It had been days now, the snow had started to build up rather heavily around Skyhold, and an incredibly bone chilling wind wreaked it's way through the courtyard. Most people were bundled up when outside, but if they could manage, everyone stayed indoors for now. Except for Cullen. He found himself shivering out in the terrible weather, brows scrunched in concentration as he looked about the training area, trying to make sure it stayed standing through the storm. "Blasted weather." He grumbled bitterly, though he continuously found himself thinking about something other than the snow and cold. Days had passed since he'd last spoken to Alnis. After that, every attempt he made was foiled by her being too busy to stop and talk, or by her suddenly vanishing, as if she'd never been there to begin with! Damn rogue tricks he assumed. While he was still wracked with worry over the Inquisitor's sudden need to be away from him, frustration was beginning to burrow itself into the pit of his stomach, wrapping it's ugly tendrals up around his heart. Cullen's movements ceased for the moment, his eyes narrowing and brows furrowing further.
"-That's enough of that." He suddenly growled, dropping the clipboard in his hands into the snow, and stomping towards the large staircase that lead into the Skyhold thrown room. His face was reddened from the cold, and his breath appeared before his eyes in icy clouds as he panted and heaved up the stone steps. While his armour was incredibly useful for battle, it did nothing for him when it came to the infernal staircases that seemed to be all over Skyhold. His years of training with the Templars most certainly helped, but it was still annoying. As he made his way through the thrown room he paid no attention to Varric who sat at his usual table by the fireplace, going over some documents it seemed. Cullen shoved open the door that lead into the small room between the large dining hall and Josephine's office, before shoving that door open as well. Josephine looked up from her papers and offered the Commander a polite smile, albeit looking rather confused.
"Commander, is everything alright?"
"Yes, yes, Ambassador thank you for asking.-Have you seen the Inquisitor?"
Josephine blinked her dark eyes at the Commander, her smile fading into a small frown of thought. "Actually, yes. She just went into the war room to speak with Leliana about something private." She explained smoothly, Cullen nodding in response. "Thank you." And with that he quickly walked through the long room and past the door that lead into the large open hall leading to the War Room. He glanced to his right, making a note to get that damn wall fixed. As he was about to open the doors however, Leliana suddenly stepped out, looking surprised to see him.
"Ah, Commander. What brings you to the War Room?" She asked curiously, hands folding behind her back. There was twinkle to her eye, and she had a mischievous smile on her face that had Cullen's stomach forming knots. "I ah-I need to speak with the Inquisitor." He answered stiffly, clearing his throat.
"Ohh, is that so? Well go right ahead, she is still inside." Leliana nodded, that same smile still on her lips as she turned on her heel and started down the hall. Cullen watched her for a short time, eyes narrowing in suspicion. It was unlike Leliana to bare such an expression, let alone towards him. Shaking his head, the Commander cleared his throat and pushed open the large double doors, stepping in and closing them behind him. His eyes fell on the Inquisitor herself, leaning over the table facing him. She had her head down, iridescent hues half-lidded and focused on the maps and war pieces on the table. Her flushed lips were slightly parted, the tips of her ears tinted a similar colour, from what Cullen assumed was the cold. She truly was beautiful, and the Commander found himself gawking like a school boy, lost almost instantly in her pools of bluish green. Alnis unfortunately looked up however, and her expression went from one of pleasantry to surprise, then to horror. Cullen closed his mouth and blinked at her, the two only staring at each other for what felt like hours.
"-Commander." Alnis greeted stiffly, her voice coming out as a cracking squeak. Cullen shook his head and cleared his throat, beginning to approach her. "Inquisitor, I was hoping-" No, no more hoping, no more asking! He told himself, expression becoming more stern. "We need to talk." The Dalish beauty before him straightened up, her hands remaining on the table but a look of nervousness crossing her features. "I-I suppose we could do that. What do you wish to talk about Commander?"
He hated that, he hated that she was suddenly always addressing him so formally, like they were strangers. She used to call him Cullen, used to talk to him openly and happily, like they were friends, and honestly the Commander had begun to think they were exactly that! But now, now she was so stiff, so quick to avoid him like he was some sort of foreign body. "You've been avoiding me." He stated bluntly, starting to circle around the table. In response Alnis started to circle in the same direction, always staying away, her gaze focused on the table that her fingers dragged across. Sunlight filled the room through the slim windows, casting dapples of warmth over Cullen and Alnis both. Despite his frustration, the Commander couldn't help but notice how her hair lightly shined in the rays, catching sight of the mutltiply fly away strands. His heart jumped up into his throat as he imagined running his fingers through those very same strands.
