"Oh! Mistress Lavellan! I did not hear you enter," came the surprised greeting from Josephine.
Avanna leaned against the table Minaeve used for her creature research.
"Part of being an elf," replied Avanna absently, shrugging her shoulders and looking around the small room. "So much stone…" she murmured.
"What did you say?" asked Josephine, attention divided between the papers on her desk and her conversation with the Herald.
"Nothing," replied Avanna, pushing off from the desk and waving a hand dismissively. "Just talking to myself. Is there anything that I can help with? You seem awfully busy."
Josephine smiled. "That is very kind of you, Herald, but I can manage."
Avanna sighed. "You know I'd prefer it if you didn't call me Herald. When we're out of the public eye, you can just call me Avanna."
"With all due respect, Herald," began Josephine, as she shuffled some papers, "I believe that it is more appropriate to use titles. You wouldn't want the servants to start addressing you without your honorific simply because the rest of the inner circle does not. It would seem unprofessional to those outside the Inquisition."
"I understand what you're getting at Josephine and I… respect it," resigned Avanna. "Are you sure you don't need help? Creators know that I've got a million things on my mind and could use something to do."
"You truly wish to help?" prodded Josephine.
"Of course," replied Avanna. "I mean, I know sometimes having help can make your life more difficult, but if I can even organize papers and put them in order I'd be extremely grateful."
Josephine paused, wiping off hot wax that melted onto the table as she contemplated the offer.
"Very well. If you want to help, I could use a hand organizing some of the missives we've just received. In order of descending importance according to the sender, please," said Josephine, handing Avanna a stack of letters.
"Uh…right," intoned Avanna awkwardly. "And how exactly do I determine importance? I'm not very familiar with all the titles humans use."
"I…nevermind, I'll take those back. You can…" Josephine trailed as she searched for a task for the elf to handle.
"If you don't have anything, I'll just leave you to –"
"No, no, Herald. I am sure that there is something here…aha! Here! Would you mind sealing all of these for me? I have wax and my signet ring right here."
Avanna smiled. "Now that, I can do."
Avanna took the missives and sealing supplies and took up a position on the floor.
"Herald, would you prefer the desk? I –"
"You're the one writing. I'm going to sit here and try not to make a mess," replied Avanna, warming wax over the flame of the candle.
"Very well."
The two sat in silence for a while before Josephine finally spoke up.
"Herald?"
"Yes, Josephine?"
"I am curious. I have heard some…unsavory tales about you and your kin."
Avanna snorted at this. "Who hasn't?"
"I am sorry, I didn't mean –"
Avanna waved a hand. "Josephine, you're fine. I can handle a few wild tales and sideways glances. It's nothing new to me."
"I am sorry to hear that, Herald," replied Josephine, pausing from her work to gaze at the elf. Outwardly, she was composed, but Josephine knew that the stories that buzzed around would eventually make some impression on the woman. "I will talk to the staff about such things. It might help, though, for both the Chantry and our own followers if we knew more about how you lived."
There was a moment of silence.
"Well, I can tell you one thing. The myth of a lazy elf is just that: a myth. The clan that I came from was hard working. Mending aravels and armor. Spending days out on the hunt," Avanna shook her head as she prepared her next statement. "I still can't believe that people get their food delivered to their door."
"I…never thought much of that," replied Josephine, a slight bit embarrassed. "But thank you for the insight."
Avanna shrugged, pressing the ring into the hot wax on the parchment in front of her.
"It's not bad, just…different. We don't have those luxuries as Dalish. But, to some degree, we chose that lifestyle, so we can't really complain. Well, we can complain, but that just gets to be a bit much. Anyway, is there anything else you're curious about?"
Josephine paused a moment.
"I have always heard that Dalish clans are a tight-knit group. Do you miss your clan?"
"Of course! What kind of question is that?" laughed Avanna good-naturedly. "I spent my whole life with those people. All of my friends are there. So of course I miss them."
"Do you intend to go back?"
"To be honest, I haven't even thought that far. Until we can take care of the Breach, it's irrelevant."
"You are…very dedicated, Herald," noted Josephine.
"Well, I have to be, don't I?" replied Avanna, finishing the last of the letters in the pile of missives.
"I…suppose that is true," responded Josephine.
"But to be honest," continued the elf as she gathered up her supplies, "I enjoy the work. It's for a good cause, and I think that the team works well together."
Josephine nodded as Avanna deposited the completed missives on the desk.
"Huh. You'd think I'd be better at this sealing since I do it to so many rifts," commented Avanna as she examined her handiwork. "Anyway, thank you for letting me help. It was good to get my mind off of things."
"Likewise, Herald," replied Josephine, dipping her head in deference.
"Well, I guess it's off to the training grounds for me. See how the recruits are doing. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call," offered Avanna as she turned to leave the room.
"Of course, Mistress Lavallen. Dareth shiral."
The elf paused, smiling as she looked over her shoulder to her advisor.
"Dareth shiral."
And with that the elf left the room.
Josephine smiled, genuinely grateful for the distraction, but resolved to return to her duties in force. However, as she set quill to parchment, she noticed the bright red of the seals. Curious as to the Herald's comment, she picked up the missives and examined them. They weren't poorly done but…well, it's not how Josephine would have done it. Regardless, they were sealed now and it was one less thing to worry about.
Josephine smiled once more to herself before resuming her duties.
Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who has favorited/alerted this story! I really appreciate it! Special thanks to Embrium for reviewing the first chapter! And to all of you who are also braving finals week, good luck!