A/N: Well here we are again! Another marvelous Friday and another new chapter! Sticking with Trespasser DLC content for the most part for now in this first story arc, which is likely to be the funniest too. I had enormous fun writing these chapters!

Two

It's Spa Day, Darling!

The sun remained high enough by the time Ellana finished the dinner with Celene and Briala that it could still be considered afternoon. The so-called "dinner" had been more of a late lunch and mercifully short. Josephine's suggestion about ginger in her tea had worked wonderfully on Ellana's stomach right up until she smelled some of the more potent main courses that included seafood delicacies. Yet, luckily, Ellana had managed to keep her composure.

Now she found herself wandering the palace grounds, searching for Cassandra—Divine Victoria as most everyone insisted on calling her, even in private. The scent of alcohol from the tavern made her now full stomach clench at the stink of it so she marched right by it despite catching Iron Bull's eye and seeing Sera inside as she passed. Mother Giselle had told her she could find Cassandra on the balcony overlooking the countryside and Ellana found the former Seeker there as promised, but as she called out to her in greeting Cassandra flinched.

"Is everything all right?" Ellana asked as she took in Cassandra's enormous hat and Chantry robes with a smirk of amusement. Caasandra had told her once that she despised hats and looked terrible in them—but Ellana suspected everyone looked terrible in that hat.

Cassandra blinked a few times, still appearing stricken. "Yes, well. I…wanted to speak with you. And now you're here." She strode closer, her brusque motion still looking better suited to armor than robes.

A weight pressed on Ellana's shoulders. Whatever Cassandra wanted to talk about, it couldn't be good. "This seems serious."

"It's not about me," Cassandra went on. "It's about you." She fell silent, staring and blinking at Ellana. "Maybe you should sit."

What is this about? Ellana wondered. "I can stand," she told Cassandra, trying not to reveal how perturbed she felt seeing the warrior so shaken.

"Maybe I should sit," Cassandra said and looked toward the short stairs leading down to the overlook. She walked to them and sat, her back ramrod straight and shoulders squared as she stared straight ahead. Almost reluctant, Ellana followed and took a seat beside her, careful not to step on her white robe.

"Inquisitor," Cassandra began, finally launching into whatever dark topic clearly bothered her so much. "I want you to know that I am your friend. I will always be your friend."

Mythal have mercy, where is she going with this?

Ellana spoke up quickly, hoping to ease the strange tension in the air. "Oh, well, that's—"

"So I hope to give you sound advice on this momentous day," Cassandra said, interrupting Ellana. The expression on her face had changed from the tense awkwardness of before to something almost…tender? "Do what is in your heart, my friend. No matter what anyone might tell you," she finished with a small smile on her lips.

"That's…a lovely sentiment, Cassandra," Ellana said and meant it, but her head felt thick with confusion. Why would this work Cassandra up so much? Had she perhaps gotten wind of Solas' strong opinions about disbanding the Inquisition?

Now Cassandra turned her head slightly, staring off at a nearby point on the concrete as she launched into what Ellana could tell by her tone was a sort of soft reprimand. "Marriage is much more than a 'lovely sentiment,' Inquisitor."

"Marriage?" Ellana asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Yes," Cassandra said, her tone one of exasperation now. "Maker knows it's been a long time coming, but Solas has been…" As understanding dawned Ellana quickly turned her head away, but not before her expression must have revealed the truth to the other woman. "You're not proposing," she realized aloud. "To anyone."

Cassandra stood up, as fast if she'd been stung by a bee. Her hands clenching into fists. "I am going to kill Varric," Cassandra promised. "Why do I believe everything he says? Why?"

"Might I interject something?" a familiar voice asked from behind Ellana on the stairs and she twisted to look over her shoulder as Dorian stepped onto the balcony overlook.

"Dorian," Ellana said, grinning with joy at the sight of her friend—and glad for the distraction from this difficult conversation. She got to her feet, ignoring the little wave of dizziness that swept through her at the action. "Or should I say Ambassador Pavus?"

He smiled at her, full of warmth. "Just Dorian for you, old girl."

"What do you want, Tevinter?" Cassandra asked with a scowl, still angry that Varric had tricked her.

