[ she closes her eyes, resists the urge to rub her temples, and silently curses that completely underhanded man she put on the throne. First taking charge of an arldom where she had murdered her predecessor, and now being thrown into a- what had he called it? A "small snafu with one of those city-states. You'd like it, Solona. Mage diplomacy. And I'll add another shiny title to your name." ]

It...looks as though I've missed the main party.

[ she mentally steadies herself. As much as she wants for the best, the best doesn't happen often in her dealings. ]

And. [ she hesitates, looking at Cullen and desperately wanting to see something of the stuttering guardsman she had known at the Tower ] Are we still at war, then?

[ it's hard, but she tries to put on a smile like the ones she wore before the Blight, tries to bring a small amount of levity to this...carnage ]

Because it was a really long boat ride here.