"Three cheers for the Inquisition!"

It was Scout Harding who offered the exuberant toast, but she was only expressing what most of them were thinking. Somehow, they had won, and as Herah gulped down the glass of wine Josephine had just handed her, she did her best to take in the enormity of the moment.

Iron Bull was similarly enthused, clasping Herah on the back and giving her a hearty, "Way to go, boss!"

She patted Bull's shoulder. The other qunari had led the Chargers into the heart of the fighting in the Valley of Sacred Ashes, playing as large a role as anyone in keeping the demons away from her while she fought Corypheus. "Thanks," she told him,"But it was a team effort."

"Hah! That's the truth," he declared, never one for modesty. "You should've seen me with that big horned one. Cut him clear in half."

"Only after I stabbed him in the back first, sir," Krem pointed out, flashing the skeptical look that seemed to be his default expression when dealing with his commander. "After that, a blind farmer could've finished him off."

"Don't be ridiculous," Bull chortled. "You would've been dead on the back swing if I hadn't stepped in. It's only too bad demons melt back into the Fade when you kill them, or I'd be mounting what was left of that thing on my wall."

"I think you're both forgetting Solas' barriers keeping the lightning off of you long enough to allow for all that glory hounding," Varric interjected. "And speaking of Chuckles, does anybody know where he got off to after the battle? I know he's not exactly the life of the party, but he should still be here."

Herah shook her head. "No. Leliana's had some of her agents out looking for him, but he seems to have vanished into thin air. I don't understand it."

"He was never exactly one of the boys," Bull commented. "I'm not surprised to see him gone now that the job's done."

"What about you?", she asked. "You going to be gone as well?"

He snorted, his huge frame shaking with amusement. "As long as the Inquisition wants to keep paying the Charges, we're not going anywhere. Who else is going to get us into scrapes this good?"

"Probably no one," she agreed. "I do have a knack for finding trouble."

"Fortunately, you're just as good at killing it when it does turn up," Bull laughed, gulping down his tankard of ale.

Herah joined him, finishing off the rest of her wine. It was a good vintage, shipped in all the way from Antiva according to Josephine, but she didn't want to drink too much. Their victory alone was enough to make her light-headed. "Be that as it may, a little help never hurt," she told Bull. "Now, you'll have to excuse me, but I think as the Inquisitor, I'm legally required to circulate."

She only made it about three steps before she was stopped once more, this time by Cassandra. The former Seeker's face broke into a rare smile when she saw Herah. "Congratulations, Inquisitor," she told her. "This truly was a great victory for you."

"Everyone wants to give me the credit," she protested. "You were the one covering my ass the whole way through."

"Not the whole way." Cassandra took a slow sip of her own wine, her almond eyes narrowing with regret. "I seem to recall the first time we met, I threatened you with execution. It seems fair to say I was wrong."

Herah grinned. At the time, she'd been angry at the accusations. She'd spent her whole life with people distrusting her because of her species and the way she'd been treated after the explosion at Haven felt like one more example of scapegoating. Now, she knew Cassandra better than that, as well as the burdens that came with command. "Don't worry about it," she told her. "I would've suspected me too in your place. It's water under the bridge."

"I'm pleased to hear that. Especially since it seems I will be remaining here at Skyhold for some time."

Herah nodded. "Listen, about that… I'm sorry the election turned out the way it did. For what it's worth, you had my support."

"I appreciate your words," the former Seeker reassured her, "But there is no need for condolences. Being the Divine would have been as much of a burden as an honor."

"I know," Herah agreed. Duty, not ambition had motivated Cassandra to seek the Sunburst Throne. "That's part of why I thought you'd be the right person for it."

Cassandra laughed. It was a rare sound and Herah enjoyed that her friend no longer had quite so many cares written on her long face. Perhaps it was just as well for her sake, that she hadn't been elevated. It was hardly an easy life, especially for someone who disliked politics so much. "I suppose I am somewhat like you in that way," Cassandra said. "I know you would not have chosen to be the Inquisitor."

"Probably not," she admitted. "But it seems to have worked out anyway."

"It has. Better than I could have imagined." Cassandra took another drink of her wine. "Enjoy the rest of the night, my friend. You have more than earned it."

