Chapter Twenty-Four

Val Royeaux

Approaching the city was… not what I expected. Oh, it was grand and shining and opulent… but it was also… bustling and crowded.

Another surprise was that both Bull and Krem met us there. So I did what I had promised and launched myself happily into Krems' arms – he caught me – and kissed him…

Bull cursed, "I thought you were yanking my horn, Krem."

Krem gave me an amused look, "You were the one that insisted I come along with you while the others headed to Haven so that I could prove it, Chief. As to your offer, Admiral… I think I'm fine the way I am."

"More power to ya – I won't bring it up again unless you do, my man. Here you go, Bull – one High Dragon Claw from a Ferelden Frostback. If you want the Maraas-Lok, it's back in Haven so tough. I didn't expect you to meet up with us."

"So you don't see everything…" he nodded and relaxed.

"Course not – I only know a bit over the next 3 years so it's fairly easy to surprise me… if you can. How did you get here before us?"

"Krem brought two horses with him – and we didn't really sleep two of those days. I knew you were a red-head, but when Krem said that he would get a kiss upon seeing you, I had to drag him with just to prove it. His body language said it wouldn't happen… yours said that you actually like him."

"Oh, I do – but I'm taken twice over. We just did this to fuck with you." I smirked as we began walking into the city proper. Bull cursed, "And did you really buy his stuffed nugs?"

"I have wanted one for a long time, Bull; who wouldn't want such an adorable plushie? Look – I have it with me!" I pulled it out of my bag, "I've named it Angel and it's with me whenever I lay down for the night."

"You brought that thing with you?" Blackwall gruffed amused.

"Well… yes – how else would I ensure Blake didn't steal it while I was gone? He isn't fool enough to fight Leliana for her two, but he is fool enough to incur my wrath by stealing mine… and you saw the dumbass jump into a frozen lake after putting his foot in his mouth because he fears me."

Cassandra sighed, "You would think he'd brave Leliana before upsetting you at that rate."

"We are always doing shit like that – but enough; looks like the templars are here. Scout, give your report to Leliana and Cullen; someone will need to let them know. I forgot to tell them that we would be attending the salon hosted by Madam De Fer."

"Liar," Bull laughed.

"I am not! I purposely forgot," I quipped.

Krem chuckled, "I made more nugs…"

"Oooh – show me!" I stopped what I was doing at once. Krem handed me a bag with 4 more nugs in it. I passed him 5 sovereigns and pulled out a light blue one with dark blue markings and wings. Krem grinned, "Ha – I knew you'd take that one. I even told chief!"

Bull grumbled, "You didn't spend that long with them – how do you know her so well already?"

"You share a drink with someone, you learn a lot. Plus – I took the lightest and cutest one last time." I pointed out.

I admired the dark blue heart on the light blue nug and hugged it to me… I liked cute things – sue me.

I made sure to tell several regular people things they wouldn't believe about the upcoming meeting… for reasons.

We headed into the main square where the Revered Mother was preaching. "Good people of Val Royeaux, hear me! Together we mourn our Divine. Her naïve and beautiful heart…"

I cut in, "You are calling the Divine Naïve? How blasphemous." Cassandra looked at me in horror.

"Ah – behold the so-called Heralds of Andraste! Claiming to rise where…"

"Actually, I don't claim to be a herald – just because I know a bit of the future means nothing to me. On that note, I already know the remaining clerics won't support us until our job is mostly done, so I really just came here for some shopping. Do not address me as Herald or Your Worship – I am Her Majesty, Princess Celeste Rutherford of Ferelden; engaged to His Majesty King Alistair and married to Arl and Commander Cullen Rutherford of Denerim. For anyone else, my title is Admiral or Inquisitor – but you know… I really don't like what you're trying to do here so I'm going to make you use my proper titles. You are spewing blasphemous rubbish – calling the Divine naïve as though she didn't know better? Beautiful – yes, I can see how her heart was beautiful… but she was the first Divine to have a left hand in what? 2 or 3 reigns? We all know what a left hand does, Mother. And another thing – both of Her Perfections hands work for the Inquisition. They started it and I do not order them around; I value their input and listen when I can. I am sure Her Most Holy would be grandly disappointed in you deriding her choice to start up the Inquisition once more. We do have a writ stating that it was her doing, you know."

