"You look beautiful, Seeker."
Lady Pentaghast watches her reflection smile at his words as she continues to smooth her hands down the light cotton sleeves of her black blouse, she catches his eyes in the reflection seeing that he is perched on the edge of the bed waiting for her to finish getting ready but it watching her every move. The Seeker looks back at her reflection again, hoping that she did look okay and no one was going to notice that she had managed to avoid wearing a dress. Cassandra liked wearing black; she knew that it suited her and highlighted her colouring and figure, but she had settled into wearing lighter colours that complimented the Inquisitor's wardrobe more often than not because she felt more comfortable and like she didn't stick out, she liked them to look like they were together. He always told her she looked beautiful and she knew she could parade around in an old carpet and he would still proclaim she took his breath away. Today however she could see he was the one matching her dark attire with his funeral outfit.
"You look very handsome, my Lord Inquisitor." Cassandra replies directing her eyes to his again seeing him nod before dropping his head, she watches him place his hands on his dark leather-covered knees trying to find something to occupy them and stop him fidgeting.
Lady Pentaghast removes her eyes from her unhappy Inquisitor, feeling like she is watching him going through a whole range of emotions this morning every time she looks at him. She hears him climbing to his feet behind her, the quiet noise his booted feet make when they come into contact with the stone and the sound of the bed move as he stands. Cassandra can't help but smile when she hears him approach her when his hands move to her waist she glances over her shoulder at him again.
"You always look beautiful." She watches him nod and give her the best smile he can manage, she lets him wrap his arms around her waist as he places his chin against her shoulder. She directs her eyes back into the mirror and she lets them settle on his face, he looked tired and his nightmares in the early hours of the morning had been worse than ever. But, he was still her Inquisitor and since they had left the vial locked tightly in a small box inside their trunk he had remained that way.
"So you tell me." Cassandra smiles at him when he looks at her once more. "Would you mind helping me with this?" The Seeker motions to the locket that she has left on top of the dresser, the locket that contains her picture of her brother Anthony and her Blue Star flower that the Inquisitor had retrieved from under a sleeping Dragon for her. It was one of the rarest flowers in Nevarra, a small blue star-shaped one that no matter how long ago it had been picked it remained alive and fresh. It gave off a brilliant blue glow that she had spent many a quiet moment admiring whenever she thought of him.
"Of course." Lord Trevelyan nods, he reaches his hand out to take the locket from the wooden surface where it lays waiting. Cassandra watches him undo the usually fiddly clasp with his nimble fingers before wrapping it around her neck; he glances at her reflection to see if she is happy with the position. Lady Pentaghast places her palm over the locket holding it in place giving him a smile and a nod. The Seeker feels him attach the two ends carefully together, being sure to not catch any of her hair at the back of her neck. When he is done he leans down to press a gentle kiss over the placement of the chain making her flush under his mouth.
"Ashton.." Lady Pentaghast begins when she feels him place his hands on her shoulders, stroking them beneath his fingers. "I think we should keep the vial with us today." The Seeker adds watching him catch her eyes in the mirror again, looking confused at her request. "Something feels wrong, and maybe we should keep it with us just in case." Cassandra whispers when he drops his eyes from hers and slides his hands down to her arms.
"But we agreed it's dangerous." The Inquisitor replies looking up from the floor to her. "I'm dangerous when it's around me and the last thing I need today is to have any emotions I'm trying to control heightened." He adds with a slight shake of his head, she watches him bite at the cut on his lip.
Cassandra could see he had enough sadness and probably couldn't bear the thought of anymore but they had to have the vial with them today. She had a feeling that they were going to get help, she hoped that he was going to be there to help them destroy the vial and the blood magic it contained.
"I will carry it with me.." Lady Pentaghast begins seeing The Inquisitor try to interrupt and argue with her, she places her hands on his drawing them around her waist again as she just sighs knowing she will get her way. "Just listen, Inquisitor." Cassandra huffs seeing him smile at her pout. "I will carry it with me, I won't wear it but it will be with me if we need it. I won't touch it and I won't let you wear it either."
