Elissa looked over her shoulder as she strapped on the last pieces of her armor. Her eyes watching Cullen as he paced back and forth nearby, a worried hitch in his step. His hands clenching and unclenching at his sides, periodically reaching for the hilt of his weapon. But even the safety and comfort of the cool pommel on his hand didn't quell his unease.
"Are you certain you must go? We have scouts, soldiers-"
"Cullen, I'll be fine." She sheathed her sword at her side, reaching for her shield to sling it over her back. He frowned at her. A sigh pushed past her lips as she shook her head, finally turning around to look at him. "This is what I do. The Deep Roads are not foreign to me."
His frown deepened, a worried crease in his brow. He rubbed his forehead, turning away from her with a frustrated twitch. An annoyed sigh, an underlying growl slipping out of his throat as he moved.
"I cannot allow it! If you- if…"
Elissa crossed the room in an instant, turning him with one hand on his shoulder. His eyes were downcast, a clear tension in his jaw. She lowered her head, trying to get his attention.
"Cullen, look at me." She touched the side of his face with a tentative hand, cursing the fact she already had her gloves on. "Please, I don't want to leave you like this."
He sighed, just barely cutting his gaze up at her. "Am I selfish wanting to keep you from this danger? For wanting you to stay for my benefit alone?"
Her stomach did a flip, voice catching in her throat as she looked at him. He looked more like a broken man who'd lost everything than the proud commander of the Inquisition.
"You're not selfish you're…" She swallowed the next few words, unable to voice them. Too scared of losing her own self-control. And too afraid of being unable to leave if she allowed herself to accept the fact that love, of all things, played a factor in their relationship. Whatever that relationship could be defined as.
Elissa closed her eyes, stepped away from him and grabbing a few daggers and knives. She sheathed them at various places along her armor and moved to grab a quiver and arrows when Cullen snagged her arm. Her head whipped around, catching his gaze in wide-eyed surprise.
Cullen pulled her against him, knocking her shield to the floor with a loud clang as he wrapped one arm around her back. Their mouths crashed together in a searing kiss, a level of passion behind it that had become all but foreign to Elissa. But it ended, all too soon. Their foreheads pressed together as they regained more normal breathing patterns. Cullen pushed a few loose strands of hair behind her ear, then rested his hand on her cheek.
"Maker, Elissa, I beg you to stay safe. If not for yourself, but for me."
She swallowed a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. "I make no promises, but I will do my damnedest." A slight smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. "At least you know I can't be tainted by the darkspawn."
"That's not funny," he growled.
"It is a little funny."
They untangled themselves as Elissa stepped away, picking up her shield again to sling it over her back. Next came the quiver that went around her hip and a bow that she slung over one shoulder. She touched her mouth with one hand, a lingering tingle to her lips as she glanced one more time to Cullen over her shoulder. Maker. Their first, and possibly last, kiss. It almost made taking on this task bearable.