"Your Holiness," he said, addressing Cassandra and striding toward her with his arms opened to her as if he would embrace her but she made no move to reciprocate and he dropped the stance to motion at Ellana. "I think you're missing an excellent opportunity. Rather than direct your divine wrath at Master Tethras, you and I should combine efforts in an unprecedented union of the Imperium and the Chantry to apply political pressure on our darling Fade expert."

"What?" Ellana asked, making a face. "There's really no need…"

"I already took the liberty of questioning Solas a few hours ago," Dorian added with a mischievous grin aimed at Ellana. "I gathered from his reaction nothing was actually planned. But that doesn't mean we can't set things in motion."

Ellana bit the inside of her cheek and averted her eyes, a wave of heat passing through her at this topic. As much as she'd love to have Solas come forward with a promise of a deeper commitment, the last thing she wanted was for Dorian to embarrass or pressure Solas on her behalf. He was private and reserved and she'd learned to respect his boundaries, which included few public displays of his affection and no gossip. She didn't think he ever sought out advice and he certainly wasn't one to boast.

"Dorian," she began, her tone hesitant. "I'm not sure that's—"

"What?" he asked, his eyebrows leaping into his forehead and his mouth falling open. "You mean to tell me you don't want him to make an honest elf out of you?"

Cassandra made a disapproving noise in her throat and started to speak over Dorian, her expression firm and yet also sympathetic. "If you do not wish to discuss it, Inquisitor, then we will respect your wishes. Isn't that right, Dorian?"

"Naturally," he agreed smoothly, barely sparing a glance in Cassandra's direction before focusing again on Ellana, a knowing look in his eyes. "But really, you wouldn't have believed the way Solas squirmed. That's not the reaction of a man who hasn't given thought to it."

"Solas gives thought to everything," Ellana pointed out, refusing to acknowledge the way her heart picked up at the mere suggestion. The stormheart arrowhead felt suddenly warm against her skin as she remembered wondering why he'd decided to give her such a gift. In her clan betrothal gifts were common, but they were usually something practical—a bow, a staff, a blade, or new cookware. But Ellana had everything she could want when it came to practicality, so what would be appropriate for the Inquisitor?

The answer resounded inside her head, loud and clear and making her cheeks suddenly flush with warmth. He'd give her something defensive or protective, of course, to help her in battle because she wasn't a hunter of the People anymore.

"Yes, he told me the Dalish don't marry," Dorian said with a smirk. "I swear that elf knows everything. Or thinks he does."

"The Dalish do not marry?" Cassandra repeated, her face open and slack with surprise. "How can that be?"

"We take bond partners," Ellana explained with a shrug. "And swear oaths to Sylaise."

"Who?" Cassandra asked, shaking her head, still hopelessly confused.

Ellana's shoulders slumped. "Never mind." She faced Dorian again. "The point is I'd prefer you both not discuss this with him." She pinched her lips together, refusing to say more despite the anxious knot in her chest as her thoughts on the arrowhead continued to swell in her mind. If Solas had meant it to be a betrothal gift he'd have said as much. The arrowhead had been his way of apologizing for being away for so long, that was all.

Well, that and the sleepless night of lovemaking.

"Ah, but you want to discuss it," Dorian said with a chuckle and an arched eyebrow. "The look on your face, old girl…"

Before she could stop herself she snorted, laughing a moment before cutting herself off and squaring her shoulders. "Enough, Dorian. I'm serious. I have enough to worry about with the Exalted Council. I don't need you meddling in my relationship."

Dorian clucked his tongue with disappointment. "All right then, have it your way."

"Where is Solas?" she asked, quickly glancing around as if worried he might wander into the awkward conversation.

"I haven't seen him," Cassandra said with an apologetic look.

"I have, obviously," Dorian said and motioned in the direction of the courtyard. "He was over there, being mistaken for one of the hired help. After that I saw him marching for the palace, off to lecture with politicians and Chantry sisters about the true nature of spirits, demons, and the Fade I assumed."

Cassandra chuckled. "He would do that—and I would have to play mother hen later when they came to me for reassurance." She looked to Ellana. "Perhaps you should find him."