"Fine, okay." Lord Trevelyan sighs as he brushes his mouth against her cheek before letting go of her. "If you want it with us, then that is what we'll do. Just be careful, okay?" He asks when she watches him step away from her and walk over to one of their large wooden trunks, she sees him kneel in front of it like he had done before, unlocking it.
The Seeker turns, leaning back against the dresser so she can see what he is doing, quietly praying that even being this close to the vial wouldn't change him. He unlocks the latch with a metal clunk before placing his hands on the lid, lifting it so he gains access. He searches through their clothes for a moment knowing that they have buried it right to the bottom to keep it out of harm's way and to make sure that they don't lose it. Cassandra sees him place his handle on the small wooden box that contains the vial, he takes hold of it bringing it up out of the trunk to look at it.
"Make sure you find the pouch too," Cassandra adds smoothing her hands down her black trousers, she couldn't help but wonder what Lady Annabelle would be turning up to her husbands funeral in, she was sure they wouldn't be arriving wearing the same outfit. "I'll keep it in there and in my pocket, then neither of us will touch it."
"If anything happens, I want you to give it back to me." Lord Trevelyan glances up at her again waiting for her agree before he decides to hand it over to her. When he sees Cassandra just nod, she watches him open the wooden box carefully picking the little bottle up by the piece of leather that has been attached at its neck so that he could wear it. "I don't like this thing.." He mumbles when he watches the blood thrash around inside the glass. He holds it away from his face when all of the contents slide up the sides as if it is trying to reach towards him.
"Don't touch it," Lady Pentaghast whispers when she sees that he has brought the bottle back towards him again and is eyeing it. She watches his brow sink when he sets his eyes on the swirling red in front of them. "Inquisitor put it down." Cassandra adds quickly moving towards him, she places her hand on his shoulder feeling him jump at her touch dragging him out of his gazing into the vile.
"What did you say?" Lord Trevelyan mumbles frowning again when he looks up at her, obviously completely having missed her warning to him. The Seeker takes the small leather pouch that Solas had given it to them in, she opens it up and places it in his other hand so that he can drop the pulsing red vial, complete with its leather string, into the pouch closing it tightly.
"Give it to me" Cassandra watches him drop his eyes to the pouch in the palm of his hand before he closes his fist around it. "Lord Trevelyan you need to hand me the vial so we can go." The Seeker adds holding her hand out to him, she sees him glance between her and the vial as if he is suddenly very attached to it and he wants to keep it for himself. "Ashton.." Cassandra raises her voice slightly as he snaps out of it again forcing the leather pouch away from him and into her waiting hand.
"I'm okay." The Inquisitor replies shaking his head as if trying to remove an early morning fog from his brain. The Seeker places her hand on his shoulder again squeezing it, thankful that he had done as she has asked and hasn't let himself be taken by the vial again. Cassandra quickly tucks the pouch into her pocket so that it is out of his eyesight and safely out of his hands.
"Are you sure?" The Seeker settles her eyes on him again watching him pause for a moment as if he's suddenly feeling drained. "Do you know where you are?" Cassandra asks bending down to look at him closer, she places her hand on top of his head tilting it back to look into his eyes making the Inquisitor laugh at her inspection of him.
"Cass, what are you doing?" Lord Trevelyan laughs again when she places her finger beneath his chin turning his head from side to side. "You don't need to check me over and go all Seeker on me.." He huffs pushing her hands away from his face gently when she starts trying to get him to open his mouth to inspect his tongue. "I'm not some Blood Mage that you can poke at." The Inquisitor snaps making her remove her hands from him quickly, that was very unlike her Inquisitor.
"I'm sorry, I was just checking you are okay," Cassandra replies coolly fixing him with a stare. "I worry about you, as much as you worry about me." Lady Pentaghast adds standing up again and moving away from him. She worried more, she imagined. He had so many evil things trying to take control of him, all she had was a bad temper and a sharp tongue.
"No, I'm sorry." Lord Trevelyan begins reaching out to her, he grabs hold of her hand pulling her back towards him and down into his waiting arms so he is carrying her. "I'm just tired." He adds sighing. "Today is not a good day." The Inquisitor mumbles when Cassandra looks at him again, he was still with her but he was changing again.
