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Veronica Trevelyan was doing her best to listen to Josephine’s words. She was genuinely trying, but she found it far too difficult to stay awake. It wasn’t that Josephine’s words weren’t interesting; she was just so tired. She had spent the past week clearing out another nasty pocket of undead from the Fallow Mire. They were like rats. You got rid of them, and a short time later, they’d be back with greater numbers.
When she’d gotten back to Skyhold, something else had distracted her, keeping her from a full night’s sleep. She smiled at the memory of Josie’s touch and sweet words from the night before. The Ambassador always welcomed her back in a way that made her feel loved and wanted.
Unfortunately, it also meant that she was yawning through her love’s entire well-researched presentation on Wintersend customs. The holiday was just over a week away, and Josephine had decided that they should celebrate in the proper Ferelden fashion. This meant there would be tournaments and games of skill in the courtyard, which seemed to intrigue both Blackwall and Iron Bull.
“Now, obviously, those of us in this room will not be permitted to enter the tournaments to avoid allegations of favoritism,” Josephine explained.
“Aw, come on,” Bull roared. Everyone laughed except Josie, who gave him a tight smile.
“You will, however, be acting as judges and referees for the various events. Lady Trevelyan, you will be expected to make speeches at the opening and closing of the festivities as well.”
Veronica startled at hearing her name. She looked helplessly at Sera. “Your Josie is making you give speeches because you’re all big and important,” she said, filling her in on what she had missed while dozing off. “Also, because she knows you won’t say no to her.”
Josephine shot them both an annoyed look before continuing. “It is important that we get this right. With Corypheous defeated and our steady progress in closing the rifts, we need to ensure that the Inquisition stays in the minds of the people and the nobility.”
Veronica nodded, feeling appropriately chastised for her inattention. It really did seem like the talk would be going on for quite some time, however, and she just wasn’t able to give the speech the attention it deserved. Maybe she’d just ask Josie to explain it to her later, when they were alone. After a long nap. And a bath. Maybe together.
Blinking, she realized that her mind had wandered right through the end of Josephine’s talk. Damn. She’d get a lecture later, one which she fully deserved. Josephine was gone, and everyone else was filing out of the hall.
She was getting ready to find her love and apologize when Sera’s elbow caught her in the ribs. “Hey, do you think she means all the traditions?”
“What do you mean?” She looked at Sera curiously, trying to figure out what the elf was alluding to. She had a grin on her face that signified something she was clearly missing.
“You know,” Sera whispered. “Marriage arrangements. Proposals. You gonna ask her?”
Veronica blinked. She and Josephine had discussed marriage, but that was before they had defeated Corypheous. They had both decided that such things should be left until after the war, when they could fully focus on each other. They hadn’t spoken about it since. “Is that something people do on Wintersend here?”
She had heard of the tradition, but only vaguely. Peasants would arrange marriages at Wintersend, and then they would be performed on Summerday. She had thought it was a custom that had died out, at least in the Free Marches. Even if it hadn’t, very few people were interested in proposing to mages in the Ostwick Circle. It may have been a more gentle prison than the Ferelden ones she had heard about, but the mages were still under constant surveillance.
“Yeah, some places,” Sera confirmed. “I think it’s daft, but all that tradition nonsense means something to her, yeah?”
Veronica bit at her lip. “Yeah, it does.”
Sera smacked her arm again. “Then you’d better start planning! Let me know if you need a ring, all right? I have a bunch of wedding rings.”
“Why do you have a bunch of wedding rings?” Veronica asked, more than a little afraid to know the answer.
“Not the point,” Sera told her, waving her hand dismissively. “Josie deserves the best, right? These are really good rings.”
“She does,” she said thoughtfully. She had a lot to consider.
***
“Don’t be angry, Josie, I promise I was trying,” she said reassuringly. “I was just so tired.”
Josephine huffed in annoyance and put her clipboard on the desk with a loud “thud”. “I know, my lady, but you are the Inquisitor. If you cannot take things seriously…”
Veronica moved up behind her, wrapping her arms around the other woman’s waist and pressing her closer to the desk. “I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night, for some reason.” She kissed Josie’s neck and felt her body begin to relax within the circle of her arms. “Please forgive me.”
Josephine spun around, her expression softening. “Of course, my love.” She broke into a sly grin. “I suppose it is partially my fault.”
“Completely your fault,” Veronica murmured as she brushed her fingers along the other woman’s collarbone. “I think I know how we can make it up to each other. Let’s go to bed. After a full night’s sleep, you can tell me everything I missed.”
“Darling,” Josephine protested weakly, “We have not even had supper yet. Surely you don’t mean to retire to bed already?”
“I absolutely do,” Veronica confirmed, before leaning in to press her lips to Josephine’s neck. She knew she should talk to her about what Sera had said, but that could wait.
