Cullen found himself worrying over the fate of the mages as Alara told them that her brother would decide their fate. The Seeker told him that Joshua had decided to dissolve The Order and conscript the remaining, sane members. A bold choice and one that Cullen wasn't sure how to receive.
On one hand, the Templars had been misusing the Rite of Tranquility to instill fear amongst the mages- he was no stranger to templars misusing the power that the Chantry gave them; he saw it firsthand in Kirkwall, however, on the other hand the Templar Order was a necessary evil to keep magic in check. However much Cassandra hated his decision, Cullen saw that she had a glimmer in her eyes as she spoke about his actions at Therinfal Redoubt that made the older Herald seem utterly romanticized. She clearly respected him and thus she respected his decision.
The younger Herald explained what happened at Redcliffe castle to the Seeker and it made Cullen cringe. Josh had fought Envy alone but Alara was thrown into the future by Alexius, a future where Red Lyrium was in Redcliffe Castle and the Breach was everywhere. Luckily, Dorian was able to counter the magic and got them safely back to the present.
Grand Enchanter Fiona stood beside former templar Barris as they waited to hear what Joshua had to say after his prescribed rest by Solas. The mental battle with Envy had left him exhausted of mana and it made his Mark act out accordingly as the Commander watched silently as the Grand Enchanter grew impatient and barked.
"I must admit. I didn't expect to see you again, Joshua. As an avid Loyalist, you were never one to understand the concerns of the rest of the mages while you ruled in your sedatetower in Ostwick." The older elven woman said with a scoff as she stared down the Knight-Enchanter. He chuckled to himself as he looked over at Barris and Cullen who gave both gave him a confused look. The former Knight-Commander cursed to himself. This Josh seemed to be more resilient and tough but at the same time, he seemed…disturbed by something.
"I am no longer a Loyalist, dearest Fiona. In fact I have an offer for you. The Templars have already accepted." Joshua said in a smooth voice as he turned to Cassandra, who nodded in approval. "The mages will remain free but only if you allow the templars to supervise you."
"That makes no sense, Herald! It's the same as before!"
"Grand Enchanter, hear him out." Alara pleaded. The older elf gave in when Leliana glared at her and listened.
"We, The Inquisition will ensure the safety of the mages and the templars. We will seal the Breach together and we will overcome The Elder One together. We are all equals now, but only if you accept. Ser Barris will be in charge of overseeing martial training with Cullen and you will oversee the magical training along with myself and Solas. We need to work together now, Grand Enchanter. The Maker would not want us to fight while evil approaches unopposed. Would you truly ascertain yourself as an equal to Andraste? Or even the Maker? Do not be foolish." Cullen realized that Joshua was playing on her good nature. She was a staunch do-gooder and she would do what's right. He saw the Grand-Enchanter sigh and look over at the advisors with an unsure glance at first until she glanced back at Joshua and nodded.
"…Fine. We the rebel mages set down our standard- From now until the Inquisition is dissolved; we the rebel mages shall help combat The Elder One with the help of the former-templars. They will stand as our protectors and we will stand as theirs." Fiona spoke as she extended her hand to the dark-blonde Knight-Enchanter, who garnered a grin from most everyone in the room once he shook her hand. Cullen let out a sigh of relief as it happened, he shot a grin at Joshua but the Knight-Enchanter seemed to have missed it entirely.
Fiona and Barris shook hands with each other then left the war room to give the good news to the templars and mages. They also made preparations to close the Breach later that night; it seemed Joshua was eager to get it over with.
"See? That wasn't so hard now was it?" Joshua said as he sent a wink Cassandra's way. The seeker let out an exasperated groan, making the Commander chuckle inwardly. The only other person who managed to make Cassandra make noises like that was Varric.
"Were you serious about hunting them down if they didn't stay to help?" Josephine asked with a grim expression. The Knight-Enchanter gave her a smile as he leaned onto the war-table.
"Dead serious, Lady Montilyet; I didn't survive an Envy Demon and my sister didn't take a jaunt through time just to have the mages and templars fight themselves to death."
"I'm impressed with the way you've handled the situation, Joshua. This…is good." Leliana said with a wink Cullen's way. He blushed as she continued, trying his best to hide his excitement at Joshua's return. "We were eagerly awaiting your return. Some of us more than others."
Damn you, Leliana.The Commander thought to himself as he sent a glare her way. She merely giggled as she ushered Alara, Cassandra and Josephine outside and closed the door. Cullen could hear the women giggling as their footsteps moved away.
"I…I was…worried. Envy isn't just a demon- so I…uh…I prayed for your safe return." The Commander stammered as he moved around the war table and looked into Joshua's forest green eyes. "I admit…I was worried that…you might not return."