"I do understand." Lady Pentaghast replies wrapping her arm around his shoulder, letting him cradle her for a moment while he was being so apologetic. She traces her finger along his hairline before leaning in to kiss his cheek. "We should go, Inquisitor." Cassandra adds as he helps her to her feet. "Are you ready?" Lady Pentaghast asks him receiving another nod, she watches him climb to his feet brushing his hands on his own breeches hoping he hasn't dirtied them on the floor. Cassandra watches him move to their bed again where he has left his black coat that he intends on wearing and her black shawl.
"As ready as I'm ever going to be, my love.." The Inquisitor looks to her to give her a reassuring smile that he was okay; he could see that she looked worried about him and not just because of Henry's funeral. He picks up his coat slipping it onto his arms and, up onto his shoulders and body, she watches him wrap it around himself tighter for comfort rather than to keep him warm. He reaches for her shawl, holding it out to her on the end of one finger giving her the smile she loves so much. "I'm alright, Cass." The Inquisitor replies with a laugh when The Seeker forces herself into his arms, she throws her arms around him pressing her head against his chest.
"Just please be careful." Cassandra huffs wrapping her arms tighter around his torso letting him move his hands to her shoulders, he rubs his hands over her back trying to reassure her. "Just know that everything I've done is to try and fix this.." The Seeker whispers feeling his hands stop at her words.
"Why, what have you done?" Lord Trevelyan chuckles when she looks up at him, before removing her eyes from his gaze when he raises his eyebrows in question.
Before Lady Pentaghast can reply and tell him exactly what she has done, for good or for bad, there is a slight knock at the door. Cassandra giggles and starts batting him away when The Inquisitor wraps his arms around her pulling her flush against his body. He takes hold of her face in his hands leaning to press his lips to hers in an urgent kiss that makes her sigh. The Seeker slips her hand beneath his coat and onto his waist while the other one grips his shirt.
"I am. Sorry to interrupt." Commander Cullen coughs looking uncomfortable. He begins letting his eyes focus on everything in the room but them when he spots that he has walked in on a private moment.
Lord Trevelyan slides his hands down her back, before pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. He reluctantly lets go of her when he sees the Commander step into the room. The Seeker watches a small smile tug at the corner of her lover's mouth; he had every intention of making the Commander uncomfortable with his actions and had guessed that it would be Cullen at the door.
"It's fine, Cullen." Lady Pentaghast glances over her shoulder at her friend that has appeared in the doorway, she looks back to Lord Trevelyan and takes the shawl from his waiting finger. "We will finish this later, Inquisitor." Cassandra whispers dropping her eyes to his mouth when she sees his smirk.
"The family are ready to leave, Inquisitor. They are waiting for you in front of the house." The Commander nods in the general direction that the Trevelyan family have gathered. "I thought you might like to accompany me to the Chantry, Lady Pentaghast?" The Commander adds glancing at her to see if she has realised that there has been an issue with Cassandra going with the family.
"No, Cassandra is coming with me". Lord Trevelyan huffs when he turns back to face the Commander. "Who has said otherwise?" He asks fixing his eyes on Cullen who looks like he is wondering why he ever agreed to deliver the message and face the potential wrath of their leader.
"I'm sure I can guess." Lady Pentaghast sighs and pulls her shawl around her shoulders, she was sure the only one in the family that would question her being there would be a certain blonde former flame of the Inquisitor, that had been only too keen to spy on them and cause them upset.
"I'm sorry Cassandra, Lady Annabelle has requested that you aren't seen with the family when they accompanying Henry's body. Lord and Lady Trevelyan have tried to get her to see reason but she has refused to allow them to go with Henry if you are there too." Cullen sighs lowering his voice, The Seeker feels anger grip her at the nerve of that woman. "I'm sorry Ashton, they tried." The Commander adds looking to Lord Trevelyan who has gone quiet. Cassandra looks to lover to watching him cross his arms over his chest as he huffs, trying to take in Cullen's message.
"She has no right." The Inquisitor suddenly shouts making Cullen and Cassandra flinch at his sudden outburst. "He is my brother. Cassandra is my partner. They are my parents. She has no right to dictate who gets to do what." He rages as The Seeker sees him storm towards the door. "Anna can't threaten my parents and expect to get away with it." He shouts before Cassandra moves to place herself between him and his exit, hoping that the rage that is threatening to take him again hasn't got so great that he won't still be calmed.
