More lies. More spies. More tasteless hor d'oeuvres. More people trying to kill her. Evelyn had enough.
When they walked out of the palace into the courtyard, Evelyn could hear Cassandra's curse as soon as she heard the familiar sound of bows being drawn. Just above her was a rift, hovering in the air, taunting her and the mark on her hand. Her palm sizzled as she felt the Fade being pulled from the mark.
"Inquisitor! What a pleasure! I wasn't certain you'd attend."
Looking up on the balcony above her, Evelyn saw Florianne walking across slowly. She moved her left hand behind her back to grip the straps of her shield. Her hand was sending a stabbing pain across her lower arm.
"That bitch," she heard Maxwell mutter behind her. "She's been behind this the whole time."
Nodding, she watched Florianne stop as she reached the middle of the balcony.
"You're such a challenge to read. I had no idea if you'd taken by bait."
Evelyn smirked as she looked up at the woman. "I fear I'm a bit busy at the moment, if you were looking for a dance partner."
The woman purred as she looked at her. "Yes, I see that. Such a pity you did not save one final dance for me. It was kind of you to walk into my trap so willingly. I was so tired of your meddling."
Straying her eyes away from the mad woman, Evelyn looked at the rift. At the moment it was still closed but she could feel it in her hand that it was bound to open soon. That did not leave her much time before she would have Florianne's soldiers attacking as well as whatever demons fell from the rift.
"Corypheus insisted that the Empress diet tonight, and I would hate to disappoint him."
"Why kill the Empress? What does Corypheus want to achieve?"
"Celene's death is a stepping stone on the path to a better world. Corphyeus will enter the Black City and claim the godhood waiting for him. We will cast down your useless Maker and usher in a united world, guided by the hand of an attentive god."
"She's insane," Cassandra whispered from behind.
"You're Orlesian royalty. Why would you help Corypheus attack your empire?"
Florianne shook her head. "You think so small, Inquisitor. Why settle for an empire when Corypheus will remake the entire world? I admit, I will relish the look on Gaspard's face when he realizes I've outplayed him. He always was a sore loser."
"What exactly is in this for you?"
Florianne laughed. "The world, of course! I'll deliver the entire south of Thedas, and Corypheus will save me. When he has ascended to godhood, I will rule all Thedas in his name."
Snorting, Evelyn shook her head. "He's used to it by now. At this point, I'd think disappointment was an old friend."
"You poor, deluded thing. You don't know half of what Samson and I have planned. And now, I suppose you never will."
A smile of satisfaction fell across Florianne. Evelyn did not need to see her face to know that she was sure of herself. That she had won. Unhooking her shield, Evelyn's right hand moved to the hilt of her sword to prepare herself.
"In their darkest dreams, no one imagines I would assassinate Celene myself. All I need is to keep you out of the ballroom long enough to strike. A pity you'll miss the rest of the ball, Inquisitor. They'll be talking of it for years." She looked down at the archers on the ground beneath the balcony where she stood. "Kill her and bring me her marked hand. It will make a fine gift for the master."
The archers released their arrows just as Evelyn swung her shield around as she rolled on the ground to block them from hitting her. Kneeling, her shield swung back around as she lifted her hand into the air. The mark coming to life as she pointed her fingers at the rift to open it. The only way she would be able to completely get rid of it she needed to open it and reseal it.
She vaguely heard Vivienne give Maxwell orders to lift a barrier around her as the other mage set one around Cassandra. The mages worked in tandem to keep the archers as far away from Evelyn as they could so she could try to close the rift fully. Cassandra let out a war cry as she rushed at soldiers as they ran at them, trying to get to Evelyn as she was defenseless as she worked to close the rift.
The combination of Vivienne with her ice magic and Maxwell with his nature magic was able to defeat the archers easily with Cassandra. Now they were fighting the demons that came from the rift as it reopened. Evelyn cursed under her breath as she planted her feet to the ground, bringing her sword up. Closing rifts never worked on the first try, always taking several attempts.
