Hello Lovely Readers!

Again, I apologize for being absent for so long. I promise I won't abandon you. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter where we get to meet the softer side of Commander Cullen... Huzzah! Thanks for reading.

Chapter 3

Cullen and Ellana were eating their dinner atop a small hill overlooking the circle of the aravels. The hill itself was part of larger rock formation, which many children dared each other to climb ever higher on, much to their mothers' dismay. Dinner tonight consisted of a rabbit stew, a variety that Cullen had never had before. Though so far, Dalish food seemed more than agreeable for Cullen and he ate without complaint.

Having removed his normal armor, as it brought too much attention to him here. Cullen, instead had dressed more simply in a grey tunic, with a green sash. His dress was not unlike the uniform of Inquisition agents, though he had forgone the hood. The change thankfully brought considerably less stares from the elves. He still carried his sword, but his weapon never left his side, as to never be caught unawares.

Ellana had put aside her Inquisition scout armor as well. Favoring a practical, but elegant elven dress. It was the color of spring meadow with cap sleeves that mimicked the shape of elfroot leaves. A simple braided leather belt accented her small form. The skirt of the dress was short reaching only mid thigh, but earth colored leggings stretched down to her calves. Her feet were bare, like most of the others at the gathering. It was the first time Cullen had seen her in such a way. She truly looked Dalish, which was a fact he sometimes forgot in the craziness that was their life.

They finished their meal as the sun began to set over the far off hills in the west. To the south they could see the tree line of the Arbor Wilds, and to the north stretched the Exalted Plains spotted with streams and groves of trees. It was a beautiful sight indeed, even from their meager vantage point.

Cullen leaned up against a stump, resting his back against the rough surface. As he did so, a woman approached them calling to Ellana.

"Ellana!" the woman called to them as she approached.

"Keeper Dashana!" Ellana got up and embraced the woman as she crested the hill. The keeper returned the embrace, and Cullen got to his feet.

"And who is this?" the Keeper took notice of Cullen.

Ellana smiled and took Cullen's hand, "this is Cullen Rutherford, Commander of the Inquisition's armies. Cullen this is Keeper Dashana of clan Lavellan."

"An honor to meet you," Cullen bowed.

"Ah, your man is gentleman," the Keeper gave them a knowing smile. "It is pleasure to meet you as well Commander. I am, after all, happy to meet the man whose men saved our clan from those bandits not so long ago. Our clan owes you a great debt."

"You owe me nothing," Cullen said. "I am glad my men were able to help."

"Either way, Commander, you have our thanks." Dashana turned her attention to Ellana, "the Keepers are gathering and they need to hear from you. They will have many questions." The Keeper began to lead Ellana away.

"Should I come as well?" Cullen asked Ellana.

"No need," the Keeper replied warmly, "it will not take long."

Cullen meet Ellana's eyes, who only shrugged in response as the Keeper whisked her away.

Unsure of what to do with himself Cullen settled back against the stump. It was probably for the best, his presence would only create more questions for the Inquisitor. She would be facing the heat for leading a human army as a paragon of a human god. Still, Cullen would have liked to be there to offer his support.

Then, out of nowhere, she was there. The girl who had taken a fascination with Cullen's hair, but this time she was alone. She stared at him with big blue eyes, hands behind her back.

"Hello," she said sweetly, rocking on her heels.

"Hello," Cullen was unsure what to make of this, again.

"What's your name?"

"Cullen."

"Oh, well my name is Rashallah."

"Well, its very nice to meet you Rashallah. How old are you?"

The girl thought for a moment, "five!" She held up her hand to demonstrate her age.

Cullen smiled, but he could see that she was still hiding her other hand behind her back. "What do you have there?" he asked.

Her smile grew as she revealed a small comb made of shell. "Please! Please! Please!" she was practically jumping up and down.

