#rookweek asks

"Small, small world. The way things were going, I didn't think I'd see you until the Satinalia celebrations!" Isadora admitted, tucking an errant curl behind a pointed ear.

Lilya nodded, threading an arm through hers, tugging her along to start their day of shopping and intrigue. "I know, with everything as hectic as it's been, it's so difficult to make time. But we're doing it now!" she said, offering her a warm smile and a squeeze of her bicep. "Although, Satinalia isn't the only thing we have to look forward to, no? Especially with Illario's birthday only a couple of weeks after it."

Isadora snorted, covering her mouth and nose at the sound, but continued to giggle even as another sneaked out. "He's terrible! Every year he uses Firstfall as an entire month to celebrate his birthday! I don't even know what that giant idiot has planned this year."

The younger mage was pulled back abruptly to face a beaming Lilya, dancing from foot to foot. "That, my dear, is exactly what I need your help for."

"What?" Isadora asked, eyeing her warily. "You're planning a party for him? Nope. Count me out. Not for that primadonna. The last time I helped organise a dinner for him, he pouted that the centrepieces weren't as pretty as he was."

"I vaguely remembered you saying that next time you'd just bring jars of dirt and plonk them in the middle to provide a more accurate depiction of him."

"Dirt. Bronto Manure. Whichever was more readily accessible."

"The love between you two is as strong as ever, I see," Lilya chuckled, resuming their leisurely stroll along the stalls. "But yes, you're correct, I do need your help–"

"Fine. I'll help. But nothing to do with decorations. How about wine? Or food. I can help with those–"

Lilya shook her head and flashed her an apologetic smile. "My apologies. I may have mismanaged your expectations. You see, I want you to help me make him think we're planning nothing."

"Nothing?"

"Yup. Nothing."

"So, act like we've forgotten?"

"Exactly!"

Isadora's mouth pulled into a cheeky grin as she imagined the shock, dismay and utterly offended expression that would appear on her friend's face. "Oh, that I can do. In my sleep, if you need it."

Lilya stifled a snort as she inspected a pretty bauble before setting it back down. "Well, it's not in the plan, but knowing you're able to pull it off during all hours of the day is comforting at least. Isadarling, we need to pretend we've nothing planned but keep him from finding out that I'm taking him back to Rivain for a contract only he and I can do just before his birthday – only to return to the Hilt to have a proper celebration with you all."

"It seems you have this all in hand, what do you actually need me for?"

Lilya gave her a befuddled look..

"My dearest Isa, for your opinions on outfits, of course. Now, do you think Illario will prefer this blue ribbon or red?"

"I don't think he's going to notice what colour ribbon you're wearing in your hair, Lils," Isadora frowned, though no real displeasure came from it.

"Hair? No, no, hun. This will be all I'm wearing for his present."

"... Can I pretend I still don't know anything and not have this conversation with you?"

"Don't be silly – oh, look! The ribbon stalls, so many more options!"

Isadora sighed and trailed after Lilya, knowing it was going to be a long day, a long, potentially very awkward day, but if it was for Illario – giant pain in the ass as he was – it would be worth it. Besides, a celebration with the Lords in Rivain? That was going to be one hell of a party.

Lilya tried to search her mind for when she had said this.

She hadn't been drunk around the Mourn Watcher so she couldn't have said it in a self-inflicted stupor... but then she remembered the last time she was here and Ilene had thought she was helping her by microdosing her food with Meet Your Maker. Not realising that Viago had already done it. And so had Zalan. That was a particularly harrowing week for all involved and even their poor house guest had to take a turn in pressing cold compresses to her brow. Surely, that was when she had promised such an outlandish thing.

"I don't know–"

"You promised!" she said, mismatched eyes widening and small pout forming on her lips making her look much younger than her years.

"Alright, alright! Stop looking at me like that, I'll do it!" Lilya sighed, giving in. Pulling her hair over one shoulder and straightening her nightdress, she slipped out of bed and dragged Lydia over to the mirror on her vanity. "There."

"Huh?"

"There."

"What? The mirror? Was it his mother's or something?"

"No."

"Ooooh, because of the silver in it. He can try to extract it and use it to detect poisons if stores are low... though it hardly seems worthwhile, there's hardly enough in one mirror to do much of anything and it's hardly a secret that mirrors have silver–"

"Ingellvar. Look. Harder."

"What. Me? I'm his greatest secret?"

Lilya smiled and nodded. "And me too. And Ilene. Carina. Zalan and Hugo. The few people he lets in and trusts. We are not merely his Crows or his ally, but we are family. The greatest secret one can hold in our line of work."

Lydia stood there looking at their reflections, a mixture of awe and slight disappointment playing across her features. "Yeah. I guess that makes sense. It's nice, when you think about it, really."

The girl had no guile. Truly. Heart on her sleeve this one.

"His second most prized secret, however, is a vial of archdemon blood from the last blight in Ferelden."

"What? How? Why!?"

"He merely said it was from a Grey Warden he had a contract for. He does not mean to ever use it in anything; that would be insanity, but he mentioned something about it being information. And information is the true currency one barters with when scaling the ladder for power."

Lydia continued to stare into the mirror until she looked up at Lilya, curiosity shining in her eyes. "Soooo... can I see it?"

"It's just a vial of blood! You've seen vials, and you've seen blood!" she laughed, mussing up her hair.

"I know... but still! Can we?"

"Hmmm... No."

"Why not?"

"Because even I do not know where he keeps it, darling. Remember that knowledge of such information is also very dangerous for us."

"So you've just endangered me by telling me?" Lydia asked, mouth hanging open.

Lilya gently set her jaw right and hugged the woman into her side firmly. "Yes. Yes I have. But... wasn't that what you wanted when you asked about a Crow's secret?"

A large pout formed on the woman's lips. "I... I thought you were just going to show me some underwear with hearts on it or something. Something funny or embarrassing."

"Oh, I can still show you that!"

"You can?"

"Sure! Viago has a drawer filled with ridiculous silk underwear. Mostly gifted by Ilene."

"Does he ever wear them?"

"Maker no."

"But he still has them?"

"Mhmm. Every pair."

"But why, if he doesn't wear them?"

"I told you, because we are his greatest secret treasures."

"Do the rest of your family know this?"

"Lydia. I don't think even Viago knows it."