(Commission) Satin and Scandal. Chapter 3

A commissioned Piece

With the Inquisition declared as Divine Victoria's personal honour guard, Cassandra is free to spend as much time as she likes with her beloved. Unfortunately discretion is neither of their strong suits, and they discover Varric's latest book contains a steamy love scene featuring themselves!

-o-o-o-

The warmth of the sun still radiated off the smooth pavestones of the winter Palace’s courtyard, even now that same sun had slipped over the horizon, leaving only the moon and the faint green scar of the breach to illuminate the night.

Anavis Trevelyan stared up at the breach, the faint, ethereal green ribbon blocking out the stars to the east. It was sealed now, no more a danger than any other scar, but still the sickly emerald light made him uneasy. After all, for months that same light had been eating him from the inside out, burning from beneath his skin.

He winced and flexed his fingers, at least the ones on his right side. It was strange, especially given that the wound still hurt from where the blade had severed his limb just above the elbow, but sometimes he forgot that he had only his right arm. He still swore he could feel his knuckles ache like they always did after a long day, that stretching and flexing still relieved the uncomfortable tension, even though there was nothing there at all.

With a low, weary sigh he flexed his bare toes against the warm stone of his balcony and made making his way back into the chambers Cassandra had arranged for him. It was a nice room, spacious and warm and conveniently close to Cassandra’s own, no doubt by design. He sighed again and reached to take off his shirt, squeezing his eyes shut with frustration as only one hand caught the fabric.

He swore under his breath and sat on his bed, staring angrily at his armour, neatly polished and stacked in an open chest by the door. He wouldn’t be wearing it again, not for any other reason but sentimentality at least. Without one arm he could still perform basic magics in theory, but like a musical instrument magic required the skilful use of two, well-trained hands.

He was useless.

The door swung open without warning and he jerked upright, both arms raising only to pause as he saw Cassandra, who smiled and closed the door behind her. “Good evening love.”

Anavis dropped his arms to his side, flushed with embarrassment. “Hello, Cassandra.”

She neatly removed her headdress and shook her hair free, the short jet locks sticking up at odd angles thanks to a full day smothered under the white silk crown of the Divine. “Did I disturb you?” She asked quietly, keeping an eye on her lover as she slipped her robes off her shoulders, letting them fall heavily to the floor.

“No.” he smiled, frowning as Cassandra dropped a book on the bed as she passed by on her way towards the window.

She walked across the room casually, smiling to herself as her inquisitor watched her. Usually beneath her robes she would wear a simple shirt and breeches, but today she had forgone them, wearing only her underthings. No doubt it would have given the clerics a heart attack if they had known, but that was hardly a big concern given just how much else made them panic and rush about like startled hens.

She cocked her hips slightly as she yanked the curtains closed with one decisive pull, giving her lover a good view of her rear, perfectly hugged by tight white satin panties. “With the Inquisition declared as my personal honour guard, we may be free to spend more time together.” She said happily, turning to face him. “If there were ever a silver lining to be found in this sad tale, I am glad it was this.”

“I… hope all the faith you’ve put in me isn’t misplaced.” Anavis smiled weakly as she approached, “I’m not exactly known for my strategies… that was always Cullen’s job.”

She smiled and dropped neatly into his lap, earning a yelp of surprise from Anavis, followed by a hiss as the stump of his arm knocked against her thigh. Cassandra’s smile vanished and she reached out, gently taking his cheek in her palm and caressing his stubbled flesh. “Does it still hurt, is there nothing I can do?”

“You’ve done enough already.”

His tone was gentle and reassuring, loving, like always, but Cassandra couldn’t help but feel a pang of hurt, imagining how easily the same words could have been angry and hurtful and cruel. She swallowed and looked away. “I… I am so sorry. I wish there could have been another way, any other way.” The screams Anavis had let out as he tumbled out of the eluvian still rang in her ears, the look in his eyes as Bull and Cullen pulled his arm away from his body and held him still for her strike. The flash of the steel, the crackle of ozone, the scream of agony her blade drew from his lips before the pain overcame him and he fell unconscious against her breastplate. Every time she thought that she’d reminded herself that it was the only way sufficiently, the memories came creeping back to torment her.

