Chapter 1

Dorian watched the commander as he planted some seeds in a pot. He spotted the inquisitor next to him instructing him how to handle the soil. Then he chuckled. Dorian felt a pang of jealousy as they laughed together.

Back in Redcliff, Dorian had been surprised that the Herald he had heard so much about was an elf. It surprised him even for when he found out she was a female elf. Back in Tevinter, Dorian's house kept elves as servants. The females always had the lowest jobs and were the lowest of the workers. So he was surprised to learn people actually liked her. He wondered if people knew who exactly she was as all he heard were stories. He wasn't even sure if his sorry tellers knew the truth.

She was a fierce warrior indeed, surviving the attack on Haven. No one expected her to come back. She surprised everyone when we spotted the commander carrying her over the mountain and his fur coat wrapped around her body keeping her warm.

The people all named her The Inquisitor and Dorian was proud of her. She was always kind to Dorian and invited him to join her party as they went out on missions. His necromancy skills had impressed her and came in handy when they ventured through caves and caverns. Dorian always seemed to find a dead corpse laying around somewhere for him to bring to life to aid their fight. Him and Solas were quite the pair of mages. Solas was advanced in the healing arts as well as the nature elements. He enjoyed his conversations with the elf. Lavellan would often find Dorian and Solas conversing about history and would have to break up several arguments between the two about what actually happened between the elves and Tevinter.

Another thing about Dorian was that he enjoyed the company of men. And he enjoyed the company of one man in particular, the commander. He had never actually spent time with the commander unless it was at the war table with the rest of the Inquisitor's party. Of course with Cullen being a former Templar, and Dorian being a Mage, they didn't always see eye to eye.

Dorian sighed and buried his face in the book he was reading. He sat at the table in the garden. He needed a new place to read other than his nook in the library surrounded by books. The garden table had a chess board set up. Dorian had hoped someone of intelligence would see it and see him sitting at the board waiting for an opponent. He was startled when he heard the other chair scrape against the floor. He looked up from his book and watched with wide eyes as Cullen took a seat across from him as if reading his mind about the chess game.

"Do you play?" Cullen asked.

Dorian closed his book.

"I do. Would you like to play?" Dorian asked.

"I'm a bit rusty but I would like to play," he said.

Dorian waved his hand over the chess board, inviting the commander to move first.

The game finished quickly and quietly with Dorian taking the win.

"Care for a rematch?" Dorian asked.

Cullen chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck, a motion he usually did when he was nervous or embarrassed. "Another time perhaps. I have some old reports I need to address. Thank you for the game," Cullen said.

"Anytime Commander," Dorian replied with a slight now of his head.

Cullen turned and headed off to his office. Dorian glanced down at the board. He had won, but he felt like the commander was holding out on him.

The next day Lavellan called her advisors and party to the war room. Solas had come to her with a requests and she called everyone together to plan their trip to The Exalted Plains. She decided to take Dorian and The Iron Bull with her and Solas. The meeting departed and Dorian headed for the door eager to pack for the trip when he heard his name called. He turned around and saw Cullen ushering him over.

"Commander, was there something you needed?" Dorian asked politely.

Cullen pulled a chess piece out of his pocket. "I was wondering if you had time for a game before your trip?"

Dorian smiled and took the piece that Cullen offered in his hand. "Of course."

Dorian was all to happy to join the commander in a game of chess. But he was most excited by the fact that Cullen had asked him to play. He had figured he would have to sit out there everyday to get the commander's attention again. He followed the commander to the garden, glancing down at the black king piece Cullen had given him.

Dorian's thoughts wandered to their time back in Haven.

He had returned to Haven with the Inquisitor after meeting her. He noticed the commander work tirelessly in the cold to train his troops and prepare battle plans. It was snowing the first day Dorian met Cullen.

"Aren't you freezing, Commander?" Dorian questioned, approaching Cullen at his planning table.

Cullen looked up from his battle plans and accepted the hot mug Dorian offered. "Thank you. After working for so long, the cold numbs you."

"Then that tea should warm you right up," Dorian commented with a smile.

Cullen's smile certainly warmed Dorian. He wondered if his smile had the same affect on the Commander.

"Dorian."

He looked up from his seat and realized Cullen had prepared their chess board and was regarding him with a hesitant expression.

"My apologies. My thoughts wandered," Dorian replied.

Cullen nodded and made his first move.

"I hope your trip to the Plains will be uneventful," Cullen began the conversation.

"I doubt it will be. Trouble seems to find our Inquisitor and I don't mind a good battle," Dorian said.

He noticed the sides of Cullen's mouth twitch up.

"Solas seemed worried," Cullen said.

"We're going to rescue his spirit friend who is more likely a demon by now if it had to seek him out for help. "

Cullen frowned at that. "You think it has already turned?" Cullen inquired.

"I studied magic in Tevinter. All mages have a connection to the fade and can communicate with both spirits and demons. But for a spirit to seek help from a Mage, I think it is already in danger."

Cullen simply nodded and moved his piece across the board.

Dorian watched his move and scowled. Was he deliberately trying to lose? Dorian wasn't sure what to make of it, so he moved, putting Cullen in another check mate.

"It seems I'm still a bit rusty," Cullen said with a smile.

Dorian's heart fluttered lightly in his chest. Why did the Commander have this effect on him? Cullen wasn't gay, Dorian could tell, but he noticed Cullen acted different around him. More relaxed. But he liked the Inquisitor didn't he?

"Dorian, I...would you care for a rematch when you return?"

"Anytime, Commander," Dorian replied, standing from his seat.

"Safe travels," Cullen gave a slight bow of his head as Dorian left. If blood hadn't rushed to his head and his ears weren't pounding, he would have heard the soft 'be safe', whispered by the commander.