Chapter Text
Assassins were supposed to target the Inquisitor. Maybe her commander or spymaster. There was really no need to target her ambassador. So when she received a raven while scouring the Emerald Graves, she ordered the expedition to return to camp while she rode as fast as her bog unicorn could manage.
Inquisitor: fair weather here. Scout in five days with updates.Take no excessive risks.
Based on the Inquisition cipher, it really read: Return now. J hurt .
She was back within three days, thanks to the preternatural stamina of the undead horse and a refusal to stop for much sleep. Ariadne praised the Maker that she chose to ride the bog unicorn instead of her dracolisk on this trip. The dracolisk wouldn’t have made it back as quickly. Skyhold was quiet upon her return, the moonlight reflecting off the helms of her soldiers. As she approached the gate, she slowed briefly to ensure the gate was open for her entry. Swiftly dismounting, she raced up the stairs of the keep to Josephine's quarters. Her steed would take care of itself by terrifying Dennet.
There were additional patrols throughout the keep. Most of them acknowledged the Inquisitor with a salute, but she pushed past them to Josephine’s quarters. Josephine was asleep in her bed, propped up by pillows. Her skin was unnaturally pale, her illness apparent as she slept fitfully. Leliana was seated in a wooden chair beside the bed, her closed eyes suggesting she had fallen asleep. She approached the bedside and shook Leliana awake. Ari quickly found her arm twisted behind her back and a strong arm around her throat. The spymaster’s grasp quickly loosened as she recognised just who she had grabbed. “I apologise, Inquisitor. I didn’t realise you arrived,” Leliana offered, gathering her surroundings.
Ariadne tossed her waterskin to Leliana and moved to the bedside table. She grabbed a washcloth and wiped the sweat off Josephine’s face with it. “I came as soon as I received word,” Ari whispered, not wanting to wake the sleeping ambassador.
After she finished drinking, Leliana responded, “She would like that, I think. Her food was poisoned, no culprit found yet. I have agents investigating, but…” She trailed off, gesturing vaguely to Josephine. “If she wakes up she shouldn’t be alone.”
Trevelyan wrung her hands, watching Josephine toss and turn. The only sound in the room was her laboured breathing, her body struggling against the poison in her system. She should have been here to protect Josephine. Cullen and Leliana should have paid more attention. Her nails dug into her skin, fighting back her rising anger. Lanie was always much better at hiding her emotions than Ariadne was. With a deep breath, she released her hands.
“I saw that patrols have been increased. We need you out there investigating. Make use of the Iron Bull’s Chargers as you need, and have someone accompany both you and Cullen at all times,” she dictated, running a hand through her black braids.
Leliana looked up at her from her seat, examining her face. The worry in her eyes was quickly replaced with determination. Her spymaster gave her a nod, and suggested, “I’ll stay here while you get cleaned up. You reek.” Ariadne grimaced, knowing that she was probably correct. Too long in the saddle, with far from enough breaks. She took one of Josephine’s hands in her own, running her thumb over her knuckles. Leliana could take care of her for another hour.
“Think about what you’ll need. She’s valuable to me– the Inquisition. We’ll spare no expense,” she declared, squeezing Josephine’s hand. Ariadne released it to brush the hair stuck to Josephine’s cheek aside and sighed.
She excused herself and headed up to her quarters. All she could do was blame herself. She should have realised the Inquisition was facing internal threats, especially since the open attempt by the Qun on the Iron Bull. Reasonably, there were far more attempts than she knew about which the Inquisition either interrupted or averted. Still, a successful one grated on her nerves. She pulled off her hunter’s coat and the blue clothing of the Inquisition, hanging her armour on the rack. It was terribly muddy, but she could take care of that later.
Now that she was back, she could wear something comfortable. One of the nice things Josephine had purchased for her. Hopefully that would make her smile when she finally woke up. She ran a bath and selected her outfit: a black underdress and a sage green overdress. She also grabbed a pair of drawers, a simple pair of stays to support her throughout the night, and leather straps to hide weapons. A thick pair of wool socks and sturdy leather boots were also imperative to travel Skyhold.
She slipped into the warm water and cleaned off all the grime from her ride. The water quickly became a murky brown colour. She used a simple soap to clean her skin. Her hair could wait for another evening. Then, she quickly towelled herself dry and put on her outfit. She grabbed a knit shawl she had tossed on her desk and hurried back down to Josephine’s chambers.
Leliana was still awake, having borrowed Josephine’s slate to start writing missives and instructions. She had ink stains all over her hands and a focused look on her face. As soon as Ariadne creaked the door open, Leliana looked up at her and waved her in. “I’m writing to some contacts in Val Royeaux,” she stated as she finished the sentence she was writing. “You look comfortable.”
She softly laughed, moving to take Leliana’s seat. “Go to bed. You can write to Val Royeaux tomorrow,” insisted Ariadne.
Before the spymaster left, she carefully regarded Ariadne. “Don’t play with her feelings,” she requested.
Where did that come from? “Huh?” Ari stuttered.
“Don’t toy with her. If you truly like her, she probably hasn’t realised. You hurt her or let her get hurt while you’re watching over her…” Leliana threatened. How does someone respond to that? Where did that even come from? Her open mouth likely told Leliana her threats had performed their purpose.
Then, it clicked. Of course Leliana was protected: after losing the warden so long ago she probably clung to her friends jealously. “And if I am truly attracted to her?” she asked, taking a seat.
Leliana grimaced. “Treat her well. Show you truly care for her,” she conceded. “Make her happy.”
“I’m glad she has a friend like you looking out for her,” Ariadne said kindly. “She’d want you to go to bed. You’ll be the first to know when she wakes up.”
A few days later, the herbalists had finally concocted an antidote to the poison. When it was administered to her, Leliana and Ariadne waited side by side, holding her hands until Josephine finally woke up. Her first words were complimenting the Inquisitor on her ensemble.
