Fen'vhenan had spent a month in preparation for what was certain to be the most uncomfortable time of her entire life. Tevinter had been kind so far, but only because she never left the estate without either Dorian or Halward (almost always Dorian) right at her side. And at the end of each day she stopped before bed to read her reports and cry. Yet he was always there- Dorian, the friend of her heart- to dry them away. In the past they had both been unsure and rather uncomfortable with any contact. Now it really was natural, and they had been caught several times "cuddling" even when there were no real eyes nearby to see them.

Today was the beginning of the official appearances however, and Vhen was a little sick to her stomach. She stepped out to the back gardens, wringing the latest update from Cassandra in her hands. Nevarra would see reason, but they also refused to pull away from the border at Tevinter without assurances they would not see their country attacked as soon as the retreat started. Since Sera, by Vhen's request, had disseminated the information that the magisters were recalling the previous treaty the royal family seemed hesitant to believe until a new proclamation was made. So the timeline was escalated; even the single week they'd changed was enough to make it problematic.

Vhenan sighed as she stood by a transplanted flower in the garden. It carried the thick, heady smell of Andraste's Grace; Vhen preferred jasmines herself, but this scent was not unpleasant. She heard the warm-up of the evening's musicians nearby and shut her eyes relishing the sounds and smells. The north did agree with her, the climate perfect; maybe when (if) she was able to actually leave the obligations of the Inquisition behind she could convince Fen'harel they should find the true ruins of Arlathan and set a home there...

A different sound suddenly hit Vhen's ears. It was a quiet hiss, and the sound of something moving quick but somehow as a blur. She reached to her waist, grabbing one of her flasks. She felt the tingle of lightening immediately, smiling. These were the ones she kept nearby for good reason. She squeezed, letting the vial crack and the element spill out. Now she could match her assailant.

Time stilled. Vhenan let her hunter senses take over and found the spot it originated, only to be pushed back by a light yet unseen force. If only she had a blade... Instead she would have to do this the hard way. She had already slowed the time here; now she move into the shadows and popped behind the intruder.

White hair, cut short, met her eyes. More telling was the blue pulse that just barely abated as she came up behind him. She had read the tale of the champion enough times to recognize one of the key characters. "Bona noctum, Leto." Hopefully he wouldn't go crazy on her- please let him remain somewhat calm. "I was unaware we had a... dancing lesson today." It sounded stupid, but he turned and gave her a very stupid expression of disbelief.

"Dancing?" he mouthed, incredulous. Vhenan shrugged, lost, but the former slave just shrugged back and stepped closer. "I thought one more lesson was in order." His voice was deep, dangerous. She wasn't sure if that was normal or if he was warning her. Then it didn't matter because he quite stiffly took her by the waist.

Someone, at some time, had taught him to dance. She imagined he may have once been good at it, but lack of memory and disuse had erased the smoothness. Vhenan took a shaky lead, not much better and that only because Dorian and Solas had forced grace into her. This was awkward. She had hoped to meet this man, the one who dared to start freeing slaves even though he didn't understand the full implication of his actions. This was not at all how she imagined it.

At least the pretense of dancing brought them close enough to whisper. The servants who might be spies were on the edges, able to see little but not hear anything.

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Serrah Fenris."

He blinked a bit. "And I yours, Inquisitor Lavellan. Though I am confused by your actions and acceptance of your people's fate."

"Did you know as elven slaves are being recaptured they are also being beaten and killed?" The whisper was cold, clunky. "I have an issue with that. You are being too up front and violent..."

"I am a wolf," he hissed.

"You were MADE a wolf," Vhenan growled. "I was born one. The first thing a true predator does is understand how much they can safely hunt." She looked up with a glare. Her partner nearly snarled, then paused and held back. Slowly backing up. "I apologize if I was too harsh," Vhenan whispered. "I am clumsy at times."

"You are not as I anticipated," Fenris did admit. "It was easy to enter."

"I wished to meet you. The servants I trust knew to let you in."

Another hard glare. "Your servants." This time it was a snarl.

"I have to keep appearances..."

"For your magister lover?"

Fen'vhenan laughed. She couldn't help it. It was her old laugh, humorless and freezing, and it surprised him. "You would be surprised what both my... da'nehn and I are willing to do just to have a chance at peace."

"A ruse?"

