A/N: Okay so, it's very late in the evening and I literally wrote this whole thing in one sitting! Only thing is I haven't read through it yet to change mistakes, purely because right now I just don't want too. But, nevertheless, I am uploading the chapter but will replace the chapter once edited! Sound good? Awesome!

So, this is a Cullen X Inquisitor tale, because well, Cullen makes me all giddy like a little schoolgirl. However, I am taking another spin at it! So, the Inquisitor won't be the variations we all know and love from the game, but completely different and with a completely different backstory! Though, she is still a Trevelyan.

Chapters for me are usually far and few between, this is because I'm currently in my final year of university! However, I graduate soon and thus will have more time to write deliciousness.

Remember to R&R!

Enjoy!

To Love a Thief

Chapter 1

Hunt the Thief

It seemed as though the winter in Haven would seize, many would complain about the snow and the icy patches. But, what did people expect from Haven's location in Frostback Mountains? People had reported finding light footprints in the snow on their rooftops, followed by food and loose coins mysteriously disappearing. However, with the Conclave in preparation a few hushed complaints about missing bread and other sustenance were merely glazed over and ignored. There were better things for the higher ups to worry about. That was until; hefty amounts of food, medicine, clothing and valuables were going missing from the Chantry itself over the span of two weeks did Leliana begin to take notice.

"It seems Haven has very talented vermin," Leliana chimed within the war room, with Cassandra Pentaghast, Cullen Rutherford and Josephine Montilyet. They were surrounded by thick stonewalls, they had to use iron torches mounted on the walls to light the room as the windows were minimal at best. There was a large table, with a map of Orlais and Fereldan, including the mountain range that kept the lands about, and from tearing out each other's throats.

"What do you mean?" queried Cullen; his hands relaxing upon his great sword as always, his red and fur cloak covered a majority of shiny breastplate. Sometimes, Leliana imaged Cullen using the great heap of furs on his shoulders as a pillow when others weren't looking. He had to rest his blonde head sometimes right?

"What I mean is, there is a thief here in Haven. Taking much needed supplies and has been for the last month. Was small at first, but now a lot has been taken," Leliana's gloved hands came together behind her back as she paced, her chainmail lightly clinking as she did so. How has she missed such a bold thief? She didn't miss anything. "Must be quite skilled to avert my eyes for so long. But now I know, I will see him clearly," she gazed out a small window, wondering if she would catch a glimpse of the infamous being. But alas, she did not.

"Why would anyone want to steal from us? We offer sanctuary, they have no need," Josephine puzzled, glancing down at her board before back at Leliana. Her old friend seemed quite troubled with this. Leliana was probably questioning her own abilities no doubt.

"Either way, the nuisance must be taken care of," Cullen put forward, with a shake of his fist. The dishonour and the audacity of this person, stealing from refugees, it made his blood boil. He couldn't wait till he got his hands on the fiend.

"Agreed, we shall wait till nightfall," spoke Cassandra, as she let against the table to plan with her associates.

Several hours later the sun had set and now the moon was high in the sky, the stars glistened like the reflection on the frozen lake just outside the walls. There were very few clouds but they still threatened a coming storm. The overall appearance of Haven this night seemed no different than normal, there was still the night watchmen by the fires and the occasional straggler wondering the premises but nothing out of the ordinary. At least, that is how they had planned it. Leliana and her scouts Thwere in and around Haven, hidden well and one with the darkness. Cullen waited within the kitchen and Cassandra was with the alchemist who had all the medicines. With every shadow that twitched in the night, they saw, fully prepared to strike an unknowing thief.

But known came. They had been awake all night and nothing. Maybe the thief had spotted someone that wasn't usually there? Or perhaps been tipped off about the plan. Either way, they had to find the culprit soon before the supplies dwindled so much that someone will lose their life, and if that does happen, this thief would be held accountable for their death as a murder.

A couple days later, neither had gotten much sleep as they all felt the need to find this crafty evil with the quick fingers. Cullen especially had not rested easy, not that he did much regardless, but this time everyone could tell. He bore dark circles under his eyes ad his usual straight-backed posture was slightly hunched. As if his armour weighed five times as much. Cullen was by the lake, watching over the sparring of the few soldiers they had here. Though he stood a little further away than usual, maybe it was because in his sleep depravity he hadn't noticed or he just didn't care. He did know one thing though; he didn't want his soldiers seeing him in this weakened state. Which is why he was an easy, yet still a thrilling target. The sun was setting, leaving a dark orange hue across the land to be accompanied with long, dense shadows.