"Yes," Dorian added, laughing. "And keep him suitably occupied." He winked at her.

"I will…see what I can do," Ellana said, clearing her throat and fighting the blush stealing over her cheeks. For Cassandra she said, "I wouldn't want to cause you any trouble, Divine Victoria."

"For you it is no trouble, Inquisitor," Cassandra reassured her with a nod. Somehow the ridiculous hat of the Divine didn't come toppling off her head. She smiled, managing to look serene despite the mean scar on her jaw and the militant set of her shoulders.

Dorian sighed. "I suppose I should go mingle with the other ambassadors."

The light in the Crossroads had a splintered look, glinting rose and green and gray against Solas' eyes as he stared across the distance between the floating islands. He'd emerged through a previously dark eluvian onto an island of rough gray-black stone. A waterfall splattered the rock ahead and far beyond he saw Qunari warriors charging over a rock bridge that should have been magically-masked. He knew where they were headed: the eluvian leading to the Deep Roads where their lyrium mine waited.

Well, it was their lyrium mine now. Like every other race in Thedas, the Qunari were growing increasingly adept at claiming Elvhen possessions and repurposing them. He felt an old, simmering rage heating his blood.

Because the Crossroads was a construct, neither Fade nor waking world, Solas didn't need to use the bridges linking the islands. Gravity still worked here, to an extent, but magic users could bend such rules or even appear to break them completely. He'd hoped to use this against the Qunari by deliberately leaving most of the bridges between the islands masked. Unfortunately the Qunari mages, called saarebas in Qunlat, had surprised him with how quickly they learned how to discharge the magic stored in the orbs along the islands, unmasking the bridges so their forces could cross at will. They'd even learned how to make a few bridges stay on permanently.

At least the saarebas still didn't understand they might be able to bypass the bridges entirely the same way the agents of Fen'Haral did using Fade step.

All of the people he'd stationed in the Crossroads were Elvhen mages with enough strength and skill that they could Fade step over the gaps between the islands. It wasn't flying or teleporting, but to the Qunari it'd look suitably intimidating and impossible—a nice perk for him and all of his people.

In a blur Solas flitted from the island with the eluvian connecting to Halamshiral and onto the path leading to the Deep Roads. He burst out of it in the middle of their group and immediately blasted them with a veilstrike. Three of the warriors fell off into the void, their cries thin and pathetic. The saarebas wheeled to face Solas along with one other surviving warrior who managed not to fall over the side.

Solas cast a barrier, shielding himself from the fireball the saarebas sent hurtling at him. Then he summoned Fade stone, creating a fist of it on his staff and flinging it at the saarebas. The Qunari mage ducked and yelped, falling over the edge.

The remaining warrior roared and charged at Solas, his spear held high. Calling another veilstrike, Solas simply swept him aside without even a grunt of effort. The warrior cursed and cried out as he fell, but the sounds died away quickly, leaving nothing but the ongoing hiss of water from the islands nearby. And, of course, the unending song of the Crossroads.

Rubbing his face with one hand, Solas walked back toward the island opposite the one with the Deep Roads eluvian. As soon as he stood on the solid stone, staring down at his feet in deep thought, he sighed. How many times had he come through here and intercepted them? How many times had he masked this bridge, hoping to trap them in the Deep Roads? How many times had he chased them into the Deep Roads to cut them down there, too?

The Qunari had numbers and time on their side and they weren't stupid, as much as he wished they were. He'd lost two of Abelas' sentinels over the three months he'd been fighting their incursion into the Crossroads. That was far, far too many. Every Elvhen agent was precious, each one a holdover from uthenera like himself and the only ones who recalled the way the world should be.

With a wave of one arm, his fingers glowing green, he recalled the stone bridge. It groaned, detaching from the island with the Deep Roads eluvian and slowly disappearing. Another saarebas would just reinstate the bridge eventually, but at least this would hinder them a little.

He turned to the eluvian behind him. This one led to a picturesque valley with a lake and several large watchtowers. In the time of Elvhenan Solas had called it Revasan, the place where freedom dwells. He knew the valley now was robed in green splendor, wild and unmarked by humans or elves except for the ruined watchtowers. It was barely a memory of the sanctuary it'd been, where once the People had flourished, living much like the Dalish off the land. They'd spat on the names and markings of the Evanuris and exalted the Dread Wolf for freeing them. They'd flocked to him, their faces bare and proud, and pleaded to fight for him.

