Val walked through the training camp towards the forge to check on her armor while it was being tuned up and repaired. As she passed by the stable pens, she waved to Blackwall and smiled. "Good afternoon, Blackwall."
Blackwall looked up and smiled. "Good morning, lass. How are you today?"
"I'm fine, thank you." she replied with a smile and hugged the man. He reminded her so much of her own father. "Are you leaving with Camren soon?"
Blackwall nodded. "Aye, we're going to te Crossroads to check on the refugees for Mother Giselle. We're leaving as soon as the Herald is ready."
"Who else is going?"
"Varric and Bull are coming along. Beyond that, it'll just be myself and Camren."
Val smiled. "Well, as much as I'd love to go with you and Camren, I'll settle for wishing you luck. I hear the mages and Templars are still running around the Hinterlands, fighting."
"Well, if you want to come along so badly, why don't you then?"
Val and Blackwall looked over as Camren joined them with Varric and Bull. "I have my duties here, Cam, you know that." Val said, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm sure Cullen won't mind. Just let him know." Camren said.
"Ya, come on Skylark, come with us for once. It's just to the Crossroads, so there shouldn't be any morons out and about." Varric added, smiling. He brandished Bianca- his crossbow. "Besides, you know Bianca and I got your back."
"I don't know... We have a lot to do still..." Val said.
The Iron Bull lifted her over his shoulder and carried her over to the training grounds.
"Bull, put me down you jackass!" Val said, trying to push herself free.
"Hey, Commander!" Bull called, ignoring the squirming girl on his shoulder. "We're going to need to borrow Asala for awhile. We'll be back in a few days."
"Pardon?" Cullen asked, raising an eybrow at him. He glanced over at Val as she pushed against the Qunari.
"Sorry, Commander." Val said, offering a smile. "Camren would like me to join them, but I didn't want to ask you because we have so much work to do."
Cullen chuckled. "Val, you can go. It'd be good for you to see more of our world." He looked from her to the Iron Bull. "Just bring her back safe? I need my second in command."
"You got it, Commander!" Bull said, his grin wide and went back to join the Herald and the others. "Alright boss, she's cleared to go!"
Camren laughed. "Thanks, Bull. Val, are you ready to go?"
Val slid off the Iron Bull's shoulder as he set her back down. "Ya, I'm good. My light armor will have to suffice for now."
"Then let's go already!" Varric said.
Val laughed, then glanced back at Cullen. She found him watching her and the others and she blushed a little, waving as they turned to leave. Cullen raised a hand in response and watched as Val disappeared down the hill with Camren and his companions. A sudden knot in his stomach rose and he had a sense that something wrong was going to happen. He looked at the spot where Val had stood and even though she had traveled with them before- coming back in one piece- he still wondered if she would really be OK with the Herald and his companions.
-O-
"Venatori!"
Val jumped to protect Camren as a rogue came out of stealth shadows and tried to take him from behind. She threw her shield up and deflected the daggers that had threatened her friend, then drew her sword and slashed him down.
They had stopped to eat something, thinking it was a safe area and not realizing that it'd be an ambush. They were returning to Haven after checking on things in the Crossroads, but there hadn't been any signs of templars, mages, or Venatori activities in the Hinterlands along that road or near the Crossroads.
"Blackwall, watch your back!" Val ordered, taking charge as she had done before.
Blackwall turned and raised his shield as one of the berserkers attacked him.
"Bull, left flank!" Val shouted.
Bull looked to his left and brought down his great axe on the Venatori. "Asala, right flank, eight o'clock!"
Val spun and dodged the sword swung towards her head. She thrust her sword forward, gutting the Venatori. "Thanks!" she called, then bashed aside another of their enemy.
Varric found high ground and shot bolt after bolt at the Venatori. He saw one of the rogues slip into a stealth shadow, missing them as he shot a bolt at them. "Careful, there's a shadow rogue somewhere around!" he called, searching for the shadow trail.
