Conquering the Ambassador
Palace Woes; Part One
It took all night; Rags of darkspawn blood slowly drawing out the red lyrium. When at last those now thick scratches ceased to glow, and Cassandra confirmed there was no more of the blighted lyrium within their Inquisitor, the four gave a breath of relief. Dorian, tasked with ridding of the blighted element, took his leave.
Ayre was unconscious, as she had been for several hours. Josephine sat beside her on the floor, rubbing a circle against her back. "Poor dear… I cannot imagine the hurt." She murmured, holding back crimson locks. The scratches had begun to bleed for the first time, blood a healthy dark.
Cassandra began to dress the wound when Ayre stirred, signs of life returning for the first time in hours.
"My love?" Josephine alerted Leliana with a gesture, the three older woman surveying their Inquisitor.
Fade-touched veridian slowly opened, unfocused. Lifting her head, she was made to be still. Cassandra finished wrapping the bandage, easing back to give her room.
Lifting a hand to place atop the bandaged area, Ayre slowly sat up. Gaze flicking between the three of them, the Inquisitor lowered her hand. She seemed afraid to speak; tongue wetting her lips before she tried.
"It's gone?" Her hoarse voice seemed to surprise even herself, and she sighed in relief. "Thank the Maker…"
Josephine helped her to her feet, letting the younger woman lean against her. "I was so worried, my love…" She gushed, kissing atop crimson locks.
Ayre smiled, weakly leaning against Josephine. "Thank you, Cassandra, Leliana… I'm so tired." She couldn't hide it either, stumbling even with the extra help.
"Let's get you into bed, hm?" Leliana took her other side, the two older women easing her beneath covers. Cassandra neared her, kneeling to brush her lips against the Inquisitor's brow.
"Sleep well." The seeker brushed her cheek, taking her leave with Leliana. Josephine stayed, gently sifting through crimson locks. She could barely believe it was over.
"...Josephine?" Ayre's voice was still weak, and thankfully no longer a duality.
"What do you need, darling?" The Antivan lowered herself, thumb stroking the hollow of the younger's cheek. Ayre did seem ragged, but she would be better soon enough.
The redhead faintly shook her head, closing her eyes as she slid over to be closer. "Just you…" Before being overcome by sleep once more, the thought of that Envy demon sprang to mind. Had that just been a hallucination…?
Furrowing her brow, Ayre gave in to exhaustion. Whatever it had been, it would wait until morning.
The sun had been up for quite some time before Ayre showed the first signs of waking. She heard voices; Pleasant ones, thankfully. Clinking of glasses, smell of tea and food…?
"Oh, she's waking." Josephine's voice softly hushed the rest, and the Inquisitor felt gentle fingers along her brow. "Good afternoon, Ayre." Accented voice teasing, the redhead chuckled softly.
"Seems I overslept." Ayre was helped to sit up, but found herself not needing it. Shielding her eyes briefly from the sunlight streaming in, the Inquisitor inspected her guests.
"My, dear cousin, you could just sleep the day away?" Dorian grinned, raising his teacup to his lips. Ayre smirked, feeling the bandages at her temple.
"No more than you, I suppose." She stood without help, making sure she was fine. Stretching, she rubbed a hand along her grimy coat and frowned.
"I've seen that your other clothing was laundered." Josephine offered her a wrapped bundle with a smile. "Once you are decent, come join us?"
"Of course." Leliana and Cassandra were seated at the small table as well, trying to coerce Dorian into something, by the looks of it.
Ayre slipped into the large closet space to change, pulling on thick breeches and smoothing down a tunic. It wasn't sleeveless as preferred, but it was clean. She heard the others share a laugh, and smiled to herself. It was inspiring that even in the face of the unknown, she had those who would do anything to help.
"What's the plan for the day?" The Inquisitor teased, joining them at last. She gingerly sipped the still steaming tea, giving a low sigh to the way it warmed her up. If she wasn't mistaken, this was Josephine's favorite. It smelled deliciously of honey and was just as sweet, yet tart enough to keep the flavor sharp.
Ayre thought it rather suited the ambassador well.
"Well, we have to reserve our invitations from Halamshiral for the Winter Palace." Leliana pointed out, eyeing the Inquisitor. "Your full name will be required."
"Of course it will be." Ayre kept a smile, as if it didn't bother her. "My full name, as is, is Ayre Trevelyan Pavus Pentaghast." She rose her teacup to her cousin, then the elder woman she had come to love as a sister.
Cassandra's cheeks gained a slight flush, the seeker sputtering even as Leliana wrote. "Perfect." The spymaster flashed a grin to both of them, Dorian chuckling lowly.
"Montilyet will be coming after." Ayre teased Josephine, the Antivan forcing herself to swallow her tea.
