A/N – Thank you again for the lovely comments. This update was rough and has frankly, taken much longer than it should have. Sera is hard to voice, and even after a week of study on her character I still don't think I have it quite right. But if I look at this one more time I do believe my eyes may literally start bleeding. I did some overhaul on the earlier chapters as well, and the most recent batch of 'letters' have been moved and are getting a rewrite. They will work better later on. Please look forward to it.


En route to the Storm Coast

"Come on, Josie, let's just fast travel. Adaar makes us walk everywhere. She doesn't even let us use mounts. Arse rubbish." Sera tugged on Josephine's sleeve pleadingly, resolved to be as annoying as possible until the older woman relented.

Josephine glanced at the elf, then back at Skyhold. It wasn't a terrible idea. It would put some distance between her and Malora, though she felt certain she'd never see the qunari again anyway. What was happening to her? Why was she even still here? The Inquisitor's reaction hadn't been quite what she was hoping for and suddenly this trip seemed pointless. She looked down at the leather gear she had stolen from Leliana and shook her head. Wasn't this was the warrior wanted? Didn't she want someone who could fight by her side out in the field? She had learned how and was no longer a burden on the company; no longer the only one of the advisors with no actual combat training. Now she could truly be a companion for the Herald of Andraste. She thought for certain there had been something in the demon's eyes but…

What did Malora Adaar want?

"Fine," she replied, shaking the elf from her shoulder. "Let's go." She followed Sera and the other rogues into the cart and took a seat near the rear, so she could see outside.

"Ohhhhh, better. You know she says that this walking shit builds character? What character? Just gets sand in the underpants." Sera laid down on the bench opposite Josie and the rest of the group and stuck her feet up the wall. "Nice to stop for once."

"I am sure it is," Josephine replied, looking curiously at the rogue elf. "What was it like on the road with the Inquisitor?"

"Pfft, what was it like? Wasn't like anything, not anything worth liking, anyway. All tits and no brains, that one. Rush right in, stand in the middle, spin round a bit. Nice arse, though… Love to watch it, but half the time we're picking her up off the ground. Cassandra pitches fits afterward. Always fun, that." Sera absently twirled an arrow and chuckled. "You didn't miss much, Josie."

Josephine pulled her legs up onto the bench with her and hugged them. Sera's casual dismissal of the danger was disturbing. "Do you know what happened to her arm?"

"Right, cause I just have a line straight up to the top. She left me behind, remember? Haven't talked to her in ages, probably. She came round a couple times at first to see if I was all right, check on Jenny stuff, make sure I'm not going to nick her breeches, but real stuff? Not me. Couldn't be me." Sera sat up, an uncharacteristically cunning expression shadowing her features. "But you? Shoulda stayed inside, Josie. She's hot for it all over you know, but can't say."

Josephine rolled her eyes. "What does that even mean?"

"Doesn't have to mean anything. I mean, there's you, and there's her, and all of this, and well, it's all just shit anyway." Sera shrugged and lay back down, putting her feet up again. "You're both stupid. You just got a little bit less stupid when you put on the leather. Not bad, by the way." Sera grinned appreciatively at the human woman.

"You aren't making any sense." Josephine rested her chin between her knees and sighed. Conversations with Sera were usually like this, leaving her with far more questions than answers. "I don't understand at all what you are saying."

Sera heaved an exasperated sigh and started twirling her arrow again. "I take it back. You're still stupid. Here's why. There's Adaar, all height-y and scary, right? Big horned demon, towers over everyone. Everyone's freaked out, and can't shut up about it, so everywhere, it's comments. Blah blah oxman this, blah blah Qun that, blah blah what the fuck, shut it! I can't think!" Sera covered her ears with her hands and closed her eyes tightly as if to drown out the noise. After a few moments she cautiously opened one eye, and then relaxed again. "Right. So it's all there, like, all the time and it's right in her face. Heh, on her face," Sera giggled for a moment, amused.

