Summary: Liriel and Iron Bull have a date! Unluckily for them, word has got around, and any hope they had of their friends not turning up to interfere turns out to be a forlorn one. But at least Sera and Cicero mean well, unlike a certain someone else whose intentions are far less benign.

A/N: Might have made Solas come across as a creepy dudebro. Oops. Not entirely intentional but I left it in. This was originally intended to be a Liriel/Bull/Solas love triangle, but then Liriel went ahead and made a decision, didn't she? Turns out I really can't do love triangles - they either make their mind up or they go the polyamory route...


Alas for Liriel, nothing stayed secret in Skyhold for long. Certainly not when Sera happened to see Liriel enter the tavern in recently cleaned mage robes and more make-up than Sera was used to seeing on her, and noticed Bull had recently bathed, cleaned his clothes and polished his horns (not that sort of horn, shut up), put two and two together and got gossip, and decided the best person for gossip in the whole of Skyhold, especially when Liriel was involved, was a certain Messere K. Shiv-Dark.

Said Messere Shiv-Dark was in the magical research wing of Skyhold, wringing his hands and standing suspiciously close to Eola, who was greeting a new arrival, a red-haired dwarf with a whole trunkful of shiny things. Sera's type wasn't normally dwarves, but this one was seriously pretty.

Eola seemed to think so too, because she was being very nice to the newcomer, and Eola was never normally that nice. Eola's default demeanour was usually creepy. And here she was chatting up the pretty dwarf.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Dagna," Eola was purring. "I'm sure we can find plenty of space for all your things – are you experimenting on red lyrium as well? Fascinating! You and I are going to have a lot to talk about."

Sera did not miss the way Cicero was grimacing at all this, and clearly someone was not pleased by this state of affairs. Which made two of them. Which meant Sera could ladyparts-block with impunity.

"HEY KNIFEY!" Sera shouted. "LIRIEL'S ON A DATE WITH IRON BULL! Wanna come see? Your new dwarf friend with the box of toys can come too if she wants. We can fling one down Bull's pants if he crosses the line!"

Cicero's eyebrows shot up as he blinked in surprise… then glanced over at Dagna, then Eola, and promptly grinned.

"Of course!" he purred. "We should certainly make sure Liriel is appropriately chaperoned, mustn't we? Come on, sweetling, if the arcanist's arcania was going to explode, it would have done so by now. We do not need to do anything with it tonight. Come, come, the nice dwarf can walk with Sera! Sera, this is Dagna, the new arcanist and runecrafter. Nice Dagna, pretty Dagna, this is Sera, Friend of Red Jenny, and sexually attracted to ladies, and if you are in possession of shiny things that go bang, Sera could certainly find a use for those!"

Cicero promptly waved pretty Dagna over to Sera, practically beaming all the while, and Sera could have hugged the little guy. Crazy he might be, but he made a fantastic wingman. And so Sera introduced herself to Dagna, promised to give her a tour of all the interesting parts of Skyhold, and asked her what sort of runes would suit her bow and how did it all work anyway, and did her best to look as if she understood it all when Dagna explained how lyrium runes functioned. The way Dagna's face lit up when she talked made it all worth it anyway.

Eola's face meanwhile was less lit up, and more darkening like the Void as she pursed her lips at Cicero.

"You know, you could have just said you're not OK with her," Eola muttered to him, switching to Tamrielic.

"In front of her?" Cicero replied, eyebrows raised. "And cause a scene? Cicero thinks not! But seeing as you mention it… it is nothing personal, but Cicero dislikes the idea of you taking her as a lover."

"And so you're trying to encourage her to spend time with the famously gay monogamous Sera instead," Eola sighed. "So that Dagna will go out with her instead and not me. Sweetie, what exactly has got into you, you're not the jealous type! You were fine with Athis!"

Cicero fell quiet, wringing his hands, and when he spoke, it was in a much quieter tone, not at all like his usual self.

"Cicero was prettier back then."

News to Eola, because she still thought Cicero was pretty cute. So she stroked his hair and put an arm around him and asked him what he meant.

