Title: Court Enchanter
Fandom: Dragon Age
Characters: Empress Celene Valmont I, Vivienne
Rating: G
Length: 547 words
Content Notes: no warnings apply
Author's Notes: set before the events of Dragon Age: Inquisition, and Dragon Age: The Masked Empire
Summary: For a fleetingly short moment, all she wants to do is rip it off, and all of her responsibilities with it.


"I see."

Vivienne just brushes over the sides of her mask with the tips of her fingers, ghosting over the tiny sapphires embedded into the metal around her eyes. Deep purple inlaid into gold, Valmont colours. A mere gesture to re-adjust it and nothing more to the untrained eye, just as the shallow, silent sigh following it.

To Celene, it is obvious. Madame de Fer, as she has grown to like to be called, does know the rules of the Game, otherwise she would not be here; and she knows when she is beaten. But it is the small, nuanced things that voice displeasure more clearly than the loudest outcry. Little tells that one in her position has to know, or she will not be empress for much longer.

She does, of course. Vivienne has been a valuable asset to stabilising her reign, a fact both of them are aware of, of that she is certain. If more mages were like her... Celene would not know whether to be glad, or afraid.

There are those who oppose her every step, and their complaints have become less veiled than they used to be. And she has pushed them aside for too long; more flocked to Gaspard's call by each passing day.

Vivienne's power is one of the many things they call out, and unfortunately for her, the one she could easily rectify. Celene knows enough about her... patron to be certain she will not fall far. Without his support in all her endeavours, her power plays would be confined to the Circle in Montsimmard; a not insignificant fact many at court would never grow tired of reminding either of them, in more or less subtle ways.

It is an easier dealing than the whole situation with the elves. Briala is due to report the latest changes among her people...

"If there is nothing else that needs to be discussed, I will take my leave, your Radiance."

She inclines her head, just enough to be noticeable, and watches the other woman curtsy, before striding out of the room proudly, and almost defiantly so. Her heels click across the floor until long after she had vanished from the throne room.

Maybe she has made the right decision; only time will tell. Vivienne is, despite everything, still an important ally, one she would dislike to lose to Gaspard, however unlikely that might be.

She sighs, a small slip-up from her otherwise impeccable facade; a luxury she only allows herself when she is truly alone, though she has become more casual around Briala. She even takes her mask of when she is with her...

Her hand wanders to the back of her head, briefly toying with the notion of unmasking herself. For a fleetingly short moment, all she wants to do is rip it off, and all of her responsibilities with it; destroy the delicate band of lace, and deform the thinly layered and lacquered mask, just once. Instead, she reaches for the bell resting on the cushioned stand next to her throne. Its clear chime echoes through the hall, and a knock on the door quickly answers to it.

Celene smiles warmly at the servant who enters. "Could you please send for Briala? I believe we have urgent matters to discuss."