Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Age.

Forbidden Love

Chapter 7

Ashlynne huddled deeper into her cloak as she entered the Hanged Man later that evening. Carver had departed from their uncle's house nearly an hour before, just before sunset. As much as she hated to make Cullen wait that long, she knew her friends would be deep into a game of Diamondback when she walked into the tavern. It would lessen the chance she would be seen by one of them.

Varric was holding court at the group's usual table, surrounded by her brother, Fenris, Anders, Merrill, and Aveline. Isabela was probably upstairs in her room with some man. Carver looked up as the door opened and his sister, but his brain didn't seem to register that it was her under that cloak. Ashlynne saw him watching her and had to stop herself from running across the tavern to the stairs. She saw Carver turn his focus back to the game and she breathed a sigh of relief.

As Ashlynne made her way to the stairs, she did not look towards the table again. She reached the last door at the end of the hall without a problem. Knocking softly on the door, she waited anxiously for Cullen to open the door. It opened a crack.

"Who are you?" A man's voice came through the door that somewhat sounded like Cullen, but Ashlynne wasn't sure.

"I am meeting someone here. Maybe I have the wrong room." Ashlynne lowered her head just enough so some light could shine on her face. The door immediately opened wider.

Cullen wasn't standing in the doorway, but to the side so no one would see them together. Ashlynne stepped into the room and closed the door behind her quickly. She turned to her husband and smiled.

"I am so sorry to keep you waiting, but my brother is currently downstairs playing Diamondback with the others." Ashlynne explained. Cullen just smiled down at her.

"Ashlynne, it is all right, I understand. I am just glad you were able to join me tonight. Are you hungry? I ordered some dinner to be sent up in a little while."

"Yes, I could eat." Ashlynne felt nervous because this was the first time that she and Cullen had been truly alone without the real fear of being caught by Templars or anyone else. A knock sounded at the door just then, startling them both.

"Yes?" Cullen called softly.

"I have your dinner, sir." A barmaid said through the door.

"Please just leave it outside the door."

"Yes, sir." They heard the sounds of the maid setting the down the tray and walking back down the hallway. Cullen waited until the footfalls of the maid died away before he opened the door to retrieve the tray. He took it over to the small table in the corner of the room. Ashlynne followed him, eying the bed. Cullen saw what she was looking at and turned to her.

"I know what you are thinking and if you are not ready, I understand."

"Cullen, we have been married for over four years, I am ready. I just wish I hadn't messed around like I did when I was a teen." Ashlynne replied.

"Sweetheart, I do not care about your past, I just care about our future. I do have one question though."

"What is it?"

"How do you wish to go about preventing of you conceiving?" Cullen questioned cautiously.

"Umm….I am not sure. I think we should eat first and just relax. We do not get to do this very much. Let's just enjoy each other. All right?" She lifted the lids off the dishes to see what the maid had brought. "Looks very appealing." She said sarcastically. She was looking at what appeared to a pile of mashed up leftovers.

"I am sorry, Ash. Maybe I should have just brought food with me. I didn't realize that the food here was that bad." Cullen tried to explain.

"I could have told you that." Ashlynne laughed. "Maybe we should just move on to the main event." She teased nervously. Cullen pulled her into his arms and kissed her gently.

"I think that is a good idea." He smiled as he leaned down to kissed her again.

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