Josie tried her best to keep her voice neutral as she spoke but this was the third time she had tried explaining their situation to the masked man in front of her. Not to mention that the Marquis's nasally Orlesian accent was beginning to fray her nerves. It was too amplified and pinched by his ego; not the smooth, attractive cadence that Leliana spoke with.
"The Inquisition cannot remain, Ambassador, if you cannot prove it was founded on Justinia's orders." He funneled back to her. Again.
At the same moment, Eleri walked into her office. Hesitantly pushing the door open and poking her head around, eyebrows drawn up and eyes wide as a way of asking Josie if it was a bad time. The ambassador shook her head, eyes meeting the elf's, as she answered the man. Eleri slipped into the room, pushing the door closed with her hands behind her back. Josie attempted to focus on the man in front of her instead of the object of her newest crush. Luckily, Josie was nothing if not professional, not missing a beat.
"This is an inopportune time, Marquis. More of the faithful flock her each day." As Eleri walked farther into the room, Josie swiftly changed the subject. She hoped the Marquis would be star struck enough to let the matter at hand go. "But allow me to introduce you to the brave soul who risked her life to slow the magic of the breach." Josie allowed her annoyance to emphasis her words then paused to give them weight. "Mistress Lavellan, this is Marquis DuRellion, one of Divine Justinia's greatest supporters."
The Marquis spoke right on the heels of Josie's introduction, not taking the bait of meeting the Herald of Andraste. Josie noted the anger that flashed quickly through Eleri's eyes but could not think why it would be there since the man said nothing offensive to the elf.
"And rightful owner of Haven. House DuRellion lent Justinia these lands for a pilgrimage. This 'Inquisition' is not a beneficiary of this arrangement." The man spoke wildly with his hands, as most Orlesians do, and Josie chalked up the anger to Eleri's annoyance of the man. It was the only reason that made sense to her.
"This is the first I've heard of Haven having an owner outside of the Chantry." It wasn't a question, not really, but Eleri looked to Josie for confirmation. But as before, the Marquis spoke on the heels of the comment.
"My wife, Lady Machen of Denerim, has claim to Haven by ancient treaty with the monarchs of Ferelden. We were honored to lend its use to Divine Justinia. She is…she was a woman of supreme merit." The Marquis grew quiet as he complimented the late Divine but quickly rallied, giving Eleri more reason to prickle. "I will not let an upstart order remain on her holy grounds."
Before Josie had time to intervene, knowing the elf did not particularly excel in verbal confrontation, Eleri retorted in a chilling tone. "Interesting, considering the Inquisition was begun by the left and right hands of the Divine."
Josie internally raised an impressed eyebrow at Eleri's comment but kept her features neutral for the sake of appearances. The Marquis was relentless though. It was infuriating. Josie had tried a similar line of reasoning but he saw no merit in it. To the Marquis, unless it had Justinia's seal then it was null and void.
"I've seen no written records from Sister Leliana or Seeker Pentaghast that Justinia approved the Inquisition." As the man spoke, a new course of action dawned on Josie. She stifled a smile as she prepared to reveal it. She turned to Eleri and put on her best defeated expression.
"If he won't take her at her word, I'm afraid Seeker Pentaghast must challenge him to a duel."
And just as Josie had hoped, the Marquis paled at the suggestion. What little that could be seen of his face grew white and he jerked back as if the words slapped him.
"What?" He spat out.
It was Josie's turn to turn up the righteousness. "It is a matter of honor among the Nevarrans." Then she added innocently, "Shall I arrange the bout for tonight?" Josie flicked her left wrist out, quill in hand, as she looked down at her clipboard as if to check her schedule then to the Marquis as she waited for his answer, an eyebrow raised.
"No! No. Perhaps my reaction to the Inquisition's presence was somewhat hasty." The man sighed heavily, defeated. He began to pace the room with his first steps turning his back on the two women. Josie took the split second to send a wink to Eleri before leveling out her voice. The elf grinned back.
