Chapter Seven: A Moment Of Calm

Rosette led them off to the side of the courtyard and through one of the smaller lower level doors that lead to the kitchen and workers quarters. When not having formal meals the family would often eat in a small dining room that was attached to the main kitchen. Their cook was a lovely older woman by the name of Miriam who had been with the family since Evelyn was a child. She was always happy to prepare small unofficial meals for anyone in the family should they ask. Though she was getting on in years and wasn't quite as spry as she used to be she managed her kitchen maids like an expert, which always resulted in stunning feasts when she had to prepare one.

The kitchen and small dining room were where they were headed now. To get there they had to walk down a long hallway off which the servant and workers rooms were. They once were home to a large number of staff but the current generation of Trevelyan's had no need for such a large cohort, and thus half the rooms were now just used as storage.

It was only the short time from exiting the courtyard and walking some way down the hall that was needed for Orsen and Norah's more adventurous sides to start showing through. They thoroughly observed the newcomers and even moved away from their mother's skirts and closer to Evelyn and her companions.

"Are you Auntie Evie's friend," Norah asked Dorian, the one she most likely viewed as least intimidating. She fell into step beside him, even though she had to take two steps for every one of his.

"Her closest friend," Dorian replied. Norah nodded her head thoughtfully, like his answer had some special hidden meaning that she was considering.

"Is that a magic staff?" Orsen asked loudly from Dorian's other side. "Can I hold it?"

"Yes and no."

Unperturbed by the short answer, Orsen continued his barrage of questions. "Can you shoot ice from it? Ice is the best magic."

"Nuh-uh!" Norah protested, looking around Dorian's legs. "Everyone knows that fire is the best."

"No it's not! You don't know anything."

"You don't know anything."

Rosette had looked over her shoulder, ready to tell her children off, but Dorian spoke before she had the chance. "Children, children. Why on earth would you only limit yourself to one?" With a flourish Dorian appeared a small flame in one hand and a tiny swirling vortex of snowflakes in the other. He allowed the children to stare in awe for a moment before letting the magic ebb away.

Norah and Orsen looked like they'd never seen anything more impressive in their young lives. They both raced over to their mother, tugging on her dress and hands to get her attention.

"Mum did you see? Did you see Mum?"

"Did you know mages could do that Mum?"

The pair continued to gush to Rosette and Evelyn stepped up to take the place Norah had just vacated by Dorian's side. "Now you're just showing off," she said when she noticed the smug grin on his face.

"Perhaps. Either way it seems The Iron Bull is no longer the most exciting new guest."

Bull just laughed. "Aye, but fireballs are only interesting for so long- how often do you think they'll get the chance to see someone like me! Unless the Qunari decide to invade of course."

Evelyn shared a quick amused glance with Cullen who was walking just behind her. She never would have picked Dorian to be the type who was that good with children, though she definitely would have picked him to be the type who took any opportunity to show off.

"In here." Rosette ushered them all through a large doorway and into the unofficial dining room.

There was a long wooden table in the center of the room, lined with enough seats for the family and then a couple more just incase. Most the light in the room came from a large stained glass window in the back wall, creating a rainbow of colour. There were a couple of shelves with trinkets and a few paintings hung up on the walls, but besides those the room was fairly basic in design.

"Sit, sit," Rosette insisted, pulling out a couple of chairs as she passed them. "I'll be back in a moment with some food." Rosette left the room and walked into the kitchen through a smaller side door. Orsen and Norah clambered into their own seats a little further down the table and begin chattering quietly to each to each other.

"This is where things will probably start to get a little bit hectic," Evelyn told them with a smile. "It'll be family members left right and center until dinner I'd guess. Then there's the joy of experiencing them all at once."

"You make us sound like a pack of lions, Evie," Rosette said as she reentered the room. She had two wooden boards balanced on one arm, an assortment of fruits breads, and cheeses spread across them, while her other hand held a glass jug of water. "Norah, Orsen, go fetch some cups for everyone," she said. The twins jumped up from their seats and ran into the adjoining kitchen.

Evelyn stood quickly. "Here, let me help." She took the jug from Rosette, and placed it down on the table in the middle of their group. Rosette then used her free hand to place the two boards down on the table with the jug.

