They left the Inquisitor's chambers taking long, slow strides. Cullen had his hands on top of his head and was gazing up at the ceiling as he walked.
"Well. That didn't exactly go to plan," he said, making his way back into the hall.
Eleanor sighed. Patting herself down for her cigarettes, suddenly feeling awkward in blue jeans and a light grey sweater instead of the robes and finery like those of everyone around her, she muttered, "It's only a few weeks. They need our help. They weren't there like we were," and she pulled the half-crushed pack out of her back pocket, the lighter stuffed inside. She shook a cigarette out and brought the pack to her lips to free it, then offered one to Cullen.
He lead her out to the steps, and on the first landing he lowered himself slowly down, letting his legs hang over the side, boots scuffing against the stones. He let the cigarette hang limply from his lips as Eleanor joined him, leaning against his side.
"It's not so bad," she offered. "It's nice this time of year."
Cullen made a "hm" sound and stared into some middle distance for a moment before pulling the cigarette away from his lips and saying, "I have lived here for almost forty years, Eleanor. Here, and beyond the mountains, beyond the Waking Sea, you can see where I've spent my entire life. And yet…"
Breathing out a puff of smoke, she answered, "Well, we're here now, Cul. So," she said, looking up at him with blue-grey eyes that reflected the sky, "show me?" As he looked down at her, she went on, "You've seen my home. Or some small part of it. I'm sure you'll see more. But I've never been here before. All I've seen are these castle walls. But even this… I've never seen…" She took a little breath, took a little puff of her cigarette. "There was a man," she began, looking out across the courtyard, "a hundred years ago. He went to Egypt - a place far from Indiana, really far, across the ocean - to find the tomb of an ancient king. They dug and dug and eventually found what they were looking for - this tomb, this intact tomb of the boy king, King Tut. No one had ever found an intact, undisturbed tomb like this before - well, alright, so I guess maybe grave robbers had or else - whatever, that's not the point. Anyway, Howard Carter, this guy, he peeks in with a candle, and his buddy, some lord, asks him, 'Can you see anything?'" Eleanor stood up and turned around to face Skyhold, turned again to face the same mountain view that Cullen faced. "And Howard Carter, he says…" Eleanor's voice slowed, and she looked back down at him, and put out her hand to his. He reached up and took her hand in his, fixing their gaze as she said, "...he says, 'Yes. Wondrous things.'"
A/N: So first I just want to say thanks - I've had at least three people follow and favorite this story in less than 24 hours. (That's why I'm posting this right now - consider it a gift for being awesome!)
Second, I do just want to say that while this and the next three chapters have been beta-read (that's six out of fifty - FIFTY - and that's just what I've got right now, which is like part one of at least a three-part epic, though epic makes me sound like I think really highly of myself; it's just really long) I am always looking for feedback. I will say upfront that this plot is a lot more twisty-turny than Inquisition, Indiana's was, so bear with me, but definitely speak up if something doesn't make sense. I've got it loosely mapped out in my head but the whole reason I'm even posting the unrevised version is so that this story will be the best it can be once it's done and is a cohesive whole.
And lastly, if you do want to read the beta-read version of Inquisition, Indiana, which is finished, it's up on Archive of Our Own under the same title. I'm only posting it there to avoid double posting or seeming like a review-grabber here.
Thanks again to everyone who's favorited and followed so far! And happy Towel Day, you hoopy froods!