He called out to his soldiers, informing them that this was enough training for today. "Aye sir!" they saluted before going about their evening duties. Some headed towards the gates just as Cullen did, while some stayed by the tents. In the small crowd a passer-by, heading out bumped into him. Which wasn't difficult due to the others around. The person was small, little over five foot, maybe five-one? Five-two? He guessed, slender and petite despite the cloak, probably female. The woman apologised to him before going on her way, away from Haven. He looked back to her, giving a forgiving reaction. Without another thought he returned on his path to his home, but he let his hands fall to his sides and as his forearm grazed his belt he discovered that something was missing. His coin purse! He swung back around, scanning the grounds for the cloaked woman and he spotted her nearing the trees. "Hey! Stop!" He called to her, he ran in her direction, this is it! This is the thief!

The petite woman glanced over her shoulder, her face mostly covered by a dark woollen scarf that matched her green cloak that was so dark it was almost black. She dashed, sprinting faster than he possibly could in all his armour. "Stop her! That's the thief!" He ordered his soldiers who jumped in right after their Commander. Cullen and a team of soldiers ran through the woods after the woman, who impressive dodged every tree, root and rock that threatened her to trip. But, the log wall was coming up fast and she would have nowhere to go. They had her in their sights. But she did something they did not expect – instead of freezing at the wall from a wounded animal, she jumped onto the wall and kicked herself off it, using the momentum to get her up a nearby tree. She climbed the branches and she would easily get over the wall now. But first, one soldier pulled out his bow and arrow and shot her as she leapt over the giant wooden spikes, they heard a thud and a groan of pain as she hit the ground on the other side. "Gaaah Maker! Curse it all!" Cullen punched the tree to his right; he felt the pain of the hit go up his arm and into his shoulder. Not the best of moves. Now, his hand ached, a lot, it was possible that a couple fingers may be broken but he wasn't going to let his comrades see his pain.

"Why did you shoot her? We wanted the thief alive!" he approached the shooter, who cowered a little under Cullen's exhausted yet enraged stare.

"I didn't mean it to kill her! Just to…wound her, sir. If she is still moving sir, we may be able to follow a blood trail, since she seems so light on her feet…sir," the poor soldier stammered, clutching his bow close to his chest.

"I guess you have a point, run back to Leliana, inform her of what has transpired here. We will get started on finding the tracks," Cullen sighed, as the soldier raced off quicker than he should've following a quick, hasty salute. "This way men," Cullen led the way, they would have to go all the way around the wall and pick up the trail, and soon.

It didn't take long for them to find it, but by that point the sun had completely gone down leaving them in the dark. The soldiers built fire pits at the start of the trail as they waited for Leliana and Cassandra with a couple of Leliana's agents who carried supplies, including several torches and lanterns they gave to Cullen and the other soldiers for them to light and carry. Soon they were on the trail. It seemed as though the woman was bleeding quite a bit at first but then it had lessened but her footsteps got sloppy and dragged. Cullen could tell that wherever her wound, it would kill her if not seen too quickly.

It took two days for the group to find the place, they stopped and gazed at a small stone castle that was in some disrepair and left to ruin by a noble family long passed. The group stopped at the treeline, watching the building. "This must be her hideout, careful, there could be traps," Leliana was the first to speak and leave the treeline. She treaded carefully across the snow-clad grass, hands slightly raised, ready to grab her bow or her blades or as a sign of peace, Cullen hadn't decided.

Cullen and Cassandra mirrored Leliana, who was then followed by the rest of the soldiers and agents that accompanied them. The trio were almost at the large wooden door that was clasped in dark iron, when suddenly a bolt flew through the air and landed into the ground before them. "Stop! Don't come any closer!" came a voice of a young boy, who couldn't be any older than ten, he was peering through one of the several slit windows in the structure, making him barely visible. He held a crossbow, but gave it to someone unseen behind him, who gave him another, but loaded crossbow. "You are not welcome here! I'll…I'll kill you all!" he faltered, not entirely confident in his ability to go through with this word.

"We all know you won't do such a thing!" Cullen called to him, hands raised higher, away from his sword. He looked to the others motioning them to the same, "the boy is clearly frightened, let's not give him a reason to shoot us," he said in a more hushed tone. The other two complied, albeit a bit begrudgingly on Cassandra's side.

"You don't know me! I'll do it!" he continued, though his manner never changed.

