Anyone else feel like Josephine has been sadly absent from this fic? Let's see if we can correct that a little.
A Home
We returned to Skyhold eleven days later with Harding in our party, all of us chilled and exhausted, but in reasonably good spirits now that we were away from the bog. It was also, apparently, approaching a shemlen holiday called Satinalia, and Dorian, Sera, and Harding were as enthusiastic as children before Sylaise's feast. I suspected Cassandra and Blackwall might be similarly delighted, but neither was as demonstrative as the other three, and watched their attempts to explain the holiday to me and Bull - which conveyed more excitement than information - with tolerant amusement.
I had, of course, cornered Dorian at the first opportunity to ask about his affair with Bull.
"I would hardly call one night an affair," he scoffed as we rode side by side - and, indeed, they returned to their normal sleeping arrangements the very next night. There was something in his voice that sounded almost wistful, though. "We aren't you and your hobo apostate."
"Did you at least enjoy it?" I demanded.
"Oh, yes, quite thoroughly," he answered promptly. "It was just what was needed to wash the memory of the Void from my thoughts - and nothing more."
"Well, that's worth something."
"Who knows, if we run into another mage attempting to unmake reality, it may even happen again." He winked at me cheerfully, and we rode on.
Sera, meanwhile, apparently suffered several nightmares about the Void over the course of the journey, though only one woke the camp. The others, I gathered by reading between the lines, Cassandra's presence had soothed - but Cassandra was taking her watch on our fourth night out from the Fallow Mire, and Sera woke screaming.
We all tumbled out of bedrolls and tents, alert for the threat, and Sera was more than a little embarrassed when she had to explain. She didn't want to talk about it further, not even privately with me, and so I asked Cassandra to continue taking care of her. I also made sure the Seeker had first watch the rest of the journey - the nightmares seemed to happen late or not at all. Otherwise I left it alone. By the time we reached our destination, Sera appeared to have recovered, and I envied her resilience, though I was, of course, pleased that her predictions regarding never sleeping again hadn't come to pass.
Skyhold was looking more and more like a place people actually lived, especially since someone - many someones, in all likelihood - had gone to the trouble of hanging garlands of evergreen on and around a surprising number of surfaces and doorways, considering how expansive the keep was. The evergreen boughs were decorated at intervals with little arrangements of pinecones, red ribbons, and brass bells, which I had to get fairly close to see as more than brightly-colored blobs, but since there was an impressively long garland adorning the doorway to the great hall, I had a chance soon after my arrival.
My three advisors were waiting to greet me when I entered, the rest of my party having disappeared to attend to their own concerns. "Welcome home, Inquisitor," Josephine said.
Home? Well...not yet, but perhaps eventually. Skyhold was safety, anyway. "I hope that greeting means you aren't here to tell me there's another emergency," I told them dryly.
"Thank the Maker, no," Josephine said with a smile. "We do have a few updates for you - "
"The Chargers arrived a few days ago," Cullen cut in. "I've put them to work training our soldiers, for the moment. Cremisius Aclassi knows Tevinter techniques - " Leliana cleared her throat delicately. "And...we can discuss all of that later," Cullen finished, hand going awkwardly to the back of his head or neck - he wasn't quite close enough for me to see the gesture clearly. He might have blushed, too.
"I don't know if the Dalish celebrate Satinalia," Josephine said, "but gifts are traditional - don't fear, I have sent appropriate items in your name to anyone who would be offended not to receive one," she added hastily.
"What Josie is trying to say," Leliana interrupted with a laugh, "is that we got you something. It's unusual, and a little early, but we hope you like it."
"Yes, that is precisely what I was working my way around to," Josephine agreed with good-natured exasperation. "Allow me to show you, Inquisitor - if you will come with me."
The other two peeled away with pleased farewells as Josephine led me through the hall, which I could see had been repaired considerably in the month I had been gone. The debris had been cleared from the floor and there were no holes in the roof, both of which were significant improvements. There also seemed to be scaffolding about, but I had never looked at the stonework or...rafters, or whatever, to begin with, and still couldn't see them now, so I couldn't say exactly how much more had been accomplished. There were people scurrying about, though - servants, builders, even a few people whose dress was so colorful they simply had to be nobles. They moved from Josephine's path with little bows or bobs...and it took me until about halfway through the hall to realize they were moving out of my way with those gestures, and the thought was so strange that I hurried to catch up with Josephine to distract myself with conversation.