"Sera? You still aren't making any sense."

"Oh come on, that was funny. Right, well it's there just all the time. Everyone has something to say about the qunari Herald. And you? You are the worst of them. Antivan nobility, right? Or close enough, anyway. Too close for her to touch. She's closer to me, but shite, she don't want me, she wants you, and can't have you. You see? There's nothing she can do. She can cut off her horns, sure. Still, Phwoar… that height. No mistaking that." Sera gestured to the ceiling appreciatively, imagining the formidable warrior breaking through the flimsy canvas. "I mean, humans make it all the time with elves, sure. Most everyone turns a blind eye to it, too, because we're so similar. Snip our ears, eat a few cakes, no one knows the difference, right? And the hate makes it soooo good. But a human noble and a qunari? There's just no getting away with that. You're too high up for her. Sure you came down here for a bit and that's all great, but it's still in her head." Sera pointed to her own head for emphasis.

"I," Josephine started, thinking carefully about what Sera had said. Most of it was still nonsense, but the meaning couldn't be mistaken. Did Malora seriously think that her title and position in Orlais politics put her out of reach, that their different races would even be a factor? Had she ever said such a thing? Josephine racked her brain, going over every conversation she and the qunari had ever had. Her personal interactions with others were always crafted so carefully, but could she have made a mistake? Could Malora Adaar truly believe that these things were an obstacle? Could she have actually contemplated cutting off those beautifully majestic horns? The thought caused an icy cold sliver of pain to dance across her heart. Never would she have asked such a thing of Malora… "I never thought of that. The idea honestly never even crossed my mind."

"And that's why I haven't put an arrow in your face, big hat. That and she'd kill me. I'd have to go into hiding. Did that once. Dirty floors. The floors are better here."

Josephine hugged her knees more tightly. So what if she was a noble? It wasn't like Malora was rabble, anyway. She was the Inquisitor, the leader of the only military force capable of saving the entire world. How could the Herald of Andraste possibly think that a mere human noble ranked her? What did it even matter? She'd already largely thrown it all away. The game was entertaining and she played it well, but she knew the difference between it, and what was actually important. She was nearly thirty years old and couldn't play the game forever. It was time she found a companion to share her days and nights with. Well, that wasn't precisely accurate. She didn't just want a 'companion' to waste time with. What she wanted was Malora Adaar.

"But, she's the Herald," Josephine said in a small voice, unsure how to really respond.

"Pffft, no she isn't, not in her head, at least. She's a qunari merc, a hot one, but still a merc. This shit still hasn't like, registered or something. And back there?" Sera thumbed behind her toward the tavern. "Back there's she's staring at you, screaming it in her head, but she can't reach out, yeah? Playing dress up is fun, but you're still too high up. She doesn't see it, she sees you like you used to be." Sera closed her eyes and took a breath. It really was too bad the Inquisitor was so wrapped up in Josie. They could have had a lot of fun together.

"Screaming what?" Josephine put her feet back on the ground and leaned forward in earnest, gripping the sides of the bench. Sera was just on the tip of something that made sense, and she desperately needed some clarity right now.

Sera smiled and crossed one leg over the other, fiddling with the tip of her arrow. "Josie, if you need me to tell you that, then you deserve to sit in it and stew, right?" She let out an exaggerated yawn and laid the arrow across her chest. "Wake me when we get there, luv."

Josephine sighed in exasperation and sat back again. Of course Sera would turn it off the second she was on the verge of on something important. She was frustrating like that, but the girl had become a good friend and she'd needed one after 'that night'.

After Leliana had finally left her office, she sat for a while on her own thinking, thinking and staring at the spot where Malora Adaar would sit and read. The empty space had cried out to her, almost in anguish, and for many hours she just gazed into the beyond, pretending that everything was normal and nothing had changed. Why hadn't she struck up more conversation on her own? She certainly had ample opportunity. Why had she waited until Malora approached her, which she now realized, was all too seldom? When Malora had approached her, why hadn't she been more receptive to what was now obviously flirting?

