?" Something shifted in the Iron Bull's eye. He looked much like he did when someone mentioned demons. "You switching teams, Vint?" Dorian winced. The Iron Bull hadn't called him a 'Vint', except affectionately, for quite some time. He had a feeling the term wasn't being used as a friendly endearment this time.

"Certainly not. But there's so much that could be gained from our alliance, I had to ask. Besides…you and she…well…"

"She and I, what?"

"I know she's been unhappy." Dorian replied frankly. "Ever since Blackwall and Josephine were married…well, surely you've noticed."
Bull had noticed as a point of fact. He just didn't see what concern it was of Dorian's, and said so. That was when the famous Tevene temper flared. "Because I'm her friend, you big grey lout! And if you had any courage at all, this conversation wouldn't be necessary!"

So it happened that when Evelyn entered the tavern, it wasn't to have the conversation she expected to have- it was to rescue Dorian. He was slowly being backed into a corner, even though she could see frost on The Iron Bull's horns and shoulders from where Dorian had attempted to stop him. He was outnumbered…Krem, who had overheard the conversation, was blocking his escape on the other side.

"What in the name of Andraste's Holy Knickers is going on here?" The Inquisitor's voice rang out through the noise of the tavern and everyone who heard it stopped in their tracks. Evelyn got in between The Bull and Dorian, both hands on her hips.

"Just having a friendly conversation, boss." Bull said coolly. "Right…Vint?"

"So I see." Evelyn replied scathingly. "So friendly it broke Dorian's nose?"

"Why not? I'm sure it will add to my rakish charm." Dorian quipped.

"Your Worship…"

"Quiet!" Evelyn whirled on Krem. The Tevinter mercenary took a step back at the unaccustomed tone of her voice. "You," She pointed at him, "not your business. You," She jabbed a finger at Dorian, "are in serious trouble, and you," She pointed at The Iron Bull. "We will talk later, but this isn't the time or place. OK?"

Bull stalked out with barely a nod. Krem went back to his corner, a mortified look on his ruddy face. Evelyn sat next to Dorian on the bench The Iron Bull usually occupied.

"What in the world did you tell him?" She scolded, holding a handkerchief to his bleeding nose.

"The truth."

"Honestly, Dorian, you couldn't have waited?"

"I was grabbing the bull by the horns…so to speak."

"Ugh, you're impossible."

"So I've been told," Dorian took the handkerchief from her hands, shooed her away. "Go, have your talk. And do watch his hands…he has a mean left cross."