Loudly, I hear the crisp crackle of flames, my eyes widening to find Eve speaking to Briala, I believe only then to frown when I hear the soft pitter patter, automatically, I draw my blade only to lower them when finding Sera smirking.
"How did you? You know I'm not even going to ask with you," I wave it off earning a small chuckle from her as we continue onwards until finding to my surprise, Eve having a blade in one of the Tevinter assassins, killing him and then turning to Briala, threating her…
"You do know how to deal a sells pitch Briala however…I still do not know enough to make a conclusion," She warns Briala who nods and flees into the night…
Blinking, I clap my hands startling her into drawing her staff only to stop when seeing me and lowering it.
"Don't do that!" She pouts.
"What? I was surprised to find you beating up an assassin," I shrug.
"Oh…thanks but still. We got a job to do," Frowning, I raise a brow at the various Halla statues in her hands.
"Where?" I question.
"Found them around, now let's see what these keys lead us to, brightly," She smiles as I frown but shrug, following her with Sera and on the way…
"What are you doing here?" I frown at the sight of the silent Solas standing.
"Simply exploring," He smirks as I roll my eyes.
"Did you find anything?" Eve questions.
"Afraid not," Solas responds.
"Actually, Solas since you're here, you seem to know about elf culture, I found this, you know what it is?" Eve passes him the locket.
"It would seem to be a locket…" Solas begins, delicately touching the intricate patterns of the locket.
"Wait…I know this," Merrill told me about these lockets…" I begin recalling her romance stories dribble when Isabela had asked what was the closest she ever got to the bed and well….
"What did she say?" Eve enquires.
"She mentioned how most elven lockets are crafted when elves wish to show or mark their loved one or something, when an elf hands over soothing of their typically jewellery, she said they would have a fragment of themselves in the locket or gift, a hair or something to show that they are thinking of their partner always, you know close to her heart….meant to be a throwback to the time before, I remember, Merrill going on and on about wishing when she found her special person she would make a elven locket," I explain recalling her annoying innocent romance antics.
"That sounds lovely," Eve smiles, blushing.
"Gross, an elf like her in charge would be too annoying," Sera scoffs.
"Corny," I correct her.
"So…Briala and Celene were in a relationship," Solas gathers.
"Yeah," Sera confirms as I recall her contacts speaking of it.
"Maybe we could reunite them, think of an elf in that power," Eve wonders.
"Why does it matter if she's an elf? Besides too elfy, no way, " Sera frowns as I furrow my brow in agreement with her, rather preferring to not have some self-righteous Dalish wannabe in power.
"Look, we're here to stop the empress from being killed not blackmail her…" Eve mutters and reminds herself more than us.
"Not yet anyway," I remark earning a small smug look from Sera while Solas shakes his head, not agreeing but not disagreeing either way…
Together, we continue following Eve around, every now and again making sure we dip into the ballroom to reclaim some ball appeal from the others, on the way recruiting Dorian back into the party that is until…
"Stay back!" The loud scream interrupts us as we dash towards the sound, fiercely, I kick the door open to reveal a lone frightened elf, curled up into a ball, horrified, I dash towards the afraid elf girl, my eyes narrowing at the assassin as quickly, I get in the way and kick the ass to the wall, pained, the figure slumps don, their mask plopping down to reveal…
"Crow…" I whisper as his glaring hues meet mine and he draws his blade.
"You don't want to do this," I reason to him.
"I'll do what I must!" He snarls and next thing I know, he drops down his some bomb and once the smoke evaporates, he's gone. Crow…what have you gotten yourself into?
"You know him?" Solas questions as I kneel down, checking over the terrified elven girl.
"It doesn't matter, what takes priority is the girl and what she knows," I respond.
"How do you know she knows?" Sera frowns.
"Well why would they target her?" I question making Sera go silent as gently, Eve kneels down to the shaking elf.
"Thank you," She sighs relieved.
"Are you alright?" Eve asks her.
"I'm…I don't think I'm hurt," She responds.
"Just take a breath," I advise as she nods, taking in a few shaky breathes and exhaling.
"No one's supposed to be …Briala said…I shouldn't have trusted her," Eve whispers.
"How did you get in here? It was locked," Eve asks turning to her.
"Easy. The door was unlocked. One of the others must have handled it," The elf girl answers.
"Briala sent you here?" Eve mutters.
"Not personally. The 'ambassador' can't be seen talking to the servants…" Bitterly, she sits out in disdain.
"Even though her entire network are servants," I frown at the logic.
"We get coded messages at certain locations. But the orders come from her. She's been watching the grand Duke all night. No surprise she wanted someone to search his sisters room," The elf explains.