Josephine closed her eyes and bit her lower lip. She thought back over every conversation they'd ever had. Shortly after coming to Skyhold, Malora had asked if she wanted to walk the castle. At the time, she was so busy with organizing things that it didn't really register, but now?

She didn't want a tour. She wanted to spend time with me and I blew her off. I just completely blew her off and didn't think a thing of it. It must have wounded her deeply.

Josephine furrowed her brow and thought some more about the days following that one. In fact, after that conversation, the Inquisitor stopped reaching out to her entirely, speaking only when there was something to report or word reached her about the unfortunate situation with the Du Paraquettes. The qunari still remarked on her loveliness on occasion and still spent time in that corner reading, but it felt more… distant, more polite, than it had before.

This is all my fault. I drove her to this. Perhaps Leliana was right after all. I am far too innocent in matters of love.

"Josie," Maryden the bard poked her friend in the arm. "Stop brooding. It'll get better. We all get rejected once or twice in our lives." She glared at Sera pointedly.

"Are you still on about that? Just shut it, Mare." Sera stretched her muscles like a cat, opening one eye to check its effect on the tavern minstrel.

"You shut it," Maryden replied, throwing a wadded up piece of parchment at Sera.

"You're a right tit, you know that?" Sera threw the paper back, sitting up and looking around for something else to add.

"Oh for the love of, please stop it both of you." Josephine plucked the parchment out of midair and stowed it in a pocket. "We're nearly there and this is supposed to be my moment of misery, remember?"

"Yeah, it's her moment, Mare, so knock it off."

"Me? You're the one who needs to…"

"SHUT IT." Josephine stood up in the cart, hands balled tightly into fists. Frustration and hurt was getting the better of her and the bickering was making it worse.

"Whoa Josie," Sera said, looking up at the irate human. "Now that was hot. I didn't think you had it in you. You do that around Adaar, and I bet she grabs your arse and pulls you into the nearest tent."

Josephine sat back down and looked at the floor sadly, relaxing her fists and forcing herself to calm down. There was such anger and pain inside her and it was reaching the boiling point, poised to explode and shatter what little sanity she had left. "I may never see her again."

Sera let out a long bellowing laugh. "Ya think? I'd make a wager that you do, big hat. No way she's gonna let you roam the world with me unsupervised." Sera waggled her eyebrows suggestively, earning her a sigh from her human friend. "But seriously, ten to one she's gathering Old Frigid and Mount Denial right now. Let's see, they'll probably bring Varric since I'm with you, but the point is, she's coming. Don't worry, Josie, she'll definitely be coming." Sera fell to the floor in another fit of giggles, and Josephine just shook her head.

I hope so, Sera. If she doesn't follow, I don't know what I'll do next.


Skyhold, Undercroft, Evening

"Seeker, don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for all the field time, but why are we leaving in the middle of the night?" Varric stretched and double checked his harness, ensuring that Bianca was secured to his back.

Cassandra shook her head and pulled her chestpiece over it. "Josephine has left the fortress. We are going after her." She fastened the clasps in irritation, and then slammed her sword into its scabbard.

Varric raised an eyebrow at the display. "I take it this is interrupting something?"

"Yes," Cassandra replied flatly, pulling on a boot. "She could not have had worse timing if she had actively tried."

The rogue nodded and pulled on his own boots, lacing up the leather quickly. "I'm glad it went well, Seeker. All this shit with Josie is going to blow over. I'll bet she throws herself into Adaar's arms the second we catch up to her. You'll be back here again in no time."

"I hope so," the warrior replied, securing her platemail to her legs. She picked up her shield and attached it to her back. "Let us go and catch up to the Inquisitor. I am sure she has already left the fortress."

"Of course she has," Varric said, adjusting his belt. He followed Cassandra out toward the courtyard and smiled quietly as the warrior glanced at the rookery door. It looked like Seeker Pentaghast had found her courage after all.

