The sun had risen over Skyhold, announcing a wonderful, warm day to come. The Inquisition's endeavours were successful, their numbers increasing and their military strength growing as much as their influence. The Inquisitor and his friends had recently returned from a journey and were currently resting, recovering from minor injuries and enjoying a few days of peace and quiet before duty would claim them again. The atmosphere in the fortress was relaxed and hopeful, their recent successes and the shrinking numbers of rifts putting the minds of the people at ease. While there was yet much to be done and many dangers to be faced, this day was as quiet as it could be all things considered.
The Inquisitor was currently playing a game of chess with his Commander, trying to finally get the upper hand. He needed to beat the other man at least once, his reputation was at stake after all. Maxwell Trevelyan never lost at anything. "Check mate," Cullen said, less than two dozen moves into their game. He suppressed a self-satisfied smirk, knowing it would only enrage the other man further. The Inquisitor was a lousy loser. The Commander enjoyed beating him almost as much as his cheating friends, the Tevinter mage and the Spymaster.
Maxwell's steel-blue eyes stared at the board as if he could intimidate the pieces to change their position. While his glare worked on most people – even Cullen was occasionally a little daunted – the chess figures ignored his glare. Finally Maxwell grunted in acknowledgement, and Cullen knew this was all the congratulations he would get from the other man. "Care for another game?" he asked the young noble. Maxwell's eyes found Cullen's. Words were not needed, the glare alone told the Commander exactly what the Inquisitor thought of his suggestion and where exactly he could shove his chessboard. Cullen tried to cover his smirk with a fake cough. Winding the other man up was, while not exactly a smart thing to do, simply too easy.
Maxwell's eyes narrowed dangerously for a moment. Then he sighed, rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands and got up. "I've wasted enough time. This isn't over, Commander!" Cullen's lips twisted in his half-smirk. "Of course, Inquisitor." Maxwell got up, glaring at the chessboard unhappily, and was just about to leave when a soldier came running. Cullen immediately jumped to his feet when the man handed an envelope to Maxwell. "Sir, this letter arrived minutes ago. Apparently the messenger was delayed by an avalanche. The message should have reached you a week ago." Maxwell took the envelope and dismissed the soldier, nodding at Cullen. The Commander relaxed and sat back down while the Inquisitor opened the letter.
His eyes widened with every line he read. A few seconds after he started reading his face had paled considerably and Cullen was increasingly worried. "Inquisitor?" He inquired. "What is wrong?" Maxwell stared at Cullen as if he had never seen the man before. After a few moments he remembered where he was and shook his head. "Andraste's ass..." he mumbled and turned to leave. Cullen, even more bewildered and not sure what to do, called out after the other man before falling into step behind him. "Maxwell, what is going on?" He did not often use the other man's name, but at least this time he got a reaction. "I'm getting a visitor" was all he said. His speed increased and he headed inside the hold, making straight for the Ambassador's chambers.
Cullen decided not to follow. This was obviously something personal. Maxwell was nobility after all, so it was technically only a matter of time before any relations of his or acquaintances of the family would show up, hoping to gain influence through their connection to the Inquisitor. While Maxwell's behaviour unsettled the Commander greatly, he decided it was not his place to pry. Visitors were Josephine's responsibility, and he had more than enough work waiting for him already.
Thus he returned to his duties, trying not to think of the Inquisitor's strange reaction. Whoever this mysterious guest was, Maxwell had clearly not expected him.
Less than an hour after he had retreated to his office, an unexpected visitor graced Cullen with her presence. "Forgive my intrusion, I hope I am not disturbing you," the Lady Ambassador spoke. Cullen looked up from his papers in surprise. "Of course not, Lady Montilyet." He raised an eyebrow in question. The ambassador normally never sought him out personally. "How can I help you?" Josephine closed the door behind her to grant them a moment of privacy. Cullen suppressed a sudden feeling of dread, wondering for the second time that day what exactly what was going on. "As you might have heard, we are expecting a very high profile visitor very soon" she said. Cullen nodded. "I heard a visitor was announced to the Inquisitor, but I do not know the details" he admitted. Josephine nodded. "Maybe it is for the better at the moment. The Inquisitor, he is... agitated at the prospect of this visit. We need to handle this situation with the utmost discretion. Security is an issue. This visitor must be kept safe at all times and under all circumstances." Cullen frowned. "Of course," he replied, "but may I ask who exactly it is we are expecting, and for how long this mysterious guest will stay at Skyhold?" Josephine sighed. "It appears our visitor will stay permanently" she admitted. Cullen did not miss how the ambassador avoided he first part of his question, but he presumed there was good reason for her cautiousness.
