Ellana raised her champagne flute to quickly down its contents and began to scan the room for a server to replace the now empty glass held within her hand. The Winter Palace was packed with nobles from all across Orlais. How could Gaspard care for this many people? It was a ridiculous and chauvinistic move from the Emperor; she should expect nothing less. No servers in sight – Ellana sighed and shifted her focus to her trembling hands instead.
She wore white lace gloves this evening along with a matching white lace mask. Her dress, a long deep blue gown of silks and chiffons had been sent to her from the court, a request from Gaspard, himself. Not even married and he was already controlling her. Ellana scowled; it was a beautiful dress, yet knowing it came from him sent repulsive shivers through her spine. Another feature: it had long sleeves that carried past her small wrists and a high neckline that, coupled with the mask, did an excellent job at covering her vallaslin. Ellana knew this was no mere coincidence; Gaspard had chosen a gown to downplay the fact that she was a Dalish elf. Everyone in Thedas already knew as much, and yet he wanted to hide her away for their big announcement.
'What terrible irony.' Ellana depressingly chuckled to herself; worried that Cullen would stop her from passing down her heritage to their children and yet she stood before a man who would literally shave off her ears, if such practices were accepted.
Why was she doing this? Honestly, she wasn't entirely she. She was just exhausted; tired of constantly bringing others into her messes and causing them only further pain and suffering. The Inquisition members didn't deserve convictions or abolishment from visiting Orlais. She had accepted the Emperor's help and agreed to his demands. She would have a few months after the announcement before the marriage and her time would be spent exhausting every possible cure for Avexis and the Rite of Tranquility. After that, she didn't care what happened to her. She felt sorrow in thinking how Cullen had been pulled into this with her… and also had plans to try and dissuade the Emperor from following through with Cullen's marriage to Celene over the next few months. Hopefully, she could save him. For herself, she had resigned to her fate. No more asking others to bail her out of her misfortunes. Ellana was tired of fighting and was ready to put up the white flag.
….
Cullen stood in the corner of the ballroom, shoulders hunched over and defensively holding his hands balled into fists at his side. A part of him still couldn't believe Ellana was to go through with this… she had to have a plan.
There were times where she had run into battle when it looked as though all hope had been lost. Cullen would catch a quick glimpse of her before she charged and noticed a glimmer of hope in her eye; his stomach would relax – she had a plan. A wild one, to be sure – but a plan, nonetheless. He had caught her eye earlier this evening in the Winter Palace and felt complete despair upon seeing the clear absence of any glimmer of hope. She looked conquered; like an animal that had resigned itself to death. Maker, he couldn't let this happen… there had to be some way to stop it. He would have to be the one with a wild and risky plan, tonight.
….
"Inquisitor, may I have this dance?"
Ellana startled upon hearing his voice. She turned around and found Cullen extending an arm towards her, a gallant smile on his lips and eyes locked on her own.
"Cullen…" she started.
"Surely you'll allow me to have one last dance." He leaned forward, further extending his hand.
She sighed and allowed a tiny smile to form, grabbing for his fingers. "Of course, Commander."
They found a place among the ballroom floor and she effortlessly placed herself within his arms, pushing down the feeling of delight when his hand glid softly down her lower back as they settled in to begin their dance. He grabbed her hand and pulled her in tightly; her breasts lightly gracing his chest. She blushed; it would be ridiculous for them to act so informal with one another, at this point.
They began to dance.
It was far too easy. She quickly fell into rhythm with him as he seamlessly led her around their small carved out space among the ballroom. Everyone around them quickly faded into the background and Ellana focused solely on the intoxicating amber eyes placed before her. He spun her around, throwing her out towards the crowd before pulling her back in, tightly pressed against him. The few seconds in which she separated from him felt like agony. Ellana cherished her return once he pulled her back in from the twirl. She replaced both arms around his neck this time, as he wrapped his arms around her waist. That scar – that pesky scar. Ellana couldn't stop staring at it.
Her mind was brought back to their last dance at the Winter Palace; how happy she had been, placed in his arms before Gaspard had pulled her away; how jealous Cullen had looked upon hearing the Emperor's proposal; how pleased his look of jealously had made her. She had wanted him to be jealous; wanted him to fight for her, to make his feelings towards her clear. How far away that all felt, now.
"I'm going to kiss you." He whispered.
"Cullen, you can't." It took the entirety of her willpower to whisper back.
"Then tell me not to."
She couldn't.