“You saved me.” he whispered, pressing his lips to her cheek. “That’s all the matters.”

“Perhaps.” Cassandra sighed, reaching out and raising the book she had brough for him. “I thought I might read to you, if you needed the distraction?”

“You? Read to me?” Anavis asked, raising a brow. “You usually hide away whenever you read so I can’t tease you.”

“I do not blush when I read.” Cassandra sniffed dismissively, raising the book and flipping it over. “Now hush, this is Varric’s book about us and I have not finished it yet.”

“What’d he call it?” Anavis frowned.

Cassandra sighed, decidedly unimpressed with the title. “All this shit is weird, the Inquisitor Trevelyan Story.”

“Not his best.”

“Hush.”

Mere hours later, Anavis was nuzzling her shoulder, laughing to himself as she turned the page and began yet another impression of one of their friends.

“’Come on.’ The Iron Bull barked, not looking back as he entered.” she grunted, doing a low, vague approximation of the massive Qunari’s tones. “’the dancer with the great rack comes on in five’”

“That’s… spot on, actually.” She hummed, impressed that at least one of their friends hadn’t been completely transformed into a dramatic caricature of themselves.

“Your voice wasn’t bad either, you should try that on the nobles next time they start whining.” Anavis agreed with a playful squeeze of her shoulder. His voice dropped a few octaves and took on the same vague accent Cassandra had been using. “Stop complaining you stupid children, your divine commands it!”

“Pah.” Cassandra smirked, shoving him away and turning her attention back to the pages. “You’ve made me lose my place.”

“Mm, sorry.” Anavis hummed, resting his chin on her and sighing contentedly. “Just go onto the next chapter.”

“But the next chapter is the last.” Cassandra protested, “And I haven’t been in this book at all yet! Varric wouldn’t have cut me out, would he?”

“Look there, that bits about you.” Anavis said, pointing to the next page over. Cassandra’s eyes narrowed and she read on, eyes tracing the words with furious intensity.

“The Seeker clutched at my vest; her tears as desperate as they were pitiful.” Cassandra said softly, her voice gaining a dangerous, hard tone as her eyes scanned onwards. “’Varric, I was wrong about everything.’ she sobbed, “’Could you find it in your noble heart to forgive me?’”

Anavis was stifling his laughter with his one good hand. She put down the book, scowling down at the page as she kept reading. “That dwarf. He… he…” she grinned suddenly and let out a delighted giggle. “He put me in the book! I’m in the book!”

“Maker, don’t stop.” Anavis grinned. “I want to see if this noble Varric forgives this crying madwoman.”

“Do not push your luck.” Cassandra growled, batting his hand away as he moved to turn the page. “I am pleased he included me, but we will have words.”

“Will you clutch his vest?” Anavis teased “Beg him to forgive you for ever doubting he would put you in his book?”

“I will not.” Cassandra scowled, pushing him. Her anger was all for show of course, she was just as delighted Varric had included her as she was that Anavis had spent the past hours laughing and smiling more than he had in all the time they’d shared. She turned the pages, deciding to skip over the rest of her own section and move to the last chapter, the one detailing the last days of their adventures and focussing almost entirely on her beloved Inquisitor.

She read for a while, enjoying Anavis’ breath against her neck and the soft weight of his arm around her waist. The chapter wasn’t as fun as the rest because there was so little exaggeration on Varric’s part. The world needed a hero, and as much of a lovable idiot her Anavis was, he was undoubtedly a hero. Varric told tales that if Cassandra hadn’t lived through, she would never have believed, but that was what the people needed right now.

She and Anavis laughed together at the few embellishments Varric had made, mostly passing off one of Anavis’s moments of accidental brilliance or desperate long-shots as brilliant strategic moves. Cassandra made sure to put a little extra emphasis onto all of these, particularly when Anavis started laughing at her own parts too much.

“This seeker sounds like a real catch.” He said softly into her ear, after a moment which had seen her standing atop a pile of rubble, sword catching the light and blue scarf fluttering in the wind. “I’d love to meet her.”