"We face a dark time, Your Grace. Divine Justinia would not want her passing to divide us. She would, in fact, trust us to forge new allegiances to the benefit of all, no matter how strange they may seem." Tense seconds ticked by as the Marquis turned to face Josie, and took a few steps before answering. His tone, and body language, were much more agreeable when he finally spoke.
"I will think on it, Lady Montilyet. The Inquisition might stay in the meantime."
With that, the man strode out of her office. Josie and Eleri watched him go in silence. The only movement was Eleri stepping to close the door again.
"Does the Marquis own Haven?" Her green eyes seemed worried, as if it was something that would throw off the Inquisition's efforts. It made Josie want to laugh at how adorable such a small worry was but she feared the elf would take it wrong. Instead, she answered truthfully.
"The Grace's position is not as strong as he presents it. Despite their Ferelden relations, the Durellions are Orlesian." At the widening of those green eyes, Josie continued. "If the Marquis wishes to claim Haven, Empress Celene must negotiate with Ferelden on his behalf. Her current concerns are a bit larger than minor property disputes."
"Well, I'm glad we aren't getting tossed out into the cold. You handled him with ease. At least I think." Eleri smiled at Josie, flashing white teeth and causing the green eyes Josie was infatuated with to crinkle. She smiled down at her clipboard, pretending to check something, instead of at the elf. She hoped it hid the red creeping into her cheeks. She fell back on work, her safety net.
"Thank you but His Grace is only the first of many dignitaries we must contend with."
"You expect more people…in Haven?"
"Undoubtedly. And each visitor will spread the story of the Inquisition after they depart."
Again, Eleri's eyes widened. The elf had admitted that there was much she didn't understand about the world around her and that she didn't quite grasp the situation she was in. Obviously, she hadn't thought about the impact she and the Inquisition had on each person they came across. Josie gave her time to process the information, pausing the conversation to walk behind her desk and sit down, motioning with a wave of her hand for Eleri to take one of the seats across from her. Once they were both seated she began again.
"An ambassador should ensure the tale is as complementary as possible."
Eleri nodded along with Josie's words. "May I ask what brought you to work for the Inquisition?"
"Sister Leliana approached me. We've been…acquainted for quite some time." Josie smiled as she thought about how long she and Leliana had been friends. "For better or worse, being the Inquisition's diplomat has become as interesting as she promised."
The two shared a smile before Eleri asked another question. Josie was beginning to understand that the elf was not shy about asking things of people. She once asked Eleri why she did it and the answer was simple: it was how she learned. Eleri learned who to trust that way and how the world worked. The answer was given with a shy smile, downcast eyes, and a faint coloring of high cheek bones that left Josie with butterflies.
"What sort of, uh, dealings," Eleri scrunched her face at her word choice which prompted Josie into an encouraging nod, "have you had with nobility?"
This was a question that Josie could answer in her sleep. Her many interviews with potential employers and with those that doubted her ability because of her age had sculpted the answer into a concise, accurate, and almost automatic response. But, she cut some and added more for the Dalish elf across from her.
"For some years, I was the royally appointed court ambassador from Antiva to Orlais. I know of all noble families in Antiva, almost all in Orlais, and many in each of the other countries. The nobility of Thedas is a rather singular sphere. Those I'm not personally acquainted with; I know through reputation."
"The Inquisition is lucky to have you as an advocate, Lady Montilyet." Eleri complimented as she stood up then gave a slight bow. A smile playing at her lips. Josie nodded back from her seat.
"Thank you. Let us hope so. Thedas's politics have become…agitated as of late. I hope to guide us down smoother paths. But please excuse me, I've much work to do before the day is done and it seems you do as well."
Much work to be done was an understatement. Several weeks passed before Josie and Eleri were able to sit down together in Josie's office again to talk. That didn't stop the younger elf from popping in with questions about Josie's past and opinions from time to time, in between trips and meetings, but they weren't the same, long conversations the two had grown used to. A few minutes after Eleri handed over the samples to the specialist who shared Josie's office or after a council meeting, once Eleri spotted Josie walking from her office to the training grounds and walked the ambassador there on her way to the stables before a mission.