"My, what a beautiful proposal." Leliana teased, her hood down. She looked well-rested compared to the night before; Haggard after staying up so long ensuring in their Inquisitor's well-being.
"Not a proposal just yet, but the promise of one. Makes the waiting all the more… enjoyable." Ayre took another sip from her cup, enjoying Josephine's flushed cheeks.
"You certainly are feeling better." Cassandra chuckled softly, checking the sun's position from the doors to the balcony. "We don't have much time."
"Much time? Is there another pressing matter?" Ayre glanced between the three, and only Leliana met her gaze.
"Wha-"
"It's nothing as dreadful, this time." The spymaster promised, settling a hand over Ayre's free one. "The ball is in one week's time."
"How long… was I inflicted; recovering?" Ayre seemed utterly baffled.
"One week inflicted, one recovering." Josephine admitted, the Inquisitor's lips parted in disbelief.
"But, I thought it was only last night-?" Ayre quieted, shaking her head. "I suppose that's why I feel so much better." She murmured, reaching up for the bandage at her temple.
"They may be scars, but nothing your hair cannot hide." Cassandra offered in absence of comfort for the time lost, smiling softly.
"Have we outfits for the ball?" Ayre suddenly sprang up, looking more concerned.
"The designs have been taken care of, and are being tailored as we speak." Leliana stood as well, quirking a brow.
"Oh… Any chance I can have some alterations prepared?" The younger redhead quirked a brow, seeming serious.
Eyeing her, Leliana tilted her head. "I suppose, if they were simple?"
Finding a parchment on her desk, Ayre began to write her request. "Dorian, Cassandra, and Sera will be attending as well." She added, handing off the slip to the spymaster.
Reading it, Leliana gave a bold grin. "Of course. I'll have them take note of these changes immediately." Giving a wink, the spymaster was off.
"Do I want to know?" Cassandra seemed a little irritated at having to go, now filling out her part of the invitation.
"It will be loads of fun." Dorian promised, doing the same after the seeker was done.
Josephine softly giggled, filling in her information last. "Cullen has to sign, and then Sera. After that, we will send it off." She smiled to Ayre, taking the redhead's hand when she joined the table again.
"Mm…" The Inquisitor seemed mildly distracted, but leaned in to kiss Josephine's cheek. "I will need a bath." The younger teased, chuckling as she stood.
Cassandra left the table as well, tugging Dorian when he insisted to stay. "It wouldn't do you well to see your cousin naked."
"Nor your sister." The mage teased, and the seeker gave a brief stop.
"Sister…"
"Ah, exactly how I had pictured it…" Admiring the fabric of their militia-esque uniforms, Ayre smirked. The uniforms all matched but one; The Inquisitor's own uniform dyed differently. Instead of where crimson had been, it was now a deep ebony. The gold lingered, and the blue sash had been dyed as red as her hair.
"Why such a radical change?" Josephine asked, a bit perturbed.
"A bold statement." Vivienne offered her insight, smiling at how pleased the Inquisitor was. "While you have matching uniforms, she does need to stick out."
Ayre grinned, back in her familiar state of dress. Sunkissed skin was a bit fair, but only from her being downed for so long. Rubbing a bare arm, she adjusted her coat and hummed. "I think I'll have my hair down for this as well… No doubt the Orlesian's keep theirs fair and tidy."
"Showing your wild side to the royal court, Inquisitor?" Vivienne chuckled softly, nodding once. "Very admirable."
"The Grand Duke is the one who has secured the Inquisition's invitations. No doubt you would have been invited either way, but he gains power as being the one to escort you, so to speak." Leliana approached, eyeing their uniforms. "My, I would have preferred a dress…"
Ayre chuckled lowly, crossing her arms. "With blue satin shoes, wasn't it?" She teased the spymaster, watching the light blue gaze cut to her.
"I have read the stories, you know." Ayre continued, tapping at her lips softly. "What was it…? 'Parthena with eyelashes like little butterflies'?" She stopped abruptly, with the tip of a dagger to her throat.
"Well, that's not appreciated." The Inquisitor pointed out, listening to Leliana chuckle.
"It would do well if the ramblings of my youth were not repeated." The elder redhead warned her, slipping the dagger back into her sleeve.
"But of course… Has the Hero of Ferelden responded to our offer to have her?" Ayre kept her damnable grin, but it faltered when Leliana frowned.
"Not just yet." The spymaster shook her head, hood down once more. "We cannot afford to wait longer, I'm afraid. We must make sure we are prepared, and make for Halamshiral."
"Yes… Afraid this isn't something to be put off." Ayre smiled softly, gaze returning to their uniforms. Militant in style, perhaps something she would have worn by default if given the choice. Something about them reminded her of her youth; Back when she was but a teenager.
