The war room was packed with people. After being sucked into the fade at Adamant, the Inquisitor felt it was important to brief everyone on what happened. Aniera knew that the events there had shaken everyone, Varric the most. While she knew he didn't blame her for Hawkes death, she blamed herself. She should have stayed and distracted the nightmare herself. She had gotten them into the mess to begin with. Ripped open a rift to save them all. It was her fault that they wound up in the fade to begin with. So why did Hawke stay and die while the rest lived?

Her eyes move around the room and landed on Alistair, who had been very quiet since they returned to Skyhold. She knew that he blamed himself most of all. Wardens had been at the conclave and played a part in the Divines death. He should have fought Hakwe on the issue of who would stay harder. And her final words haunted his thoughts You have sacrificed enough! But had he? He didn't kill the Archdemon 10 years ago. He hadn't taken up the mantle of Warden Commander and rebuild the Wardens in Ferelden. Had he really sacrificed enough. More like the Hero had sacrificed enough. But he knew what her words really meant. His death would have shaken the Hero more than anyone would be able to deal with. She had already threaten the Inquisition that if anything bad was to happen to him, Corypheus would be the least of their worries. But what about Fenris? And Bethany, fuck. Someone would have to inform Bethany. All the what if's were making Alistairs head hurt.

Everyone's thoughts were interrupted by a guard bursting through the doors. He came to a stop in front of Aneria and Cullen, looking flustered and slightly scared for interrupting.

"I am sorry, Your Worship. Commander. But there is an elf at the front gates. She is demanding to speak with you."

Everyone looked the Inquisitor, who looked very confused.

"What do you mean..."

"She rides a midnight black Hart..."

"Did you say a black Hart?"

Everyone turned to look at Leliana, who was trying very hard to suppress her giggling.

"There is only one person I know who rides a midnight black Hart, right Alistair?"

Then everyone turned their gaze to Alistair, who was already rushing out of the room.

"Leliana? Is it who I think it is?" Cassandra was trying very hard to contain herself.

Leliana didn't answer and just followed Alistair out of the room, everyone else trailing behind.

To say that Callie Surana was upset would be a huge understatement. She was fuming. How could they take him into the fade? The fucking FADE?! She had received word from Leliana that Alistair, her beloved Alistair, was safe but had entered the fade on accident with the Inquisition and was going to be heading to Weisshaupt in a months time to inform the First Warden of the events at Adamant. Having had a major debate with herself, she choose to head to Skyhold just to make sure he had all his fingers and toes.

"I am sorry my lady. But I can not let you in without the okay from either the Inquisitor or the Commander"

Fucking idiots. She thought.

"Then go get your damn Inquisitor or Commander!"

The guard scurried away as small sparks of lighting flickered around the little elf. She knew she was making a huge scene and she didn't care. The fucking Inquisition had put Alistair in harms way when she told them not to. She would be damned if they got him killed after years of trying to find a cure to the Calling.

As the guard came back, she gave the dirtiest look she could manage before a voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Callie!"

The guard and Callie turned to see Alistair rushing down the steps towards them with the what looked like the entire inner circle of the Inquisition following close behind. She jumped from her Hart and rushed towards him.

"Alistair!" She jumped into his arms, causing him to step back for her impact. Almost 3 years since she had felt his arms around her. 3 long years with only letters to keep them going. She had almost forgot what his arms wrapped around her tiny frame felt like.

Alistair held onto her like his life depended on it. Her tiny 5 foot frame fit perfectly in his 6'2 one. He rested his head on top of her white blonde hair, breathing her in. Maker, he had missed her so much. Neither of them noticed that almost all of Skyhold was watching the heartwarming reunion of the two wardens. Even if they did, neither of them would have cared. Alistair pulled back to kiss her. Even after 10 years, kissing her was like the first time. He would never tire of it. He loved the tiny noises that came from her has he deepen the kiss. Or the feel of her fingers weaving themselves into his hair. He vowed to the Marker right then that he would never leave for any amount of time again.

It wasn't till they heard a giggle behind that they pulled away from each other. Callie noticed Leliana and rushed to her. Hugging her dear friend.

"Callie! I have missed you so much!"

The friends embraced for seemed like forever before pulling away.

"Leliana! You aren't allowed to send me cryptic messages..."