"There she is, with Vivienne." Cassandra pointed at the gates where the Inquisitor and mage were standing, talking to the sentries on duty. "It looks like she did not leave yet."

"She's probably getting information," Varric replied, struggling to keep up with the much taller human.

"Perhaps." She shifted the pack of equipment off her shoulder as they approached, laying it at her feet. "I have our gear, Adaar."

"Good. They have a head start and they took the last fast travel caravan. It will be another hour before the next one arrives. We're going to have to catch up to them on horses."

Cassandra and Varric looked at one another, eyes wide. Malora Adaar never let them fast travel or use mounts. Varric mouthed an 'o shit' to the human warrior, and she nodded. This was serious.

"Very well. I will summon our mounts," Vivienne said, raising her staff. In a moment, four mighty steeds looking around in confusion were before them. Adaar swung herself onto the tallest one and pulled him around, pointing him toward Josephine's last known direction.

"We ride northeast, we ride fast." Inquisitor Adaar spurred her horse into action, pushing it to a gallop down the dusty path.

"Well, shit. We'd better keep up. Seeker?" Varric walked over to the smallest horse, but it was still just above his reach. Cassandra grabbed the back of his shirt and helped him climb up, then secured the supplies pack to her own horse.

"Let's move out." The warrior led the way after Adaar, bringing her own mount to a fast gallop behind the Inquisitor. Several minutes passed as they stampeded down the trail, and soon Cassandra began to worry that they were pushing too hard.

"Seeker, you should catch up to her and calm her down." Varric trailed along just behind Cassandra, gesturing forward to the qunari. "She's going to run the horses to exhaustion in under an hour at this pace."

The warrior nodded, grateful that she hadn't been the only one to notice, and spurred the horse faster, catching up to the qunari. "Inquisitor?" she shouted over the pounding hooves.

Adaar just grunted in reply and didn't look at her.

"Inquisitor, I know you are upset but we cannot maintain this pace. The animals will not be able to sustain it for much longer."

"Fine," Adaar slowed her horse to a trot and glared at Cassandra. "Happy?"

The other warrior nodded, looking behind her at the rest of the group. Varric gave her the thumbs up sign, and Vivienne just rolled her eyes. She looked back at Adaar and asked, "Inquisitor, are you ok?"

For many moments the qunari did not answer. She just stared straight down the road and gripped the reins of her horse tightly. Cassandra wished she could reach out and comfort her friend, but it was impossible at this speed. Perhaps if they had been able to take a fast travel caravan; but even then, what could she really offer that she hadn't already? Adaar might appreciate the effort, but in the end, the only thing, the only person, who could quiet the stormy waters in her soul, was Josephine. Finally, Adaar replied quietly, her normally strong and resonating voice almost indiscernible over the noise of the horses.

"No."

Cassandra nodded. She'd expected as much, and though she wanted to respond somehow, she couldn't find the words that would make everything all right. But perhaps she didn't need to respond at all. Perhaps her presence was enough. If the Inquisitor wanted to say more, she would. The warrior turned her head forward, looking in the same direction as Adaar, and leaned back, letting the wind hit her face. It felt refreshing, and the night was clear so their path was well-lit. She was still disappointed that her time with Leliana had been cut short, but there would be other opportunities for her. For the Inquisitor, this might very well be the only chance to set things right with Josephine.

They traveled for nearly two hours before reaching the forward camp, and when they arrived, Cassandra saw to the horses while Vivienne and Varric secured their sleeping quarters. The place was alive with light and activity, and Inquisitor Adaar went directly to the Requisition Officer for a report.

"Nothing to report, Ser."

"Nothing to report? What is going on over there?" Adaar pointed to the far corner of the encampment, where a large crowd had gathered. There was the low hum of numerous conversations and laughter, and the faint sounds of music in the air, not to mention the scent of ale and roasting meat.

