A/N: Not crazy about the last paragraph of this. One more chapter to go. Thanks for reading.
"Accompanying the Inquisitor, Seeker..."
The court crier's voice melted to the back of Josie's mind as she watched Eleri descend the steps after her introduction. Descending the steps not in the previously discussed uniform she was to wear. The half of Josie's brain that remembered her duties as the Inquisition's royal ambassador screamed for her to scold the elf but the other half, the half that was just Josie, couldn't form coherent enough thought to even debate between the two sides. Lucky for Eleri, that meant the Antivan stood dumbfounded next to her Orlesian counterpart who seemed to materialize from thin air.
"And that look," came from Josie's right in the familiar accent, "is why we went with something different for the Inquisitor. And, why you aren't in that atrocious suit yourself."
Josie nodded, flushed, as she took in the wide, raised collar that exposed most of Eleri's shoulders and met in a V much deeper than a professional Josie would have liked but the half of her brain that was winning liked it just fine. The sleeves that covered toned arms were long and flowing, a brilliant white that contrasted the dark red of the collar and dusky gold of the shirt, which Josie thought was more along the lines of ceremonial leather armor. A deep, thick blue sash was tied around her waist and from it hung what could be describe as a warrior's skirt, the same red as the collar hung around her hips and rear with the middle piece, hanging in front, matching the color of her shirt. Eleri's legs were dressed in the wrapped, leather greaves the elf preferred around Skyhold but the leather was black and red. The polyenes that covered her knees stood out in their white, reaching inches above and below the body part with the centerpiece taking the shape of the Inquisition eye, and, Josie noted with a smile, Eleri's feet remained bare except for the tops. The bottoms were free as her culture favored. A calculated move that was sure to have the court murmuring. Josie made a mental note to praise Leliana for the maneuver.
Eleri's wild brown hair was kept as it always was, with the sides shaved as Eleri liked them. A look that separated her that much more from the Orlesians around her. Brown locks swept back to perfectly frame the elf's sharp features and draw attention to the vallaslin that framed her eyes. Random braids decorated with natural beads were mixed into the cascade of brown that flowed down her back. Every masked face was drawn toward the Dalish elf as she descended the steps; a sight that every guest in the hall wanted to behold. To them she was elegant and bold but to Josie, Eleri was electricity sending a shock straight to her soul; proof that Ambassador Montilyet had long since lost the battle to Josie by the time sharp green eyes found deep brown, heaving the final blow.
"It is most unbecoming to stare at our inquisitor in such a way, Josie. And unwise in a hall full of nobles playing The Game."
A reminder of the Game brought Josie crashing back to reality. She mentally and physically shook herself, a blush gracing her cheeks. She allowed a small gasp at the spymaster's attire, the distraction she needed to get ahold of herself, that the redhead smiled thankfully at.
Leliana wore a form fitting, beautiful ball gown that was the shade of an afternoon sky; it complimented her eyes perfectly. The dress stayed tight to her upper body, with quarter length sleeves that ended in white ruffles and left little to imagine at the woman's chest. It had a low collar that matched the white ruffles circling around the back of her neck. The bottom was spotted with shining silver specks that caught the light spectacularly. Leliana wore her short, red hair down with a small braid down one side. A signature of sorts for the woman.
"I had forgotten how beautiful you are with makeup on, Leli." Josie complimented.
"Should I take offense to that?" The woman laughed back.
"Maybe." Josie winked and the women fell into strategy disguised as excited whispers over the guest list. Court favor was crucial to their success and many ways to gain, or lose, it. A topic the women had discussed at length since their invitations had arrived to Skyhold months earlier. Eleri would need to be careful and that worried, Josie. The Dalish elf had earlier expressed her own worry on the evening which had done nothing to sooth Josie's.
Yet, as the night grew later, that worry seemed unfounded. Eleri dealt easily with the court. The distrust that came natural to her people protected her from those that wished to use her and her own natural charm helped to cinch allies for the Inquisition. But, as Josie watched, Eleri's discomfort was obvious and Josie hoped it was only so to her since she knew the elf so well. As ambassador, which Josie reminded herself again and again was the only role she was playing for the night, she could not do more than give passing advice. Eleri needed to be seen as independent and capable. Josie talking for her would only cripple Eleri in the eyes of the Orlesian court.
The disappearing act that Eleri preformed various times during the ball was an unnerving inconvenience as well. Josie knew it was to gain the upper hand in court favor and stop the assassination of Celene but not knowing what was going on, if Eleri and her companions were safe and successful put the ambassador's nerves at their breaking point. Add to that her own involvement in the Game, and she was forced to compartmentalize the evening if anything was to be accomplished. It was an immense relief when Eleri finally resolved things. No assassination. No more drama. The Game was more or less taken care as the guests were too caught up in the manner Eleri was able to win the night to worry about who was outwitting whom and the Winter Palace became just another ball to enjoy.
