Chapter Text
A week after the Orlesian ball to end all Orlesian balls, the Inquisitor started acting a bit odd. A bit cagey, almost. Bull wanted to ask about it, but before he got the chance, she asked him to go on a mission with her. It would be a long one, she said, and a bit outside their usual range. It seemed like she wasn’t interested in answering a lot of questions about it. Only said they’d be heading north towards Orzammar first. ‘Towards,’ but not ‘to’ he noticed.
At this point it was odd that she didn’t consult him about the details of the mission, she did it so often these days. Even odder were the other two she chose to go with, Varric and Sera. As far as combat was concerned, it wasn’t exactly a balanced party. That told him she wasn’t expecting combat. But it couldn’t be a diplomatic mission, either, if he and Sera were going along.
The other two seemed just as confused as he was, but the Inquisitor was on edge and no one wanted to be the one to poke her for the information.
Guess that would be him, then.
“Alright Boss, everyone wants to know,” he said after they’d made camp near the coast. They’d passed the turnoff for Orzammar the day before. “Where the hell are we going?” Their two companions froze and listened with baited breath.
“Jader,” she responded without turning around from the bag she was unpacking.
“Uh-huh. And what’s in Jader?”
“A ship.” She paused and turned around with an almost apologetic expression. “A ship that will take us to Kirkwall.”
Kirkwall. The city of chains. The city that was attacked by an Arishok at the end of his wits. The city that got blown up by mages and templars throwing a tantrum.
All three of them groaned. Their presence was starting to make a modicum of sense.
“You know, the city isn’t exactly stable right now,” Varric pointed out. “And I don’t think you’re going to get a very warm welcome. Given you being, uh… look, people haven't forgotten what happened with the Arishok is all I’m saying. They built a whole statue about it.”
“That’s why I brought you with, Varric,” she said pointedly, crossing her arms. “I know you can smooth over just about anything. Particularly in that city.” She turned to face Sera. “And Sera, you once told me you could give me a tour of ANY city.”
“I mean, yeah,” she replied. “But Kirkwall is… I mean it’s kind of a shite hole if I’m honest.” Varric grumbled but Sera just waved him off. “I got contacts there, sure, but last time I actually visited I ran into three different fucking blood mages. I was only there a week.”
“I’m guessing that was before the mage rebellion?” Varric clarified.
“Yeah. Doesn’t mean I’m all keen to go back.”
“So why ARE we going to Kirkwall?” Bull interrupted.
“We’re meeting someone. An old friend of mine from before my merc days.”
“A qunari?” Sera asked, eyes big with excitement. “In the city?”
“No, not a qunari,” she chuckled. “He’s a human.”
Sera seemed to instantly lose interest.
“Why are we meeting them?” Varric pressed.
“Look, it’s kind of a long story, alright?” Adaar seemed to be getting flustered with all the questions. “I’ll explain more when we get there, so just get some sleep. We’ll be in Jader tomorrow.” With that, she grabbed her belongings and went to her tent, apparently done with the conversation.
The three of them stood there in confusion for a few moments. It was starting to dawn on them that this wasn’t a standard Inquisition mission.
“If I were a betting man, I’d say we’ll all be sworn to secrecy by the end of the week,” mumbled Varric.
“You think it’s a secret wedding? And we’re going as witnesses or somethin?” Sera whispered conspiratorially.
“Now there’s a tale I’d love to tell,” Varric chuckled. “Childhood sweethearts separated by circumstance or station, keeping in touch through letters as a world tears them apart, only to meet in secret and swear undying love for each other.” He sighed. “It’s been told a million times, of course, but people love the classics.”
“Just one problem,” Bull said with a smirk. “Qunari don’t do marriage. That’s not a thing.”
“Yeah but she’s not a real qunari, is she?” Sera grinned at him and leaned in, clearly trying to goad him. “She’s a Toss Megoth or whatever. Her parents got married, or close enough. Maybe that’s what she wants.”
He chuckled and waved a hand, but only because he wasn’t sure what to say. He hadn’t even considered the possibility that Stella might want to get married. And sure she’s not highborn, but being the Inquisitor probably means she could marry rich and powerful, too. Bull’s mind wandered back to the letter he’d half-seen on her desk a few months ago.
“Oh, great,” Varric said with a smirk. “Now Tiny’s gonna brood the rest of the way.”
“I don’t brood,” he said with a roll of his eyes. “Whatever secret Boss has in store, she trusted us with it. Try not to make her regret that,” he said with a pointed look at Sera.
She sniggered and made a face at him before heading to her own tent. Varric and Bull followed suit shortly after.
“Don’t let the teasing get to you,” Varric said with an earnest smile before Bull disappeared behind the canvas. “I get the feeling you don’t have anything to worry about.”
Bull nodded noncommittally and headed to bed.
Nothing in their talks up to that point had him thinking Stella would be remotely interested in marriage. Before they’d really started anything she’d mentioned she didn’t want to be exclusive- or at least that she didn’t expect him to be. She didn’t seem like the hopeless romantic type by any means, even before the weight of the world was on her shoulders. A political marriage wasn’t out of the question, but something that big wouldn’t have all this secrecy around it.
Bull fell asleep thinking about why he was thinking about this so much.