The Orlesian Ball or rather How Lavellan Can Dance Really Well On the Battlefield, Off the Battlefield, at Court, as well as in Bed.
Dance
When he first met her, Solas knew that there was something different. It was a uniqueness that drew him in, a light in the shining darkness that was this present. And while she slept and he worked to keep her alive, he couldn't help but notice the way her closed eyes danced behind her eyelids, like she was in an active, living dream.
And when she woke, he found himself in awe. Never in his wildest dreams could he ever imagine meeting someone like her.
When she fought, her staff twirled in graceful arcs and lightning and ice and fire would dance in circles around her before blasting off towards their intended targets. She would twist and turn, raining down the very wrath of the heavens in the form of lightning [1] or would fade step across the battlefield to avoid a fatal hit. And much later, after she had learned the strict teachings of the Knight Enchanter, she would move swiftly, sidestepping and countering with a sharp blow from her spirit blade. The dance was deadly and fierce and filled with a fiery passion.
But the dance that she was performing now was just as deadly and sharp, yet with a bit of added cunning and flair.
The elven apostate found it actually kind of amusing (considering the fact that he felt slightly tipsy, and the elven servants of the Winter Palace just kept on refilling his glass) to watch the proud Dalish Inquisitor stumble around in her heavy and elaborate ball gown, mingling with the Orlesian nobles, gathering secrets for Leliana, and manipulating as she went. All the while, she had on that small, polite smile that he had come to associate with nobles. Ah, how he loved court intrigue.
And he could see rather clearly that she loved it too.
The way she danced around the nobles, twirling her hair with a finger, pouting ever so slightly, and the words laced with poison that came from her lips brought a smile to his own face as he noticed that the light within her eyes had gotten ever so brighter. She was enjoying herself, even as she wrapped every single noble around her pinky finger with a blink and a smile (though he had a feeling that it might actually have been the dress that made her feel so confident; she had been ever so delighted to find that she got to wear one). The look on her face, the light in her eyes, and the way she danced and played the Grand Game against the Orlesian nobles with wicked eyes and wicked hearts [2] like a professional made it hard for him to take his eyes off her.
She was enrapturing.
It was about midway through the party when she finally strode over to him, the polite smile slowly morphing into the one that he was most familiar with; a smile of utter delight and happiness. He took some pride in the fact that she didn't smile like that with anyone but him.
"Enjoying yourself?" she asked. He smirked, raising his glass ever so slightly.
"I do adore the heady blend of power, intrigue, danger, and sex that permeates these events," he replied before taking a sip. She gave a slight giggle.
"You're drunk."
"Perhaps," Solas shrugged, smiling still, "Though I found that it didn't seem to really matter after the third or fourth glass. The servants have been quite happy to refill it." That drew another laugh from her. She smiled up at him, batting her eyelashes ever so slightly (the cheeky minx, she knew what that did to him) and placed a hand on his arm.
"Do you like dancing?"
"A great deal… Though dancing with an elven apostate would win you few favors with the court." She pouted, making him smirk. "Perhaps when our business here is done?" At this, she gave an eager nod, to his amusement. Then, with a quick glance around, Lavellan quickly pressed a kiss to his cheek. It was an unspoken promise of future things to come, one that he couldn't help but inwardly chuckle at.
"I'll be back," she said, winking as she turned and walked away.
"Hunt well," he replied, swallowing thickly. He lifted his glass once more to hide the now feral grin that came over his face.
That was another dance that she was particularly good at.
[1] "Those who oppose thee
Shall know the wrath of heaven.
Field and forest shall burn,
The seas shall rise and devour them,
The wind shall tear their nations
From the face of the earth,
Lightning shall rain down from the sky,
They shall cry out to their false gods,
And find silence."
Andraste 7:19
[2] "The Old Gods will call to you,
From their Ancient Prisons they will sing.
Dragons with wicked eyes and wicked hearts,
On blacken'd wings does deceit take flight,
The First of My children, lost to night."
Silence 3:6
