Evelyn fought to keep her anger at bay as she stormed towards her quarters. The meeting with Leliana had not gone well, although the spymaster was far from blame. The impromptu conversation had begun with a letter from her father. A letter that reminded her why she had cut ties with her family and what a pompous ass the man could be. She looked down at the balled up parchment in her hand, the words written on it coming back to her without a second glance.

Daughter,

I need not remind you that since you still bear the Trevelyan name you will be expected to further our interests now that you bear the title of Inquisitor. In light of your past indiscretions, I am not sure how you have obtained such an exalted title but congratulations are in order. I hope that you have used this time to repent of your previous frivolous life and expect you will want to make amends for your past indifference to your family. I will draw up a list of ways and send them to your ambassador. We shall talk more on this in the months to come.

Lord Trevelyan

Frivolous life? Repent? The nerve of the man galled her to no end! The burst of green light startled her from the inferno of her thoughts and Evelyn quickly brought her mark back under her control; he was not worth accidentally opening a rift here in Skyhold. She brushed past the guard stationed at the door to her rooms and quickly climbed the stairs. She stopped in front of the fireplace and flung the offending parchment into the flames, watching with satisfaction as the paper blackened and curled; unwanted words fading into ash. Evelyn sighed and let herself fall back onto her bed. She hated how, even after all these years; the man could still infuriate her. He had spent his entire existence running every aspect of his family's life; oh how her rejection of the life he'd had planned for her must have stung. Evelyn allowed herself the smallest of grins, if he thought she was going to simply bow to him now he was in for a rude awakening. Anticipation for his list replaced the dread the words had raised in her. She could not wait to see what inane requests he dared to pen and found herself looking forward to all the ways she could thwart him. She lay back and let her imagination run wild as she sought to kill as much time as she could before leaving to ready the chapel for her time with Cassandra.

000

Cassandra took her evening meal in the tavern; she did not trust her thoughts in the silence of her room above the forge. She had finished rereading the latest chapter hours ago but the memory of certain acts laced within the smutty romantic literature still beat within her head. Normally this would not have bothered her but with her mind substituting herself for the Knight Captain and the Inquisitor for her new female lover, such thoughts only gave rise to the waking madness of lust that seemed to follow the two of them. Cassandra was tempted to send word that she had changed her mind and the battlements would be preferred, but she hated the cold and the Inquisitor's whispered declaration that the cold only served to push warm bodies together did nothing to assuage the seeker's worry that with tensions so high, time alone would end up pushing both of them over the edge. She closed her eyes and sighed as she began reciting portions of the Chant of Light, praying to the Maker that Andraste would watch over her this evening, that the pressing need within her would be stilled so that she might simply enjoy the Inquisitor's company. She prayed so long that her food grew cold but the seeker found that she had little appetite. Cassandra watched with trepidation as the light faded from the sky and swallowed the last of the ale in her cup. She stood slowly and steeled herself as she walked past the merriment, the music and out into the bitter cold.

The garden was strangely abandoned, but it was not so surprising that with temperatures this low most of the inhabitants of Skyhold would seek a warmer venue. She hesitated at the door, smiling as she heard the faint sound of humming coming from inside the room. Cassandra wondered what had put the Inquisitor in such a jovial mood; it was unlike her to hum. She wanted to stand and listen but the freezing wind drove that thought out of her mind. She knocked softly, not wishing to startle the rogue, and found herself pulled into the room by warm hands and an even warmer smile. Cassandra was stunned at the transformation the Inquisitor had wrought in the small room. The floor, previously covered in rubble and debris, has been cleared; candles were strewn along the steps to the left of the statue of Andraste and furs were thrown carelessly over the steps and floor to the right. It was not a scene of seduction but the changes made the room, for lack of a better term, cozy. The seeker flushed when she saw the manuscript alongside the other books in the serial. In her earlier daze, she had completely forgotten to go back and get the very material that they were going to discuss. Cassandra shot a look at the rogue who simply grinned that signature cocky grin and shrugged her shoulders. The seeker leaned back against the door and shook her head.