Cullen was about to continue when Joshua raised a hand to silence him. The same hand took the Commander's and for a moment he relished the feel of Joshua's marked hand in his own hand. It was just right- like it belonged there.
"I appreciate your concern but I have to stop you right there, Cullen." The younger man said as pulled away and the Commander looked at him perplexed. "This…I don't know what this is, but it needs to end- Now."
The former templar let out a whimper like a wounded dog. He watched as Joshua turned to leave.
"Why?"
"Because it's complicated…and I really don't want to get into it right now." Joshua rasped as he left the Commander to his own devices.
For the first time since Kinloch Hold, he felt his heart break. The first time was by the hands of Neria Surana, the object of his affections but a lover of women, not men. He took it with stride and got over her once he was transferred to Kirkwall. Women came and went but he never dated or fell in love. Not until he met Joshua.
He didn't understand why Josh ended their friendship with such ease. He didn't even shed tears. Joshua was a far cry from the youth they pulled from ruins of The Temple of Sacred Ashes; Envy must have affected deeply him somehow because this Joshua was witty and cold at the same time compared to the kind and gentle Joshua he grew to love.
While the Knight-Enchanter was out with Varric, Cole and Blackwall in the Fallow Mire for most of the day, Cullen decided to approach Alara and Solas in his free time. He remembered that Blackwall said that Solas was a good listener and he gave sound advice, so he explained his predicament as blush covered his ears and neck. The elves remained silent until he finished.
"Commander, I believe that Joshua loves you. This is simple: He's afraid. Somethinghappened during his battle with Envy. It changed him. Truly, no one would leave a fight with such a monster without emotional scars." Solas said as he cringed and Alara nodded in agreement. Inwardly, Cullen agreed as well- he was still scarred by what happened in Kinloch Hold.
"Give him some time, ma falon." The red haired keeper said as she put a reassuring hand on his shoulder and gave Solas a naughty look, his face turned beet red as she chuckled to herself. "Love always prevails."
Everyone was assembled. The time had come to close the Breach.
"This madness ends now!" Cassandra affirmed as Cullen pointed his sword to the Heralds approaching the river of green reaching up to the tear in the sky.
"Templars! Focus your strength on the Herald!" He shouted as he watched the templars one by one knelt as a light radiated from them and the air filled with the pants of men and women in the service of the Chantry. He turned to Solas who nodded, then pointed his staff to Fiona and her mages.
"Focus on the Heralds! Let their will be yours!" The elven apostate hissed as he lifted his staff. Cullen heard Fiona and her mages grunt as they knelt too and magic filled the area.
Cullen saw Joshua take his sister's left hand in his right hand as they walked into the green glow of the rift. Together, they lifted their marked hands skyward.
From their palms emitted a bright green light that swirled about the Breach. It intensified as the templars began their prayers and the mages began their incantations. The Heralds reached ever to the sky as more and more light emitted from their marks. Cullen watched in awe as the light twisted and made its journey to the Breach- until he heard Joshua cry out in pain as the Knight-Enchanter pushed harder against the Breach. The Commander moved to intervene but Cassandra stopped him with her hands.
"We cannot interfere without endangering them both." The Seeker said with a snarl as she pointed. "Alara is strong enough to help him. But do you see? He's taking on her burden- As an older brother should; as a leader should."
Cullen saw the look Josh gave Alara. It was one of pure love for his foster sister. He would do anything for her and the Commander felt it: Jealousy. He wanted Josh to look at him the same way, to look at him with satisfaction and happiness and it tore into Cullen's mind that he couldn't understand his feelings for Josh. Why in the world did he feel jealous of Alara of all people?
Joshua let out a roar as he pushed even harder, his mark pulsing with magic; a burst of light and power erupted and knocked everyone off their feet. Cullen quickly got to his feet and looked at the sky. It was scarred but the Breach was sealed. His eyes scanned the area for Joshua. He saw the siblings in a tight embrace as Cassandra pulled them apart and helped them back to their feet. He wanted to help them as well, but thought against it when he remembered how Josh rebuked him in Haven.
"We- We did it brother!" Alara cried out as she hugged him and leapt into Solas' arms. The fade expert confirmed that the Breach was sealed, all the while blushing as the keeper clung to his chest. Cullen nodded to himself in that moment. He wanted to be happy like Alara was with Solas. He wanted to have someone in his life that he could speak to when his burdens became too much, someone he could hold when he felt like he was falling apart. In the deepest recesses of his heart, Cullen entertained the idea of being with Josh and he actually liked the idea. Perhaps too much, but it would not happen- not at the present state of their relationship.
