Of Pranks and Marriage Part 3

Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Age


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The three remaining dinner guests finished their meal in utter silence. Evelyn had first wanted to break up the party – and give everyone some time to recuperate before meeting Lady Trevelyan for tea in the library – but she remembered that Hill had spent the better part of her day running around town; finding the right ingredients for a lemon cake; Evelyn's favorite dessert. She kept the party going, not for the sake of her sweet tooth, but for the sake of Hill's hard work.

"Cullen," Evelyn said when she finished her piece, "would you fetch Sera for tea?"

Eager to be out of the tense aura in the room, Cullen jumped at the opportunity to clear his head. "It would be my pleasure," he said; perhaps a little too curtly.

While Cullen left the room, Evelyn used her napkin to brush away the crumbs on her lips. She glanced over at Dorian, and they gave each other a wary smile.

It took two more bites before the Tevinter mage finished his dessert. When he did, he used his own napkin to wash his mouth and chin. "Well, this is the most uncomfortable I've been in my life… that includes the time my father used blood magic on me."

Evelyn buried her face in her hands, "I'm so sorry you had to sit through that. How I'm related to these people, I know not."

"You're only related by flesh and blood," Dorian mused, "your will and mind are your own."

"I hope so…" she raised her head and met the Tevinter's brown gaze. "I truly am sorry. I knew my father was… well… it seems he's worse."

Dorian rose from his chair and walked around the table. He stopped next to Evelyn, and dragged her out of her chair. Before she could even register it, Evelyn stood with Dorian's arms wrapped around her, sobbing against his chest.

"Never apologize for the action of others. You're only responsible for the things you do. Today you stood up for both the elves and the qunaris at that table." He rested his head on top of hers, "I love you for you, never change."

As luck would have it, that was the time Lady Trevelyan reentered the dining hall to check on her guests.

Well shit.


Lady Trevelyan dragged them both to the library. She was too excited to sit down, so she waltzed around the library, humming a cheerful tune while they waited for Cullen and Sera.

The tea arrived before the remaining guests did, and Lady Trevelyan was already far into Dorian's heroic tale once again. She started anew when she realized (with help from Dorian) that Sera had not heard the Lady's version of the story.

"Well dear Sera… may I call you Sera?"

Sera grabbed a biscuit from the tea tray and doused it in the milk mug. "I'd prefer it if you call me Lady Jenny," she said between biscuit bites. "My friends call my Lady Jenny."

"Is that so?"

"Quite so," Dorian assured her.

Cullen scoffed while he sipped to his tea. Evelyn elbowed him lightly in the stomach, before she sent a hard glance at both Dorian and Lady Jenny.

"Lady Jenny then, as I was just telling my dearest Evelyn. I would not be alive had it not been for this gentle hearted man next to her in the sofa.

"Is that so? Pray tell, what did this gentleman save your ladyship from?" Sera said as well-mannered as she could muster without laughing.

"Indeed it is. My dear friend, Lady Ornacia and I were on our way to town when someone shot an arrow at the two of us."

Sera fake gasped at the revelation, though she was well aware of the arrow she had fired at her ladyship. "What an outrage."

"Was it not? Fortunately for my friend and I, we were rescued by a debonair gentleman, but you already know how fine a man Lord Pavus are, I'm sure you already do."

"Oh yes," Sera exclaimed, "Lord Pavus and I have known each other long." She gave Dorian a longing look, "had the way of things been different." She sighed, "Were I not an elf, and he a magister of Tevinter!"

Lady Trevelyan gave Dorian a perplexed look, "I'm not sure that I follow."

"What I think my friend is trying to say, is that she wish she could see Tevinter with me. She's so fond of traveling, even if she's a Lady in… Orlais, she's not safe from the slavers of Tevinter."

"You poor thing!" Lady Trevelyan gasped, "It's most atrocious that a noble should not be able to move freely in this world, even if she's an elf."

Sera dipped another biscuit in the milk mug again, "What a wonderful way to view the world. You are not narrow-minded like most nobles I have encountered in my circle."

Unable to sense the elf's sarcasm, Lady Trevelyan took the 'compliment' with great pride. "I do think of myself as a voice for equality."

Evelyn saw that Sera could hardly keep it together anymore. The elf was about to break character and burst out in laughter. This left Evelyn with the most efficient strategy she knew, though she didn't like it; not one bit.

"Mother!" Evelyn said loud enough to muffle Sera's snickering. "You should show our friends here," she stopped to swallow her pride, "The pocket portrait you had the painter do of me when I was but five years old?"

"What a marvelous idea my dear!" Lady Trevelyan exclaimed in sheer ecstasy, "Why didn't I think of it sooner myself?" she jumped off her chair, "It's in your father's study. I'll go and fetch it from him and show it to Lord Pavus." She focused her attention on Dorian, "She was such a sweet girl at that age, so promising. It was before… well you know…" she gave her daughter a wary smile before she left for Lord Trevelyan's study.

Evelyn nipped to her tea while she listened to her mother's brisk footsteps fade away. Her father study was in the far end of the East Wing, which gave her at least 5 minutes to scold Sera, and 10 minutes to assess the web of lies.

"Lady Jenny!? What were you thinking Sera?" Evelyn demanded to know.

"What?" Sera shrugged, "Everyone else's got a title. Why shouldn't I? It's easier to gain your mother's approval, if she thinks I'm a bloody socialite of a noble."

"Oh, why didn't I think of that when I introduced myself?" Cullen said sarcastically.