"-I'm not sure what you mean." She finally answered, voice soft and forced. Her answered made the frustration inside him boil further, a sigh of aggravation leaving his scarred lips. "I am positive you know exactly, what I mean Alnis." The use of her actual name seemed to grab her attention, head picking up only for her eyes to hastily look away, back down at the little figurines on the war table. "I-I've just been busy, that's all." She mumbled, and once again, Cullen was unsatisfied with her answer, continuing to circle around the table after her, like a lion chasing a lamb. "That's a lie and you know it!" He snapped, Alnis hastily looking up, giving him an angry glare. "It's not!" She yelled back at him, slapping the table with one of her open hands.
The outburst surprised them both, and once again silence filled the room. Slowly the Inquisitor lowered her head, and Cullen glanced away, both upset with themselves for the incredibly mild argument. "It's-it's not, your fault." Alnis forced out softly, causing the Commander to glance at her with his honey coloured eyes. He stayed quiet as she continued, but still slowly made his way around the table.
"I-I don't hate you, I don't even dislike you! I just, I just have a really-a really hard time, with talking to people, and with words, a-and things like that. I'm no good at-" Her face was beginning to flush a vibrant shade of pink, warmth spreading through her body as she talked. Maker, she felt like such a fool, but there was no stopping her now. "-at expressing my feelings. I thought that maybe staying away from you would, would help but all it did was make me miss talking to you, miss hearing your stories and then I got sad, and that made me angry because if I just talked to you I wouldn't feel that way but, but it's not that easy because every time I talk to you I feel like my heart's going to explode and it's hard to breath and-"
"And you suddenly don't know how to talk?"
"Yes!" She exclaimed, looking up to find that Cullen was suddenly much closer, his broad form towering over her, blocking out the sunrays coming in through the windows. Her mint coloured eyes widened with surprise, fluttering long lashes and face darkening further. "H-How did you know that?" She asked, her voice growing incredibly small.
Cullen swallowed, his own complexion flushing a warm shade of red. "-Because I've been feeling the same way, Alnis." He admitted, one of his gloved fingers just barely grazing hers, causing the Inquisitor to gasp softly. "Y-You have?" She seemed so surprised, her brows furrowing close together, lips parted softly. Cullen's throat suddenly felt very dry, and he swallowed thickly in hopes of calming the the tingling that was coursing from his finger tips to his ears. "Yes, for quite some time, since I heard you reading poetry in the glen by Skyhold." Another quick gasp fell from the Inquisitor's lips, the blush on her cheeks spreading down her chest and all the way up her ears.
"Y-You heard that?"
"Yes, b-but it's not what you think! I was sent by Leliana to come look for you, but I heard you and-and well I didn't want to disturb you! It-you, were so enchanting I couldn't bring myself to interrupt, and then Cassandra came by so I...well, I hid behind a tree."
His explanation left him glancing away, brows furrowed in embarrassment and face burning. He was surprised to hear her start giggling, his head quickly turning to look down at her. She was laughing at him? That made matters so much worse, but she looked so adorable the way she covered her mouth and her nose crinkled. "I-I'm sorry Commander, I'm not laughing at you, but that you found such a terrible poem enchanting." She explained, looking up at him with a warm smile.
He chuckled and shook his head, a heartfelt smile of his own spreading it's way across his lips. "I've never had an ear for the arts I'm afraid, but-I stand by what I said. It wasn't just the poem, that I found enchanting." His words had taken on a sort of smoothness that Alnis wasn't used to, her breath catching in her throat and her eyes casting down to their hands, oh so close together.
"-Alnis." Cullen spoke suddenly, craving her attention, wanting her to look back up at him with those beautiful eyes, those plump lips, that creamy, almost milk pale skin. Slowly, she brought her gaze back up to him, eyes half lidded and lips lightly parted. "Cullen, I-"
There was no time for words, the Commander's lips crashing down against his Inquisitor's, provoking a shoked squeak from the back of her throat. Cullen didn't stop pushing, his eyes closed tight. He wanted to believe that this was right, that this was what they both wanted to happen, but for all he knew Alnis could respond horribly. Which was why he was so relieved when she swooned softly and let her own eyes flutter shut, her head tilting slightly to the left and her lips pushing back against his.
The kiss was deep, and warm, and felt like it could go on for days, weeks, even years before Cullen grew tired of having her lips pressed against his. The Inquisitor pulled away a few moments later, panting softly for air. The Commander let his eyes open part way, staring down at Alnis with his own heart pounding in his ears. "Was-was that, enchanting as well?" She asked sheepishly, her entire face feeling as if it were on fire. Cullen let out an airy laugh and shook his head, letting his forehead rest against hers.
"Yes, it most certainly was."