"Indeed." Herah looked around at the word, and saw Leliana walking up behind them. "I think we all have."

Herah turned back to Cassandra, who's smile had grown strained. Things had been somewhat awkward between the two former Hands of the Divine over the issue of the election. "Can you give us a moment?", she asked. "I need to talk to Leliana about something.." Cassandra nodded, making her way in the direction of Blackwall and Cullen, who were caught up debating which sword techniques were best suited to slaying Rage Demons.

"What did you want to discuss?", Leliana asked. Superficially, her tone was friendly, but even though she had replaced her usual armored robes with more festive ones, the night's merriment didn't entirely reach her light eyes.

"I thought I should congratulate you on your election," Herah offered.

"There is no need for false pleasantries, Inquisitor. I know you would have preferred that it was going to be Cassandra on the Sunburst Throne."

Her eyes tightened as she consider how to reply. She knew little of Chantry politics, and Leliana had outmaneuvered her with the College of Clerics, a task made simpler by the fact that she hadn't gone to Josephine for advice, not wanting to put her diplomat in the middle of the dispute.

"Look, it's not that I don't think you have what it takes," she offered. "Your work with the Inquisition has been incredible. I'm just worried about what this job may drive you to do. What it might do to you." She paused. "And you know she is too."

Herah didn't have to say who "she" was. The letter from Nissa had arrived just before they'd set off to face Corypheus. She was alive, but though she sent her love to Leliana, she didn't know when she'd be able to return from the Deep Roads. From what little she'd written of it, her mission seemed extremely dangerous, but it was Leliana far more than herself that the Hero of Ferelden seemed concerned for.

"She isn't here," Leliana said quietly. "And we don't know if she ever will be."

"We don't," Herah agreed. "But whatever happens to her, she's still worried."

Leliana held her hands up in a conciliatory gesture. "Let us not dwell on this tonight. This, now, is your celebration."

"Damn right it is!" Herah nearly jumped when she felt a hand pinch her ass, and her head jerked around to see Sera standing behind her. "Hey, Buckles," her lover grinned. "I was starting to worry you'd forgotten about me."

"Never. I was just saving the best for last," she chuckled, pulling Sera to her for a quick kiss.

Leliana flashed a smile at the two of them, but the deeper loneliness behind it couldn't be hidden. Separation, doubt, and the often-brutal work of a spymaster were a difficult combination for anyone to bear, and Herah could understand why Leliana had been so unhappy at times. "I will leave you two then" the bard said graciously. "Some of our more persistent guests appear to have Josephine trapped and she may require my assistance."

With her gone, the Inquisitor returned her attention to Sera. The elf leaned up on her tip-toes and wrapped her arms around Herah's neck. The kiss was longer this time and in the heat of her lover's mouth, she felt the stress of the last conversation melting away. People were staring at the display of affection, but she didn't care, just running a hand through Sera's short hair. "I couldn't have done this without you."

A little blush spread along Sera's cheek and she bent up, kissing Herah's pointed ear. "I know something else you can't do without me." She paused before delivering the punch line. "Me. Can't do me without me."

Even though it was a silly joke, Herah felt a thrill run through her. It had been a long trip back from Haven with little privacy and when they arrived, Josephine had had this party waiting for them. She was ready for some alone time, and taking Sera's hand, she led her lover through the crowd. Cheers and smiles greeted her as she went. For this one night, at least, her people were happy.

Sera certainly was, turning to the guests and declaring, "Hey, everyone, we're going upstairs. We'll be a while. Might need some warm up." While everyone was trying to figure out how to respond to that, she shot Herah a smoldering look and added more quietly, "Not much though."

It wasn't easy to make Herah blush, but that did the trick. Hastily, she pulled Sera through the door that led to her chambers, closing it behind her before she had to hear too much of the crowd's hooting. Once they were inside, Sera slipped away from her, scampering up the staircase and leaving the Inquisitor to give chase.

She caught Sera at the top of the stairs, scooping her up into her arms and spinning her around. "You're mad, you know that?", she laughed, a fierce joy swelling in her chest.