"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that you would dare to go through my things."

Evelyn chuckled softly and gave the seeker a pointed look, "I simply went to look for you after evening meal ended and when I did not find you I noticed the books and thought you might have forgotten them. You did forget them, yes?" The averting of those dark eyes told the Inquisitor that she had and the young rogue reached forward and tugged at the seeker's crossed arms.

"I would normally say we have all night but those candles are not going to burn forever."

Cassandra rolled her eyes and allowed herself to be led to the fur draped corner of the room. She started to sit down but was stopped by the look in the bright green eyes that stared so openly at her. The look burned straight through the seeker and she turned away, flushing, seating herself against the stairs and next to the pile of books. Cassandra snorted internally in disgust at herself. A single look, the barest of touches and she was ready to submit to whatever this woman had planned. She looked up at the ancient image of Andraste that stared down at them and felt the calming balm of her faith wash over her. So long as she kept the conversation academic and her mind on the very real reminder that the Maker's bride was watching over her, Cassandra felt she could fight the desire demon that had temporarily taken over her mind.

Evelyn caught the look the seeker shot up at the statue and felt her grin widen. It seemed the warrior had taken her advice to heart and was arming herself in her faith in order to ignore everything else. The competitive side of her personality begged to take up that challenge but Evelyn reasoned that it would be her that would lose in the end. While she had not completely planned her seduction of the seeker, she knew that it wouldn't be here and now, despite the overwhelming evidence that the beautiful warrior was more than keen on the idea. She resolutely pushed such ideas from her treacherous mind and settled in next to the taller woman; leaning against the wall, her knees tucked under her chin as she fixed the seeker with an expectant stare. She watched as Cassandra bit her lower lip; her fingers gliding over pages and covers as she struggled with where to start. Evelyn enjoyed the unfettered chance to observe the seeker; the way her eyes softened as she reached for familiar friends, her brow furrowed in thought, the way her tongue unconsciously flicked out to wet her lips. She loved the way the candlelight flickered and softened the olive tone of the warrior's skin. Sensing the seeker's hesitancy of how to start this journey into the world of Varric's smutty literature, Evelyn decided to give the warrior a hint and broke the silence.

"Perhaps you could give me an overview of Varric's books up till now," Evelyn suggested softly as she enjoyed the brief look of puzzlement that came over the stoic warrior's features.

"I thought you said you had read them all…"

Cassandra looked at the redhead expectantly and rolled her eyes as the younger woman smiled slowly, "That may or may not have been an exaggeration of the truth."

The seeker lifted her brow and gave the Inquisitor a pointed look. "Well then I suppose that makes things much easier then." A part of her knew she should feel exasperated by the white lie but a part of her felt relieved that she did not have to begin things with Varric's latest tale. If she was completely honest a part of her was also excited to share a story about which she was so passionate. Cassandra leaned over and confidently plucked the first chapter from the pile of books, she felt her lips twitch in a smile as she ran her fingers over the cover before beginning.

"The story revolves around the relationship between the Knight Captain and her Templar lover. The Knight Captain is a fierce warrior – strong, proud and committed too…"

Evelyn smiled as Cassandra spoke fondly of the heroine – noting without surprise that the woman in the book closely mirrored the seeker in everything but looks. It was clear that the seeker felt a kinship with the character and although the over all plotline was a bit too… cheesy for her personal taste she could see the hopeless romance portrayed perfectly in the over the top conversation between the heroine and her templar lover. Evelyn found herself getting lost in the warm cadence of Cassandra's voice, her attention waning away from the actual words being spoken as the seeker moved on to the next chapter and then the next. The temperature outside seemed to plummet as time wore on, the warmth in the room faded much quicker than anticipated. Evelyn clenched her teeth to keep them from chattering and saw Cassandra holding her hands closer to her mouth to blow warm air on them.