"So I am to provide security for a stranger" he concluded. Josephine nodded. "Your soldiers as well as sister Leliana's spies will keep an eye on our guest." Cullen rested his hand on the pommel of his sword. "Is this mysterious visitor in any form of danger? If this person's coming to Skyhold poses a threat, I need to know." "There will only be any risk if the identity of this visitor becomes public knowledge" Josephine replied. "Secrecy is of the utmost importance here." Cullen sighed. "So you cannot even tell me who it is I am to protect?" He was annoyed. Obviously Josephine knew of the guest's identity, and he presumed so did Leliana. Was he the only advisor to be left in the dark? Did they not trust him? "The Inquisitor would prefer to explain the situation himself. Actually he asked for you to be there to welcome his visitor at their arrival. You and no one else."
Cullen sighed. "I don't like this, but I suppose I must do as his Worship asks." Relief washed over Josephine's face, and Cullen immediately felt a little lighter himself. He knew it was not her choice to keep him guessing. They were both only fulfilling their duties, and he would protect whoever was in need of his protection. "Thank you Commander," the ambassador said. "We expect the carriage to arrive some times tonight. I will send for you as soon as we know more." Cullen paced slowly in front of his desk. "At night? So we are basically smuggling a stranger into the keep?" Josephine smiled apologetic. "Something like that, yes. But don't worry, the visitor as such does not pose any threat." Cullen shook his head. All this secrecy made his head spin. "I am sorry Commander. All will make sense to you in a few hours." Josephine curtsied and left his office.
Cullen sat down and rubbed his temples. He didn't need withdrawals to cause him a headache. Oh no, his colleagues did a fine job themselves.
Cullen kept himself busy throughout the day, not expecting to get any sleep that night. Resting was hard enough as it was, but the thought of the strange visitor kept him agitated. He could not stop wondering who this person might be. Sadly he knew very little about Maxwell's family, apart from the obvious. They were nobility from Ostwick, he had several siblings and probably countless cousins, all eager to claim a part of his influence. This visitor could be anyone. But why the secrecy? Josephine said the stranger was no immediate threat, but was in need of their protection regardless. It made no sense to him.
Pushing these thoughts aside, Cullen tried to focus on his duties. He spent the late hours of the evening writing reports and candlelight, avoiding his troublesome thoughts. It was shortly past midnight when a messenger knocked at his door. "Commander, the Lady Ambassador requires your presence in the courtyard" the young woman said. Cullen nodded, said his thanks and then dismissed her. He made sure he was properly armed – just in case – before he made his way downstairs. His heart was beating fast and his body was tense as if he expected battle.
A small carriage stood in the dimly lit courtyard, two beautiful horses harnessed in front of it. A few figures were moving about, one of them obviously the Inquisitor. He paced impatiently in front of the horses, apparently awaiting Cullen's arrival. When he spotted his Commander, Maxwell sighed and the tension seemed to leave his body. "Thank the Maker you are here" he whispered. "Inquisitor, what in the Void is going on?" Maxwell pus his hand on Cullen's shoulder and shushed him. "Quiet, don't wake her up. She's had a hard journey." Cullen blinked in surprise. "She?" he said quietly, heeding the Inquisitor's words. Maxwell waved him over and slowly opened the door of the carriage. He had one of the guards hand him a torch and illuminated the inside of the cart. When Cullen finally looked inside, he could barely believe what he saw.
Curled up into a tiny little ball, covered in blankets and furs, slept a small girl of maybe seven or eight years, black curls sprawled messily around her pale, round face. He looked at the child, back at Maxwell, and at the child again. The similarity was uncanny.
"Cullen, my daughter, Elena."