Val looked around, not seeing anything, but she turned and thrust her sword forward into the Venatori sellsword sneaking up behind Blackwall. Hearing the man groan, Blackwall turned and watched him fall to the side.
"Thanks, lass." he said, panting.
"No problem." she replied, smiling.
Blackwall returned her smile, but it faded when he saw the shadow rogue's trail sneaking up behind Val. "Lass, look out!"
Val didn't even have time to react before she felt a long dagger penetrate her skin, tearing the soft flesh of her back and side.
"Val!"
Bull, Camren, Varric, and Blackwall watched in horror as Val coughed up blood as the Venatori rogue pulled the dagger along her back from the base of her right shoulder blade to the top of her left hip. Varric shot him in the head, killing him, then hurried down from his perch and grabbed the bag of bandages they had brought with them.
"Lass!" Blackwall rushed forward and caught her as she slumped forward. "Lass, can you hear me?"
Val felt a searing white hot pain in her back and side, her vision starting to go black. "I'm sorry..." she managed to get out. "I messed up..."
"No, lass, you did wonderful. You just hold on now and we'll get you home." Blackwall said, smoothing back her hair. He took the bandages Varric handed him. "We need to dress the wound, lass. I'll need to remove your armor."
Val nodded and let the Warden pull off her armor and tunic. Thankfully she had her breast band and it had avoided been torn or cut. She grimaced and cried out in pain as Blackwall tightly wrapped the bandages around her.
"There, we're done, lass." the Warden said, then took Val's cloak and wrapped her in it. "Let's get you home to a healer."
Val coughed, more blood spurting from her mouth and staining her skin. "I might not make it back... look after Cam for me, OK?" she asked, looking up at the Warden with blurred vision. "Tell Cullen... I love him..."
"You can tell him yourself when we get back, lass." Blackwall said, but then he felt panic as her eyes closed and her arm fell limply to her side. "Lass?" he asked, lightly shaking her shoulder. "Val? Val!"
"Blackwall, we need to get her to Haven now." Camren said. "Bull, help me gather our things together. Varric stay with Blackwall. We need to move, now!"
They quickly did as ordered, then set off as fast as they could with Blackwall carrying Val in his arms. He held her close to him, afraid he was going to lose her. She was still bleeding even through the bandages. "Hold on, Valmora... Please..."
-O-
It didn't take them long to reach Haven, having run as fast as they could and never once stopping to rest. They looked at the familiar walls of Haven as they neared it.
"Thank the Maker!" Camren said, then took the lead and led them into the village, stopping just inside of the gates of the village. "Solas! Dorian!" he called, hoping that one or both would hear him. Dorian was not too far from the gates and came running down from one of the huts.
"What happened?" he asked.
"An ambush... Group of Venatori attacked us a day's ride from here... We were on our way back..." Camren started to explain. "She managed to take down six on her own before one of them got her from behind. I don't know how much blood she's lost and we tried to get back here as fast as we could..." He looked down at the person in Blackwall's arms. He glanced up and saw Cullen standing there with fearful and wide eyes. "Cullen..."
"Where's Val?" Cullen asked, starting slowly down the stairs.
"Cullen, wait." Camren said, stepping in front of Blackwall. "Blackwall, go with Dorian. Make sure she's taken care of."
Blackwall nodded and hurried off with Dorian as he led the Warden and his wounded charge off to an empty hut.
Cullen reached the base of the stairs and stared after Blackwall, catching a glimpse of mousy brown hair and the silver glint off the cuff bracelet on the hand that hung limply down. "Herald, where is Valmora?"
-O-
The Herald and his companions had only been gone a day or two, taking Val with them. They were to check on the Crossroads and the refugees there for Mother Giselle and weren't due back for another day.
Cullen paced around in the war room, unable to shake the feeling of something wrong happening since Val left.