She stopped mid-sentence. She saw him. He stood a few feet away behind Leliana next to another elf. He had changed since she saw him almost 10 years ago. He was trying to look her in the eye, but couldn't.

"Cullen..." she breathed out.

He finally looked at her. He had grown into a handsome man.

"Hello Callie"

There was a dead silence in the courtyard of Skyhold has everyone watched their Commander fidget under the gaze of the tiny warden. They had never seen him look so nervous. She slowly walks towards him and wraps her around around him. He took a moment to realize what was going before wrapping his arms around her. Hugging her tightly.

"It is so good to see you again, Cullen."

He didn't say anything back to her. But he could feel Aneria's eyes on him. He hadn't told her yet that he knew the Hero of Ferelden or what he watched over her while she was a mage at the Circle. Hell, he hadn't even told her what happened in Ferelden's Circle. He knew he should have. But he could never find the courage to face those demons again. Guess he would be forced to find that courage now that Callie was here.

A small cough broke the silence and Callie pulled away from Cullen to look over to the small elf that was standing beside him.

"Forgive me. Old friends. You must be The Inquisitor! Let me introduce myself! Callie Surana, Hero and Warden Commander of Ferelden!"

Callie bowed slightly to the elf.

"Welcome to Skyhold, Hero. I am Aneria Lavellan."

Cullen watched as the two elves exchanged pleasantries. He knew that Aneria was upset with him. He could feel it.

"I must apologize for my entrance, Inquisitor. I have seemed to have scared your guards and made a slight fool of myself!"

A blush creeps up Callie's neck. She knew she had overreacted. But Aneria shook her head.

"There is no need to apologize, Hero. I know the events in the past few days has everyone a little on edge. I hope that you will stay with us for a few days at least."

Callie nodded her head.

"Yes. The trip has been long, I must admit."

Alistair had made his way back to her side and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. He hugged her tightly to his side.

"We must get to Weisshaupt soon though."

"Honestly Alistair! We can take a few days. The First Warden isn't going anywhere. Trust me. Beside, I would love to catch up with Leliana and Cullen!"

Cullen gave a small cough as Aneria looked at him.

"I must ask, Hero. How is it you know our Commander?"

"Well when I knew him it was just 'Templar Cullen'. But we knew each other when he was stationed at the Circle in Ferelden. He watched over me while I was an apprentice, was present at my Harrowing, a small romance..."

"Callie..." Alistair, Cullen and Leliana all said with a slight warning in their voice. Alistair and Leliana could see the tension that was starting to arise between the Commander and Inquisitor. But Callie didn't seem to notice.

"Seems like Curly has a thing for mages and elves" Varric said quietly to Bull and Dorian who all started to back away from the group.

"Right. Well I am sure our Lady Ambassador will make sure you are well accommodated. I must...attend to something."

Aneria walked off without so much as a look to Cullen or anyone else. Cullen rubbed his hand behind his neck and gave everyone a warning look.

"Back to work!" and with that he walked off in the direction Aneria went.

Callie looked up at Alistair, slightly confused.

"Did I say something wrong?"

Alistair bent down and kissed her. "Love, you just tend to say the first thing that comes to mind. I don't think the Inquisitor knew that you and Cullen knew each other, let alone knew each other."

"Oh! Oh no..."

Aneira found herself sitting on a pile of snow outside the gates of Skyhold. She was trying very hard to calm down. She wasn't even really sure why she was so upset. It was 10 years ago. And clearly she is in very much in love with Alistair. She thought. So why was it it bothering her so much that Cullen not only knew the Hero. But knew the Hero. He had never once told her that he was a templar in Ferelden at the Circle. Or that he had been stealing kissing with her. Ugh You are overreacting!

Her ears perked up when she heard what sounded like a boot crunching through the snow. She knew before she saw him. She could smell him from a mile away.

"Aneria..." Cullen was bad at this. He honestly didn't think he would ever see Callie again. It had been 10 years and the way it ended...was bad. Very very bad.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She didn't look at him.

"I...it...what happened during the Blight was very...difficult."

"I don't know how 'Oh yes. By the way. I knew the Hero of Ferelden. And I sometimes exchanged secret kisses with her in dark corners' is hard to say"

Cullen sighed. Callie being here brought up so many memories. Most, he would like to forget. Before he could say anything, Aneria stood and turned towards him.

