Rumours run rampant through the city streets towards the small fishing docks where Leliana and Josephine dock the tiny boat.
"Avez-vous entendu? La Dame Trevelyan est duel Seigneur Otranto!" A woman carrying a basket of bread exclaims to a masked gentleman who handed her some coin to purchase her wares.
"Oui, mais pourquoi de Inquisition pour lutter contre ce Seigneur?" the man asks as he takes the bread from her hand.
"Je ne sais pas, mais ce est excitant, non?"
Leliana smirks as she watches the two Orlesians pass by. "I guess the whole city is talking about the duel that is to happen. Come let us go to the city square, we may be able to get there in time." The bard glances beside her when she does not receive an answer and notices that Josephine is nowhere near her. Still smirking to herself, the Orlesian takes her time walking towards the large spire in the centre of Val Royeaux where she catches glimpses of her Antivan friend.
I can not believe her, Josephine thinks to herself as she races towards the ever increasing sound of blades clashing. If she gets hurt, I swear to the Maker... Her thoughts trail off as she sees Lady Trevelyan and Lord Otranto's rapiers locked together. Her breath catches in her throat when she sees Evelyn loses ground in the fierce hold out. She watches, momentarily stunned, as the Free Marcher smirks and pushes back against the Antivan lord, causing sparks to fly as the swords slide against each other. The surprised look on Adorno's face disappears and rage graces his facade. He raises his rapier again to strike the Inquisitor down when Josephine finally shoves through the rest of the crowd.
"Stop!"
Evelyn glances towards the crowd as she hears the voice of her Ambassador. Her heart catches in her throat and her cheeks flush red with slight embarrassment at being found out. "Josephine," she whispers softly as she watches the Antivan noblewoman stride towards her. Their eyes lock momentarily until the Free Marcher turns to look away from the anger and pain she sees in the other woman's eyes.
Lord Otranto lowers his rapier and nods politely towards the glowering Ambassador. "Lady Montilyet! What a pleasure to..." He stops his introduction short as he watches the woman stalk past him towards the Inquisitor.
"What are you doing?" Josephine exclaims as she nears Evelyn. The rage she feels towards the Free Marcher has nothing to do with the cloak and dagger betrayal of the duel, but has everything to do with the Inquisitor's current state. Fear turned to blinded rage chokes the Antivan as she takes notice of Evelyn's torn and blood spattered jerkin. At least she is not too hurt, the Ambassador thinks to herself as she watches the Inquisitor try vainly to wipe the blood running from the cut on the side of her face. She casts her eyes towards Lord Otranto and notices that the man hasn't a nick on him and that he seems as if he could continue on with the duel for hours. Josephine knows that this sort of fighting is nothing compared to the sorties that Lady Trevelyan is used to, however, the thought holds no comfort for the Antivan as her anger and pain at the thought of losing the woman standing before her makes her unleash every ounce of anger towards her unsuspecting victim.
Evelyn looks around the square as spectators close ranks around the three people and stare at the argument before them. Raising her free hand to rub the nape of her neck, Evelyn stutters, "Uh, Lord Otranto and I were just settling our differences about your betrothal."
Josephine shakes her head at the Inquisitor's response. "That's not your decision! The Inquisition needs you! I need you! Yet you threw yourself into danger!" She takes a deep breath to push back the tears that threaten to fall. Composing herself a little bit more, the Antivan continues, "Why do this? Why risk everything we've built? Why risk your life?"
"Because I love you!" Evelyn exclaims with a smile causing the Antivan to turn around slightly stunned at the admission.
"You... you do?" Josephine asks unsure that she had heard the Inquisitor correctly.
Adorno glances at the two women with a look of surprise. "She does?!"
Evelyn smirks and tosses the rapier to the cobble-stoned street. She takes a few steps towards the Antivan. "Yes, I do."
Josephine smiles softly when she hears the confirmation that she did not realise she was longing to hear. She bites her lower lip and, without conscious thought, admits the one thing she has denied for some time. "I love you too."
The words come softly to her, making the Inquisitor question what she had actually heard but when she sees the beautiful Antivan ambassador race towards her, she closes the distance and wraps her arms around Josephine's waist and spins her around. The kiss between them is short, but full of promise. The two women stare into each others eyes as if they were the only two people in all of Thedas. Josephine reaches up with her ink-stained hand to gently brush the tiny rivulets of blood that dripped from Evelyn's cheek. She smiles when she feels the Inquisitor's warm hand gently caress her own and presses it to cup the wounded cheek. "You're hurt," Josephine whispers as she continues to cup Lady Trevelyan's cheek.
