Briala circles them, eyes trained on Adaar as she makes sure to keep a safe distance away. Her analytical eyes notice every small nick and groove on the qunari's horns, all the indents of the scars on her face and the ever growing tension in her muscles.

"Good posture." The ambassador begins, observing the mage not unlike how a savvy art critic reviews a newly made sculpture. "There's some wear and tear, but you're not broken." She stops abruptly, as if reconsidering her words. Then she nods and begins walking again. "No. You were, but not anymore."

Adaar stiffens.

"Intelligent. Charismatic. Humorous, yet you take charge in negotiations. Compassionate, but by no means incompetent or foolish." Briala's footsteps echo in the empty room, the only sound they can hear. She stops and points her eyes straight into the qunari's, searching and evaluating. "And you are extremely dangerous, not only on the battlefield, but also on the Inquisition's throne. That is what I hear from every corner of Ferelden and Orlais."

"The rumors are true." Adaar's voice doesn't waver. Her foot inches forward the slightest bit, putting her shoulder between Sera and the other elf.

Briala notices this and gives them a curious smile. "Protective, too. I've heard about how you bow to your lady like a faithful servant."

Sera has a scathing remark ready at the tip of her tongue, but she bites down on it enough to hurt. Just this one night, she has to keep her mouth closed.

Now this, Briala doesn't expect, but her mask of composure doesn't break. "In any case, I'm glad you received my invitation."

"Thank you very much." Adaar says, brushing aside the instinct to clench her fists in paranoia. "Although we would have gotten to it sooner or later, Ambassador. Dead bodies, attacks, and the such were not necessary."

Of course, the elephant in the room has yet to be discussed. "I had intended it to be a warning, Inquisitor, so that you would know that taking away Val Royeaux's Red Jenny- the Red Jenny, was not to be tolerated."

A weight begins to settle in Sera's chest. How did she know?

"At least, I thought you had taken her." Briala still refuses to look the other elf in the eye. "And then I heard the rumors. The Inquisitor has taken a mischievous elven archer as a comrade in battle, and if the idle chatter is correct, as something much more... intimate."

This isn't right. It's too narrow, too direct for something coming out of an Orlesian ambassador's mouth. "Everything you heard is completely true."

"Is it?" Briala finally turns her attention to Sera herself.

There's no avoiding talking now. "Yeah." The city elf nods, hating how the usual brash confidence is nowhere to be found in her voice.

Now, that answer, she doesn't expect. The red haired elf almost seems stumped, but she recovers with the grace she earned from years by the empress' side. "That's a very strange decision for the Red Jenny to make." Upon seeing the increasingly perplexed look on Sera's face, she smiles almost sadly. "Don't be alarmed, or surprised, friend. It may have been years since we last met in person, but I hear many reports of you."

Sera doesn't speak. Adaar looks to her for an answer, but she receives none.

"It's me." Briala reaches for the mask that covers her face and slides if off smoothly. Her face is older and longer. The ever present sparkle of youth has left and her eyes have gotten darker with the unseen burdens on her shoulders, but it's her.

"Holy shit." Sera has lost count of how many times she's said that ever since she joined the Inquisition. Her jaw hangs open almost humorously. "Fuck. It's you." Her tone is more surprised than displeased.

Adaar's leans more to befuddlement. "Um, am I missing out on something?"

"Long story. Had a lot of friends back when I did jobs with other people." Sera tells her, but doesn't elaborate.

"We had differing opinions on how to carry out our agendas." Briala tactfully puts it. "And the corpse I sent to you all that time ago, it was not me who killed him."

"Then who?" Sera demands. "I'll fucking end that ball gur-"

"I disposed of them discreetly." Briala tells her, her words heavy. "I... did not want you to see him like that, but he often provided shelter to us when we were younger. I had hoped that you would know it was me sending a message. The traps were originally for the Inquisitor."

"Thank you very much for trying to kill me multiple times." Adaar sighs.

"I apologize. I thought a friend was being held against her will."

Then it all makes sense. "I've heard about you." Adaar realizes, putting the pieces together. "You've been trying to make things better for the elves in Orlais for several years." She knows that Sera doesn't fight fights that are specifically for elves, but she does know that the Red Jenny does assist everyone whose interests align with her own. It's not unreasonable to think that the two have crossed paths before. An ambassador and a thief with mutual goals are bound to have different ways of solving things. "I understand now."

It's not a full on smile, but the one Briala gives them is more than what she gives to the faceless men and women outside. "I was right about you being intelligent, Inquisitor. It is truly a surprise to see that Sera has taken a liking to a head of an organization, but she has always liked the tall and strong ones."