Suddenly, the bolt of the door clicked and the door opened to the surprise of the boy. Out stepped an even younger girl, "are you here to help us?" the girl had long dark hair that was braided, which she brought over her shoulder and fiddled with nervously. She wore nothing but a white, cotton nightgown and a orange fleece. She stepped out into the snow barefooted, her pale skin close to the snow itself, she was so small and fragile that Cullen just wanted her to go back inside before she caught her death in this cold.

The boy from the window had rushed down and scrambled before her, holding the crossbow at the strangers that dared come here. "What are you doing Lucille? They are the enemy! They'll take her away!" he sounded desperate, his grip on the crossbow shook. The boy had fairer hair that grew past his ears in waves, his face was a little dirty as was his cream blouse that was far too big for him and the brown leather trousers that were covered in scuff marks, grass stains and even had a couple of holes. His shoes were not great either, just made from bits of leather but it was still better than Lucille's complete lack of shoes.

Cullen slowly stepped forward, "Who? Who are we here to take?"

"Shut up! None of your business!" the boy cried.

Lucille grabbed his armed and pulled the crossbow down, "Stop! Damien Stop! She needs help! She will die!" The young girl must of only been about six years old, even that was pushing it. Her lip began to quiver as she starred up at her brotherly figure, whose eyes betrayed him. He lowered the crossbow completely; as if he had completely given up he wiped his eyes with the back of his arm. That was when Lucille stepped forward, "help her…please. She's dying…we don't want her to die…" Lucille continued to fiddle with her braid, looking up at the trio with wide glistening eyes and a trembling lip that broke hearts, how could they refuse her?

"We will help her, but first you must take us to her," Cullen had lowered himself to one knee; he spoke as he brushed a light tear on her cheek with his gloved finger. "Will you?" he asked gently, under the gaze of everyone around them. At first, Cullen thought maybe these two were the children of the thief, but when he looked at the boy again he saw more children of all ages and races huddled by the door, some had wrapped themselves in blankets to defeat the draft. What was this place? The little girl nodded and grabbed his finger; she led him towards the once abandoned castle.

Damien watched, suddenly fire had come back to him, "how do we know that we can trust you?"

"You don't…" Leliana retorted, as she and Cassandra followed Cullen inside, past all the other children that stood gawking at them. Leaving Damien to run in last, leaving the soldiers and agents to pitch up tents and fires outside.

Lucille led them deeper into the castle, it wasn't a great size, it was roughly the same size as the Chantry back in Haven, though the lay out was much different, giving the appearance that it was bigger. They finally stopped at a wooden door, Lucille gazed up at them, "you promise you won't take her from us? Promise…" her voice was so innocent, but there was something behind it and that of her eyes that told Cullen that the poor girl had seen more suffering in her short years than she should have. To the dismay of the two women with him, Cullen made such a promise, his heart felt to weak to go against such a young, little girl. She smiled than, showing irregular teeth that still needed to form properly, she grabbed hold of the iron ring on the door and pushed with her entire body to open the door. She hurried inside, to the bedside of a woman who lay there unconscious and in a feverish state. Her blankets and furs were only pulled up to her waist, leaving her torso uncovered. She no longer wore her cloak, or her leather bodice or well, anything at all besides the wrappings around her breast, revealing several scars, some faded and some still a faint pink. Her hair was between her jaw and shoulders, and of a dark brown, she had two tight braids on the left side going around the ear, from the temple to the base of the skull. Her hair stuck to her skin due to the sweat, her pretty face bore a pained expression though her eyes were closed. She had a long, protruding arrow in her side just above her hip. The children had wrapped the base in cloth and cleaned it few times but unfortunately, it would take more than that to save her. "Can you save her…please...?" Lucille begged the strangers, hoping that the maker had sent them to save her.

"I'll send for a healer," Leliana said, before quickly disappearing out the door, almost knocking Damien over in her haste.

Cullen and Cassandra went and stood on the opposite side of the bed to Lucille, "who is she?" asked Cassandra, moments before Cullen could.

"Her name is Joan," Damien spoke, standing by Lucille, "she and a few others protect us…look after us. Joan is the one that is around the most." Damien sat on the chair that was placed beside the bed, and he stared blindly at Joan and Lucille. The room was fairly well lit thanks to the two arrow slit windows, the roaring fireplace and a little whole in the wall where some bricks had been lost. The room wasn't very big, but the duo could tell it once belonged to nobility, thanks to the old dusty tapestry that hung on the walls, the furniture made from solid wood, even an Orlesian rug that had seen better days and the many stacks of old books used to hold lit candles.

"What is this place?" Cullen probed, genuinely captivated by what was transpiring.

"A place for the lost children…" Damien exhaled.