"Cicero was prettier!" Cicero wailed, staring despairingly at her. "Cicero did not need to dye his hair or cover his face in foundation or rub anti-wrinkle cream into his face and hands every day or treat his face with herbal masks and cheese wheels on his eyes every month, or visit the face sculptor every six months to have his skin smoothed out! Cicero's back did not ache, Cicero's knees worked properly, Cicero was faster and deadlier and did not get hit as often in skirmishes! Cicero is getting old and ugly and Cicero doesn't like it! And Cicero is worried Eola will realise it one day, meet someone else and leave poor Cicero behind."

He looked so miserable Eola couldn't help but feel sorry for him, and on realising the truth, she put all thoughts of Dagna aside. A fun research partner she might well be, but Sera was welcome to be the one to share her bed.

She put her arms round Cicero and kissed his cheek.

"Oh sweetie, you should have told me," Eola whispered. "You know I of all people would never leave you. Who else understands me like you do? Dagna's sweet but she's no hunter! There's some things no one else can provide. I don't care you're getting older. I still love you."

Cicero snuggled into her, brightening up on hearing this.

"Really?" Cicero whispered.

"Really," Eola promised, kissing him briefly on the lips and making him giggle. "Now, shall we go see how Liriel and Bull are getting on? I honestly didn't think they'd get to the formal date stage without assistance."

Cicero hadn't thought that either, and he was keen to ensure Liriel had freely agreed to this, and agreed to the same thing Bull had too. So off they went to the tavern to see just what was happening.

What was happening was Bull and Liriel at a table in a corner of the tavern, Bull pouring Liriel a glass of wine as she sat down nervously.

"I've never done anything like this before," Liriel admitted, feeling her cheeks blush.

"If you mean, take someone out to wine and dine them, I don't make a habit of it either," Bull confessed in turn. "But you're different. Special."

Well obviously, Liriel might not look at people and lust after them, but she knew men frequently lusted after her. All the same, she had a feeling that wasn't what he meant.

"Special how?" Liriel asked.

"Special because you're the nearest thing to another Qunari I've met out here," Bull said, grinning. "Yeah, yeah, you're a high elf, I know. But you're not like the elves round here. Your ears are a different shape. They're Qunari shaped. You've got that different skin colour, it's more like what you'd see on one of us. And like I always said, you remind me of a Tamassran. You're a scholar, and a teacher too. I've seen you training up apprentice mages, and I've seen you giving talks to the elves round here too. And you definitely don't react to humans like they do. You don't treat them like they're the ones in charge or a master race or anything."

"They're not," Liriel said, and despite everything, Thalmor conditioning didn't go away that easily. "We're the first children of the Aedra. We were here first. Or… so they say back in Alinor anyway. I don't know how true that really is. But just because I don't think humanity's destiny is to be the Dominion's slaves, doesn't mean I think it's my place to be theirs."

"I noticed!" Bull laughed, before inclining his head at the mention of the Dominion. "Wait, your homeland has slaves?"

"Not officially," Liriel admitted. "But it was finding out that most of our servants weren't actually paid that made me want to leave. That and the war. I went home again after serving in it, tried to go back to the life I had before, but I couldn't, you know? You can't just see the things I did, realise what your country's actually capable of, and just go back to the way you were. I had to get out of there, and eventually I did. I don't regret it. If the Thalmor ever lose their grip on the country, maybe I'll go home one day. For now, the Reach is home. Well, I suppose Skyhold is at the moment."

"And I'm glad you're here," Bull said, smiling. "I know what you mean about home not feeling like home any more. I served in Seheron – it's contested territory between us and the Imperium, and there's also our own rebels and a native insurrection movement. Place is like a tinderbox and there's something going off every week. I was out there best part of a decade, saw horrors you wouldn't believe, until I finally cracked. Turned myself in to the Ben-Hassrath for treatment. They sent me out to Orlais. I've not been back home in years. It took a lot of getting used to but I'm having a good time. The Chargers are like a family to me."

