And thus ends a really long hiatus! In this chapter, our heroes have finally made it to the Winter Palace, most of them grudgingly. Except for Solas. He loves this shit. But this chapter isn't really about him, so much as it is about intrigue, exasperated elves, and steamy encounters between a certain Inquisitor and her tall, dark, and reluctant man friend. I'm riding that line right now between staying true to the story and also keeping the good parts going, so we'll see if I can get back in the writing mode smoothly enough. Enjoy!

The Inquisition's small group met an icy greeting at the entrance to the ball. So, the Inquisitor actually was an elf? Word sizzled across the crowd like a preemptive wake as she strolled forward. At least Duke Gaspard was hospitable enough, for a man with everything to gain from their help.

Every muscle in Ash's body was tense as she walked across the wide marble floor in the palace announcement hall. She clenched her teeth at the sound of her own name in this unfamiliar, echoing chamber. She was the Inquisitor, but damned if she couldn't hear the disbelieving whispers from the nobles around her. Leliana had prepared her well, and she was determined to play the game enough to gain support.

Cassandra had the longest name Ash had ever heard. She looked over at the annoyed warrior. Theo was standing at her side as she started her walk across the floor. Ash watched her brother's lips move, repeating Cassandra's nobility-saturated name to himself. She chuckled. He was very often intrigued by Ash's warrior friend these days.

She started to ponder what that could mean, when Blackwall's name was announced.

"…Constable of the Grey. Bearer of the Silverite Wings of Valor."

Wings of valor? That sounded like a story.

She raised her eyes as the Empress moved into view at the balcony overlooking the ballroom. Ash gave a begrudging nod at the elegant blue dress cascading down her form and the golden collar outlining her head like a personal sun. She toyed with warning the Empress right here and now, bursting through the pleasantries with a grave warning, but bit her tongue. Leliana was right. Subtlety ruled here. Not Ash's strong suit, but there's a first for everything.

Ash politely finished her exchange with the Empress, gave a final bow to the assembly, then moved to the top of the stairs. She caught the eye of her brother, again standing near Cassandra. He was handsome in his form-fitting Inquisition tunic and long rust-colored braid. He smirked knowingly.

"I don't recall the last time I've seen you strike such a balance of annoyed and cautious," Theo said as she approached.

"You know this isn't my style," she glared, "but we're for a purpose. I thought you mentioned something about blending in with the other elves and playing the spy."

"Did I?" he asked innocently.

"No," she raised an eyebrow at him, "but I know it's what you're going to do anyway. Just let Cassandra go with you. She can be nearby if you run into trouble."

Theo and Cassandra looked at each other, him with a satisfied grin, her with a cautious frown.

Leliana joined them then with her newest update. Gaspard blamed Briala. The Empress had a mysterious apostate advisor. And currently all leads pointed to the Guest Wing.

Ash turned away and took a breath to steady herself as she surveyed the room. Time to mingle. Or sneak deeper into the palace. Or fight? She wasn't sure yet.

She nodded once to Theo and Cassandra, then strode back into the limelight. Hardly the sort of limelight she might've expected, being one of many in the dim corridors of the elaborate palace, but she could feel all eyes on her. Ash made small talk, eavesdropped, and did her best to play the part of stoic Inquisitor. She wandered deeper along the ostentatious halls, until finally the crowd started to thin. She breathed in relief at the relative quiet of the newly discovered vestibule, and started down some steps to a wall lined with large statues. A familiar voice drifted up to her.

"I… don't think we've met, my Lord. I'm just a Grey Warden."

"A Grey Warden? Odd… your face is so familiar."

Ash approached to see Blackwall fidgeting uncomfortably under the unsteady gaze of a tipsy nobleman.

"Around the eyes, especially. Perhaps without that beard? More wine. It will come to me."

The man wandered off past Ash. Blackwall's eyes lit up when he saw her. She thought there was a flash of something else… unease?

"You're a sight," he breathed as she stepped closer. She reached out and slowly smoothed the shoulder creases of his tunic.

"Likewise," her eyes flickered up to watch the skin under his dark beard flush. She trailed her fingers up his neck and pulled his face down to hers. She stopped just short of kissing him, letting her soft mouth brush lightly against the sensitive skin of his lips. "So… Silverite Wings of Valor? What did you get that for?"

Blackwall stuttered a moment. He struggled between the desire to close the hairs-width gap between them and obligation to answer her.

"Er… Valor," he compromised with a peck on her cheek, then stepped back. She raised an eyebrow. He cleared his throat. "It was a long time ago, when we didn't stop to boast about past victories when there's an assassin on the loose."

Ash looked him over. He was nervous. Maybe because of the atmosphere, maybe something more. She let it go.