"Oh, that?" The officer looked over and shrugged. "There are some travelling minstrels out here drumming up morale. I didn't see the harm in it, so I let them play. They are flying Inquisition colors. The men seem to enjoy it well enough. I thought you had authorized them."

Adaar waved the soldier away and cut a path through the camp toward the crowd. Since she stood a full foot taller than even the tallest human soldiers she didn't need to push her way to the front, another painful reminder of who she was… what she was. Instead, she took up a position far in the back and focused her vision on the absolute most enchanting sight she'd ever seen. Josephine was there with her bards, firelight flickering across her features, and her mouth was open in song. The tune was melancholy; something about love lost and wandering, and for a singular moment in time, Malora Adaar felt certain she had experienced a small sliver of what heaven must surely be like.

I had no idea she could sing… but of course her voice would be lovely. Everything about her is lovely.

The qunari stood there while a lifetime passed, just staring at the ambassador, wishing she had courage enough to state her feelings plainly, wishing so many other factors were different or not present. Her race complicated things. Her mercenary background complicated things. This nonsense about being some human goddess's Herald complicated things. The Inquisition complicated things. Leliana complicated things. And… she closed her eyes and clenched a fist… Sera complicated things. The elf was practically hanging from Josephine, much closer than she needed to be. Could Sera have thrown her figurative hat in the ring now? The human wasn't pushing her away; indeed, her face was alight with laughter and merriment as she looked at the rogue elf. Perhaps this truly was what Josephine wanted. Perhaps she wanted to travel the world with Sera and their merry little band, and all the thoughts Malora Adaar had of them actually being together really was just a foolish fantasy in a confused Tal-Vashoth's mind.

She opened her eyes again as the music stopped, expecting that the group was forming up for another song, expecting to see Sera draped over her Josephine once more, but to her surprise, the imp was standing behind the human and pointing across her shoulder, whispering something in her ear. Malora froze as her eyes locked with Josephine's, and time stood still around her. The gaze was unwavering, but also unreadable. What was going through the ambassador's mind? Was she angry? Was she relieved? Was she irritated? Inquisitor Malora Adaar found herself rooted to the spot, captured by that expressionless regard, locked in its probing contemplation. She again cursed her race, her horns, her height, her inability to melt into the crowd and just watch Josephine from afar. If she wasn't a qunari, practically the only one living among humans, the beautiful ambassador might not have ever known she was there.

So now what? Now what am I going to do? She will know I came out here after her. There isn't any other pressing business on the Storm Coast. And why did I come here? What can possibly come of this?

Adaar opened and closed her fists several times, trying to work it all out in her head, trying to formulate some sort of plan. Josephine was still looking at her with that unreadable expression and Sera was pushing her from behind. What would she do if Josephine called out to her? What would she say? Would the ambassador make a scene? Would she call attention to the fact that the Herald of Andraste had again dropped everything, had again put the entire Inquisition on hold, just to chase after ghosts and dreams; just to interfere in one human's life?

Malora shifted her weight between her feet, taking a deep breath. Of course Josephine would do none of those things. She was too gracious, too classy. Whatever was going on between them would be kept there, though she regretfully realized that there wasn't much of anything going on between them, at all. Maker, were they even friends now? Acquaintances? Likely neither, and now they did not even have a working relationship anymore. Her foolish mouth had seen to that. Perhaps the ambassador wouldn't have resigned. Perhaps she would have just taken some time off, traveled for a while and gotten it out of her system, and then returned to her post where she belonged. Perhaps…

Andraste, wherever you are, whoever you are, if you are listening, please give me strength…

The lovely human woman stood, never dropping her eyes or glancing away, and moved through the crowd slowly. Malora backed away to a secluded corner of the camp and fidgeted with the daggers she kept at her waist nervously as she waited. Of course Josephine was coming to speak to her privately. There was no way she had just picked that precise moment to retrieve a mug of ale from the refreshment table that had been set up. She was going to address this after all, but she would not call attention to the presence of the Inquisition's leader. Again, the qunari wondered at Josephine's grace and beauty. She was truly a vision, within and without; the epitome of sophistication, kindness, and discretion. The music started again somewhere; likely the rest of the bards continuing with the show. Malora was grateful for it. The sounds recaptured the interest of the crowd, and she and Josephine would be afforded at least a little privacy.