"But you're still a loyal Qunari," Liriel noted. It wasn't the first time they'd discussed the Qun. Liriel had been curious about the not-quite-Orcs from the tropical north and bombarded Iron Bull with questions. Some of them, particularly the ones about Qunari mating customs, had been more information than she'd been prepared for, but she had enough information for an entire chapter on the Qunari by this point. Enough to understand most of the terminology. "You're not Tal-Vashoth."

"No," Bull admitted. "I still serve the Qun out here. Right now, my orders are to stay here and send reports, and serve the Inquisition in the meantime. But one day that might change. All I can promise is I'll tell you if things change. Can't see that happening before Corypheus gets defeated. Way I see it, Elisif's your best hope for fighting him."

Liriel didn't disagree there. Elisif and Madanach had fought a civil war, and Elisif and Madanach's son had gone on to kill a dragon-god. If anyone could fight a primordial darkspawn, it was the Queen of Skyrim.

All the same, that didn't erase the fact Bull served the Qun and was only an ally for now.

"And after that?" Liriel asked. "When Corypheus is gone? Are the Qunari planning to invade the rest of Thedas? And what about Tamriel?"

"I don't know, Tam, the top brass don't tell me these things!" Bull sighed. "Most of our military is tied up fighting the Vints anyway, we don't have the resources to invade without cause. There was some fear that we might need to to stop Corypheus, but it looks like Elisif's made that not a problem. I already told them the Inquisitor was a seasoned warrior and capable leader who had as good a chance as anyone. I have a feeling that when she's done, Southern Thedas will be a completely different place and stronger than it's ever been. I think that might be a good thing. Don't think the Ben-Hassrath will, but it's not in their interests to stop it. Not yet."

"Because it'd make it harder to convert us all to the Qun," Liriel said bitterly. "You can't look at Skyhold and think it'd be better that way, surely?"

Bull didn't answer at once, looking at the floor, his expression one of sadness. When he finally did speak, Liriel got the impression he was choosing his words very carefully.

"It's not all bad, Liriel. The Qun's a good life, for a lot of people. But it's a big change from what people here are used to, and a lot of people wouldn't do so well. Cassandra and Cullen would be all right, if they didn't die fighting. Those two love rules. And Josephine would survive. The Qun always needs skilled administrators. Leliana would make a good Ben-Hassrath, but I don't think she'd ever forswear Andraste. But they'd kill Cole, because you know, demon, they'd probably execute Cicero because he's just too dangerous and unpredictable, that's if he didn't die fighting after they inevitably execute Eola and burn all her research. Sera would probably end up with her mind broken, sweeping floors somewhere, and as for the mages, well. Dorian's too arrogant, Vivienne too political, Madanach far too likely to be organising and leading a resistance to be allowed to live, and little Maia… who knows. They wouldn't kill a child, I don't think, but she'll never submit to the Qun if it kills her parents. And Elisif will never give in. Sure, she's polite enough to me, but I know her thoughts. She heard that we don't have families and her eyes just went cold. Might be different if she didn't have a kid but she'll fight to the death to protect hers. Never mind if other people's kids suffer as a result. Maia gets the world, and Elisif's judgement's compromised by it."

Liriel really couldn't agree with that one.

"It's perfectly normal to want to protect your kids, Bull," Liriel said, remembering her own little sister and knowing there was no way she'd let anyone hurt little Cali.

"I know," Bull sighed, reaching out to take her hand. "Thing is, under the Qun, they're all our kids. We don't know the parentage of anyone, so we care for all of them."

"And you don't marry anyone because forming exclusive attachments makes you less loyal to the Qun," Liriel said, recalling what he'd told her before. "And yet here you are with me."

"It's a date, not a marriage proposal," Bull protested… but then he did smile. "Look, you're cute and you're bright and you make me think. I'm still Qunari but it's good to be reminded there's other ways of seeing the world, you know? I can't promise you forever, but who can? Either one of us could die doing something dangerous for the Inquisition any time. Like fighting Vints or demons or Red Templars or dragons or something. Hey, I heard there's dragons out in Ferelden. Think Elisif will want to go practice on one at some point? I'm in if you are! I bet you could take down a dragon!"