***
“As bizarre as it is for me to admit this, Sera is quite correct,” Vivienne said with distaste. “Many parts of Ferelden and Orlais do, in fact, associate Wintersend with the arrangement of marriages.”
“Ah,” Veronica said, before taking a sip of her tea.
Vivienne was regarding her with a raised eyebrow. “Not in Val Royeaux or other large cities, mind you, but it is quite common in more rural areas. I have no idea whether or not such things are commonly done in Antiva,” she said pointedly. “Am I correct in assuming that you are asking because of our dear Ambassador?”
Veronica looked down at her feet. “I want to ask her when the time is right for both of us, but I also don’t want to disappoint her if she is expecting something so…soon.”
“My dear, if you wish to propose, you should do so regardless of the calendar. Although I must ask why you assume she is expecting a proposal from you rather than the other way around?” Vivienne sipped at her own tea, thoughtfully observing Veronica’s surprised expression.
“I…I don’t know,” Veronica stammered. She hadn’t actually considered that point. Josephine was so reserved and cautious that she had assumed that, as the bolder of the pair, she would be doing the proposing.
“In most places that follow this practice, they are still rather traditional in other ways as well. Usually, the man would be expected to propose. Since you and Josephine are both women, the one with the higher status would do the asking, as it were.”
“Which would be me, as Inquisitor,” Veronica finished, though she was growing more uncertain of that under Vivienne’s intense stare.
“You are a fourth daughter and a mage, correct? From the Free Marches?” Vivienne listed the points with a tone that made it clear she considered them marks against the other woman. “Josephine is heir to a household with strong trading ties with several countries, thanks to your gracious intervention.” Seeing Veronica’s blank expression, Vivienne continued. “In political terms, yes, you would outrank her. In social terms, especially from an Orlesian point of view, the question is rather murkier.”
Veronica groaned. Things were even less clear now. She thanked Vivienne and made her way to the library. There must be a book somewhere in there about Antivan customs.
“Ah! Inquisitor,” Dorian greeted her warmly. Iron Bull was sitting in Dorian’s usual chair, with the mage perched on his lap. Bull gave her a nod in greeting, and Veronica wondered if she had interrupted anything. “Perhaps you can help us. This big lout is terribly disappointed that he won’t get to show off at the tournament. Do you think you can have a word with your lady love and see if you can’t change her mind?”
Veronica grinned. “You may be overestimating my ability to change her mind once she’s made it up, but I could see if she would allow Bull and the Chargers to put on an exhibition match. Would that be an agreeable compromise?”
Bull’s face lit up. “Shit, yeah. That works. Thanks, Boss,” he said brightly.
“I make no promises,” she responded, hands up. “I can only promise to ask. This event is her baby, not mine.”
“The thought alone is appreciated,” Dorian assured her.
Veronica frowned, considering the two men. “You’re both from the North, right? Do you know anything about Antivan customs?”
Dorian and Iron Bull exchanged a look. “I rather think your own paramour might be a better person to ask about Antiva,” Dorian began carefully, “unless this question is about the lovely Lady Montilyet?”
She sighed and leaned back against the library railing. “Sera seems to think that Josephine will be expecting a proposal on Wintersend,” she admitted.
Dorian broke into a wicked grin. “Are things that serious? I had no idea.”
Veronica blushed. “I suppose they are, yes. I just don’t know if the timing is right.”
“I don’t know anything about marriage,” Bull told her, shrugging.
“I’m afraid I’m not an expert, either, especially when it comes to Antivan customs,” Dorian said with an air of apology. “My only experience with marriages has been in trying to avoid them. I’m sure I could help you find some books on the matter, if you’d like.”
“Please,” she responded gratefully.
An hour or so later, she left the library with a stack of books. Two on Antivan customs, one each on Orlesian and Fereldan ones, and one general guide to romantic customs in Thedas. In addition, she also had an Antivan cookbook and a volume of love poetry that Dorian had recommended. “To set a mood,” he had told her.
On her way back to the library, Veronica saw Josephine approach. She hastily pressed the stack of books to her chest, obscuring the titles on the spines with her arms. Seeing her, Josephine smiled. “Oh, my lady,” she greeted. “What is all this?”
“A few books,” she said, trying to sound casual. “Doing some research.”
Josephine held out her hands. “Let me help you with those.”
Veronica shook her head. “No!” Realizing she had responded too quickly and too forcefully, she shrugged casually. “I’m fine. It’s just a few books, love.”
Her love narrowed her eyes. “Are you hiding something?”
“Of course not, darling, I promise that I’m fine.” She thought quickly. “I wanted to ask you something. Do you think that we could have Bull and his Chargers fight an exhibition match at the tournament? Not to compete, just as entertainment.”
