It was the afternoon by the time everyone had returned and taken several hours to catch up on much-needed sleep. Parker had settled herself out in the gardens, a quiet place filled with people too fearful to approach her. I could see why she enjoyed coming here to read. Though from the looks of the documents in her hands, it was not for any sort of enjoyment.

"You do not seem scary," the boy from the palace cooed, distracting the Inquisitor as her attention snapped up to him. But she did not seem bothered, for even that surprised as a smile pulled at her cheeks and she carefully set the papers onto an empty space on the bench.

"And why would I be?" She questioned, her voice surprisingly respectful despite speaking to a child.

"Mother said you were scary. But you just seem…sad," Parker's smile fell as I took that opportunity to step forward, my hand gently combing the boy's soft brown hair back.

"Kieran, are you bothering the Inquisitor?" Parker stood quickly, mouth open to answer for him.

"Of course not, mother. Have you seen what's on her hand?" I smirked, habit making my fingers float through his hair again as his head tilted up. Large green eyes met mine, a similar sparkle of magic resting in the color like it did in my amber gaze. But in truth, I was staring upon the mirror image of his father. He would be strong like him, I had no doubts.

"I did," I responded, hand finally falling to his shoulder. "But I do believe tis time for you to return to your studies, little man." An expected moan echoed from Kieran but he obeyed after I rested a soft kiss on the top of his head. Parker simply observed the entire display, a privilege I believe she deserved considering what I had done during my own time.

"I was not aware you had a son," she commented, simply surprised as I chuckled.

"Nor should you. Few in Val Royeaux new his relation to me. Many believed him to simply be a noble's well-mannered son. He is a curious boy, for certain, but harmless. At least for now." My comments were made to the side, as if to remind myself of the future Kieran had laid out before him.

"Will his father be joining us?" Twas not an unreasonable question but I still found myself laughing and shaking my head.

"No, he will not. His father raised Kieran for some time, but events forced us to part. His appearance would either mean the world is in far more danger than I anticipated…or that he was victorious." I could see Parker begging to question my unspecific answers but she held steady. Again, her own past had given her the gift of understanding boundaries, a restraint that I rewarded with a more substantial response. "You might know him as the Hero of Ferelden. A lofty title, though he wears it well." Her brow cocked, a withdrawn action of intrigue and surprise.

"The stories of him mentioned an apostate lover," Parker remarked, only to laugh, "Though I know all too well the dangers of stories. Does this mean you know Leliana?" My lips pursed at the name, huffing and crossing my arms over my chest.

"Yes…I do. Though probably not on the terms she would like, and I refuse to speak at all about any more red velvet." Parker's face furrowed and I waved off the remark. "The Fifth Blight began in the Korcari Wilds, my home at the time. I was dragged into my Warden's quest. I had intended to use it as nothing more than a way to see the world."

"And I am assuming you found more than you were expecting?"

"Evidently. I never expected to find someone that I see as an equal," I glanced over my shoulder, watching Kieran read and take notes from a large text. A soft smile, a proud smile, pulled on my features as I turned my attention back to Parker. "He is a good partner, and a good father. Once Corypheus has been defeated and the Breach sealed I have every intention of joining him again. Kieran misses him dearly." Parker's face fell into a disgusting look of "awe" as if staring at an infant mutt. My threshold for such talk had officially been reached. "And now I pray we discuss something else, lest these honeyed words make me vomit."

We continued to discuss our future plans, the majority of them involving me diving into the expansive libraries in Skyhold as well as my own collection. Parker spoke to me about the orb and I was quick to identify it as being elven, which made me even more curious as to how Corypheus was able to get his hands on it. Not to mention, how an elf such as Solas that prided himself on his adventures through the Fade, was unaware of such a device. But until Parker was able to deal with the situation with the Grey Wardens there was not much else we had as a lead. Corypheus had disappeared after Haven and so far he had not emerged. His interest in elven artifacts, though, had me wrestling with a curious hypothesis.

As exciting as Parker's life seemed to be, though, I discovered there was also quite a bit of waiting involved. Her advisors were not simply there to offer their opinions on different matters. They worked heavily on gaining Intel, soldiers, and allies while Parker went out to take care of the dirty work. But on one day, the last thing Parker seemed interested in was work.

"Careful," Sera hissed, holding the legs of the chair still as Parker balanced dangerously on the back. She reached high to the tip of the door, gracefully balancing a half full bucket of water on small ledge they had created by slightly opening the door. Josephine would surely kill her, or at least grumble spitefully.

"Okay, I got it," Parker whispered, slowly easing herself back down onto the floor as the two returned the chair to its place and then headed towards the war room. Giggling like little children, they hugged the door, opening it just enough to see the trap they had set.

In Parker's down time she was constant in keeping up with her comrades. Some times – such as with Vivienne – it was just a conversation, but for her more active friends, like Sera, it was all about causing as much mischief as possible. A roll the naturally sarcastic half-elf easily fell into.