Finally, Eleri's party made their way back to Haven and Josie was determined to speak with the elf before the next mission. Things were beginning to die down in terms of work but also in Eleri's efforts to seek Josie out; the questions had slowed and the talks after meetings were gone. Josie wasn't sure what was going on but she would use her position as ambassador to fix it. Luckily, it didn't take long for that plan to come to fruition. Hours after the initial debrief in the war room, Eleri walked into Josie's office with samples in hand for the specialist and a smile for the ambassador.
"Here you go." Josie heard as Eleri laid out the different pelts, claws, and other creature matter out on the table. A few more words were exchanged then that smile was turned once more to Josie. "Ambassador."
"Mistress Lavellan." Josie replied with a small smile of her own and a tip of her head. "How was your trip?"
"Haven't we been through this?" Eleri quirked an eyebrow as her nose scrunched, confused at the direction the conversation was going. Josie reminded herself that the elf still saw her as ambassador at the moment; not a friend asking after her well-being.
"I meant how was the trip for you personally. Was the weather favorable? Or did you see anything interesting?"
"Oh." She answered. Eleri seemed to think a moment, pulling her lips to the left as her eyes focused on an indiscernible spot on the ambassador's desk, the skin between her eyebrows crinkling the slightest bit. "The weather was fine, yea…nothing exciting happened outside of what I told you." The elf shrugged, easy smile back in place. "I got a few drawings. I guess that is exciting."
"You draw?" It was Josie's turn to be confused. It had been several months since Eleri had joined the Inquisition, many months since she and Josie had become acquaintances. Surely an affinity for art would have come up at some point. But the more Josie thought about it, the more she realized their conversations were seldom personal. Only recently had that turn been taken and mostly by Eleri.
"I do. I was training to be Ghil-Vallen for my clan before…everything happened." The smile was still in place but Josie could see it was no longer easy, the hurt in her eyes visible. No matter how much time passed the horrors of the Conclave were still hard on the young elf's heart. She refused to talk about it directly but any comment made, regardless of how small, showed Josie that Eleri somehow felt responsible. A classic case of survivor's guilt Cullen always said.
"Do you have a moment to stay and talk?"
"I do." But, instead of staying, Eleri walked out of Josie's office. The ambassador sat with eyebrows furrowed while staring after the elf. Moments later she came back in, carrying a chair. "I hope this is okay. Yours are gone and I figured it has been a while since we have been able to talk. I assume you want to know more about what I just said."
Josie smiled. Eleri had thought she overstepped but in reality it was a kind gesture. She was taking the time to share a piece of herself with Josie. It also didn't hurt that Josie took the addition of the chair to mean that Eleri was planning on staying longer than usual. Even longer than their past conversations. Red flushed her cheeks as she admitted to herself that she would quite like having more time to enjoy the view of the woman in front of her.
"Of course." Josie plowed through her thoughts, begging her mind to play nice. Once Eleri was seated, she started again, "What were you in training to be? Geel vol…please repeat it."
"Ghil-Vallen." Eleri smiled as she listened to Josie attempt the pronunciation, coaching her through it slowly when the ambassador misspoke. The smile was different than the many others Josie had seen even just today. The young elf seemed to have a smile for every occasion but this one was new and it pulled at Josie's chest. She ducked her head down as she pronounced the title right, avoiding the green eyes that were watching.
It means," Josie's gaze was brought back to the conversation, manners remembered. She watched the pull to her lips, the slight crinkle to her brows come back as Eleri attempted to find an appropriate translation. "It means that I would be responsible for keeping note of the different plants, animals, and anything else in the wild that my clan came across through pictures. I don't know how to tell you what the title actually means."
"No need. I think your description works just as well. But, I thought the Dalish relied on oral traditions to keep record of their past and present."
