I live! And so will my grandfather. His radiation is over, his PSA is back in the normal range for someone his age. 88 years old and he kicked cancer's ass.

Lorde - Team

Kongos - I'm Only Joking

Fall Out Boy - Centuries

Panic! At the Disco - King of the Clouds

Panic! At the Disco - Miss Jackson

Imagine Dragons - Believer

Imagine Dragons - Whatever It Takes

Sia - Cheap Thrills a/n (this song REALLY inspires me to think about Sera)

Chapter Nine:

Cassandra and Solas both declined coming to the soiree. Varric on the other hand broke out a stunningly clean red tunic adorned with gold stitching, a couple of eye catching tassels and - at least to me - a little bit more chest hair than normal showing.

"Any lower on that thing and I'd see your belly button." I groused at him as we, Emma, Alistair, Varric and myself that is, bypassed two guards at the entrance to the estate.

The dwarf preened like a peacock. "Just doing my best to represent the Inquisition."

"As a male courtesan?" Alistair added.

Emma didn't bother to cover her laugh.

After a quick stroll through the gardens we reached opulent marble stairs with a plush blue and silver runner down the center. The servants at the tall double doors gave us the briefest of bows and allowed us through.

Emma stared upward. She tugged my elbow gently. "This is insane…"

"Just wait, it gets better." I whispered in return.

Another servant stood inside the door with a list of names. "Welcome madam," the servant nodded at us. He held his quill above the list, "your name?"

"Elyria Duke, Alistair Theirin, Varric Tethras and Emmaline Flores of the Inquisition."

He nodded briefly then said, "Thank you, madam." The boy standing next to him made a mad dash to another servant with another list. The boy whispered hurriedly to the man as we approached and made another quick dash past us to return to his original spot.

"Mistress Duke of the Inquisition and entourage."

A quick look around yielded masks, opulent clothes and a table full of food. "Varric, could you please introduce Emma to Orlesian food?"

He grinned at her, "Come on Brooklyn, have you ever heard of the ham that tastes like despair?"

"It tastes like what?"Emma asked as he lead her away.

Brooklyn? She gets the nickname Brooklyn? God damn it. She gets the second most badass gargoyle name? Sigh.

Turning slightly to Alistair, my voice low. "When that dude over there starts to insult me, just be cool."

He looked around, "Dude?"

I sighed. "Just be cool when one of these guys starts talking shit, okay?"

Alistair did not look happy about it, but he did nod.

We walked forward, and were met by the masked man and woman. "What a pleasure to meet you, my lady." The golden masked man said and I could hear the near smile in his voice. "Seeing the same faces at every event becomes so tiresome. Who is your companion?"

Alistair looking a bit uncomfortable with the attention, stained a bit pink at the ears. "Ah, I am, um…" He looked to me for help.

"Alistair, a very old and dear friend of mine."

"You both must be guests of Madame de Fer. Or are you here for Duke Bastien?' The man continued.

"Are you here on business?" The woman asked. "I have heard the most curious tales of you. I cannot imagine half of them are true."

"Oh, some of them are." I assured them. "Some of our soldiers really can devour a whole wheel of cheese in one sitting."

They both tittered in laughter, the woman even clapped a little.

"The Inquisition should attend more of these parties." The woman said.

"And here he comes." I whispered to Alistair.

"The Inquisition?" The guy coming down the stair scoffed. "What a load of pig shit."

Alistair bristled.

"Washed-up sisters and crazed Seekers? No one can take them seriously."

Alistair's fists clenched. I knocked my shoulder into his. "Easy."

"Everyone knows it's just an excuse for a bunch of political outcasts to grab power." The guy went on.

"Political outcasts." Alistair just couldn't hold it in anymore. He popped like a cork. "They're restoring peace."

The guy scoffed. "Here comes the outsider, restoring peace with an army!"

I stepped between the shit talker and Alistair. "If you have a problem you talk to me."

"If you were a woman of honor you would step outside and answer the charges." Then he went for his sword.

The frost broke out on his body from center mass, spreading out quickly up and down. "My dear Marquis," Lady Vivienne was only just in my peripheral vision when she spoke. "How unkind of you to use such language in my house...to my guests." She was impressive in all that white, gray, blue and gold. And she was rocking the horns. "You know such rudeness is...intolerable."

I loved her instantly.

"Madam Vivienne, I humbly beg your pardon!"

