Doing what, to whom, and why?
Alistair pulled out another small packet of parchments and sat on the sofa. "When the kids first arrived at Skyhold, Lily wouldn't let you out of her sight."
Marnie curled up next to him. "I know. I was really grateful to Cullen and Cassandra for helping me stay out of the field for a few weeks. Your idea to bring her the war room so she could see the map and the markers was inspired."
"Well, you and I helped her understand that you had an important job, and by bringing her into the war room she could see where you were going."
"I am grateful to Leliana for setting aside a special set of Ravens you and I could use so I could send you notes to read to Lily, and you could write notes for Lily and send them to me."
"She loved getting those notes and having me write notes for her. I was fascinated by what Lily deemed important. The top three questions she had were 'What were you riding? Were you wearing armor? And whether or not 'Uncle Dory' was with you.'"
Marnie nodded, "It made sense. A good mount meant I could travel faster, armor told her if I was fighting, and Dorian was the only mage among my companions that she liked. She was rather disinterested in Vivienne, and she was afraid of Solas."
"Wise child. Do you remember when Cricket met Dorian? They spent forever in the library. I Think Varric referred them collectively as Bookends. I have to admit I was surprised that Dorian helped Cricket in the garden as much as he did."
Marnie grinned. "Cricket's interest in growing things is infectious; it also helped that Bull thought Dorian covered in dirt was the sexiest thing he'd ever seen."
"Bull, Dorian, and dirt aside, Cricket's ideas really helped Elan increase the yield of our key healing herbs. Siobhan and Dennet worked very well together. Siobhan's dressage experience really made a difference training mounts for the Inquisition soldiers."
Marnie beamed. "Both of them made real contributions to the Inquisition and neither of them thought anything about it. I was thrilled that Josephine had them formally recognized for it."
"Now that was a fun party! Not at all like stick-in-the-mud formal dinners you got stuck attending."
"Well none of those were quite as bad as the peace talks posing as a masquerade ball. I was so thankful that you represented Ferelden. I don't know what Gaspard would have done if Teagan was there."
"Please don't remind me. That night was an experience we don't need to have again."
~oOOo~
28 Drakonis, 9:41 Dragon
I'm not overly picky about clothing—something that drove mother a bit nuts—but when we were in the war room yesterday, Josephine gave us the sketches of the Inquisition's new formal attire, which we would be wearing to the Winter Palace next month. Frankly, I was aghast. Bright red jackets with gold trim, light butter yellow epaulettes with matching leather gloves, and the loudest and largest blue belted sash I've ever seen.
I looked at everyone and said, "We are the Inquisition. There will be no sashes, or other such frippery. I want formal attire that matches who we are: serious, confident, and committed to our cause. I want the coats tailored to fit." I anticipated Josephine's reaction. "Yes, I know it will cost more, but it will be more than worth it."
I then took the drawings with me and I said I would return with my changes.
Today, I showed them my drawings: deep red coats with black trim, and gold or brass buttons. The coats are to be clean tailored lines. No epaulettes, no sashes or any other wide fabric belts. I wanted the gloves to match the trim.
Cassandra and Cullen looked relieved. Leliana, who was dubious when I rejected the first designs, really liked my changes. Josephine remained skeptical
8 Cloudreach, 9:41 Dragon
The night we went to the ball was the first time we were wore our new formal attire (save for our fittings).
Josephine looked at us as we all stood together and said, "I believe that 'Inquisition red' will be all the rage this spring."
Dorian's jaw hit the floor we he saw Bull and Cullen looking sharp in their Inquisition attire, and Ali looking fabulous in a red, black and gold (Theirin colors) brocade doublet, wearing his gold circlet. Alistair wasn't wearing Inquisition attire because he was attending as Prince Alistair of Ferelden.
I told Dorian to stop drooling and stick his tongue back in his mouth.
He said, "What? I am just appreciating the fine tailoring of these uniforms and that exquisite brocade doublet."
"Sure you are." I smiled and then I whispered in his ear. "Ali said he is only wearing the circlet to bed tonight."
Dorian swallowed hard, then whispered back. "Hussy."
"Nope. Just exceptionally lucky."
8 Cloudreach
9:41
Meeting the Grand Duke was…interesting. Especially as both my eldest son and my wife had already met Gaspard, although Walter's introduction to the Grand Duke was, well…unique.
We were met at the entrance to the palace grounds. Josephine handled the overly formal introduction of "Prince Alistair Theirin of Ferelden to Grand Duke Gaspard de Chalons of Orlais." The first thing Gaspard said after being introduced was "Tell your son Walter that I named the cat after him so I would never forget being played by a 17-year-old squire."
The GD's mask was designed in such a way that his eyes were barely visible. It made it hard to tell if he was upset or not. Josephine, who had no mask, was trying very hard not to look scandalized. I'm guessing Marnie never told her about that incident.
Josephine and Leli told me the only people I had to dance with were the ones Josephine introduced to me. So, aside from the women Josie determined I should dance with, I spent the evening declining all other requests for dances.