"It's fine Ashton, I will go with Cullen to the Chantry and I will meet you there." Lady Pentaghast sighs trying to calm her lover down, she places her hands on his crossed arms and then to his chest feeling the adrenaline beating through his veins and wondering if his sudden outburst has anything to do with the vial. "If she wants you to ride with her, I understand. I'm used to watching from the side remember." Cassandra smiles trying to ease his anger, she moves a hand to his face stroking his cheek when she sees it doesn't have much of an effect. "You have to go with your family." She sighs when she feels him relax slightly at her touch and unfold his arms.
"You are my family. You are part of this family." Lord Trevelyan huffs quietly knowing that he isn't going to be able to do anything about changing Lady Annabelle's mind. As much as Cassandra hated the idea of having to watch him go without her, he needed to be there for his parents and his Nephews. She wasn't a Trevelyan and in the eyes of the Chantry their relationship wasn't traditional or moral "She has no right to do this, today of all days." The Inquisitor shakes his head and lets her stroke the soft skin at his neck with her fingers.
"Unfortunately she is his wife and her wishes are going to be the ones that people are listening to. But getting angry at her and showing that this upsets you will only be letting her think she has won. Annabelle wants to hurt you as much as she is hurting, so you have to go with them and show her that you are stepping up to be the head of this family." Lady Pentaghast gives him a reassuring smile watching him nod slowly. "You need to be there to support them."
"We won't be far behind you, Ashton." The Commander adds trying to reassure him that he would keep them close and arrive as soon after them at the Chantry as they could. "Your Mother and Father were hoping you would travel with them." Cullen nods when Lord Trevelyan looks to him. "I will keep my eye on Cassandra." He adds in almost a whisper, not entirely sure if that would soothe the Inquisitor's anger or not.
"This isn't fair." Lord Trevelyan shakes his head again as he brings his hands up to her face, he traces the line of her scar with his thumb setting his eyes on her. "What about what I need?" He asks watching the corner of her mouth lift, she knew that he needed her with him. The Seeker hated to see her Inquisitor sad but she felt glad that he found comfort in her and that it was something she could do for him, he did so much for everyone else and deserved some support. "You should get to be at my side and we are together whether she likes it or not." He adds dropping his hands so he can slide his arms around her again.
"Just tell your Mother and Father that I wish I could have accompanied them this morning and that it's not their fault." Lady Pentaghast watches her lover drop his head before nodding. Cassandra leans forward to press her mouth against the side of his head, trying to ignore the feeling of the Commander's eyes burning into her. "We will see you at the Chantry," Cassandra adds when he rests his forehead against hers. "I love you." She whispers feeling him smile at her words.
"I love you." Lord Trevelyan smiles pressing his lips to her cheek. "More than anything in the world." He adds making Cassandra blush, she hated that he had that effect on her. Seekers were not supposed to blush. Cassandra lets him take her into his arms again, resting her head against his as he holds her tightly. "Don't touch the vial." He whispers when she feels him place his hand on her pocket where it is being kept safe.
"I'll walk you out, Inquisitor.." The Commander mumbles knowing if he doesn't interrupt them he will never get them to let go of each other. Cassandra feels her lover nod as he releases her from his arms but moves to take both of her hands in his. The Seeker glances at Cullen who just sighs to himself when he approaches them.
"Brave faces." Lady Pentaghast smiles to Lord Trevelyan receiving another nod as he steps out of the door that Cullen holds open for him, waiting till the last moment he can before he lets go of her hand.
The Seeker moves to stand in the doorway watching the Inquisitor and the Commander walk away from her and down the hallway together. She watches Cullen place his hand on the Inquisitor's back giving him a supportive pat that makes her smile, it was a lot easier having them not at each other's throats all the time now that they were becoming friends. She couldn't help but wonder if there would ever be the right moment to tell the Inquisitor how he got the wound to his back, that she can see he still favours when he walks. Maybe when they had lifted the taint from him and destroyed the magic, maybe when he was feeling more himself and she had him in a relaxing bath with as little stress as possible. Maybe then she would tell him that the Commander had tried to kill him.