"They're talking to you again, are they not?"
She looked up from where a vambrace was hanging limply, half laced to her forearm on the table before her. The bright green of her eyes seemed paler than a few months ago, a stark contrast against the dark circles surrounding her sunken eyes and the shine in them that the other woman had come to love was all but gone. Her skin was washed out and clammy and adorned with a multitude of fresh wounds, no doubt healed over by now and nothing but pale slithers of flesh.
"They're always talking to me. I do not think they know how to cease their chatter." Her voice was soft but strong, a hint of humor lacing her words, no doubt forced to ease the other woman's worry.
"What do they say?"
Her eyes darted back down to where thin fingers continued to wind through the cords, lacing up the last of her vambrace with little difficulty. She moved onto the next, showing no signs that she was going to answer.
"Inquisitor, what do they say?" Worry was seeping into the woman's voice now, stress from the previous battle had tired her and frayed on her nerves. She was anxious and finicky, running around from tent to tent, passing along missives, supplies, meeting with the generals, preparing for yet another siege. She was tired and worn and worried. Worried about her family back home, worried about her companions and about the Inquisitor, about her partner.
The Inquisitor looked up after a moment and the left side of her mouth quirked. "They tell me you've been reading Hard in Hightown again. Varric must be pleased you're taking such an interest in his work, Josephine."
Josephine's face flamed, the pink spreading down her neck and to the tips of her ears. The Inquisitor laughed softly as the other woman tried to compose herself, revelling in the sight of the other woman so flustered. It was not often she was caught off guard.
"I- I would never!"
"Oh?" The Inquisitor smirked. "A little birdy told me differently."
"Who- Sera." Josephine's face contorted into a scowl. "That blighted elf, she's going to get what's coming to her I swear on the makers name."
"I do not think the Maker would condone such an act of violence against one of his children, elven or no."
Josephine sighed, the red fading from her face as she sat down on the ground on the other side of the short wooden table from where the Inquisitor was seated, cross legged and one hand behind her as she leant back, her vambraces now securely fastened on each forearm and her fingers digging into the fur beneath her.
"Very well Inquisitor, I will refrain from skinning that little sneak."
The Inquisitor smiled softly. "Thank you Josephine. Now come, we have much to do."
The inquisitor stood up, tired bones cracking and muscles complaining against the movement. She walked over to the other side of the table and stood in front of Josephine with her hand outstretched, a small, half smile on her face, the quirk on the left side of her lips back and Josephine couldn't help but smile as well. The Inquisitor was a strong woman, she would be okay. But Josephine couldn't help the feeling that the other woman wasn't telling her everything, in fact she knew the Inquisitor wasn't telling her everything. She could see it in her eyes. The way they continued to dim day after day after wretched day. She noticed when the Inquisitor would stare off into the distance, a pained expression marring her once youthful face. She saw how her memory was deteriorating, how she couldn't remember certain things, like where she left her staff, or even how last week she forgot her Name Day.
Josephine could see that she was slipping, slowly but surely falling through the cracks and she was afraid. Afraid that she couldn't do anything, afraid that there was nothing she could do. She had faith in the Inquisitior, in her, that she would try her hardest to do what was right but she didn't know how long she would be able to hold herself together and once she broke... No. She wouldn't think about it. The Inquisitor was here, and she was okay, whatever happened in the future they would deal with it then. But for now she just wanted to enjoy being in her company, seeing that ridiculous half smile that she could never get enough of and watching her eyes light up with a devilish glint whenever they were alone. She would enjoy these moments while she could.
"Josephine?"
Josephine looked up, surprised by the sudden tenderness in the Inquisitors voice. Her hand was still outstretched and her head was cocked slightly to the side, curious as to where the other woman's mind had wandered off to. Josephine shook her head lightly and reached up to grasp at the Inquisitors hand. The rough calluses on the Inquisitors hands were familiar and welcome and helped to ground her back to reality. The Inquisitor pulled her to her feet in one quick, smooth motion, but before Josephine could turn away the Inquisitor wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her flush against her own body.
"I- Inquisitor?" Josephine stammered.
"Stop worrying, Josephine. I am okay. We are okay. We are all okay. You don't have to continue mothering us. We are not your responsibility. Whatever happens to us, it is not your fault."
Josephine stood like a stone, surprised by the conviction in the other womans words. "But I am the Inquistions Advisor, I-"
"An Advisor, Josephine, you are an Advisor to the Inquisition. One of few but still more than one. This burden is not yours to carry alone."
"Inquisitor, I-"
"No. No more excuses. We are not your responsibility, each and every one of us is responsible for our own actions. We're grown men and women for Makers sake," she leaned back to look Josephine in the eye. "If one of us was to be taken on the battlefield, any one of us, I need to know you will not falter."
Josephine's eyes were pained, but she knew the other woman was right. If any of them were to fall she could not give up, she could not falter nor even stop for a moment to grieve. The Inquisition had to carry on, they would find someone to fill the fallens place and once this madness was over then finally, finally she would find the time to mourn the fallen. But for now that was not an option.
Josephine looked the Inquisitor in the eye and nodded her head once. "I will not falter."