Shaken out of her thoughts, the Inquisitor sighed and nodded. "To Halamshiral."
"Now, darling, you must be prepared." Josephine's voice over the winter wind was a kindness; Yet her slight scolds were not. "You are… a fantastic speaker, diplomacy almost comes naturally to you. But those at the Winter Palace will be of the utmost finest that Orlais has to offer."
Ayre listened to her intently, though knew she herself may go off-script, as it were. She had changed from her sleeveless coat into something more heavy, hair tied up to not let it be disturbed.
"Josephine, I will not pretend that I know just how to play the Game-" Cut off as she hid her face from the wind minutely, Ayre grumbled. "But, I can charm my way into seeming like I do."
"That is true." Leliana rode to meet their side; The spymaster on a sturdy horse. Josephine had deigned to ride behind their Inquisitor, hands braced atop strong shoulders. The Antivan had said it was for the advice, and yet…
"Ayre is very charming; She has a way with words that seems as though she is older than she truly is. That will be to her advantage." Leliana continued, eyes scouting ahead for any trouble. They were another few hours away, and had been traveling for days.
"Why, thank you." The Inquisitor tipped her wide-brimmed hat, a smirk playing on her lips. "Perhaps I might even persuade Empress Celene to dance with me?"
"That may be giving you too much credit." Leliana warned, smirking herself. "Though it isn't uncommon for women to be seen dancing together in Orlais. If a woman does ask you to dance, do not seem shocked."
"I would have actually thought that… looked down upon?" Ayre quirked a brow, feeling Josephine's hands around her waist instead. "Ostwick doesn't exactly have high hopes for such things."
"That is no doubt why Orlais thinks the Free Marches so… quaint."
"Even with our noble blood as old as theirs, even older." Ayre huffed softly, turning from the wind again. "The Trevelyan's are such an old family… Well, were. Unless some of my cousins survived."
"Miss me?" Dorian rode up on Ayre's free side, the redhead grinning to him. "I daresay I can't remember the last time I rode something quite so endurable. Oh wait, before we left."
"Please don't tell me anymore about that." The Inquisitor snickered softly, shaking her head. Dorian have a playful smirk, winking her way.
"Cassandra, are you alright? Cullen?" Ayre called over the wind, receiving a grunt and another call back.
"Fine, Inquisitor." Cullen had to shout back, giving a disgruntled noise as the wind picked up a chillier edge. "I don't suppose we're close?"
"We are, but we must stop once in town to change. Then, it's just a brisk walk to the palace." Leliana advised, seeming almost nostalgic.
"You've visited before?" Ayre asked, giving a faint look of surprise. "Have you met Celene before?"
"Not personally, but I've seen her at parties I've attended in Orlais." Leliana tilted her head, a hum escaping her. "She is rather well-loved."
"No doubt why Corypheus now aims his gaze to her." Ayre narrowed her eyes, a flurry of snow dancing around them. "How close are we to town?"
"Just a few more hours, I'm sure." Josephine squeezed her waist, the redhead grinning softly under her scarf.
"I wonder if Varric is pleased that I didn't invite him, or regrets it. I'm sure he would love to have this section in his book." The Inquisitor chuckled, but Leliana laughed outright.
"You forget, Inquisitor, Varric has quite the reach when it comes to such tales. No doubt he'll have someone there to watch your every dramatic move."
"I am not dramatic." Ayre made a point of tossing her tied hair, Josephine erupting into giggles.
"No, no, of course not… All teasing aside, I have made sure to sample his work of you. It is rather… fitting." Leliana met more at Ayre's side, the dracolisk beneath the Inquisitor hissing in distaste. "I still think you should have brought a horse."
"I wanted to seem threatening." The younger redhead shrugged her shoulders, hearing Cassandra chuckle behind them.
"Your very presence here tonight will be threatening." The seeker called over the wind, the first lights of lanterns able to be seen. "But, don't expect me to dance."
"Now I will have to save one for you." Ayre smirked, Sera snickering at her back. "You've been rather quiet." The Inquisitor pointed out, the elf shrugging.
"Colder than a witch's tit, why open my mouth here?" Sera huffed, gaining Dorian's laughter as well.
"We'll be upon them, soon." Ayre promised, a touch of something devious in a fade-veridian gaze. "Though, I daresay Thedas will not be the same when we leave." The tone of her voice had dipped down slightly, enough to gain Leliana's full attention. The Inquisitor chuckled, masking it easily.
"Let's go make history, shall we?"
AN: I am utterly so very sorry for the wait! Work and the impending holidays have zapped me, but have no fear! CtA will continue until it is finished, and I even plan for a little more of a different flavor. Halamshiral and its beautiful Winter Palace are the Inquisition's next conquest, how will they fare and exactly who is running the show? Find out next chapter, and please review!