Chapter Eleven:

All My Love Boss

A Few Days Later…

Sitting on her bed, her fingers reached out and grasped the package, ripping away the paper covering. Inside, rested the newly designed gown she was going to wear at the Winter Palace. It was a simple, black ball gown with no sleeves and the corset, black and brown, that gave off the appearance of dragon scales. Truly, it was one of her finest designs if she was anything if not biased.

Artemis grasped the soft material and stood up, heading towards the mirror. She pressed it up against her, admiring it and planning her hairstyle. The elf had ensured a mask that matched her dress was to be made as well, considering no one in Val Royeaux had seen her face as Lady Hera.

At the sound of someone climbing the ladder to the second floor, she turned and smiled in greeting. Solas was carrying the formal attire the rest of the Inner Circle was wearing except for her.

She had been invited by the empress after she commissioned a dress made specifically for her. It was a done deal in Artemis's opinion and according to the thank you letter she had received a few days ago, Empress Celene was happy with it.

"What do you think?" Artemis asked, showing him her dress and he studied it carefully, a hand to his chin.

"It's beautiful and does you no credit, vhenan," he responded, placing his own attire onto the bed and stalked towards her, desire in his eyes. "But I would prefer you without the dress."

Artemis smirked, placing it on a nearby chair just as he pounced and locked his lips into hers. He gripped her hips, moving his hands down to her backside before cupping them.

"What's gotten you in such a mood?" she murmured, in between kisses as she wrapped her legs around his waist and he supported her. He kissed her once more before pulling back and studying her.

"I am simply enjoying the last peaceful moments before we journey to Halamshiral," Solas responded, kissing her neck and earning a moan from the blonde elf. He pressed her against the wall, removing the thin straps from her nightgown she still wore, exposing her breasts.

His mouth descended onto them, kissing, twirling his tongue around them and lightly biting on them every now and then. Moans kept coming from Artemis and still holding her, Solas unsheathed himself before gathering the bottom on her nightgown and pulling it up. Slowly, he pushed himself into her heated core, inch by inch.

"Solas," Artemis groaned, throwing her head back as he began thrusting in at a steady rhythm. The male elf in question seemed to release whatever stress or tension he carried onto her and she made no objections.

His fingers dug into her sides roughly, no doubt going to leave several bruises but with the pleasure he brought her, Artemis did not care. Soon, he shoved himself in one last time before emptying within her.

Artemis followed, with her toes curling in pleasure and she closed her eyes. Solas buried his face in her neck, both panting hard with him still inside her.

Atisha came across the couple as she was returning to the temple from the market. A man and a woman, hidden in a small alleyway in the midst of passionate sex from what she assumed with the amount of moaning they both made.

Averting her gaze, she quickly continued her trip to the temple when she heard her name being called from behind. Turning, she found an elven man with dark brown dread locks heading towards her, a wolfish smile on his face.

"Fen'Harel, what are you doing here among the people?" Atisha questioned, glancing around to check to see if anyone saw him. It seemed no one even noticed their presence which puzzled her.

"Be still, falon. I have ensured no one would bother us. I came to simply speak with you," he reassured her and Atisha raised a brow.

"I told you before; I am sworn to my lady, Mythal. I cannot become your priestess," Atisha reminded him firmly and he smirked. Her heart fluttered at the sight and she glanced away.

"Ellana?" Solas called and she blinked rapidly, finding Solas's face in front of hers with a look of concern. No longer did she see the long, dark brown dread locks on his head but its usual baldness. "What did you see?"

She swallowed. "How'd you know if I saw something?" she asked quietly, sitting up and running a hand through her blonde locks.

"Because I know you and recognise the blank stare. What was it?"

"Just…more Mythal visions," Artemis lied tiredly, glancing at her hands which were clenched tightly. "They no longer haunt my dreams…only when I'm awake it seems."

"And getting stronger," he cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to gaze into his eyes. They were often filled with a sadness she could never quite heal and it troubled her greatly. As if she knew the answer but it was locked away from her. "Ma vhenan, you will tell me if they start to hurt."

She wanted to say yes, to promise him that but for some reason…she couldn't. Instead, she just nodded and he kissed her forehead, pulling her into his arms and laying her head against his chest. His heartbeat was a steady rhythm and soothed her slightly, allowing her to close her eyes and listen to the constant sound.

oOo

At Halamshiral…

It hadn't even been five minutes before nobles crowded around, complimenting her newest design and requests for commissions after learning she had designed the empress's one as well.

"Are these real dragon scales? They are simply divine!" a woman declared and Artemis smiled politely.

"They are not, I'm afraid. I simply used the inspiration of dragon scales and found the right material to give the same effect," Artemis explained, her eye catching Solas's as he leaned against a pillar, watching. "If you'll excuse me."

"Ah yes, many more will wish for your time. I will discuss details with you later," the woman waved it off, heading back to the ballroom. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes before ambling towards Solas who smirked in amusement.

"I do adore the heady blend of power, intrigue, danger and sex that permeates these events," Solas commented as she stood next to him, watching elven servants handing out drinks.