Cullen sighed, but before he could respond she had jumped on the stump behind him and began brushing his hair. He stiffened, surprised by her sudden assault of his locks. He gradually relaxed as she continued to brush and hummed an unfamiliar tune. There was no escape, but Cullen didn't have much else to do anyway.

Rashallah shaped and brushed Cullen's hair for a solid thirty minutes. At one point Cullen was sure his hair had become a giant fuzzy blob on his head. When Rashallah finally decided she was done she neatly combed his hair back to its original state. Quietly she stepped down from her perch and placed the comb in Cullen's hand.

"My turn," she exclaimed settling down in front of Cullen. This girl was continually perplexing the commander, but he obliged. Rashallah pulled the tie that held her auburn hair and it tumbled town past her shoulders.

"Where is your family?" Cullen asked as he gently worked through some of the knots.

"Father is with the other Keepers and Mama is making honey rolls," she said bored.

"Do they know where you're at?"

"No, but it's okay I just have to be back before it gets dark."

"Alright," was all Cullen could think to add.

"Do you know any songs?" Rashallah was suddenly cheerful again.

Cullen had very little experience with children, and most of the songs he knew were Chantry hymns. He parted her hair as he thought of a way to get out of singing, "I do, but why don't you sing me one you know."

"Alright," she agreed excitedly and immediately began singing.

"By the river beneath the willow tree,

I listen closely as spirits sing to me.

I close my eyes and begin to dream,

I listen closely as spirits sing to me."

Cullen tied off a braid as Rashallah sang her song. Her little voice had the sweetness of childhood and it mixed well with the lilting tune of lyrics.

The sun sank lower over the horizon. Just as Cullen began to wonder when Ellana would return she appeared.

"Are we playing dress up next?" Ellana laughed as she approached. Cullen felt his ears heat up as he finished Rashallah's second braid.

"How does it look?" Rashallah asked excitedly.

"You look beautiful," Ellana assured her. Rashallah smiled wide and rushed back to the gathering.

"I didn't know you could do hair," Ellana teased.

"Well, braids aren't exactly complex," Cullen stood up, red faced. "However, I did learn a thing or two growing up with my sisters."

Ellana smiled at him, "Who knew the great Commander of the Inquisition brought joy to the hearts of children by braiding hair."

Somehow Cullen's cheeks burned more.

"Well when we have children, you can be in charge of the hair braiding."

"When we have children…" Cullen muttered.

"Do you not want them?" Ellana asked caught off guard. She had always assumed he did.

"Of course," he answered sincerely. "We've just never spoken about it before."

Ellana could see Cullen's self doubt surface. He was always easy to read, which is what made him so terrible at wicked grace, and the game.

She felt she had to say something, "Cullen, it's okay if you don't…"

"No, I do. I really do want kids," he assured her. "I've just… I've never felt like I'd be a good father," he sighed.

Wrapping her arms around his torso, Ellana smiled. "You would be a wonderful father."

"You would be a wonderful mother," Cullen held her as they watched the last of the sun sink beneath the horizon. He wanted this moment to last forever, but he knew they would soon return to the camp, and he would again be called upon to attempt socialization. Though, in this moment it was just the two of them.

"What did the Keepers want?" Cullen asked softly as they headed back towards the camp.

Ellana thought for a moment, "only wanted news of what has happened in the last year and half. Many of the clans are rather out of touch with most of the world."

"So you gave them one of my lectures then?" Cullen smiled.

"Oh, it was much more tedious than that," her sarcasm evident. "They were mostly interested in what I saw in the Temple of Mythal, as well as the political situation with Briala behind the Orlisian throne."

"I suppose that makes sense."

"They seemed most interested in Morrigan and her…" Ellana trailed off as she spotted a distant figure to the south. Another smaller figure came into view beside the other, and the pair was now approaching them. Though it was hard to distinguish any details in the dying light. Their identities were impossible to mistake.

"Speaking of Morrigan," Ellana began, "here she comes now."