Cassandra watched as the Inquisitor stood without preamble and stretched slowly. She felt her stomach clench as the too tight tunic the Herald of Andraste sauntered around Skyhold in, tightened further, accentuating curves the seeker had tried hard not to stare at. She paused her storytelling, momentarily perplexed by how much she was enjoying the evening. Cassandra had never had someone show interest in the literature she most enjoyed. Indeed once anyone close found out that she enjoyed such things her fascination became a subject of ridicule and teasing – two things the seeker could not stand and so very few knew. She refocused on what the Inquisitor was reaching for and her eyes widened as she took note of the blanket now in the Inquisitor's hand as well as the fact that the woman was coming closer. Cassandra began to inch back as she realized where it was the Herald was heading; she pressed against the wall as tightly as she could in a hopeless attempt to minimize her contact with the slender frame that settled beside her.

"Inquisitor…"

Evelyn ignored the warning hiss of a title she was still unused to as she pulled the blanket over them, turning to look at the warrior daring her to protest the logic of her actions. Cassandra glared back, ignoring the warmth of the Inquisitor's body as well as the way the blanket seemed to magnify and spread it around the seeker's almost frozen limbs. Sharing a blanket made sense but it did little to assuage her anxiety over such close proximity. The seeker pursed her lips looking down at the book in hand, startled when she felt the weight of the other woman settle against her side; her cheek tickled by red locks as the Inquisitor lay against her shoulder.

"There. That is better. Please continue."

Cassandra swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry. There had been little in the way of cuddling with Regalyan – not that either of them had been opposed to the idea. There was just never enough time and since they saw each other so infrequently the majority of it was spent working through all the pent up sexual frustration brought on by weeks and months of being apart. Cassandra forced her muscles to relax and continued her synopsis of Swords and Shields as she tried to ignore the parts of her body that seemed to come alive where it touched the Herald's. She continued on, drawing out the last chapter before Varric's latest creation when she noticed the steady rise and fall of the Inquisitor's chest. Cassandra paused to bend her head closer and felt her lips curve into a faint smile as her eyes confirmed her initial discover; the Inquisitor was sleeping. She held herself still, enjoying the simple feeling of having someone she wanted so close to her. Daringly she slowly lowered the book and hesitantly wrapped her arm around the sleeping rogue's waist. Cassandra froze as her touch caused the Trevelyan noble to stir and push closer. Her breath hitched as the younger woman turned slightly in her arms and the heat of soft lips pressed against her throat.

Evelyn let the corners of her mouth turn upwards as she felt the seeker's muscles jump reflexively against her. She had been fighting sleep, but when Cassandra's arm had snaked around her, the subtle touch had been more than enough to cut through the relaxed fog Evelyn had been drifting in and out of. She decided to play up the rare opportunity her position awarded her and turned in the warrior's arms to press closer. Her efforts were rewarded with a small gasp and the Inquisitor could feel Cassandra's pulse hammering beneath her lips as she let her hand rest "sleepily" atop a warm thigh. Evelyn smirked as an idea came to mind and nuzzled the seeker's neck as she let her fingers drift slowly higher.

"Inquisitor..."

The raw desire in the husky tone that sighed in her ear almost drove Evelyn to forgo the idea of the tease and simply give into the urges she had been fighting for months, but something stopped her from completely giving in. Instead she allowed the tip of her tongue to escape parted lips and taste the flesh beneath them as she slowly moved up the seeker's neck whispering huskily.

"That's not my name."

Cassandra had let her eyes fall shut as her heart pounded and a slow familiar ache began to throb between her thighs; skin burning as soft lips teased higher up her neck. Her eyes flew open as whispered words broke the silence and she halted the wandering hand that had inched up her thigh as she pulled back to see the wicked grin that twisted the Herald of Andraste's lips. The former Right Hand of the Divine scowled as she realized she had been swindled and she scoffed haughtily as she removed the Inquisitor's hand from her leg.

"Tricking me will not get me to say your name Inquisitor."

Evelyn raised her eyebrow at the challenge she was certain the seeker had not intended to throw down. She rose, resting back on her knees as she smirked back at the dark haired warrior. "No? What will then?"

