After meeting Flemeth/Mythal at the altar Morrigan is grateful that I didn't allow her drink at the well. To be bound forever to obey your mother would have been a bit too ironic. The well was right. Corypheus didn't wait but came at us before everyone returned from the Arbor Wilds it was hard fought and but we won. I enter Skyhold happy that Corypheus is gone but saddened as Solas left without a word of goodbye. Gaspard looks concerned but proud upon seeing me as I walk through the courtyard. He steps forward and gives me a hug as he asks if I'm alright. After a quick ceremony outside I ushered upstairs by Dorian and Josephine.
"You need to bathe and get changed we are having a celebration," she instructs.
"Josephine, I can get Ally ready you have enough to do," Dorian chides gently.
"Just make sure she has no wounds showing the people must see her at her best." She says reluctantly leaving.
"Are you hurt?" Dorian asks concerned.
"No, Solas healed me up as I'm a bit drained. I opened up a rift inside Corypheus' body it ate him from the inside out so he can never possess a body again." I sigh, "It was the last thing he did before he left."
"I'm sorry Solas left; he was good person if a bit strange and secretive. But I'm happy to know Corypheus is really gone and the world is safe." Dorian says thoughtfully.
"I've prepared a bath for you, go get cleaned up," he says looking at my blood matted hair.
I walk behind the screen and strip off my bloodied armor and clothing. As I sink into the bath, Dorian says "I had a chat with Gaspard. You are right about his forward thinking of mages and elves. He says you still need to help him decide on a new elven ambassador."
"I told you he wasn't so bad." I tease.
"I also told him, I would fry him to ash if he ever hurt you. He seemed to take my threat seriously. By the way there is small lyrium draught on the table you should take it. As this will probably be a long evening." He adds.
I take the draught and wash my hair before getting out of the water. I notice my favorite body oil has been replaced. "Dorian did you change my body oil?"
"Just smell it, you might like it." He says knowingly.
I open the bottle and smell it cautiously, "Wilds flower and Arbor's Blessing? But wilds flower is so rare!" I say breathlessly.
"You can thank Gaspard for it later; I just gave him the idea." Dorian says with a chuckle.
"You two got along well then I take it," I tease.
"Better than I thought, Bull kept telling me I was being an ass about him and that I needed to get to know him." Dorian says dryly. "I should learn to listen to the former Ben Hassrath when it comes to these things."
"How are you and Bull?" I ask curiously as I quickly work the oil into my skin.
"I was wondering if you were ever going to ask. I told him everything that happened. He said wanted to give me the space I needed to work things out. We are keeping it casual for now but that could always change." Dorian replies.
"Bull is a patient and understanding person, make sure you treat him well." I admonish lightly grabbing the long tunic hanging on the screen.
"I intend to, now get out here I have something for you." He teases.
"Something else…what did I do to deserve this?" I ask with surprise as he leads me to the outfit he has laid out on the bed.
"Aside from saving the world, you helped your best friend become a better person…I just wanted to thank you." Dorian says seriously.
"You are my best friend Dorian, when I left the Clan I had no friends and you were my only friend there for me when no else could be…I will always treasure our friendship." I say giving him a hug.
"Sit and let me do your hair. Maker, it has gotten long since I started doing it…oh I know exactly what style you will need." He says quickly getting to work. He does my hair as I apply my make-up. He fusses over the make-up for a moment or two before grabbing my hands. My nails are a bit torn from battle. "This will not do at all." he says reaching for the file and varnish. I let my friend bustle over me a bit as he shapes and varnishes my nails. Once he is happy with my appearance, he ushers me back behind the dressing screen for me to dress.
The dress fits perfectly similar to what I wore at the Winter palace but the puffy pauldrons sleeve have been replaced with a tight sleeve that seems to be cut so that my shoulders peek through and the lacing on the sleeves gone but the lacing where the corset would be remains. The dress is in ring velvet and is a brighter grassy green rather than emerald and the waist and boots are in a chocolate brown. The boots only come to my mid-calf and are made of thin leather. Dorian drags me over to the mirror and I feel as if I look like a fairy. I'm just missing wings. The green matches my eyes exactly.