His confidence in her was rather endearing. Liriel had gone out of her way to avoid the Tamrielic variety. Just because she could fight, didn't mean she necessarily wanted to. All the same, there was something about Bull's hopeful face she couldn't quite say no to.

"Not on my own," Liriel said primly. "But… I suppose if you and the Chargers were there, I could lend magical support."

"YES!" Bull roared, hand slamming the table. "You and me, fighting dragons! We'll show them! When the Chargers get back from scouting Haven. Or… wait, Cicero! Want to kill a dragon? Eola can come if she likes!"

Cicero had walked in with Eola on his arm, both looking surprised to hear Bull was planning a dragonslaying mission… but in all honesty, not shocked.

"Well, I do have experiments… but I don't need to be there in person, I just need someone to observe and take notes, and now we've integrated the mage rebellion, it turns out I can requisition their apprentices and Tranquil if I need help," Eola said thoughtfully. "I might need to ask Bethany to keep an eye on things if Liriel's going – you are going, aren't you."

"Looks like it," Liriel admitted. "I mean, I'm not really a warrior but… Cicero, stop that."

Cicero looked frankly disbelieving on hearing that.

"Liriel was part of the Aldmeri army when Cicero first met her, and he has seen her kill lots of things!" Cicero cooed. "Liriel can manage a dragon! Cicero will help too. Cicero's stabbed plenty of them."

"How'd you stab a dragon?" the red-haired dwarf who Liriel hadn't been introduced to asked, fascinated. And then she noticed Liriel and her eyebrows shot up.

"Oh wow, are you an elf? Or… a lady Qunari? I don't think anyone's ever seen a lady Qunari before! My name's Dagna, I'm the new arcanist, I am so pleased to meet you!"

Before anyone could stop her, Dagna the new arcanist had grabbed a chair and sat next to Liriel, eyes shining as she stared up at her, eager for new knowledge, and it was a good thing for everyone that Liriel wasn't into women either.

"I am so sorry," Liriel whispered to Bull, because clearly Dagna had not realised she was datecrashing.

"Ah, it's fine, how often do you meet a High Elf for the first time," Bull said, amused. "Knock yourself out, Tam. Tell her all about yourself."

Liriel looked at no less than four people all watching her and Bull, and mentally consigned the idea of dinner for two to the bin… for now.

"I guess we have company after all," Liriel sighed. "All right, gather round, we'll get some drinks. But when we do this dragon-hunting expedition, you lot are coming with me."

"Awesome!" Dagna whispered, eyes lighting up, and amazingly Liriel was able to turn the conversation off High Elves and on to dragons instead, with Sera and Dagna in particular enthusing about how they'd go about killing one, and then Bull getting in on the act by adding that there was a story back in Par Vollen that the Tamassrans had tried to breed dragon blood into the Qunari, and that's why they had horns.

Laughter all round, but Liriel knew that dragon blood was a real thing, and it was probably just a coincidence… but she caught Eola's eye and had to wonder. Did someone in the Qunari know what a Dragonborn was? How? Had their ancestors come from Skyrim as well? Liriel couldn't think how – were they related to Orcs? Dunmer? Dremora even? Were they even mutated High Elves? Bull had seemed to see a kinship somewhere, and trying to breed a Dragonborn for themselves was something the Thalmor might try.

If only I had access to Qunari blood, Altmer blood, Orc blood and a talented blood witch.

A project for another time maybe. Something to think about. For now though, Liriel smiled and sipped her wine as she watched Sera drink her own body-weight in ale and loudly claim she'd fight any ruddy dragon and kick it in every ball it had, which was all the funnier because it turned out high dragons didn't have them.

Liriel giggled and glanced at Bull, who grinned back and glanced down at her hands, before carefully moving his over and brushing his knuckles on her arm.