Cassandra stood proudly before me, "It is true – the Inquisition was started by the Most Holy and seeks only to stop the Breach before it is too late. And as the Inquisitor said… it was a fight to get her to come here; she was sure you wouldn't listen."

I gave the mother a look – daring her to prove me right.

She did, "It is already too late! The Templars have returned to the chantry."

I spoke, "No they haven't. isn't that right, Lucius?"

And indeed – a man hit the mother in the back of the head. He looked at me, "The woman who pretends to be a prophet."

"Believe what you will, but I already told 15 people in the crowd exactly what your man would do. I've proved my words – you have not."

One man stood up, "It's true – Her Majesty approached me before I got here and told me… that the Lord Seeker would have someone hit the Revered Mother – I… I didn't believe it and called her crazy…"

Several other people spoke up and I gave Lucius a look, "Why Lucy – you look envious."

He stiffened, "You will not address me!"

"Barris – you have been conscripted by order of the Divine before she so suddenly perished; you are to be a Knight-Lieutenant in the Inquisition. Here is the conscription notice if you do not believe me." I had Leliana forge it.

He hesitantly moved forward and took the note. He read it twice before nodding, "Then… I will stand with you, my lady."

I looked at Lucius, "Tell your master that I look forward to meeting him – and defeating him. The Elder One will fall, Envious One."

He lunged at me – Cassandra blocked him and he snarled, "You know nothing."

"On the contrary – I know many things. I know why the sky is blue, I know how the rains fall, I know how to defeat you without the help of compassion, and I know exactly who you are."

He left stiffly. Barris coughed, "You kept… eluding to something…"

"That isn't the real Lord-Seeker Lucius – that is an Envy demon that he allowed to take his place while he helps the Order of Fiery Promise. You'll see – I'll take you with me when we really discover that."

Cassandra looked horrified, but didn't discount my words. We managed to recruit Belle… just in time for me to turn and catch the arrow that was about to wiz past my ear. I winked in the direction the arrow came from and said, "Looks like Red Jenny is interested in a partnership."

Varric sniggered, "That's one way to make people believe in your visions a little more. It's rare someone can catch an arrow when they know it's coming."

Solas smirked, "Indeed."

"Er… to be fair, it wasn't supposed to be this close to my ear. I think our little friend was testing me."

And then a messenger came up to me, "Herald – I have an…"

"Madame De Fer can expect me at her Salon tomorrow, yes. Let her know."

He blinked and nodded, "Yes, Your Worship." And he ran off. I sent Varric to collect the things mentioned in the note.

That's when I saw Fiona. I smiled brightly at her, "Fiona, darling…"

She was 5'5 with sleek black hair and grey-green eyes. She was wearing blue robes. She looked nervous, "If I might have a moment of your time."

"Sure – anything for my future mother-by-law."

Cass smiled, "Of course, Grand Enchanter."

"You… you know? You all know?"

"I already told Alistair too. He is so nervous about seeing you again; he's always wanted family, you see, and he though he had none left." I smiled.

She coughed, "I… wanted to see the fabled Heralds of Andraste with my own eyes. If it is help with…"

"We already intend to choose the Mages over the Templars – we even have things already set up at our main fortress – an enchanters tower, a healing abode, the library, and so on. Barris here is one of the few that are left that hasn't been given the vile Red Lyrium that can make Templars and mages go absolutely mad. We had to recruit him while we could. I won't let innocent and just men die because of the Elder One."

"Oh… then… I will await you in Redcliffe…" she muttered with a flush on her cheeks.

"So you know – it wasn't the mages or the Templars that killed the Divine. Not that you will remember this conversation when we come to Redcliffe… we will see you soon."

I motioned and we all began walking off.

Iron Bull said, "She won't remember?"

"Do you really want an answer?"

"Thinking I need one, boss," he said.

