It started soon after Vivienne had just started settling into her new role of "somewhat mentor" of the mages in Skyhold tower. Despite her reserves, the mages there accepted her warmly, and she herself found her own heart warming towards them. They were eager to learn what she could teach them, and eager to study magic with her at their side, aiding them and looking over their shoulder and making suggestions or corrections where assumptions were incomplete.

She started to like it, far more than she would ever admit. Even with the cats. And the mages began to look up to her, too—a wonderful feeling that she had forgotten since it had been ages since she herself had direct contact with students. She had missed it.

And then, one day, soon after she herself had returned from slaying the dragon that had been pestering the western farms in Crestwood with the Inquisitor, she found a group of the mages tucked together, heads bowed. She could hear them quite plainly whispering furiously among one another. Scoundrel was on the broad one's back, mewing and trying to eat her hair. Vivienne smiled, coming forward and gently prying the kitten from the mage. As she did, she couldn't help but overhear—

"—he took her with him again!"

"Yeah, I saw that! And did you see them by the gate as they walked back into the courtyard?"

"Oh, the way he was looking at her!"

One sighed dreamily.

"He's so head-over-heels for her. It's so obvious….and it's so cute!"

"I bet she doesn't even have a clue!"

A few giggles and snickers. Vivienne, curious, a small grin curving her features as she cradled Scoundrel firmly to her chest so he wouldn't budge, stepped forward. "And who is it, may I ask…? That does not have a clue?"

The gathered bunch jumped and spun around, eyes wide. They stuck their hands behind their back immediately upon seeing who it was.

"Madame de Fer! Oh!" the eldest, a redheaded and green-eyed girl with many freckles stuttered. "We were just, um—well, you see, uh…"

"I have two perfectly good ears, my dear," Vivienne murmured, and shifted Scoundrel who was trying to get away into another tight hold. "I could hear very well what you all were discussing. The only issue is, I know not who." After all, any good gossip is definitely her business. Especially as Grand Enchanter and even more so as one of the members of the Inquisition's Inner Circle.

She stared at them pointedly, her eyes roaming over them. It was the small, deep-brown skinned girl who looked like she couldn't hold it in anymore. She nearly jumped as she burst, as if surprising herself by her own volume and excitement, "The Inquisitor and Cassandra, ma'am! They're just…!"

Another dark-skinned boy spoke up, too, muttering politely, "We were just observing how…close they were getting."

Vivienne, who had very much witnessed the same thing herself, smiled widely, catlike. So that's what it was. The rumors were starting, then. As she has expected. "Oh really…?" she purred, playing innocent.

The round-cheeked mousy elf among them grinned back. "Yeah! He takes her on, like, all of his missions now."

"And she, like, never leaves his side!"

The polite boy nodded his head most solemnly, eyes wide.

Vivienne tried not to laugh. "That is most curious." She hummed thoughtfully, and then turned and let Scoundrel down on the desk nearby. He quickly hopped to the ground and scampered away; he never tried to walk up Vivienne's legs. He knew better than to do any of that.

"…Vivienne?" one mage piped up.

The Grand Enchanter turned.

"Think they're gonna get together?"

Now this was an interesting question. Vivienne entertained the idea carefully, pursing her lips. She already knew her answer, but the mages always seemed to listen better when she gave her own response a careful pause before she spoke. Artfully, when she was ready, she turned around to look at them as she said, "It's a smart match, by any means. They would make a strong pair to lead our Inquisition against Corypheus." She looks to the younger students and she crosses her arms over her chest.

They do not blink their eyes as they watch her.

"But love is not a game to be trifled with, my dears," she speaks slowly, distinctly. "Whatever they have between each other, they must work out themselves—and they will proceed to do so, in due time, whenever it fits them best."

She knew exactly what they had been hoping. Their shoulders sagged under the indirect tell to, "No, do not play Cupid," eyes averting themselves from her and chins dipping in embarrassment.

Vivienne almost laughed, but she settled for letting her mouth curve into a wide smile. She turned away and waited until the disappointment was just ripe for the plucking, and then she added, "Oh…by the way, will someone take Cassandra's book back to her?" She turned around.

Just as she suspected, their eyes had snapped to hers. "She left it quite carelessly on the banister outside, and I would oh so hate for her to lose it or her place—she seemed to me to be quite taken with it." She tilted her head to the side, as if trying to recall a memory. "Oh, what was it called…"

"Swords and Shields?"

Vivienne turned to the correct youth and grinned, coy. "Yes…! That's the one. I do believe I left it on my desk upstairs. If one of you would return it to her, I think she would be very grateful."

She knew what they would do, what the eager looks they passed each other as they tumbled up the stairs meant, and she was not surprised when, the next day, her prediction was correct.

She watched from her place up by the railing on the second floor, as Cassandra came into the main hall quickly, and the Inquisitor, having just left Solas' room, nearly ran into her. They held out arms, caught each other, and stepped back once they each made sure the other was okay. An awkward silence then fell between them and Cassandra straightened shoulders pulled back as she dipped her head again.

She was thanking him.

"For what?" she could see, more than hear, Ruen ask her in return.

As Cassandra mentioned her returned item, still holding the book in particular in hand, Vivienne smiled.

Yes, her students were very astute indeed.


Krissey's Notes: I don't have too much to say. I apologize for not getting this up sooner! Today was my first day back at classes after Spring Break, and I'm still aching for the ability to do nothing all day, but alas.

Here we are, regardless. The prompt had been to give Vivienne some love, and maybe do some matchmaking. So she has. I hope you enjoyed!