"You should." She walked around him, facing him between us and him. "Whatever am I going to do with you, my dear?" She turned, gaining a side view of Alistair, who was somewhat calmer and me. "My lady, you and your companion are the wounded parties in this unfortunate affair. What would you have me do with this foolish, foolish man?"

Wisps of vapor trailed off the Marquis' frozen bits. Any longer and he'd freeze to death or have a heart attack. "The Marquis is obviously angry about something, perhaps having to wear a hand-me-down tunic? Or being forced to," I sniffed in his direction, "wear that unfortunate mix of colognes to hide the fact he probably hasn't bathed in a month."

Now, while I am an equal opportunity pervert, I tend to lean towards attraction to the opposite sex. Male, human, elven or dwarf I don't generally care but oh my snoozing puppy dogs. When Lady Vivienne gave me that sly, slightly vicious smile my lady bits perked up and said hello. Finally, I understand what people are talking about when they say someone oozes sexuality and confidence.

She reached out and touched his face. "Poor Marquis, issuing challenges and hurling insults like some ill begotten wrech." She took a step back and snapped her fingers releasing him. "And all dressed up in your Aunt Solange's doublet. Didn't she give you that to wear to the Grand Tourney?" There was mild laughter all around. "To think, all the brave chevaliers who will be competing left for Markham this morning...and you're still here."

I literally have no clue why her being the epitome of a mean girl was hot.

It just was.

"Were you hoping to sate your damaged pride by defeating the Herald of Andraste in a public duel? Or did you think her blade could put an end to the misery of your failure?" She dismissed him with a wave of her fingers. "Run along, my dear. Do give my regards to your aunt."

Varric returned with Emma in tow. Both had a napkin full of little cakes and treats. "I like her," he said between bites of a pale blue macaroon.

"I'm delighted you could attend this little gathering. I've so wanted to meet you." She took my right arm, looping it with hers and I was instantly questioning my sexuality. "Shall we take a turn about the room my dear?"

"Of course, my lady." Ignore the slight roughness in my voice.

Lady Vivienne lead me to a large open window overlooking a fairly pretty moon lit garden. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Vivienne, First Enchanter of Montsimmard and Enchantress to the Imperial Court."

I gave her a fairly deep bow. "Pleasure to meet you, Lady Vivienne. I apologize for bringing so many people with me. I realize the invitation was for me alone, but..." I nodded at my friends just past the stairway oohing and ah-ing over the food. "I couldn't leave those three alone for long and expect the home of the Left Hand of the Divine to still be intact when I returned."

"I'm sure. Your Ferelden companion, he seems most…" she seemed to search for a word, "enthusiastic."

"An appt assessment."

"Ah, but I didn't invite you to the chateau for pleasantries." She looked out into the garden then back at me. "With Divine Justinia dead, the Chantry is in shambles. Only the Inquisition might restore sanity and order to our frightened people. As the leader of the last loyal mages of Thedas, I feel it only right that I lend my assistance to your cause."

"The Inquisition would welcome you aid my lady. A mage of your talent and caliber choosing to ally with us will make the demons quiver and think twice before poking into this world."

She gave the smallest of laughs and smiled without showing her teeth. "Great things are beginning, my dear. I can promise you that." She took my arm again and we returned to the others. "Welcome, all of you. Enjoy the party." Then she went off to mingle with her other guests.

I grabbed a drink off a passing servant and tipped it to my friends. "We just got ourselves another powerful mage."

We went back to Leiana's estate after the party. We would have to meet Sera, but that was tomorrow night, not tonight. Emma, nearly dead on her feet mumbled an exhausted, "Good night." To everyone before stumbling off to bed.

Varric, ever the writer, looked up at me. "I'm going to jot down some notes before heading to bed. Night." He wandered off to the study, presumably to snoop a little and write down whatever he was going to write down.

"I don't know about you," I said to Alistair, "but those cookies gave me the munchies."

He rubbed his stomach. "Do you think any of those strawberries they had when we arrived are still fresh?"

One of the servants, presumably woken by our arrival, came out wearing a nightgown and robe and looking rumpled by sleep.. "Forgive me madam, sir, I was-"

"Elyria and Alistair, and go back to bed. We'll find our own food."

The man looked at us strangely for a moment. "If you would tell me what you'd like I could fetch it for you."

"Or you could go back to bed, and we'll find it ourselves."

Alistair walked forward, and maneuvered the poor man back toward the servant's quarter doors. "We won't destroy the kitchens. I promise."

I went towards where I believed the kitchens were. Right on the money. I opened the cabinets without disturbing anything. "Where do you think they keep the snacks?"

