"It just seems ill advised." Macha Tabris walked briskly into Divine Victoria's formal working quarters. She had on a simple blue dress and had her silky brown curls tied loosely behind her neck in such a way that strands always seemed to find their way out. Leliana wasn't entirely convinced this was accidental. There wasn't much Macha did that was. The short elf pushed one of the said strands behind her ear and wasted no time in pulling a stack of papers from the worn leather satchel resting on her hip. "Read this. Bhelen is quite literally asking for my head as if I had any involvement whatsoever. And given his current standing, the threat is politically unwise-"

"Hello, Peaches."

Macha's hand froze from the papers she'd placed next to the stacks of holy books. Big brown eyes went comically wide and though Leliana had not confirmed it, she was nearly positive her lover's ears flattened when she was so horrified. She stuttered over her own teeth and looked at the bookcases behind Leliana like she would find a prompt or cue waiting for her.

"Of course! Hello! I'm so sorry, Leli." Macha'd regained her posture in seconds and rushed behind the desk to pepper Leliana's face with kisses. She moved carefully so as not to unpin the fancy new hat but the firmness in her fingers grasping Leliana's face was unmistakable. It warmed the Divine's heart in a way only fresh bread could mimic. "I've missed you terribly. At the same time, I-" Macha paused, giggled, "I suppose I assume you're always with me. That you know everything I've seen and more."

"It's not a bad guess," Leliana said slyly. A single arched eyebrow raised carefully, "Although you are better at evading my eyes and ears as of late." She tugged Macha closer by the waist until the elf fell into her lap with an exasperated sigh.

"Do you not worry of rumours?" Macha scolded her gently but she smiled through the words.

"I welcome them, dearest." Leliana buried her nose in the crook of Macha's neck until she got the contented sigh she sought. "Though a clever dodge of the question, I am still intent on finding out why you've been dodging my people."

Macha tsk'd. "It wasn't a question so much as a guilt trip and I won't have it. Spying on your own girlfriend is tacky."

"Should I dismiss Sister Eunice, then?"

The elf grinned. "No, let her practice. Maker knows she needs it. I caught the poor thing trying to dupe a lesser Nevarran duchess by claiming she was a long lost cousin. Her accent will come in handy, but she needs... Well. She needs many things." She leaned into soft pale skin and touched her nose to the freckles on her lover's shoulder. Moments of peace were a rarity among Wardens, and more so for Macha. She sighed. "I hate to say it, but I'm here for business."

Leliana's pout didn't need to be seen directly to make its presence known. Her whole torso stiffened and she twisted enough to force the guilt ridden elf to look her in the eye. "I have not seen you since the ceremony at the Sunburst Throne, Macha. I am a patient woman but—"

"Far more patient than I deserve, Leli, I know. I'm sorry to have—"

"No!" Leliana pressed a single finger to Macha's lips and did her best to ignore the soft kiss from even softer lips pressed gently to her fingertip. "None of your silver tongue, Peaches. You are not abandoning me to paperwork after I haven't seen you for…" She trailed off.

"A year," Macha spoke into the finger, looking properly abashed. "I know, but—"

"But what?" Leliana felt her voice rising, but she couldn't bring herself to mind. "What is it that's so necessary to keep from me? Do you think me stupid enough to think you're still looking to cure the blight?"

Wrenching herself away from Leliana's deft hand, the elf nearly squawked in protest. "I am looking for a cure! And for the calling, not the blight but," Macha tried to entwine their fingers and cease her girlfriend's attempts to silence her with a fluid motion but Leliana was having none of it. Macha halted the explanatory speech with a cringe. She settled for grasping the offending hand in both of hers and pursing her lips. Her eyebrows lilted upwards pleadingly and

"I know, Leli, I know. I really am sorry. I wouldn't do such things if it weren't absolutely necessary. You have to know that, right?"

"I don't have to know anything." The chill in her voice was brazen.

Macha's wince deepened but she nodded. "I suppose that's true."

They sat together in silence. The Warden Commander chewed her lower lip, eyes distant under thick lashes. She still held firmly onto Leliana's hand, pale like cold milk in comparison to her own warm brown calloused hands. Notches cut lines in the crooks of her fingers where she held her bow string and even more dashes scattered across the back of her hands where she'd probably tried to disarm an enemy without the aforementioned bow.

Leliana's eyes never left Macha's face, watching for the tell tale signs she'd learned to spot during the Fifth Blight. When she was trying to come up with a convincing lie, her right eye would narrow more than her left and she would let her hair fall in front of her eyes despite it bothering her to no end to have her vision blocked. To appear more casual, she'd mentioned once offhandedly. Even if you aren't, you always appear more nervous when you're fiddling with something.

The dress did little to hide the boniness from her shoulders or the clavicle that poked out more than was fashionable. Her cheeks had been dusted with a warm rosy red but up close the hollows beneath her eyes were clear. Leliana sighed and let herself relax. A small smile broke Macha's concentration and she shot a cautious look.

"Did I pass inspection, Divine Victoria?"

Leliana snorted, "You always do, don't you?"

A quiet but genuine laugh bubbled through Macha's features. It didn't quite erase the worried tilt of her brow, but she allowed herself a small stretch of her back. She blinked her eyes hard as if it would banish away the tiredness. Leliana disentangled their hands and lightly pushed her fingers through the elf's thick hair, tugging the wide white ribbon out with ease. "Does this have to do with the Inquisition? Because, technically, they disbanded."

"'Technically'?"