In those days he'd had an army so massive it'd have been more than enough to topple any of the current human nations. But that was the past—a different world and a different life. Now Solas had returned to even more distant roots as spymaster and networker.

He glanced to the island where the Halamshiral eluvian waited, still active. There was no bridge to it currently; in fact there wasn't even an orb to store magic for the bridge. That would ensure no one could get to the now active Halamshiral eluvian. He'd found one of his spies within the palace—one who knew him just as Solas rather than Fen'Haral—to unlock the door to the room where Briala had stored the eluvian. That same spy had then locked the door again behind him. As far as anyone other than that particular spy was concerned, Solas would've just vanished from Halamshiral.

Had Ellana noticed his absence yet?

Shrugging off the thought, Solas pivoted to face the eluvian leading to Revasan, the elven ruins in the valley where Solas had become Fen'Haral and his legend had grown into a god. He strode for the mirror and stepped through.

After bidding Cassandra and Dorian goodbye, Ellana walked past the tavern again, searching for any sign of Solas but finding none. In the courtyard she encountered Varric and stopped to speak with him—receiving the surprising news that the dwarf had become viscount of Kirkwall and that he'd reserved her a title and an estate there. Along with a key to the city that apparently controlled a chain in the harbor, according to Varric's flustered and flabbergasted adviser.

After he'd finished lavishing her with gifts that stunned both her and his adviser, Ellana asked, "Have you seen Solas?"

"Chuckles?" the dwarf asked. "Yeah, he came storming through here about an hour ago and headed up the stairs." He hesitated a moment, giving her a curious look. "I assumed you sent for him or something."

Solas was the only one of her inner circle who hadn't technically left the Inquisition, meaning Ellana could have summoned him. But of course she hadn't. Why would Solas rush into the palace? Her stomach suddenly felt as if she'd swallowed lead and her face must've revealed her worry as Varric asked, "Is everything all right?"

"Yes," she said with a little shake of her head and then deftly changed the subject. "So, how is your next chapter of Swords and Shields coming along? I'm sure Divine Victoria is waiting with barely concealed excitement."

Varric laughed, loud and hard. When he'd recovered he checked over his shoulder, as if to be sure the aforementioned woman wasn't about to come barreling into the courtyard demanding the book. "I suspect if I don't finish it soon she'll announce an Exalted March on Kirkwall." He froze a second later, suddenly awkward. "Uh, sorry. That was insensitive of me."

Exalted Marches, Ellana thought and restrained a sigh. The last one had destroyed the Dales and broken the promise of an elven homeland. She pushed the thought aside and shrugged. "Don't worry about it, Varric."

"Well," he said, opening his arms in a welcoming gesture. "There's always a place for you in Kirkwall, Lady Lavellan. I'd even welcome Chuckles as your Comte."

She smirked. "About that rumor you started with Cassandra and Dorian…"

Varric grinned, trying and failing to appear innocent. "What rumor?" She shot him a mock glare, hands on her hips and immediately the dwarf capitulated. He raised his palms up toward her, as if ready to ward off a blow or hold back her reprimand. "Let's be fair. I didn't say much. It's hardly my fault if Her Holiness and Sparkles misunderstood me. Besides, what's so exalted about this summit if it doesn't involve a long-awaited proposal of marriage?"

She tried not to smile but couldn't hold it back as she shook her head. "It was great catching up with you, Varric."

"Likewise," Varric said with a little bow as flourish. As Ellana walked away, heading for the stairs and the palace, she saw Varric's advisor rush forward again to resume nagging him.

At the palace entrance she was about to question the guards standing watch when Vivienne called out to her. "Darling, there you are! You made it!"

Despite herself, Ellana hesitated and turned to greet the Enchanter, vaguely remembering Josephine mentioning that Vivienne had asked to meet her. "Hello, Vivienne."

"I scheduled this appointment ages ago, and they do appreciate punctuality," Vivienne went on, reaching to gently grasp Ellana's arm and turn her away from the palace and back to the stairs.