With yet another exhausting conversation coming to its end with her younger sister, Josie searched the hall for Eleri. Icy pangs of worry assaulted her nerves once again when she couldn't find her love. Leliana must have noticed because she again materialized by the Antivan's side, pointing her in the direction of a balcony towards the front of the hall. Josie squeezed her friend's arm before walking off, grateful she did not have to wander the hall with a search party. That would have been embarrassing for all involved.
Raucous conversation boomed around Josie as she walked through the party. Masked faces hid smiles behind painted on illusions of the same expression. It was unsettling to her and she was relieved when the balcony was in sight. Just as Leliana said, Eleri was there but she was not alone. Josie paused a few feet from the open doors as she watched Morrigan, Celene's magical advisor, discuss something with the Inquisitor. Eleri looked to be her friendly self, although the set of her shoulders screamed exhaustion to Josie, but there was a rigidness to Morrigan. Paired with a chuckle and artful smile from the woman and it screamed something entirely different to the Antivan. Instead of striding out, taking her elf's hand, she stood and watched. Josie trusted Eleri and her uneasiness of the way Morrigan acted was ridiculous. Josie did not know the witch well enough to even jump to the assumption that she was flirting with her love. She was being childish. But, that did not stop Josie from giving Morrigan a less than amicable half glare as she walked back into the party.
"Do not worry, Ambassador. I am not interested in your Inquisitor. Merely in what she is destined accomplish." Morrigan assured with a knowing smile as she walked by. Josie rose an eyebrow but did not respond.
Eleri turned slowly out toward the view of Halamshiral and away from the party, leaning on the balcony bannister as if she no longer had the strength to hold herself up. Josie's professional side had just enough time to note it was a good that the balcony was deserted before her heart took over, switched her mind back to the side that cared little about politics and focused solely on the scene in front of her. She approached the elf carefully, eyes tracing the lines of Eleri's back.
"Is everything all right? You look troubled." Josie started once she was standing next to Eleri. She placed her own hands, folded, on top of the bannister. Eyes watching the elf as she turned to look at her. Eleri was not often explosive but Josie had learned long ago to gauge the elf's emotions. Regret and guilt shown through deep green when she finally looked up. Josie knew what was going to come next. She really should have anticipated it after the decision was made.
"I should have found a different way to deal with Gaspard. He didn't need to die." Eleri's voice was small, exhaustion and emotion creating a ghost of the lively accent Josie loved. The friendly, cheerful façade that was shown with Morrigan moments ago had been a show for the witch. Something to take back to Celene so the empress felt confident in her new allies. Now, in front of Josie, the truth of Eleri's state was on display. The professional side of the ambassador again praised their luck of being alone.
Josie leaned on the bannister so she was eye level with Eleri. She needed the elf to not only hear but believe what she was going to say next.
"It was regrettable." Josie allowed, "But, he made his choice when he declared his war. His death was his own doing," she paused and reached out to cup Eleri's chin as green eyes began to look away, "not yours."
She let the words hang in the air between them. She hoped they would, for once, be met without resistance. Eleri kept her eyes locked with Josie's. They flicked back and forth, looking for something hidden in the dark brown orbs. Josie held the gaze and allowed the search. Whatever Eleri needed to get passed her latest sentence. The sounds of the ball drifted out from the open door; a small amount of warmth from the party settled around them taking the edge off of the cold winter night.
"Is there anything I can do? Can I get you anything? A drink, perhaps?" Josie asked as she placed a hand on the small of Eleri's back. She hoped the contact would comfort the troubled Inquisitor. The silence was worrying and Josie couldn't handle it much longer. Eleri began to move away and Josie hastily pulled her hand back, afraid she had upset Eleri further. Instead she was pleasantly surprised with what came next.
"Would you care to dance with me, Lady Josephine?" Exhaustion was still obvious in her eyes but the green now held a playful glint and a smirk rested on Eleri's lips as she held a hand out and inclined her head in semblance of a bow. The change in demeanor coupled with Eleri in general momentarily flustered Josie. Yet again. As Eleri always managed to do.
"I…I would love to, my lady." Josie replied, chuckling at herself, taking the outstretched hand.
The two slowly swayed around the empty balcony. Music from inside the palace continued to filter out softly but Josie didn't pay any attention to it. Eleri's hand on her back was much more deserving of her attention as was the hand in hers. The way those hands gently guided Josie through their dance. Never too strong, never demanding. The green eyes that held her gaze, innocent and wild. More world-weary than they may have once been but more or less unchanged in the ways that mattered, in the ways that showed the forests of the Free Marches.
Lips met Josie's, generous and warm. Soft and loving. Exactly what they both needed after the tiresome ordeal that was the Winter Palace and the Game. Josie sighed, relaxed, as Eleri rested her forehead against hers. Both finding comfort in the contact. This was what they needed constant reminder of in order to keep fighting. Saving the world was important, yes, but often it was easy to let that idea seem abstract. The world was so large. Fighting for a future where they are able to be together is much easier to fight for when they are able to reach out and touch that reality.