"Commander! The Herald has returned!" one of the soldiers said as they threw open the door of the war room.
Cullen knew they weren't due back just yet, so the sense he'd been haunted by since they left grew in the pit of his stomach. He ran out of the war room and through the Chantry and down towards the front gates. He stopped at the top of the stairs when he saw Varric, the Iron Bull, Blackwall, and Camren standing there in a panic.
"Solas! Dorian!" Camren called, hoping that one or both would hear him. Dorian was not too far from the gates and came running down from one of the huts.
"What happened?" he asked.
"An ambush... Group of Venatori attacked us a day's ride from here... We were on our way back..." Camren started to explain. "She managed to take down six on her own before one of them got her from behind. I don't know how much blood she's lost and we tried to get back here as fast as we could..." He looked down at the person in Blackwall's arms. He glanced up and saw Cullen standing there with fearful and wide eyes. "Cullen..."
"Where's Val?" Cullen asked, starting slowly down the stairs.
"Cullen, wait." Camren said, stepping in front of Blackwall. "Blackwall, go with Dorian. Make sure she's taken care of."
Blackwall nodded and hurried off with Dorian as he led the Warden and his wounded charge off to an empty hut.
Cullen reached the base of the stairs and stared after Blackwall, catching a glimpse of mousy brown hair and the silver glint off the cuff bracelet on the hand that hung limply down. "Herald, where is Valmora?"
"Cullen, there was an ambush." Camren started. "Venatori attacked us on the way back from the Crossroads. Val took down six of them before one of them got her from behind. She's lost a lot of blood, but Dorian is going to heal her and Blackwall will stay with her until she wakes."
Cullen's face was ashen. Varric and the Iron Bull looked at each other, then back at the Commander.
"Curly, she'll be fine." Varric tried to say. "We bandaged the wounds and came straight here."
"Boss, we need to inform the others of the Venatori attack. We'll write our reports and bring them to you." Bull said, looking from the Commander to Camren.
"Thank you, Bull." Camren said as he looked up at the Qunari, then turned to say something to Cullen only to be met with a fist to his face.
"You were to bring her back safe!" Cullen roared, his fist still clenched. "If she dies, I hold you responsible!" He stormed off, disappearing into the hut after Dorian and Blackwall.
"Boss, you OK?" Bull asked, helping Camren back up. Cullen had knocked him back on his feet.
"Yes, I'm fine." Camren said, rubbing his cheek. "I expected that..."
"You should go and talk to him, once he calms down." Varric said. "For now, leave him be and let's get these reports done."
Camren nodded and followed his companions to Varric's tent and started to write up their reports. He hoped Dorian could save Val; the Inquisition needed her, and so did he, but no one needed her more than Cullen.
-O-
"Blackwall, lay her here." Dorian said, pointing to an empty bed. He looked down at the Renton girl as Blackwall placed her gingerly on the bed, pulling her cloak out from under her gently. "Val, what did you get yourself into?" he muttered to himself.
"Will she be alright?" Blackwall asked.
Dorian cracked his knuckles. "I certainly hope so. Help me get her onto her stomach."
Blackwall helped Dorian roll Val onto her stomach, her head resting softly against the pillows. The Warden saw the severity of the wound as Dorian pulled away the bandages. He fell to his knees and grasped Val's hand. "Lass, I'm so sorry..." he said, not caring if she couldn't hear him. "I should have protected you..."
Dorian watched the old Warden bow his head in prayer, his eyes clenched shut. "You did what you could, Blackwall." he said, his hands making quick work of cleaning the wound. He let his hands hover over her back, inches from her skin, and started to heal the wound closed.
After a few minutes, the door of the hut opened and Cullen came into the room. Dorian glanced up at him before going back to his healing. Blackwall turned and looked at him, seeing his ashen face.
"Cullen..."
"What happened?" Cullen asked.
