In the Exalted Plains, relentless , cool breezes are whispering among this ancient forest.
For years and years those trees grow, without paying any attention to the internecine souls of this land.
On Evelyn's fagged face, mottled and spotted, sheds the shadow of lunar light. Trees may crave calm, but the wind will not silence, just like her restless heart.
The affection in Cullen's kiss is still making her heart ripple gently, but the light in her eyes is even more lonesome than the languid moon floating among the ripples.
For the sweet taste of missing him is somehow mixed with a slightly bitter and leaves her no drowsiness even after a hard day.
"She was beautiful, with her slim figure dressed in an exquisite robe, her dark hair and deep blue eyes not far off the colour of indigo night sky."
The starry sky just reminds Evelyn about Leliana's description of her encounter with the Hero of Ferelden.
The description she once thought as elegant as a poetical fantasy, is now a ruthless reality beyond her reach.
Disconsolate and distracted she paces to the campfire, hopes the flickering sparkle could expel the sleeplessness.
A lieutenant is writing reports by the fire, Evelyn smiles at him and motions him to continue.
With her eyes upon the envelopes bedside him, Evelyn discovers that there is a special mark on the top right corner of every prepared envelope.
"What is the meaning of it?" She asks the lieutenant curiously.
"It means you are safe, milady, Commander's order, he wants to know you are unharmed as soon as possible." He replies.
"Oh, um..." She can feel her heart leaps up while the rose's dye upon her cheeks spreading over her face and neck.
"Since when..." Evelyn does not know what to do with her bashful, only hopes her blush could be merged into the reflection of the flame.
"After you back to Haven from the Redcliffe Village, milady." The lieutenant pretends not to notice her flush.
"I see, and please carry on." Evelyn engraves her missing for Cullen on the mark with a gentle touch, but unaware of the corners of her mouth has curved up into a smile.
She remembers the anxiety upon Cullen's face after she arrived Haven with the information that the Redcliffe had been taken by Alexius.
"Herald," He stopped her after the war council. "I know Leliana and Cassandra prefer the mages, but I am not certain you are aware of the risk completely." He looked at her with a concerned expression, a little too concerned she thought.
He was protecting her since she joined the Inquisition, and she never denied his protection, even more dependent, as if she has the duty to accept his protection.
"I will reconsider it, Commander, but I hope you could know that the Templars are unpredictable as well." Evelyn said regrettably, she knew he held his Order in high regard, and she can not bear he was seen as a renegade by Lord Seeker in Val Royeaux.
"It is not about the Templar, cannot you see that?" His voice was becoming irritable, "You are allowing yourself to get into danger, Evelyn."
In a short but embarrassed silence, they both realized that it was the first time he called her by first name. The hall of the Chantry, no, the whole world had suddenly gone quiet, they could only hear the echoes of two thumping hearts.
"I...um...I mean...um..." Cullen looked at her bashfully and stuttered nervously. Maker, he must think of her quite often so that her name just blurted out. He tried to think of something to say but his mind just went blank with an increasing heartbeat.
For the first time in her life, Evelyn blushed with butterflies in her stomach. The tenderness and protectiveness behind his amber eyes were like the morning dewdrops, silent and soft, they moistened the opening petals in her heart.
A florescent heart which used to be nothing but a boundless wilderness.
Under the towering trees, Evelyn stands there in a trance, gazing across branches to the endless firmament, yet feels little of the leaves rustling wantonly, or of the moon that burns on indigo high.
For whom should the embriums by the roadside grow red from year to year? With a tender caress of an embrium flower, she wonders, for it is hard for them to meet, but separation is harder still.
It is hard for them to meet, but separation is harder still, Cullen lies awake thinking. With a bittersweet sigh, he reaches under his pillow and takes out an envelope.
Does the campfire warm enough for her? Does she eat well? Does she feel scared when she is attacked by the demons or undead creatures? Does she...
Staring at the mark on the envelope, Cullen is flooded with his endless thoughts. The reports always detail her actions but always lack of something.
"Is this what you want?" He could never forget Evelyn's words after he told her about his struggling with the Lyrium. In his whole life, undoubtedly he has known what he should do, yet never has days when he thinks about himself.
And there she was, caring about his own aspiration with extraordinary patience and great confidence in him. He was so amazed at how tolerant her heart is and how her petite fairy figure fits such an indomitable soul.
Cullen could not figure out why she said that before the departure. All he knows is that she never gives up on him, even after she saw his worst, she still believes in his best.
Besides, he knows that look, the same look he gave to her when he told her to walk away, the look which covered true feelings with insincerely words.
Why must they hurt each other with love?
"Unspoken love is hurt." Cullen is startled by the sudden appearance of Cole.
"Hesitant and uncertain, perturbed and reserved, the direction of heart can be changed completely with a small variable."
Then the boy vanished after he handed Cullen an embrium flower.
Only with the hazy evening remaining, the moonlight on the flower is like a quiet dream at an enchanted night, drifts here and sweeps over his heart.
Gather rosebuds while you may, wait not till the bloom is away, the embrium flower somehow eases his mind and makes him fall asleep.
Overlooking the distant snowy mountains, Evelyn finds the tower of Skyhold is loomed in ethereal cloud and mist.
She tries to ignore her troubled minds knowing she will see Cullen soon, but she could not even hide the blushes every time at the thought of him.
She tried to push him away when she left the Skyhold, but her determined mind only lasted a few seconds before she got lost in his kiss. She has already lost this fight when she kissed him back irresistibly.
Unconsciously, she is already in the Skyhold. "Cole?" Evelyn finds the boy is waiting for her beside the stable.
"Safe and solid, protecting and proud. He feels like quiet, stronger when you hold him." Cole said.
Hesitates no more, Evelyn runs to Cullen's office. She cannot understand her disturbed mind anymore. Something needs to be said.
"Cullen," Before he could say a word, Evelyn opens her lips with moist eyes, "I wish your heart be but like mine." Her eyelashes are trembling just like her heart.
"My heart is yours, Evelyn." Cullen steps closer to her and looks deep into her eyes, his voice is soft but cannot be more determined.
Evelyn could see her own reflection in his eyes, there is no one else but herself, there is nothing else but his love. Nothing needs to be said.
With one hand upon his heart and another on his shoulder, she raises herself on tiptoe and gives him a long, tender kiss on his right cheek.
After kissed her tears away, Cullen touches his forehead to hers and holds her tightly, like two trees with branches twined from spring to spring.