“Hm, I feel the same about this Inquisitor.” Cassandra deadpanned. “But he can’t possibly be you, he hasn’t stopped in the middle of a fight to collect elfroot even once.”

“Har.” Anavis laughed humourlessly, rolling his eyes.

She kept reading, past Corypheus’ death and the celebrations in Skyhold until the very moment she and Anavis had retired to his chambers. She had a sudden remembrance of some of the racier scenes of ‘Swords and Shields’ and started to blush. She turned a page, and that blush became redder than Leliana’s hair. It took Anavis a moment to notice she’d fallen quiet, but eventually he brought his head away from her shoulder and raised a cautious brow. “Cassandra? Are you alright?”

“I am perfectly fine.” Cassandra said quickly, clutching the book to her chest.

She should have thrown it across the room because all she’d done was intrigue him. Before she could protest, he had snatched the book away from her breast and held it up out of her reach.

“Maker, this is some real smut, even by Varric’s standards.” Cassandra let out a flustered groan and pressed her face against his collar, red-faced and breathless. Anavis’ voice dropped into a low, seductive purr. “Would you like me to keep reading?”

Cassandra made a vague noise that wasn’t a no by any means, and then nodded enthusiastically against his neck. Anavis’ grin widened.

“The seeker leapt onto the inquisitor like a jungle cat, pouncing on him and pressing a kiss so hungry and passionate onto his lips that it put every other kiss in history to shame.” he said in a sultry growl of a voice, hand stroking a slow circle between Cassandra’s shoulder blades. “Her tongue writhed against his like a mighty serpent, ensnaring an unfortunate merchant ship and dragging it down to the ass-end of the deeps.”

Cassandra shifted slightly, peeking up ta Anavis as he continued, beginning to flush himself as Varric entirely failed to move tastefully to describing a fireplace and instead committed to detailing every sordid detail of the completely-imaginary, yet suspiciously accurate, depiction of Cassandra and his’ lovemaking the night after the party.

“The seeker moaned, voice heavy with lust, and shed her armour, peeling leather and mail from her body like a snake shedding its skin.”

“She leapt on him, and took his member deep inside herself, her moans as ragged and breathless as they were insistent.”

“’Take me, my love’ she groaned, voice as thick with lust as an Orlesian shadow was with knives.”

“Her body rolled, exquisite musculature rippling like a raging river as she pressed tight to her lover. Her moans echoed from the cold Skyhold stone and filled the air of the peaks with the cries of her need.”

“Maker.” Anavis groaned, hot and hard beneath Cassandra’s rear, something not helped by the Divine’s squirming. “This is… horribly detailed.”

“You don’t think my muscles are exquisite?” Cassandra asked breathily, “Keep reading.”

“I… alright.” Anavis nodded, now extremely flustered as Cassandra’s lips brushed his throat. “The Inquisitor took his seeker’s breasts in his hands, squeezing and rolling them as they slipped together over and over again. Climax came in a wave all at once, both voices crying out in bliss, professing their love as their bodies sang with pleasure.”

“’I will never be apart from you, my love.’ The Seeker breathed, clutching her lover close. ‘Not for duty, not for distance, not for the maker himself.’” He finished, glancing down as Cassandra pulled away. “Cass…”

She snatched the book and threw it over her shoulder, pouncing just as Varric had described and knocking him onto his back. In an instant, hands were scrabbling at clothes, Cassandra’s easily pulling apart her lover’s shirt, whilst Anavis struggled clumsily to unhook her bra one-handed. Lips met and broke apart and clashed all over again as the pair kissed, moaning and groaning against one another as tongues began to duel.

Cassandra had been first to move, but Anavis quickly took initiative. The Divine whooped as she was flipped onto her back and pinned by the inquisitor. She opened her mouth to complain, only for her words to vanish as Anavis’ tongue ran the length of her womanhood, gently stroking the sensitive folds and making her quiver.

As usual his tongue-work was excellent, because mere moments later Cassandra was moaning and crying out just as she had been in the book, her back arching and her thighs clamped around Anavis’ ears. A second, slightly shriller cry came from Cassandra as she felt a finger slide into the tight confines of her asshole. Her eyes rolled and she groaned heavily, biting her lips as she rolled her hips a little faster against Anavis’ tongue.