"That man had a fair point," she leaned back on her heels and stroked her chin thoughtfully. A shadow crossed over his face.

"Did he?" he asked tentatively.

"I can't say I haven't wondered," she stepped closer and twirled one finger loosely around strands of his groomed beard, "what you might look like clean-shaven."

His thick eyebrows shot up and he released a quiet guffaw.

"Are you asking me to get rid of the beard?" his tone was playful disbelief.

"Would I dare?" she breathed. Her fingers curled around the back of his thick neck and tugged him slowly downward. "Does the Herald of Andraste even claim such authority over the facial hair of a Grey Warden?"

"I should say not," his lips were warm against her cheek. His voice was soft, complacent, almost trance-like when he stood so close to her. "But Ash Lavellan may hold such sway over me."

She tilted sharply back and gazed up at him with wide, mischievous eyes. He read the look's meaning and swallowed hard.

"You're not… going to ask me to...?"

Her eyes twinkled for a beat, savoring his unease, before her laughter broke the silence. She leaned up sudden and firm and pressed along the length of him, arms winding tightly around his chest, and met his mouth with hers. The characteristic stiffness of his shoulders softened. She breathed a small sound of pleasure when his wide hands pressed against her upper and lower back, crushing her closer to him. Ash had only meant to surprise him quickly, then flit back to her duties, but she was rapidly losing herself in the embrace.

The intensity of the kiss was magnified by the heat of his mouth as his lips slipped across hers, pulled back a fraction, moved in again for another exploration. The hairs rose across her scalp as his thick fingers slide across her neck, down her spine, down the curve of her hip. She felt him hesitate, and knew he wanted to pull her body very specifically closer to his, and she almost laughed.

Then the tipsy murmurings of a pair of courtiers drifted down to them and broke through Blackwall's internal struggle. He stepped back quickly, hands moving dutifully to his sides, and watched the masked Orlesians wobble and whisper along the walkway above them. Ash smoothed back her hair and sighed. Ever the gentleman.

When the giggling nobles had disappeared down the corridor, he cleared his throat and returned his attention to Ash. She regarded him with a single raised eyebrow.

"So, back to business," she pursed her lips, "I've been making the rounds, but no luck yet. Rumors and hearsay, is all. Seen anything yourself?"

Blackwall crossed his arms and clenched his jaw thoughtfully. He'd been thinking about this earlier, had meant to point out a thing or two, before Ash's appearance had… distracted him.

"There aren't enough guards," he looked up around the near empty corridors above them. "That seems strange. Either the Empress disguised them, or something's gone wrong."

Ash nodded. She'd thought the area beyond ballroom had seemed sparse.

"Well, I've spent enough time chatting. I'm ready to up the stakes. I saw a way into the secure part of the palace, up the lattice outside the Gardens. Meet me there?"

"Anything you need," he nodded.

"Anything?" she paused.

Her eyes darkened intently on him. Blackwall's stomach felt like he'd ate a bird. Her warm fingers slid between his and squeezed.

"Would you save me a dance?"

He laughed in partial relief. So, not the beard.

"All of them."

They stared at each other. Ash's cheeks crimsoned as she drank in the sight of Blackwall, shoulders and chest strangely vulnerable clad in just a formal jacket. No armor to bulk up his already solid form.

But she could remember the steel in those arms when they were wrapped around her. Ash chuckled, almost embarrassed, and tore her gaze away to go gather the other members of her team. Blackwall watched her until she had disappeared, then finally released a long breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.

She walked through the crowd of fancy outfits and masks, nodding to Solas as she eavesdropped and small-talked her way toward the lattice that would lead her away from the crowd. Hopefully toward more answers.

In another part of the palace, Cassandra was scowling over Theo and Cole as the latter worked to unlock the door to the Servants' Quarters.

"I feel like there are eyes in the walls and ceiling," the warrior scowled as she peered around like a wary hawk.

"Not right now," Cole said lightly. The lock clicked. The spirit stepped back as Theo gently prodded the door forward.

"We can find out what's going on back here while my sister works the room. We'll be quick about it," he pulled the white staff from his back and moved into the dim vast area of the Servants' Quarters.

"You're more a fool than I thought if you think the Inquisitor won't be wandering off on her own by now."

"In that case, we should hurry before she has all the fun," Theo retorted.

The three of them found very soon after that there was no need to hurry. Elven bodies littered the room beyond. Cassandra scowled at the blood-spattered servants' quarters and turned a hard stare to Theo.

"Fun?"

"It will be when I find who did this," he said grimly.

The group moved through the quarters and into an expanse of gardens. Vines climbed up white lattice lining their path toward a fountain. Theo's eyes narrowed on another still form at the foot of the garden. Cassandra made a sound somewhere between a snort and a gasp.