"Appointment?" Ellana asked, letting herself be led down the stairs. She cast a last glance over her shoulder at the entrance to the palace and resigned herself to whatever the Enchanter had in mind. Solas was around here somewhere. She'd find him eventually.

"With the Imperial Garden Spa, of course," she said with a smile, her voice silken as always. "You work so hard, my dear. I wanted to treat you."

They walked across the courtyard, heading past the fountain and toward the pavilion that Ellana was just beginning to realize must actually be a spa. Vivienne led her to a pair of broad white couches and reclined on one. Without much choice, Ellana sat opposite her and decided to be polite. Weren't spas supposed to be relaxing? She could use something to unwind the knot of tension in her back and stomach. "That sounds like a fantastic idea."

"Of course it is, darling. That's the only kind I have," Vivienne replied, still smiling smugly.

Right, Ellana thought, somehow managing to keep her smile from falling. Attendants appeared as if on cue, offering a skimpy undergarment that did make Ellana frown. "What is this?"

"You don't want to get your formalwear wet in the spa, did you?" Vivienne asked as she accepted her own skimpy undergarment. "I'll go first if you like." She rose from her couch and retreated to a small dressing room.

Alone except for the silent, waiting attendants, Ellana rubbed her thumbs over the satiny fabric of the underclothes and sighed. Maybe this wasn't such a good thing after all. She'd been feeling wretched over the last few days and especially that morning before the ginger had settled her stomach. The afternoon sunlight streamed in through the archways of the spa and the sound of the water was beautiful and musical. The scent of the flowers made her close her eyes, remembering her life in the wilds of the Free Marches and the headiness of summers there. She hadn't had many moments to miss it this much as Inquisitor, but now…

If she did disband the Inquisition, she could retire from leading it and return to her clan. Did she want that? Would they even take her back? Or perhaps she could settle in at Kirkwall, as Varric suggested?

All too soon Vivienne reappeared and it was Ellana's turn to squeeze into the embarrassingly skimpy underclothes. She kept tugging at the hem at both the top and around her legs, unable to hide her self-consciousness as attendants appeared again. As Vivienne reclined on her couch and leaned her head back, accepting the two tiny cheese wheels her attendant placed over her eyes, she said, "You look pale, my dear. Are you all right?"

"I'm fine." Ellana sat on her own couch and mimicked Vivienne's posture, reclining and leaning her head back. Her attendant stepped forward and placed a white cheese wheel over each eye. The scent was pungent, immediately making Ellana's volatile stomach churn. She swallowed the bile back, willing herself to find this as relaxing as Vivienne apparently did. "What are the cheese wheels for?"

"It pains me that you even have to ask. You've clearly been living too long in barely civilized conditions," Vivienne replied, neatly avoiding answering the question.

An attendant began massaging Ellana's shoulders, his hands strong and dexterous. She grimaced out of embarrassment as she immediately thought of Solas. She blushed to her ears as her attendant went to work on her neck then before eventually transitioning to her arms. Slowly, despite the nauseating smell of the cheese, Ellana began to relax—until she heard the distant echoing of feminine laughter and the patter of bare feet.

"Did you hear something?" she asked Vivienne.

"Relax, darling," Vivienne scolded her. "It's spa day."

Ellana let the attendant's hands work their magic again for a few moments, gradually relaxing as much as she could in her semi-nudeness and the strangeness of the cheese wheels both blinding her and making her queasy. When the attendants left them to relax, Ellana toyed with the stormheart arrowhead at her neck, which she hadn't removed when she put on the skimpy underclothes.

"How have you been?" Vivienne asked into the gentle stillness of the spas. "It seems ages since we've spoken. How are things with our dear Solas?"

Ellana barely managed to keep herself from snorting at the Enchanter's description. Our dear Solas?

"Are you digging for gossip, Vivienne?" she asked. "Trying to get me to give up the juicy details?"

"Merely expressing concern for your well-being, my dear. Someone ought to."

Ellana rolled her eyes beneath the ridiculous cheese wheels. Was Vivienne really going to start lecturing her on the dangers of apostate mages? When was she going to stop thinking Solas was about to be possessed by demons or take up a hobby destroying villages with reckless abandon?