Cassandra flushed as she realized the opening she had given the incorrigible young woman. She instinctively moved to widen the distance between the two of them and groaned inwardly when she realized that she had left herself no room to escape. Her back pressed firmly to the wall, Cassandra opened her mouth to protest as the redhead closed the distance between them; her mouth captured before she could utter her objections. She felt her head tipped upward as teasing lips, teeth and tongue worked together seamlessly in a patient rhythm that left the seeker breathless. She inhaled sharply as her lips were freed only to jerk her head back reflexively, wincing slightly as she came in contact with solid stone, as the Inquisitor trailed a hot path along the line of her jaw to the sensitive flesh below her ear.

Evelyn sucked at the spot, hissing softly as Cassandra arched against her pushing the peaks of their chests together. She felt long fingers tangling in her hair, trapping her lips against that point of contact. Happy to oblige the unspoken request, Evelyn scraped her teeth against the seeker's skin, gently marking the flushed flesh before soothing the bite with a sweep of her tongue. She let her hand slowly drift up the Navarrean's torso, pushing her palm against a firm breast as she nipped and kissed a slow trail downwards.

Cassandra moaned softly, her body shuddering as the rogue's thumb brushed back and forth across the sensitive peak of the breast currently trapped against the Inquisitor's palm. Desire pulsed and rose higher with every teasing nip and playful touch placed on her body; the aching need for more friction becoming almost impossible to ignore. Cassandra moved to push her would be lover back, surprised when strong fingers dug into her hip, twisting her slightly and pushing her back against the fur lined steps. She gasped as a knee rocked against her aching core and felt the wetness that had gathered there. The ghost of warm fingers trailed over her abdomen as Cassandra tipped her head back and tried to stifle the small sounds of need that were escaping her lips.

Every soft sound that escaped the seeker sent a chill up Evelyn's spine and the feeling of Cassandra rocking back against her was slowly driving her insane. The panted litany of "Maker yes" and "more" were steadily driving her past the limit of her control. The idea had been to tease the warrior into calling out her given name but the unbelievably stubborn woman was not cooperating and Evelyn did not know how much more she could give before she had to take something for herself. She lowered her head swiftly, and pressed her open mouth against the exposed flesh of the seeker's stomach, which did nothing more than earn her the gasped cry of that damned title again. Evelyn growled softly her hands clenching at muscled thighs as she pushed the former Right Hand's legs apart.

Cassandra arched off the steps as the hot mouth that had been tormenting the heated flesh of her neck now pressed against her bared stomach, her fingers gripping the furs beneath her. She knew that by denying the Inquisitor what she wanted the seeker was only pushing at the rogue's commendable control. Cassandra wasn't sure she was ready for that control to break as she felt and heard the low growl the vibrated between those parted lips. She gasped as strong fingers dug into her thighs pushing them apart. Cassandra raised her head in time to see the flashing green eyes looking up at her before the rogue's next action caused her given name to escape the seeker's lips.

Evelyn dropped lower, dragging her mouth down the defined planes of a body honed to perfection from years of combat training. She dipped her tongue between the edge of leather and skin before continuing her hasty descent. She dared to look up and caught the burning gaze of the seeker staring down at her. Evelyn shifted lower and pressed her open mouth firmly against the spot where the leather seemed to burn hottest.

"Evelyn!"

The sudden cry of her name stopped the Inquisitor and she tore herself away from the heady scent of the need she had awakened and rose up to crush her lips against the other woman's. Evelyn pressed her body against the seeker, her hips resting between the spread thighs, groaning as a long leg hooked itself around her waist pulling her closer still. She devoured the hungry lips beneath hers, moaning as the beautiful warrior matched her stroke for stroke. The need for air drove them apart and Evelyn gasped as she realized how close she was to divesting them both of the cloth barriers between them and making the seeker hers right here on the chapel floor. She had never expected things to go so far; supremely confident that the presence of Andraste's statue would serve as a silent chaperone – if not for her than for the woman under her. Evelyn bowed her head, willing her heart to cease its roaring in her ears.