"So this is Florianne's room, must be her old private room from the pictures and old books, besides from that I gathered she resides in the guest wing due to the damages the Winter apace took years ago," Eve mutters and the elf nods in confirmation. Briefly, I raise a brow impressed by her knowledge then again she is a noble herself.
"What were you trying to find?" Eve questions.
"The message didn't say I should have known it was a set up," he elf growls angry at herself.
"Is there anyone else who knows the codes and such?" Eve enquires.
"I…I don't know. Any of us could do it. But….no. No one else would send me here it had to be Briala," The elf reasons.
"It took guts to come here unarmed," Sera notes.
"It doesn't take courage to fall into Briala's trap, I knew her before, when she was Celene's 'pet.' Now she wants to play revolution but I remember. She was sleeping with the empress who purged our alienage," She seethes out venom in her tone.
"Would you testify?" Eve requests.
"Absolutely…if the inquisition were to protect me. I'll tell you everything I know about our 'ambassador!" The elf volunteers.
"Knew it. I did and I bet the hate made it feel real good," Sera smirks.
"Go to the ballroom, find Cullen he'll keep you safe," Eve instructs as the elf bows her head, thanking me and Eve then leaving.
"We may have some time left come on," Eve whispers as we nod and continue following her until, shocked our eyes widen at the sealed door before us. "Seems it's been sealed, keys won't work," Solas mutters. "Aw man…" Pouting, Sera huffs. "Maybe the halla states," Eve whispers as she raises it to the door, our eyes extending as the door unlocks, calmly, we enter the room, my eyes widening at the sound of shackles, making me flinch quickly as Eve investigates while I approach the bed, releasing a cough of shock.
"Holy…" I blurt out gasping at the sight of the chained up male, naked with only his hat on. Curiously, I peer over, eyebrow raised. "Naughty," Playfully, Dorian whispers, leaning over the bed with me, smirking down at the helpless male.
"Oh please like you haven't," I retort making Dorian snicker back.
"I'm not denying it," Playfully, he counters as Eve appears and gasps, visibly shocked as she is taken aback, her hands covering her bright red face.
"O-Oh g-g-goodness," Stuttering, Eve begins to turn red faced as I can't help but chuckle with Dorian and Sera finding this hilarious while Solas remains surprisingly neutral.
"It's not what it looks like!" The guard panics.
"Don't worry we're not kink shaming it's your life," I shrug him off.
"The empress led me to believe I would be…rewarded for betraying the Grand Duke. This…this was not what I hoped for…" The soldier confesses.
"You're telling me Celene left you tied up and naked?" Frowning, Eve turns away too flustered to look down at him.
"You'd be surprised Eve, they say the quietest of the lot tend to be the most kinkiest," I bring up smugly.
"Please I beg you. Don't tell Gaspard! The meres beguiled me into giving her information about…plans for the troop's movement in the palace tonight. She's turned it into a trap. The moment he strikes, she'll have him arrested for treason," The soldier begs
"She'll be all prim but there's you with your bits out," Sera giggles.
"Not good bits at that," I mutter earning a playful nudge from a snickering Dorian.
"Fen!" Eve huffs blushing shocked by my words.
"What!? I've seen better…" I confess shrugging sheepishly.
"I don't think we want to know about that," Dryly, Solas remarks frowning as I shrug noting the annoyance n his tone.
"We should get go back to the ballroom, can't risk getting kicked out," Eve mutters as we all nod.
"What about him?" I ask.
"If you do as I say and testify we will let you go, just…get some clothes on and speak to Cullen," Awkwardly, Eve turns her back as he nods. Desperately, Eve turns to Sera and I; we nod, freeing the man from his chains and then return to the ballroom, where Eve dances with Florianne …quite self-assuredly too, I raise a brow at her bold move, approaching the woman and practically, guiding her over to dance…I'm impressed she is confident, fair play…
Eve pov:
Chilly, I shiver from the gentle nips of the air as Briala and I sit down on the balcony outside, no one in sight to hear us as Celene bows her head, looking down sadly.
"Inquisitor, I regret that we did not have time to speak earlier. No doubt you have questions about many things," Celene greets me.
"The locket I found, your ladies spoke to you of no doubt, it was from Briala wasn't it? It's special, I had heard of the customs elven people use when creating these sorts of lockets," I begin gently seeing her sorrowful expression pained making me sigh, pitying the poor girl still in love, I can see it in her eyes or maybe my hopeless romantic side is coming out…
"She gave it to me for my coronation. I don't know why I kept it, it was a foolish thing to do," Celene sighs guilty.
"No it wasn't. Celene, what happened?" I question fascinated leaning in, a part of me excited like reading one of my many romance novels.
"She wanted change and she thought I could deliver. My word is law inquisitor but law doesn't command people's heart. Culture does not transform itself overnight. I failed her. I should have dared more. But the past like so many things, is beyond my command," Celene explains as I nod in understanding.
