Calmly, Solas and I enjoy the small elegant melody of the dancefloor, him watching patiently while I simply sip my drink, looking out at the dancefloor, every now and again Solas hand entwined with mine squeezes, a small sign of affection I appreciate however, my brow furrows when I see Eve speak to some nobles, unaware of the small servant with familiar brown hair in a ponytail passing by and dropping something into her drink.
"Solas," I hiss, my voice urgent as he nods, seeing the display as we approach the naïve Eve about to take a sip out of what could be her demise.
"Fenn-"
"Ladies…I apologise for the sudden intervention however Lady Trevelyan has matters to attend to…" I begin.
"I do what…" Eve catches my glance and silences herself as we forcefully dismiss her from the others and take her to the side where I quickly dump the contents of her drink outside, over one of the many balconies, briefly flinching at the high pitch squeal as I glance down at the furious stained woman, smiling nervously at the frantic woman. Quickly, I dart away from her vision focusing on the puzzled Eve.
"What was that about?" Eve questions baffled by our move.
"You drink was poisoned," Solas states the fact.
"It was but I…I…"
"For someone confident in the game you have poor observation skills," I deadpan.
"I who did it?" Eve questions.
"A servant I'll see if I can catch up to them, Solas deal with her," I state as Solas nods.
"I thought I was ready for this…I," Eve whispers disappointed as I march out of the private room, returning to the servant quarters and find a familiar pair of servants gossip, eavesdropping servant girl and boy. Twins from the identical features of red hair, hazel eyes, and tanned features, only difference is the gender.
"Oi creepy twins, you see any dodgy looking elves with a vial?" I question as the twins narrow their glares at me..
"Shouldn't you be in the ballroom showing off your status?" The other scoffs.
"Not really no," I respond.
"Then why not go suck lips with that bad guy!"
"Maybe later now where is that elf guy? I mean-" Scowling, I release a breathe as I turn to scowl at the rude person bumping into me, only for my eyes to widen at the familiar set of brown hair in a low ponytail.
"Got you…" Determined, I race after the servant, ignoring the gasps of shocked servants trying to tend to their duties while not getting involved in my affair as I leap forward and strike, grabbing the elf who squeaks in shock as I shove him into the wall, getting out my blade, teasingly touching his throat as I push him against the wall, glaring darkly at his familiar brown eye…wait eye.
Horrified, my eyes widen at the familiar male before me.
"Fennic?" Weakly, the boy whispers out as I stare reeling in shock at the long forgotten face…
"Crow?" I question shocked to see him alive, well and outside Tevinter causing a faint shiver of fear and paranoia, is he here with his master? Is he here with…? No, no, no I- I have to leave, I got to escape; I got to get out of this place…
"What are you doing here?" I seethe at the dumbass, dropping him to the floor, blade still raised just in case.
"I…I came on orders from master…"
"Master who?" I query making him flinch back and go silent.
"Teivel…" Crow hisses.
"Teivel?" I question lost to the name.
"The Masters son." Crow clarifies.
"He had a son?" I frown considering his age and his time with me, I frown at the thought of that scum bag, briefly feeling a sneaky sliver of fear as my muscles tense as I notice my hand quivering until I turn it into a fist, shaking feeling my terror turn into rage, turning my back disgusted at the thought of that disgusting thing.
"He seeks you out," He wishes to reclaim his father's most prized possession! Please you must leave, hide away again," Pleadingly, Crow begs as I turn away pained, feeling a wave of horror feeling my muscles turn rigid at the thought as my fingertips comb through my hit locks, trying to calm my uneven breathes.
"Tell me, are there any shady topics about, anything dodgy," I demand.
"Well there's your good old fashion assassin attempt," Dryly, Crow remarks.
"I'm being serious," I growl.
"And so am I for what I gathered yes, the empress is in danger by who I don't know but the elves seem to be hiding," He remarks as I nod turning my back to the shaking mess and sighing at the pitiful fool.
"Go," I bark.
"But…" Crow reaches out to me only to briefly meet the end of my blade, teasingly touching his nose.
"Leave," I order coldly as scared Crow flees, hiding in the shadows as I take in a shaky breathe as I return back to the ballroom…
"I thought you said you'd keep an eye on her!" Josephine hisses in my ear, welcoming me back to the ballroom.