"It is nothing, my dear," Evelyn whispers back as she leans down to kiss the Antivan again. After the kiss, the Inquisitor pulls Josephine closer into a heartfelt embrace that leaves the Ambassador dizzy.
The sound of steel against steel causes the two women to end the embrace and stare at the Antivan lord in front of them. Lord Otranto, with rapier still unsheathed, walks towards the couple. He raises the hilt towards his chest and nods in the direction of Evelyn and Josephine. His normally stoic face breaks into a soft smile as he slides his rapier back into its sheath. Adjusting the baldric across his shoulder, Adorno looks back towards the Inquisitor. "Well-fought."
Josephine moves closer and slightly in front of Evelyn. "Lord Otranto..."
He interrupts the Ambassador. "I'd assumed your liaison with the Inquisitor was an affair of passion or convenience, Lady Montilyet, but I am not fool enough to stand in the way of true affection. The Otrantos regretfully withdraw the terms of our betrothal." He smiles again at the two women and nods his head respectfully.
The Ambassador smiles at the Antivan lord. "Thank you." No other words could come to her at this specific moment as she feels Evelyn's presence move closer behind her.
"Do not thank me." Otranto nods to the lady behind Josephine. "I know when I'm outmatched." He turns away from the couple and disappears into the dwindling crowd.
Evelyn reaches for Josephine's hand and tugs it gently causing the Antivan to turn around and face her. The Ambassador turns and reaches out with her free hand to hold onto the Inquisitor's. The two women stare into each others eyes as the murmurs of the crowd dissipate. The Free Marcher smirks when she hears a visiting dignitary from Tevinter Imperium huff, "What? No one died? That wasn't a duel!" She takes a deep breath and realises that all is not completely forgiven when she sees the impatient look on her lover's face. "I should have told you about arranging the duel."
The Ambassador smiles as she looks into the Inquisitor's eyes. "As long as you are in one piece, body and dignity, I forgive you, but do kiss me again." Josephine feels her breath catch in her throat as she feels the sudden warmth flow through her body at the simple caress of their lips. She clings desperately onto the Inquisitor's jerkin as she feels her legs give out from under her. Feeling the strong arms of Evelyn wrap tightly around her waist to keep her from falling, the Antivan moans slightly into the Free Marcher's mouth. Her eyes flutter shut and she grips the rogue's coat tighter when she feels Evelyn's tongue playfully dart out and lick her bottom lip. Josephine sighs when the need for air breaks the two women apart. Leaning her forehead against Lady Trevelyan's, the Antivan sighs again. "I think we need to go back to Skyhold as soon as it is possible."
The Free Marcher chuckles softly and places a reverent peck on the Ambassador's lips. "I think I may have to agree with you, Lady Montilyet."
A figure shrouded in darkness slinks back further into the alleyway closest to the couple. Leliana pulls the cowl off of her head and smirks as she walks back towards the docks to see that their ship has finally docked. I had hoped that this would bring them closer together, the bard thinks to herself as she looks up at the dazzling blue of the summer sky. But, I feel there will be no living with either of them after this escapade. She leans against one of the flagpoles closest to the ship and patiently waits for the couple to make their way to their only means of transportation.
"Hey, did you set this up, Nightingale?" A voice says from her left.
"I had no idea that the Inquisitor was going to do this, Varric," she replies without looking at him. "If I did, things would have went differently."
"And by that?!"
"And by that, I mean I would have used a bit more subtlety."
The dwarf shudders slightly at the edge in the Spymaster's voice. "Right..." He glances at the woman as she spies Josephine and Evelyn making their way towards the docks. "You do know that you scare the shit out of my sometimes, Nightingale."
Leliana smirks at his admission and turns to look away from the two women as soon as they made eye contact with her. "Good to hear that I can still scare you, Varric."
"Uh... sure, no problem... that doesn't make you any scarier than I thought you were to begin with." The dwarf stutters out as he glances down at the ground.
"I am joking," Leliana says as she places a hand on his shoulder. "Come on... let us allow the two lovebirds a bit of space. I know if Neria was here, I would want the same."