The day Val left for her training with Solas had started off as a good one. She had awoken to find herself in the arms of her boyfriend and Commander, Cullen. It was still dark out with the sun just beginning to rise. Cullen was fast asleep, completely relaxed, so it wasn't difficult for Val to slip out of his arms and get dressed. She pulled on her clothes and her boots, wrapped the scarf around her neck, and looked at Cullen. He was so peaceful, no traces of his lyrium withdrawal dreams taking hold. Val couldn't help but smile and leaned down to kiss his cheek before she pulled the covers over him. Turning to leave, Val heard him shift positions and she turned to look at him one last time. He had moved to lay on his back, the toned muscles showing over the top of his covers. Feeling herself blush, Val said a silent goodbye and slipped down the ladder. She went to his desk, wrote his a note, and left his office.
It was still long before the sun rose above the mountains when they had left, turning towards Orlais and traveling to the Emerald Graves. Solas was to teach her about the ancient elven magiks that would make her an arcane warrior and a battlemage.
When Cullen woke from his slumber, then sun had barely risen over the mountains. He sat up and looked around, not seeing Val anywhere. 'She must have left already.' he thought, disappointed that he didn't get to say goodbye. He slid out of bed and got dressed before heading down the ladder to his office. He saw Val's note on the desk and smiled as he read it.
'My dearest Cullen:
Last night was wonderful and I am so happy we were able to make things right between.
I am leaving before first light, so when you get this I'll already be gone. I brought a raven
with me so I can send you guys reports and let you know that I'm doing OK. Solas is taking
me to train in arcane and battle magik. We're traveling to the Emerald Graves in Orlais. I'll
be fine, Cullen, I promise- Maker as my witness- so don't worry about me, alright? I love you
Cullen, with all my heart. I'll be back in a few weeks. Take care of yourself 'til then.
Forever yours, Val"
Cullen smiled and looked towards the tome Val had been reading the night before. She must have forgotten to grab it before she left. He picked it up and looked through its pages, seeing the different elemental and healing spells within it. It was a tome he didn't recognize, but since Val had learned to read and write in their languages, he wasn't surprised that Solas and Dorian had given her such an ancient looking tome to study from. Though he didn't entirely trust the elf, mostly from his Templar training and the fact that he always kept secrets from everyone, Cullen knew that Val would be safe with him.
-O-
Three and a half weeks had passed since Val began her training. She and Solas had received a raven informing them of the trip to Halamshiral, asking that they joined them. They left Dinan' Hanin, where they had been making their camp, and headed straight for Halamshiral. Solas parted ways with her once they reached the city, telling her exactly where to find Camren and the others, then left her with his coin purse. He never needed money, but Val did as she continued to adjust to the world she now called home.
Once Solas had left, Val wandered through the streets of Halamshiral with Revas by her side. Revas was a white wolf she had encountered in the Emerald Graves, trying to defend against a dragonling. Revas held her own, killing the dragonling but getting severely injured in the process. Val had used the healing magik Solas had taught her to heal Revas' wounds, bringing the wolf back to full health. Certain that she'd be safe alone again, Val left Revas and started on her way back to Dinan'Hanin. Revas, however, followed after her and stayed by her side. Solas found something special about her and approved of her company. He felt that there was a special bond that had formed when Val healed Revas between the Renton girl and the wolf. He spoke with the wolf, finding out that her name was Revas- the elvish word for "freedom"- and thought it was fitting. Ever since then, Revas and Val had become inseparable.
Seeing a large white wolf walking beside a young woman as beautiful as Val, several people stared at her in awe and started to whisper. Val smiled and went to a dress shop, looking to buy something for the Empress' ball. She looked around the shop and spotted a simple but elegant blue gown. She asked the shop owner if she could try it on and stepped into a stall. Slipping out of her clothes, she pulled on the dress and the elbow length gloves and looked in the mirror. She smiled and stepped out of the stall.
"I'll take it." she said.
"Well, now, I haven't seen that dress suit anyone as well as it does you, my dear girl." the shop owner said. Her Orlesian accent reminded her of France, country back in her world. "Here, this necklace goes with it."