He shook his head. "I've no idea."

It took us a few moments, but we did end up finding a decent sized plate. Then we located the strawberries, of which were many. A few slices of wheat bread and some cinnamon, sugar and butter. Alistair watched fascinated as I mashed the cinnamon, sugar and butter together until they were almost the consistency of something you'd get at Texas Roadhouse. The sugar here was more coarse and the cinnamon less refined, but when I toasted the bread quickly over the fire and spread on the bread, Alistair groaned with the first bite.

"That's good." He said around a mouthful of bread.

"I know. Don't eat it all!" I smacked his grubby paw. "Grab some nuts and let's go." Most of the food made it back to the room.

As Leliana's estate did not have many guest rooms, she'd given her servants permission to put me and Alistair in her room. Boulette and Schmooples II didn't mind having a pair of roommates. Instead, when we entered they began with their little nug squeaks and climbed down the tiny set of stairs built into their raised sleeping area.

Picking them up individually the way the servants had shown me earlier, I deposited each one on the bed and sliced strawberries in half for each. With thankful squeaks they nibbled as we did.

"Do you think he'll still be there when we get back?" I asked, unwilling to say who 'he' was.

"Of course he will be." Alistair told me around a mouth full of bread and butter.

"Gross, chew your food."

Instead he opened his mouth wider. We polished off the food and got ready for bed. It was well past first bell but I'd had to take off the bit of makeup I'd put on and comb out the plaits Leiliana's servants had put in.

Boulette snuffled my right hand with her tiny snout. Ugh. I love her and I've known her less than a day. Schmooples II had less of an interest in me however. He practically plonked on Alistair's chest and could not be bothered to get up. I rubbed Boulette's snout bridge and eye ridges making her do that almost purring nug sound. "They're so cute."

Alistair, rubbing Schmooples II eliciting droopy eyelids that matched his own. "Remember how big Schmooples was?"

"Remember how Oghren used to threaten to eat him?"

"And Leliana warning him, if he did she'd break him in half?"

We both laughed tiredly. I gathered up Schmooples II when Alistair snored for a couple of minutes. I hadn't expected him to go to sleep so quickly. Once the two nugs were back in their respective beds with water bowls full, I turned around to find Alistair awake again.

He was blinking at me, gripping the sheet with white knuckles, his breathing a little heavier. I gave him a questioning look. "I had one of those dreams where you're falling and you can't stop."

"You weren't asleep long enough to dream." I told him softly. I grabbed his pack and brought it over. "Take a sip of the draught."

He didn't argue. He grabbed it and took a mouthful then swallowed with a grimace. "There has to be something that tastes better."

"Besides extreme exercise or rigorus sex, no."

"Ellie!" He flushed red, averting his eyes.

"What? Sex wears you out. I'm just saying Al." Wait a sec. "Are you still a virgin?"

"No." He glowered, eyes still averted. "There was a barmaid."

Aww. "Was she sweet and let you take your time?"

His blush darkened. "Mayhap."

"And did you like it?"

"How do people not spend all their time doing that once they've found a partner?"

"So that's a yes?"

"Maker, Ellie…yes. It was nice."

I patted his arm gently. "Good.

"Or maybe, instead of meaningless sex." Alistair adjusted the down pillow behind his head, "A better way to get myself to the point of exhaustion and passing out."

"I'm working on it. Just hold on, okay?"

He gave me a warm, if tired smile. "Always. For you."

I snuffed out the candle by the bed and climbed in. I think he was snoring before I was.

The next day was mostly exploring and shopping. I won't go into details beyond saying I spent a decent chunk of change on some bolts of cloth and food we couldn't get in Ferelden. It would be delivered to Leliana's estate and then would travel back with us. Solas assured me a continuous cold spell would keep the food fresh and he had no issue keeping the spell up.

We eventually went back to the estate for respective rest time before having to meet Sera. At ten bells we were all dressed and ready to go again. It would take about forty five minutes to travel to the part of the city that was technically no longer Val Royeaux and more a suburb of the city. The city, much like a good deal of New York, didn't sleep at this time of night. The more opulent residences were still lit. There was music from at least ten of them as we passed.

Guards paid us no mind. Either they didn't care or they were no longer interested in the Inquisition. I'd insisted Emma stay behind because this mission was actually dangerous. The wrought iron gates to the alleyway were closed but unlocked. I pushed them open slowly so that the metal didn't screech. After motioning for everyone to stay put for a moment, I dropped nearly to the floor and crab walked to the edge of the wall to confirm the layout.

