Divine in Danger
Eyes threatened to droop close as one Orlesian noble spent yet another hour finding rounds of excuses as to why they were exempt from providing assistance to a neighbouring village that was ravaged by a fire that started at their cane fields.
"Because Monsieur Lucas, that fire destroyed thirty homes, killed fifteen people and it has been brought to my attention that your efforts at containing it stopped immediately once the fires left your property." Divine Victoria stood from her throne and walked to the beady-eyed man now wringing his hands. Sapphire eyes narrowed as she cast a glare at the remorseless man before her. "Your estate will rebuild each home and pay the correct and appropriate blood debt to the grieving families." One finely shaped brow shot up daring the man to object. Monsieur Lucas snapped his mouth shut and bowed courteously before the Divine.
Victoria sighed and sat back down on her throne. It was just the middle of the day, at the start of the week and there were many more people who lined the Chantry hall looking for guidance, resolutions or judgement. As the hours droned on the Divine's headdress and robes grew more and more heavy. Her temper grew uncharacteristically shorter and her judgements harsher as the day wore on towards evening. The firm lines of her face grew tighter and an incessant throbbing in her temple made her want to rip her headdress off so she could rub her face like a normal human being.
"My Lords and Ladies!" A strong voice boomed from across the hall, snapping Victoria's eyes open. "I'm afraid the Divine is called to attend a most important council at short notice."
Victoria just caught the corners of her mouth before they turned up into a smile. Dressed in hunter's leather despite the necessity of heavier armour required to protect the Right Hand, Kyria, the Dalish Warden from the Sabrea clan, walked purposefully and proudly towards the throne. Her long strides made a direct line for the Divine, whose heart beat faster at the sight of her lover and protector dispersing the crowd from the room just by that serious expression that many had come to know not to trifle with. As the crowd filed out the door, Kyria came to attention before Divine Victoria. Her muscular arms covered with her dark Vallaslin and the scars of battle, flexed subtly as she waited for the double doors to the chamber to close. Victoria's eyes widened and a sudden breath she had been holding strained the fabric of her robes across her chest. They waited ten heartbeats in silence before she spoke.
"My love, thank you for rescuing me." Leliana's hands sprang to the headdress and pulled it off immediately breathing a sigh of relief. She looked at her lover again who still had that serious expression on her face. Her heart filled with dread. "My love?"
"I'm afraid you are in danger, my love." A smile broke forth from the elf's countenance. "I have news that there's a siege of lips and tongue hungry for every bit of you."
OoOoO
For a prompt from Bards of Thessia and Thedas: Character A rescues Character B