“Hah… I… am close, my love!” she whimpered not long after, body dappled with sweat as her toes curled and a high squeal of orgasmic delight shot past her lips. Anavis swallowed the gush of arousal that poured from her in stride, continuing to flick his tongue and gently probe with his finger until at last Cassandra pulled away, panting for breath.

“Roll over.” he commanded softly.

Cassandra bit her lip. They had experimented with anal before, but never on a night as passionate as this. She did as she was bid and spread her legs a little. “Be sure to wet me first… please.” She breathed. “And be gentle.”

“Of course.” Anavis smiled, kissing her cheek before making his way down her body, lips stopping every few inches until he had peppered small love bites from her shoulder to her rump.

Cassandra gasped as her lover’s tongue slipped inside her asshole, biting the pillow as Anavis gripped her by the hips and began to truly work on her. The man might have been a mage, but how he worked his tongue was the real magic as far as she was concerned. The scent of her arousal in the hot Orlesian air was like a heady perfume, only adding to the warm, lazy feeling beginning to cloud Cassandra’s mind. It seemed Anavis was taking the lead tonight and as she moaned and smiled and lay down to enjoy his attention, she was more than happy with the arrangement.

She barely noticed the moment his tongue left her, too lost in the sleepy, hazy stupor his tongue had eased her into, but she certainly took note as his cock pressed in to replace it. “Oooooh.” She managed to sigh, eyes rolling back and teeth grinding shut at the amazing sensation of fullness. “Maker… harder.”

Anavis chuckled and gently thrust against her tight round ass, squeezing her tanned cheeks as he slowly began to increase his pace until Cassandra was shrieking with need at each thrust and the smack of flesh was almost as loud as their voices.

Beyond the walls of their little haven, there was not a single doubt as to just what was happening. Though there was some speculation amongst the servants as to which of the Inquisitor’s many friends was sharing such passion with him, only a few correctly guessed that the Divine was the one currently taking him balls deep into her ass, and even they would not have expected the scene that came the next morning.

As the soft sunlight broke over the palace, Cassandra and Anavis pressed as close as they had been all night. The divine smiled sleepily to herself as she woke, her inquisitor’s cock still buried in her asshole and his hand gently draping over her neck.

“Good morning, my love.” She breathed, tenderly extracting herself from his grip as he groaned and rolled over.

“Hm.” He managed, utterly exhausted by the night’s activity. “Morning.”

“You were wonderful last night.” She breathed, tracing a finger around his navel. “And we have all morning to ourselves…”

“Mmmmm.” Anavis purred, smiling. “Bath?”

“That would be wonderful.” Cassandra hummed, kissing his stomach and then his chest, placing one last kiss on his lips before he rolled away to prepare their bath. As he went, the divine simply lay and admired his naked body go about it’s work, glowing with happiness that finally they could be together.

-o-o-o-

Val Royeaux was still abuzz with excitement upon the return of the Divine and her new Honour Guard’s return to the capital days later. Several agents of the former Inquisition had already been spotted around the city, in fact a particular band of mercenaries led by a large Qunari were already considered regulars in several of the city’s taverns.

Cassandra hummed contentedly, admiring the colourful ribbons that streamed across the courtyard outside the Palace’s gates. It was nice to be back to something of a normal routine again, though the looming threat Solas posed still weighed heavily on her and her friends. Her time was evenly split between her usual duties as divine and coordinating with her beloved Guard Captain on the preparations for the coming conflict.

Anavis walked beside her, looking a little uncomfortable in his new uniform, a white and gold outfit with a rich red cloak. He had felt it was too ostentatious, too loud, and he wasn’t entirely wrong, it was similar to her own robes, but honestly, she didn’t much like them either. Both of them preferred the soft, dark colours they had always worn before, but their positions demanded sacrifices and apparently being dressed like an exotic peacock when out in public was one of them.

“Why exactly are we here, most holy?” Anavis asked, brow raised as Cassandra swept onwards towards one of the smaller gardens at the edge of the palace grounds.

“You will see soon, Guard Captain.” Cassandra replied simply, flashing a small smile in his direction. Neither of them had any love for their titles, but somehow referring to one another in such formal tones had become an affectionate, even playful routine.