"Thank you." Val said, pulling out the coin purse Solas gave her.
"No, no, my dear. Take this dress for me." the shop owner said.
"Oh, I couldn't do that!" Val said, looking at the old woman confused. "It's much too beautiful for me not to pay for it."
"Let me tell you a little story." the old woman said, taking Val's hands in her withered ones. "There was once a great beauty like yourself, my daughter Deriana. She was well loved around Val Royeaux when she became a scholar there. When she met the man of her dreams, falling head over heels in love with him, they began to court each other. Eventually they were to marry and she was to wear this dress at her wedding reception. However, the day of the wedding ceremony, she was killed in a tragic accident. It was a shame that my daughter was taken from me, but I have kept this dress safe in hopes that another of her beauty and grace would come into my shop and love it as much as she did. You are more beautiful than my daughter, dear girl, and I have never seen this dress suit anyone better. I want you to keep it, so that I may rest easy knowing that it's in good hands."
Val smiled and hugged the woman. "Then I will gladly take it for safe keeping. Thank you, madame."
The old woman smiled and hugged her back. "Now go. I assume you are attending the ball at the Winter Palace?"
Val nodded. "I'm meeting with the Inquisitor."
"Ah, so you are with the Inquisition?" the old woman said, smiling when Val nodded. "Good. Someone needs to put the sky back together and there seems to be no one more capable of doing so than the Inquisitor. Wish him luck from an old woman."
Val smiled. "I will. Thank you again, madame."
"Please, you can call me Helena. I do hope I shall see you again, dear girl."
"As do I, Helena." Val replied with a smile. She gathered her things and waved as she walked to the door, Revas right beside her. "Until next time, may Andraste guide you, Helena."
Helena waved back and smiled, her hand resting over her chest. "May the Maker keep you safe, child."
-O-
Val had found her way to the room Leliana and Josephine had shared as they readied themselves for the ball. They had uniforms, same as the others that had come with Camren to the Winter Palace. When they opened the door to find Val standing there in her gown, they squealed with joy and pulled her into the room.
"Maker, Val, you're gorgeous!" Leliana said, twirling the Renton girl in a circle.
"Leliana, please!" Val said, giggling. "I haven't worn heels in a long time, it'll take some getting used to!"
Leliana caught her as she lost her footing and smiled. "Where did you get that dress?"
"Madame Helena of Vuillemin Attire."
"Oh my, Madame Helena is still in business?" Josephine asked.
"Yes."
"Well, it looks marvelous on you!" Leliana added. "Cullen will love to see you for sure."
"Ah!" Josephine squealed as she pointed. "Why is there a wolf in here?!"
Val smiled and laughed. "Josie, Leliana, meet Revas. I saved her while I was training in the Emerald Graves. She's been with me ever since."
"She's a beautiful wolf." Leliana said.
"Solas he found something special about her and approved of her company. He felt that there was a special bond that had formed us when I healed her wounds. She had been defending against a dragonling, but was hurt pretty bad when she finally managed to kill it. Solas spoke with her and found out that her name was Revas- the elvish word for 'freedom'- and thought it was fitting. Ever since then, Revas and I have been inseparable."
"Well, if that is the case, then I hope she finds a welcome home at Skyhold." Leliana said. "She actually reminds me of the mabari hound the Hero of Ferelden had. She was a loyal hound, stuck through everything with Ana."
Revas huffed her approval and caused the women to smile.
"That's my girl!" Val said, rubbing the wolf's ears.
"Well, now then let's finish getting you ready." Josephine said.
"What do you mean?"
"You're not ready yet! We need to do your hair!"
-O-
"Announcing the Inquisitor, Ser Camren of House Trevelyan." the servant said, announcing Camren's arrival.
Camren walked down the stairs, soon followed by Cullen, then Leliana. Josephine was to be announced next as part of Camren's party.
"Josie, I don't know if I'm ready for this..." Val said, wringing her hands.