Which was unexpected… but not unwelcome. Liriel reached out and curled her hand round his, suddenly smiling and not knowing why. And Bull actually seemed to go a bit pink, looking rather awkward but not letting go.

Tonight wasn't going how she planned but she was having a good time. And as Cicero and Dagna were talking explosives, and Sera was extolling the virtues of dowsing oneself in alchemical fire, and Eola responded by flicking her fingers and pointing out there was a perfectly good spell for that already, Liriel smiled at Bull and realised she'd rather be nowhere else.


Late that night, and Bull insisted on walking her back to the library.

"I think I can make it across Skyhold courtyard without incident," Liriel told him, and Bull shrugged, looking a bit awkward.

"I know, but I was hoping for the just the two of us and know you were too, and instead we get the two hyperactive children plus the new arcanist who is cute but you just know is gonna be trouble, and Eola the Creepy Mage who is the reason the Chantry came up with Templars," Bull sighed. "Least I can do is escort you back to your quarters."

Liriel had felt herself blushing and accepted, walking alongside him, and if he looked a little awkward as her fingers entwined with his, he didn't stop her.

"I had a good time tonight," he told her, stopping in the library hallway. "Despite, you know, our friends pitching up."

"They mean well," Liriel told him. "I think Cicero just wants to make sure you don't hurt me."

"He's a smart man. And a loyal one," Bull said, approving. "But he was wrong in this case. We don't hurt our sexual partners unless they want us to. We don't do anything to anyone in bed that wasn't agreed on. You're safe, Liriel."

Liriel smiled, believing him. And so she reached up and kissed him on the lips, feeling him respond and realising she was quite enjoying this kissing thing at least, and he seemed to be too, judging from the way he was pulling her closer, picking her up off the floor and sliding his hand to her backside again. He really did seem to like doing that. Liriel wondered if she should tell him to stop but it wasn't unpleasant so perhaps this was fairly standard behaviour. In which case she should probably reciprocate?

Bull let her go, lowering her to the floor, and as she got back within reach, she let her own hand slide downwards and experimentally squeezed his backside.

To her surprise, Bull actually yelped, a very strange look coming into his eyes. Liriel immediately let him go, feeling a blush coming to her cheeks.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered, horrified. "I didn't mean… I won't do it again!"

"It's fine," Bull gasped, sounding almost strangled. "I just wasn't expecting… and not so hard, next time?"

"OK," Liriel whispered, mortified. And then it occurred to her that that hadn't actually been a no. "Wait, next time?"

"Sure," Bull managed to get out. "I mean, yes ma'am – I mean, Tam, I mean – I should, er, get going, right? Let you sleep?"

"OK," Liriel said, now completely confused, and she wasn't sure if this was a good thing or not… but Bull leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek.

"Come fight that dragon with me, yeah?"

Liriel nodded and watched as Bull left, feeling strangely excited by the way this was going… at least until Solas dropped down almost noiselessly from the nearby scaffolding.

Liriel spun round, face going scarlet as she realised he must have seen that whole thing.

"Solas!" she gasped. "I didn't know you were there. Were you… watching?"

Why she was the one feeling guilty over this, she had no idea.

"I saw," Solas said, his eyes hooded. "You and that… Iron Bull." He practically spat the name out. "You're involved with that Qunari?"

No point denying it at this stage.

"Yes," Liriel admitted, again wondering where the guilt came from. "I mean, it's early days yet but… Solas, what?"

He'd gone an interesting shade of purple and his face was twisted into a snarl.

"You'd give yourself to him? You, an Evanura incarnate, would defile yourself by being intimate with someone barely above the levels of a beast?"

"Don't call him that!" Liriel cried, not caring her voice was echoing, because he'd sounded exactly like her mother in that instant, criticising the child of colleagues of hers who'd been found sleeping with one of the Khajiit labourers hired to build their new swimming pool. "He's not an animal, he's a person!"

"He follows the Qun!" Solas snapped. "It is an empty, nihilistic, monster of a creed that despises individuality and enslaves all who submit to it. His ultimate loyalty is to it, and it teaches that all non-Qunari are little better than things! For as long as he is loyal to it, he does not, cannot, love you! The Qun doesn't even have relationships, does it?"

