This story puts a focus on the romance between the Inquisitor and Cullen after Corypheus has been slain.
I just started writing this piece up, chapters will follow although I have no idea where I will end with this story. I apologize for any grammar or spelling mistakes; bear with me, my first language isn't english. I just decided to share this piece because a friend told me just put it on . (I usually write and leave my writing forgotten on my hard drive) It's also rated M because again, I have no idea where this story might end. Anyway, enjoy and if you want, please review! (Please constructive criticism, I'm only a human)
Cullen Rutherford took a sip from his goblet of wine and smiled politely at his conversation partner, an Orlesian noble who just wouldn't shut up. Cullen didn't have the patience for nobility and was certainly not good at making chit-chat.
This party was for the Inquisition, or better said the Inquisitor. Corypheus was slain and she was a hero. Everyone had become friends with the human rogue who led them to victory, even him. Now that Corypheus was dead, everybody loved her.
The Inquisitor in question was, however, not present at the party. Josephine must've dragged her away for more instructions on this ball because he hadn't seen her all night.
"So what are your plans now, Commander?" the Orlesian nobleman interrupted his thoughts. "Are you staying with the Inquisition or are you finally going to retire?"
Cullen nearly laughed. Retire? He was thirty-three years old for Maker's sake. "No, I'll be staying here at Skyhold. Corypheus is gone but peace to Thedas still needs to be... be... ." His eyes had travelled past the nobleman where he saw the Inquisitor, Oriane, appear. Cullen swallowed when he saw her. It was almost a different woman standing there and he wasn't sure he liked what her appearance was doing with him.
She didn't have her usual Inquisitor attire on, no, Josephine had put her in a cream coloured dress with golden and black accents, making her skin glow. Her dark brown hair, usually in a bun, was let down and much longer than anyone could've guessed. It cascaded down her back and some strands were braided around her head like a crown.
".. er.. restored... ." Cullen finished a lot more quiet than before.
"Ah! There she finally is! The belle of the ball! You must excuse me, Commander, I need to speak a word with our Inquisitor." the Orlesian noble spoke before making his way towards Oriane.
Cullen wasn't able to react properly in time. His amber eyes were still fixed on Oriane who moved through the crowd with grace like a princess, shaking hands, smiling. A lock of hair fell in front of her as she bowed down a bit to shake hands with a dwarf and it made him itch to push it behind her ear. He hadn't ever thought of Oriane as a woman, she simply had been the Inquisitor, a colleague. He could certainly see a woman now though. While her Inquisitor suit covered her up entirely, this dress showed a slight bit of cleavage as the dress was cut in a square collar, the flowing skirt showing her thin waist and curves.
Cullen drank his wine ad fundum and turned over, forcing himself to look away from her. He felt a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach. He looked at the goblet. Maybe he had too much to drink?
He put down his goblet and went to stand closer to the entrance so he could catch some fresh air. Josephine had been so smart as to warn the guards to keep the doors open. He thankfully closed his eyes as the night breeze caressed his cheeks.
"Good evening, Cullen." her melodic voice sounded not too long after. He knew she would come and talk to him at some point. She was the only one who could handle Cole's mysterious behaviour, Dorian's cheery attitude, Sera's bad mouth, Vivienne's aristocracy, Iron Bull's happy drinking parties, Varric's teasing, Cassandra's mood and Blackwall's calm nature. She was even on good terms with the stoic Solas, the 'nutty professor' and 'Chuckles' as Varric called him behind his back.
He had no choice but to face her which he did. "Inquisitor." he greeted and gave her his usual slight bow. She looked amazing up close. Her green eyes were thinly rimmed with black kohl, making the green in her eyes stand out even more. He also noticed a small trace of a light coloured lipstick on her lips.
She saw him stare and smiled. "Josephine and her wonderful ideas. I'm no fan of make-up and I haven't worn a dress since I was a little girl."
"Uhm.. you look alright." Cullen confirmed and felt like an idiot. She looked amazing.
"Thank you." Oriane replied amused. "Are you enjoying the feast?" she grinned this time at him. She knew how uncomfortable he felt at these occasions.
He did smile this time. "I am. No worries."
Oriane took a sip from her own goblet and he couldn't help but stare at her lips.
"What are your plans now? Also leaving Skyhold?" She asked him which made him suspect that was the subject she had handled with the others.
"If my help is required, I will stay. I believe you have much work to do with restoring the world now that Corypheus is gone." Cullen crossed his arms, something he did a lot when being in a conversation.