"Varric," I nearly whispered his name. "When I say fire, drop an exploding shot at the crates by the stairs, okay?"

He readied Bianca. "Follow up with a volley?"

"No, too close quarters. Just power shots after."

"Solas," the elf took a quiet step toward me. I pointed at the open space between us and the crates. "Frost trap."

"As you say." He lifted his staff and with a flourish, a soft white glow formed on the ground.

"Cassandra you go left, Al, you go right. There's a door up those steps on the right Al."

Cassandra gave me that assessing look again. "And what will you be doing?"

I pulled my dagger. "Going after the guy hiding behind the crates."

"You saw someone hiding?" She asked softly.

"No, but Murphy's law. Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong with frequency. I'm just making sure I take care of the problem before it emerges."

It didn't take long, and we were looting bodies in minutes. The houses that emptied out into this alley way either were used to this kind of chaos or they were too scared to look. Either way, we climbed the stairs and went for the door.

I motioned everyone out of the way and pushed one of the large heavy blue doors open with a foot. Bam. The firebolt passed about five inches from my face. I could feel the heat of it on my nose and forehead as it went by. I peeked in and another one went just over my head.

"Herald of Andraste!" The mage, who was not dressed like a mage, said. "How much did you expend to discover me? It must have weakened the Inquisition immeasurably!"

I motioned for the others to follow. "Nothing. Not a single penny."

"You don't fool me!" These Orlesians and their exclamations. "I'm too important for this to be an accident! My efforts will survive in victories against you elsewhere!"

Seriously. I have no effing clue who this guy was.

The single guard with him, and yes this was a guard not a bodyguard, grunted as a blonde in red and yellow put an arrow somewhere important. The guard went down. The mage that presumed we knew who he was gave a rather inelegant, "eh?"

Sera, looking kind of badass, said her line. "Just say 'what'!"

"What is the-"

Right through his left eyeball. I mean, like right through it. I even vaguely heard a squish and a pop. Ugh. Gross. Gag.

"Squishy one, but you heard me, right? 'Just say 'what'.' Rich tits always try for more than they deserve." She kicked his shoe then went for her arrow. It made another squishing wet pop as it came out. "Blah, blah, blah! Obey me! Arrow in my face!"

Still with the exclamations.

"So, you followed the notes well enough. Glad to see you're...I thought you'd be taller." She brought up her hand and measured our heights. Turns out, even though we were pretty much eye to eye, she had about half an inch on me. "I mean, it's all good, innit? The important thing is: you glow? You're the Herald thingy?"

I liked her already. I took off my left glove and showed her my hand. "Yes, I glow a little. Bright green."

She got all grabby with my hand and moved it around to examine at all angles she could achieve with my arm still being attached to me. "Right, right. That's a big crack." Then she howled with laughter. "Crack, get it?"

I didn't.

"Nah, name's Sera." She motioned to the crates. "This is cover. Get 'round it."

I gave a very pointed look at Cassandra. "Crates."

She gave me one raised eyebrow in return.

"Come on, the reinforcements. Don't worry. Someone tipped me their equipment shed." Sera went on as she practically dragged me behind cover. She grinned like a mad woman. "They've got no breeches."

She was right. They really didn't.

Imagine fighting a half dozen men, in top armor with their bottom small clothes. If I hadn't been putting a sword into a few of them I might have laughed harder. I wiped my sword on one of the dead men once the fighting was done.

"Friends really came through with that tip. No breeches!" Then she laughed all crazy like again. "So, Herald of Andraste. You're a strange one. I'd like to join."

"Just to be clear, because I've done Red Jenny work before, if you join, will we have access to the Red Jenny network?"

"You did? You have?" She leaned in, "When? Who? Where?"

"A small red box. Completely sealed. Denerim about ten years ago. A silent person who only stuck their hand through, paid the person I helped deliver it with and closed the door in our faces."

"Huh. Denerim. Don't know them, but someone will. So is that a yes?"

"I don't know, is it a yes?"

She grinned. "Yeah, that's a yes."

It says something that somehow, being nine pages long, this is one of my shorter chapters.

For those of you who have read and liked my other fiction: There is a sequel to All of this Past in the works. It may, or may not be, approximately seventy five pages or more. With fair warning in advance, it is angst ridden and chock full of sex.

And my YouTube channel is created! I will link in my bio once I have a series of public playlists for what I've written.

Now, off to Chipotle. I haven't eaten since yesterday at around 6pm EST and it is almost noon here. Tengo hambre!