"Evil Tevinter Magister fucks with time to get to Redcliffe just after the Conclave so technically, Fiona was never here – he all but forced the mages into a contract with him and they don't realize that it's basically slavery. By the time we get there, Alexius is deeply entrenched. He'll send Maxwell and our new friend that we haven't met into the future – about a year – and there, Maxwell will see the effects of what the Elder One wants – tearing open the Veil completely, killing everyone, the whole world tainted by the Blight, an army of Demons, the empress assassinated – before maxwell finally manages to come back to the present and Alexius will fall to his knees and give up. I can still hear Leliana saying You have a much time as I have arrows… and Maxwell will watch all of us die to delay the demons and darkspawn while he and our friend fuck with time magic to come back to the present. Don't worry so much, Bull – I'll protect you from the evil demons and magic."

He grunted, "Fucking with time – and I though blood magic was bad."

Krem coughed a laugh and threw an arm over my shoulder, "I did warn you that chief would get like this."

"Cover his ears and go 'La, la, la' in the Fade, right? Nah – he's more likely to blame you for being the one that wanted to reach out to the Inquisition in the first place. I can already hear him mimicking your voice: 'Hey chief. Let's join the Inquisition! Good fights for a good cause!' I don't know, Krem, I hear there are demons. 'Ah, don't worry about the demons, chief! I'm sure we won't see many' – then he'll grumble and call you an asshole before telling us 'Everyone, if I get possessed, feint on my blind side, then go low. Cullen says I leave myself open'."

Bull groaned, "You're telling me that it's going to happen?"

"Maybe – Maybe not. Depends who I take with me at that time. For sure, I'm having to take Maxwell, Hawke, me, Varric volunteered, and Solas wants to go. Vivienne and Dorian will want to go too – just because. I might convince Blackwall that he swore to protect me and the Fade is dangerous. Sera – our Jenny – won't go if she knows it's coming. Our resident Spirit of Compassion won't want to go either and I don't plan to make him. I already have a good line-up – so it's up to you if you're too scared to go or not."

Krem sniggered, "You just called him out! Now he has to go."

"At… at least I'll know what's coming."

"If it makes you feel better… there are 10 more High Dragons we need to fight? I still don't quite know how I managed to kill the first one before anyone else could get a hit in."

Bull looked fascinated, "You killed a High Dragon… all by yourself?"

"She did – it was foolish and reckless and she was trying to stall for time because she didn't wish to attend a party in her honor. The King of Ferelden caught up to us moments later. She has a famous smith making her ceremonial armor from the hide and scales – the bones are being used for armor for her husband and fiancée." Cassandra muttered.

I shrugged, "Wade will do his best work – he loves working with exotic materials. Ah – here is the meeting place from the note."

Blackwall gruffed, "I managed to keep her from getting fried – and then she goes and climbs the Dragon. Stabs it in the eye while talking on a sending stone."

"Almost drowned and had to drink quite a bit of the Blood too," Solas commented.

Bull groaned, "It's a shame you're taken – buy two men… you sure that you aren't interested in having a third buddy in your bed?"

"Take it up with my current men – they are so very jealous of my attentions. Cullen almost gutted a man for making a joke about my boobs; I had to step in and make him cool it. Talk is fine – and I can likely throw you a few feet if you got handsy."

"Then why kiss Krem?" Bull pouted – pouted!

"So that you would back off a bit – and I actually really like Krem. If I weren't so in love with the two men that I have, I might try to see just how red I can get our dear Krem. He's cute."

Varric snorted, "I thought he wasn't your type."

"Other way around – I'm not his type," I corrected.

Krem chuckled, "As flattered as I am, you're right – I prefer women with darker hair."

"Yeah – you're supposed to end up with the resident bard; Maryden. I believe that happens by 9:44 Dragon. The same year I was supposed to marry Cullen." I hummed thoughtfully.

"Sh-she… won't mind about…?" Krem motioned to his body.

"Oh not a bit. I distinctly recall our resident mind-reader will say 'Strong arms, a sweet voice; father wanted me to be happy'… and it will be from you and Maryden."

