Chapter Two: Discussion With Dorian

Dorian was found, as he usually was, in the small library alcove he had claimed as his own almost as soon as they had arrived in Skyhold. Today he was seated in the plush armchair pushed into the corner of the alcove, one leg crossed over the other and a book propped open in the crook of his bent knee. Despite the open book his head was turned towards the window, his thoughts elsewhere.

"Dorian?" Evelyn said, standing in the entrance to the alcove. "Can I ask you a favor?"

"Of course," he replied so quickly that it seemed like he hadn't been lost in his thoughts at all.

"I- oh, I wasn't expecting it to be that easy," Evelyn replied, a little thrown off. She stepped into the alcove, granting the pair a little privacy in the public place.

"Asking a fovour of me is plenty easy, getting me agree to said favour, however, is not. Admittedly you are what I would consider a close friend, no mean feat, so you are at an advantage already." He closed the book in his lap and dropped it on top of a pile sitting at the foot of the chair. "Though do tell, what exactly is this favour?"

By this point both Evelyn and Dorian had experienced the best and worst of each other, their highs and their lows. Despite seeming incompatible from an outside perspective- Evelyn the soft-hearted, kind spoken noble lady and Dorian the sharp, waspish Tevinter mage- the pair had bonded in such a way that one might mistake them for siblings if it weren't for the physical differences. Then again, they technically were related, if rather distantly, so maybe a familial bond did make sense.

Such as their relationship was, it was easy for Evelyn to ignore Dorian's snark and instead notice things like the softness in his eyes and slightly titled head that suggested he was actually interested in what she had to say. "I need to make a trip and both Leliana and Josephine are insisting that I take some people with me, which really isn't a bad idea, but I don't want to take just anyone along."

"That makes sense of course, just because Corypheus is defeated doesn't mean there isn't a whole parade of people lining up to have a go at you next."

Evelyn sighed and rubbed at her forehead with a grimace. "When you state it so succinctly it's a wonder that I ever leave Skyhold."

"You've come to the right place if you need protection though," Dorian barreled on like she hadn't even spoken. "Your favorite mage is a good choice, I can assure you."

"I don't play favorites," Evelyn said, an exasperated but fond smile on her face.

"Oh? I thought surely I was your favourite something. Favourite companion? Favourite relative? Favourite person you've ever come across?" Dorian was also smiling but was much more openly amused at the conversation.

"You're my favourite Tevinter mage."

"Well that's hardly fair," Dorian grumbled. "I'm the only Tevinter mage you know."

"But really, Dorian, will you come?"

"I will," Dorian said, finally adopting a more serious demeanor. "You have yet to tell me what exactly this is all about though."

"My family wrote to me," Evelyn began, "and they want me to visit. I can't blame them, it's been almost two years since I left to travel to the conclave and we've only exchanged a handful of letters since. I do want to see them too, I miss all of them so much. But, like I said, my advisors insist I take some people with me and the only way to avoid a contingent of soldiers and a handful of Leliana's spies was to promise I'd take you and someone else along as well."

"So you, me, an as of yet undecided other companion, and everyone's favorite ex-templar are to call in on the Inquisitor's family? Delightful!" Dorian said, and sounding so sincere Evelyn worried he might have an ulterior motive.

"You're just excited because you can start grilling my family for ancestral information, aren't you? And wait, how did you know Cullen was coming?"

"Evelyn dear," Dorian took her hand in both of his, gently patting the back of it in a manner Evelyn always imagined grandmothers doing, "I would be far more shocked if he wasn't going."

"Ah, yes, well I guess that makes sense," she said before she pulled her hand from his and gently smacked them away. "Also, stop that, it's weird."

"So that's all you wish to ask?"

"That's all. You really will come with me?"

"Do you remember when Alexius sent us back in time?" Dorian asked as he leant back in his chair and steepled his fingers.

"It's hard to forget," Evelyn replied with wry humour that Dorian always managed to bring out in her, much to his enjoyment.

"I told you I will protect you, and at risk of sounding terribly sappy, that's still true. If you have need or want of me, I'll be there," he said with a warm smile.

"I remember you saying that," Evelyn said. "Despite the situation we found ourselves in I think I found my heart all aflutter and knees weak at how determined you sounded." She grinned. "We could have had something special, you know."

Dorian laughed outright at that. "In another world, another time, perhaps," he replied with a sparkle in his eye, the same one he got whenever he found something genuinely amusing. Coincidently that was usually when the pair's conversation devolved into outrageous flirting that neither of them could take seriously for very long and left everyone in their vicinity thoroughly confused. "Evelyn, you may not play favourites but I do, and you are certainly my favourite friend."

Evelyn smiled. "Thank you, Dorian." She was almost out of the alcove before she turned back to him suddenly. She was met with a curiously raised eyebrow. "That last undecided companion for the trip, do you have any suggestions?"

"Is this a trick question?"

"No, I just thought I'd try and narrow down the options. That and I know there's some people you'd prefer coming over others. Why? Who is your suggestion?"

Dorian very deliberately picked up his book once more and opened it, focusing on the pages with intent. "If your advisors are suggesting protection the obvious answer would be The Iron Bull."

Evelyn leaned against one of the bookshelves, crossing her arms over her chest as she pierced Dorian with an inquisitive look. "Bull?"

"Yes, Bull."

"I see how it is," she said with a small smile.

"Don't be daft. And this-" he gestured between them to indicate the turn in conversation, "-is beneath you. Stop it, or must I mention how often the Commander spends nights in your quarters now?"

Evelyn couldn't help the light blush that rose in her pale cheeks. "That's not a secret," she insisted. "Also, I may have told him I wouldn't be visiting his room anymore until he get's that damned hole in the roof fixed."

Dorian placed a hand to his heart and sighed. "Ah, true love."

"Fine. Fine, I'll leave it alone and I'll ask Bull. Just answer me one thing. You two are going to be okay, right? Everything's good between you…?"

"We will be fine," Dorian insisted. "We're grown men, well, a grown man and a grown man-dragon… creature. We can work out any problems, not that there are any right now, that may arise without ruining your trip. Trust me, Evelyn."

"I do," she replied. Evelyn pushed off the bookshelf then. "I'll let you know when we plan to leave, but it could be as soon as a couple of days barring no emergencies."

"I will endeavor to be ready when you are."

"Thank you again, Dorian. Enjoy your book." She offered him another warm smile, beyond happy that he was not only willing to come but seemed eager to, and set off to find Bull at the pub. The sooner she could speak to him the sooner their plans to leave could be set in motion.