"Help yourselves," Rosette said as the twins returned and began to place cups down in front of everyone. Rosette sat herself down next to Cullen, the twins taking the seats beside her once they had placed all the cups. "Now Evie," she said, leaning forward on the table so she could look her sister in the eye. "I want to know everything."

"Everything?" Evelyn said, a little dubiously. She reached for a small stem of grapes on one of the boards. "I know you just want all the gossip before I get the chance to speak with everyone else."

"Maybe I just want to know what my sister has been up to for the last two years. When Mum and Dad sent you off to the conclave they thought it was going to be nothing more than a nice gesture to appease our relations on both sides of the war," Rosette said. She then added with a frown, "They were besides themselves when they heard about the explosion. We all were."

"Well it certainly took me by surprise too," Evelyn said, twisting one of the grapes off the stem and popping it into her mouth. "But I will explain, I promise. It's just that I'd rather wait until the entire family, or at least most of them, are around to hear it. It's very long explanation."

"And complicated," Dorian, who had helped himself to some of the cheese and bread, added.

"Not for the faint of heart either," Bull chimed in.

"It is all of those things," Evelyn said, noting her sisters amused smile, "so you can see why I want to wait."

"I am disappointed but not surprised," Rosette said. "It was worth a try anyway."

"If I'm being honest, it's tiring telling the story over and over again. Sometimes I wish Varric would hurry up with his book about the whole ordeal, then people can read for themselves." Evelyn frowned. "I do worry about the embellishments he'll quite probably add."

"Varric?" Rosette questioned, looking surprised. "As in the author, Varric Tethras?"

"The one and only," said Cullen. "He was with the Inquisition from the early days."

"Why didn't you bring him back with you?" Rosette asked with a pout, "You know I'm a fan."

"Rose, that's rude in present company." Evelyn gestured to her companions. "Not to mention I couldn't bring the entire inner circle of the Inquisition with me."

"Why not? We've plenty of room. How many were in the inner circle?" Rosette asked right as Evelyn placed a large piece of bread in her mouth.

Evelyn gave Cullen a helpless look. He thankfully took pity on her and answered the question in her stead. "Thirteen, including your sister."

"I can, or maybe I can't, imagine how eclectic the group was, judging by the small number you brought with you."

"Eclectic is one word for it," Dorian said, earning a laugh from Bull.

Having finally swallowed her mouthful of food, Evelyn spoke up. "I told you it was a long story."

"Evie!" A high-pitched voice squealed suddenly from the general direction of the doorway, and before Evelyn could turn around she was being enveloped in a hug from behind. One arm wrapped around her shoulders, the other loosely around her throat and a head rested on top of hers.

"Shirlyn," Evelyn greeted, knowing her sisters voice anywhere, "It's good to see you."

Shirlyn hugged her a little tighter before pulling back and giving Evelyn room to stand up and face her. Shirlyn was similar in appearance to Evelyn, with soft round features and big eyes. Unlike Evelyn she was on the shorter side, and where Evelyn had dark, almost black hair, Shirlyn was blonde like their mother and Rosette.

Standing behind Shirlyn was another family member, though one through marriage. Rosette's husband Huntley stepped forward, giving Evelyn a kiss on the cheek and a warm smile. "Welcome back, Evelyn," he said, going to stand besides his wife, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Your mother said we might find you down here."

"Who are your friends, Evelyn?" Shirlyn asked, giving Cullen, Dorian, and Bull a small wave.

"Cullen, Dorian, and The Iron Bull," Evelyn said, pointing each one out again. Then to her friends she said, "This is my sister Shirlyn, and Rosette's husband Huntley."

There were greeting's exchanged all around. Shirlyn's were rather enthusiastic and she seemed genuinely excited to meet everyone. Huntley, on the other hand, was a little more reserved, though still kind in his greetings.

"Have you given Evie's friends a tour of the home yet, Rosette?" Shirlyn asked once everyone in the room was somewhat familiar with each other.

"Not yet," Rosette replied.

"Fantastic! I can take you then." She glanced over to Evelyn. "That is, unless you wanted to, Evie?"

"By all means go ahead," Evelyn said with a smile. " I have a feeling I will be doing a lot of talking come dinner so I'm glad to give my voice a rest now."

"Wonderful," Shirlyn said. They all said a quick good bye to Rosette and her family before Shirlyn ushered them out of the little dining room and back into the hallway. "Let's get started."