“Helping Emprise du Lion helped our standing within the court,” Josephine said. “It certainly shows that we can help, and that we have the resources to do so.”
Arethin rubbed her temples. “Well, that is...something.”
“It might help a bit more if you deigned to take audiences with the nobility who request it, my dear,” Vivienne said, raising her eyebrows at Arethin.
Indeed, Arethin had gotten several requests for an audience from several Orlesian nobles. She rejected them, claiming she had other work, which was entirely true.
“I'm too busy,” Arethin waved a hand. “If they truly wanted to speak with us, they'd speak with all of us, not just me.”
“Support from the nobility is negligible in any case,” Bann Teagan said with a shrug. “We only need enough leverage to get into the peace talks—everything else is too fragmented to take advantage of. The only way the nobility of Orlais will be of any use is if they are united.”
“You speak from experience, I presume?” Vivienne asked.
“Of course, Madame,” Teagan took no offense to Vivienne's tone. “The first priority during the last Blight was ensuring Ferelden did not fall into a civil war—it would have made defeating the darkspawn almost an impossibility. Orlais has been at war with itself for almost a year at this point,” he spread his hands. “They will be of no use until the war has been ended one way or another.”
“Speaking of which, we have also found Sister Guiseppina,” Leliana said. “A cousin to Celene, entirely eligible to take the throne.”
Sister Giuseppina was a quiet, mousy young woman who did not resemble blonde and elegant Celene in the slightest.
The meeting where they were introduced to her was larger than normal, with Dorian sitting at Vivienne's side and even Sera and Iron Bull, who normally were not very involved in the proceedings, sitting in. Sera looked distinctly uncomfortable.
“Sister Giuseppina,” Leliana said.
Giuseppina gave them a nervous smile. “I do not know that I can help,” she said, looking around the large room and shifting from foot to foot. “I dislike this war as much as anyone, but--”
“Then you can help,” Leliana said. “If you wish it to end, you can help.”
“What can I do?” she asked. “I am the youngest daughter of my family—I never wanted to be involved with politics.”
“Does anyone?” Arethin asked. “We need you because we cannot back Celene, or Dubois.”
“Celene is a good diplomat,” Giuseppia said. “Of course you can support her!”
Everyone in the room glanced at each other, highly skeptical. Giuseppina blinked, confused.
“Did I say something wrong?”
“She burned the whole of Halamshiral to stop an uprising,” Cassandra said. “That is hardly the mark of a good ally or a good leader.”
“Well...I mean...the rebellion had to be stopped, did it not?”
Briala glowered at her, and the mood turned distinctly frosty.
“And I suppose attacking her own city was appropriate?” Leliana said, raising an eyebrow. “In any case, quite a few of our allies do not view her favorable.”
“No, not particularly,” Arethin agreed.
Giuseppina glanced from Arethin, to Ambassador Yara, to Fiona, then Briala, then Sera, and a flicker of understanding crossed her face. “I see,” she said.
“Very good. Now, what shall we do next?” Arethin asked.
“Due to some rather creative diplomatic work on the part of Leliana, Josephine and myself, we have managed to procure invitations to the masquerade that the peace talks will be held at,” Vivienne said.
Ambassador Yara groaned. “A masquerade? Can't they have peace talks in a board room like normal people?”
“I agree,” Bann Teagan grumbled.
“The Orlesians do not work like that,” Cassandra said, with a twinge of disgust to her words. “They are much less...direct.”
“Yes,” Fiona agreed. “Until a city is on fire or under siege.”
“Precisely.”
“Well, they don't appear to trade assassinations as a form of currency, so it's a leg up on the Magisterium in my opinion,” Dorian said. .
“In any case,” Leliana said. “We must attend this ball if we are to have any hope of influencing the outcome and deterring Corypheus.”
Arethin said. “How should we approach this? Should you and Vivienne go?” she gnawed at her fingernail. “But that would hardly be a balanced approach...”
“The court is very poisonous to those who are not well versed in it,” Briala pointed out, her expression troubled.
“Exactly my concern.”
“It would be more prudent if you went,” Josephine said. “For one, there are rumors of rifts in Halamshiral itself. It would hardly be safe for us to come across a rift unprepared. For another, many still look up to you, and see you as influential.”
“Is that so?”
“You survived the destruction of Haven,” Giuseppina said. “I've heard the stories. You brought the mages to heel--”
“Excuse me,” Fiona said, clearing her throat. “But Lady Lavellan requested our assistance to deal with the Breach, and Enchanter de Fer offered her own people to help as well. No one brought anyone to heel.”
“Well, surely only one blessed by Andraste could bring so many disparate and savage groups together,” Giuseppina said. “Even the elves have joined your cause!”
All the elves sent glares of varying degrees of severity at the woman.
“I am not sure if you've noticed,” Arethin said. “But I, Fiona, Sera, and Ambassadors Yara and Briala are elves.”
