Chapter 4
Evelyn rushed out of the tavern, past the enigmatic Jim, with the sounds of Bull's laughter behind her. Whatever this was that Josephine and Leliana wanted her for, it better have nothing to do with men, naked or otherwise, because she needed a break. Apparently there can be 'too much of a good thing'.
She practically ran across Skyhold with a racing heart and flushed cheeks, feeling too warm by half. Varric shouted out a greeting and tried to intercept her as she passed him in the main hall, but she waved him off. The last thing she needed to discuss right now was pornography and his chest hair's involvement in it.
It was only after she barreled through the door to Josephine's office that she realized she had left all of her...things...in the tavern.
"SHIT!" She shouted out, and then immediately clapped her hands over her Maker damned mouth. Leliana and Josephine stared at her, their shocked looks matching her own. Evelyn's poorly timed exclamation found itself gracing not only her advisor's ears, but an unexpected honored guest's. The Hero of Ferelden, Queen Elissa Cousland Theirin.
Shit! She sent up a prayer to Andraste, begging that if the Holy Lady would just allow her incriminating drawings to remain untouched in the tavern, she would sing the Canticle of Transfigurations in its entirety every morning at dawn for the next week.
Collecting her frayed wits as best she could, she swept a mask of calm nobility across her face, straightened her back and then offered a neat bow to the Queen. Evelyn was sweating. Maker was she sweating. But she'd be damned before she let royalty see it. She would ignore her own little outburst as if nothing ever happened and therefore the polite thing for Elissa to do would be to ignore it as well. And thus was the Game played.
Evelyn further calmed herself by recalling Cullen's drunken story about a young Templar, who she was convinced was Cullen himself, saluting the collected inhabitants of the Circle Tower in the buff. The recollection of the story and then the memory of present-day-Cullen in the buff after a magnificent loss at cards to Josephine gave her a bit of confidence and she was able to put a charming smile upon her face before she rose and moved forward to address their guest.
"My Lady, I had no idea we were to be graced with a visit. I'm so sorry I wasn't present immediately to greet you." Evelyn was now the picture of propriety, even if she was somewhat annoyed at the Ferelden Crown for not having announced their visit appropriately. She and Josephine could have prepared a reception and she was sure Cullen would have wanted to increase the guard rotation in advance of their stay and see to proper security. Unfortunately, Leliana had warned them long ago that the royal couple was infuriatingly informal about their travel and disturbingly lax in seeing to their own safety.
"They felled an Archdemon, Inquisitor," Leliana would say, sounding terribly amused, every time they came to visit, "Anything else poses a far lesser challenge for them."
Elissa rolled her eyes at Evelyn's doting. "The last thing Alistair would want is a reception, Lady Trevelyan."
"If His Majesty is here as well, then please my Lady, accept my apologies for the Inquisition not being better prepared. We shall immediately..." The Queen cut her off with lilting laughter.
"No need for such formalities, Inquisitor. We should be apologizing to you. It was actually quite a last minute decision to impose upon Skyhold's hospitality. We received word that Prince Sebastian was visiting in a few days' time and your Ambassador was kind enough to offer to host us for our trade negotiations with Starkhaven. Diplomatic relations have been a little touchy between Alistair and the Prince since he gave the mages sanctuary, but we've smoothed things over enough to talk face to face again and we're grateful to have the Inquisition offer us neutral ground on which to do so."
Evelyn offered another short bow in acknowledgement. She really needed to get back to the tavern!
"Inquisitor, would you mind walking with me? I'd like to find Alistair. He went immediately to see your Commander as soon as we arrived. Shall we try to find them together?" The Queen bid good day to Josephine and gave Leliana a warm hug, then approached Evelyn and offered her arm. The two ladies walked together to find their men.
When they were outside and away from the eager ears of the various gossips scattered about the main hall, Elissa leaned over to her and whispered. "I wanted to congratulate you, my dear, on your betrothal to Cullen. I know it isn't public yet, but I pried it out of Leliana. You two are so adorable, I was certain it would happen soon."
Evelyn couldn't help but smile, both at the well wishes and the fact that this woman was capable of 'prying' something out of their Spymaster. "Thank you, my Lady." She replied absently. She really needed to fetch her things!
They strolled their way up to the battlements more slowly than Evelyn thought she had ever travelled in her life. Finally they spotted the two former Templars talking amicably. The Queen stopped before the men noticed them and whispered to Evelyn again.