"Inquisitor." Josephine stopped in front of the qunari, tilting her head upward slightly to maintain eye contact. Somehow, she just didn't want to let it go. Malora Adaar's eyes were icy and unreadable, but that glint was there again, that little shard of fear, that faint speck of… of something… that she just couldn't name.

"Ambassador," Malora started before mentally kicking herself. Josephine had resigned that title not more than a few hours ago. She quickly waved a hand to forestall any reply and corrected herself, "I apologize, Lady Montilyet."

The human cocked her head to the side, trying to hold onto that…"There is no need for an apology. This is a transition that may take some time." No, it was gone again, replaced by the loneliness that usually could be seen behind those tempestuous eyes. How seldom she was afforded the opportunity to gaze into them! She found herself lost, tendrils of desire plucking at her abdomen and strumming a melody only she could hear. The Inquisitor was truly a sight to behold; that hardened beauty like the peak of a snowcapped mountain, but a sadness to rival even the most forlorn swampland.

Malora shuffled her feet and looked down at the ground, finally breaking away from that penetrating gaze. "You… you have a lovely voice."

Josephine looked carefully at the qunari, determined to not misinterpret another compliment. Was there a hidden meaning behind the words, or were they just polite conversation? Was Malora playing the 'game' with her, or was that shy declaration indicative of a deeper admiration? She still couldn't tell. The intonation and cadence weren't the same as she'd remembered when the tall woman had asked her to walk the castle, but it wasn't quite like the short remarks made in Val Royeaux afterward, either. It was somewhere in-between shy and fearful, as if she were afraid to even make such a statement, afraid that it might be unwelcome. What a silly thought… but it did bring to mind many of the things that Sera had said not two hours previous.

"Thank you, Inquisitor," Josephine replied gracefully, watching the qunari's expression darken. "Maryden is quite the songwriter when her energy is properly directed…" She let the sentence trail off as Malora looked away over the sea. What was going on inside the woman's head? Would she ever truly know? She fidgeted a little, glancing over toward her group. They were still performing, this time with Maryden in the lead. Sera was tossing things at her, and though the bard made a big show of being annoyed, Josephine was certain there was a light in her eyes that shone only for the elf. The mischief-maker would never admit it out loud, but that same light was often reflected in her eyes, as well. If only Malora Adaar could be so transparent. She sighed, and looked at the qunari once more.

"So, this is just a traveling band then?" Malora asked, turning her head to meet the human's eyes.

"More or less. I cannot go into detail, but Sera has some things she needs to do and we're providing cover for her."

"It's not safe out here, Josephine," the qunari stated, a little guiltily. It wasn't safe largely because she hadn't spent nearly enough time making it safe. In fact, she had barely dedicated any time to traveling the continent and securing power. How could she when all she wanted to do was be near Josephine? She shook her head inwardly and flexed her toes in her boots, trying to find anything to focus on, anything at all to distract her from the magnificent creature standing before her, the pain that was ripping through her at the thought they might be separated again.

"The camps are crawling with Inquisition soldiers, and they could use the morale boost. I am not really worried about it." Josephine rested her hands on her daggers, almost in challenge, as she held the warrior's gaze. That look was there again, flashing just behind those unreadable eyes. Malora was… concerned, but it wasn't just concern, it was… No, she still couldn't quite place it. How were Leliana and Sera so sure?

