I claim to own nothing in regards to Dragon Age, it's lore or its characters. That right belongs to BIOWARE. I am just a fan.

I went down to the docks the next morning to visit my friends at the Dark Lady. I broke my fast with them and gossiped with Lanabel. No matter how rich or important I became I could never feel comfortable rubbing elbows with high society. If I had to choose between a dinner with simple folks like this or the extravagant masquerade I was preparing for I would choose the former every time. Simpler life, simpler folks were always more loving, respectable and honest than the majority of snotty nobles I had ever met.

"I must confess Lanabel," I began "I do have ulterior motives for coming here this morning."

"Well of course you do love, even an idiot could tell you are an important Lady having been whisked away from us in that fancy carriage." Her light teasing warmed my heart.

"I am being introduced to the court in the next week or so and I need to hire a good seamstress. The best you know."

"Why ain't ya looking uptown for one of them fancy ball gown makers."

"Because I want something very specific, stylish and practical. Plus, I know that anyone working down here will put more care and love into this than those stuffy uptown biddies" her giggle had me laughing too. "I will pay for materials on top of it. I want someone who will put their best work forward. I will be wearing it in front of the nobility after all, free advertisement."

"I reckon that Tilly down the way would be your best bet. Poor thing's been struggling since her husband died. Makes the prettiest dresses I've ever seen. Wish I could order one me self but I would only get it covered in flour."

20 minutes later I walk into Tilly's shop. The tall thin woman is preoccupied with calming the fussy babe she wears at her breast. "I beg your pardon surah I'll be right with you." Her voice is light and sweet. I politely tell her to take her time as I began to look around her inventory. Lanabel was right. She is talented. If I were a dress wearing woman I would shop here.

I reach out to feel the intricate embroidery on one close to me. I hear a quiet humming as the fussy child's cries soften and after a few more minutes silence. Almost immediately after her babe falls asleep Tilly approaches me. "Would you like to try that one on? I have fitting rooms in the back."

I pull a rough sketch of what I was looking for out of my pocket and hand it to her. "Lanabel down at Dark Lady told me that you were the best seamstress in town. Do you think you can make something like this in a week?" She gently pulls it from my hand. "I won't be able to do anything fancy with the embroidery like with some of these, but yes, I think I could. What you wearing something like this for? I've never seen anything like it."

"To be truthful I hate wearing skirts but I have to dress up for a fancy party in a week. I usually try to dress like that without the skirt anyway but I have to come off as a little more feminine for this occasion so this is my compromise. If this works the way I hope it, will I will definitely order more like it."

"I can see the functionality in this." She says making a pointed look at the daggers on my hips. "I can't charge any less than 75 silver." Her back straightened and she held her head a little higher. She thinks I am going to try to barter her down. I smile inside.

"Deal." I hand her a single sovereign and watch how large and round her eyes get. She hesitates and I can see the hesitation in her eyes. "I do not have any change for this surah." Her voice is barely above a whisper.

"Consider it for payment of your work and materials. If you need to contact me for fittings in the coming days I can be reached at this address." I hand her a card. When she reads it, she again looks at me in surprise. "One week." She parrots to me the gears in her mind working. "Does that mean you will be wearing of my designs at that fancy noble ball?" With the way that word spreads around this city everybody knows about this masquerade. I think to myself. The bigger the fuss about it happening the more prestige Denarius will think he will gain when I approach him.

I see the resolve flash in Tilly's eyes. "Do you have any specific colors or requests beyond this?"

"Yes, I need it to give me full range of motion without ripping. In my line of work there is always a high possibility of needing to quickly defend myself or others. Also, I will be wearing this mask with it so it will need to compliment. Anything else I will leave in your hands." I pull the delicate silver half mask from my bag and hand it to her.

"Follow me to the back my Lady. I will need to get your measurements."

"What do you mean you're leaving for 10 days? The ball is tomorrow!" Isabella finishes chewing and wipes her mouth before replying. "Darling I am beginning to be recognized around town. I wasn't kidding about being a wanted woman in Minrathous. So, I scheduled a delivery job for me and the boys to get a way for long enough that the rumors will cease." She reaches out to grab my hand. "It's just 5 days there and 5 days back across the bay."

As far as I was concerned any wrongdoings she had committed were absolved when she brought that tome back to the Arishok and helped me end their siege of Kirkwall. Just because you think that way doesn't mean anyone else does. I reminded myself as I nodded apologizing.

"Trust me she wouldn't miss me having to be on my best behavior for anything less than her own safety." Zevran laughs at her as she pouts. We had decided that Zevran would play the role of my personal man servant. That way I wouldn't be utterly alone when I had to go into the wolves' den. I really hope that the darling Denarius does not offer free room and board. With my luck I would then have to share a room with Zevran. My mind flashes back to how close he held me that first time he danced with me and I can feel the burn of embarrassment creep along my cheeks. "Excited, are you?" his thick Antivan accent purred from across the table.

"Excited for it to be over and done with. I absolutely hate this waiting game espionage bullshit." I exclaimed. The frustration that rose with my annoyance was gone just as quickly as it rose. "If I have to murder someone then I might as well take the opportunity to murder them legally so this headache will finally be over." Varric chuckled loudly, "I've got to write that one down."