Hissing whispers for silence at one another, the sound of an approaching Josephine echoed from the Great Hall. Holding their breaths they watched as they door was pushed slightly open, the bucket beginning to tilt, and then it paused. Josephine continued her conversation for a moment in the small alcove before continuing forward. Time seemed to slow for the two mischievous girls as the bucket tipped, perfectly rotating to pour water on the top of Josephine's head before clattering to the floor. Josephine screeched – considering the water was not the warmest – as Leliana tried her best not to snicker.

"Sera!" She shouted, water dripping from the end of her nose and soaking into her expensive clothing. Leliana offered the woman her handkerchief before shifting around her and approaching the far door, raising a brow right in Parker's direction. Sera and Parker looked at one another.

"Should we make a run for it?" The elf whispered as Parker looked back towards Josephine who was frantically dabbing at her face and clothes. There was no running from this, especially if Leliana had seen her.

Carefully the two women exposed themselves, gaining Josephine's disgruntled attention. "Parker, do not tell me this was your idea." Parker gave an uneasy smile as Sera immediately made a run for the door, sliding out just before Josephine had the chance to catch the weasel. It would not matter for she still had Parker.

"I shall leave you two to it then," Leliana puffed, passing Parker and giving her a wink before continuing to the war room. Parker continued to stand there, looking like any child ready to be scolded.

"Do you think this is funny?" Josephine spat, now dabbing the soaked cloth against her hair, a small shiver starting to settle in.

"What happens if I say yes?" Parker did her best to hide a snicker as a frown deepened on Josephine's features, making Parker's snicker shift into an uncomfortable cough. "Shall we go get you a larger towel," she offered, stepping close and anxiously leading Josephine from her office and up to Parker's quarters. The moment the door to the Great Hall closed Josephine began to snap wildly at Parker, the ever so often word filled with a chilled stutter.

"Do you not understand the image that you must exude to the rest of the world? What if that had not been Leliana? What if it had been a noble looking for a reason to aid the Inquisition?" Parker bowed her head, handing off a thick and warm towel to Josephine. She wiped at herself again, Antivan curses sliding into her words as she turned her back to Parker, gesturing to the buckles and ties on her clothes. "Also, Parker, this is silk and leather. Neither of which should get wet." Parker helped her remove the expensive clothing, leaving Josephine in her small clothes as she plopped herself onto the couch in front of the fire. Tightly Josephine wrapped the towel around her shoulders, Parker stepping behind her and gently pulled at the clips in her hair. Wet waves fell from the bun, cascading down the back of the chair. Parker was remaining oddly quiet during all of this. "And did you have to use such frigid water?" She described the temperature with a small shiver.

There was a pause, Josephine glancing up at Parker in preparation for an answer. It was then Parker simply chuckled, leaning down to press a kiss to the top of her head. Confusion joined her look of annoyance.

"It was just a small trick, my lady, nothing more. I have been sitting around and waiting for the reports from Redcliffe to come back. Sera came to me offering a break. At least it was simply water, Sera wanted to use mud." Josephine turned her face back towards the fire, gripping the towel tighter as Parker gave a frustrated huff. Slowly she rounded the sofa, settling down next to Josephine as the woman looked away. "Hey," she reached for her chin, forcing it to turn back towards the half-elf. "I am sorry that we did that. But while I expected some sort of outburst from you this…seems like there is more to it." Josephine looked down, rolling her lips together as if to hold back the words building in her chest.

Their adventures were reaching a point of climax. I had been fortunate with My Warden that our climax ended with the triumphant defeat of the Archdemon. But it was clear things would not be so simple (so to speak) for Parker and Josephine. Every day they were dealing with greater and greater challenges. The strain of such events was evident on both of their faces.

"Tis nothing…" Josephine finally puffed, "I just keep thinking about what you and Hawke have discovered about the Grey Wardens. They are almost never involved unless things have truly gone wrong."

"Well, there is a massive hole in the sky and a possible Archdemon flying about. I would consider that as things going wrong," Parker remarked, winning a small smile from Josephine.

"I know, but it still makes me nervous. And…" she paused, adjusting her towel again as Parker took the opportunity to slide her hands around Josephine's shoulders. The ambassador casually nuzzled into the Fereldan woman's chest, eyes firmly resting on the crackling fire. "With everything occurring, my parents have started to worry and so they have begun to…search for a suitor."

"What? Why? Do they not know we are courting one another?" There was a pause, long enough for a frown to develop on Parker's face. "They do know of us, yes?" Again, Josephine paused, finally giving a long exhale.

"I have been busy and…and I have not found reason to tell them. I wanted to wait till all of this was over in case…in case," she stopped, head turning down as Parker discovered Josephine's worries. Josephine's explanation seemed somewhat understandable, though still slightly upsetting considering her proud display back at the Winter Palace. Parker was amazed to discover that the only people in Thedas that did not seem to know were Josephine's own parents. Even Parker's father knew. But one comes to curious conclusions when their heart rests so closely to another's. The fear of losing them can be…paralyzing. And Josephine's partial confession left them in silence, the two simply resting close to one another as they waited for time to dry Josephine's clothes.