They arrived at the Grand Cathedral earlier than anyone, allowing them a day's rest at Chateau Trevelyan, on the outskirts of the city. The normally crowded streets of Val Royeaux were quiet when they left the estate, almost serenely so. The Chant of Light carried through the air, high above the heads of the Trevelyans. The front doors swung open before the two reached the entrance, and into the streets stepped Divine Victoria, accompanied by her personal guard. She was devoid of all effects of office, instead wearing a simple but well-crafted tunic and pants.
"A pleasure to see you, Your Perfection." Antinnis bowed low, and Vex followed suit. "We were just on our way to see you, actually."
The Divine nodded to her guards, and they – all former Inquisition soldiers handpicked by Victoria herself – dispersed. A large smile spread across her scarred face as she strode forward and hugged Antinnis tightly. "I have missed you, my love."
"And I, you…my Lady Pentaghast."
Divine Victoria, formerly Seeker Cassandra Pentaghast, hugged Vex and kissed her tenderly. "And I have missed you too, Avexis."
Tears formed in Vex's eyes as she held on tight. "I missed you more, Mother," she managed to whimper.
Cassandra pulled her love and her daughter in closer, savoring the moment for as long as she could. She stroked Antinnis' graying temples. "We are getting old, Antinnis. Look at how big our daughter has gotten."
Now tears welled in the Inquisitor's eyes too. "She's so much like you, Cass. Beautiful like you. As determined as you once she wants something." He grinned slyly as he wiped away the tears. "Headstrong and rash like you too."
That got him a playful but hard punch in the arm. "Shut up." She rubbed the spot where she had hit him, then took his arm and Vex's as they walked towards his residence in the city. Her guards shadowed the family, lest some assassin attempt to attack the two most powerful people in Thedas. "So, how is everyone back at Skyhold?"
"Varric is back again. Not like he ever leaves for good anyway. Apparently, Bianca's husband finally died, so she moved into the keep with him. According to Varric, not enough of her family is alive to stop them. Vivienne comes back periodically, mainly 'to spoil my niece rotten', according to her. You'd think being Grand Enchanter would mean that she was more busy. Sera's been helping Leliana gain contacts among the populace, mainly the servants and workers tied to important nobles, while Leliana is helping her to gain contacts among the underworld and nobles. I think she's being groomed to take over as spymaster soon. Speaking of Leliana, she's doing fine as well, but is considering stepping down, perhaps even returning to the Chantry. Josephine never changes, of course. She's still keeping our connections strong across Thedas. She and Thom Rainier just welcomed a third child, actually. They named himYves, after her father. Rainier is second-in-command under Cullen, and in charge of training recruits. Which reminds me: Cullen wanted me to ask you if you could send some of your best Seekers to train an elite group of soldiers for him."
"Of course," Cassandra said. "So much has changed since I left. I really must visit Skyhold soon."
"You've been saying that for 20 years, Cassandra. You only came back to discreetly give birth and name Vex."
She turned to her daughter. "Oh, it's Vex now, is it?"
"Well, Avexis Cassandra Marian Danielle Trevelyan is a bit long, Mother…"
"Each name carries significance, though. Avexis for an elven mage I saved as a young woman. Cassandra for my birth name. Marian for the Champion of Kirkwall, who gave her life to save your father and I. Danielle for my late apprentice Daniel."
"Right, because you loved being called Cassandra Allegra Portia Calogera Filomena Pentaghast by everyone you knew," Antinnis cut in.
"Shut up."
"Yes, Your…Perfection," he teased.
She smiled again. "Avexis, dear, can you give your father and I some time alone?"
Vex grimaced. "Eww. I'll be in the marketplace, then. Do try not to make a mess of the house during your 'alone time.'"
Two hours later, Cassandra lay in the arms of Antinnis in a huge Orlesian bed that graced their personal quarters. She couldn't remember the last time the two of them had time alone. The night we conceived Avexis? She asked herself. After all, Antinnis had been making the trips to Val Royeaux, and between her busy schedule as Divine and his as Lord Inquisitor, they at best had time to spend as a whole family for a short period each visit. Even those had to be discreet and not too often; few people outside of the Inquisition knew that Lord Trevelyan and Divine Victoria had been secretly married for the past two decades.
Antinnis rolled over to look into her eyes. "Cassandra…"
"Do not say it, Antinnis."
"…I want to go public with us."
"We've talked about this before. We cannot do that without causing an uproar."
"You're the Divine, the leader of the faithful. You can do whatever you want, including writing an edict allowing for marriage among the Chantry."
Cassandra scowled, making the scar on her jaw stand out more. "You know most women in the Chantry are considered married to the Maker, like Andraste was."
"And yet Andraste had a mortal husband and children, did she not?"
"That…is actually a valid point." She sighed. "This will take some time, you understand. I will have to prepare the edict, as well as an announcement regarding you, I, and Avexis."
"I've waited this long. Speaking of time, how much more do we have until people start arriving in the city?"
"Another few hours. Why?"
He grinned mischievously. "Plenty enough time for another round or two," he said, and kissed his wife.
Author'snote: If Cassandra seems a bit...mellower to you, look it at this way: it's been 21 years, time, age, and the postion of Divine will do that to a person.