"Yeah," Sera agreed. "Didn't even drink too much either. Wanna make sure I remember tonight, yeah?"

"Then let's make it memorable."

Their next kiss was pure sex, her tongue gliding into Sera's eager mouth while her hands caressed the length of her body. Slim legs wrapped tight around her waist, pressing the two of them even closer as Herah carried her lover across the room.

They tumbled onto the bed together, Herah careful to balance her weight off of the smaller woman as she settled in. She stared peeling off her partner's tights, but when Sera squirmed underneath her, the Inquisitor was halted by the sound of fabric tearing. "Sorry," she told Sera, letting go of the ruined garment, "I'll have Josephine get you some new tights tomorrow." She laughed. "I think this pair might've been held together mostly by prayer anyway."

"Was perfectly good," Sera protested as she shrugged out of what remained of the garment. "It had personality."

"You've got personality," she commented, sliding a hand along Sera's torso before settling on one of her pert breasts. She bent down to take the other one in her mouth, but first, she added, "A really delicious… personality."

There was no snappy comeback to that line, instead just a sharp gasp and a moan as Herah got started. She loved how responsive Sera was, how completely she threw herself into their love-making, and she wanted more. She wanted to savor everything their victory had brought, and so she took her time with those beautiful breasts, stroking and licking every last inch of them before making her way down Sera's belly. There, too, she didn't rush, covering the sides with her large hands while her tongue explored its taut muscles.

Beneath her, Sera's legs spread apart and she whimpered, "Come on, Inky. Gimme more."

Herah cupped on of Sera's inner thighs, running her hand up to, but not under her smalls. "I though we were going to be here a while?"

"We are," she panted, "Cause, um, gonna go a few times, right?"

Herah raised an eyebrow in faux surprise. "Are we, now? Guess I'd better pick up the pace then." She tugged off Sera's underclothes, aided by an eager little shimmy, and tossed them aside. Between her legs, the elf was pink and glistening, an invitation she couldn't resist. She started by tasting the edges of Sera's wetness from her inner thighs before going to the source, sliding her tongue into her sex. Sera was thick and tart, and Herah could never get enough of the flavor.

After a minute though, Sera needed additional stimulation, and her hands gripped Herah's horns, guiding her upwards. Practice had shown the Inquisitor how to tease out the round little bud of her lover's clit easily enough and she covered the it with her tongue, lashing it with steady strokes.

"Mm, yes, 's good," Sera mumbled, tightening her grip as she lost herself in the pleasure. The horns weren't very sensitive, but Herah could feel just enough pressure through them to tell how turned on Sera was, and it made her clit twitch against her clothes. To her lover, she wasn't the Inquisitor, or a scary qunari monster, but an exceptionally desirable woman, and she relished that feeling.

Sera's hips rocked against her mouth, hungry for more, and Herah obliged, sliding a thick digit into her lover and pressing it along her swollen inner wall. She kept the two motions in tandem, sliding her finger in when she pressed down with her tongue and then pulling both back at the same time. Sera's thighs squeezed around her head and Herah knew she was close. It only required a few more repetitions before the elf was collapsing, spilling her delicious release down over Herah's mouth and chin.

She licked her lips clean with relish, a satisfied grin on her face as she looked down at her handiwork. Sera was usually so manic, but in the moments after she came, that energy was replaced by a beautiful stillness. Herah let her enjoy the afterglow, taking advantage of the break to peel off her own clothes. The elf's eyes were half-open as she watched the show, just letting out an appreciative purr at Herah's body.

True to her nickname, the outfit did have a large number of buckles, and by the time she'd finished stripping down, Sera had mostly recovered from her orgasm. She rolled up onto her knees, grabbing Herah and giving her a nice, long kiss.

"Lie back, Buckles," she declared. "Saved the world AND did that thing with your finger… You're getting the special treatment."

Herah didn't need to be told twice. She flopped backwards on the bed, linking her hands behind her head and spreading her legs to give her lover all the access she wanted. Nimble fingers began to stroke her body, but before Sera could really get going, something caught her attention. "What's this?", she asked, cocking her head. "Bed looks different."

Herah bit her bottom lip, trying to remember words in spite of the throbbing in her sex. "It's Orlesian. I thought if we can't fuck an empress, we could at least fuck like one."

