Her sisters had fussed endlessly over her dress and hair earlier that night. They had plaited her hair up in intricate braids and designs. She wore a red dress made of light wispy material. It was cut quite short and showed a lot of her long legs and those ridiculously intricate Orlesian shoes. She didn't understand how Orlesian women walked at length in those contraptions. But she did feel awfully pretty in them. Leliana had come to paint her face, like the Orlesian women did. She hadn't gone overboard though, but Dragana hardly recognised herself in the looking glass. She looked like some exotic lady. It was imperative that she make a good impression at this ball and get the approval of the important nobles and hopefully gain support and reputation as she went. Her mothers chastised her for approaching this Ball with such seriousness. They told her to have fun, above all things, and enjoy her time off from fighting the impossible battle. As she stood at the steps down to the ballroom, she had to force herself to remember those words as she took shaky breaths. The doorman banged his staff on the floor to get the attention of the entire room. She held her chin up as every eye went to her.

"May I present Inquisitor Dragana Trevelyan, Herald of Andraste, Guardian of the Chasind." She dipped her head and curtsied to the entire room. Whispers erupted throughout the room as she descended the steps. She heard more than a few of them wondering at her Chasind title. Her people rarely mixed in high society. And by rarely, she meant never. Iron Bull waited at the bottom of the steps for her, true to his word.

"Quite the entrance, Kadan. I'm pretty sure half the fancy peacocks in this room are dying to get their hands all over a Chasind goddess. Don't worry. I got your perfect behind."

"Don't you mean back?"

"Do I?" She rolled her eyes, but shot him a graceful smile. She caught a glimpse of Dorian charming a bunch of women in the distance. He gave her a quick wave, then he must have said something hilarious, because she could hear a roar of raucous laughter from them. At least one of them was achieving their mission here.

"Any idea where Cullen is, by any chance?"

"Boyfriend? He's getting harassed by the Orlesians. His arse seems to be particularly favoured by the more fruity noblemen." She had to supress a laugh. The poor man was way out of his comfort zone here.

"I had better go rescue him. It's awfully unpleasant to have you bum grabbed every five seconds, and he has such an excellent one..." Iron Bull nodded and let go of her arm. He gave her a curt bow that was a mock of this Orlesian high-society behaviour, then parted ways from her. But she knew that he would be keeping an eye on her from afar. He was literally head and shoulders above the crowd.

She got waylaid every five seconds by nobles trying to engage her in idle conversation and asking her to dance. She was actually amazed at the amount of handsome men and women that begged her to come and dance with them, paying her lavish compliments all the while. Leliana's face painting skills must have truly been miraculous. She graciously made light conversation with them all and gently declined their requests to dance. She eventually managed to find her General, who was but a little way aways. She managed to get to him just before a ridiculously gorgeous noblewoman grabbed him. She put a hand on the small of his back and kissed his neck. He jerked away from her, speaking a well practiced sentence before he realised it was her.

"I must apologise, Serah, but... Maker's breath, Gana... You look... Incredible." She smiled shyly and blushed a little.

"You're not so bad yourself. You look like some sort of prince." Then it was his turn to blush, but he was still very busy appraising every inch of her, quite thoroughly. "Stop staring at me like that, we're in public." she teased. He cleared his throat then corrected himself. They were about to continue their conversation in a more safe for public way, when they both spotted Sera gliding past, clutching the hand of an Orlesian noblewoman. She stuck her fingers up at them in a rude gesture and stuck her tongue out.

"Goddess, why did I bring her to this thing?" But she couldn't help but laugh.

"You know you wanted to watch the chaos she would reign down on them all. Don't deny it." He took up her hand and kissed it very lightly.

She noticed that the music had ended. She grinned wickedly up at him, but before she managed to ask him for a dance, a nobleman had managed to push his way into their presence.

"Might I ask the favour of this dance, Lady Inquisitor?" She glanced between Cullen and the blue eyed, brown haired stranger. Cullen nodded, almost imperceptibly.

"Certainly, Prince Vael." She took the man's hand as he lead her off to dance, but she kept her eyes on Cullen for as long as possible. Sebastian Vael was all smiles, and light conversation. Very charming and personable. She was almost certain by the time that the big group dance had ended that the Inquisition would have the support of Starkhaven. He was a pleasant fellow. Dragana liked him.

"I'd be careful, were I you, Inquisitor. Half of Orlais will be begging for you hand before the night is out." She thought he was joking, but he couldn't be certain. She didn't think he was trying to be creepy, but again, she couldn't be certain.

"I'm afraid they'll find that I'm spoken for..." There was no way she would agree to marrying any of these for political reasons. The only man she would ever marry before the eyes of any god was Cullen. She didn't know why she hadn't thought of it before then, but it shocked her. She had never thought she would wed anyone, especially not since she had been captured by Templars. She gracefully excused herself from the Prince of Starkhaven, who saw her off with a smile and found her way back to her General.

"There you are! So is Sebastian Vael completely in love with you? Will I have to fight-"

"When this is over, do you want to get married? I mean, after the Inquisition. If it ever ends. I just... I dunno. It seems like a good idea." Cullen stared at her silently in shock for a long time. She started to squirm and babble when he wouldn't answer her.

"Forget I said anything. I should go find Vivienne, make sure she hadn't reduced anyone to ashes."

"No! I mean... Yes. I mean. I won't forget... I would be honoured to... To marry you." He finally cracked a smile. "Maker... You really are serious about... Us." She closed her eyes in relief and chuckled lightly.

"Yes. I love you, or had you forgotten. And you love me. Which means you're going to dance with me." He groaned and gave her puppy-dog-eyes.

"Must I?"

"I could call back that lovely Prince who told me half of Orlais wanted my hand..." He took her hand quickly and smiled.

"I yield, I yield! But only for you, my lady."