I quietly pull on my tunic and sit on the side of the bed. Sighing, I look back smiling as a nude Cullen sleeps soundly beside me. I turn away and pulls on my boots, taking care to be as quiet as possible. As I'm about to stand and quietly sneak away, I feel him move and mutter in his sleep. My brows knit together as I turn to face him.

"No…Leave me!" He mutters, his breath ragged as he swipes at the air. "Leave me!" He swipes at the air once more and I gently place my hand on his chest. With a gasp, his eyes fly open and he looks around, breathing heavily. His eyes find Emma who looks down at him, my eyes filled with worry. Realizing it was just a dream, he lets out a few breathes as he lies his head back on the pillow and closes his eyes.

"Bad dream?" I ask.

He opens his eyes to look up at the early morning light shining through the crumbling architecture of his tower. "They always are." He frowns. "I can never escape them." He glances sideways at me. Seeing my concerned expression, he props himself on his elbow. "I didn't mean to worry you." He says, reaching up to cup my cheek. His gentle brown gaze meets my gaze eyes as I mimic his gesture and touch his cheek, sliding my thumb over his stubbled cheek.

"Despite the dreams, is it still a good morning?" I ask.

He chuckles. "It's perfect." I lean forward and rests my forehead against his. Cullen closes his eyes as he inhales my scent. "You are…." He whispers but sighs, feeling a loss of words. "I have never felt anything like this…"

"I love you." I whisper, pulling away to look in his eyes. "You know that, right?"

Cullen returns my smile. "I love you too." He pulls me into a kiss as he starts to unbutton my top button before I pull away laughing.

"Hey now." I grin. "That's what got us in trouble last time."

"Yes, but if there's anything I've learned about you during our time together, you like trouble." He smirks.

"True, especially if it involves you." I chuckle, giving him simple peck on the lips. "However, as much as I would love to spend the day away in this bed with you, we have a cause to fight."

Hearing this, Cullen sighs and leans back on the bed. "Leliana has already sent out some scouts in the Frostback mountains to let us know of the Jaws of Hakkon's movements. So far I's had no word on our missing soldiers."

Cullen frowns. "I still can't see why of all people; we're sending you into danger." He mutters, glancing at me. "You're the Inquisitor and the figurehead of our cause. Sending you into an area that even trained soldiers have gone missing is foolish." He closes his eyes, grimacing. "What's even worse is they're not allowing me to accompany you."

I offer him a smile. "It's only because you are our commander and we need you here at Skyhold to command our armies. Besides, it's not like I'm going alone. I'll be accompanied by scout Harding and an entire squadron including my own team. I'll be fine. I've faced far worse than any renegade Avvar can inflict." Raises my head to look up at the ivy on the wall. "A research in Frostback basin said he's found the location of the last Inquisitor. Hopefully we can find more on them and how they dealt with this sort of thing and maybe will bring us closer to ending this war."

Cullen opens his eyes and sits up. "That would be nice."

Emma turns to him and smiles as I pull his face close to mine. "I will send a raven to you first thing when we get to our base camp so you know I am safe." I whisper.

"I will miss you." He whispers back.

"And I, you." I give him one last kiss and rise from his bed. I walk over to the ladder that leads from his personal quarters to his office and begins to climb down, pausing just for a moment to look at him once more. "I will return as soon as I can. If lucky, it will be soon."

And with that, I was gone from Cullen's sight. Lying back on his bed, he closes his eyes. "Maker protect you." He mutters.