It had been years. So many years, and so many horrors had past through both of their lives. Now she was to see him again. Her armour glistening from the rain that pounded down around her, hair clinging to her face and the thunder shook the very mountain she trekked up.

She had imagined them meeting again in a more refined matter, where she maybe had washed before and was dry and comfortable. That was never her life though.

Not during the last 12 years anyway.

The fortress was rising up above her and her small party of Wardens. Her cousin was in the back whining like always, if it wasn't too hot it was to cold or rainy.

"I'm going to get a cold," she heard him mutter and she shot an irritated glance at him.

"I hope it takes your voice, Carver," she muttered "Stop whining, try to gather up some pride. We do not want the Inquisition to see us as whining idiots now do we?"

"No, ma'm" he muttered and she could see Nathaniel and Oghren snicker on the other side of her.

"You two, the same applies to you," she muttered and lengthened her step.

She was nervous, gripping her staff so hard that her knuckles grew white and tried to correct her hair to look less like a drowned rat. Would he remember her?

She hoped he would. It would be far too embarrassing if he didn't...

"Carver, what was your impression of Commander Cullen when you met him in Kirkwall?" she asked and the young Warden groaned.

It was the 47th time she had asked him that.

"He seemed stressed, angry and traumatized. His commander turned into an evil statue and the Chantry blew up," Carver replied "Why do you keep asking?"

"What was his view of mages?"

"That every mage was a risk. Which they are, no offence, ma'm,"

She nodded and felt a sting of hurt in her chest. It was true, but still.

She could still picture in her mind when she had last seen him in the Tower of Fereldan. He had been so scared, so tired... She hoped he was all right now. Happy. It was all she ever had hoped for him, that he would be happy.

As they reached the bridge leading into Skyhold she was considering just turning around and writing a letter to Leliana telling her to say hi and good work to the Inquisitor and to Cullen. She knew she couldn't, hell they had already seen the Wardens approach and risen the gate but still...

"Come on, Commander," Nathaniel said walking past her as she stood there hesitating "I want to get out of these wet clothes and get something warm to eat,"

She nodded and followed them.

A dwarf greeted them as they got into the courtyard, or rather; Greeted Carver.

"Junior! It was ages ago! How are you?"

Carver gave the dwarf a quick hug and started to introduce him to them all.

"And this, Varric, is the Hero of Fereldan. My cousin, Adrianna Amell,"

"It is an honour," the dward said bowing his head to her.

She nodded and pressed forward a smile;

"As is it to me, Mr Tethras. I have heard many good things of you from Carver,"

The dwarf laughed and glanced at her sullen Warden.

"I doubt it. Come, the Inquisitor and Red is dying to meet you, Warden Amell. Amell. It is insane how many of you there is doing heroic stuff,"

She smiled and followed him;

"Is Hawk still here? I was hoping to meet my famed cousin. Carver has spoken a lot about the adventures you all had together, but I am still to meet her,"

"She is, I think she is in the tavern at the moment though. Should I run and get her?"

"No hurry..." Adriana smiled and felt somewhat better when they got inside. The great hall of the Inquisitions fortress was huge, but still warm and she couldn't help but grin as she saw Leliana standing there on the left side of the Inquisitors throne.

The Inquisitor herself sat with one leg resting on the others knee waiting for them. A tall intimidating woman with long dark brown hair neatly put to the side. Her hand was softly glowing green. On her right was Seeker Cassandra Pentaghast, and Cullen.

He looked older, but still like Cullen. That perfect blond hair. His deep brown eyes. It was surely him.

Amell straitened her back and took on her serious face while approaching.

"Inquisitor Travellan, may I present to you the Hero of Fereldan, the Warden-Commander of Fereldan and mage extraordinaire; Adriana Amell with her entourage," Varric said and the Inquisitor nodded.

"Welcome, Warden-Commander Amell. We have been looking for you,"

"It has been brought to my attention, I am sad to say I was on a quest of my own. Unable to make contact or offer more support then I did," she replied and added "May I put forth my own deepest gratitude to the mercy that Your Grace showed my Order at Adamant. Had I known about Clarells plans I would have done anything in my power to stop her and to help the Inquisition against the Elder One,"

"Noted," the Inquisitor said "Leliana tells me you have come to claim Thom Rainier, the man who portrayed himself to be Warden Blackwall?"

"I have. His crimes against Orlais are none of my concern, but the impersonation of a Warden is. I wish him to be released into my custody,"

"Sounds fair," the Inquisitor mumbled and leaned back asking Cullen something.

He gave a small start when spoken to, as if he had been lost in thought, but then nodded, cleared his throat and said;

"Rainier is kept in the dungeon. I will accompany you there later, Warden-Commander and see to his release,"

"Thank you, Commander Cullen," she replied and hoped her voice did not sound weird or like that of a yearning maiden.

"I hope you will enjoy your stay here at Skyhold," the Inquisitor said burrowing her dark eyes into Adriana "And that the Grey Wardens and the Inquisition will have a fruitful alliance going forth,"

"As do I," Warden-Commander Amell replied, bowed her head again and stepped back.

Ambassador Josephine met up with them straight away and showed her and her men their quarters.

"Baths and dry clothes are already put behind the screen there. Dinner will be in an hour. If there is anything you need do not hesitate to ask," the Ambassador chirped as Amell started to lay down her bags and added "Cullen was very pleased to hear that you were in good health, Warden-Commander,"

Then she left before Amell could say anything about it. She felt her face grow hot and red and she bit her lip.

Had Leliana told the Ambassador? Of course she had. She had said that the ambassador and her were close friends, and that she thought the story of a mage and templar falling in love was too cute. She had surely told anybody she met.

Amell grumbled over the lack of privacy about her lost love as she undressed and slid down into the hot bath Josephine had put forth to her. This was beyond embarrassing.

Happy to hear she was at good health? What did that even mean? He had not looked happy when he spoke to her, just professional. She had heard rumours about him and the Inquisitor. And him and Seeker Cassandra.

She would not allow herself to be jealous. If he was happy then all was good. They would never have had any chance anyway. That had always been the case.