No it didn't, and this sounded more like what part of her had been whispering to her all along. Mara's mercy, what was she thinking? All the same, she didn't want to admit this to Solas.

"You don't know him," Liriel whispered, tears in her eyes as she felt her throat close up.

"Nor do you," Solas said gently, coming to stand closer to her. "Liriel, this will end in disaster, you must see that. Tell him there won't be another date. It's not too late to save yourself."

"I..." Liriel whispered, because Solas was right there, expression turned to one of kindness and understanding and maybe he was right, maybe she should give this up, maybe she'd be happier without Bull.

She was almost about to break and end up crying on Solas's shoulder when the sound of heels on the steps to the library rang out.

"Liriel, darling, there you are! My dear, I urgently require your opinion on this tome on the origins of Knight-Enchanter magic, I strongly believe Deschamps is letting his passions sway him rather than the evidence but need someone to go over the text with me and confirm my suspicions before I set him in his place, and you're the only other one in Skyhold who can master a spirit blade."

Solas growled under his breath and glared at Enchanter Vivienne as she sauntered downstairs and into the room, apparently heedless of what she might be interrupting.

"Enchanter, it is the middle of the night and Liriel is in a state of some distress," Solas said tersely, folding his arms and carefully positioning himself between Liriel and Vivienne. "Now is hardly the time to be bothering her with some arcane query on a subject I'm sure you already know inside and out."

"Given Liriel's usual studying habits, the middle of the night is when she usually gets most work done, and she seemed quite cheerful on the way back from the tavern with the Iron Bull," Vivienne said sweetly. "She only seemed to become distressed when talking to you. A coincidence, I'm sure. Liriel, darling, come with me, when you've read this, you won't have a thought left to spare for your current troubles, I assure you, you'll be too busy ranting about Marcel Deschamps' contempt for scholarship to have time."

Liriel's eyes fell on Solas, standing as an unasked-for protector, and then it occurred to her Marcel Deschamps was an alchemist with no interest in anything as militaristic as Knight-Enchanter techniques, and who'd more than once written in the forewords to his books that mages would be better off focusing on the physical rather than conjuring spirits, and that one of those books had been a copy Vivienne had donated to the Inquisition library. A personal one, autographed by Marcel himself, who'd seemed overwhelmed the First Enchanter of Montsimmard had taken an interest in his work, and full of Vivienne's own annotations.

Vivienne was not only lying, she also knew Liriel would likely realise it and that Solas, with his relative disdain for human mage scholarship, wouldn't have a clue.

"You know, I could use a distraction," Liriel said, forcing a smile to her face. "Alright, Enchanter, lead the way."

Vivienne smiled, holding out an arm to Liriel and only pausing briefly to shoot Solas a smug sneer of victory before sweeping Liriel upstairs. Whereupon she promptly cast a muffling spell to discourage eavesdroppers both mundane and spiritual, and let Liriel pretty swiftly to her own sitting area overlooking the Great Hall.

Liriel took a seat on one of the gilt edged Orlesian chaise longues, wondering what this was really about. Vivienne settled gracefully into the one opposite and set about pouring two glasses of wine and handed one to Liriel.

"Now then, my dear," Vivienne said, her voice oddly gentle. "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. Are you all right."

"I think so," Liriel whispered. "Was he right? Solas, I mean. Should I leave Bull? He's a Qunari. They don't do relationships, do they? And if the Qun calls him, he'll have to go."

Vivienne pursed her lips, narrowing her eyes and clearly considering this very carefully. When she finally spoke, it wasn't an answer Liriel had expected.

"Darling, if Qunari truly didn't have romantic relationships, there wouldn't be so many rebels, would there. Perhaps it is forbidden, but when has that ever stopped anyone. I assure you, I don't believe Bull is any different in that regard to anyone else, and Par Vollen is very far away. You're right here."

