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“Lady Montilyet, the latest shipment of supplies from the Ferelden lowlands has arrived.”
Josephine looked up from her desk on at the runner, eyebrow slightly raised. The shipment was two days ahead of schedule which was excellent news, but Josephine wasn’t entirely sure why she was being informed rather than the requisitions officer.
“Cook Harl wanted to know what dish you want made special.” Josephine’s confusion must have been clear on her face as the boy quickly added more context. “In thanks for the favor you did him.”
Ah. A thoughtful gesture but one entirely unneeded. Josephine smiled at the runner, recognizing him as one of the Skyhold kitchen assistants. It only took her a moment to recall his name, quietly thankful that she had taken the time to memorize the names of all of their new staff at Skyhold.
”Thank you Gerad. Please tell Cook Harl that I need no such thanks, he owes me nothing for the favor. I’m sure he and yourself have enough to do with unloading the supplies.”
Josephine would have thought that was a kind enough dismissal, but the boy didn’t move.
”He said you’d say that my lady, and not to return until you’ve given him a proper order.”
Josephine gave an inward sigh. Really this felt like too much, the favor had only taken three letters to Redcliff, Denerim and Val Royeux. Not enough effort to merit special attention.
But clearly he would not be dissuaded. So Josephine thought for a moment before settling on a recipe. One she hadn’t had in a few years now, and one that she secretly adored.
”Toad in the Hole then. Only if it is not too much trouble.”
Gerad nodded smartly.
“It won’t be, milady. Thank you, milady.”
As he ran off, his presence was substituted by the presence of the Inquisitor herself as she waltzed in.
Inquisitor Lavellan watched the boy run off before turning her attention to Josephine, flashing her that smile that had an uncanny ability to make Josephine’s heart skip a beat.
“You want a toad in a hole? I admit, Lady Montilyet, I didn’t quite figure you for the type.”
A simple enough question, yet it still managed to bring a blush to her cheeks. The Inquisitor had an uncanny way of doing that.
”I admit it is not common amongst neither the Antivan nor Orlesian courts. But there is something… comforting about it. Easy, simple, good.”
The meal of sausages tucked into a specialized pastry with gravy could almost be considered barebones, especially when compared to the extremities often found in Orlesian cuisine.
“It is a favorite of mine ever since I encountered my first one years ago. I seldom have the opportunity to enjoy it, so I try to take it when I can.”
The Inquisitor nodded thoughtfully before once again smiling at Josephine.
”I see I have underestimated you, Josephine. My apologies.”
Josephine flapped a hand, feeling the blush deepen.
“No apologies needed. What do I owe the pleasure of your company to, Inquisitor?”
“S’vari to you, Josie. Please.”
Josephine inclined her head slightly in recognition of S’vari’s request. It was not the first time S’vari had asked to be called by her first name, but regardless of her preferences, decorum dictated that S’vari was always due the courtesy of her title at the start of a conversation.
“And I had a question to ask you, but I believe I’ve come to an answer. So. Please excuse the interruption, my lady, I will take my leave of you.”
”Your presence is never an interruption, S’vari.” Josephine blurted out as S’vari started to leave. That was far more forward than she would be normally, but Josephine loved each and every moment that she could share with the elvhen woman.
Judging by the look on S’vari’s face, it seemed that S’vari felt the same.
Hopefully.
Nonetheless, S’vari gave the slightest of bows and left.
Josephine turned her attention back to her work, trying to will away the blush on her cheeks. And think of anything other than how much she loved the sound of her name on S’vari’s lips.
___________________________________________
Hours later, Josephine sat at her desk, her work done and put aside for the day. Before her sat her chosen meal, heat steaming off of the sausages, the scent of thyme filling her office like a warm embrace.
As Josephine was about to dig into her meal, the door to her office swung open.
The mild irritation at being interrupted mid-meal quickly disappeared when she saw her visitor, the lady Inquisitor Lavellan once more.
Josephine stood to greet her, only to stop short.