"And what happens if you are waylaid in between camps? It's noble what you are trying to do, but it's just not safe." Malora shifted her weight and drew herself up to her full height. Somehow she had to convince the human to return to Skyhold. It was the only place in all of Thedas where Josephine would be protected. It was the only place she could put Josephine that would set her mind at ease.

"We can fight. We've been training for several weeks, you know." Josephine gestured to the rest of her group. "Maryden and I are the only ones who have a bard background. You know Sera is an archer and the two others trained with daggers."

"Is that a fact?" Malora asked. Who was Josephine trying to convince? Her group would be in serious trouble if they came across Tevinter mages or… or worse. She couldn't even think about it.

"It is," the human replied matter-of-factly.

"So you feel prepared to handle anything?" An idea took shape, granted, not a very good one, but an idea nonetheless. She would have to get a message across.

"That's right," Josephine replied, eyeing the qunari nervously.

"Very well then." The warrior pulled her mighty hammer from her back in one fluid motion, using her powerful legs to pivot her body around the human. She wrapped her left arm around Josephine's torso, pinning her arms, and she held the hammer across the human's collarbone in her right, as if it were a sword ready to slice her neck. Josephine's breath caught as she marveled at the massive being's speed and strength. How could one so tall move so quickly?

"Lady Montilyet, you are not ready to be out here on your own."

Josephine looked over her shoulder at Malora, every nerve alive and on fire; the proximity to the Inquisitor pushing her sanity to the limit. The words had been throaty, desperate; almost… almost what she'd expect to hear late at night, wrapped up safely in her lover's arms. For a moment she didn't move a muscle, though her fight or flight response was kicking in. Were they far enough away from the rest of the group that they could expect sufficient privacy? Would she care? If Malora Adaar pushed her to the ground right now, would she just close her eyes and block out the world? Would she let the demon-woman take her?

Probably.

Josephine tried to turn her head more, tried to adjust her body so she could listen to the qunari's heartbeat, but the thick plate armor made it impossible. She couldn't see Malora's face, either, or the expression on it. She had no way of knowing whether the closeness was affecting the Inquisitor as well, or if it was just all in her head. She looked at the weapon that was held across her chest and thought about what it must weigh. The haft alone must have been at least forty pounds and the hammerhead would add another eighty or so. The counterweight would have to be roughly half that to balance the weapon, so in all it must have been over a hundred pounds to wield, and yet the Inquisitor held it effortlessly in one hand. Her strength was remarkable, and Josephine could almost feel those wonderful muscles against her through the thick armor.

"Inquisitor," she breathed, her heart pounding. She was screaming it in her head, begging the formidable woman to drop the weapon and overpower her, to take what she was once again, ready to offer. And she was ready to offer it, ready to give all of herself and disappear into the night with Malora Adaar.

If she could just see my eyes right now. She'd see it all in my eyes, and we could end this charade and go home…

But Inquisitor Adaar did not drop her weapon and she did not spin Josephine around, overwhelmed with desire. Instead, she returned the greathammer to her back and released the human, turning away. "I am sorry if I frightened you, Lady Montilyet, but you have to know it isn't safe out here. I can't let you just roam the wilds with your troupe unprotected. I… I can't."

Josephine's spirit cried out at the loss when Malora let her go. She could feel the warmth through the chainmail links that ran below the plate on the qunari's arms, and that answered one question, at least. But more than that, she felt comfortable, like she was a perfect fit in the taller woman's embrace. She longed to feel those arms around her again, and she looked desperately at Malora, hoping to catch a glimpse of something, anything, on her face. But when the Inquisitor turned to her again, her features were as stone.

"Lady Montilyet, I must once again ask you to disband your troupe and send them back to Skyhold." Malora drew her hammer again, holding onto it for self-assurance, and perhaps to have something between her and Josephine.

Josephine shook her head and held her ground, though every fiber of her being was urging her to just push the weapon aside and pull the qunari into the darkness. "I am not going to do that, Inquisitor. I built this troupe, and I am not going to just quit because you say so."