"I'll certainly need your help." Oriane smiled. "Just in case we need the troops, I need a commander to steer those troops. And I would miss your advice."
Cullen laughed. "My advice? You have taken your own advice, Inquisitor and good thing you did." He smiled at her. "You led us to victory."
"Come now, Cullen." Oriane waved away his compliment. "We all did this and another thing.. I've wanted to throw this into your face since.. very long." she looked mischievously at him. "What is your problem with first names? You know my name yet you refuse to use it. Makes me feel like a thing more than a person." She chuckled.
He blushed furiously. It was true, he never called her by her name. He had a lot of respect for her and in a way he saw her as their general and his superior.
"You're my superior, it requires for me to use your title." Cullen tried to explain.
Oriane cocked her head a bit. "You wound me, Cullen." she then smiled radiantly again much to his relief. "Can you at least try to call me by my name when we're alone?"
Again he tried to fight the blush rising to his cheeks. She planned on being alone with him?
He balled his fists to regain some control. Whatever he was feeling, it was ridiculous and one-sided. He needed to stop this and lose this crush or whatever it was immediately.
Yet, when he looked into those questioning green eyes, he couldn't deny her. "Alright, Oriane."
This time she granted him the most amazing smile ever. A smile where her upper teeth were half visible, sparkling white and he had to grab his neck in discomfort for he felt his stomach do a rollercoaster in his body.
"Well, I hope you enjoy the rest of the evening." Oriane smiled. "You were my last conversation partner for the night, I can hopefully now retreat... ."
At that moment, musicians began to play and some people started dancing.
"Oh Maker, you better run now before they will come ask you to dance. You'll never reach your chambers before the very late hours." Cullen warned her chuckling as he saw a man come closer to ask her.
"Oh no, Commander. If I'm staying, you're staying." Oriane answered with a glint in her eyes.
The man indeed came to ask her to dance.
Cullen moved to give them space but Oriane moved her arm through his. "I'm sorry my lord, but the commander was first to ask me to dance." she cheekily answered, pulling along a very astounded Cullen.
"Are you out of your mind, I don't dance!" Cullen spoke lowly to her as she pulled him towards the waltzing crowd.
"Now you do." Oriane smiled. "With me. One dance and we can both sneak away. C'mon, be my partner in crime, would you?"
He couldn't resist her puppy eyes as she came to stand in front of him, doing a reverence.
Cullen swallowed before giving in and bowing. He then closed the gap between them, taking her hand in his, while his other snaked around her thin waist.
Oriane took a hold of her dress and Cullen made the first steps. Luckily it was just an Orlesian waltz, he could still handle that. They moved together gracefully even though he was not a skilled dancer. It definitely wasn't easy to dance with his armour and Oriane noticed. "You shouldn't have worn your armour." she smiled at him as they twirled around the other dancing pairs.
"Why don't you dance, Cullen?" Oriane asked him as they moved.
"There wasn't time to attend balls, templars don't attend balls." he responded. "And I get dizzy very easily. Dancing isn't very practical, at least not to me."
Oriane laughed heartily. "That's because you're doing it wrong."
Cullen smiled at her laugh. She looked adorable when she laughed.
" During dancing you're supposed to look into each other's eyes." she began, catching his eyes. "And when you look into each other's eyes, you don't see the room twirling around you. You only see your dance partner and you won't feel dizzy." she spoke lowly so others didn't hear her.
They had almost stopped dancing at this point, just looking at each other.
The magic broke when a couple bumped into her, sending her straight into his arms.
Cullen broke her fall, catching her waist in reflex.
"Are you alright?" he asked her.
"Well, I'd certainly imagined myself falling for someone in a different way." she answered dryly before stepping back and chuckling. "I think it's time for me to retreat to my chambers and rest. My back still hurts and that mean scratch on my shoulder still itches. I can't possible scratch it every five seconds without gaining a strange look from the nobles.
Cullen chuckled. "You might be right."
He then bowed respectfully. "Have a good night, Oriane."
Oriane smiled and made a reverence as well. "Thank you for your company and the dance, Commander Cullen."
She teased him, he knew she did. Now that he had to call her Oriane when they were alone, she would tease him endlessly by using his title while he had gotten so used to her calling him Cullen.
She disappeared into the mass and he suddenly had no idea what he should do at this party.
Yet, he felt better, lighter.
He missed her presence already.