Everyone let out a hearty cheer and he saw Joshua give him a sad look between all the happiness and tears of joy being shed. The Herald looked out of place.
Cullen was in his tent signing off last minute orders when he heard Maryden sing Empress of Firefrom the roof of the tavern. He held back a smirk as he peeked outside for a brief moment and watched as mages and templars danced together, celebrating their victory. The inner circle reveled in the joyous occasion.
He noticed however that Sera was missing. The Red Jenny was usually performing pranks or some other kind of trouble but strangely, she was nowhere to be seen.
In addition, he remembered the weird spirit-boy-thing that Joshua had befriended in Therinfal Redoubt. What was its name? Cole. He expected it to be hanging about but it too was gone.
But what troubled him was Cassandra. She claimed that Joshua was feeling ill an hour ago and that the Commander should check up on him at his cabin. Cullen was about to object but the Seeker remained adamant. He resigned himself to check up on the Knight-Enchanter. Cassandra was blunt like a druffalo but she meant well.
Dodging a few merry dancers, Cullen made his way into the village towards the cabin in question. Its shutters were closed so Josh probably didn't want company; least of all Cullen's but the Commander forced his way to the door. If he didn't check on the youth, Cassandra would carry on and he wouldn't hear the end of it until a new divine was elected.
He knocked at the door tentatively and waited. No reply. He knocked again.
"Josh? It's Cullen. Are you alright?"
There was still no reply.
Cullen cursed to himself as he brought his hand to the handle of the door and pushed. Surprisingly, it opened with much ease but the sight inside the candle lit room made Cullen's heart sink.
All of the Knight-Enchanter's possessions were packed up and gone. The bed was neatly made and the table and cabinets left empty. There was a note impaled with a dagger on the wall beside the door. Cullen pulled out the dagger and began to read. His heart broke in the same breath.
I know what I am. And I can't work with people I do not trust. Now you have your reason, Commander. Consider this my…resignation from the Inquisition. By the Dread Wolf I trusted you, Cullen…
-Joshua-
I came to help. But you all hurt him. I can't help you. The silence is too much for the noise. Make the music again.
-Cole-
You piss-bucket of arses! I hate you all. He was nice and good, yeah? But you broke him! Shite-bags! Ugh! My friends are not yours anymore; and you…Cullen-Wullen. I hope you sit on an arrow. You deserve it. You dog you!
-Madame Vivvy's Fat-Arse-
Cullen's hands shook. Joshua knew. Cole knew. Sera knew. Soon everyone would, but that wasn't the problem. Josh and the others were gone.
He moved quickly towards Leliana, who was singing along with Maryden. He waved her down and she jumped down the roof with little effort and took the note from him.
"Of all the- We need to find him!" She shouted as she ran after a dancing Charter, who despite being drunk, managed to pull together a group of scouts to search with Argent. However, before they could leave, Maryden stopped singing and pointed in the distance as the town's bell was being rung with reckless abandon. Everyone moved inside the village and shut the doors while Cullen approached and rallied the soldiers. Fiona rallied her mages into the archery line and Barris and his men formed up at the front along with the Commander's forces and Rylen.
"There's an army approaching down the mountain!" Charter shouted with sweat dripping down her forehead.
"Under what banner?!" Josephine, ever the diplomat wanted to use reason and words to combat the unknown foes approaching.
"None, Lady Montilyet!"
"N-None?" Alara stammered until they heard the doors get battered with a heavy weight. Everyone drew their weapons in shock- It got battered a few more times until Cullen heard a shrill voice that he was quite surprised to hear.
"Shite! Shite! Open up you stupid asses! Open open OPEN!" Sera screamed as she kicked at the door. When it opened, what they saw made everyone gasp in horror as Sera readied her bow to fire at the approaching force.
Surrounded by the bloody, arrow-filled, frozen bodies of Red Templars stood Cole and Joshua, back to back; Cullen made a quick count and estimated about twenty bodies in a ring about the spirit and Knight-Enchanter. Joshua gave the Commander a heated glare as Cassandra approached but Joshua struck her back with the blunt end of his staff, making the Commander and by extension everyone else gawk in horror.
"No more lies! One more and I will leave you all here to die!" The youth cussed as he pointed his blade to a retreating Venatori stalker and drove the staff blade into the man's skull. He broke into a broken chant as he moved with fiendish precision. "Blessed are they who stand before the corrupt and the wicked and do not falter!"
He spun around and dodged a blow to his midsection as Cassandra parried the blow and bashed the fool's teeth out. The Knight-Enchanter cleaved the unfortunate soul's head off in one strike.
"Blessed are the peacekeepers, the champions of the just!" He roared as everyone readied their weapons to fight a wave of approaching Venatori, but Josh threw up a massive wall of ice, buying them some time to prepare for the battle.