Malora took a deep breath and looked at the sky, whispering for the second time in her life a small prayer to Andraste to give her strength. "I do say so. It's not safe out here and I won't have your death on my conscience."

"Inquisitor, if you…"

Malora slammed the hammerhead into the ground, splitting the earth and interrupting her reply. "Don't say it. Once was enough, and I don't care if you do hate me forever. Better that you hate me and are safe. I need to know that you are safe." She paused to take a breath and rested her hand on the hilt. "I am conscripting you into the Inquisition and that's the end of it. Disband your troupe and send them back to Skyhold."

Josephine glared daggers at Malora, furious. "I am not going back to Skyhold."

"No, you're not," the qunari agreed. "If I send you back I have no guarantee you won't just build the troupe back up and leave again. You are joining my party. Get your gear, say your goodbyes, and fall in line." Malora picked the hammer back up and threw it over her shoulder. She saluted Josephine, and then turned and returned to the camp.

Josephine stood there staring after the Inquisitor. That had been… well confusing was putting it mildly. That strange look was in her eyes again just before she left, but it was still unreadable. Why couldn't she just… just…

And I thought Leliana was impossible…

"Is she serious?" Sera asked, appearing out of the shadows and crossing her arms. "She's really going to just break it up like that?"

"I… I guess so," Josephine said, still staring after Malora.

"Well, piss. At least you get to stay, and that's all right, innit? It's what you wanted?" Sera elbowed Josephine.

"Yes, I guess it kind of is what I wanted, though I did not expect it to happen this way." Josephine rested a hand on her dagger and looked at the ground. She wanted to be close to Malora, but not as a conscripted soldier. What game was the Inquisitor playing? The mixed signals were starting to wear her mind out. "I don't understand it, Sera. First she tells me she's sorry for interfering in my life, and I think I'm probably never going to see her again, and then she's here, out here in the middle of nowhere, just watching me from the crowd. Then I'm in her arms and I swear there was something in her eyes, something I felt in that embrace… something I just couldn't catch and hold... And now I'm a conscripted soldier?" She looked at Sera pleadingly, as if the elf could make any sense of it.

"Don't look at me; I don't know what she's doing. Well fit, but dumb as rocks, that one. Glad I dodged that arrow. Wouldn't want to be caught in all this," she gestured to the… everything.

"Sera…"

"All right, well it's just obvious, innit? She's in love with you but has no clue how to just say it, so here she does all this stupidity instead. Conscripting and shit. Now you're close to her, where she wanted you to begin with, but now she's got this whole," Sera made an all-encompassing motion with her arms, "image she has to maintain. It's stupid, but she's stupid, and if you want her you'll have to be stupid too, yeah?"

Josephine shook her head. This was not what she needed right now. Not by a long shot. She needed advice, but the kind that made sense. "Sera…" she said again, noting with some amusement that their conversations normally went as such, the elf droning on about nonsense and her replying with little more than the imp's name.

"Just… I dunno. She's still figuring it all out. So why not just stay? I will too. Cassandra will pucker up over that one, but she's got to be sick of Varric by now. We can send the rest back with him. Come on. It'll be fun." Sera hooked her arm through Josie's and signaled to Maryden to continue without them. "Just give it a try."

Josephine watched Malora grab a spear from a nearby weapons rack and disappear down the southern pathway. "Where do you think she is going?"

Sera watched as well and shrugged. "She grabbed a spear, so my guess? Hunting. She probably needs to get some frustration out of her system." The elf pulled on Josephine, pointing to where the main companions were camped. "Don't worry, Josie. We all complained about the rations and shit once, and after that she started going on a hunt before every mission. She'll be fine. It's no big deal. Come on!"

Josephine sighed, still watching the path though Malora had long since disappeared. Sera was right about one thing, at least. Now they were together again. Whatever happened next, whatever all of this meant, at least she knew one thing for certain.

Inquisitor Malora Adaar had followed her after all.