"We do but Keepers and their firsts have access to two books that hold the most vital information to each clan. One is on our lore and traditions, ancient stories. No one is allowed to touch or see it except for the Keepers. The other book is- We use it as a…" Again, Eleri paused as she searched for the right words in the common tongue.
"A reference book of sorts?" Josie offered. A further crinkle of the brow and narrow of green eyes prompted Josie to explain, "A book used to look up information that may not be a must know or has too many details to remember."
It often escaped her that there were gaps in Eleri's knowledge of the common tongue. The young elf seemed flawlessly fluent in the language but her gaps were small and she was always sure to hide them well. Only recently had she started asking Josie whispered clarifications during council meetings in the war room.
"Yea, like that." Another smile given. "We rely on oral traditions to teach our clans but records are kept. It is a newer practice, or a rebirth of an old practice. The original Elvhenan kept similar records, at least we're told, but none have survived."
Uncertainty crossed Eleri as she focused on a thread that came loose on her leather greaves. Josie remained silent, letting her think through whatever had derailed their conversation.
"It is…interesting speaking with Master Solas about these things."
The comment was not surprising to Josie. Solas was quite vocal on his disdain for the Dalish. Surely it would have come up between the two elves early in their meetings.
"He believes that we are too proud, ignorant and arrogant." A pause. "Which is true but so is every other race."
Josie again let silence settle between them as she thought through how she would respond. The subject was touchy for Eleri, it was written all over her face and in her body language as she avoided Josie's eyes and focused still on the wild thread.
"I think that Solas has a different prospective of your people than you, Your Worship. He sees only the negative while you see both and find that the positive redeems, to some extent, the negative. From what I know of Solas, he has not spent time with the Dalish in a long time. Perhaps things are different from his experiences and you can show him that."
Finally, green eyes lifted to meet brown. A small smile, somehow guilty, pulled at Eleri's lips.
"You really are good at your job, Ambassador."
"Yes, well. I do my best. Now I have another question if you wouldn't mind." An uneasiness settled in Josie's stomach. She needed to know, had been meaning to ask but now that she had the opportunity she couldn't shake the feeling that it would somehow upset Eleri. The elf nodded for Josie to continue. "I should like to know if anyone here has treated you unkindly, Herald. For being an elf."
"Ah," Eleri gave a slow nod as she sat back in her chair. Her eyes darted from Josie's as she spoke but the attempt to maintain contact was there. That spoke more than her answer. "I can deal with a few whispers and sideways looks, Ambassador."
A huff sounded much louder than Josie meant, prompting an amused raise of an eyebrow from Eleri. "I shall talk to the staff regarding such conduct. If we're to convince the world that Andraste's Herald is an elf, the Inquisition must give you its utmost support. Stories of "wild Dalish elves," Josie could hear the contempt for the ridiculous stories in her voice as she spoke but couldn't seem to remain passive, "have grown even more outrageous as people learn of you."
"How have the rumors gotten worse? They weren't exactly tame to begin with." Eleri laughed. The thought of saying such things to her, even just relying what was said, put Josie on edge.
"I would prefer not to repeat them."
"Come on, Ambassador. Give me something." The smile and entertained look was in place but her eyes said something else. Josie couldn't place it; somewhere along the lines of angry acceptance maybe? Whatever it was, the ambassador did not like that Eleri had to feel it. Anger gripped her chest as she realized how many times it must have taken for Eleri to be able to handle whispers and looks. Instead of anger, Josie took on an air of nonchalance for her answer. If that was what Eleri was fishing for; she'd give it to her.
"Stealing children, selling peasants to slavers, burning down villages, using infants for blood magic…" While nonchalant was the goal, Josie herself heard how far her voice was at reaching it. "Those are the stories about your fellow Dalish. I won't repeat what they've said about you."
