A request from the chantry

Divine Victoria sat in her chambers, quietly musing. There was a lot to keep track of, a lot to deal with, even after the most notable threat had been dealt with.

"Most Holy!"

And that didn't make things much easier. Leliana looked up, to see two clerics entering the room. One wore slightly worn looking robes, plainly a traveller, while the other wore the immaculate robes typical of those that made the Grand Cathedral their home.

"I'm sorry, she insisted-" the local cleric said. Herel, Leliana felt sure her name was.

"Myra, most holy," the slightly tattered cleric curtsied. "Apologies. I'm here as a representative of the Order of Vivial."

"The..." Leliana's voice trailed off. "I should congratulate you. I'm not familiar with that group."

"No reason you should have, exalted one," Myra bowed again. "We've boasted a few prominent figures; your predecessor was among our number, in fact. but most tend to disavow us as soon as they get anywhere. We're nothing official, just people with an interest in... certain matters."

"I shouldn't have let her bother you," Herel said. "She told me why she was here outside, I'll see her out-"

"Let her speak," Leliana said. "I'm interested in what everyone has to say."

Still, she couldn't help but feel uncomfortable at yet another bow. She was never going to get used to that.

"Are you familiar with Andraste's bloodline, most holy?" Myra said.

"Of course," Leliana said. "She only had daughters, so her name's lost. I wasn't aware the chantry kept track."

"It doesn't," Myra cleared her throat nervously. "Not officially. But some of us... the name might be gone, but we believe the blessed bloodline will make itself apparent when the world needs it most. We keep track of notable figures, lineages, any that share some similarities with blessed Andraste-"

"Get on with it," Herel interrupted, impatiently.

"R-right," Myra nodded. "There are obvious traits. Red hair, a talent at music, devotion to her faith, those are the most apparent. Then there are smaller things, matters of policy..."

Her voice trailed off nervously. Leliana paused, uncertain. She was starting to get the feeling she knew where this was heading.

That description did sound... familiar. But no, that was ridiculous. Just coincidence.

"Where is this going?" Leliana said eventually.

"Divine Justinia noticed you, when she was just a Revered Mother," Myra said. "She said you seemed drawn to the Chantry, simply standing there. And since then the Herald of Andraste delivered you to us, spoke in your favour. You were the most likely candidate we had before, but after all that, and..."

Myra's voice dropped low.

"We heard a rumour from a survivor of Lothering," she said. "Only recently, but... Is it true the Maker spoke to you?"

"I-" Leliana hesitated. It had been quite a while since she'd thought of those dreams.

No. No, this was ridiculous, this was...

Still, Myra's eyes suddenly widened. She bowed again, much lower.

"Most holy," Myra said.

"This is just speculation," Leliana said.

"Yes, Most Holy," another bow. "We cannot be certain of anything, especially not from so long ago, but in all the centuries the Order of Vivial has existed... we've always been small, but we're dedicated. We've looked at so, so many and we may be wrong, but we might also be... You are the most likely we've encountered, exalted one. And if the blessed bloodline was to make itself known, what better time than now? The world is divided, in need of a symbol."

Herel rolled her eyes; Leliana was rather glad to see she wasn't the only one that disbelieved this.

"So why are you telling me?" Leliana said.

"I- The Order= That is to say," suddenly Myra was stumbling over her words. "I did not think I would be the one to speak to Andraste's heir-"

"I'm not Andraste's descendant," Leliana said.

"But if you are, oh if you are..." Myra's voice trailed off. "We, um, the Order..."

"She wants you to take your clothes off," Herel said bluntly.

Leliana blinked. Myra scrambled.

"I- The Order has long believed," Myra said, inhaling, "That is, we believe that the Maker's gaze would return to this world should He see the avatar of his bride unencumbered by worldly possessions. And think of the meaning!"

She could think of the meaning alright. A nude Divine on the Sunburst throne for all Orlais to see. Leliana's cheeks coloured.

"I, uh-"

"Please, most holy, consider it," Myra said. "The Order, truthfully after all our centuries of searching we would not say this with no cause. You were a likely candidate even before her Herald spoke on your behalf, and now we hear the Maker spoke with you the way He has done for only one other. And if you are, if you can truly bless this world, we must beseech you."

Leliana stared.

Of all the potential issues being Divine entailed, being asked to spend the rest of her life naked had not been among them.

And...

She should say no. She should just reject him as a conspiracy theorist, pretend this had never happened.

But, she had to admit there was something there. It felt arrogant to admit but, well, that was a lot of coincidences. And maybe it was still coincidence, at least one had to pop up over the centuries, but if they were right about this and she could bring the Maker back to the world...

If they were right, the gains were immeasurable. If they were wrong, well, no one got hurt. Except her pride, her modesty, her ability to look any of her friends in the eye, her-

"Could I still wear my shoes?" Leliana said, without thinking.

Then squeaked, rather undignified. No, no, this was not the time to worry about her shoe collection. Was she really going to credit this?