Liriel gasped, looking up to see Vivienne smiling knowingly, and she realised that Vivienne, if pushed for an opinion, actually wasn't opposed to the idea of her and Iron Bull being a couple.

"You… don't mind me going out with Iron Bull?" Liriel said, bewildered, and Vivienne rolled her eyes.

"Darling, it's hardly my business who you go out with," Vivienne laughed. "I have no interest in the matter either way. My affections are engaged elsewhere, and I have no interest in women anyway. No, my dear, my intentions are largely disinterested… but not entirely. When considering a pairing, one must always give thought to what each party is bringing to the table, how each can help the other further their aims… and any potential liabilities the other party might be bringing. Now as for yourself, you bring considerable personal charm and intelligence and you're a mage of no small talent. Perhaps you don't bring wealth, but you have influence with the Inquisitor and Deputy Inquisitor. How stable this is might be a problem long-term but for now, your star is rising. Your being an elf might disadvantage you in human society, but your current suitors don't have to worry about that. And so we turn to them."

"Wait, you're just considering this like a business alliance?" Liriel interrupted, feeling appalled by this concept. "Don't feelings matter?"

"Perhaps, but feelings can change, your potential lover being a useful asset hopefully will not," Vivienne purred. "Anyway, if your feelings were clear-cut we wouldn't be having this conversation, would we, my dear?"

Liriel had to admit that was true… and wasn't she maraas shokari? Apparently not someone driven by feelings, although it wasn't entirely true. She did care for Bull although she wasn't remotely sure about anything physical. All the same, she could use some advice, and Vivienne seemed rather less biased than anyone else.

"All right, what about Bull," Liriel sighed. "You must have some opinions."

"Of course, darling," Vivienne smiled, setting her goblet of wine down. "Bull is very easy to read when you know what to look for. He's a man of simple tastes, and he's always been very open about who he is and where he's from. We know he's a Qunari agent and his ultimate loyalty is to them… but we also know the Qunari as a whole are mostly just observing for now and day to day, no one is supervising him that closely. Which is where your advantage lies."

"Advantage how?" Liriel asked, because in her mind, this was precisely the problem, wasn't it?

"He likes you and is willing to admit it," Vivienne said, only rolling her eyes in exasperation a little. "Even going out on formal dates with you, which is more than I'd thought him capable of. You have influence. He has a loyalty to you which he's got to few others outside his mercenary band. Your problem is ensuring that when push comes to shove, his loyalty to you overrides his loyalty to the Qun. Happily, you're also in the best position to help bring that about."

Liriel couldn't begin to imagine how, and she asked Vivienne this. Vivienne sighed and leaned forward, as if explaining to a particularly obtuse apprentice.

"Under the Qun, Qunari men are in thrall to these Tamassran women. They raise them, educate them, decide their job for them, pick breeding mates for them and provide an outlet for their sexual urges. Bull's no exception. He once accused me of trying to manipulate him by increasing my height with heels and by wearing headgear that resembled a Tamassran's horns. I wasn't, not that time, but nevertheless it gave me an insight. You're already far further along that route than I am. What you need to do is keep reinforcing that idea. Make him see you as a Tamassran, make him forget completely that loyalty to you and loyalty to the Qun are two separate things. If he has the two conflated, it'll make it very hard for him to ever turn on you."

Make him see her as a Tamassran. Easier said than done, particularly as that might well involve strange Qunari sex rituals at some point, and Liriel just couldn't even begin to think about that. But it was possible that she could do something. He'd seemed to like her taking the initiative. And… horns. Well. Maybe she could do something about that. Maybe.

"You're seriously in favour of me and Bull?" Liriel asked, wondering all of a sudden what Vivienne's interest in all this was. "Why?"

"Because while he's not my type, I'm fond of the man, and don't think it hasn't escaped me that his loyalty to the Qun might prove a problem one day," Vivienne said, actually looking sad at the thought. "Any steps we can take to nullify that and thus safeguard ourselves are worth taking in my opinion. Therefore I decided to involve myself. Also I saw you two from the balcony on the way back from the tavern and you seemed happy. I'm hardly one to counsel the end of a happy relationship when there are benefits yet to be reaped, am I?"