Josephine clapped her hands together. “That is a wonderful idea! Do you think they would be interested in such a thing?”
Veronica breathed a sigh of relief. “I do. Bull is up in the library with Dorian, if you’d like to ask.”
Josephine kissed her on the cheek before bounding off towards the library. Veronica continued towards her own room. Just inside the door, she found a small bag tied with a bright red ribbon. She dropped it atop the stack of books and made her way up the stairs.
When she reached the room, she set everything on the desk and picked up the tiny package. A note attached to the ribbon read “Pick whatever, give me back the rest.” It was unsigned. Curious, she opened the bag, only to find at least half a dozen very expensive-looking rings.
***
Antiva did not appear to have any customs regarding the timing of proposals. It did, however, have many other customs. Depending on the region, she might be expected to present Josephine’s parents with either a goat, a boat, or a bushel of grain wrapped in leather. She also might be expected to write a letter to Josephine’s mother, requesting her hand. Or, as Vivienne had warned her, she might offend her family with a proposal. If they considered her status to be lower than Josephine’s, such actions would be seen as improper.
Veronica groaned. After two days of research, she was no closer to an answer. On the other hand, she had provided one of the cooks with a recipe for a delicious-sounding Antivan stew and found a very lovely sonnet she thought Josephine would appreciate.
She needed a drink. She was heading towards the tavern when she saw Cole sitting on a wall. She walked over to the boy, smiling. “Hello, Cole. Good night?”
Cole tilted his head, puzzled. “The night isn’t good or bad. It’s just darkness.”
“True,” Veronica agreed, although she wasn’t sure she understood at all. “Can I ask you a question?”
Cole nodded decisively. “Yes. You can.”
Right. She should have expected that. “Cole, do you know what Josephine wants for Wintersend?”
Cole nodded. “Tevinter chocolates.”
She laughed. “I can handle that,” she told him, making a mental note to speak to Dorian about procuring the treats. “What about…marriage?”
“I can’t marry you,” Cole told her plainly. “Josephine would be upset.”
Veronica sighed. She wasn’t sure why she had even bothered. “Thank you, Cole.”
Cole nodded, kicking his heels against the wall.
***
The first day of the Wintersend tournament was bright and cold. The holiday itself wasn’t for another two days, and the winners would be presented with their trophies at that night’s banquet. For now, Veronica’s two biggest concerns were the speech that she had to give and figuring out what to do about the situation with Josephine.
The speech wasn’t too difficult. Josephine had provided her with detailed notes and an outline, so all she had to do was follow along. She welcomed all of the guests, explained how the tournament and festivities would operate, and declared the festival open.
Josephine was waiting for her when she stepped off the dias. She looked anxious, but smiled warmly at Veronica. “Thank you, Darling. That was perfect.”
“It was perfect because your notes were perfect,” Veronica told her, kissing her cheek. “How is everything going so far?”
Josephine sighed. “The caterers forgot to bring those goat cheese pastries you asked for,” she said apologetically. “And Sera stole Bann Gainley’s toupee, right from his head!”
Veronica stifled a laugh. “Oh no.”
“Luckily, Lady Vivienne was able to flatter him enough that he decided that Sera had done him a favor, but if she hadn’t been there…” Josephine’s thought trailed off into a small strangled sound. Veronica laughed and pulled her into a hug.
“Everything is going well, love. Just relax. Come on, let’s go watch Bull and his men.” She held out her arm, and Josephine linked her own around it. They walked together to the proving grounds, where Bull’s fight had already begun. They spotted Dorian and Sera together, watching the show, and slipped through the crowd until they reached their friends.
“How is the match going? He looks in good form today,” Veronica commented.
“He’s magnificent,” Dorian breathed in admiration. Josephine giggled, and Veronica smiled. Sera, however, rolled her eyes.
“Stop ogling him,” Sera said, annoyed. “I’m trying to watch the match, not listen to you make kissy faces.”
“That makes no sense,” Dorian hissed. “Listen to me make faces?” Just then, a roar went up from the crowd as The Iron Bull flipped Grim onto his back. Krem helped the other man up, and they both ran towards Bull together.
Sera poked at Veronica’s shoulder. When she looked over, the elf was pointing at Josephine, eyebrow raised questioningly. She then mimed something. It appeared vaguely obscene at first, until Veronica realized she was imitating a ring sliding onto a finger.
“Oh,” she mouthed silently, and then shook her head. “Not yet.”
Sera frowned. “What are you waiting for?” She hadn’t been silent that time, and Josephine turned to look at her.
Veronica frowned and put a hand on Josephine’s elbow, leading her away from their friends. “We can see better from over here.”
When the exhibition was over, Josephine had to oversee the preparations for the first official rounds. Veronica kissed her and then wandered off to take in the festive atmosphere.
