The sound of quick footsteps was accompanied by an energetic set of calls. "Lady Sylvanni? Er, I mean, Inquisitor? Or should it be Lady Inquisitor?"
Sylvanni turned at the sound, knowing that she needed to look downward to find the speaker as she recognized the voice. "Any and all of those addresses are fine, Dagna."
"Well that's a relief," the dwarven arcanist said with a grin. She was carrying a wide, flat box as she came to a stop in front of the Inquisitor. It wasn't often that Sylvanni saw Dagna outside of the undercroft, but it seemed she'd ventured out into the main hall to make a delivery.
"How can I help you?" Sylvanni asked.
"I was actually hoping that I might be able to help you, to tell the truth!" Dagna said. "See, I've been working on something on the side. Some of the agents found a set of schematics tucked away in one of the dragon lairs that you hunted, really an amazing find. So, I decided to take a crack at it on the side. I know you didn't specifically ask for new armor, and I didn't really tell you about it, but I wanted it to be a surprise."
The woman held the box out, proffering it proudly. "What with the execution tomorrow, I rushed to get it done in time. Not that it's a rushed job, of course! You know me, I always make sure I'm making the best. Harritt did a really good job with the metalwork and settings and all that stuff and I threw a few extra enchantment perks in there, just for good luck's sake. I really think we managed to pull off a masterwork with this one, Inquisitor."
Sylvanni took the package, wondering absently how Dagna so easily carried something this heavy. Casting usually required lighter armors than say, a front-lines warrior would wear, but Sylvanni was used to there being some kind of chain and plate on her outfits. Even the lighter styles weren't entirely without weight. Besides, ever since she'd started fighting up close as a Knight-Enchanter, she'd wanted to be sure she could take hits and look like she could as well.
She pulled the ties on the package, lifting the top off. The armor lay in pieces inside, and Sylvanni quickly took inventory of everything included. There was a close-fit chain shirt with matching leggings, meant to be worn under the rest. A pair of silvery pauldrons with a double layer and a matching set of bracers for her forearms. It wasn't until she found the pieces underneath that she realized what she was holding. The verdant green breastplate and skirt plates were unmistakable. The leather train and sash were of a deep blue, but the designs carefully crafted upon them were intimately familiar.
Dagna popped up onto her tiptoes to watch the unboxing, then turned to watch Sylvanni's face to gauge her reaction. "We tried to make it as accurate as possible, following that schematic exactly. I even asked Dalish - you know, the 'archer' who's not quite an archer in Iron Bull's company? - if she knew anything about how everything was supposed to look and she gave us some feedback. I mean, I guess we could have asked you to be sure, but like I said, I really wanted to surprise you with it."
Sylvanni found herself at a loss for words as everything she thought of saying seemed to catch in her throat. Her eyes welled up again, though from what - nostalgia, gratefulness, mourning, joy - she couldn't say for sure. She struggled to find a proper reaction to something so unexpected.
A full set of Keeper robes. Dagna had somehow found a way to make Dalish Keeper armor for her.
Dagna seemed to decide the Inquisitor's silence called for more talking of her own. "Well, we did take some liberties with the materials, like the sash under the belt and the leather panelling? I dyed those blue, since you always ask for blue armors before and they look so pretty with your eyes and tattoos, but maybe that's inaccurate? Or offensive? By the ancestors, I hope it's not offensive; we really weren't trying to offend you!"
Dagna's worry seemed to chip a few words free from Sylvanni, and she smiled. "Dagna," she said quietly. "It's perfect."
"Really?" The young arcanist beamed. "Oh that's a relief. I'm so glad you like it! When I heard you what you said at the judgment, about the clan and being the Keeper and all of that sort of thing, I just knew I had to get it finished in time. It wouldn't be right any other time. Now, tomorrow, you'll have the right armor! You'll really look the part! I think. I hope! If I made it right, that is…"
Sylvanni's smile grew. "I think it's exactly what I needed. Maybe I'll come down and look at those schematics at some point. I'm curious about looking through any Dalish documents like that our agents have found. This is… remarkable work, and I'm impressed that you managed to construct this from plans alone."
Dagna blushed. "Well, I mean, you definitely still need to try it on. Make sure nothing pinches or is too loose or tight anywhere. If you get it back to me by the end of the day, I can probably get the adjustments finished before the big day tomorrow? It's first thing in the morning, isn't it?"
Sylvanni felt her thoughts grow more somber at the thought of the execution. Tomorrow. Tomorrow it would be over. She simply nodded in response to Dagna's question.
"In that case, you should definitely get some good rest tonight. That always helps me before something important. Also, I know it doesn't mean anything, but I think you did the right thing, Inquisitor. It couldn't have been easy, everything with Antoine and your clan, but you were so controlled and sure of yourself. I mean, I haven't talked to me family since I left Orzammar, but if anything happened to them, I'd be a wreck. So, yeah, I don't know what I'm trying to say exactly, but I think you did well. It was… inspiring, I think!"
"Thank you, Dagna," Sylvanni said, gathering the armor. "That means a lot to me, actually. I know my clan would be honored to have me represent them in something as well-made as this."
Dagna mimed a curtsy as best she could in her work outfit. "Happy to serve. The honor's all mine, Inquisitor."