The Inquisitor’s pants and the ends of her sleeves were caked in dried mud, and clasped in her hands was a small wooden cage. Incongruously, the Inquisitor was smiling from ear to ear, teeth bright white against the sheen of mud smudged across her face.
“I got you a present, my lady.”
S’vari walked over and gingerly placed the cage on Josephine’s desk, doing her best to not leave mud everywhere.
Josephine stared at the cage, trying and failing to make sense of what in the Maker’s green earth was going on.
“What…is this?”
As soon as the words left her mouth, a decidedly forlorn “qwaark” echoed from the depths of the cage.
”A toad.” S’vari planted her hands on her hips, looking immensely pleased with herself. “I wasn’t sure what hole your favorite kind came from, but Sera knew what you meant and helped me. Took me longer than I’d like and made a bit of a mess, but we managed.”
Understanding clicked into place, yanking a bark of laughter from Josephine’s lips. She tried to keep it together, clenching her jaw together to try and stifle the chuckle burbling up in her throat.
But then the poor trapped toad let out an even louder despondent “qwaaaaaaaark” and Josephine lost the little amount of composure she managed scrounge together.
She laughed and laughed, ribs aching and tears coming to her eyes at the ridiculousness of this scenario.
Each time she managed to wrest back some degree of control, the toad would let out another croak, and Josephine would be lost to laughter again.
All while S’vari stood there confused, but smiling.
Finally, the laughter gave way to hiccups and Josephine sat heavily in her desk chair again, dashing away a tear of laughter.
“My good lady, this is Toad in the Hole.” Josephine held up the now cold pastry plate. “It’s a Ferelden dish. Sausage in pastry, with thyme, vegetables and onion gravy.”
S’vari stared at the little lumps of sausage snuggled within the pastry, rapidly turning pink with embarrassment.
“I. See why you would like that. Rather than an actual animal.” S’vari let out a huff of frustration, pinching the bridge of her nose. “And I understand why Sera was so willing to help me. Fen’harel’s teeth, she is a menace. I am so so sorry.”
S’vari grabbed the cage hastily, going to leave. But Josephine was quicker, reaching out to grasp her arm, ignoring the mud that cracked around her fingers.
“No no, S’vari please. This is sweet, you are too kind to have gone through all of this trouble for me. I should have clarified, I didn’t consider how odd the name of the meal would be amongst the Dalish.”
”It is a ridiculous name, those look nothing like toads nor is that a hole.” S’vari muttered grumpily. Which was almost enough to send Josephine into another tizzy of laughter, but she was able to restrain herself this time.
S’vari’s eyes flickered from Josephine’s hand on her arm up to Josephine’s face, softening slightly.
“If this made you smile though, it was more than worth the effort.”
It was Josephine’s turn to blush. She released S’vari’s arm, taking a step back. A distance that she almost immediately wanted to close again.
“That it did, my lady. If you would like to sample the dish, I can ask Cook Harl to make another plate. I would welcome your company.”
S’vari nodded sharply.
“I would like that. While that cooks, I will re-release the toad, change into cleaner clothing. And have a word with Sera.”
Josephine bit down hard on her lower lip to stop from falling into a fit of giggles once more. A battle just barely won.
“I will await your return, S’vari. Thank you again for thinking of me, truly.”
S’vari smiled, taking a small step closer to Josephine. Josephine felt her breath catch in her chest as S’vari met her eyes solidly.
“I always do, Josephine.”
The intensity of that confession was instantly cut off as a new vile smell wafted up from within the cage. S’vari glanced down at the cage, her pointed ears drooping slightly.
“I think it just shit in my hand. If you’ll excuse me.”
This time S’vari practically sprinted out of the room. A good thing too, as Josephine had to sit down once more as she laughed herself into tears again.
As Josephine gasped for air, her entire body aching from laughter, her heart warmed.
S’vari thought of her often, cared enough for Josephine to drag herself through the mud to get something that might make Josephine smile.
What a wonderfully kind woman S’vari Lavellan was. And how completely smitten Josephine was with her.