One time she observed it seemed to her that the harder the rift was to close the more powerful the demon was that came out. Sometimes simple wisp wraith would come out. Other times it was hunger or rage demons. The despair and terror demons were the worse for Evelyn to fight against. The stories she had heard of people being trapped by them frightened her more than she wanted to admit. As a child, hearing about the despair and terror demons would keep her up at night. Afraid they would attack her. Now as an adult they were attacking her.
Willing her hand into the air again, she released a powerful surge from her hand at the rift. She was not backing down this time from it. It would close even if she had to jump in it to get it done. Fortunately, the third time she was able to close it completely.
Once the demons destroyed and Florianne's soldiers killed, they discovered another person found ready to confess to crimes by Gaspard. A Ferelden mercenary leader who was there to fight for Gaspard to take over the Winter Palace. Evelyn wiped her hand over her face and groaned when she listened to the man's tale of how he was from Ferelden and there with his mercenaries to fight for Gaspard. "You can't trust anyone in this damn place!" she thought.
"Look. If you want a new job, I'll hire you for the Inquisition. Just meet find my Commander and let him know who you are and what you know." She waited for the man to leave before turning back to look at Cassandra, Maxwell and Vivienne. "I'm tired of this shit!" she said, sliding her glove back on her hand. "We're going back to that damn ballroom so I can run that bitch through."
Cassandra frowned, shaking her head. "Do you think that's wise, right now, Evelyn?"
"It would be in poor taste, dear," Vivienne added. "You must remember, you do need to show grace under pressure. To expose her publicly will be a fate worse than judgement at the Skyhold throne."
Evelyn closed her eyes and inhaled a long, deep breath. She hated to admit it but they were right. She needed to do this right, or it would create a bigger problem. Nodding her head, she looked at the three companions. "Thank you for not letting me ruin this. Any suggestions how to handle this?"
"Go to Cullen, tell him what we've found," Cassandra offered. "He will have his men positioned around the ballroom before you confront the duchess."
"Be very clear of the accusations you make," Vivienne said, glancing down at her fingernails. "Everyone in attendance will need to hear exactly what you found. Be specific or Celene will not believe you."
Maxwell looked at the two women before turning to his sister. Smiling, he shrugged his shoulders. "Don't kill anyone."
Vivienne laughed. "That is an excellent suggestion, my dear." She turned to Evelyn. "Especially do not kill anyone."
A smile curled her lips even though Evelyn did not want to. The Iron Lady was slowly growing on her more and more each day. Some days better than others but Evelyn was trying her best to like the mage.
"We must be going," Cassandra said. "The sooner the better."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Cullen was starting to get anxious. The Inquisitor and her companions had been gone much longer than he thought they would be. When the balcony doors on the other side of the ballroom open and Grand Duke Gaspard and his sister, Grand Duchess Florianne, walked out he felt his hand tentatively reach for the sword at his side. His eyes focused on them that he did not notice as Evelyn stepped up behind him to the left.
"Thank the Maker you're back!" Cullen said as he turned to face her. "The Empress will begin her speech soon. What should we do?"
"Wait here, Cullen. I'm going to have a word with the Grand Duchess."
"What?" he said, shaking his head. "There's no time! The Empress will begin her speech any moment!"
She patted him on the upper arm to reassure him. "Trust me, Cullen. Just have your people ready."
"Your uniform?" he questioned as she turned to leave. "Were you stabbed?"
She glanced down at the hole in her uniform, nodding. "It's all right. We'll talk later." She looked up at him again, seeing the worry in his amber eyes. "I promise. We'll talk."
Cullen quietly nodded as he watched her walk away.
She walked down to the dancefloor to the foot of the staircase leading up to the upper balcony where Celene would stand for her speech. On the lower level stood Briala, Gaspard and Florianne. The Grand Duchess had her back turned to Evelyn.
"We owe the court one more show, your grace," Evelyn said.
Florianne turned around, startled to see her there very much alive. "Inquisitor."
"The eyes of every noble in the Empire are upon us, your grace. Remember to smile."
Gaspard and Briala took leave, backing away as Evelyn began to walk the steps towards the grand duchess.
"This is your party," Evelyn said, smiling. "You wouldn't want them to think you had lost control."