Cullen commanded his soldiers to load the trebuchets while Leliana's scouts offered defensive fire. He then watched Joshua move over to him as Sera and Cole joined the other inner circle members in the fray as the wall of ice crumbled by the hands of several Venatori bruisers and Red Templar guardians. The Knight-Enchanter intoned a glyph on the ground with the blade of his staff then snapped his fingers as three pale blue ice mines formed at Haven's entrance, Cullen understood it's purpose: a failsafe to protect those who could not protect themselves.
Cullen was about to speak but Joshua shook his head as the Knight-Enchanter stood in front of him with bloodshot eyes and gritted teeth.
"Commander…" He said roughly as he turned around and pointed to four figures standing in a hill before the mountain. A blonde, pale woman clad in Tevinter cloth, a mage that Josh referred to as Linnea, a dark haired Red Templar that Cullen immediately recognized from Kirkwall, former-templar Samson and an unknown, grotesquely tall fiend the Knight-Enchanter called The Elder One. "They've come kill me…and my sister. Cole says that The Elder One has it in for us since we managed to steal the mages and templars from under his nose."
Cullen winched at the formality Joshua used with him. They were friends once, but now it seemed that the youth cast it aside forever. He looked at the young man and remembered the immaculate style he had. His hair was always styled backward and his beard neatly trimmed. His green eyes accentuated his blue and white Knight-Enchanter mail but now he looked like death. His eyes had a fire to it that was never there before. His short beard was matted with blood and his hair was disheveled. His armor was torn and covered in blood and sweat and his staff was covered in rust as the blood on it began to dry up. Joshua would never allow that; but it seemed that Cullen's former friend didn't care anymore about his appearance.
As much as Cullen hated what he did to the man- He had to admit, the Inquisition had found its leader: The Knight-Enchanter himself.
The Commander ushered everyone inside the chantry. The Elder One had a dragon and it stole back all the time Joshua bought with the trebuchet. Cassandra helped Chancellor Roderick into a stool as the man began to cough up blood. Madame Vivienne tried her best to alleviate the old man's suffering with a healing spell, but to no avail he heaved and cussed in pain.
"H-He took a blade meant for me…" Alara stammered with tears in her eyes as she looked at the old man in disbelief. Cullen remembered how the Chancellor berated the Heralds as they passed him by. He remembered how little faith Roderick put into them, but now he took a blade for one of them.
The Commander turned his attention to Joshua, who moved away from the doors once he was convinced everyone was inside. He managed to save a lot of people; knowing that made Cullen smile. Even in anger and hatred, he had a good heart and that made the Commander content. There was a chance that Joshua could forgive him and be friends with him again.
If we survive the attack. Cullen reminded himself.
"There's no easy to say this Herald." Cullen began as the bloodied Knight-Enchanter looked at him with seething eyes. "We're outnumbered and pinned down. But we can end this on our terms- Take as many of them down with us."
"It wants the Heralds." Cole interjected as he appeared beside the Commander. If Cullen wasn't stressed out by everything that happened so far, he would have flinched at the spirit's sudden appearance. "It came for them. Everyone else is in the way. It will kill everyone until it has them."
The Chancellor coughed again and Cole leaned his head in the old man's direction as if he was listening, but no one spoke.
"Yes." The spirit said with a small nod. "Chancellor Roderick can help us."
"There is a path. But you'd only know it if you made the Summer Pilgrimage as I have. But to be the only one to remember after The Conclave…If this simple memory can save us…I don't know. Perhaps you two really are Her Heralds." The old man croaked as he coughed up more blood and Madame Vivienne brought a comforting hand to his back. Roderick nodded in thanks.
Cullen found himself at a loss for words. There was a way out of this, a way for everyone to escape this madness. He found himself smiling when he heard the Chancellor affirm his belief in the Heralds.
There was a lengthy silence until Joshua turned to the doors a brief moment then looked back at his sister. Cullen saw the determined look in his eyes and he realized what the Herald was going to do.
"I will delay it."
"No! You can't Josh! That thing will kill you!" Cullen shouted as he grabbed the youth's hand but Joshua pulled it away.
"Kill me? HA! What killed me inside was the fact that an Envy demon told me the truth, not you!" The Herald cursed as his mark began to act up again. It wasn't spreading but it seemed to react to his emotions, particularly anger. The members of the inner circle who knew the secret dropped their heads in shame, whilst the rest looked at Joshua in confusion.
"Herald…Are you sure you want to do this? Cullen is right. That thing won't show you any mercy." Cassandra said as she approached. Cullen watched as Alara ran to her brother and hugged at his bloody coat, she whispered into his ear and he nodded briefly.