“Precisely!” Giuseppina said. “Who but the chosen of Andraste could bring peace between the Dalish and the Chantry?”
“Perhaps an individual who approaches the situation with a clear head?” Dorian suggested. “Personally, I don't disagree, but I don't think you can say everything that happened is because of Andraste.”
“You don't disagree?” Arethin raised an eyebrow at him.
“My friend, it is either admit the Maker had a hand in all this, or blame Solas for all of it,” Dorian folded his arms “And I'd really like to think the Maker has better taste in clothes.”
Arethin sighed. Giuseppina looked baffled, but no one moved to explain.
“In any case,” Josephine said. “It would only be prudent to not only have you there, as well as Ambassador Briala--”
“I would be there in any case,” Briala said. “I could not be far from Celene's side at such a moment.”
“But also Cassandra as well.”
“Who should we avoid bringing?” Dorian said. “I'm already counting myself out, with the whole Tevinter nationality and everything.”
“My dear, your nationality might be a benefit,” Vivienne said. “To begin with, I would hardly be parted from my second for something so important, and for another—what better way to show that our Alliance has power than to show that even Tevinters can be turned to our side?”
“Or, that Tevinter has poisoned the Alliance from within,” Dorian said. “There will be Venatori there, remember. If I come, the Orlesians could easily accuse you of harboring Venatori yourself.”
“Either option is possible,” Leliana said. “We would need to consider it in more detail. Grand Enchanter, it would be a very bad idea for you to come, however.”
“I thought as much,” Fiona agreed.
“I'm going to assume any elvhen representative apart from Lavellan and Briala would be unwelcome as well,” Yara said. “Too many Dalish would seem like an invasion or some rot.”
“Very likely,” Josephine said with a sigh.
Sera groaned. “Sounds awful, but my people'll probably be there, 'cos of all that's goin' on,” she stuck her tongue out. “Don't know if that means I should bother.”
“Our people can coordinate with the Jennies,” Briala said. “You do not necessarily have to be there in person.”
Sera gave a sigh of relief.
“There is one last thing,” Leliana said. “Celene has a new court enchanter.”
Vivienne's lip curled at the mention of the woman.
“Who?” Arethin asked.
“A woman named Morrigan.” Leliana frowned.
“Do you know her?”
“Yes,” Leliana said. “She is Surana's lover, or was when I last heard.”
“A hedgewitch from the Wilds,” Vivienne sneered.
Leliana nodded. “She is very dangerous. She knew of many forbidden magics, and she and Surana remained undetected by the Circle, the Templars or anyone else for years. Where she is, Warden-Commander Surana will be nearby, I am certain of it.”
“If you knew about her, why didn't you ask her where Surana was?” Arethin asked.
Leliana shook her head. “She has evaded me every time,” her lip curled. “Quite a fascinating feat.”
“One likely aided by magic,” Vivienne murmured.
“Then we need her on our side,” Arethin said. “At the very least, she might know where the Warden-Commander is.”
“She is a cruel woman,” Leliana said. “I was never sure what Surana saw in her...you will have to be careful around her.”
“Well, that's hardly news,” Arethin waved a dismissive hand. “When should we be there?”
“The peace talks are in three months time,” Josephine said. “In the meantime, we should see if we can learn anything else about the Venatori or Corypheus' plans.”
“Oh--There's some rot going on in Verchiel,” Sera said, leaning forward. “Not sure what it is, 'xactly, but people are getting hurt.”
“What do you think we should do?” Arethin asked.
“Send some of your people to just walk through,” Sera explained. “You know—so they know someone's keepin' an eye on them.”
“That might help our standing with the court as well,” Josephine said, her tone contemplative.
“Or it could hurt it, depending on their opinion of Red Jenny operations,” Cassandra said.
“It's just soldiers, yeah?” Sera said. “And I don't even need 'em to do anything! Just let the noble pricks in Verchiel know that we're keepin' an eye on the place.”
“Verchiel, Verchiel...” Leliana hummed to herself. “Yes, Sera, I believe I might be able to help you and your people with this.”
Sera brightened. “Great!” she said. “Nice doin' somethin' important without doing much of a thing, yeah?”
“Um—Lady Lavellan--” Sister Giuseppina followed Arethin on her way out of the meeting.
“Sister Giuseppina,” Arethin nodded. “Did you need something?”
“I wished to say—well, I'm not sure I hold with all of this, truth be told,” she said in a hushed voice.
“All of what?”
“All this spying and sneaking about—I never wanted to be involved in politics. That's why I went to the convent.”
Arethin simply looked at her, and Giuseppina worried her hands.
“I've heard—the most dreadful rumors, Lady,” she said. “The—the woman who claims the Sunburst Throne sent a missive to me.”
“And what did she say?”