Dealing with Eleri made Josie more appreciative of her rule concerning eye contact as the Herald always tried to hide what she was feeling. A fool's errand since the young elf wore her heart on her sleeve. Another indiscernible emotion swept behind green eyes but was gone just as quickly. A smile replaced the look but still her eyes spoke differently.
"Those aren't new, Ambassador. I assure you I have been accused of blood magic countless times even without a drop of magic in my blood." A wink followed that had Josie momentarily forgetting herself. "Those stories are nonsense. Why not claim the Dalish can steal your breath and turn into dragons while we're at it? …Now that I say that out loud, someone probably has."
The women laughed. "Very likely. I will see what the Inquisition can do to contain the slander." Josie paused. They had conversations before, personal ones, but now this direction seemed out of step. Her own uncertainty must have been clear because Eleri smiled comfortingly and waited. "It may help if I knew more about you…and your clan."
"Of course. What do you want to know?"
"Whatever you want to tell me. I understand that Dalish culture has parts that are meant to be kept secret. I do not wish to pry, tell me only what you wish to share. What was your life like?"
Eleri scooted to the edge of her seat, resting an elbow on her knee and chin on her knuckles. "I always loved the forests. We travelled some plains, sometimes mountains, countryside of course but the forests were my favorite. The trees surrounding you for as far as you could see once you got to the middle was calming, you could climb to the top of a tree and for miles green would surround you; and there was always so much to draw."
The look of calm on Eleri's face now showed Josie just how much she loved the area. Josie listened as she spoke, imagining what those forests would look like and what Eleri would look like in them. As she sketched plants and animals, her face once she reached the top of that tree to look at the sea of green around her.
"The best part was when the aravel- our wagons- turned from the plains to the woods. The plains were so boring. Grass, grass, and more grass. Not many animals, nothing to explore that you couldn't already see from a distance. The excitement of the forest after that…I used to spend weeks exploring the forest."
"You make it sound idyllic." Josie smiled at the Herald. She spoke with such joy and passion. Josie sighed as it set in what it must mean for Eleri. "Haven is so far away from home. You must miss the people of your clan."
Eleri gave a nervous smirk, a combination Josie would not think possible if she hadn't seen it herself, as she spoke, "If I'd never left home, Josephine, I never would have met you." Eleri had never used Josie's name to address her before. The elf kept to the respectful titles of ambassador or Lady Montilyet, Josie almost missed the context in which it was used because of it. "That would be the greater tragedy."
"What? Really, there is more to this, Mistress Lavellan." Words tumbled before Josie could artfully put them together. She flushed when she thought about what she had just said. Again, she turned to her role for stability. "Though, I am happy to have met you too. Whatever comes, your role as Andraste's Herald will mark your clan in history. They will be proud."
That must have been the wrong thing to say. The joy, passion, and playfulness that Eleri just projected dropped. In its place: unease, insecurity, and disappointment.
"They won't want a 'Herald.'" It was said so quietly that Josie almost missed it. She continued, louder, "They still worship the gods of our ancestors. When they hear me called the 'Herald of Andraste' it may stir up anger."
"The moment of understanding can be painful but your clan will see in time that you were chosen to help save Thedas. Be it by Andraste or your eleven gods or even simple coincidence."
Silence once again. Eleri's eyes stayed fixed to Josie's, thinking. Josie maintained the contact for a time as well. In hopes that it provided the elf with some sort of comfort. Then Josie simply returned to her work. Eleri stayed, still lost in thought or content to watch the work of an ambassador, Josie didn't know but she was enjoying the quiet company. They stayed like that, for how long? Josie wasn't sure. She had gotten through missive after missive. A warm sensation sitting lightly in her chest. The few times she did glance up, Eleri met her eyes with that same mystery smile Josie noticed before. No words were said and Josie returned to her work.
"Ambassador." So lost in her work, Josie almost missed Eleri's exit. She looked up in time to watch the retreating elf get blocked out by the shutting door. As her gaze drifted back to her work, the chair Eleri was sitting in caught her eye. Hopefully, Josie would find the elf seated there more often in the future to come.