"After all the death I saw today, my sense of mercy has…dulled."
"I can't let you do this!" Cullen roared as Alara pulled away from her brother and watched as the Commander and her brother stared each other down. Cullen looked into angry eyes and saw fear instead. Joshua, for all his shows of bravado and valor, he was afraid like the Commander was. Cullen grabbed his hand again and the youth looked at him with curiosity as the former-templar shouted at him. "Damn it Josh- It doesn't have to end this way! Ir abelas ma falon but I'm coming with you!"
Joshua tensed up at the Commander's use of Elven. The Commander wasn't sure if he used the words correctly, but it seemed to have the desired effect as the mage softened his glare at the Commander and his mouth fell open in surprise.
"Cullen! You can't go with him-" Cassandra began but Cullen silenced her with a fierce look. The look on her face was mirrored by the others who looked on wordlessly as they stood.
"Maker forbid- if something happens to me, Knight-Captain Rylen can take over. I'm dead set on this, Seeker. We'll use the last trebuchet and bring the mountain down on Haven; Alara can fire the signal when you're above the tree-line." Cassandra held her gaze on the man but soon nodded when she saw that he wasn't budging.
The inner circle approached along with the advisors. They looked at Joshua in silence as he looked at them in turn. Cullen found himself looking at Alara, who had her head against Solas' shoulder. The elven apostate held onto her with lithe arms and whispered into her ear and she nodded slowly with a slight whimper. He was happy to see love in a time of war. It reminded him of Leliana's vision during the Fifth Blight that she shared with him during a night at the tavern with Cassandra and Rylen: a singular rose on a dead bush, a single good in a world gone mad.
"W-What 'bout the rest of us?" Sera asked what everyone else was thinking but didn't have the guts to. She began to stomp her feet and move around in a fit of rage as she unleashed a salvo of words that Cullen found to be unexpectedly cute. "We can't just…look I have arrows. I shoot baddies! Who thinks "Well dunk a butt, we'll leave a Herald of friggin' Andraste to die" is fine? Shite no! You're mad!"
"Buttercup…" Varric said as he intercepted her and pointed to Cullen and Joshua. "I've written enough novels to know that this is the part where the protagonists show the world what they're made of. Besides, this is a great bonding opportunity for Curly and Grinner, don't you think?" The storyteller wriggled his eyebrows in a suggestive manner, to which Cassandra scoffed and Dorian cat-called. He had to admit, Cullen had thought of that. He wanted to keep Joshua alive. Now that Varric brought it up, he definitely wanted to bond with Joshua to repair some of the damage done to their strained friendship.
"Whatever! Still don't like this shite." Sera said in a nonchalant tone.
"No one cares, my dear." Vivienne said as she nodded to the Herald and the Commander, then turned on her heel and helped Cole support the Chancellor to the hidden path. Cullen held back a grin as he watched everyone leave, one by one as they looked at the pair then left with silent goodbyes on their lips. Alara gave her brother one last hug and Solas nodded to the men as he coaxed her to leave. Joshua stood at the doors and gave the Commander a nervous smile as they stood beside each other with weapons at the ready.
"We should do this more often. Fight side by side."
"I'd like that." Cullen said with all the ease in the world.
"I'd like that too."
"You said that already." The Commander teased as he noticed the Knight-Enchanter's cheeks and neck had grown red.
"…Thank you."
"For?" Cullen asked with amusement in his voice as he pushed open the doors and lifted his shield.
"For being my friend."
"W-We're friends?"
"Oh C-Cullen. We'll always be friends." Josh smiled as he tossed a barrier over himself and the former-templar
The Commander felt Joshua grab into him with desperate fingers. They were falling down a deep crevice as the mountain came down on Haven. Cullen felt Josh turn as he held onto the Commander and he heard the mage cast a last ditch barrier on the ex-templar with the last of his mana.
Cullen felt the ground as Joshua let go mid fall, his back hurt but it wasn't bad- maybe a few bruises, nothing a healer couldn't fix but Josh landed beside him and the Commander heard a sickening crack. The Knight-Enchanter screamed in agony as Cullen quickly turned despite the pain he felt and saw Josh on his back, clutching his left side.
"R-Ribs broke." Joshua managed to cuss between ragged breaths. "You a-alright, Commander?"
Cullen nodded as he scanned the area for any threats. They were disarmed and wounded. Their best bet would be to avoid conflict for now until something as done for the Knight-Enchanter's wounds.
There were no lyrium potions around either. Cullen knew that the mage had used up his last mana to protect the former-templar and thus his mana would recover slowly- too slow for him to use a Creation spell. He needed healing magic before the wound got worse. He recalled the stock of lyrium potions that Neria carried as she ascended to the Harrowing Chamber to deal with Uldred. He immediately shook the memory away lest he relived those painful days in front of the wounded mage. Josh needed him to be strong.
