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[virborassan]

Three months. So much can happen in three months.

Corypheus was dead and gone and this time, they were sure. Elareth had opened a rift atop him and had made sure he wasn't coming back even if it had cost her life. They'd all survived the battle, bruised and battered, but time would heal that. Solas had disappeared just after the battle and while she'd pondered going after him, there was no need. If he ran, he ran for a reason and she knew he wouldn't found unless he wanted to. As far as she was concerned, she had questions for him but for now, she was content to give him the space he seemed to need.

The Inquisition took time to heal both its members and whomever in Thedas welcomed their help. For a while, they were all spread thin, soldiers off helping to rebuild town and farm alike while the leaders of the Inquisition took steps to stem any possible threats that might seek to take advantage of the end of Corypheus' reign of terror.

There was joy and sadness at Skyhold. Trusted friends left, some for home and some for higher purpose while others pledged their intent to remain. Varric left with Elareth's blessing and a few tears, which he'd chided her for. Leliana's rise to the new Divine hadn't been a shock to anyone in the know, but she was still sad to see her friend leave. For now, she knew Cassandra would be staying on, as was Dorian and Bull, but that was no real surprise to her. After all, they'd been growing close for some time now and she was not so secretly pleased to see them happy.

Well, bickering at times, but happy.

Once she'd been allowed some time at Skyhold, Elareth had fallen into a routine and she was glad for it. As much as she liked traveling, having some time to enjoy the comforts of home was downright night. Having Jove at Skyhold a good deal of the time only made it better. Things were nowhere near as strained as they had been at first, thankfully, but they'd made certain to take things slower this time. While Elareth was still herself, she'd learned to stop and think a bit more before acting, but there were times she needed to be reminded.

A few days after her most recent return from visiting Redcliffe, Josephine informed her of a grand idea she'd had to cement relations with some of the higher ranked families of Oralis. Elareth was less than impressed when she found out she'd planned a grand ball, right there in Skyhold. She knew Josephine was right, but the idea of having to play dress up and dance and be a very censored version of herself wasn't exactly an ideal evening for Elareth.

At least she'd be able to just wear what she'd worn to the Winter Palace. A shame Josephine had something else in mind.

The ball was in full swing when the Inquisitor made her entrance. Anyone that knew her well enough would know she'd hate being so dressed up, but the look was impressive to say the least. Hair half in intricate braids, the rest loose and curling along her shoulders. Her dark eyes were lined in green and gold to match her dress and to hear the ladies in attendance, the bare shoulder and the cut was a rather daring choice. She'd wanted to forgo shoes but that idea had quickly become an argument only to be solved by allowing not the heeled formal shoes Josephine wanted but soft flats threaded through with gold and green.

She held audience like a queen atop her throne, smiling at all who spoke to her, but every now and again, her gaze wandered the crowd as if looking for someone in particular.

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[virborassan]

I'm fine was her usual response to the look on his face. She'd seen it before but this time felt different. Sure, they'd both been hurt before, but this was a closer call than it should've been and she knew it. In all honesty, she didn't feel fine and wouldn't insult him by saying it. Not when her body ran hot with fever and her gut and back ached from the new injuries. Her back had been nothing more than a scratch, really, just somewhere to get the poison in quickly. The belly had been to finish things off.

Muttering under her breath, she wriggled as best she could but there was no energy for her to expend on getting more upright. With a hiss, she settled back, her hand moving to settle by his arm. The last thing she wanted was for him to feel how her hand shook or how weak her fingers felt at the moment.

"Was anyone else hurt?"

[weatherthestorm]

He took her hand in both of his and held it tenderly. "A few nobles with twisted ankles from running but no one else was hurt."

Jove slid his hand away to get one of the potions and gently held it against her lips. "You need to drink this slowly."

A few sips and he took it away from her so that she could catch her breath and rest.