She changed the subject. "Do you come to this spa often?"

"As often as I can," Vivienne said. "Sadly, no more than twice a year at best. Duty first."

The gentle thump of their attendants' footsteps came then and, mercifully, one of them lifted the cheese wheels from Ellana's eyes. She sat up, wiping at the slime left by the sweating cheese with a disgusted sneer. The combination of sitting upright and the lingering stink of the cheese made the room spin and bile rise into her throat.

"Don't you feel better, my dear?" Vivienne asked as she sat up and surveyed Ellana, only to answer her own question. "Oh dear, you look dreadful. Are you all right?"

"It's passing," Ellana said, swallowing with an effort and sucking in several deep breaths.

"What ever is the matter?" Vivienne asked with a cluck of her tongue. "Usually this place works miracles."

"I've been feeling…off most of the day," Ellana admitted, wiping again at the slime left by the cheese. "The smell of the cheese is what's bothering me. And the horses earlier."

"Hmm," Vivienne said, the noise of interest in her throat drawing Ellana's gaze now that she was more confident she wasn't about to vomit all over the white couch or the spa floor. The Enchanter's sculpted face had a pinched expression and narrowed eyes as she scrutinized Ellana.

"What is it?" Ellana asked, unable to keep herself from frowning warily at Vivienne's abrupt change in demeanor.

"Suffering from a heightened sense of smell, my dear?" Vivienne asked, arching an eyebrow.

"More like I ate something that didn't agree with me," Ellana said and rose to her feet, ready to be done with this spa and with Vivienne's nosiness. Looking toward the baths, Ellana's jaw dropped. Hams had been scattered about on the floor. "What…happened?" Had this been some sort of trick by Vivienne? But that hardly made sense…

"Darling. It's spa day. Don't fret. You'll undo all the good work they've done." If Vivienne noticed the hams she did a wonderful job of feigning otherwise. "Come along and let's get changed, darling. I'll let you go first."

After donning her formalwear again and bidding Vivienne goodbye, Ellana exited the baths only to spot Sera standing outside, grinning at her. "Here's you," she said in greeting and then gestured at the courtyard with a sweep of her hands. "And everyone! Glad to be back, all stuffed together. With the pressure full on. Again."

Elgar'nan's breath, Ellana thought, already grinning as she pieced together the mystery of the hams in the bath. Of course it'd been Sera. At least Sera wasn't meeting up with her in the tavern, the smell of which had repulsed Ellana every time she walked by it. "Hello Sera," she said. "It's good to see you made it."

"Don't worry, 'Herald of Everywhere,'" Sera said, grinning. "I came prepared. I know what everyone needs."

"Let me guess," Ellana said, raising a hand, finger pointed upward. "Pies. Crème pies in their faces. Especially the pompous nobility."

Sera tossed her head, smirking as she nodded. "Just like best times. Wanna come with?"

Ellana nodded. "Of course, but can we postpone this until tonight?" She edged closer, lowering her voice. "I'd like to pie the Ferelden Ambassador specifically and I'd prefer to do it under cover of darkness. I can't very well have him recognize me."

Sera giggled. "Oh, he won't if I dress you. Should get you out of that shite you're wearing now anyway. Make you look a proper Jenny."

Ellana grinned. "Sounds like a plan, then. I'll meet you outside the tavern an hour after sunset."

"Frigging yes," Sera said, laughing. "Can't wait."

With mischief scheduled now, Ellana tried for the second time to investigate the palace gate. While she'd been in the spa with Vivienne she'd apparently missed a changing of the guards as the two men standing watch now were different men from the two she'd seen before. Ellana questioned them about whether they'd seen or heard anything about an elven mage—bald, barefaced, and wearing an Inquisition armband—passing through the gates. The two men stared at her, blank and baffled.

That meant Solas had left before the before the change of the guard…or he was still in the winter palace somewhere. Why would he be in the palace?