"G-Good. Aaaah…" Joshua whimpered as Cullen carefully lifted the mage, making sure not to touch his broken ribs. The Knight-Enchanter swayed around but mostly kept his balance as Cullen looked about for kindling to make a torch. "Wait. Let me try."
Joshua brought his right hand up into the air and clicked his fingers. The air around it set ablaze as a green, heatless flame burned in his hand, giving the icy cavern a tranquil glow.
"A b-basic cantrip that doesn't require too much mana; the apprentices loved to write all kinds of n-nonsense that couldn't be seen without veilfire."
Cullen nodded in thanks as he pulled off his fur pauldrons and wrapped it around the shivering mage. He noticed the younger man's neck flush as he looked at Joshua with worried eyes.
"You don't have to be strong all the time." Cullen said as he moved at a slow pace with the injured youth. "I can be strong for you, ma falon."
Josh gave him an amused grin as he cocked his head with a small cuss.
"Do you even know what ma falon means?"
Cullen, this time became flustered.
"I asked your sister actually." The former-templar said as he looked ahead and saw the tunnel leading into a larger chamber. "She was quite helpful-"
Joshua pulled his hand down and extinguished the veilfire he held; he then pushed Cullen against the icy wall beside him and pointed to numerous figures in the larger room that weren't visible from far.
"D-Demons ahead!"
"Maker's breath! Can't we catch a break?!" Cullen cussed as the demons in question saw the men and began to approach. A cloaked one, a demon he recognized as Despair screeched and tossed a spike of ice at Joshua. He slid down, pulling the youth with him narrowly dodging the icicle. He watched in amazement as Joshua's mark flared up when the demons got too close.
The Knight-Enchanter let out a scowl as he lifted his marked hand and clenched his fist. Cullen stared ahead and a saw huge rift manifest behind the demons. It began to pull the demons inside it. One by one, the demons screamed in agony as they were ripped back into The Fade.
"What was that?!" Cullen rasped as the youth looked at him in confusion.
"I don't know!? I was out of m-mana!" The mage gasped as he pointed to his marked hand, still sputtering green sparks about the area. One of them fell onto Cullen's armor but didn't burn. His eyes followed it and he realized that Joshua was straddling his hips.
"Uhhh…I…um…" Cullen managed to say as he felt his cheeks light on fire. The Knight-Enchanter didn't realize until he looked down to see that the problem was. The youth's own cheeks flared up with heat.
"T-This is your fault."
"How is it my fault?!" Cullen cussed as he moved to help the Knight-Enchanter get off his hips and up onto his feet. After a few heated glances, Joshua was propped up against the ice opposite the exhausted Commander.
The mage explained his plan: Fight the Elder One- No, Corypheus one on one and let the others escape to fight another day. Apparently, Cullen foiled that plan when he opted to go with the Knight-Enchanter.
"Did you really expect me to just leave you behind, just like that?"
He watched as the mage opened his mouth to speak, but instead came out a frustrated snarl as Josh threw his hands down in defeat.
"Oh, y-you are impossible!"
"That's why you love me." Cullen had said it without hesitation. By the time he realized what he had said; Joshua was already forcing himself to his feet. The Knight-Enchanter looked at the Commander with sadness in his eyes.
"After everything we've been through, do not tease me. I…" Joshua spouted as he tried to walk but slipped toward his broken ribs. Cullen moved quickly despite his lethargy, his hands grabbed at bloody cloth and steel as the Knight-Enchanter's glare softened in his grasp. "…T-Thank you."
The Commander silently nodded as he steadied the mage. He then moved with Joshua into another tunnel, this time they saw heavy winds at its end. He let out a chuckle when Joshua cussed out loud that he hated the cold, despite him specializing in winter magicks. Cullen found to be rather ironic.
Truth was though, that Cullen harbored some kind of feeling for Joshua. It wasn't exactly love but it was close, because it was akin to what he felt for Bethany Hawke whilst he was in Kirkwall, but it was more...in a way. He knew in his heart that all he wanted was to keep the Herald safe; to never leave his side. He wasn't teasing the youth. He didn't understand how he felt anymore.
When they finally made it outside, Cullen felt the cold winds lash out at him and he had to lift his free arm to clear his vision of sleet and snow. When he saw how Joshua shivered and struggled to move in the snow due to his injuries, he held onto his friend and whispered into his ear carefully, a little too close for comfort as his cheeks flushed with heat again.
