Work Text:
“My mother and father have spent the last year searching for a suitable match. They had no idea that we had grown so…close. Today I received a letter declaring that they have bethrothed me to Lord Adorno Ciel Otranto of Antiva. I must deal with this, but until then, we cannot be seen in a compromising situation, I’m so sorry.”
The words themselves broke Josephine’s heart. She never would have imagined herself in this situation, mentally berating herself for not sending a letter telling her parents of her closeness with the Inquisitor. She should have done so as soon as the two became more serious, but a part of her had wanted to keep this relationship private. Something all her own.
What a foolish choice that had been.
What hurt even more was the expression on the S’vari’s face. While the Inquisitor had grown quite adept in dealing in matters of diplomacy, this world of marriages arranged for the sake of family and politics had to feel foreign to her. And it was clearly breaking her heart.
”Do you not want us to be together?” The question was soft, unsure, enough to make Josephine’s heart ache. For S’vari to think even for a moment that Josephine did not want the two to be together made Josephine feel like an even greater fool.
”Of course I want to be with you, my lady. But. It is not right that we carry on while I am betrothed. I must break off the match first.”
Josephine wished more than anything that she could just ignore the betrothal all together and damn the consequences. But she had only just restored the trading rights to her family, after years of skirting utter ruin. While her family’s place was set, it was far from secure. Now, more than ever before, Josephine would have to tread carefully to ensure the honor of her family remained intact. To breach a contract as significant as a marriage would be a stain on their family name for centuries to come. For all she knew, perhaps that had been the very issue that had created the rivalry between the Du Paraquettes in the first place.
It had to be this way. As much as Josephine hated it.
She would find a way around it.
____________
When the rumor crossed Josephine’s desk, she didn’t quite believe it. She had mentioned that the betrothal could be undone via duel in a jest alone. She certainly hadn’t expected S’vari to take it seriously enough to begin training to duel.
While Josephine did not doubt S’vari’s determination to fight for her honor, and a not-so-insignificant part of her did swoon at the romance of the idea, the reality was that dueling could be deadly. The Inquisitor was essential to not just the Inquisition, but the safety of the entirety of Thedas. It was more than a question of leadership, nobody else could seal rifts or wield the power of the anchor. The Inquisitor risked her life each and every single day for the betterment of the world. It was madness to ask her to do so once more on the behalf of Josephine.
So Josephine set off to put an end to this idea. After a search of the castle, she finally found S’vari down by the castle gates. She made her way down the stairs to see S’vari speaking with one of the mage advisors they had acquired for the Inquisition.
S’vari looked up as Josephine approached, face lighting up as it always did at the sight of her. It was a sight that always brought a smile to Josephine’s lips and warmth to her heart.
“Josie! Good to see you, this is Commander Helaine. We were just talking specializations.” Ah yes. The Commander was a Knight-Enchanter, just as Grand Enchanter Vivienne.
Josephine gave brief curtsy to the woman, who bowed in return. “A pleasure. May I have a word, Inquisitor? In private.”
S’vari raised an eyebrow at the request but nodded, inclining her head towards the Commander. Josephine set off for the gardens, with S’vari following behind her obediently.
“Have you decided how you would like to refine your magical abilities yet, my lady?” Josephine asked conversationally as they made their way through the bustling castle.
”Not quite yet, no. I’m between the magic of the rifts or the path of the Knight-Enchanter. But.”
S’vari grasped Josephine’s arm and gently pulled her off to the side, into a secluded hallway.
”I doubt that’s why you’ve sought me out. Is everything alright?”
Josephine let out a huff.
“That will depend on you. I’ve heard that you are preparing to duel Lord Otranto for my hand. You cannot.”
S’vari’s brows furrowed as she stared at Josephine.
”Josie, you can’t expect me to just do nothing and let this happen. You said this was the only sure way to break off the engagement.”
“I will find another way, I am certain. I just need time.”
Josephine could see S’vari preparing herself to argue further and reached out to grab S’vari’s hand. Cutting her off.
“My lady, you cannot risk yourself like this. Not now, not with everything going on. The reports I’ve received from Adamant Fortress have been horrific. We will need to raise all of our forces to march on the Fortress, and you must be at your full health. You are too essential, too important to risk, especially over me.”
She could still see the argument brewing in S’vari’s mind. So she pulled her hand closer and held it over her heart. It was the closest the two had physically been in well over a week. Maker, how she missed it.
”If something were to happen to you in this duel, when I could find another solution on my own, I would never forgive myself. It would haunt me for the rest of my days. Swear to me that you won’t do this.”
Josephine watched as a war of emotions clashed over S’vari’s face before finally settling into resignation.
”As long as you are certain you can find a more diplomatic route out of this, I will abstain. I swear. To all of my gods, and yours.”
Josephine’s shoulders sagged in relief at the promise. Without having to worry about S’vari doing something foolish, Josephine could devote more of her attention to the matters at hand, including negotiating a way out of this engagement.
“Thank you, my lady.”
As Josephine started to pull away, S’vari’s hand tightened on hers, pulling her closer for a moment.
Close enough for Jospehine to hear S’vari’s breathe, feel the warmth of her skin, smell the scent of her soap and the lingering ozone of her storm magic.
”I’ve missed you.” S’vari murmured softly, bringing her lips to Josephine’s fingers.
Josephine’s heart melted at the gentleness of the touch, reveling in the feeling of rightness to have her lover so close once more. S’vari had a way of settling something in her soul that Josephine couldn’t truly describe, but had never felt with anyone else in her life. More than anything, Josephine wanted to throw caution to the wind and just kiss her. Hold her close in her arms and let the world fall away.