[virborassan]

For once, she listened and did as asked without complaint. It likely wouldn't last long so he best not get used to it. As usual, the potion made her frown a little thanks to the taste but she knew it was necessary. That didn't mean there wasn't a faint curse from her before she shifted once more, trying again to sit up.

"Do we have the assassin?"

[weatherthestorm]

"Stop trying to move and rest," he said softly but firmly. "The assassin was caught and Lelianna is dealing with him. You do not need to worry."

She could deal with the assassin later. Her care was much more important. She had come close to death's door and he would not have her that close again.

[virborassan]

"Corypheus couldn't kill me. That assassin didn't stand a chance. It's barely a scratch."

As big as her words were, she certainly didn't sound so proud. At least she finally settled back in her bed with a muffled groan. Of anyone, she preferred his company but at the moment, she was concerned for him and his mood. She'd seen that look on his face before and it never suited him.

"Brooding isn't good for you, vhenan. It's not that bad."

[weatherthestorm]

"An assassin got in here, past your guard, past your Inner Circle and the Spymaster," he grumbled, his expression dark and frustrated. "I am allowed to brood on this."

She might not have been close to death but it seemed like it when he left her to the healers. It was something to brood on and worry about. Lelianna will get the information and he will have the conspirator's head on a pike.

[virborassan]

She was closer than she'd like to admit, but there was no way she'd let her mind linger on that for longer than it had to. How could she tell him that she'd thought she was done when she saw her assailant above her? It would do no good to give him something else to weigh on his mind. Not when he would try and shoulder more than he needed to while she was incapacitated.

Grimacing, she gingerly moved to settle on her side, curling up as tight as she could to try and ease some of the pain in her gut and to give him the room he seemed to need, even if she needed things from him other than his stormy expression.

"Our Spymaster is occupied with thoughts of her new position as Divine. We were all relaxed, which is something I think we deserved after everything we've been through. If there's fault in this, it's mine. I'm the Inquisitor and I should've been able to handle a single assailant. I couldn't and I got hurt. It isn't the first time and I doubt it'll be the last."

[weatherthestorm]

"Hush," he snapped. "You were ambushed. Not even I would've stood a chance against that."

He squeezed her hand tightly and pressed his lips against her knuckles. His fear and terror in that moment will be something that haunted him for years.

"We will work on the security while you recover. Lelianna will make sure things are safe for you and everyone. It won't happen again."

[virborassan]

Haven was already safe. They'd worked hard to make certain of that, or so she thought. More than anything, she wanted answer from the person that had dared disrupt that safety.

Well, that and to be able to sit up again. Both would happen in time. All she had to do was be patient.

Her hand tightened on his, at least as much as it could.

"I want to see him."

[weatherthestorm]

"When you're feeling better," he said softly, gently. "I promise you'll get to face him. I told everyone you decide his fate."

She would get the chance to sit in judgement of this assassin and find out who he was and who hired him. He wouldn't take that away from her.

For now he rested his forehead against her hand that he held tightly in his. He had come terrifyingly close to losing her. He had never known fear like that.

[virborassan]

As quick as her temper was, if anyone knew a way to soothe it, it was Jove. For all the wanted to rise up and storm down to the cell where her assailant was being kept, he stilled her mood with his silent worry. There'd never been a doubt of his care for her, but as of late, they'd been working to repair things left fractured between them.

The prisoner's fate was a sure thing. Elareth would have his head and by her own hand. Jove was someone that deserved her attention far more at the moment.

"... are you alright, vhenan?"

[weatherthestorm]

"I was terrified I might lose you," he admitted, his voice soft and tight with emotions. "I cannot handle that. Here, where we are supposed to be safe. I cannot lose you."

Their relationship may have been fractured but he still cared deeply for her. He loved her, he could not and would not change that.

If he lost her in battle that would be one thing but in Skyhold, their home, that would crush him.

[virborassan]

His tone left her aching. She wanted to reach up and wrap her arms around him to ease that worry away. With a tug at her hand, she uncurled herself and shifted to lay closer to him, her hair a tangled mess behind her as she leaned her forehead against his leg.