"Hold onto me. I'll carry you." At first, the Knight-Enchanter protested. He began to walk off alone in the snow, only collapse down onto his hands and knees and cry out in pain. Cullen realized that Joshua was putting up an act. He wanted to be strong. He wanted to be fierce. He wanted to be able to walk alone but he needed the Commander's hand. And inside it twisted at his guts to admit, that He: the First Enchanter of the Ostwick Circle, a celebrated Knight-Enchanter and now a Herald of Andraste; needed help to walk.
Cullen scooped up the youth's smaller frame in his arms, making sure not to touch his broken ribs as Josh wrapped an arm behind the Commander's neck, albeit reluctantly. Every step the ex-templar took was hard to take as fatigue began to set in, but he moved at a respectable pace considering his aching back from the fall he had. He looked down at the Herald and saw the man's eyelashes begin to flutter with drowsiness.
"Stay with me." Cullen rasped as he quickened his movements, taking note of two abandoned fire pits that they passed by. The dark blonde murmured but the howling winds were too loud to hear what he said. The Commander continued his climb as the winds got stronger and his vision became clouded by snow. He couldn't see in front of him anymore, but he was certain he was on the right path. The previous fire pits were all going upward into the mountain pass. That was probably where the rest of the Inquisition was.
Cullen heard Joshua go into a coughing fit. He then quickened his pace until the youth stilled and he found himself out of the blizzard, at the top of the hill. He noticed another fire pit, and it was still warm. Recent…He thought to himself.
He struggled to carry the Herald through a thick patch of snow but he adjusted to it and made it to the pass. He was greeted by a face he detested but was glad to see nonetheless as he collapsed to the ground with the Herald still in his shaky arms.
"H-Hey! It's Cullen-Wullen…and Josh! Come 'ere quick you arse-nots!" Sera screamed as she pointed to the men. Cassandra ran over with Blackwall and they brought the freezing pair into their campsite.
"Thank the Maker!" Cassandra shouted as Dorian came her way with furs. He was about to drape one over Cullen when the Commander pulled away and moved to Josh's side.
"His left ribs are broken. I can't leave him! I have to protect…"
"I will take care of him, Cullen." Solas affirmed as he pointed to Alara and Sera. "Take care of the Commander."
The women pulled the Commander to the tent opposite the one where the warriors and Solas took care of Joshua. Every now and then, he saw Leliana and Josephine move about the campsite with their agents to gauge the situation.
Cullen held an amused expression as he watched Dorian sulk to himself. No one took any furs from him. He watched as Vivienne pointed and laughed at him. The Tevinter mage scoffed as he returned to a red inquisition tent with The Iron Bull in tow. Despite that humorous moment, he noticed that the campsite had gone silent once the people realized that Josh was alive but badly injured.
"Cullen…" He heard a petite voice in front of him. The elf in question hugged him before he turned back. She began to undo his armor and place a healing salve on his back to lessen the bruising and the pain. "Thank you for keeping him alive."
He blushed as Sera hugged him too. He was too scared to question her lest he end up with bees in his breeches or worst- earwigs in his armor. In the corner of his eye, he saw Cole nod to him in approval. When he turned to look, the spirit was gone.
"You're on my good side, Cullen-Wullen. Let's see how long it lasts."
The Commander watched as Joshua stirred in his sleep. He mused over how much more muscular the Knight-Enchanter was than Cullen initially realized. Without his armor, he saw hardened lines of tanned skin. Bruises lined his left side, wrapped in bandages that wound around his taut torso. In the background he could hear Alara, Cassandra, Josephine and Leliana arguing, but he didn't care to intervene. His sole desire was to watch over Josh- To take care of him.
Cullen immediately looked away. Shame filled his mind as he pushed out thoughts of touching Joshua's skin to reassure the Knight-Enchanter that he was still there for him.
Damn it! The Commander thought to himself. He could not be falling for Joshua. He loved Neria. He had some unrequited feelings for Hawke's sister but never had he actually shown any interest in men before this. Maybe he was confused.
Confused? He thought to himself. Maybe he was. But he felt something for the youth. Something was better than nothing.
Mother Giselle pulled him away from his thoughts as she moved into the tent and assured him that she would look after the injured youth if he needed to rest. She looked at him as he was about to protest with a small grin on her face, but she stopped him with her hand raised in a calming fashion.
"If you really wish to help the Herald, look after yourself and keep your wits about you. Another heated voice will only make things worse." The older woman said as she turned her gaze to the arguing women. She reminded Cullen of a mother watching over her children as they argued, not sure whether to intervene or to let it slide. Her smile melted away and her gaze returned to the Commander. "With time on our hands, we turn to doubt. We saw our defenders rise…and fall. And now they have returned."
