"Vivienne is becoming a problem." Leliana curled her lip ever so slightly, the tiny sign of resentment going unnoticed by all but Josephine, who gave her friend a worried look.
"Well don't look at me," Gwen grumbled, oblivious to her bad mood and quickly turning irritable herself. The war meeting had only meant to last them an hour, but with half the mages threatening to rebel again, the Inquisitor and her advisers had been stuck pouring over maps for the entire morning, and were no doubt going to be carrying on for a while yet. Her feet ached already. "I wanted you to be divine. But obviously my word means less than nothing… despite saving the world from a huge hole in the sky." She muttered, frowning down at Leliana's latest report whilst rubbing her swollen belly absentmindedly.
"I can't believe you still thought you got to pick the next divine." Cullen mumbled with a smirk. The amusement lacing his voice was not subtle, and his wife flashed him a dangerous glare in return.
"Well, I just figured it was one of the perks. I got to pick who ruled Orlais."
"You didn't pick. Please stop saying you picked. It wasn't like choosing a mini cake at a party. You negotiated an agreement through careful diplomacy." Josephine all but groaned, having gone through this conversation more than once.
"And by finding a naked man on Empress Celene's bed." Gwen added.
"That's the diplomacy part."
Her eyebrows rose with delight, seeing the chance to tease and taking it without a moment's hesitation. "Is that so ambassador? I had no idea this is how your diplomatic talks played out."
"I didn't - ! That's not what I – Guineveeere!" Josephine groaned, hiding her blushing cheeks behind her papers. Her flustered state earned a laugh from Cullen and Gwen. Though Leliana remained as stern as ever, still in a bad mood. Shame. She would have found that joke hilarious a month ago.
"Be that as it may," the spymaster mumbled, "the rebel mages are not happy that Divine Vivienne has reinstated the circles. Though some have decided to stay with the inquisition, the rest are threatening another war. We must –" Leliana was cut short as the doors slowly creaked open.
Everyone's spine stiffened in unison. It was common knowledge that these meetings were strictly private. The Inquisitor and her advisers were not to be interrupted, partly because they frequently talked about delicate situations, and wandering ears were not welcome. Mainly due to the fact that interruptions meant these meetings lasted longer.
As a result, Cullen's temper flared like boiling water, and he spoke up first, turning to their intruder with his best scowl. Maker help him if it was Jim again, that would be humiliating.
"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS INTERUPPTION?"
Instead, Cullen came face to face with his daughter, wide eyed and sniffling as she was unexpectedly yelled at, by the man who was always meant to be happy to see her, on top of everything.
"Daddy?" There was a moment's silence, but he could see it coming, they all could. A wobble of her lip, a glance to her mother, and then the tears started, crying loudly and reaching out to be cuddled.
"Maker's breath. Kya." He moved to pick her up, but was beaten to it by Gwen, who swept her oldest onto her hip despite being nine months pregnant, much to his dismay. "My darling girl! Why are you crying?"
"D-Daddy shouted at me!"
Guilt hit him without mercy, knocking the breath from his lungs, forcing his throat to close. Cullen tried to apologize, but had barely opened his mouth before Josephine was stepping forward and speaking over him.
"Don't get upset, Kya. Your grumpy papa shouts all the time." She said, wandering closer, Leliana following.
"Yes, just ignore him, ma Cherie. That's what we all do."
"Excuse me, but I'm right here!" He went ignored, huffing and puffing and left wishing he could just hug his daughter without their meddling.
Instead, Gwen perched her on the end of the war table. Work was forgotten, and immediately all three women surrounded Kya as they tried to help her cheer up. Josephine offered to get out her hidden chocolate stash, treats all the way from Antiva, including the strawberry flavoured ones Kya enjoyed so much. Leliana cooed over her pink little shoes, complimenting her dress and offering to sing her favourite lullaby. While Gwen remained relatively quiet, instead catching the tears that pooled under her eyes with gentle thumbs, and giving her a soft smile that said everything was alright.
"I – I didn't mean to interrupt." Kya stuttered with a little hiccup, cheeks wet and nose runny, successfully pulling on his gut.
He cleared he throat, trying to find an opening and hopelessly failing. "Kya, I'm so –."
"Of course not, darling!" Gwen cooed, "but we're very glad you did. These war meetings are horribly dull without you."
"Oh yes!" Leliana agreed, bitter mood long gone. "The last time you joined us, why, you were still a little baby. I remember you chewing on the figurines and being sick all over your father's favourite pauldrons."
"Yes. We all remember that very fondly," Josephine said. All three laughed, and soon Kya was joining in with her own playful giggles, though she didn't understand the joke.
"Sorry to interrupt," he lied, "but may I enquire as to the where-abouts of your babysitter, my dear?" Finally Cullen had managed to get a word in. Though it hardly seemed worth it, as four head swivelled to glare.
Maker, but he was always outnumbered by women in this room.