"Oh yeah, tall and strong, all right." Sera looks somewhat relieved that they're not being ambushed like she initially thought they were. "Nothin's better than beef on beef on beef. On beef. And horns on top of that."

Adaar doesn't take her eyes off the ambassador, but she can't help but smile at that. It's nice hearing the archer's usual banter again. She's been more quiet ever since the incident with the Fade rift. "You flatter me."

"We can talk later, after the ball." Briala suddenly interrupts, the honesty on her face hardening like marble. "You must hurry and return to the ball before the guests notice that you are gone. I am here to deliver a message that I insisted to deliver personally."

"That explains it." Adaar nods. "What is it that you have to tell me?"

"A woman will approach you later, Empress Celene's magical advisor. She is a very powerful mage who has knowledge beyond any other I have ever known. They are both very interested in hearing what happened with the Archdemon and..." She looks at the markings on Sera's skin. The ambassador isn't used to being speechless. "What happened to you, old friend."

Sera isn't used to it, either.

"How will I know that it's her?" Adaar questions.

Briala pauses for a moment. "She told me that you will most definitely know it is her."

"She is the cryptic sort, I see." Adaar wryly comments. "Very well then, thank you for the information. I honestly thought I would have to fight my way out of the room, but I'm glad that's not happening."

"Yes, yes." Briala rushes. "Now quick, go. The ball will begin soon."

"She's been watching me." Sera mutters under her breath. "That's why the guards never went on a bloody witch hunt for me like they did in Ferelden. She told them to back the fuck off and get back to mounting each other in the tool shed."

"Is that supposed to be a bad thing?" Adaar is pretty much used to odd things happening out of the blue, at this point. She's not even surprised anymore. "I mean, first we meet the infamous Bianca, and then-" Her eyes snap open.

"What? Why'd you make that weird face like you just left your knickers hanging around your ankle?"

"You and Briala..."

Sera scrunches up her nose and makes a face that's indescribably horrific. "What? Eugh, no! She's really not my type. Too bony and boring and just... noble-y."

Adaar releases a relieved breath, making sure to not trip over her feet as they walk down the stairs. "That's a relief."

"Ugh, this is so dull I'd rather watch paint dry than go out and smile like some willy again." She groans, heaving a tired sigh. "Wanna just fool around for a bit?"

"I would love to, but you have no idea what that little skirt... thing... is doing to me, and I'm afraid I'll end up causing a diplomatic incident that Josephine will never forgive me for." Adaar lowers her hand from it's usual place at the small of Sera's back and gives a small, gentle squeeze. "I can't wait for this to be over."

"Nothing like bein' on your knees, huh?" Sera teases, remembering the incident from this morning.

"I am going to open this door right now so you can't seduce me." Adaar grins, her hand hovering over the polished doorknob. Just one turn and they'll be outside again with the guests. "But I'm looking forward to later."

"That's Buckles-speak for 'I've got a massive boner right now'." Sera shrugs, with a satisfied smile. "Good for now, I guess. You'd better not go and do paperwork later."

"Trust me, paperwork is the last thing on my mind right now." And she turns the doorknob.

The moment they're out in public again, one single point of interest catches their eyes. A head of short red hair slowly approaches. Leliana elegantly weaves through the crowds with ease and haste, only stopping when she's close enough to talk without alerting everyone else within earshot. "Where have the two of you been?"

"The ambassador wanted to see us. She had a message." Adaar quickly relays. "The Empress' magical advisor will see us soon. Do you have any idea who she is?"

Leliana nods, a cryptic look on her face. "As a matter of fact, I just ran into her."

"What?" Adaar frowns.

"We don't have much time." The spymaster cuts straight to the face. "You will not miss her, Herah. She is a dangerous and cunning woman and someone like you will know the type. Everyone here is a snake, but she is a dragon."

"How did you figure this out so fast? I thought you said you didn't have enough information on her, back when we were discussing our plans."

Leliana knows she has no time to stall, and so she doesn't. "I warn you because I know her. I have fought with her and I have seen her wield magic I've never seen anyone else perform. She wields the primal forces with frightening might."

"An apostate. Like me."

"Why are we trying to get her help again?" Sera whispers harshly, genuinely confused. "I'd stay the fuck away from this whoever-it-is, she sounds like a real witch."

"She is, Sera." Leliana says it with an equal amount of reverence and caution. "But she is the best witch you will ever meet."

"How powerful is she?" Adaar begins to feel concern bubbling in the back of her head.

Leliana doesn't say it out loud, but she wills them to listen to her next words very carefully. "She is the only reason the Warden-Queen is alive, and her name is Morrigan."

This chapter was already written but then my asshole old laptop broke. I'm writing this on my new one, so cheers. I know it's short, the next one will be longer!