"Why didn't you tell me? We have known each other for months. And you never..."

"It was 10 fucking years ago!"

Cullen didn't realize he was screaming till the words came out. Aneria took a step back from him. She had never heard him curse before.

"Aneria...I"

"I think you should go back to your office."

"Aner..."

"Thats an order, Commander."

There was a moment of silence between the two of them.

"As you wish, Inquisitor." She never thought she would hate that title so much. He turned to leave her in the snow. Not seeing the silent tears running down her face.

Cullen stormed through the main gates, not noticing that everyone was trying to look busy after hearing the fight. He didn't look where he was going till he ran into someone.

"I am sorry."

"It's ok"

He looked to see Callie. Standing there. He knew he had to get out of the conversation as fast as possible. He knew he would say things he would regret later.

"Cullen...I am sorry. I didn't know."

"Always butting your nose where it doesn't belong."

"Excuse me?"

"10 years Callie. I haven't seen or heard from you in 10 years and in 5 minutes you mange to come in here and fuck up everything up!"

He knew. He knew he had to leave. He could already feel all the emotions that he had bottled up for 10 years coming to the surface. He was angry, at her, at himself, at Aneria. Mainly himself. But him and Callie had so much unfinished business, so many things that were left unsaid. He looked her for a moment and knew he wasn't in the best state to hash out the past. So he moved past her to walk back to his office.

"How long?" her voice was quiet but he heard her.

"What?"

"How long have you been off of Lyrium?"

He sighed. He didn't know how she knew. Nor did he care at the moment.

"10 months."

She only nodded as he turned away from her.

Callie found Aneria where Cullen left her, in the snow right outside of Skyhold. She pulled her cloak closer to her as the wind started to pick up. Aneria, however, was use to the cold and had nothing on but her normal Skyhold attire.

"I am sorry. I have never been known for my filter."

Aneria turned to see the Hero standing a few feet behind her. She knew it wasn't her fault. She really didn't think anyone was at fault. But she wasn't ready to let Cullen know that.

"It isn't your fault. You didn't know."

Callie sighed and sat down next to the Inquisitor.

"No. But I still shouldn't have..."

"What was he like?"

Callie looked over to see Aneria looking straight ahead, never blinking.

"He was...unlike the other templars at the circle. Kind, quiet and seemed to really want to help the mages."

Aneria finally looked over to her. Her violet eyes held tears in them.

"How did you meet?"

"I was 16 when he came to the Circle. Barely out of Templar training. He was 18. He had came in late and was trying to find the Knight Captains office. Ended up finding his way into the library where I had fallen asleep. He gently woke me up and walked me back to my quarters. Never said anything to anyone. Cullen was...always kind to the mages."

Aneria smiled, gently wiping the tears that were falling down her face.

"What happened? During the Blight?"

Callie didn't answer at first. Her eyes focused on her hands.

"It...isn't my place to tell his secrets."

Aneria nodded. She knew that he would have to tell her what happened to him at the Circle. But she had a feeling it wasn't a good story. She saw the flash of panic in his eyes when she allowed the Mages to become allies instead of imprisoning them.

"Thank you."

She looked at Callie, who was running her fingers through the snow.

"For?"

"Alistair...I don't...I don't know what I would have done if he had died. He is the only reason I keep going."

"Hawke...She said that he had scarified enough."

Callie sighed, not saying anything for a few minutes.

"I was quite selfish during the Blight. I won't lie. I did questionable things to keep us alive."

Aneria watched as Callie drew pictures in the snow. She didn't question. She understood having to make hard choices.

Even after 10 years, talking about the Blight was difficult. The utter terror of knowing that one of them might die from just killing the Archdemon. Knowing that since she had been made a Warden during a Blight meant that her lifespan was much shorter then most. But Alistair never left her. Gave up the right to the throne for her. Slept with Morrgian in her insane ritual. Guided her and kept her going when he had no reason to.

The two elves sat in the snow, not saying another word to each other. Because there was no need for it. Them simply sitting there was comfort enough.

Author Note:

Hello lovely readers! So this is my first time posting here, so please be gentle...or as gentle as the internet allows! So this is a five part story that will go through the ball at the Winter Place. I was kinda sad that the Warden didn't show up physically in Inquisition, soo this is my way of putting a little spin on things! Enjoy! :D

Till next time!

xx domo