"A Venatori ambush." Blackwall said, standing. "They outnumbered us, but Val took charge and gave out orders, kept an eye on the situation. Varric warned us of a rogue slipping into a stealth shadow, but the bastard caught us off guard and managed to get behind the lass." He looked back at Val. "She took out six Venatori on her own. She did well in the field."
"Is she going to be OK?" Cullen asked, his voice catching in his throat.
"She will be fine, but I need you both to be quiet." Dorian said. "This wound is deep, but it missed her vital organs. I can heal the wound, but it'll leave a scar."
Cullen looked at Val, his stomach and chest clenching at the sight of the wound.
"Cullen, you should stay with her." Blackwall said. "I'll inform the others of what Dorian has told us."
Cullen nodded and went to the bed, sitting in the chair next to it.
Blackwall looked at the Commander before he turned to leave, then recalled what Val had said. "Cullen, she wanted me to tell you something before she lost consciousness."
Cullen looked at him.
"She said to tell you she loves you."
Cullen's eyes widened and he looked from the Warden to Val. 'Val... you love me...?' he thought to himself. He reached forward and held onto her hand, rubbing it with his gloved fingers.
Blackwall left the hut to find the others, leaving Cullen sitting with the girl who loved him as she clung to life. He hoped that Dorian could save her and that the Maker would not take her from them. He looked to the sky and begged the Maker to spare her, hoping he'd be heard.
Back in the hut, after an hour or so, Dorian finished healing Val's wounds. He stepped back, sweating and shaking from overusing his magik. "There, that should do it."
Cullen looked up at him. "When will she wake?"
"I can't be certain. Her wounds are healed, but she needs to wake on her own time. It was a serious wound, Cullen. Her body needs to heal itself now, and only the Maker knows what the day will come that she wakes."
Cullen looked back at Val, reaching forward to touch her cheek. 'Val...' He looked back at Dorian. "Thank you..."
Dorian smiled. "We need our Renton girl around and you need your second in command. She will be fine, though, that much I can assure you of. Just give her time to wake on her own." He washed his hands and looked at the Commander. "I'll go inform the others. Stay with her, she'll need someone here to keep an eye on her."
Cullen nodded and watched the Tevinter leave the hut. He looked back at Val and leaned forward, kissing her cheek. "Please, Val, come back to me..." he said, pressing her hand to his lips. "Please, I need you... I love you, too... Please, don't leave me alone..."
-O-
Several weeks passed since Val was brought back to Haven after being severely injured during a Venatori ambush. Dorian managed to heal her wounds and told the others she would wake eventually, but only time and the Maker could decide when. Cullen spent all of his free time sitting by her side, praying over her in hopes the Maker would answer and wake her up. Since she had been brought back, Val missed a lot. They were finally able to close the Breach, having gained enough allies and power to do so. They're forces had nearly doubled and things were finally going in their favor, but then the Elder One who they found was responsible for the destruction of the Conclave and the death of the Divine attacked Haven. They barely escaped the Venatori and the Elder One, retreating to the mountains as Camren fired the last trebuchet at the mountain and causing an avalanche to overtake the village of Haven, buying them more time. When they fled the village, Cullen stayed next to the wagon Val had been loaded into. She remained unconscious through it all, all the way to Skyhold. It wasn't until nearly a month in Skyhold that she woke.
The day Val woke from her coma was the day Camren went to Val Royeaux in Orlais. She stirred in bed, sitting up slowly as she put her hand to her head. She looked around the strange room, but realized it must be hers when she saw her belongings set neatly into place throughout the room. She slowly got up out of bed and stood, going to her window. Looking outside she saw a giant landscape of snowy mountains and down below a green valley. She tried to make her way to her door, but fell against the wall. She used it for support, opened her door and stepped outside into a stone hallway. She made her way along the battlements outside her room, slowly making her way down the stone stairs, surprised she didn't see any soldiers about. As she started towards the main part of the keep, she stopped, slumping against the wall as she felt her energy draining.