“She wanted me at her side,” Giuseppina explained. “But—well--” her face acquired a mask of hardness to it. “She was the one who caused the siege of Val Royeaux. It was she who started this war.”
Arethin inclined her head. “And why did you come to us instead?” she was curious to know.
“Well—when she came to me, I knew I could not remain at my convent for long,” Giuseppina was downcast. “Others would come. When your Nightingale asked me—well. I wanted to see if I could help.”
“Thank you.”
“And I wished to see you, of course.”
Arethin blinked at her, then frowned. “Why?”
“Why would I not wish to see the Herald?” Giuseppina's words came out in a rush. “You sealed the Breach! You survived an avalanche, defied that—darkspawn creature—it is by your hand that the mage rebellion has been quelled, and you have even brought the dwarves and the elves to your side—how could I not wish to see such a thing?”
Arethin tilted her head to one side. “I see.”
Giusppina began to pace. “Imagine! A heathen mage—blessed by the Maker!”
Arethin's expression grew darker at the 'heathen' comment. “Fascinating indeed.”
“I began to think—if you have been so blessed, but our Divine is dead, and she who is on the Sunburst Throne is—is such a villainess, then...” she wrung her hands again and looked at Arethin. “What does it even mean, to be a heathen? You have done nothing but aid us, come in our hour of need.”
Arethin blinked, now more interested in the turn the conversation had taken. “Perhaps it means nothing,” she suggested. “An accident of fate. Perhaps your Chantry is not so wondrous a thing as you believe it to be.”
Giuseppina's eyes grew wide. “Do you hear the word of the Maker?” she asked. “Did you see Andraste?”
“No.”
“But--”
“No, I did not.”
Giuseppina looked down. “Well—perhaps you might believe that,” she said. “But I am not so sure.”
“I am.”
“Very well, Lady Lavellan,” Giuseppina said. “But the fact remains that you are not Elthina.”
“Very true.”
“If anyone might be able to salvage the world, it is you.”
“Perhaps.”
It was after that curious conversation with Giuseppina that Vivienne came to speak to Arethin as well.
They had not spoken very much since the debacle with the Templars back in Haven. First the flight from Haven had occupied much of their time, then settling into Skyhold, and other various problems.
Now it seemed that Vivienne deigned this a good time for them to speak to each other again, specifically regarding one issue in particular.
“My dear, I would know what you would do to improve Circles,” Vivienne explained.
“Why are you asking me?” Arethin wanted to know, folding her arms. “I'd tell you to not have them at all.”
“If I am to restore them, I need to have information from all parties,” Vivienne said. “There is nothing so dangerous to any mage as a lack of knowledge. If experiences like yours are common, then more people will be afraid of the Circle, forcing even more conflict.”
“Here's an idea,” Arethin had no patience for this conversation. “Mayhap don't kidnap people's children or separate them from their spouses, hmm?” she raised her eyebrows.
“And what would you choose instead? Many families refuse to relinquish their children to the Circle--”
“Because they would never see them again,” Arethin snapped. “I do not understand why this is such a difficult concept.”
“Then how would you go about educating mages?”
“Are you actually interested, or are you going to start going on about the evils of magic again?”
“Magic is not evil, despite what certain overzealous parties might tout,” Vivienne said with a disapproving little huff. “It is dangerous, just as fire is dangerous. Those who forget this truth are burned. I simply wish to prevent more tragedies in the future.”
“Do you also plan on locking up anyone who knows how to use a stove?”
“It is not the same thing. Lavellan, I wish for mages to be safe, and for people who are not mages to be safe from magic. If you wish to avoid tragedy, explain what you would do.”
“They are called ordinary schools, Madame,” Arethin said. “The Dalish use Keepers and other teachers, perhaps sending someone to another Clan if they have a particular inclination towards one school of magic. You need only take people to a school where they are not locked away and threatened with death every day of their lives.”
“Interesting,” Vivienne nodded, as if satisfied.
“Is that all you wished to know?”
“No, my dear, you have been quite helpful,” Vivienne gave her a strange, tiny smile, and left her then.
Arethin wasn't quite sure what to make of the conversation. On the one hand, perhaps Vivienne was going to try and make a real school for mages, not a prison. On the other hand, perhaps this was simply some sort of elaborate game. The woman had been at the Orlesian court, after all.
Arethin snorted softly, watching the door that Vivienne had left through. There was the third possibility, of course, that Vivienne's mishap with Alexius had left her a bit touched in the head. Many of the loyal mages seemed that way, as far as Arethin had been able to observe, forgetting risk and sleep at times, having strange outbursts or ideas.
Arethin supposed she didn't blame Vivienne in the end. She had gone right from one prison to another, and that had to make the way one thought about some things strange. Perhaps she should give Vivienne a bit more credit. Spending five years with only the Venatori and increasingly unstable mages for company would make anyone strange.