Cassandra drew a shaky breath, flushing as reality set in on what she had allowed to almost occur. She wanted to feel shame for the wantonness of her own actions but she could not remember the last time her body had felt so alive. She let her leg slip off the slim hip she had been anchored to and set up slightly, resting her weight on her arms as she studied the woman against her and the stillness of her frame. Cassandra startled as a soft chuckle broke the slightly awkward silence and found herself staring into mischievous green eyes.

"Made you say it."

The seeker narrowed her gaze at the jest, flushing an even deeper shade of red as her memory helpfully recalled the feeling of that now smiling mouth pressing against the most intimate of spots. She huffed and pushed at the other woman's shoulder causing her to lose her balance and topple to the side. Cassandra used the opportunity to stand on shaky legs and looked down, rolling her eyes as the Inquisitor's body shook with silent mirth. The warrior crossed her arms over her chest, thoroughly un-amused by the almost childish display.

"I'm glad you find this so amusing Inquisitor."

Evelyn opened her eyes and looked up at the familiar scowling face. She grinned and sat up. "Does this mean story time is over?"

Cassandra raised an eyebrow at the term and shook her head at the natural impertinence being displayed so freely. She nodded, "Yes… I think I have sufficiently brought you up to speed on Shields and Swords."

Evelyn cocked her head slightly and furrowed her brow, "I don't believe we got to Varric's newest chapter though…"

Cassandra pressed her lips together thoughtfully and then smirked, "Well… think back to our activities a few moments ago and I am sure will get the gist of why it is so different from his previous works."

Evelyn flashed a crooked smile as she stood up, "So if earlier responses are to be trusted... you liked this latest chapter then?"

Cassandra opened her mouth to reply but then stopped, her mind quickly catching the utter lack of surprise from the Inquisitor at the change in the serials content. The seeker gasped and scowled, "You knew! You knew this whole time what his newest chapter was about! But how? "

Evelyn felt her grin widen, loving the shocked expression on such normally stoic features. She shrugged and shook her head, "I didn't know exactly what it was about but I might have… requested a change in content."

Cassandra felt her jaw drop slightly at the confession and stuttered back a response. "But… why would you…" She paused as she felt a slender arm curve around her waist and the touch of a warm hand against her face, compelling her to stare into that swirling green gaze as a soft cultured voice whispered gently.

"I knew you were waiting on another chapter and I wanted to be the one to give that to you. As to the content change… call it wishful thinking. I had hoped that reading about such would make you more comfortable with… what we feel for one another… I hope… I haven't overstepped my bounds."

Cassandra stood silent, letting the confession seep in. The gesture was unbearably romantic, achingly sweet and yet, overwhelming in its overall arrogance. In as few of words as possible, it was Evelyn Trevelyan. Cassandra had never had someone do something so thoughtful for her and it was that thought that caused her press a soft kiss against hopeful lips. She smiled, "I…" and paused, unsure of what sort of words such a gift warranted. Cassandra settled on a simple "thank you" and felt her heart warm at the surprised smile that lit the inquisitive face that stared back at her.

Evelyn felt relief rushing through her. Cassandra's silence had her worried that she had overstepped her bounds and she caught herself praying that her gift would be well received despite her arrogance. The kiss, the smile and the soft thanks that had followed assured her that her efforts were not wasted and while she was sure that her actions did not quite fit the seeker's "ideal" courtship; she felt confident that they were appreciated nonetheless. Gesturing to the dimly flickering candles and the mess of furs and books that littered the floor of the tiny chapel, Evelyn flashed a smile as Cassandra tried to hold back a yawn. She nodded towards the door, "Get some rest, I will finish up in here."

Cassandra started to argue, to insist that the Inquisitor had just as much need for sleep as she did but she was beginning to recognize the stubborn set of the younger woman's jaw and knew that no amount of arguing was going to change her mind. Grateful for the chance to catch some sleep before the hammering of the forge below awoke her, Cassandra leaned in and brushed her lips against the Inquisitors, "Thank you."

Evelyn watched as the seeker opened the door to the biting cold and disappeared into the night. She leaned against the wall, sighing and smiling at the same time as her mind replayed the evening over and the rogue committed every memory to be relieved another day.