Lifting on her toes, she reached up to meet his lips. The warmth from his mouth crashed into her and left her hopelessly yearning for more. His arms tightened around her waist and pulled her further into him, melding her body into his own; she could feel his heart beating against her chest. One of her arms remained flung around his neck and she pulled the other forward to slide across his cheek, lightly brushing his stubble with her fingertips. His mouth claimed her as his own, hungerly devouring her fears and anxieties around their love and replacing them with a blissful reassurance. The familiar heat began to rise from her lower stomach as she wrapped her tongue around his own; she needed him – needed to feel him on all parts of her.
"Maker, I need you." He whispered in a short break from their kiss. Ellana felt his hands grabbing at her waist and she lightly moaned, pulling his lips back in for more.
"Inquisitor… Commander…" Leliana's voice pulled them away from each other. Ellana glared at their friend; 'What could she possibly want?'
The Winter Palace. They were in the middle of the ballroom in the Winter Palace…
Ellana's eyes followed Leliana's line of vision to one of the higher platforms, where Gaspard stood with his cousin Celene, angrily watching the open declaration of love occurring between her and Cullen on his floor. "Fenedhis…" she whispered before quickly running off to one of the private balconies.
She had only a few seconds of peace before Cullen quickly opened the door and ran over to her. "Ellana," he grabbed her by the waist. "I don't care that he's seen us. I cannot stand by and let you throw your life away to a man like Gaspard. Even if you no longer wish to be with me – "
"I do." She grabbed his jacket by the collar, "wish to be with you. Of course, I do… I just don't know how to – "
"Do not agree to marry that man!" Cullen grabbed her by the face, bringing her eyes to his own. "I don't care who comes charging through that door next or what they have to say – do not agree to it. Don't walk away from me, I cannot lose you."
Sure enough, the balcony doors were thrown open to reveal Josephine, Cassandra and Leliana. Josephine ran over to the two of them with a horrified expression on her face. "Inquisitor! I – Maker, you could have told me your wish to back out of the arrangement before…" her eyes furiously shifted back towards Ellana and Cullen, "humiliating the Emperor in such a manner in his own court! We are… there is no way for the Inquisition to recover from this…" she nervously trailed off.
"She didn't plan on this." Cullen defensively stepped forward, "You were pushing her into this – urging her to follow through with this disgusting arrangement without considering how it was to feel for her – or I!" he yelled.
"That is not true!" Josephine lashed out at him in a rage that none of them had witnessed before from her. "I did not want this for her! Or for you, Commander! From the beginning, I only said that if we accepted the Emperor's assistance, we would have to meet his conditions."
"We could have accepted the help and found a way out of it." Cullen dismissed her.
"We certainly would have been better off rejecting him within our own gates rather than travelling to his land and the two of you… devouring each other in the middle of the High Court!" she angrily snapped.
"Enough." Cassandra stepped in between Josephine and Cullen, "It is done. We can only decide how to proceed."
Josephine threw up her hands and walked over to the edge of the balcony, "We'll be lucky if we're not arrested and thrown into the lower chambers." She mumbled.
Leliana leaned towards Ellana and gave her a sympathetic smile, "The two of you seem to make public displays of affection in large groups a common theme in your relationship, no?" She attempted to bring a smile to Ellana's lips, referencing their kiss in the Courtyard of Adamant Fortress, after she had returned from the Fade and Kinloch Hold.
Instead of causing Ellana to laugh, it reminded her of all the memories she had at the Circle: meeting Cullen, slowly gaining his trust, the first kiss they shared on the balcony – one much like where they stood tonight – how he openly trusted her and found a way to get her towards the Harrowing Chamber… how he died while protecting her.
She turned towards Cullen and found herself feeling the part of an utter fool. How could she have been seeing him as a Templar these past few weeks? How could she possibly have considered throwing everything away between them, and to marry another man – regardless of the reasons or justifications.
Ellana walked over to Cullen and wrapped her arms around his neck while pulling him into another kiss. He grabbed her by the waist and parted her mouth, pulling her close.
"Maker…" Cassandra grunted. "Can the two of you withhold from doing that for mere a few moments, so that we can discuss our current predicament?"
"Where is Gaspard?" Ellana turned towards Josephine, "I am prepared to speak with him."
Cullen rejoiced upon seeing that spark return to Ellana's eyes; the glimmer of hope. 'Thank the Maker.' He let out a sigh of relief – she had a plan.
….