He cleared his throat, "Well… knowing that… maybe I'll make a move sooner rather than later."

I snorted, "You weren't the one to make a move anyway – she was. You danced around her and sat up in your chair to get 'a better look at… your… songs…' honestly, you flirt as badly as Alistair."

Bull roared in laughter, "That sounds like him."

Krem was bright red. Varric shook his head, "What is it with you and playing matchmaker?"

"It's called 'playing cupid' – because of a… legend back home. And I'm just setting up the couples that work best. Like bull and that flaming gay Vint we'll pick up."

"The what now?" Bull looked thrown.

I winked and ducked as a mage noble threw a fireball at me, "Herald of Andraste! How much did you expend to uncover me? It must have weakened the Inquisition immeasurably!"

"Not a penny – you were a free tip from a person wanting to join us." I shrugged as Maxwell nodded.

"You don't fool me! I am too important for this to be an accident. My efforts will survive against you elsewhere."

The man was clad in all white and gold – no face could be seen. I glanced to my left as Sera came out of the shadows – 5'5 with funnily cropped blonde hair, pretty green eyes, and a lovely bow. She had it pointed at the man, "Just say what."

"What is the…!"

She shot him in the eye and made a face before walking forward, "Ugh. Squishy one, but you heard me, right? 'Just say what'. Rich tits always try for more than they deserve. 'Blah, blah, blah; obey me; arrow in my face!' So, you followed the notes well enough; glad to see your… well, you're kind of plain really. All that talk and you're just… a person. I mean, it's all good innit? The important thing is that he glows. You're the herald thingies?"

"Yeah – he glows and I shoot dragons while opening orphanages for all races."

"I'm sorry – what? Who is this and who was he?" Maxwell asked.

"No idea – don't know this idiot from manners. My people just said the Inquisition should look at him. Names' Sera – this is cover; get round it. For the reinforcements. Don't worry; someone tipped me their equipment shed… they've got no breeches." She was grinning like a loon and better in person!

I nodded as 6 men came pouring into the alley way… half naked. Three of them obviously didn't believe in small-clothes, either. They all died fairly quickly.

She was on a high after as she said, "Friends really came through on that tip. No breeches!"

I chuckled too and said, "So – you want to join us, right?"

"You know who I am then?"

"A friend of red jenny. You like to stick to the nobles that have very large sticks up their arses, yes."

"Here's how it is – you important people are here," she put her hands up high, "Shoving your cods around, 'blah, blah; I'll crush you – I'll crush you'. Step down, you've got lords with big purses like the tit we killed. Or he was one of the arse-lickers who follow? Doesn't matter; his grand plan was ruined by scrap torn from his deck and a red sock. By someone who couldn't read it. So no – I'm not Lord Poncyfart, all ruffled. But…"

"Yeah – I know; if I don't listen down there too – I risk my breeches." I quipped.

She smirked, "Look – do you need people or not? I wanna get everything back to normal; like you?"

"No – not normal… better, maybe. But if normal could be disrupted so thoroughly, then it wasn't working. I want to make things better – mostly for the little people. Fuck the nobles, right?"

"You realize… you are a noble…" Maxwell pointed out.

"Am I? oh, yeah – Arlessa of Denerim. But you'll recall that I just had that whole estate turned into a place where every kid can go for education and housing and meals with a priority on orphans."

"I mean – you're also currently the princess of Ferelden and Queen-in-Waiting since you're engaged to Alistair…"

"That literally just means I have funding for my overhauls of Ferelden with the whole… schooling and soup-kitchens and such…" I blinked.

"You're a good rich-tits then?" Sera asked.

"I grew up as an orphan – no home, no family, stealing for my meals… some habits still abound. I can't stand to see people throw out food when it's still good, I can't allow people to throw out a ratty shirt when it can be mended… so on, you know? Blake – my Vice-Admiral in Haven – was the same way. Oh… I'm uh… I'm Celeste Rutherford Née Cousland."

"Ah – you're the lead Herald thingy." She nodded.