"Mm. It's complicated." Macha looked like she was about to interject with more questions, so Leliana spoke quickly. "And irrelevant if the Inquisition is not the reason for secrecy, no?"

The words Macha had been forming halted at the tip of her tongue. She frowned. "It's not the Inquisition, Leli. It's not even about…" She huffed a big breath and shrugged. "It's kind of it's own thing. And it's dangerous information to have."

"So you are protecting me, then?"

"Yes!" Macha said enthusiastically. "Yes, exactly!" One look at the frost forming in Leliana's gaze gave her enough of a heads start on backpedaling. "Not that I do not believe you incapable of protecting yourself, of course. But you're such an important figure to Thedas that such a petty danger would be a nuisance not worth your bearing."

"If it is so petty, then why does it require the secretive allegiance of the Queen of Ferelden?"

Macha scowled. "I am not the Queen, and you well know this."

"Alistair and Anora could be half giant, half pride demon, wear a crown the size of a ship, and I doubt any citizen would recognize them." Leliana grinned. "Save for dear Teagan, of course, and even he never has roses thrown at his feet when he visits the cities."

"It happened once, and news never accurately reaches Lothering anyway." Macha tried to grumble but she looked a little pleased. "Besides, they both prefer I make the speeches. Though speaking of halves—"

"Elven, by Fiona, I know." Leliana tried not to sound too smug. "She is a lovely lady."

"I'm still not sure how to tell him, honestly." Macha stared at the hand resting on her knee with her mouth tugged to the side. "Or if I should. He's terrible at keeping secrets and now is not the time for that to be revealed. It could be much more powerful later when Gaspard is taken care of."

Leliana smiled broad and dangerous. "My, Miss Tabris, are you planning an assassination?"

That earned her a glare. "No." Macha spoke harshly, standing up off Leliana's lap and tersely straightening her skirts. She snatched the white bow from Leliana's desk and had her hair braided back in a second. "And this is why I can't tell you. You will try to stab your way through the issue."

"I am hardly threatening to overthrow Orlais in bloody revolution, Macha!" Leliana sounded indignant. "And you must admit the man is absolutely foul."

Macha sniffed, still determinedly packing up her satchel and slinging it on her shoulder. Leliana groaned. She took the hat off her head and placed it on the desk delicately before going to wrap her arms around the elf from behind. Hands wove under her arms like snakes and she had the petulant Warden grasped by the waist.

"Alright, if you cannot tell me, then don't." Leliana squeezed lightly. "I would trust you with my life. But I will insist you protect yours."

Macha pivoted in her hold and draped her arms around Leliana's neck. Still, there was suspicion in her gaze. "I am foreseeing a long lecture about why I should poison my arrows, yes? I've told you I won't partake in such vile—"

Leliana laughed and kissed her nose. "No, Peaches. In this instance I recommend a bodyguard. Someone less squeamish than you."

"Someone less squeamish," Macha placed extra disapproval on the word, "just as fast, discreet, and trustworthy enough? I doubt I can afford it, and it wouldn't be wise to empty the Chantry coffers so soon, love."

"I know someone that will go for free." Leliana's eyes twinkled. She swayed their hips together and raised an eyebrow.

"Absolutely not."

"Oh come now. Surely you cannot expect that I had quit the field completely? I am no less sharp than I was ten years ago." Leliana pouted prettily and Macha was doing her best to ignore it.

"And what," The elf huffed, "am I supposed to say when the Queen of Fereldan and the newest Divine Justinia are caught on a mission that could alter the political scene as we know it?"

"More so than an actual Dalish god walking among us?"

Macha blinked at her then considered it. "…Quite possibly, yes, but I'll want more information on that later."

"Well you can't think I'm staying home after hearing that," Leliana laughed and let go. Macha was sulking and grumbling something about treaties being shaken to their foundations but Leliana had already ducked into her wardrobe to sling a pack over her shoulder. Feathered arrow fletching stuck out indiscreetly from a pouch in the front and when she hung up the red and gold robe, Macha saw the ornate gem laid daggers sitting on the woman's hips.

Macha's eyes narrowed. "You were expecting me."

"Of course."

The Warden's eyes strayed to the papers she had stacked on the Divine's desk and she let out a defeated sigh. "We do have to deal with Orzammar first, though. That's not negotiable."

Leliana was already pushing past her towards the intricately carved double doors. "The Maker himself could not stop me from leaving that damn desk, Peaches."

Macha laughed. She hefted up the stack of papers in one arm and leaned the weight on her hip like she would carry a toddler. She was about to catch up when a bright yellow note pad caught her eye. She tugged it closer with an outstretched finger and stared at it, the door, then the quill still dipped in the inkwell nearby. In one fluid motion, she roughly dragged the quill harshly enough to spill the ink across the desk and hastily scrawled on the pad:

In Peace, Vigilance
In War, Victory
In Death...

She scribbled something intentionally illegible beneath the bold words and tossed the quill aside.

"Peaches? Are you coming?" Leliana's voice rang in the marble hallway loud enough to come through the doors. Macha's lips formed a thin line, still staring at the artificial struggle she'd created for a moment. Reluctantly, she threw the stack of papers to scatter across the ink stained carpets as well. She looked at them glumly. The paper had been worth a small fortune.

"I'm coming, love!" Macha hurried out of the office and was careful to shut the door quietly behind her. She wore her best exasperated expression. "Are you sure I can't convince you to stay here?"

"Not a chance, my love."

Macha smiled. "Then I suppose I have no choice."