"The hall looks much better than the last time I saw it - which, considering how poorly I see, should serve to underscore just how much improved it is," I told her.
"Thank you," she replied. "The builders I hired have done remarkable work. I will have to introduce you later. I'm certain they will appreciate hearing your compliments personally."
"They w - oh." I remembered, again, some of the aspects of being Inquisitor that had nothing to do with endangering my life. "Of course."
"You never said - do the Dalish celebrate Satinalia?" she asked.
"The clans are so diverse that at least one probably does, somewhere," I replied, "but mine doesn't."
"Well, besides the giving of gifts, there is traditionally a feast and a masquerade - which is, admittedly, often a chance for people to put on masks and behave badly. Due to our association with the Chantry, in addition to our unreadiness to host such a gathering, I imagine we will forgo it this year," she explained. "Does your clan celebrate any similar holidays?"
"There are feasts associated with Sylaise and Andruil, and at Sylaise's feast, everyone typically exchanges sweets," I told her. "I think that may be the nearest we come. Though we have personal possessions, so much is shared communally with the clan that I think it likely gifts don't mean the same thing."
"How interesting," she replied, and, to her credit, appeared absorbed in the subject. "Do you have a celebration for each of the elven gods? How many are there? Eight?" She gestured towards one side of the hall - and maybe a door? - as she spoke, and we headed that direction.
"Nine, counting Fen'Harel - the Dread Wolf - but we don't celebrate him," I said. "So eight holidays, yes - though some of them are considerably less enjoyable than others. Mythal's day, for example, is a day of justice, when members of the clan can bring treatment they found unfair during the preceding year to the Keeper and the hahrenaan - the clan elders." We reached a door and Josephine opened it for me. "Elgar'nan is the god of vengeance, so...you can imagine how that one goes."
"I - I can't really, no," she told me, eyes wide, as we entered a narrower hallway leading to a flight of stairs.
"Picture far too much alcohol, a great deal of belligerence, and two full days of fist fights and wrestling matches," I told her with a sigh. "I have always rather hated Sa'vunin'or'nan."
She laughed. "Ah, well, that actually sounds like it has a number of elements in common with the week-long celebration of Satinalia in Antiva, which I have always found somewhat excessive. I sympathize."
We reached the top of the stairs and another door, and I suspected we were getting close based on the delighted smile curving Josephine's lips. She pushed the door open and ushered me inside and up another set of stairs. My impression, as I reached the top, was mainly one of space and light, though the room was large enough that I could see very little of it. There were stones beneath my feet and two walls were covered with enormous windows - that was all I knew for certain.
"What do you think?" Josephine asked, stopping beside me and looking around with an air of satisfaction.
"I...think it's a very large and bright room?" I offered, confused.
She laughed. "Well, it is your large and bright room. I deferred furnishing it so you could choose designs that suited you, but I might easily have any one of several styles of bed frame assembled by tomorrow night or the night after, depending on your preferred finish. There must be rugs, of course, and I have several colors and styles for you to choose from. Perhaps bookshelves and a desk. A seating area is simply a necessity. A table where you can have private meals? Can you think of anything else?"
I was staring at her in disbelief by the time she came to the end of her list of recommendations and questions. "This is...my chamber?" After seeing the closet Solas had been given, I had assumed I would receive something similar - perhaps a little larger, since I was Inquisitor, but I hadn't been expecting...I glanced around. I hadn't been expecting whatever one called this.
"It certainly is," Josephine agreed. "Oh!" she added suddenly, "I'm so sorry - I led you to the center of the room forgetting you wouldn't even be able to see most of it!"
"But...this is so much more than I need," I protested as she took my arm, tugging me toward one set of enormous windows.
"It certainly is not," she disagreed. "All you have been doing for months is protecting us. The mages at Redcliffe. The entire population of Haven. The scouts on the Storm Coast. The soldiers in the Fallow Mire. You returned from the Storm Coast and were here one night - in a tent! - before you volunteered to leave again to rescue our people." I watched her, wide-eyed, as she admonished me. "The very least we can offer you is comfortable quarters," she finished with a huff.
