First up a huge thanks to LiberLibelula for giving me permission to use their awesome designs. Designs
the "Campaign" is cassandra's while the "Trials" one is adaar's!
The "Everyday" is Simra's while the "Date" is the one for josie!
The first part of a few for the winter palace, leave a comment on your thoughts about this work.
Ch.25 The Winter Palace
(One week before the Inquisition Arrives)
The winter court stood milling around enjoying the pleasant music drifting across the ball room, everyone was keeping a half eye on the empress all as part of the game. More than a few whispers were concerning the witch standing back and to the left of the empress as both guard and arcane advisor, many in the court despised the woman who had swept in and stolen so much power. The glares were even sharper today as they had heard that Morrigan had to the empress that a great guest would be arriving on feathered wings, this along with the slight smirk she was wearing annoyed the court as they had no idea who the witch was bring and how they would arrive on wings. Maybe a trained eagle guessed one lady, non-it is a knight on a griffon whispered an old lord, a stooge wearing winged slippers said a scornful lord.
"Will this guest be arriving soon lady Morrigan?" Celene asked in a excited whisper, she had been eagerly awaiting this guest since she had seen the secret look in her mage's eyes.
"They should be here very shortly your majesty they promised that they would arrive within the hour of the noon day meal being finished, and they have never been late in arriving before." Lady Morrigan replied and that made the empress even more excited, perhaps it could be one of the heroes from the blight!
Just as she was starting to settle again there was a thunderous crash as the ballroom door were thrown open by magic, before the sound could even fade a second sound shattered the stunned silence as a massive snow white owl screeched as it passed through the doors. The great bird flew high and circled the room once before suddenly plunging for the dais, Guards quick to react fired on the great bird but the bolts simply caught fire and turned to ashes before they ever reached the great owl. Right before it would have crashed into the dais it spread its wings wide stopping its forward movement, Celene watched as it slowly settled before lady Morrigan with a regal grace. There was silence as the great owl seemed to bow before the witch who bowed in return.
"I am glad to see you safely returned to myside my lord." Morrigan said with a gentle tone that Celene had only heard when the woman spoke of her son and husband.
With a flash of golden light the owl was replaced with an elf on one knee bow to the woman before him. "No force in all of thedas could keep me from your side Ma Vhenan a moment longer than needed." The elf said and it was at that point Celene figured out who this elf was.
"We bid you welcome lord Mahariel, we are glad to see that you have returned safely from your journeys." Celene said smoothly, Taeris stood and took the few steps needed to place him in front of the empress and swept into a flawless bow.
"Please excuse me for not greeting you first your imperial grace I simply could not wait another heartbeat to greet my lady wife." Taeris said with a winning smile and a gleam in his eye told Celene that the up coming ball would be very interesting.
(Night of the winter ball.)
Cassandra groaned as the carriage neared the palace, she glanced down at her dress thankful once again that Josephine had talk the qunari and Simra out of more risqué outfits. Her outfit made of a smooth velvet in a burgundy color with black metal shin guards the outfit was tailored to look fit for a ball as much as on the battle field, her soulmates was less so fit for battle but for catching the eye at the ball it as perfect. The chest had a plunging v line with only thin red leather strings hold it up, Cassandra had asked how it stayed up given how loose the strings look and was told it was a spell woven into the dress.
"We have arrived your worship." The carriage driver said as he opened the door to let the four women out.
"Ah Herald are you ready to shock the court?" The grand duke asked as he walked up to the group.
{Let us give them a show.} Asaaranda stated and Cassandra translated for the duke, the group moved forward towards the gates of the palace.
Bethany climbed out of the second carriage walking next to Leliana Selva who were happily holding hands, Bethany walked next to her sister and Bela trying not to feel jealous at the massive number of soul-mated pairs around them. It felt petty to be jealous that they had all found love while she was still a virgin whose soul mark worried her greatly, one of the few things that the wardens had taught her in regards to language was how to read the script on her crouch that circled her lower lips.
A strange light caught her eye and she whipped around to see a woman looking down at the group with a thin layer of veil playing around her hand, the woman looked down at her and their eyes met for a second and Bethany felt a shiver run down her spine as the fire changed colors. That spell was an old elven spell Simra had been showing her at night in camp on the journey up to the palace. how did a strange woman know lost elven magic? Before she could think on it further she was dragged off by Bela.
Calpernia looked down at the group as the female mage was dragged off by the raider, Calpernia had seen the flare of recognition when she changed colors and felt a smile tug at her lips. 'So, you found another sister to teach my sister?' She thought looking at the back of the elven woman skipping beside the ambassador. She smiled slightly seeing the once tormented sister she knew so happy and full of life.
"My lady, one our spies have vanished." A spy reported from behind her, Calpernia sighed before turning and walking in and towards the ballroom.
"Which one?" She asked hoping that it was not the one she thought it might be.
"The one carrying the key and poison my lady." Calpernia remain calm on the outside but as cursing inside as someone had been killing every spy she tried to move through the palace.
"Pull back and be ready to use the arrival of the herald to allow our spies to move!" She ordered as she began moving faster towards the ballroom as she could not be away long.
"At once my lady!" The spy barked before melting into the shadows.