Liriel shook her head, sipping her wine and wondering just what it was like in Vivienne's mind. It must be all cogs and calculations, like a Dwemer machine devoted to social machinations. Still, it was a useful resource to have. She supposed.

"Solas won't like that," she said, already wondering how to break the news to him. "He thinks Bull's little better than a beast."

"Do you?" Vivienne asked, and Liriel shook her head.

"Of course not!" Liriel gasped. "I – I like Bull! And people back home, they say that sort of thing about humans, but they're not beasts, they're people. I left home to get away from that. I didn't think I'd find it again here."

Vivienne had narrowed her eyes on hearing this, something about this clearly getting to her.

"There are people everywhere who will find the pettiest of reasons to look down on others, my dear," Vivienne said sadly. "Here it is humans looking down on elves. In your home, it is the other way round. And if there were no elves, they would look down on other humans. Maybe they would use skin colour as the dividing line. It is our burden to bear, my dear. All we can do is rise above it. Be better than them, excel beyond doubt, do not let them hold you back and ignore the whispers as best you can. And in case I'm not being clear enough, that means do not trust Solas. He seems to think the world would be better if the Veil were taken down and demons wandered freely. And while a concern for the wellbeing of other elves would be commendable, have you noticed how he's obsessed with making everything like it was in a mythical Arlathan he can't possibly remember personally, and yet utterly unconcerned with the plight of elves presently alive? He seems to think the Dalish are children and the city elves barely worth bothering with. Now here he is calling you an Evanura incarnate and seeming outraged that you'd consider sullying yourself with a mere mortal. I can only assume he's seen visions of the elven gods in the Fade and they resemble your people, and he's developed… obsessions. You need to be careful, Liriel. You could be in danger."

"He wouldn't hurt..." Liriel began before starting to wonder. He'd been truly angry at her and Bull being together… and he'd stayed quiet until Bull left and only then emerged, when he was alone with her in the dark. Liriel shivered and realised she had no way of knowing that he wouldn't hurt her.

"What do I do?" Liriel whispered. "I'm not interested in Solas! How do I get him to leave me alone?"

"You do nothing," Vivienne said, eyes narrowing. "You continue seeing Bull and you avoid being alone with Solas. And if he keeps bothering you… I would expect you to do whatever you must to defend yourself. Do not worry about retaliation. Solas's only known connections are with the Inquisition. He seems to have little in the way of friends, family, any traceable background from before his arrival with us, don't you think that odd, Liriel?"

Now that she mentioned it, it was very suspicious.

"Do you think he's hiding something?" she whispered.

"We're all hiding something, my dear, but he's hiding rather more than most, I think," Vivienne said thoughtfully. "Well, we have no evidence… yet. But speak with Bull about him, see if he can arrange for protection. He cannot be everywhere, but his Chargers don't have that problem. Krem's due back from the ruins of Haven within the week. And in the meantime, don't think I didn't notice Madanach's fond of you. I'm sure he can help. I'll be sure to stand as witness that Solas was cornering you alone and making threatening remarks."

Liriel hadn't expected that, in fact this whole conversation was completely unexpected. She hadn't thought Vivienne even liked her. But here was Vivienne offering advice, and when the conversation wound down, Vivienne walked her back, not to her own room but to the Chargers' vacant accommodation, and merely observed she'd get Madanach to put an extra bed in here in the morning, and help Liriel move her things.

Liriel thanked her and settled into Dalish's empty bed, feeling profoundly relieved at the thought of being safe, protected, not needing to worry about Solas or what he might think or do. He wasn't her lover, never had been. It was really none of his business.

All the same, she hoped Madanach was fond enough of her to lend her a couple of guards.


A/N: Vivienne is really growing on me. I mean, seriously growing on me. On the outside she's this scary mage and then every now and then you get glimpses of a human being with a heart. She's a lot of fun to write.

Next chapter will be back in Crestwood, and it introduces Hawke! I think you'll like Hawke.