Sera laughed at that. "Heh, like it."

She started running her fingers over the intricately carved bed frame and Herah blurted out, "Glad you approve, but Sera, please…"

"Oh, yeah, sorry. Wood's nice, but you're nicer." She returned her hands to Herah's chest, massaging her ample breasts. The brown nipples were tight with anticipation and when a soft tongue flicked over them, Herah couldn't contain the groan coming out of her throat.

Thankfully, Sera could tell how turned on she was, because she didn't make the Inquisitor wait long. A hand slid between her legs and when it finally spread apart her folds and pressed firmly against her swollen clitoris, Herah gasped sharply. It was as if all the stress she'd been carrying was concentrating itself in that one point on her body and then being released through it. Sera rolled the bud between her fingers and Herah gripped the pillows behind her, her arousal rapidly spiking.

"I love you, Herah," Sera purred, her sincerity clear in her use of the Inquisitor's real name. She only said it in moments like this, and the intimacy was an incredible turn-on.

Her hips heaved and she murmured back, "I love you too," before Sera covered her mouth with her own, drinking in her desire as she unraveled. "Yes," she panted when the kiss finally broke, "Oh, Maker, yes."

Sera's head was buried in her neck, licking and nibbling the sensitive skin there while she kept making firm strokes along Herah's clit. "Go on, Buckles," she purred, "Want you to feel it. Want to feel you."

Herah couldn't manage any reply other than a moan that turned into a scream as she was pushed over the edge, her clit pulsing hard against the digits caressing it as the ecstasy spread to the furthest reaches of her body.

Her orgasm left her panting, but it had scarcely ended when Sera flashed her best devilish grin. "Not done yet," she declared, licking her lips. "Like I said, special treatment. It'll be a while." Her mouth began making it's way down Herah's body, and the Inquisitor let out a purr.

I'll have to save the world more often, she thought to herself before pink lips closed around her nipple and she stopped thinking very much at all.

It was indeed quite a while later before they finally made their way out of bed. The first light of dawn was coming in through the windows by then along with a cool mountain breeze, and Herah slipped into one of her plush robes before offering the spare to Sera.

"Sorry again about your tights," she told her.

"Don't worry. You made up for it." Sera pulled on the robe, her slim body disappearing into a garment sized for a qunari.

Herah grinned at the sight of her lover's small hands barely poking out from the sleeves. "Maker, you look adorable."

Sera snuggled into her arms. "That's shiny," she decided, looking Herah up and down with an approving eye. "You're still you, yeah? I mean, they still say things about you. All that Herald stuff. But this feels really good. Like it always could. I just need you to stay you."

Herah's smile spread until covered her whole face. She'd worried about that too. Worried that becoming the Herald or the Inquisitor would change her in ways she didn't like. Not anymore. She brushed a hand down Sera's cheek. "You ground me, Sera," she told her lover. "As long as you're here, I'm not going anywhere."

Sera smiled back, a quieter thing than usual. Her head was bowed and her eyes were lidded as she took in Herah's words. Without saying anything in response, she stood, taking the Inquisitor's hand and shuffling them across the room. The sky was whole now, only a faint scar of green light remaining to mark what Corypheus had done, and from the balcony, they had a perfect view of it.

"It's pretty, yeah? We did that," Sera mused but even while Herah nodded in agreement, her lover's mood shifted and she giggled. "Let's push the bed off the balcony."

Herah cocked her head. "After I just got it? Think of the expense. Josephine would kill us."

"You're right," Sera laughed. "Probably regret it anyway. We've got better things to do with that bed."

"That we do," Herah agreed. She was far from free of responsibilities, but they weren't the crushing burden they'd once been. The future ahead of her was the farthest thing from what she'd ever imagined, but right then, it definitely looked as bright as the new day.

So, I obviously modified the ending scene with Sera, but I kept some of the best lines from the game. "You keep me grounded," in particular, gave me the name for this story. It was just a perfect moment where Bioware had Herah say exactly what I wanted her to say, summing up how I felt about this relationship. Only one more chapter to go, staring our new Divine. Thanks for reading.