"I did if needed," I shrug calmly sipping my drink.
"This is a needed situation," She growls.
"Yvette calm down," I turn to the younger voice.
"But isn't this the mage speaker, oh I heard so much it's a pleasure to meet you," Eagerly, she smiles at me as I simply nod.
"Fennic this is my sister Yv-"
"Yeah don't care, look you told me to keep a eye on her you see her?" I question as Josephine's eyes widen in horror when finding her nowhere in sight.
"Where did she!?" Josephine panics.
"Relax Josie she's a big girl, she'll be fine," We turn to the calm voice of Leliana.
"I…I…" Josephine sighs, head down in defeat as I turn to Leliana.
"Does this bring back memories?" Teasingly, I smirk at Leliana who smirks, clearly enjoying the ball as her curios blues gaze out at the dresses and fashion of the party.
"What of you?" She shoots back.
"Tacky, way too bright," I grumble earning a small chuckle from Leliana as Josephine is too busy having to calm down thanks to her sister over the inquisitor's whereabouts.
"Look at lady Cambienne's slippers, trimmed with pearls and emeralds," Leliana gossips making me raise a brow.
"At least with Eve she understood the horror…" Josephine smiles.
"Yeah I just wonder how uncomfortable those stones are cutting into the skin of your feet," I grumble.
"True, true, but look at those buckles, toss her into the lake and she'll sin right to the bottom. What a disaster, Eve mentioned volunteering herself into tossing her into the lake," Leliana exclaims.
"Really eve being violent?" I raise a brow surprised by the idea of the weakling.
"Oh yes, according to her that woman would always pick on what she wore at any party, did it just then before she left," Leliana informs me,
"Your priorities Leliana astound me," I huff shaking my head smirking.
"Everyone needs a hobby, besides you can learn a great deal from someone's clothing like you for example…" Leliana smiles.
"Oh yeah go on…" I encourage curious.
"You wear a lot of clothing hiding your marks implying your sensitive about your marks and your posture is often closed off, showing your lack of warmth and introverted lifestyle," Leliana explains making my eyes widen feeling disturbed by her sharp observations.
"….That's creepy," I finally find my ords.
"That's my hobby," She smirks shrugging.
"Get a new hobby," I argue.
"This coming from the alcohol-"
"Wine taster…but I am open minded to other alcoholic beverages…" Sharply, I cut her off earning both a chuckle from Leliana, a small wry smirk from me as I drink my beverage of wine, still frowning at the lack of burning.
"I feel sorry for your liver," Leliana shakes her head.
"Yeah, Stevie's been with me longer than anyone…" Jokingly, I pet my liver.
"Steve?" Leliana raises a brow.
"You tend to bond with the one thing you're killing…" I remark making Leliana chuckle.
"So how are the balls in comparison to…?" Leliana asks curious.
"Well I should be going. You could ask Dorian. Much to do and much to ruin," Sharply, I interject as she sighs noting the soured mood as I leave her trying to not cause a scene as I head outside, to breathe.
Tiredly, I enter the gardens, my ears hearing the faint whispers of gossip echoing as I enjoy the ice cool breeze nipping at my raw skin, cooling my heated state as I turn away, taking a big gulp of my wine as I lean against the snow white wall. Briefly, my eyes narrow when spotting a child playing around alone, a little boy, quietly enjoying the festivities, where's his mother? I sigh shaking my head looking worriedly at the child.
Suddenly, my eyes widen when the child trips, accidentally spilling the woman's drink on her clothes.
"Disgusting child," She spits out, my eyes widening when she raises her hand at the poor boy and I dart towards the angered woman, quickly grabbing the woman's gloved hand.
"Wha!?" The woman is taken aback and flinches back from my harsh glare.
"I rather not have a scene and beating a child," I snarl lowly.
"That child spilled on my dress this fabric is-"
"You did that on your own accord now if you don't shut up and lower your hand that fabric will end up down your throat…" Threateningly, I growl at the woman staggering back fearful as she urgently collects her stained dress and flees, ashamed as I spot a few eyes on us, making me glare as I stand before the boy protectively.