"You love her don't you? It's alright to love again, sure you may have failed her, but together you two can do so much together, one step at a time. I can see that look in your eye, you still love her those lingering looks you two have been giving one another all night, doesn't help either," I clarify softly to the sorrowful woman.
"It's that obvious…?" Celene sighs sadly.
"Afraid so," Weakly, I smile at the sad woman.
"Perhaps so, but I cannot put her above the people of my empire. Dispose of the locket however you like it means nothing to me," Celene turns her back to me and leaves as I sigh at the complicated situation I've wrapped myself into. Sighing, I stand up and decide to leave, however on my way, my eyes narrow when spotting a familiar lone figure and approach Briala looking out at another balcony in the winter palace, looking quite miserable for such a grand party.
"I believe this is your isn't it from Celene?" I begin startling her as we are alone and she turns to me startled.
"Let me see that!" Desperate, she snatches it from me, shocked, her fingertips ghost over the etched patterns in the carving of the locket, looking so sad, so guilty, so pained at the sight, making my heart pang pained for the girl.
"She kept this!? What was she thinking? If Gaspard had found this, it would have ruined her…."Briala gasps shocked.
"She cares for you Briala, it's obvious, she kept it locked tight…either way she cared for it," I begin gently seeing the conflict and shock in her eyes as well as a glimmer of hope.
"Maybe it did, she held on to it…" I prompt.
"I'll leave you to your thoughts enjoy the party ambassador," Courteously I bow as she nods her head and I dismiss myself, leaving her to tend to the ballroom inside.
"Inquisitor Trevelyan," I perk up at the voice and turn to Florianne, nervously, I gulp only to take in a few breathes, steadying myself, back straight eyes wide and be ready for anything, I recite my mother's words before every ball as I turn to the important figure and maybe enemy of mine.
"We met briefly. I am grand duchess Florianne De Chalons. Welcome to my party," Graciously, she greets me.
"It is an honour to meet you duchess and to be speaking to you right now is truly an honour," I play along smiling falsely at the woman.
"This is Orlais Inquisitor nothing happens by accident; I believe tonight you and I are both concerned by the actions of a…certain person. Come dance with me. Spies will not hear us on the dance floor," Fleetingly, my eyes narrowed at the hidden meaning of her words, my ball mode coming in.
"It would be an honour," polity, I offer my hand out to her making her smirk.
"I'd be delighted," She agrees as we both descend down upon the dancefloor, feeling all eyes on us, where the true battle begins…
"You are from the Free Marches are you not? How much do you know about our little war?" Florianne begins.
"I assure you. The effects of this war reach far beyond the borders of the Orlesian Empire," I inform her, having recalled my family's issues with trading, writing to me for aid.
"Perhaps it does. I should not be surprised to find the empire is the centre of everyone's world. It took great effort to arrange tonight's negotiations. Yet one party would use this occasion for blackest treason. The security of the empire is at stake. Neither one of us wishes to see it fall," She smirks coyly.
"Is that what we both want?" I ponder out loud.
"I hope we are of one mind on this," Falsely, she smiles.
"In times like these it's hard to tell friend from foe is it not, your grace?" I hint.
"I know you arrived here as a guest from my brother, Gaspard. And have been everywhere in this palace. You are a curiosity to many inquisitor…and a matter of concern to some," She warns me as my eyes narrow at her sharpened gaze.
"Am I the curiosity or concern to you, your grace?" I enquire, knowing the hidden truth.
"A little of both actually. This evening is of great importance Inquisitor; I wonder what role you will play it in. do you even know who is yet friend or foe? Who in this court can be trusted?" Deviously, she smirks.
"Oh my grace, we both know the answer to that…nobody. After all it is the game is it not and what doesn't make a game fun then without a challenge…" I elaborate earning an approving nod as I dip her.
"Ah yes I had heard of your mother being fond of such games, a pity for her early demise…" Bitterly, I feel my fingertips clutch at the mention and her smug smirk as I glare daggers at her, feeling the urge to drop her but stop it. Quickly, I mask the brief anger to continue, keeping my head calm and collected as we continue the dance.
"In the winter palace everyone is alone. It cannot escape your notice that certain parties are engaged in dangerous machinations tonight," She declares proudly almost.
"Isn't everyone?" Friskily, I smirk dipping her down.
"You have little time, the attack will come soon. You must stop Gaspard before he strikes. In the royal wing garden you will find the captain of my brother's mercenaries. He knows all Gaspard's secrets, I'm sure you can persuade him to be forthcoming," Florianne whispers as I lift her up from the dancefloor, earning a chorus of cheers, then we bow to one another, ending our dance.
"We'll see what the night has in store, won't we?"