A/N: Cullen/Megra. For the following prompt: The Venatori plan an assassination attempt on the Inquisitor. How does their LI react?

"A Reasonable Fear"

ooo

Cullen's hand tightens over the hilt of his sword as he listens to Leliana tell them the news over the war table. "The Venatori have dispatched an assassin," she says with her usual calm tone, though Cullen can hear a hint of contempt at the edges. "I have already taken the liberty of sending a few trusted agents to the kitchens to ensure the Inquisitor's meals are not tampered with."

"My meals?" Megra gives a fluttering laugh. Despite the smile on her face, Cullen can see that she's grown pale. She wrings her hands behind her back. "Isn't that a little extreme?"

"You can never be too sure with assassins," Josephine pipes up. She pauses, tapping her lips with her quill. "Perhaps we should arrange for a taster…"

Meg's eyes grow large and she shakes her head vehemently. "No, no, no. No tasters. I'm not going to ask someone to eat my food so they die instead of me! Don't be ridiculous. I'll just… take careful bites." She laughs again. "Just don't hire anyone new in the kitchens for a while. I trust Leliana's agents."

Cullen grits his teeth. He can't help but imagine finding Megra dead in her quarters, stabbed to death by an assassin's dagger. Having choked on her own food from poison. Ambushed on the ramparts at nightfall. The images make him feel as if a stone has lodged itself in the pit of his stomach, and he cannot shake them from his mind. "Be that as it may," he growls, "I will also set guards at your door at all times, and an escort for when one of us cannot be with you. Additional guards will be assigned to all other areas of Skyhold as well." His eyes meet Meg's with an intense gaze, and her hands stop their wringing. "No harm will come to you. Not while I breathe."

"Cullen…"

"You will be safe, Inquisitor," he vows.

Megra smiles, some of the color returning to her cheeks. "Well, then," she says, her eyes twinkling. "I put myself in your capable hands, Commander."

Cullen nods, his lips curling at the ends, but he still cannot dislodge the stone in his belly.

After a moment, Josephine clears her throat. "I believe we have covered all the pressing matters of the day. We should implement the new safety measures immediately. For now, let us adjourn and meet again for an update in the morning."

Leliana and Josephine leave, hints of knowing smiles on their faces as they leave Cullen and Megra in the War Room. Before Meg can turn to leave, Cullen steps around the table to catch her hand. "Meg. Are you all right?"

She gives a chuckle, a tremulous little sound. "A bit nervous. Maker damn my overactive imagination! I'll be seeing assassins in every shadow until this whole business is resolved."

Cullen brushes her red hair through his gloved fingertips, tucking a strand gently behind her ear. "I know you're scared, but we will take every precaution. You need not worry about a thing."

"I know," she says with a smile, slipping her arms around his neck. "I'll probably feel most safe while I'm asleep, actually. No one would dare try anything with you by my side."

"That's right." Cullen kisses her, more fiercely than he intended. As his eyes close, those same images bombard him, filling him with dread. Maker, please, I cannot fail. Not in this. Never in this. He opens his eyes again as their lips part, and he leans his forehead against hers. "I won't let anything happen to you, my love. I swear it."