"What are you lot staring at!?" I bark at them smirking smugly as they flinch back, head down like Mabari as the music continues and the scene ends. Frowning, I turn to look down at the small child. The kid has a mixture of dark brown to black reminding me of a burnt tree with scorched ash soot on it; he has orange amber like golden eyes staring curiously up at me.
"Your marks sure are pretty," He comments lightly making me blink surprised by the offhand compliment.
"Right…You okay kid?" I ask kneeling down.
"I'm fine…thank you," He bows his head shyly.
"Eh what can I say? I hate kid beaters, be careful, these hotshots think they can get away with anything," I wave the kid off who bows his head grateful and leaves.
"Ah there you are, enjoying the festivities?" I turn to the abomination, glass in hand frowning at the gossiping groups.
"I would ask you the same but I think that introduction of theirs wasn't the best welcome," I smirk.
"Like you can talk, servant," Playfully, Dorian smirks only to flinch from my sharp scowl.
"Don't," I snarl startling him into silence as he playfully raises his hands in surrender.
"On the lighter side have you seen the platter they are serving?" Dorian asks.
"If you mean the cheeses, yes, you'd think they could have some," I huffs.
"You'd think they'd have crackers or something," I remark.
"Agreed have you seen the choice in wine?" Dorian enquires.
"Abysmal, I mean this stuff is nothing in quality comparison to others, it barely gives you the burn you need to feel like the cheese is melting in your mouth, I remark.
"I'd much prefer Sun Blonde Vint-1," Dorian confesses.
"Oooh that's a good one, the burning there is good, though you can't go wrong with some Legacy White Shear, or Aqua Magus, that's good…" I bring up, feeling slightly excited at the topic of wine.
"Well it can go wrong if you drink too much…" Dorian says.
"That's with all wine…" I dismiss him.
"Yeah but that wine has lyrium…not saying it not good, just not for light weights," Dorian brings up.
Agreed although I must say, the colour scene here is…painful…" I mutter.
"You're not wrong did you smell the amount of lavender here?" Dorian asks.
"Way too much…" I nod.
"Thank goodness I'm not the only one complying about this, I could pull off a much better ball…" Dorian proclaims.
"You probably could…" I mutter.
"I mean for one thing the platter offered and the colour scheme it's so bright so…" Dorian trials off, not sure of the word.
It's Orlais…" I bring up.
"Agreed…"Dorian nods.
"If you do ever make a party you can count on me being the wine taster…" I smirk raising my glass slightly earning a chuckle from Dorian.
"To be honest I think I would have to, the inquisition has no good taste in wine…" Dorian complains as I nod my head in agreement.
"I know what you mean; you know I think I got some spare aqua magus at my place…" I exclaim.
"Really?" Dorian questions hopeful.
"Yeah," I agree.
"Splendid, we must have some together sometimes," Dorian praises.
"Maybe when all this is over and we can just bitch about it…" I offer smirking.
"That…sounds like heaven…glad to know there are people with actual taste in our ranks…" Dorian exclaims.
"Agreed," Together we raise our glasses and take a sip, briefly, my eyes widen to see fleetingly, familiar burst of flames…that doesn't look good.
Briefly, my eyes narrow when seeing Sera approach, waning space to breath, no doubt, she catches my look as I gesture her to come down and she doesn't, climbing down unfazed by the elites.
"You two cause a distraction," I order.
"Huh what? Why!?" Sera frowns.
"Are you that bored already?" Dorian raises a brow.
"I think our little inquisitor may need some help," I exclaim making them both freeze and nod, both of them giving each other a nod as out of nowhere, Sera does a cartwheel, grabbing Dorian's goblet and tossing it at one of the noblemen causing screams and screeches of horror as Dorian then nudges me and I nod, beginning to climb the gate wall.
"What the hell are you doing!?" He spits out in shock.
"Climbing now get to distracting," I hiss as I see Sera giggling, running about as Dorian sighs.
"You owe me a glass," He grumbles.
"I know," I huff as he clicks his fingers, setting a blaze another woman's dress, making her cry out in shock, making all eyes turn to the screaming woman, dress blazing as I manage to make it to the top and continue on a higher level of this palace and continue my investigation…
Eve what have you done now?