Inquisitor Skye Trevelyan's past was a mystery and was previously thought irrelevant by most people. Until events conspired to drag her into the center of an explosion that crippled the world and forced her to become the leader of a group of defenders that fought for a world on the brink of destruction. But before she was the defeater of Gods, before she was hero of Orlais, before she was the savior of the mages. She was simply Skye, a mage living her life in the Ostwick Circle of Magi.
In the weeks that followed the defeat of Corypheus Skyhold had been full to the brim with what seemed like every noble in southern Thedas and hundreds of pilgrims who traveled thousands of miles just to catch a glimpse of the woman who saved all their lives. Cullen and Skye had barely had a moment to themselves since the celebration after the defeat. Cullen was always busy training the seemingly endless queue of new recruits that wished to join the Inquisitions forces. Although Cullen was glad that these men and women wanted to join he couldn't help but think why the hell they couldn't have joined when they actually had battles to fight. Cullen seemed to spend the rest of his time organizing patrol schedules across Thedas. It was tedious work but it was work that needed to be done in this time of peace. Skye however was convinced that her hand was going to fall off if she had to shake anymore noble's hands. She was also sure that she was going to have permanent lipstick stains on her cheeks from all the people who insisted on kissing her the moment they met and when they eventually left, even though they were complete strangers. Most days the only time they ever saw each other was when they both retired to the Inquisitor's quarters where they both promptly fell into bed exhausted and slept deeply until the morning came and the whole cycle began again.
As more weeks passed Skyholds visitors lessened and lessened until finally what felt like the whole population of southern Thedas had visited Skyhold to come and pay their respects to their saviour. After the last of the nobles and ambassadors had left Skye felt like she could finally breath for the first time since the Conclave. However, she felt an entirely new weight descended on her shoulders, one that she could finally address now that the world was finally at peace, even if the moment was probably fleeting. Skye stood on the steps leading up the Skyhold's main hall and gazed at the courtyard below where Cullen was preparing to send off his latest batch of recruits.
"Men, you are now soldiers of the Inquisition. This land is ours, thanks to the will of the blessed Herald of Andraste. This land is ours to protect. The Inquisitor has faith in all of you, make her proud." Cullen said to the troops.
The squadron of soldiers saluted their commander before marching out the gates of Skyhold and descended down the Frostback Mountains. Cullen had turned to one of his officers and was discussing some reports. Skye was about to walk down to the courtyard and call over to him that they needed to talk when Josephine came running down the steps from the main hall.
"Inquisitor, Inquisitor! A disaster! It's a disaster." Josephine panted waving about two pieces of paper.
"Josephine calm down, what's wrong?" Skye said remaining calm as what Josephine considered a disaster, the rest of the world would probably consider a minor inconvenience.
"Oh it's a disaster. The DesRosiers and the Thibaults are both throwing Soirées on the same day and you have been invited to both! To attend one but not the other would be a grave insult to the other party. But to attend neither would be a great scandal within the political social circle. We have taken great pains to make sure the nobles of Orlais know that the Inquisitor is a great player of the Grand Game, but this one disaster could ruin everything. And you can't possibly attend both as the DesRosiers are holding theirs at their town house in Val Royeaux whereas the Thibaults are holding theirs at their Chateau in Montsimmard. How could this predicament have been allowed to happen?" Josephine cried, still frantically reading between the two invitations.
"Calm down Josephine. Write back to both of them expressing my deepest apologies that I won't be able to attend due an important mission that will call me away for a few weeks but I will be sending an ambassador to represent the Inquisition's interests." Skye replied calmly, quickly glancing back down to the courtyard to see that Cullen had disappeared.
"An excellent compromise inquisitor, I shall reply to these invites immediately." Josephine turned back around and ascended a few steps before halting and spinning back around to the inquisitor.
"What important mission?" Josephine asked confused. Skye however didn't hear Josephine's question as she saw Cullen emerge from one of the guard towers, dictating orders to another one of his officers.
"Inquisitor?" Josephine said, trying to get Skye's attention.
"Josephine can you do me a favor and ask Cullen to meet me in our quarters at his earliest convenience." Skye finally replied. Josephine looked down to the courtyard and saw that Cullen was heading towards them anyway.
"But inquisitor, why don't you just ask him yourself?" Josephine turned back to the inquisitor only to see that she had vanished. Quickly spinning round Josephine saw the Inquisitor's figure disappearing into the main hall.
"Skye!" Josephine called out, but she was already to far gone to hear. Josephine stood their confused for a few minutes until Cullen ascended the steps and greeted her.
"Josephine are you okay? You look like Empress Celene has just written to asking your opinion on not wearing masks at her next grand ball." Cullen chuckled at his own joke but soon stopped when Josephine made no response.
"Josephine what's wrong?" Cullen asked, starting to worry.
"Do you know anything about this important mission that the Inquisitor is going on that will take her away for a few weeks." Josephine asked, turning to the commander.
"What?! What mission?" Cullen demanded.