Anavis’ brow remained arched with curiosity, joined by the other as he spotted Varric, lounging in the shadow of the great hall. As usual he had a quill in his hand and a book in the other, no doubt writing the latest of his books.

“Varric.” Cassandra smiled calmly, coming to a stop in front of his table. “I’m surprised to see you here.”

“Seeker!” Varric said with a crooked grin. “Did you come all the way down here to see me, I’m touched!”

“Well, I heard that you had returned.” Cassandra replied, “and I had something to ask you.”

“Oh? I’m always happy to answer questions from my fans.” Varric smirked, setting the book down before swallowing as Cassandra leaned forwards, a truly terrifying look on her face.

“What… were… you… thinking?” she snarled, grabbing him by his lapels and squeezing. “How could you write such smut about me!? About the Inquisitor!? For everyone to read!?”

Varric regained his grin and raised his hands. “Easy seeker, easy. It’s not a final draft, I’d be happy to take your feedback if you weren’t happy with your part.”

“It was smut.” Cassandra hissed. “Pornographic filth.”

“Alright, I’ll rewrite it.” Varric sighed theatrically. “Just as soon as it comes back from my editors.”

“You sent it to your editors?” Anavis yelped, already worried that Cassandra might just strangle the dwarf. It was already too late for that, because Cassandra’s hand and flown to her hip and drawn the knife he had gifted her from under her robes, pressing it against Varric’s neck. “Cassandra!”

“Hush.” Cassandra said quietly, her sharp eyes darting towards him for an instant before returning to Varric. “You will not let another soul see this book.”

“You’re not going to hurt me, seeker.” Varric smiled, seemingly unconcerned with the blade at his throat. “Or you wouldn’t get to see the next book I’m writing.”

“You a braver man than I thought, dwarf, if you’re willing to take that chance.” Cassandra smiled.

“I like my odds.” Varric shrugged, “Or don’t you want to see the romance I’ve written about you and the inquisitor?”

Cassandra gasped softly and removed her blade, slipping it back under her robes. “You’re writing a book about us?” she asked breathily, eyes shining with excitement. “Oh, that would be so romantic… but the scandal!”

Varric scoffed. “Come now seeker, you and Trevelyan are the worst kept secret in southern Thedas. There’s already a dozen hacks who have written nonsense about you two, I’m just setting the record straight.”

“And making a tidy profit no doubt.” Anavis smirked. “Will you at least change our names?”

“Maybe.” Varric hummed. “If you give some feedback in return? Was the chapter close enough to what happened? Too smutty, or not smutty enough?”

Anavis opened his mouth but Cassandra had a finger to his lips in an instant.

“You will not answer that, or any other questions from him, if you ever want to share my bed again.”

Anavis nodded meekly. “Yes dear.”

Cassandra smiled and turned back to Varric, baring her teeth in a wide, dangerous smile. “I will not have you executed, dwarf, so long as you add me to your list of editors.”

“I can arrange that.”

“Wonderful.” Cassandra said brightly, straightening up and kissing Anavis deeply. “Make sure you are free this evening, love. I’ve a long day of meetings and I shall require your talents.” She patted his ass and swept away, grinning to herself as Anavis blushed and Varric laughed, making sure to note down the little moment.

Anavis sat down heavily and sighed. “This is definitely not what I thought my life was going to be when we first met.”

“When you first met Cassandra and she had you tied up?” Varric asked, “Or when you met me, and we were both ass-deep in demons?”

“Either.” Anavis laughed softly. “You’re a good man Varric, but I swear you have a death wish. I swear one day she is going to stab something other than one of your books.”

“Inquisitor you give me too much credit.” Varric grinned, leaning back and twirling his quill. “Besides, you’re the one who has to sleep with her.”

“I don’t have to.” Anavis said, slightly hurt by the implication.

“On the contrary.” Varric said, grin even wider than before. “As long as you keep putting a smile on the Divine’s face, the less likely I’ll find myself facing a Chantry court for Blasphemy. And you wouldn’t want that.”

Anavis smirked and shook his head. “I’ll see what I can do.”