Returning to the courtyard, Ellana checked in with Cullen and Leliana, keeping an eye out for Solas as she went and finding nothing. She headed to the upper balconies to find Josephine next, unwilling to go by the tavern again where the acrid stink of alcohol would be waiting, only to find the ambassador in the dark corner under the archways of the awning engaged in whispered conversation with Vivienne. She waited a short distance away from them to be polite but when Josephine glanced past the Enchanter she seemed to flinch, blinking and interrupting Vivienne with a subtle gesture of one hand.

The Enchanter turned and her eyes widened. "Inquisitor," she said and strode out from the shade of the awning. Josephine followed her, taking small, dainty steps and with an unreadable expression on her face as she stared at Ellana.

"Madam Vivienne," Ellana said with a nod. "Good to see you again."

"How are you feeling, darling?" Vivienne asked, her voice deep with her usual theatrical flourish. Her lips twisted downward in a frown that may or may not have been genuinely sympathetic. Ellana could never be sure.

"Well," she said. "And you?"

"Splendid, my dear," Vivienne replied with a little nod. "Now, I won't take up any more of Lady Montilyet's time." She glanced back at Josephine and said, "So good catching up with you."

"And you, Enchanter," Josephine said, but her eyes had a sort of dazed quality and her smile seemed less charming than usual.

"Now, if you'll both excuse me, I simply must speak with the Divine. Good evening, Inquisitor. Lady Montilyet." She gave a little exaggerated dip of her head to excuse herself and stepped daintily toward the staircase.

Ellana watched her go with a small frown as Josephine walked almost gingerly to stand beside her. "What was all that about?" she asked.

"Um." Josephine stopped and cleared her throat and a moment later Ellana felt the other woman's hand grip her bicep and steer her toward the shade of the awning. Ellana let Josephine lead her for a moment before gently but firmly pulling her arm from the ambassador's grasp.

"What's gotten into you, Josephine?" she asked, shaking her head in consternation.

The ambassador scanned the other nobility on the balcony, gaging their distance and how private the conversation would be. Ellana followed her gaze with a sigh, shoulders slumping as she anticipated she was about to learn something unpleasant.

"The Enchanter, like all ladies at court, is…" Josephine wrinkled up her nose for a moment as if she had to sneeze. "…most astute at ferreting out scandal and gossip."

Frowning, Ellana pinched the bridge of her nose. "Is this about the rumor Varric started again? About the marriage proposal?"

"What?" Josephine asked, almost blurting the word.

Ellana quickly explained what'd happened earlier in the day until Josephine laughed quietly. "Varric is the consummate troublemaker." She shook her head, grinning for a moment with Ellana before her expression sobered again and she cleared her throat. "I wish the Enchanter had approached me with that particular rumor, but unfortunately…"

"What is it, Josephine?" Ellana asked. She caught the ambassador checking the balcony for eavesdroppers again and tried to ignore the tightening knot of anxiety in her chest. "It isn't about Solas, is it?" she asked.

Josephine shot her a look that was both confused and wary, making Ellana's heart sink. "Not…directly," she answered and cleared her throat, lowering her voice into a near whisper. "I apologize for prying, Inquisitor, but I must ask after your health."

"My health?" Ellana parroted, eyebrows rising to emphasize the question.

"Yes," Josephine said, her voice hesitant. She licked her lips and shifted on her feet, clearly uncomfortable with the topic. "Madame Vivienne mentioned you nearly…" She stopped, pinching her lips together and sighing with frustration. "Perhaps you do not realize this, Lady Lavellan, but in a place such as the Halamshiral the court thrives on rumor and scandal for entertainment. It's a vital part of the Game and while you are here for the Exalted Council you will be—sadly—unable to escape it."

"I'm aware of this," Ellana murmured, frowning. "What's your point, Josephine?"

"Forgive me," Josephine said and even in the shadow the blush stealing over her cheeks was impossible to miss. "I will be blunt. The Exalted Council could last for weeks. If your illness is more than just temporary and instead caused by a certain...feminine condition...it will be impossible to prevent gossip. My hope was to take preventative action if you are—that is, if the Enchanter's suspicions prove correct."

Ellana stared at Josephine, mute as thoughts began to connect inside her mind, snapping into place to form a larger picture. Vivienne asking about her illness in the spa, specifically calling it heightened sense of smell. The nausea that kept plaguing her. The memory of the many nights she'd spent with Solas since he'd returned to Skyhold and agreed to join her at the Exalted Council. And the sudden realization that she'd lost track of time.