***
After several hours of watching sweaty men hit each other with sticks, Veronica was ready for a break. She purchased an array of food from the stalls that had popped up around the edges of the courtyard and found a quiet corner. She had just finished eating some delightfully spiced meat on a stick and opened a bag of roasted nuts when Varric sat down next to her. She held out the paper bag, and Varric took a few.
“So…you ask her yet?” Varric looked pointedly at her, and Veronica almost choked.
“How do you know about that?” She knew for certain that she hadn’t told Varric about her dilemma yet. “Let me guess: Sera.”
The dwarf shrugged. “Buttercup can’t keep a secret,” he confirmed. “Whatever you want to do, you’d better do it before your lady hears about it.”
She sighed. “That’s the problem, Varric. I don’t know what I want to do.”
“Do you want to marry her?” Varric tossed a few nuts in his mouth while he waited for her to answer.
“Absolutely.” She was surprised by the lack of hesitation in her voice. “I do, someday. I just don’t want to rush in and do it wrong. I don’t really have lots of experience with relationships. They’re not that common in the Circle.”
Varric frowned and got a faraway look on his face. “I’ve heard that about Circles,” he said finally. “Look, I’m not exactly the best example for healthy relationships, but I’ve written a few before. The best thing you can do here is talk to her. Figure it out together. Sure, it’s not as romantic as a surprise candlelight proposal, but you’ll know where you stand.”
Veronica smiled and got to her feet. “Thanks, Varric.” She handed him the bag of nuts and went to look for Josephine.
Josie was in the middle of a dispute, quite literally. Two big fighters stood on either side of her, looking like they wanted to go right through her to get to each other. Her hands were up placatingly, and a strand of hair had fallen in front of her face. Before she could come to her lady’s rescue, Cullen and Blackwall had each pulled one of the fighters away from her.
“Are you all right?” Veronica put her hands on Josephine’s shoulders. “What happened?”
Josephine sighed. “Just a small dispute. I’m fine, my lady.” She smiled weakly. “Thank the Maker that was the last event of the night.”
“Come back to my room?” Veronica moved her hand to push the hair out of Josie’s face.
The other woman sighed. “I wish I could, darling, but I need to wrap things up here. Go back and wait for me?”
Veronica nodded, kissed her lips quickly, and headed back to her room. She would take Varric’s advice and talk to Josephine that night.
***
Veronica didn’t know that she had fallen asleep on the couch until she heard Josephine moving things around on her desk, almost frantically looking for something. She sat bolt upright, knowing what she had left there.
“I’m sorry, darling, I’m just looking for my spare keys. I couldn’t find them in my quarters and thought perhaps I left them here. Have you seen them?” Josephine picked up a small bag and shook it. Hearing the jingling sound that came from inside, she untied the ribbon. “What is this?”
Veronica could only watch helplessly as Josephine tipped the contents of the bag into her other hand. She swallowed. “They’re wedding rings. Sera gave them to me.”
Josephine blinked, confused. “Why would Sera give you a bag of wedding rings? Why does Sera have a bag of wedding rings?”
She patted a spot next to her, and Josie sat down. Veronica took a deep breath. “Sera told me that you would be expecting me to propose on Wintersend, because it’s traditional and you like traditions. Then Vivienne said you might be offended if I proposed, Iron Bull and Dorian don’t know crap about marriage, and Cole thought I was asking to marry him. Only Varric was any help, and he told me to just talk to you, and I’m doing it very badly.” She took another breath, willing herself to stop talking, and studied Josephine’s face. The confusion and amusement faded, turning to something much more uncertain.
“My lady, I…” Josephine took her love’s hand. “Do you want to marry me?”
Veronica nodded. “Very much, but…when the time is right.”
Josephine visibly relaxed. “I feel the same way. We still have so much yet to accomplish here.” She smiled shyly. “When we do wed, I would prefer to be able to focus on one another.”
Veronica moved her hand to the other woman’s face. “Exactly.” She laughed. “Besides, according to some of the books I found, I’d need to write to your mother and offer her a goat first.”
“That book must be ridiculously out of date,” Josephine said, laughing. “My mother would be so confused if you sent her a goat!” She then bit her lip thoughtfully. “You would need to write to her, of course, but what would my mother do with a goat?”
“It also recommended a boat,” Veronica added helpfully.
Josephine tilted her head to the side. “Now, that…that, my mother would appreciate.”
Veronica laughed, so happy that all of the pressure of the past few days had simply melted away. Josephine was hers. “I’ll see what I can do. I’d also better get those rings back to Sera.”
Josie looked down at her hand, where she was still holding one of the rings. “You may want to keep this one, for when we are ready,” she said shyly.
Veronica took the small gold ring, turning it over carefully in her hands. The red stone gleamed in the firelight. “That, I can do.”