"Dorian this is beautiful," I breathe.
"The outside matches the inside," He says proudly. I stare moment longer. "Shall we?" He asks offering his arm.
"But of course, I can't walk into the main hall without an escort can I?" I tease taking his proffered arm.
"No, that wouldn't be appropriate," He quips.
As we step into the main hall and Josephine announces us. Everyone stops and stares, before coming over to greet me. I notice Gaspard has melted into the background. It seems everyone wishes to speak with me and I try to fill those requests. After mingling for some time I speak to my friends and they seem to enjoying the celebration. Dorian even tells me about servant who insisted on thanking him by dropping her laundry and hugging him. I look around one last time so I can speak to Gaspard but he is nowhere to be seen. I am tired so I head toward my quarters to allow the partiers to enjoy what is left of the evening. As I grab the handle on the door I hear a voice, "tsk, tsk, tsk, is the Inquisitor leaving her own party so early?" Gaspard walks over to me smiling.
"I just needed a moment of quiet but you are welcome to join me, your grace. I have wanted to speak with you anyway." I say giving him a smile.
"Sneaking out with Emperor alone? What would people say?" He teases good-naturedly as he opens the door. Before I walk through, I feel rather than see Dorian's rejuvenation spell hit my tired body. I look over at him as he gives me a cheeky grin.
We walk to steps and hallway to my quarters quietly. I notice a letter on my desk. Grabbing the letter, I step out on the balcony for some air as Gaspard opens the wine he has brought with him. He joins me offering me a glass that I sip and set on the table as I scan the letter.
"What is it? He asks curiously standing behind me.
"A letter from Morrigan, it seems she is so grateful I drank from the well she is leaving her Eluvian here for my use." I explain excitedly folding the letter, "A remarkably generous offer."
He looks at me curiously.
"This means we can take the other to the palace," I say unable to keep from smiling.
"Surely there other places that are more in need," Gaspard says.
"None, where I would need it more," I reply kissing his cheek. "I wanted to thank you for the lovely gift."
He reaches over pulling me into a tight embrace. "I was so worried about you, you left before I returned." He says his voice throaty but a bit muffled by my hair. "Then when you did return you were coated with blood but alive, I was grateful." He steps back away from to look at me in starlight taking a ragged breath "and now you look amazingly beautiful like you couldn't be real."
"I am real, Gaspard." I stand on tiptoe splaying my hands on his chest for leverage and gently kiss him, trying to get the point across. He wraps his arms around me kissing me thoroughly before pulling away.
"Yes, and this is why I want to make sure I do this right." He says firmly. "I know that your clan is gone but the Inquisition has become your clan, no?"
I nod at him curiously.
"While you were gone I have been talking with your friends, your clan, and they have accepted me," he says a bit nervously. "I was wondering if you would accept me too." He takes my hand and drops something in it. I look and it's a necklace with the Orlesian lion but it has a collar with the inquisition symbol on it instead of the usual Rose of Orlais. "I know the Dalish don't use rings for marriage like humans do so I thought this would be appropriate as I wanted to follow your tradition."
"Gaspard, it's beautiful." I am stunned by his thoughtfulness. He looks at me and I realize I hadn't really answered the question. The voices of the well are telling at me to do this as is my heart. "Yes, of course. Put it on me." I hand it back to him and hold my hair out of the way so he can clasp it.
"You know I didn't need anything being with you was enough to prove you are bonded to me." I say smiling at him.
"Well, I know we did it…backwards," he says thoughtfully, "but I wanted to make an honest woman of you and this was the only way I knew to do that."
He gets a roguish look, "Well you've had a party with the clan, our union is approved accordingly, and we left the party early…sooo"
I chuckle at him as I blush clearly seeing his thoughts. I reach up and give him a passionate kiss. Walking back into the room, I turn to see him where I left him on the balcony. "Ma vhenan, are you going help me out of this dress?" I tease lightly.
"Maker yes!" he answers huskily walking quickly back into the room, as I lock the door.
Fin!