I shrugged, "Two choices – head to haven or follow us and make lewd jokes with Bull, Varric and Blackwall… maybe Maxwell too."

"Is that… even a question?" she asked.

"Not really – who doesn't like lewd jokes?" I laughed.

She grinned, "Exactly!"

"Sera – I have a feeling that this will be the start of a beautiful friendship… if Blake asks, I'm totally bedding you, kay? I like to fuck with him so much."

"Can I steal a kiss?" she grinned cheekily. Krem laughed, "I managed to – though her husband and fiancée both looked ready to gut me for it."

Bull grumbled, "I want a kiss…"

"You like redheads and dragons a little too much – my men knew I wasn't Krems' type; you are totally my type and I am yours. No kiss."

"If I'm your type…" he looked hopeful.

"Not happening, Dragon-Breath; Cullen will gut you like a fish and Alistair – the man that beat the Arishok in single combat with a pike – will take it personally. Trust me – I'm doing you a favor here. Sera can likely steal kisses because what straight, red-blooded man doesn't have that fantasy? Honestly, we could topple the gossip center of Orlais if I stole a kiss from Cassandra at the Winter Palace – it won't happen; she and maxwell make eyes at each other and I'm so not her type."

Cass grunted in annoyance, "No kidding."

"I have the wrong bits. Now… let's go get a hotel room or 6 – we have a snooty enchanter to recruit tomorrow. I like her… but Sera is right. She's a bitch and she knows it."

Sera jerked, "That's creepy."

"Me stealing your lines when you haven't said them or thought of them yet? How do you think I feel?" I harrumphed as Cass began leading us toward a decent Hotel for the night.

When we got there, I saw the looks of people milling around the lobby – heard the whispers of me really having visions because it had just been proven this morning.

One woman approached me, "Inquisitor – a moment of your time, if you please."

I stopped at once and turned to face the woman. She was wearing an elaborate blue gown with a silver mask inlaid with sapphires. "Can I help you, my lady?"

"I simply had a question – is it true that you are married to the Commander and betrothed to the King of Ferelden?"

I held up a finger, "Cassie, could you book rooms for us?"

Cass saluted me and walked off while I smiled, "It's true, My Lady – was there something specific you wished to know?"

"Oh – I'm sure everyone is talking about the love you and the Commander shared at first sight; the tale is so romantic… but no one is quite sure how you ended up betrothed to the King."

I chuckled, "Politics, at first. Alistair and my sister approached me about possibly carrying an heir for Alistair – since my sister is infertile. It's terrible, really – Elissa loves kids. The Landsmeet figured that it just wouldn't make sense to have me be a surrogate when I could just be the queen after I had agreed to the surrogacy. They were well aware that I was engaged – and by that point married – to Cullen, but one of the nobles pointed out a flaw in the Chant of Light; not once did it mention monogamy. Grand Cleric Elemena – Maker rest her soul – approved it so the Landsmeet voted to displace my sister. It passed with only one vote against. Elissa had a sending stone that she used to talk with Alistair – she gave it to me so that Alistair and I could talk. We… well, Cullen and I spoke with Alistair that way and… I fell in love with him too. By the time I met the king in person, we had already chosen to get married when I have my formal wedding to Cullen in Guardian."

"Why did you choose Guardian – the date seems so… deliberate." Another woman asked – she had approached while I spoke along with many others.

"Oh – it will be on the invitations but I just… can't keep it a secret. Guardian 14th was a Holiday back where I was raised. It was dedicated to love and romance – women gifting hand-made chocolates to the one they like and men giving flowers – red roses, specifically – to the women they like. Eventually, it became a holiday where men would give chocolates and roses to the women they were wooing, spending the day with her, and then taking her out to a fancy dinner – just to show his love for her. In other words… it was the day of love. Red, pink and white were the color motifs, though of course it was taboo to wear white to someone elses wedding. Only the bride and groom can wear white or you're cursing the marriage. Pink was the color of young love, red the color of passionate love and white was innocent love – like familial love. It was my favorite holiday."