"At least one of us is enjoying this," Artemis responded dryly, already exhausted and turned to him. "Did you want to dance?"

He raised a brow. "Dancing with an elven apostate would win you few favours with the court, Lady Hera."

Right, she was currently Lady Hera and not Artemis.

Seeing her lips pursed into a thin line, he subtlety placed a hand on her back. "Perhaps once our business here is done, vhenan," he whispered quietly in her ear.

"You seem more comfortable with a grand Orlesian ball than I assumed."

"I have seen such countless displays in my journeys in the Fade," he answered, withdrawing his hand as they both observed those around them. "The powerful have always been the same. Only the costumes change."

An elven servant walked over and offered them both a drink. As Artemis reached over and grabbed hers, the elf passed something to her before walking away.

"That must have been one of the newer recruits," she quietly murmured to him, opening the note and quickly scanning its contents. Once done, she ripped it into tiny pieces and stuffed them into her binding. "Apparently something has happened in the servants' quarters and many of Briala's people are missing."

"I wonder how masked men live their entire lives without ever seeing that servants have an entire society of their own?" Solas mused the thought and she realised something.

"No one has given you a hard time, have they?" she asked worriedly and he shot her a reassuring smile.

"The Orlesians do not know what to make of me. I have kept to myself, for fear of giving them some purchase to cling to," he informed her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "The food and drink are excellent, however, and the servants have been happy to refill my glass."

She nodded and spotted Ana heading towards them, greeting nobles along the way. After the assassin had been apprehended, Leliana and Dorian would kidnap her and bring the Inquisitor to a room to change.

That reminds me….she thought as Ana smiled at them.

"Have you two found anything?" Ana asked them quietly, her emerald eyes switching between the two.

"Something is going on in the servants' quarters that have gotten the rest of Briala's people riled up. Some have even gone missing. It's worth checking out," Artemis stated before excusing herself and heading back to the ballroom. Her eyes searched and eventually found Empress Celene's three handmaidens and she approached them.

"Lady Hera! The empress's gown is exquisite!" Lady Couteau complimented her and Artemis simply smiled.

"Thank you. I am pleased that the empress enjoyed it as well. May I speak with Her Imperial Majesty?" she asked and they nodded, showing her to a small room.

As she waited, Artemis glanced out the window and found herself no longer seeing the royal garden, but of a magnificent view overlooking a city.

She sighed quietly to herself, hearing the music and laughter coming from inside the palace. It made her wonder why she was here in the first place. Mythal had insisted that she attended the banquet thrown in her honour but disappeared just as quick.

Then she had been swarmed by many others, all of them requesting that she told them their fortunes.

"I see you escaped, ma vhenan," Fen'Harel wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, pressing her back against his chest. "I hope none mistreated you."

"No more than the usual enquires into their futures and lusting looks," Atisha answered quietly, her shoulders slumped slightly. "I should never have come."

Footsteps broke her out of her vision and she blinked, turning and finding the empress walking towards her with a large smile.

"Your Imperial Majesty," Artemis curtseyed immediately before standing up straight with a smile of her own. "I am glad to see the dress fits as well as I had hoped."

"We must thank you again for creating such a marvellous design. It is our hope that we do it justice," Celene responded and Artemis waved it off.

"The dress was designed with only you in mind. But if I may call upon that favour?" she asked and discussed her plan about the Inquisitor. The empress had already known about the assassin as Artemis had disclosed it privately without anyone knowing. It was how she was able to sneak her people amongst the servants.

"I will be more than happy to assist you. And if your Inquisition does what it came for, I will see the dress for myself," Celene said as together, they walked out of the small room and re-joined the ball.

oOo

She stood on the balcony, analysing her thoughts and visions from tonight. Having received another one earlier, Artemis decided to get to the bottom of this once and for all. The vision had proved to provide a lead for her to investigate and she would when they returned to Skyhold.

"I'm not surprised to find you out here," a warm hand caressed her back and she glanced towards him.

"You always could read me like a book," she responded dryly, gazing out at the sky. Finding some peace in the star shining above them, taking a moment to catch her thoughts.

"There a rewards to your book," Solas replied with a light chuckle. They both glanced over their shoulders when laughter and applause came from inside the ballroom. "Come, before the band stops playing, dance with me."

She watched and turned as he held out a hand to her, bowing at the waist slightly. It made her forget her troubled thoughts as she smiled; taking his hand and he pulled her close.

"I would never have picked you as someone who enjoys dancing," Artemis commented, following his lead as they danced slowly to the music echoing from the ballroom.

"It depends on the partner for one to enjoy it," he responded and placed his lips against her ear. "As soon as we are alone, I am disposing this dress and taking you."

Her eyes widened as he pulled back and smirked, lust swirling in his gaze. The idea made her knees weak and heat pooling between her thighs. A wolfish grin crossed his face as he watched her reaction.

Songs: All My Love by Ariana Grande and BO$$ by Fifth Harmony