"I heard from Leliana that you're a woman of many talents, Inquisitor." The Queen was looking right at her with one suggestive royal eyebrow raised. Evelyn just stared back waiting for her to continue. Then it hit her.
Leliana couldn't possibly have told her! Of course that sneaky ginger told her, they're best friends!
Evelyn wondered if she'd survive trying to murder the future Divine.
Elissa clearly saw realization and guilty admission flash in Evelyn's eyes. The Queen nodded her head. "My husband. On his throne. With just his crown. Kingsway. Of course." And with a smile and a wink, she left Evelyn and approached the King.
When he saw his Queen, Alistair grinned and blushed like a boy. She hoped after ten odd years, Cullen still looked at her like that. When the royal couple shared a brief kiss, she looked over at Cullen and found him staring at her with the same blush as Alistair. Evelyn relaxed...despite the fact that she needed to be in the tavern right now more than she needed to continue breathing.
Before she walked over to join them, Evelyn took a moment to look at the men. Their imposing height. Their broad shoulders. Their chiseled features. Their boyish smirks. Their soulful eyes.
As she stepped towards them, she offered another prayer to Andraste, begging forgiveness just in case it was a sin to draw another woman's husband naked. Even if the other woman had asked.
The two couples spent the afternoon together and shared their evening meal. Afterwards, the Commander and the King moved to Cullen's office to discuss more business...and to share the bottle of Antivan brandy she saw Josephine slip onto Cullen's desk earlier.
The Queen decided to retire early and Evelyn showed her to their rooms. Just before Elissa closed the chamber door, she said, "I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable earlier. If it helps, Alistair won't care in the least. He'll be quite excited by it, honestly. It'll be a gift. And if you'll take some advice from an old married woman, remember to keep things exciting. Although it seems like you're already on the right track" After another wink, the Queen said good night and left Evelyn in the corridor alone.
She could finally get back to the tavern!
Wanting to run, but not wanting to look suspicious, Evelyn wound through the hallways of Skyhold at a brisk pace. They were largely deserted. At least they were, until she came to the corridor where Cassandra's room was. She froze and held her breath when she saw the Seeker standing outside her bedroom locked in a passionate kiss with Warden Loghain.
Evelyn was so happy for her friend she decided she would suffocate before she made any noise that might interrupt the pair. She held very still, hugging the stone wall, hiding in a shadow. The kiss went on forever. The warden buried his large hands inside Cassandra's black hair. Her hands rose up to clutch at his breastplate and pull him closer.
And then Evelyn almost died.
Someone emerged from inside Cassandra's room. This new man pulled Cassandra away from Loghain's kiss and into one of his own. Evelyn had to bite her knuckles to stop herself from gasping in shock. Cassandra kissed the other man just as passionately as she had applied herself to Loghain. The new man was lean and also in warden gear. Evelyn had seen him with the other wardens before, but she didn't know who he was. His long dark hair was pulled back, a single careless strand falling across a face that was carved with the features of Ferelden nobility. When they came up for air, they both looked at Loghain. Evelyn saw the corner of Loghain's mouth turn up into a cocky grin before he pushed the couple inside the room and then disappeared after them, slamming shut the door.
At this point, Evelyn had to admit to herself that the only reason she wanted to get to the tavern to reclaim her things now was so that she could start drawing scenes involving wardens and a king who had once been a warden. As if the Templars weren't enough to set her smalls on fire, these wardens would be the death of her. She wondered if Cullen would mind getting accosted again tonight...
When she finally entered the Herald's Rest, she saw Bull immediately. She gave him her best disapproving scowl and made to approach him, but he held both his hands up in a silent gesture of innocence, then pointed with one finger upstairs.
Shit!
She took the steps two at a time and rounded the bend, nearly shoving down a poor patron who had the nerve to be in the way of her panic. She skidded to a stop right in front of Sera who was standing outside her corner alcove looking smug, her arms laden with Evelyn's smut and Bull's letter stacked right on top.
Well, Shit.