Florianne began to back up slowly. Even behind the mask, Evelyn could see the wicked smile the other woman wore.
"Who would not be delighted to speak with you, Inquisitor?"
Stopping in front of Florianne, Evelyn folded her hands behind her back. "I seem to recall you saying, "All I needed was to keep you out of the ballroom long enough to strike"."
Looking around the upper walkway around the ballroom, Florianne nodded her head. Evelyn knew she was motioning to someone. She just hoped that Cullen had had enough time to get his people in place. Otherwise, she was not going to need to worry about Celene any longer because she would be dead as well.
"When your archers failed to kill me in the garden, I feared you wouldn't save me this last dance," she said, stepping around the duchess. Walking around behind the woman, she continued. "It's so easy to lose your good graces. You even framed your brother for the murder of a council emissary."
Gaspard approached when he heard himself being mentioned. He looked at his sister through narrowed eyes.
"It was an ambitious plan. Celene, Gaspard, the entire Council of Heralds…all your enemies under one roof."
Florianne backed up. Her expression quickly changed as people began to turn to face them as they talked. Her voice lowering as she tried to appear frightened by Evelyn. "This is very entertaining, but you do not imagine anyone believes your wild stories?"
Up above everyone stood Celene. She had been quietly forgotten as she listened to everything that was said. "That will be a matter for a judge to decide, cousin."
"Gaspard?" Florianne called out as she turned to her brother. Playing the victim in all of this. "You can't believe this! You know I would never…"
Gaspard backed away as fast as he could, quickly retreating up the stairs to distance himself from his sibling. Taking his cue, Briala followed closely behind him. Two chevaliers greeted him at the foot of the stairs as he ordered them to take her.
"Gaspard?" the duchess called out as she tried to step backwards to get away from the chevaliers that were approaching.
"Take her away," Evelyn ordered the chevaliers. "You lost this fight ages ago, Your Grace. You're just the last to find out."
Dropping to her knees, the duchess began to wail as she cried. Begging not to be taken as she was led away. Evelyn pinched the bridge of her nose as she closed her eyes. She was done with the evening. She wanted to go home to Skyhold and wash the filth of all of this off her body. And burn the uniform.
Turning to look up at Celene, she bowed her head in the empress's direction. "Your Imperial Majesty, I think we should speak in private. Elsewhere."
Celene nodded as Evelyn took the steps two at a time. "Very well, Inquisitor. Please follow me."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Evelyn stepped outside on the balcony as Celene stood on centerstage of the balcony to make her announcement that she would remain the Empress of Orlais. In the end, she had to confess to Celene that Briala did assist in helping her find out what had happened. Gaspard's orders were given to Celene as proof of the betrayal as well as the mercenary captain to confess what had happened. The Grand Duke was eventually sentenced to death and Briala was pardoned for her previous crimes but was exiled.
Resting her hands on the balcony railing, she leaned forward to look out over the forest outside of the Winter Palace. She was in no mood to listen to the platitudes from the Empress about as she addressed the nobles. Leaving for someplace quiet allowed Leliana and Josephine to step forward to take charge. That was fine with Evelyn since she was beginning to feel more like a pawn than the leader of the Inquisition.
"The Orlesian nobility make drunken toasts to your victory, and yet you are not present to hear them?" Morrigan said as she stepped out on the balcony to speak with her. "Do you tire so quickly of their congratulations, Inquisitor? 'Tis most fickle, after all your efforts on their behalf."
Evelyn scoffed, pushing back her brunette hair. "Everyone suddenly wants to talk to me. You, at least, I'm glad to see. You've been the only honest person I've spoken to tonight."
Morrigan chuckled as she lowered her head. "Then I have happy news. As you shall be seeing a great deal more of me. By Imperial decree, I have been named liaison to the Inquisition." She turned to look out over the forest. "Celene wishes to offer you any and all aid – including mine. Congratulations."
"I had no idea you were interested in joining the Inquisition, Morrigan," Evelyn said, surprised.