"Solas, Cassandra, and Bull were with me," I reminded her timidly.
She shook her head with that same exasperation I had seen in her interaction with Leliana. "And I have personally made sure that everyone within your inner circle who wanted better quarters was given the opportunity to choose now that we have more available," she told me. "But you are so indispensable to so many of these missions - we want you to have time and a place to care for yourself when you return to Skyhold."
I nodded slowly and looked at the windows we stood beside. The floor continued beyond them, and I could now see the door set within - a balcony overlooking a view I couldn't see. It was probably magnificent. Maybe I could find it in the Fade. The glass itself was plain on the bottom with a stained-glass border on top, and my breath caught as I took in the simple motif - The lines so strong even I could see them, at least when I was close by. "That's Mythal's symbol," I said, indicating the tree.
"I hope you don't mind," Josephine told me sheepishly. "The glass couldn't be put off, so I chose a clearly-recognizable Dalish theme."
"No, it's beautiful - I love it," I told her. "Thank you."
"Believe me when I say it was truly the least I could do."
"As long as we are speaking of...comfort and taking care of oneself, I probably ought to let you know that Solas and I have - we are - well, I am very much in love with him," I said, finally settling on a description. "I don't know how much harder that will make things for you, but I...thought you should know early."
"Leliana mentioned the possibility to me a week or two ago," Josephine told me with an amused and perhaps slightly patronizing smile. "I believe she had word from Scout Harding, or possibly Cassandra. I have been working on a variety of strategies depending on how discreet the two of you are prepared to be, but confirmation is appreciated - as is knowing that you are looking ahead to difficulties any romantic entanglement might cause."
I tossed a sardonic look at her. "I imagine elven apostate is high in the rankings of romantic entanglements with difficulties."
"Somewhere just below magister from Tevinter, I expect," she retorted, "though Qunari spy may fall above it, as well. And Sera - whatever you would describe her as - is not far behind, nor, alas, is our noble Warden friend...mostly because no matter how noble, he will never be an aristocrat. Even the Commander's family background hardly rises above the level of 'wealthy farmer.' I stand entirely outside the Chantry hierarchy, and therefore could never be suitable to a large subset of the people the Inquisition must rely upon - and Leliana and Cassandra, who were within the hierarchy, would never be suitable to another subset of our potential allies for that reason."
It seemed she had given this considerable thought. "Huh, I see. Very well, I stand corrected."
"The only way for my job to remain simple is for you to remain unentangled - but I had no illusions in accepting the position that it would be simple or easy," she told me with a much warmer smile. "The warning is appreciated, but don't concern yourself further. Whatever you do or decide, my task is making it acceptable where it needs to be acceptable, not insisting on some other, easier course."
"Noted," I replied, and let her lead me to the fireplace to show me the mantelpiece she had chosen for it.
After she had finished giving me a tour of the room, we descended to her office to look at sketches she had already had made, though she assured me that she could have something designed to my specifications, if I preferred. I was happy to choose from among the designs she had procured for my bed, bookshelves, desk, and seating - but I did have one specific request.
"Sathan - please - I don't want a whole pile of mattresses," I pleaded. "Two or three are sufficient, and no more than one stuffed with down - more begins to feel like drowning. So...have the bed's platform built accordingly."
"Oh!" She laughed. "And any conceit we might feel for our so-called 'civilized' comforts flies from the window. I will ensure you don't drown, Inquisitor - do not fear."
"I won't quarrel with hot baths or fine linens, but I draw the line at mountain-high piles of feathers, as though sinking into them is supposed to somehow feel anything other than hideously confining."
She shook her head, smiling, but made a note.
"I was thinking, as long as I'm here - should I give gifts to the members of my inner circle for the holiday?" I asked. "And, if so, what sorts of gifts does one typically give? I don't even know where to start."
Josephine looked delighted, as though I had already given her a gift for Satinalia just by asking her to help me make appropriate purchases. "Oh, Inquisitor, I have ideas - so many ideas."