"Oh, it sounds just lovely – men proving their love for women…"

"Yeah, there became a whole other holiday for the reverse – women pampering men. Exactly one month later in the country where I was raised, women would make men steak for dinner and do anything they wanted – even if that meant letting them spend the whole day alone! Drakonis 14th was dedicated to the men, Guardian 14th was for the women. I just don't see why men would want to be alone, but if that's the request, then it should be honored – as long as they honor the traditions for Valentines' Day, then White Day is for them."

I knew that it was supposed to be reversed. Women gift chocolates and such on Valentines and men gift return gifts on white day. But I was doing this American style… meaning it was the way I described. I wasn't crude enough to tell these dainty princesses that it was supposed to be steak and BJ day though…

"Oh! I wonder if I hint to my husband that these are the holidays that the Inquisition follow, then maybe he will follow suit…" the woman in blue sighed.

Varric spoke, "Waves here told the commander about this holiday in passing and he planned their whole wedding around it because she mentioned it was her favorite. He had it mostly planned before telling her – it features her favorite foods, chocolate desserts, her favorite drinks, decorations that are authentic to the holiday, and… get this – vows from her homelands. He wrote his own vows."

I played along, "You know what they are – oh, Varric, you have to tell me! I have no idea what to write – I want it to be special to both my husbands but how can I do that…? Please?"

"No way, Waves – Curly and Snowflake both said they want to see the happy tears in your eyes when they recite their vows and threatened me within an inch of my life to not say anything! Curly scares me and snowflake infiltrated an Antivan archive – I'm not risking it."

I pouted, "Damn – Alistair is writing his own too! I'm running out of time and I couldn't be anywhere near as romantic as those two have been."

The women were cooing. Krem spoke, "You know – I think I heard the commander saying something about blue roses?"

I gasped – for real this time. I threw my arms around Krems' neck in a hug, "You are perfect, Krem! Blue roses are my favorite – and he knows it; hence this ring. I just kept dreaming of a blue rose ring when I was back home… and he did it for me. Before he ever met me. I love him so much."

The woman in blue, "Those are quite rare – and a new invention, if I am not mistaken. By a man during the Blight, right?"

"That was Cullen – it came to him in a dream how to do it and he did. Again, in honor of his lost bride," Varric supplied.

I blinked – was that why Cullen seemed richer than he should be?

"According to what I know, he made several of those kinds of things; blue roses, bound notebooks with lined paper, the sprayable pepper to keep women safe when walking down narrow alley ways and such," Bull gruffed.

Sprayable… the fucker invented Mace for Thedas?

My lip twitched, "This explains a lot about where he gets his money." I muttered while shaking my head, "I always thought he just saved it during his work as a templar."

"No – Cullen was even named Anointed after that bit of business with the sprayable pepper… what did he name it? Mace?" Cassandra said as she approached.

"Yeah – that's actually a popular tool in my homeland. City guards even get sprayed once every three years so that if a criminal gets a hold of it, they aren't debilitated. Not to mention, there's several other – I'm going to make pens!"

"Whiplash," Maxwell commented.

I pulled out a pen, "This is a portable quill that needs no inkwell – it's called a pen."

Varric nodded, "You gave me some of those – I love them. I can write on the go."

"I could also introduce multi-purpose tools – like this. It has a knife, scissors, nail file, mini-saw, bottle-opener, corkscrew, magnifying glass, pliers, can opener, wire stripper, wire cutter, wire crimping tool, fish scaler, a hook, screwdrivers, chisel, and even a ruler. Very handy when camping or… anything really."

"… Can I have one, Boss?" Krem pleaded with big eyes.

"Oh – sure; it'd be very handy on the go making those stuffed nugs and drinking. Here you go!"

"Boss…" Bull had his whiney voice out. I tossed him one and said, "Only because it's my bribe to you to back off on the flirting."

"Deal." He looked in awe as he played with his new toy.

The women asked a few more questions about my relationship and the holiday before ambling off to spread the gossip elsewhere. We all went to bed not long after – I had a Salon with Maxwell tomorrow.