Sera started. "All I'm gonna say first off, is blaaaaaaaahhhhh." The elf's face contorted in disgust and she stuck out her tongue while making a mock retching sound. When she was finished pretending to vomit at the sight of, or perhaps even the mere suggestion of, so much naked male flesh, she composed herself and continued. "Second off, we all know your Cully Wully's too uppity to think this here is just fine and dandy, so I'm expecting a favor in exchange for these." Sera waved the papers around. Evelyn reached out to try and snatch them, but the damn elf was too quick, easily pulling them back.
"And the favor is?" Evelyn bit her tongue on a curse.
Sera stepped close enough that only the two of them would hear what she said next. "Alright, look. I'm only gonna say this once, yeah. Just. Once. Then it's never gonna get said again, right? Say 'right'."
"Right." Evelyn would have said anything if it ended this nonsense.
Sera looked around furtively and then said, "Krem." Then she shoved the papers at Evelyn and turned to go back in her cubby hole.
What?
"Wait! Sera! What?"
Sera didn't turn around. "Once!" She shouted.
Krem?
"But, Krem..."
"I said, ONCE, you big perv, now do I go find Commander Poncy Priggy Pants or what?"
Evelyn just took her things and bolted, deciding she didn't need told twice.
She made her way back to their quarters wearily. She wanted to sketch. She also wanted to jump Cullen and tear his clothes off, but the day had worn on her more than she anticipated. Their room was dark and empty when she entered, Cullen likely still with Alistair. She lit a few candles and decided to draw at her desk and wait for Cullen rather than fall asleep alone.
She immediately set to work on the Queen's request. Always best not to keep a monarch waiting. Exactly as ordered by his apparently dirty-minded wife, Evelyn drew the Templar turned Warden turned King, the veritable trifecta of sex appeal, sitting upon his throne, the flanking Mabari sigil of house Theirin on a crest above his crowned head.
Evelyn took time embellishing the scenery. She bashfully avoided committing to any detailed depiction of Alistair's crown jewels. Before long, the candles burned down, her energy burning down along with them. She fell asleep with her face resting on Alistair, drooling on a likeness of his bare chest.
Evelyn dreamed.
...
She was sitting on her own throne. It was dead of night and dark with only dim moonlight illuminating the main hall. It was silent but for the soft and wanton moans escaping her own lips. There was someone next to her, cradling her in strong arms coming around her from behind where she sat. One warm hand roamed over her breasts which were bared to the air, her tunic parted and hanging off her shoulders. Another hand caressed at her throat alternating light touches and firm squeezes making her gasp for breath when she was released. Heated words spilled over the lobe of her ear.
"Tell him what you want, love."
The voice belonged to Cullen. The hands and the scent and the presence. All Cullen. Of course it was Cullen, but what had he asked her to do? Tell who, what?
Her dream-self opened her eyes and looked down. The sight made her roll her eyes back up into her head, shutting them tight against the utter improbability of what she saw.
The King of Ferelden smiled up at her from between her bare legs before he dove face first into her bare sex.
"No." Cullen ordered low and sultry against her ear. "Watch him."
Damn him, she obeyed, wrenching her lust heavy eyes open to gaze upon Alistair humming into her, suckling at her and, Maker Above!, the sounds of him, the sight of him, the feeling of him, all felt too real to be a dream though she knew it was. She embraced it, letting herself go. She was determined to stay in the Fade with these two gorgeous men until she found her peak if she had to bargain with a demon to do it.
She let herself moan loudly at Alistair's attentions. It was a dream, who cared if anyone heard her? It was the right response apparently, because dream-Cullen growled his approval.
"Yes." He said, the hand at her throat tilting her chin up for a kiss. He held her there, devouring her mouth as Alistair devoured her from below. When Cullen pulled away to allow her breath, he gave her another order. "Say his name. Tell him what you want."
"Alistair please," she pleaded sweetly, never taking her eyes from Cullen, "please let me come."
"Good girl." Cullen praised her as Alistair set to the task of inflaming her to the point of combustion. "Look at me and say his name when you come."
It didn't take long. This was the greatest dream ever. She felt the fire build at her core, Cullen's eyes burned into hers, she was so close, almost there, sweet Maker...
"Alistair..." She moaned, "Oh, Alistair..."
...
"Alistair!" Evelyn shouted out loud from half-sleep and she woke with a start, hot and sweating, an almost-orgasm tingling between her legs. Her dream-fogged eyes snapped up and saw...Fuck!
Cullen loomed over her, eyes enraged, voice full of thunder, "WHAT?!"