"Lady Kryst!" a familiar voice said.
Val looked over and saw Josephine standing there, looking in a hurry. "Hello, Josephine."
"Are you alright? When did you wake?" she asked, rushing to help her stand.
"I just woke up." Val said, thankful for Josephine's help. "Where am I?"
"You are in Skyhold. We- the Herald- were finally able to close the Breach, having gained enough allies and power to do so. Our forces have nearly doubled and things were finally going in ourr favor, but then the Elder One- Corypheus- who we found was responsible for the destruction of the Conclave and the death of the Divine, attacked Haven. We barely escaped the Venatori and Corypheus, retreating to the mountains as the Herald remained behind and fired the last trebuchet at the mountain, causing an avalanche to overtake Haven, buying us more time. When we fled the village, Cullen stayed next to your wagon. You have remained unconscious through it all, until now."
"How long has it been?" Val asked. "All I remember is the Venatori ambush and feeling a white hot pain run along my side."
"You've been in a coma for several weeks. We've been in Skyhold for nearly a month."
"Where's Cullen?"
"I believe he is in the chapel. Between his duties as Commander, he has been praying for your recovery before he comes to visit you. I have never seen a more devoted man in my life to the things he cares about." Josephine said, smiling when she saw Val blushing. "Lady Kryst, the Commander has grown rather attached to you over the time you have been with the Inquisition. As his second in command, it is understandable that with you both working so closely with each other that some kind of feelings would develope, just please do not let them get in the way of doing your duties."
Val nodded. "Thanks, Josephine."
"Please, you may call me 'Josie' when it is just us. I've grown rather fond of you myself and would like to see us become close friends one day." Josephine said with a smile.
"OK, well then call me 'Val'. Lady Kryst is too formal sometimes."
"Deal. Now would you like help to the chapel?"
Val shook her head. "No, I think I'll be alright once I know where to go."
"Of course. Follow this hallway all the way to the very end there, then take a right. It is the third door down on the left side of the hall." Josephine instructed. "Are you sure you wouldn't like some help?"
Val nodded. "Thanks, Josie. I'll be fine. Can you inform the others? I assume Rylen has taken over for me while I've been in a coma. I'd like to meet with both he and the Commander and discuss the matter of my reinstatement with you, Camren, and the others."
"Of course, Val. Please, do be careful and try not to push yourself?"
Val smiled and watched as Josephine walked through one of the large doors that seemed to go into the Keep, waiting until the door closed to start making her way to the chapel.
-O-
"Though all before me is shadow, yet shall the Maker be my guide. I shall not be left to wander the drifting roads of the Beyond. For there is no darkness in the Maker's Light and nothing that He has wrought shall be lost." Cullen recited the verse from the Canticle of Trials. "Maker may you watch over her, guide her, and protect her. Let her recover swiftly so that she may once again rise to meet her destiny and fight beside us in our quest to end this chaos, to restore peace to the world in your name." he added a small prayer at the end, looking up at the statue of Andraste that stood towering above him in the small chapel.
"My destiny, huh?" came a voice from behind him.
Cullen stood and spun, looking towards the door to see a very weary, but awakened Valmora Kryst leaning against the doorway. "Val..."
"Hey, you." she said, a small smile on her lips.
Cullen hurried to her, pulling her gently into his arms and embracing her. "Maker, I thought I'd lost you!" he breathed. He looked down at her as if she'd disappear on him and searched her face, her striking blue eyes. He couldn't help himself as the door of the chapel clicked closed and he pulled her in for a kiss. He pressed his lips against hers urgently, feeling as if just having her in his arms wasn't enough. She seemed a little taken aback, but Val wrapped her arms around him as his arms encircled his waist and she gave in to him. It was such a tender kiss, one that really let him know she wasn't just a dream.
"Cullen..."
"I'm sorry, Val... I had to be sure you were real..." he said, tears in his eyes.