"Val, sweetie, it'll be fine." Dorian said, coming up to them. "It is good to see you, my dear. You look ravishing!"
Val blushed. "Thanks, Dorian."
"Val, it'll be fine. I will go ahead of you, then you will be announced next." Josephine said. "Cullen doesn't know that you're joining us here, so it'll be a nice surprise."
The servant came over to them. "Are you ready?" he asked.
"Yes, thank you."
"Is this wolf going to be accompanying you?" the servant asked, looking at Val.
Ignoring his disdain, Val nodded. "Her name is Revas. Could you announce her as well? She's a bit proud."
The servant sighed and nodded, returning to his place at the top of the stairs.
Josephine looked at Val. "It'll be fine, trust me."
Val watched as Josephine went to the top of the stairs.
"Announcing Lady Josephine, of House Montilyet and ambassador of the Inquisition."
Val looked at Dorian. "Will you go down with me?"
Dorian smiled and offered her his arm. "Of course. Are you ready?"
Val took a deep breath and nodded.
Dorian led her to the top of the stairs and nodded to the servant.
"Annoucing Lord Dorin of House Pavus, companion of the Inquisitor." the servant said. "Also announcing Lady Valmora Kryst of Renton and her canine companion, Revas."
Everyone turned to look at them as they started to descend the stairs.
"Dorian, why is everyone staring at us?" Val asked, feeling herself blushing.
"Well, for one thing, you have a large wolf at your side, and for another, do you realize how truly stunning you look?" Dorian replied, smiling.
Val smiled and took her hand up to lift the hem of her gown up a little higher. When they reached the base of the stairs, she looked down at Revas and pet her. "You best behave, OK?"
The wolf huffed and seemed to nod, nuzzling her nose into Val's palm.
Val smiled and looked up, seeing everyone's eyes still on her.
"Val, it's good to have you back!" Camren said, coming to greet her. "It's been awhile, how are you doing?"
"I'm fine, Cam, thank you." Val said, smiling. "How's the Inquisitor fairing this evening? Ready for peace talks and dancing?"
Camren chuckled. "As prepared as one can be. Solas isn't with you?"
"He went back to Skyhold. He said he needed to see to a few things before you returned."
"Well, at any rate, it is good to see you." Camren said. "You look lovely, by the way."
Revas huffed.
"Is this Revas? I recall the letter you sent me awhile back." Camren said. He put his hand forward gingerly. "Hello, Revas. Welcome to the Inquisition, I'm Camren."
Revas sniffed his hand and licked it, approving of the man.
"She likes you." Val said, smiling.
"Good, I was worried for a moment. When Solas told me about the bond you had formed, it reminded me of when a mabari imprints on someone. She's a beautiful creature, that much is certain." Camren said, chuckling. "I must attend to other business while I'm here, but I'd you to have a dance with you, if you don't mind?"
"Of course, not, Cam." Val said, smiling. "I'd love to dance with you, though I must warn you, I've never danced anything like what you have here in Thedas."
Camren smiled. "I'm not the greatest dancer either, but I think we can manage. Try to have a good evening until later, alright?"
Val nodded. "Of course." she replied, giving him a curtsey. She watched as he left with Josephine to meet some of the nobles and she sighed. These types of parties, any party for that matter, were not her forte. She felt so out of her element, especially since the last few weeks she had been wholed up in an ancient elven ruin studying magik.
"Val, sweetie, could I have this first dance? I am dying to know what the elf has taught you." Dorian asked.
Val smiled, accepting the hand that he offered her. "Of course, Dorian, it'd be my pleasure." She looked down at Revas. "Find a spot nearby out of the way, alright girl? I'll whistle if I need you."
Revas huffed and trotted off to a spot up on the next floor where she could lay down and watch over the dance floor, keeping an eye on her mistress.
Dorian started to pull her towards the dance floor and Val looked behind her, hoping to see Cullen somewhere. She thought she caught a glimpse of him, but she lost sight of him when hundreds of people started to pair up for the dance.
'I hope I do see him tonight...' she thought, then turned her attention back to Dorian.