A wave of dizziness washed over her. I should've bled weeks ago.

"Inquisitor?" Josephine asked, her brow knitting with concern. "Are you all right?"

"I…" She shook her head, feeling shaky body wide. She drew in a deep breath and let it out again. "What was it that Vivienne suspected?" she asked, her voice thin.

"That perhaps there will soon be another member of clan Lavellan," Josephine whispered, her voice tight but her lips and eyes warm and lighthearted. At least Josephine wasn't going to judge her negatively for this.

"It's possible," Ellana admitted, turning her head and averting her eyes. Her cheeks felt as if they'd been scorched by mage fire. Was it possible? She didn't know how human women managed such things, but within her clan—and with Solas as well—she'd relied on magical wards to prevent pregnancy, enchantments to nullify male seed. Ellana's own ward was in an anklet that she'd worn for years now. Her Keeper had crafted and enchanted it, as she did for all in the clan male or female alike. They did need to be recharged every so often. Had hers run out?

"I will take what actions I can to prevent gossip," Josephine said. She reached out, laying a hand on Ellana's bicep. "I take it you did not plan on this?"

Ellana laughed and shook her head. "No." She hated the way Josephine's face twisted with sympathy. "But I don't know for sure. It's early…"

Josephine withdrew as if Ellana's arm had burned her. "You could see Leliana. She knows of some…" She cleared her throat, eyes shifty and awkward, unable to meet Ellana's gaze. "…other options that may be available to you. I don't know how the Dalish handle such unexpected…surprises…between unwed couples."

The clan women knew of herbs to flush an unwanted child from the womb and sometimes it was necessary—in lean years or times of conflict they couldn't afford to hamper themselves with babies. But overall Ellana's clan, and probably most clans, were more forgiving of women without bond partners having children than the Orlesians or Fereldens or any Andrastians would be. All elven children were precious as long as the clan could feed or care for them. After all, sex was just another way the humans encroached on the People. Children born to mixed race couples lost their elven traits. Before Ellana had left for the conclave her Keeper had cautioned her against mingling with human men for just that reason. As one of the Dalish, Ellana knew her blood was purer than most city elves—Solas included, though she had to admit he didn't seem like a city elf.

"They would welcome it, I think," Ellana answered Josephine and found herself smiling slightly before sighing, her head drooping again. "Assuming they welcome me back." She let out a bitter little laugh. "The barefaced Herald of Andraste."

Josephine reached out, touching her again to offer comfort. "Regardless, you will always have a place with the Inquisition."

Ellana laughed, dry and suddenly miserable. "Except that we might be about to disband. Fenedhis," she cursed with a scowl. "I have wretched timing."

"We will see you through this," Josephine said, her voice bright. "And I'm sure Solas will be pleased." She grinned. "Perhaps there will be a proposal after all."

What would Solas think? Where was he anyway?

Searching the balcony for any sign of him and finding none, Ellana let out a long breath. "Thank you for your help, Josephine," she said. "I…I need to…"

"You need to give Solas the good news," Josephine supplied with a knowing nod. "Of course. I will have more ginger sent with your tea from now on. I will be completely discreet. And I believe we can trust Madame Vivienne with this observation as well. For now, anyway. There is always the Game, sadly, and the Enchanter is very good at it."

"And I am most decidedly not," Ellana grumbled before recomposing herself and giving Josephine a little bow. "Thank you again."

"Any time," the ambassador replied with a smile.

Next Chapter:

Chewing her lip for a second, Ellana took the plunge. "I'm—well, I might be…" She drifted off, choosing a gentler way of saying it other than pregnant. "…with child."

"Get off," Sera said, reacting immediately. She took a step back, her mouth hanging open as she stared at Ellana. "Droopy ears? I didn't think he had it in him." She flashed a goofy grin and giggled for a moment before sobering at the sight of Ellana's uncomfortable frown.

The Dread Wolf take me and my big mouth, she thought, grimacing and fighting the urge to cover her face with one hand, as if she could hide from Sera and what she'd just done.