Even Marnie had to dance. She's not only a graceful dancer, but also knows how to lead. This was important as she had to dance with the Grand Duchess Florianne!
Cullen, however, was able to decline all offers to dance. Lucky bastard.
Anyway.
My poor wife spent the night trying to gain the court's favor all the while traipsing through what seemed to be almost every room of the palace. Why? So, she could figure out who was planning to do what, to whom, and why. That basically boiled down to
Who: Grand Duchess Florianne de Chalons (Gaspard's sister)
What: to Kill
Who: Celene
Why: Because Corypheus after ascending to god-hood promised to make Florianne ruler of all Thedas (I promise I doubt he would have kept).
Who: Grand Duke Gaspard
What: to overthrow
Who: Celene
And
What: to Frame
Who: Ambassador Briala
Why: to become Emperor
Who: Ambassador Briala
What: to disrupt the peace talks
Who: Celene and Gaspard
Why: To raise elves to nobility
Marnie saved Celene from Florianne, and managed to reunite Briala and Celene, who were lovers (that was news to me). As for Gaspard, well, he managed to earn my wife's ire once she found out that in addition to the Chevaliers the GD was using for his coup, he had also a hired a number of Fereldan mercenaries. Gaspard held sway over enough Chevaliers to overthrow Celene without outside help. Marnie figured that the only reason to hire Fereldan mercenaries would be to cast suspicion on Ferelden if the GD "needed to cover his lily-white Orlesian arse." She left him for Celene to sort out.
Thankfully at the end of the party I did get to dance with my wife, alone under the stars, on a terrace.
However, I had to pass by Morrigan to get there.
Yes, that Morrigan.
10 Cloudreach, 9:41 Dragon
Well, Celene remains on the throne, and I even reunited her with her lover – Ambassador Briala. I think Celene decided in the end to exile Gaspard.
I was there at the invitation of the Grand Duke, and so by extension were my inner circle and advisors. Ali, however, was there as the Prince of Ferelden. I knew the entire evening was going to be a trial when Ali was given the honor of being introduced before the Grand Duke. Gaspard wasn't pleased, but he still had the Inquisitor on his arm, so to speak.
It was a long and difficult evening.
Although, it was not without some humor (or irony, I haven't decided which) that we have an advisor on the Occult, our liaison to Orlais, none other than Morrigan. She came to me during the evening regarding one of the many intrigues of the night. She, of course, was not surprised to see me because she knew about the Inquisition. I, however, was a bit stunned.
I remember meeting her in Lothering during the Blight. I had known Alistair for maybe a candle or so when he introduced me to Edwyn and Morrigan. Although he didn't really introduce me to Morrigan. It was only after my tearful, but happy meeting of my cousin, I remembered my manors and turned to the woman Ali had referred to as a hedge-witch.
I had said "Forgive me, I'm Hawke and you are?"
"Vaguely ill, but you may call me Morrigan."
Later in the night when she met me on the terrace, I asked her if she was still vaguely ill?
She frowned for a moment, then chucked softly, "I suppose was rather put off by the tear-filled sentimental display. I have since learned that being sentimental is not always a sign of weakness. So, no. I am no longer vaguely ill. But I am still Morrigan, and now I am the Empress' liaison to the Inquisition."
I was worried about how she and Ali would get along, as he had told me about some of the difficulties he'd had with Morrigan during the Blight.
~oOOo~
"Those introductions at the Winter Palace were so overblown!" Marnie groaned, remembering.
Alistair, who was standing near the fire place, smiled as he stood up straight looking self-important. "Accompanying the Grand Duke, Lady Inquisitor Theirin, neé Hawke. Single-handed destroyer of the Qunari invaders in Kirkwall, vanquisher of the rebel mages of Ferelden, crusher of the vile apostates of the mage underground, Champion of the Blessed Andraste herself!"
Marnie rolled her eyes. "Yours sounded much more dignified. 'His Royal Highness, Prince Alistair Theirin of Ferelden. Second son of King Maric Theirin. Hero of the 5th Blight, former Commander of the Grey Wardens of Ferelden.'
"I was not the Hero of Ferelden."
"Like they were going to give any credit to either a mage or Loghain Mac Tir?"
"True."
"I was pissed that there was no mention of our being married. I went straight to Josephine, who patiently explained that as I was the guest of the Grand Duke it was to save Gaspard from suspicion of colluding with Ferelden. Which made a lot more sense once we found the leader of the Ferelden mercenaries he hired."
Alistair sat back down and began to laugh. "Remember when they introduced Cassandra? What was it Allegra, Portia, Filomena…
"Portia, Calogera, Filomena."
"Right. Fortunately, she now has only one name for people to remember."
"True. There was one good memory from that night: I got to dance with you under the stars."
"Oh?" Alistair raised one eyebrow. "I recall several good memories from that night."
All Marnie could do was blush.
~oOOo~
AN: Thanks to Melysande and Judi for your reviews and support. Also to my beta ElyssaCousland for her terrific beta skills.