Ellana walked in through the oversized door in which Gaspard's servant held for her, finding the Emperor and his cousin, Celene, nervously pacing around the private room. Cullen and her advisors quickly followed behind her, readying themselves for a fight.
"Inquisitor," Gaspard growled upon seeing her stroll through the door. "That was quite the spectacle you caused down there! How do you expect for our announcement to proceed after such a sight? You have gone back on your word; I ought to have you arrested."
"Whatever are you talking about?" Ellana coyly smiled and grabbed a pitcher of water placed on a nearby table, pouring herself a drink. Cullen raised an eyebrow in her direction – pretending it never happened? Surely, this couldn't be her plan…
Gaspard was equally confused and became further enraged. "I speak of you and your Commander – " he paused and sent an angry glare towards Cullen, who returned it with his own hostile stare. Gaspard continued, "locking lips on the ballroom floor mere minutes ago. Do you not imagine that every noble in Orlais is discussing your relationship, now? You've obviously reneged on our arrangement!"
"I have not." Ellana smiled and walked towards the Emperor, glancing over towards Celene – the woman looked… relived? Perhaps Ellana was mistaken… she turned back towards Gaspard. "I plan to continue with the engagement. I am, in fact, ready to make the announcement at any time."
"Ellana!" Cullen stepped forward, yet Josephine's hand reached to grab his arm and hold him back; she knew where Ellana was going with this and slyly smiled – it was genius.
"You – you can't be serious?" Gaspard choked, "we cannot announce our engagement after you've been necking with the Commander of your forces for everyone to see!"
"Well," Ellana glanced at Gaspard with a smirk, "that is your decision. I'm more than happy to go out there and make the announcement; so, it doesn't look like I've reneged on anything."
Gaspard glared at Ellana, "You think you're so clever. You're not released from this; we will make the announcement another evening."
"That is fine. Moving forward however, I can make no promises on withholding – " she smiled, searching for the correct words – "public displays of affection with my Commander. I seem to be a little helpless in the presence of his charm." She winked at Cullen, causing the Emperor to slam his fist down upon a nearby table.
"She is right, dear cousin." Celene stepped forward, "she offers to follow through with her commitment; there has been no retracting of one's word here tonight. They do however, make their intentions clear: they will humiliate us. These engagements cannot proceed."
Ellana was correct – she caught it again, a tiny glimpse of appreciation in Celene's face. The poor woman wanted this engagement no more than Ellana or Cullen. Gaspard was truly a vile man.
The Emperor threw a final glare at Cullen before walking towards Ellana, standing mere inches apart from her. "The engagement is no more. You and your companions are to leave here – immediately. I will not have the Inquisition within the walls of the Winter Palace again; you'll not be receiving any further assistance from Orlais." He turned and charged out of the room as Celene quickly ran after him.
"Maker's Breath." Cassandra let out a long sigh, one she had been holding for almost the entirety of this meeting.
Ellana turned to Cullen and found him standing in a dumbstruck state. "You did it…" he whispered. She walked over to him and thew her arms around his neck, burrowing her face into his chest.
"Well done, Inquisitor." Josephine beamed, "Although, might I suggest we get out of here at once?"
"Yes!" Ellana laughed, "I would be thrilled to depart this horrible place."
….
Ellana was preparing to mount her horse when a light tap on her shoulder startled her. She turned around to see a small elf standing before her. Creators, she looked familiar… Ellana swore she had seen her before.
"Briala." Ellana said the name as she suddenly placed the Elf. The handmaiden to Celene and… rumored other things…
"Inquisitor." Briala leaned close and dropped her voice to a mere whisper, "Mistress Celene would like to extend her appreciation for your handling of Gaspard and his… wild ideas."
Ellana nodded, unclear of why Celene felt the need to send Briala here to pass along such a message.
"If she…." Briala further lowered her voice, "ever finds herself in a position of power – maybe the position of Empress…"
Ellana raised her eyebrows.
Briala continued, "she would be interested in resuming the relations between Orlais and your Inquisition. Please keep this in mind and… confidential." The elf bowed and quickly retreated towards the palace.
"What was that about?" Cullen approached Ellana.
"Cullen," Ellana laughed, "you don't want to know." He raised an eyebrow and so she chuckled in defeat, "Fine – but I'll tell you another time. It's not important and I am far too excited to put distance between us and the palace of Orlais."
"Agreed." He wrapped his arms around her waist, "Let's return to Skyhold, my love."