"It's not like we died and came back from the dead." Cullen said as he looked at Joshua, then at the Chantry Mother with a befuddled look.
"It doesn't matter, Commander." Mother Giselle cooed with a smile as she left the tent. "They saw your amity with the Herald. They believe in him, but now with your heroic sacrifice, they believe in you too."
"…Cullen?" The Commander practically flew to the Herald's side when he heard the young man say his name. "Are you…okay?"
Cullen nodded to him as he hugged the Knight-Enchanter. Joshua let out a small hiss and the ex-templar pulled away in concern but Josh grabbed at his cloth tunic as if to say: I'm fine. Please stay.
Cullen gave him a small smile as he settled himself down next to the Herald's cot; in that moment he felt content with the Knight-Enchanter's head resting on his shoulder. He closed his eyes and he forgot his aches and pains. He forgot that he was a Commander. He forgot that he survived the destruction of Haven with his best friend.
He flinched when Joshua moved from his shoulder and swung his legs off the cot. They both looked outside as Mother Giselle began to sing.
Shadows fall and hope has fled
Steel your heart,
The dawn will come
Cullen watched as Joshua got to his feet and offered a hand to him. The ex-templar took it gladly and wrapped a blanket around the youth who nodded in thanks. They moved to the end of the tent and Cassandra gave them a smile as Joshua joined in the song- Cullen's heart raced as the youth's voice echoed out, tugging at his heart strings.
Maker…That is beautiful. He thought to himself as he watched the Knight-Enchanter lift everyone's spirits with a voice that Cullen could only liken to the song by the birds on a warm morning.
The night is long and the path is dark
Look to the sky, for one day soon
The dawn will come
This time, the spymaster joined in. Her melodious voice filled the air, spurring several others to join in chorus. Even Josephine, ever the lady- prim and proper let go and sang out with pride. Alara looked about as people approached the men in song and she too sang with tears of joy in her eyes.
The Shepherd's lost and his home is far
Keep to the stars,
The dawn will come
Cullen felt is heart overflow with emotion. In a moment of weakness, he sang. He watched as Leliana looked at him with shocked eyes. In mid-song he turned to Josh, who looked at him amused but blushing like a maiden. He continued singing and he realized, he could sing. He never tried before. Joshua liked his voice. It stoked Cullen's inner fire to know that his friend likes the sound of his singing.
The night is long and the path is dark
Look to the sky, for one day soon
The dawn will come
The soldiers began to unsheathe their blades and raise them to the firmament. All singing, all kneeling to the two men- in that moment he moved to kneel to Josh too, but the Knight-Enchanter grabbed his hand with puppy dog eyes and Cullen resigned himself to remain at his friend's side, all the while blushing.
Bare your blade and raise it high
Stand your ground, the dawn will come
The night is long and the path is dark
Look to the sky, for one day soon
The dawn will come
Mother Giselle turned to the mage with hope in her brown eyes.
"Your people are inspired, Herald. They have found their reason to fight: The two of you." The old woman said as she left them to their own devices. Everyone dispersed back to their duties. Cullen understood Mother Gizelle's words. By standing up to Corypheus despite the odds, he and Joshua inspired the entire Inquisition to stay strong and live to fight the monster another day.
"Who knew a lion's roar could be so...striking." The Knight-Enchanter chuckled as he gave the Commander an amused look. "You make it hard for a person not to fall for you, ma falon."
Cullen flushed and was about to speak when Solas approached with Alara in tow. He gave Josh a serious look. The Knight-Enchanter's face straightened and the three of them moved to a secluded area to speak privately in hushed tones. It concerned the former-templar that the elven apostate decided to speak to Josh in private but Cullen found his mind being wrenched from the notion of spying on them when Sera skipped over to him with a wide grin.
"Cullen-Wullen…" Sera giggled as she looked at the ex-templar with mischief in her eyes. "Why haven't you kissed him yet? Ugh- It's not complicated. You grab him and you lock lips with him- stick your tongue right in; simple innit?"
Cullen turned to her with red cheeks and ears. He began to stammer as the elf looked at him. She broke into a giggle fit as she pointed at him.
"Look at you, all red." The prankster said as she stuck out her tongue. "Didn't even get to the racy bits."
Cullen let out a sigh as he saw Cole behind the crazy elf shake his head in amusement. The ex-templar wondered if the spirit could be amused like a person would. He would have to ask Josh when he returned. He hoped it was soon because the look Sera gave him echoed of trouble.
The former-templar then realized that Sera was right. What was stopping him from kissing the mage? The Herald wasn't Neria and he wasn't Bethany either but a dear friend who genuinely cared for him. The very thought of kissing Joshua made Cullen weak at his knees and he blushed even further, much to the Red Jenny's amusement.