Sera crossed her legs and leaned back in her chair, observing the Commander. "Well you should'ave." She finally said, "Her Ladyship would'ave liked you a lot better if you were Lord Rutherford."

"It's too late for that anyhow," Dorian said calmly and poured himself a new cup of tea. He offered some to the rest, but everyone else was still nursing their first cup. He sat back down and lifted the tea up to his lips; he blew on it before he took a sip. "Maybe Ser Rutherford should get a lie of his very own."

"What?" Cullen couldn't believe what his friend suggested. "You honestly think I should lie for approval?"

"Everyone lies for approval, dear Commander." Dorian gave him a sly grin. "I'm sure there's something you're not telling right now."

Cullen's hand went automatically up to his hair. He smoothed the loose straws that had lurked out of its tidy place. "This is barely a lie."

"Yes, but still a lie. However, it would be a shame if that were the persuasive lie you told to appeal to her Ladyship." Dorian took another sip of his tea. "Whit the Blight came a great loss, many noble houses fell siege to the Darkspawn invasion. I'm sure you could trace your ancestry back to a deceased family tree."

The Commander sighed. "I'd much rather not."

"And you won't have to," Evelyn saind calmly. She gave him a wary sideways glance, "But if you want to tell one lie, you should get the opportunity."

Sera flashed Dorian a toothy grin, "Looks like you've morally corrupted Miss Evelyn here."

"It's a shame I'm not a creature of the fade, I would have been such a good Desire Demon."

Cullen sighed and eased back into his seat, "I won't lie for approval." He took Evelyn's hand in his own, "Your approval is the only one I need."

Evelyn leaned in and gave him a peck on the cheek, "You gained that, a long time ago." The Commander gave her a heartfelt smile and brushed some hair back her ear. Evelyn reveled in the moment of intimacy, but leaned away when she heard the hurried steps of her reproaching mother.

"Sorry it took me so long," Lady Trevelyan panted. "The Lord demanded to know when you would come see him, he's eagerly awaiting your apologize."

"Did you tell him that I won't do it?"

"Yes, but you know your father. He's not one to take a simple 'no' for an answer. He won't be content until you do what he expects."

"Then he'll be discontent his whole life. I'm not apologizing."

"We needn't worry about that now. What we should be focusing on," Lady Trevelyan pulled a small picture frame she had hidden behind her back, "We should look at this lovely picture instead." She handed the frame to Dorian.

The mage studied the painting; it was smaller than the palm of his hand. He had to lift it a couple of inches away from his eyes to get the clearest view. He snorted when he noticed something on Evelyn's face.

"What, what is it?" Sera said impatiently. She shot up from her chair and yanked the picture out of the mage's hands. She started laughing after a good look. "Is that…" she gasped for air, "a huge booger on your cheek?" She handed the frame over to Cullen so he could inspect the former glory of his lover.

Evelyn groaned.

"Yes Lady Jenny. That is a booger… upon her cheek." Lady Trevelyan answered. "We hired the best portrait painter in the Marches; consequently in the world. He came with great recommendation from our friends, even Marlowe Dumar praised him for the portrait he had painted from him." Her Ladyship sighed, "but he was unfortunately in an experimental phase when he painted our poor Evelyn… he had this notion, that he would only depict the truest of human expression. It sounded marvelous at the time, but the result was displeasing to say the least."

"I think it's endearing," Cullen said. He looked a little shocked that he had said it aloud.

"You're absolutely right Commander!" Lady Trevelyan smiled. A blushing Cullen handed the picture over to her. "I came to love it after Evelyn left. It reminds me of the day we had it painted. Evelyn didn't want to stand still for so long, she was only five after all, but my husband and I promised her a puppy if she stood still the whole time.

"Did she get the puppy?" Sera wanted to know.

"No, unfortunately, Lord Trevelyan thought she was unworthy. He said she had picked her nose and wiped it on her cheek. I could never understand why she would wipe it on her own cheek, why not the dress? The Lord wouldn't hear of it, unfortunately." Lady Trevelyan smiled meekly, "I suspect she just sneezed; she had a cold. Evelyn really wanted a puppy, and stood still the entire time."

"Maybe I should get a puppy now?" Evelyn said.

"You think you've earned it?" Lady Trevelyan joked.

"I think I have."


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What do you think? Should I add a puppy (read Mabari) to this fic?

Thank you all for continued support. I'm especially fond of your wonderful reviews, and I would like to reply to those from chapter two right here, right now!

Blindluck92: it's just a phase, she'll grow out of it! If she accepts the maker into her heart, she would no longer have these urges! Don't worry, one does not apologize to racists. He should apologize… somehow (I'll look into it).

Rebfan90: Thank you, I love that you always review!

Ilmiopassato: I had intended to model both her parents after Elizabeth Bennet's parents (Pride and Prejudice), a high-spirited mother and an even-minded father. Then he suddenly became racist… for some reason… oh well, this story needed an antagonist anyhow. So I'm glad I made them the way you thought they would be!

KC Pendragon: Lady Trevelyan has undoubtedly grown up under the belief that the world revolves around the nobilities, and that the most important thing for a woman, is to marry well. Lord Trevelyan… is just a racist sh*t (wow, I actually hate my own creation)

Guest: I like you. I like you a lot!

PetalOfSins: I had hoped to finish this chapter before I went to bed last night, but alas, I did not. hope you didn't wait too long, it's been at least 4 hours.