Val reached up and touched his cheek, wiping away the tears as he rested his forehead against hers. "It's OK. Probably one of the best things that could have happened to me after waking up from a several weeks long coma. Josephine told me you've been praying for me, keeping watch over me every chance you could slip away and get some free time."
"When Blackwall and the Inquisitor brought you back, you were unconscious and losing so much blood. When Dorian healed your wound, but couldn't wake you, we all feared the worse." Cullen started. "As the weeks went by and you still didn't wake, I started to think I'd lost you and would never see you awake again. I've stayed by your side as much as I can, hoping you'd wake." He looked at her, his amber eyes filled with worry and fear. "I'm sorry, Val, I should have never agreed to letting you go. None of this would have happened if I just said no."
Val giggled. "No, Cullen, it's not your fault. Something like this was bound to happen at some point. Being injured in a battle like the ones we face is to almost be expected with the chaos around us. We were ambushed, I had only my light armor on and I got careless. I didn't pay attention to what was going on behind me and I got hurt pretty bad. It's no one's fault, but we just have to learn from the mistakes we make and move forward."
"But it was a mistake that nearly cost you your life!" Cullen insisted. "I can't lose you, Val, and I never want to get that close again."
Val leaned up and kissed him. It was strange: she had been with the Inquisition for nearly seven months and she had grown very close to Cullen in that time. As his second in command, she did indeed spend a lot of time with him and really got to know him. She had come to care for him more than she ever thought, more than she had ever cared for someone before. She felt like she ached to be near him, to always stay at his side.
"Cullen, I promise you this- with your Maker as my witness- that I will never do anything reckless to put my life in danger again."
"Thank you..."
"You're welcome." She replied with a smile. "Now, you and I need to have a discussion about a few things."
"Such as?"
"Well, for one thing, we need to figure out what to do about my position. I understand that Rylen has taken over for me while I've been in a coma. I want to sit down with you and Rylen and discuss what to do about my reinstatement with Camren and the others. Secondly, I want to have a more private chat with you about what we're going to do about this." she said, gesturing between them. "I want to give this a chance, but we need to figure some things out before we pursue it."
Cullen nodded. "Of course. I can set up a meeting with the Inquisitor and the others and find some time for Rylen and I to step away from our duties to discuss the matter. As for the this," he gestured between them like she had. "I want you to get some more rest. Let's discuss it in a day or two so that you have a chance to readjust to being awake and moving about."
Val smiled. "Sounds good."
"Let me help you back to your room?"
Val nodded and let Cullen lead her back towards her room. "So, 'Inquisitor' huh?" she mused. "That's what Camren's going by now?"
"Yes, shortly after we arrived in Skyhold, Cassandra asked him to take the title and lead us. He accepted graciously and vowed to lead us into victory against the Venatori and Corypheus and restore the balance and peace of our world."
"Well, he's more than earned that title. He's a good man, just like you. The people love him."
Cullen smiled. "Yes, they do. They are devoted to him not only as the Herald of Andraste, but because they believe he died at Haven and came back to us from the dead. Whether that it true or not, it has inspired them and we continue to have pilgrims come in flocks to Skyhold just to see him."
"I bet he's got his hands full by now."
"Indeed." Cullen opened the door to her room and helped her inside. "Here, rest up and I will send Dorian in to check on you. I have some things I need to take care of, but I will stop by once again when I am finished."
"Promise?" Val asked, reaching up to touch his cheek.
"I promise, Maker as my witness." Cullen replied, leaning down to kiss her.
She returned his kiss and watched as he blushed and smiled before he left her room, closing the door behind him. Val looked out her window into the snowy landscape and sighed. 'Maker, if you are up there somewhere, please watch over him?' she silently prayed, her eyes flicking up to the sky. 'Watch over Cullen and keep him safe. And thank you for bringing me to Thedas, for bringing me to him. I don't think I could have had a better life than the one I lead now.'
