Author Note: Welcome back! I hope you are all enjoying this story so far. This chapter is inspired by the Varric Thread on BSN's weekly prompt "Fabulously Orlesian." Enjoy! (And don't forget, Bioware owns this IP!)


Varric watched as Hope made her way back across the ballroom. It seemed as though every noble in the place had to stop to catch a word with the new Inquisitor.

"Keeping a good eye on our Inquisitor?" Cassandra called out as she returned to the staircase.

He turned and winked at her. "Only the best. But don't worry Seeker, there's still plenty of room in my bad eye for you."

Cassandra sighed, but let the joke slide. "Yes, well, don't forget to actually watch what is going on around the girl, as opposed to only watching her. We need to keep a look out for assassins."

He chuckled. "I guess I've been caught staring, again, huh? Tell me more about what we're expecting, here."

"Orlesian balls are notorious places for assassination attempts, particularly towards the guest of honor. It has become so commonplace that a ball without one is considered a failure."

Varric's mood darkened and he grumbled. "How fabulously Orlesian."

The Seeker nodded, "Indeed. As such, they aren't always true attempts, and are often just actors playing a part. Still, with our unique circumstances, I'd say it stands to reason that we should be cautious."

With a nod, Varric turned back to watch the crowd around Hope. He saw a slight waver in the shadows behind the serving table in the back of the room, and made his way to investigate.


Hope noticed Varric walking towards her, and smiled. Perhaps he was looking for another dance? She wouldn't say no to that. Bt Varric wasn't looking towards her as he approached, he looked behind her, and he didn't look happy. She tensed, afraid suddenly. Cassandra had warned her to be cautious while at the ball, but she had not seen any threats, and let her guard down. She turned slowly to find a shadowy figure emerge from the darkness outside of the great windows behind her. She couldn't make out the face beneath the dark forest green hood, but she could feel an aura of wrongness seeping out from it. Whatever this creature was, it was not natural.


Varric stepped up next to Hope as they eyed the strange creature approaching them. He had really hoped for an actor instead of an assassin, or even a poorly trained assassin. This was clearly neither. No, this felt like something from a nightmare, and Varric had not been a fan of his newfound nightmares since the fade opened up. This creature was connected somehow, and he would be damned if it got near his Inquisitor. His Inquisitor… That was a thought for another day.

Varric drew the daggers from his side as Hope glanced over at him wearily. "Would've been a good time to bring Bianca along." She said. He just laughed, appreciating the chance to be light considering the circumstance.

A strange noise came from the creature then, a mix between a growl and a screech. Nobles turned to look at it now, and Cassandra approached with her sword drawn. Of course she was allowed to bring her favorite weapon, Varric thought.

Cassandra spoke first. "Tell us, demon, why have you come here."

The creature growled again, but offered no words before it lunged at Hope.


Varric pushed Hope out of the creature's way and was tackled instead. The creature's face descended upon Varric's, revealing its rotting flesh and dripping fangs. It screeched in his face and pushed itself off of him, realizing it had descended upon the wrong target. Varrric was quick to recover. He sat up and threw the smallest of his daggers at the creature's leg, causing it to trip as it made its way towards Hope. Paralysis spells blasted from across the room as Vivienne approached the creature now, and Cassandra held her sword out across its chest. Hope's hands engulfed themselves in fireballs as she approached the creature steadily.

As the group began to descend upon the creature, however, Hope felt a shift in the fade. "Wait!" she called out, but it was too late. The creature emanated a pulse from itself, and the fade around it weakened. Her companions were knocked to the ground while Hope alone was left standing before the creature. She felt the demons clawing at her mind, attempting to break through the rapidly thinning veil. Her hand began to glow green now, the fire turning to fade magic. "Your fade tricks won't work here, so you may as well tell us what your plan was."

The creature screeched again, but this time in pain. Hope watched as an arrow sunk itself through the creature's chest. It stood there, still immobilized by the paralysis spell as black blood oozed from its chest.

Hope turned to her companions, but Varric just shrugged. "Bianca skipped this party, remember?"

A thin elf girl raced past them, then. She yanked the arrow from the creature's chest and shoved it in her quiver, gore and all. She drew her daggers then, and came around the face the creature, cocking her head at the slow ooze of blood escaping it. She nudged it in the shoulder with the point of her dagger. "Huh," she said before slitting its throat and pushing it to the ground.

Hope looked on in confusion as the elf knelt over the body and began humming as she looted the body. The rest of her group stood now and approached the scene. Cassandra began yelling, "Just what do you think you are doing? We were questioning that thing!"

The elf continued humming and dug through the pockets of the creature. Hope and Varric exchanged glances. He shrugged again. Hope knelt down by the elf. "So, thanks, I guess?"

The elf woman smiled at her, "Finally, some manners! You'd think a place like this would be full of them!" She pulled a ring off of the creature and tossed it to Hope. "That one's for you!"

Hope caught the ring, but continued looking at the woman. "So, umm, what are you doing?"

The woman laughed, "looking for clues, obviously. I've been tracking this thing for days!"

Cassandra came closer now, but the elf woman stood up in front of her before she could speak. "Found it! I believe you wanted this?" She handed Cassandra a letter. "I bet these have the creatures order!" Cassandra's eyes narrowed but she took the letter and began reading.

The elf woman wiped her hands on her tunic, letting the blood stick to it. She turned and reached out her now slightly cleaner hand to help Hope up. "Alright," the woman said, "we have a large ball, fancy dresses, weapons, and a bunch of nobles who look more put off by me than this clearly gross creature…" She tossed her hair, "how fabulously Orlesian."

Hope laughed as she stood and wiped her dress clean. Varric chuckled in the background. "I like her!"

Cassandra finished reading the note and handed it over to Hope. "Inquisitor, I think you should read this."

The elf woman turned back to Hope with a grin. "Well hello, there. I suppose that makes you the leader of the Inquisiton, huh?"

Hope nodded.

The woman pushed her hand out in front of her, reaching for Hope's. "Great! Name's Sera. I'm here to join."


Author Note: Thanks for reading, everyone! I hope you are enjoying this story! Please leave reviews!