"Nothing will take me from you, Jove."

[weatherthestorm]

"Very kind words," he said softly and ran his fingers gently through her hair. "But not true. I will have to learn to cope with this new fear, my love."

He will have to live with it. He cannot keep her perfectly safe and give her the freedom she should have. It was frustrating that he could not protect her from everything but he would protect her from what he could.

[virborassan]

"There's no reason to fear. We all knew this could be a possibility, but we can't let this deter us from what we've been working toward."

As sure as those words sounded, she had been afraid. The moment she looked up and saw the assassin over her, she knew fear as she'd never known it before. At the Conclave, she'd been lost and stunned by everything that had happened, but she'd known what was happening when she felt the blade cut into her gut not so long ago.

"Thedas needs stability and we... the Inquisition needs to be able to show that."

It hadn't been meant to be a possible reference to their relationship. It really hadn't and it would never be meant as such.

"... you know what I mean."

[weatherthestorm]

"Darling, I am not worried about the Inquisition right now." He sighed and shook his head at her. "I am worried about you. I don't want to lose you to some bastard assassin. I don't want to lose you at all."

Death would come for them eventually and he would return to the Maker but it would not be for a long time. He hoped.

[virborassan]

"Maybe you should do more than keep me at arm's length, then."

Even when barely muttered under her breath, it was petty and she knew it, but she'd never been one to hold her tongue. Yes, she knew everything that had happened had been her doing and she'd been patient but she was tired and in pain and that just made holding her emotions in check harder.

"I'll be up and about in a few days and you know it."

[weatherthestorm]

He slid a hand to cup the back of her head and drew her in for a gentle kiss. "Let me stay at your side until then," he said softly. "And after. I have been foolish and wasteful of my time with you."

Tonight he realized how much he would have lost, what he wasted in protecting himself.

[virborassan]

She found herself propped up on her elbows and it hurt, there was no doubt, but she couldn't have resisted his careful contact. Not when she'd missed this and him so much. Even when he pulled back from the kiss, she stayed there, propped up and pale, watching him.

"You finally trust me again?"

[weatherthestorm]

"I trust myself again and you." He eased her to lay down so it wouldn't strain her injuries. He stayed close to her because he had no injuries. "I cannot waste my life trying to protect myself from someone who only loves and cares for me."

Jove brushed his fingers through her hair gently and he rested his forehead against hers.

[virborassan]

That eased a tension she hadn't realized she'd been carrying all this time. Bearing a little pain had been a small price to pay to hear him say that, to feel his forehead against hers. It was faintly bittersweet, though. With a sigh, she let her eyes close as she moved to settle cool, shaking fingers against his cheek.

"I've missed you, vhenan. More than you know."

[weatherthestorm]

"I'm sorry."

He was for all the wasted time and for how he must have hurt her. He was simply a fool, scared that his heart would be broken instead of allowing himself to love and be loved.

"I am a bit of a fool."

[virborassan]

She hadn't said anything because in all honesty, she felt she deserved it. She'd been the one that had caused them problems in the first place and while she was impatient by nature, she'd done her best to remain so while trying to earn his trust again. As far as she was concerned, she'd been the fool and wouldn't hesitate to admit it. None of the fault had been his.

Shaking her head, she let her hand drop back to rest against the bed.

"No. No apologies. You were hurt and that takes time."

[weatherthestorm]

"We won't make the same mistakes again." There was promise in his voice. He would not push her away or hold himself back because of fear.

He would be fearless in loving her because he would never know when battle or assassin would take her away. If he lost her he would have the knowledge that he loved her as best he could and as fully as he could.

[virborassan]

His confidence was reassuring. She'd wondered if she'd see it so strong again and was glad to know she'd have the chance. This was her Templar, the man she'd fallen in love with.

"I'm good at making mistakes, but I rarely repeat them. Not when they hurt in the first place."