"I don't know, that's why I'm asking you. But I'm guessing from your reaction this is news to you too." Josephine mumbled afraid that she may have caused a problem in Skye and Cullen's relationship.
Cullen didn't even register what Josephine had replied, his head was reeling. Was Skye really going to disappear without consulting him? Not that she needed his permission or anything, but he was commander of her forces. He would have assumed that she would have at least told him about any mission she intended on going on. There was also the fact that they were in a relationship. Whilst they tried their best not to let it effect their roles in the inquisition, if she was planning on disappearing for a few weeks he would expect to be told, he didn't think that was too out of order. Panic suddenly started to settle in, was she leaving him? He knew he hadn't been that attentive to her recently but they both had been really busy and he thought that she felt just as exhausted as he did every night, but maybe she wasn't? Maybe he had just been oblivious to her needs.
"Cullen…Cullen, the inquisitor just asked me to ask you to go and meet her in your quarters at your earliest convenience. She probably wants to talk about this mission with you." Josephine reassured seeing the panic on the commanders face. Cullen visibly signed in relief as some of the fear left his mind but this mystery mission still worried him.
"Excuse me Josephine." Cullen said before walking as fast as he could without running into the main hall. Cullen rushed through the crowds of people that always seemed to fill up Skyhold's main hall, ignoring anyone who tried to get his attention. He quickly unlocked the door that led up to the private quarters and rushed through it running up the flights of stairs to the top floor. When he arrived at the door to their room he took a moment to catch his breath and compose himself but as he reached for the door handle his hand froze. What if she did want to end their relationship? He thought he was doing everything a lover was supposed to do, admittedly he didn't have that much experience with relationships but she hadn't told him that he was doing anything wrong. But maybe she was just trying to spare his feelings, but now she couldn't deal with his inadequacies any longer. She was the love of his life, how was he supposed to remain in the Inquisition if they were no longer together. To see her everyday but not be with her would be absolute torture. More and more fears flew through Cullens mind, each more depressing than the last. He felt the familiar craving for lyrium start to keep into his mind, to bring a blessed numbness to his thoughts. However, that thought managed to kick Cullen out of his depression, Skye had put her faith and trust in him that he could live without lyrium and he could not bare to let her down, even if she no longer wished to be in a relationship with him. Steeling his resolve Cullen finally managed to force himself to grab the handle. Walking through the door and up the stairs, Cullen immediately spotted Skye pacing the length of the room, completely oblivious to his presence. She looked anxious and Cullen contemplated giving her a bit more time alone but then remembered his previous fears of neglecting her and immediately made his presence known by clearing his throat. Skye immediately spun around a look of panic on her face which relaxed but only a bit when she saw who it was, this immediately but Cullen on edge.
"Oh Cullen I'm sorry, I didn't notice you." Skye apologized awkwardly.
"Yeah I noticed." Cullen said, not being able to think of anything better to say. Silence descended between them. Cullen was scared of what was happening, it had never been like this between them. For him their relationship had always felt natural and right. Just this morning Cullen had woken up first and had gently kissed the back of her neck until she woke up because he knew how much she liked to be woken up by his kisses, she had then turned around in his arms and pulled him close announcing that it was her divine will that they not leave their bed for the day. Unfortunately Josephine had knocked on the door not long after saying that Skye's presence was required for the departure of Lord and Lady Deveraux. But at that moment Skye looked scared and he didn't understand what had changed between them.
"Josephine said you wanted to see me." Cullen eventually said.
"Oh…yes I did." Skye finished, silence again falling between them.
"I can come back later if…" Cullen trailed off unsure what to say next.
"No, now's as good a time as any." Skye said walking over to sit on the edge of the bed. Cullen walked more into the center of the room, but refrained from joining her on the bed unsure if it was appropriate and then got annoyed at himself for such a thought, it was their bed, they had been sharing it for weeks. Skye had even threatened to have his old bed above his office burned if he didn't move into their quarters, as she insisted on calling them. But then Skye suddenly shot up from the bed and walked towards him and opened her mouth to speak. But then immediately closed it and turned around and sat back down on the bed.
"Skye, what's going on?" Cullen said getting worried at his lover's strange behavior. Throwing caution to the wind he walked forward and kneeled in front of her, grabbing hold of her hands and stroking them with his thumbs.
"Why is this so hard to tell you?" Skye said looking down at their hands and lacing her fingers through his.
"You can tell me anything, you know that. I love you Skye and nothing will ever change that." Cullen said desperate to make sure Skye knew just how much he loved her. They remained silent for a while before Skye finally looked up from their hands and looked into Cullen's eyes.
"I love you so much Cullen, please don't forget that. What I have to say will never change that."
"Skye, please just say it. The suspense is killing me."
"I need your help." Not what Cullen thought she was going to say, he pressed her to continue by giving her hands a squeeze.
"I need…" Tears began to form in the corner of her eyes, and she blinked rapidly to keep them from falling.
"I need you to help me find my daughter." That definitely wasn't what Cullen thought she was going to say.