"The Chalons family crest. This man is nobility."

"Ash will probably want to have a word with Gaspard," Theo quipped.

They spun at the sound of a scream to see another elven servant cut down by a figure in white, followed by a group of Venatori. The harlequin in white vanished in a puff of smoke, and would've been lost to them if Cole hadn't pointed triumphantly as it retreated into the palace's second level above them.

"Let's be quick!" Cassandra growled as she pulled out her sword to deal with the Venatori.

Minutes later they were giving chase to the mysterious figure. Their efforts led them back into the palace, up stone staircases, and through an abandoned hall to a battle with the harlequin. It evaded all three of them, and would have escaped, but for the timely appearance of a new figure.

An elven woman in green, with auburn hair tied back in a large bun. She felled their foe without breaking a sweat, then turned with a haughty air as if they were meeting for tea and passive aggressive chit chat.

"Here I thought I would find the Inquisitor," Briala drolled as she approached. "Perhaps my reports were correct after all that she is terribly boring."

"If it's any consolation, I'm sure she's breaking rules on the other side of the palace as we speak," Theo leaned casually against his staff.

"I don't believe we've been introduced," she continued. "I'm Ambassador Briala."

"Ambassador, is it? Whose, exactly?"

"Of the elves," she said firmly. Theo's eyebrows shot up and he placed a hand gently on his chest. She tsked. "No matter if the nobility has decided to treat us as if we are not citizens." Briala stepped back and surveyed the carnage from the recent battle. "You've cleaned this place out. It will take a month to get all the Tevinter blood off the marble. I had intended to save or avenge my missing people, but you have beat me to it."

There was no hint of accusation or gratefulness in her tone. She was perfectly neutral, though the glint in her eye and grace of her movements kept Theo on high alert.

"Still, I have my doubts that the noble in the courtyard was your handiwork," she drew a finger across her chin. Cassandra and Theo exchanged glances. Briala giggled. "I wouldn't believe you if you said it was. No. Why do Gaspard's dirty work? But killing an Emissary? Bringing Tevinter assassins into the palace? That is bold, even for him."

"Are you saying you do not trust him?" Cassandra asked.

"I am saying he is desperate."

"Are you sure? That's been far from my impression tonight," Theo remembered clearly how easygoing the Duke had been with Ash. Something wasn't right.

"Don't let his smile fool you. It is all part of the game," she warned.

"People keep talking about this game," he frowned. "I've yet to see any score cards. Or equipment. Or a referee, even. Have you?" He frowned at Cassandra. Her brow crinkled in mild embarrassment. "Seems pretty poorly thought out. I could just say I'm winning right now, and who's to stop me? In fact, yes, I'm quite sure I am winning."

"Theo..."

Brialla tilted her head to the side as she regarded the three. She was unfazed by the mage's pertness. "Perhaps I've misjudged the Inquisitor. Her men have avenged my people, and quietly so. You might be an ally worth having."

"I should think so."

"Ask her if she might be interested in an army of elven spies at her disposal. She should think about it. The night is not over."

Briala smirked knowingly at them one final time, before climbing down the balcony to the gardens below. Cassandra sneered.

"More politics and double dealing. Is there anyone here who is not corrupt?"

"Only yourself and Cole, I'm afraid," Theo sighed.

"And you?" she scowled.

He cast her a sidelong look and tapped a finger on the side of his nose. She scoffed. Theo smiled and motioned for Cassandra to go ahead toward the stairs that led back to the main ballroom.

"Let's get back to my sister with this news. She'll want to know Briala's offer, and about these Venatori."

Their return stalled only a moment to dig through a room near Celene's quarters when Theo maintained they couldn't pass up a chance to root through an Empress's private things. Cassandra grudgingly stood guard while Cole and the elf riffled through chests and drawers, until finally Cole held out a locket to Theo. The elf turned it over in his hands. His eyes widened.

"This is… from Briala. To the empress," he said quietly. "This is important to her."

Cassandra's brow wrinkled cautiously.

"What do you think this means?"

"Celene is either a compulsive collector," Theo shrugged, "or she holds affection for Briala."

"Whatever the reason, I suppose it's worth keeping hold of."

"Agreed. Likely there is some emotional blackmail in this," he nodded. Cassandra turned toward him with a tired scowl.

"You don't have to put it so crudely," she reprimanded.

"I thought of all people, you would appreciate efficient communication," he pocketed the jewelry. "I think we've made good time. With luck, we'll be done in time for a nightcap."

"Does that mean we're winning?" Cole asked as they strode back toward the ballroom.

"In the grand scheme, Cole, I'm not sure any of us are," Theo squeezed the spirit's shoulder gently, "yet."