"Ssh." Vhenan warned. He may be a slave leader, she may know from both Hawke and Sera she could trust this Fenris, but she'd still told him too much. "Now if you will excuse me, I have to go put on my pretty purple and pretend to be my best friend's blushing bride-to-be. And if that makes me a horrible person-and maybe it does- I am sorry, but I don't know how to make things right at the present moment without breaking cover completely before I figure out how to stop two wars." With that she turned and left, hoping the words at least made this newly-formed Shartan think.

As she managed back to he own corner, her own room, Vhenan had to chuckle. Here she was, the so-called Herald of Andraste, attempting to advise a self-styled neoShartan while actually hung up on images and the love of one of those most Dalish called the Creators. For as much as she hated comparisons, the story was sounding ridiculously familiar...

"Animus? Is everything alright?"

The voice outside her door brought a smile as Fen'vhenan thought of the one element she had up her own sleeve. As Dorian had already pointed out, Andraste didn't have him. The Maker's prophet, as Vhen understood the tales, relied on a weak man who desired her; Vhen... Vhen had her lethallin at her side, the one person who would NEVER betray her.

"I'm fine da'nehn," Vhen responded. Then, sighing, "I could use a little help though." The cover would give her a chance to seem closer to him as well as tell him about their semi-invited guest finally showing up. Not to mention she actually could use a little aide getting into that blasted lilac dress he had picked.

0 - &

It was easy to get lost in the crowd at the party Magister Pavus had thrown. It was a well-designed distraction. Fen'vhenan was a bit uncomfortable as part o the center of attention, but trusted Sera's agents could manage the fact finding. Besides, Dorian's well-planned but constant doting was amusing. The light in Vhen's eyes was certainly not love; it was barely contained humor, though nobody seemed to tell the difference. He simply used his knowledge of Vhen and made sure anything she could want appeared before she even noticed. It was silly, but came off sweet to the on-lookers. He was going to make some man very happy one day.

As the evening concluded, Vhen and Dorian tactfully retired to the balcony overlooking the garden. The area was closed off to guests, an as soon as the shades were closed the duo broke into laughter. "I think we managed," Dorian commented, the giggle too much as he leaned over the rail and dropped down to the dirt of the garden.

"You might be right," Vhen replied, kicking her shoes off and sitting on the rail. She looked down where Dorian had landed, now standing and reaching up. Normally she would make this leap but with this soft a skirt...

"Come on. I'll catch you."

That was ask she needed. "I'm trusting you, da'nehn," she warned, pushing off. The landing was very graceful even, Dorian finding just the right spot to grab her and pull her in before she could fall the rest of the way. On reflex her arms snaked around his neck, and he wrapped her up close.

"See. I have you."

"So you do."

It was a strange moment, feeling completely out of character for both of them. In recovery Dorian set the elf-woman down on the ground. "So. Where to?"

"Not here," she answered, a hand rising up her back to a silver buckle. "Fasta vass this is hard to get out of."

Dorian, who had already succeeded in removing his own top layer, moved to help with hers. "That's typically the point. Keeps impropriety at bay. There."

The top slid down. "You've done that before," Vhen accused, almost laughing.

"Yes well you don't know what you don't like if you don't try."

Vhen let the slight chuckle loose. "Of course lethallin." She stepped out of the rest of the dress, hiding it beneath the carpet of Andraste's Grace. Underneath it she had already been wearing a sleeveless top and a pair of the more closely-fitted pants. She could blend in well amongst the middle class for a bit, be unforgettable her on Minrathous. Dorian had taken great pains to do the same, and they would be able to slip out completely unnoticed. Everyone had either gone home or was drunk past caring. "You are certain the estate isn't far?"

"Very near, soras," Dorian assured again. "They won't even imagine us coming."

0 - *

The newscrier in the street the next morning was rushing quickly with the morning announcement.

"Ten found dead at former Danarius estate, all slaves disappeared. Information on their location or those responsible will be rewarded handsomely."

Vhen awoke not to the boy's news but to the door being opened. Halward Pavus stuck his head in, stepping back a bit at the sight that greeted him. Vhen was sleepily stretching, her hand almost but not quite hitting Dorian in the face. She glanced up sheepishly. "Ma'serannas Magister."

"No apologies necessary." He was definitely amused, but it didn't cut the seriousness of his next comment. "The Magisterium has agreed to hear you Inquisitor. Today."

"Festus bei umo canavarum!" She jumped up, tapping her partner. "Lethallin! I need your help! Now!"