"The assignment has been given to me, regardless of my personal interest. Celene knows you face an opponent who wields great magical power, which is far more important than her own curiosity." Morrigan tilted her head slightly as she looked at Evelyn. "You will require my knowledge if you are to defeat such magic. Regardless, Corypheus is a threat to Orlais…and to myself. Thus I am not opposed to the appointment."
Evelyn smiled as she nodded her head slightly in Morrigan's direction. "Welcome to the Inquisition, Morrigan."
Morrigan seemed surprised that Evelyn had just welcomed her to join. "A most gracious response." Turning away, she said, "I shall meet you at Skyhold."
As the mage completely turned and walked away, Evelyn turned back to look out into the night sky. Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply to enjoy the clean air surrounding her. It gave her a chance to allow herself to relax even if it was for a moment.
"There you are! Everyone's been looking for you," Cullen said as he walked out of the balcony to find Evelyn there. When he did not see her during Celene's speech he was afraid that something had happened to her. "Things have calmed down for the moment." He watched her swipe at her eyes with her gloved hand his concern grew. "Are you all right?"
"I'm just worn out. Tonight has been…very long." Her head slowly nodded as she pushed herself up from the balcony rail. She shrugged with a sigh. "Things went according to plan for once. I couldn't be happier."
He shifted to look at her as she turned to him more. "This whole operation had me on edge. I'm glad it's over." He reached out to touch her and hesitated for a moment. When her head lowered and he could see the exhaustion in the way she held herself, he placed his hand on her upper arm. "I know it's foolish, but I was worried for you tonight."
She smiled as she lifted a hand and covered his hand that rested on her arm. Squeezing it gently, she lowered her head to look down again. The cheers and laughter of the ballroom began to filter out onto the balcony.
"You know," Cullen said as he looked through the balcony doors into the ballroom before turning back. "I may never have another chance like this, so I must ask."
Evelyn felt his hand leave her arm as he pulled away from her. Turning she watched Cullen take several steps away from her. His smile was inviting as he lowered at the waist slightly, holding out his hand in her direction. Her heart began to race as she turned to watch him.
"May I have this dance, my lady?"
Every tense muscle in her body began to relax as she placed her hand into his. "Of course. I didn't know you could dance."
He spun her around and pulled her closer to his body. His freehand moving to her waist as he moved her against him. Her body next to his felt like a missing limb being returned to his body. Gazing down at her, he smiled.
"For you, I'll try."
She allowed him to lead the dance, step by step, she gave him control of every move. It was a wonderful feeling to allow him to be in control. He was not trying to take control of her. He was not trying to make her do anything she did not want him to do. She offered him control willingly.
When she turned her head to rest her cheek against his shoulder, Cullen lowered his head to place his cheek on the top of her head. Her body relaxed against his as they swayed to the music that filtered out onto the balcony. Inhaling, he could smell the faint jasmine in her hair along with the signs of her battling through the night against Florianne's forces. An odd mixture that he found arousing. That a woman would be saving a country at the same time as allowing him to hold her in his arms.
"Lady Trevelyan," he said, just barely above a whisper as he looked down at her.
She opened her eyes to look up at him. His amber eyes were warm and inviting as he stared at her. "Kiss me," she blurted out. "Now before I change my mind."
His hand that had been holding hers as they danced moved to curl beneath her chin. Tilting her head back slightly, he lowered his to kiss her. Their lips met soft and gentle until he felt her moan against his touch. Her body moved against his as he deepened the kiss. Her mouth inviting him as he used his hand on her back to press her painfully closer to his body. Soft and gentle yet strong and demanding, she was a mixture of all against his touch.
Breaking the kiss, Cullen rested his forehead against hers. Both breathing heavily as he looked at each other with matching smiles on his face.
"Either the potion did not work," he said.
She chuckled. "Or we were just meant to be."
"I really hope it's the latter," he said, kissing her forehead.
"I hope you're right, Cullen."
"I do as well, Evelyn."
Her body trembled in his arms when she heard him address her by her name. "Say it again," she said.
"Evelyn," he whispered against her ear.
"I like that," she said, tilting her head back.
"As do I, Evelyn," he said before kissing her again.