“I miss you too, my lady. You have no idea.” Josephine squeezed her hand gently. “I will not be much longer now. I swear. We will be together again soon.”
______________
There had been no time.
After the Inquisition’s attack on Adamant Fortress, everything had just progressed so quickly. All of Josephine’s attention and efforts had been focused on giving the Inquisition every advantage it could garner. She felt duty-bound to devote the entirety of her efforts to this, surely there was nothing more important than preventing Corypheus from ending the world.
After their victory in the Arbor Wilds, Josephine was certain that she would have more time to finally settle this engagement matter once and for all.
Then Corypheus had made his final attack. S’vari had set off with her squad to end the fight once and for all.
She had won. Andraste’s grace, they had really done it. Saved the world. Repaired the rift in the sky for good.
The world was saved.
As Josephine prepared their victory banquet, anxiously awaiting S’vari’s return back to Skyhold, a letter arrived from Antiva.
A letter that broke her heart.
Josephine tried to keep up a brave face through the party, even as she felt Leliana’s eyes boring holes into her back as she flitted around the hall, playing the role of the perfect hostess.
After S’vari had finally made her way through talking with all of her friends and associated dignitaries, she found Josephine.
“Will you join me, Madame Ambassador?”
It was a bad idea, but Josephine followed after S’vari regardless, back into her private quarters.
As the door closed behind them, shutting out the revelry behind them, S’vari stopped and regarded Josephine with a frown on her face.
”You seem far too upset for this situation, Josie. I know that you wanted more bards and dinner courses but truly this party is-“
”I’ve received a letter from home.” Josephine blurted out, unable to bear trying to wade through small talk, not now.
S’vari’s eyes lit up at her words.
“About your engagement? Is it done, can we go back to the way things were?”
The hope that colored S’vari’s words threatened to rend Josephine’s soul in two. Knowing that she would have to extinguish it once and for all.
”It was about the engagement. Using my engagement to the Otranto’s, my parents were able to secure marriages for Yvette and my two brothers. The dowries alone are enough to restore much of the lands my family lost and rebuild much of our former fleet of merchant ships. It will revert House Montilyet to where it was centuries ago. And it all hinges on my marriage with him. I must marry Lord Otranto.”
The color drained from S’vari’s face, as she sat heavily on the steps of the stairs up to her private quarters.
“What does that mean for us?” She asked, gaze glued to Josephine’s face.
”It means we are over.”
Saying the words out loud cracked something within Josephine’s heart, tears long repressed starting to spill down her cheeks.
She didn’t have the words to make this right, there was nothing that could be said to make something this devestating any easier to bear.
”I’m so sorry, Inquisitor.”
Josephine turned to leave only for S’vari to leap up and grab her wrist, pulling her back.
”Wait wait wait. There has to be someway we can still make this work. A way we can still be together, even if you’re married. Vivienne, the whole court knew she was the Mistress of Duke Bastien. It was just a title, not an object of shame or disgrace, it was completely common. Surely Antiva has to have something of the same?”
Josephine covered S’vari hand with her own. Maker help her, she didn’t know how to make it easier.
She reached up to cup S’vari’s face, thumbs stroking over the lines of the the vallaslin lining her cheeks.
”They do. But. The title of consort is a political one. You would be a member of the court, and you would have to be constantly present. With everything that’s happened, everything that you are, much of your life would boil down to be a subject of interest for the court. A political piece to play, as Briala is to Empress Celene. More than that, as the wife of Lord Otranto, I have a… physical duty that I must fulfill. I will bear his children. Raise them to be the next heirs of our conjoined families. It is not a life for you.”
S’vari started to protest, but Josephine just shook her head, tears falling thick and fast down her cheeks.
“You would hate each and every minute of it, S’vari. I will not subject you to a life of such misery, I refuse. You deserve so much more than what my life will now be. We can’t. Please.”
Josephine’s voice cracked as she spoke, the utter devastation of these words cracking through her heart, splintering it piece by piece.
But she had to be strong through this. It was a life that Josephine was prepared to live, but S’vari could not. S’vari had to understand that.
S’vari crumpled to her knees, shoulders shaking from her own tears. But she did not argue. It seemed that she knew Josephine was right.
S’vari looked up at Josephine desperately, grabbing for her hands.
”Then just tonight, vhenan. Please. Just one last night together, and it will be enough for me. One last goodbye to… us.” She begged, eyes wide and frantic as she searched Josephine’s face. “Please. It can’t end like this.”
One night. Surely that was doable, surely that was forgivable. Just one last night together, to forget about how the world would tear them apart. They deserved as much.
But.
”I can’t, my lady. We can’t. There is still so much more work to do, and it. It would end up being so much more than one night. I can’t do that to my family. To us. To you.” Josephine was only barely able to get the words out between sobs. “Please don’t ask me to.”
If S’vari asked her once more, if she begged her again, Josephine knew that she would buckle, that her reservations would crumble.
Mercifully, S’vari didn’t. She just stared up at Josephine before finally dropping her gaze down. Releasing her grip on Josephine’s hands.
And that was it.
It was well and truly over.
Josephine took a step backwards, away from S’vari, feeling part of her soul crumble and collapse away with each step.
As she opened the door, the noise of the party filling the secluded entryway once more, Josephine heard S’vari murmur one last word.
”Ar lath, Josephine. Bellanaris.”
Josephine didn’t understand what the Elvhen meant. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to bear it if she did.
Josephine stepped into the hall, and closed the door shut behind her.
For good.