"So...can I just...?"
"Hm? I'm sorry, did you say something, Herald."
"Nope! Nothing at all, Josephine! I'll let you get back to work."
"Varric guessed that I have at least an hour until something life-threatening happens again. I sort of figured that extended to you, as well."
Cullen's head tilts to the side, hesitant. "Oh?" Then, he chooses to humor me, the scarred side of his mouth lifting just a bit. "Any suggestions on how I should enjoy this hour-long freedom?"
"Yes." I kick at a chunk of snow, absently twirling Sister in my left hand, her obsidian blade gleaming in the sunlight-drenched-snow. "There's a logging camp just up the path a ways, and Threnn requires it to make new weapons for your soldiers. I also believe there is something of interest there for Adan, and I would like to look."
His moment of humor over, Cullen glances behind me at the recruits. "Really, Herald, I have to-"
"No you don't." I insist, sheathing Sister across my back and catching Cullen's arm when he tries to walk by. I shove him back to face me. "You really don't, because technically you're still working. The Inquisition needs these weapons, and as the Commander of said Inquisition you should inspect the materials these weapons come from. So..." Shrugging, I begin walking backwards towards the wooded path. "You're coming. Also, there's no way I'm going alone."
And then I turn and trot down the path as if I don't care whether or not he follows. Undeniably, I do; my training is just too strong to allow a minor emotion such as 'nervousness' through.
Upon returning from Redcliffe, mages in tow, preparations were quickly made to close the Breach, but somehow I found myself lost in the hustle and bustle. Everyone had a task, and it seemed all were intent on completing it. For once, no one was asking me for my opinion, and I didn't quite know what to do with this newfound freedom.
I eventually wandered past the camp, noting Cullen was lightly engaged with the recruits, then found my way to Varric's small fire by the wall that divided the chantry courtyard from most of Haven. He had been the one to suggest I find something for Cullen to do with our free hour of 'no saving the world', or else 'our Commander might continue to spend his days with a much too serious expression on his face'. I couldn't lie to Varric and say that the thought of getting to know Cullen wasn't tempting, but I didn't have to. The dwarf chuckled, winked at me, and mumbled something about how he should get paid for this shit.
So I sifted through my journal and found the remnants of some tasks the townspeople needed that I had simply never found time for. My walk to the camp consisted of spinning a way to present this to Cullen so that it would appeal to his workaholic nature, and presently I'm leaning against a tree, counting to twenty to see if the Commander takes me up on my offer.
"Eighteen..." Snow shakes into my hair as a bird lifts in flight. "Nineteen..."
"Twenty."
I jump from the tree as Cullen grins, amused, leaning in my place. He has shed most of his armor, replacing the 'furry Ferelden' look for a more simple tan tunic and black trousers. I run a hand over my hair, knocking the powder from it.
Cullen shrugs. "Forgive me. I've had very few chances to sneak up on rogues and that...the opportunity presented itself."
I laugh. "Fair enough, Ser. Shall we?"
He nods and we begin tramping a new path through the fresh snow, uncovering the beaten trail as we go.
"It occurs to me, Commander," I say as we walk. "That I don't know much of you."
"You've heard my history as a Templar, Herald. Beyond that, what do you wish to know?"
I had quizzed him in earnest about his time in Ferelden's Circle, and then regarding the years he spent in Kirkwall, but any other topic seemed too difficult to breach amongst Haven's camps. Now, in the woods, it seems possible.
"You grew up in Ferelden, no? Family, then?"
Cullen chuckles. "This hardly seems fair."
"A question for a question perhaps?" I suggest, and he consents. "Alright, so?"
"A brother, and two sisters. You?"
"My elven sister Serina, and my human brother Caible. Where in Ferelden?"
"Honnleath in the southwest; a part of the Arling of Redcliffe. It's not known for much, except this statue in the town square."
I glance at him. "A statue?"
"Hm. A recreation of a golem from Orzammar, or somewhere of the like. Anyway, it is my turn, I believe?"
"If you insist."
"What brought you to the Dalish?"
"An accident." Is my simple answer. Cullen notes the bluntness with a glance, but says nothing. "Did you leave anyone behind in Kirkwall?"
"You mean...?" A slight blush tints his cheeks. I smirk. "Um...no. There was always the Order, and my family was in Ferelden."
"No one has caught your...interest, then?"
"That's two questions, Herald." He deflects. "But no...no one in Kirkwall."
I laugh, choosing not to linger on his cryptic confession. "Oh, I apologize! Did I make the chantry-boy blush?"
The red of his cheeks deepens, much to my amusement. "You picked this ribbing up from Varric, didn't you?"
"A lady never tells." I grin. "But Ser, if you stopped making baffling you so amusing, I would be less tempted to do so. Regardless," Breaking through the treeline, a cabin sits within the clearing, just before the wall of rock that surrounds Haven. The perfect area for a logging camp greets us, as well. At the treeline, Cullen stops, but I continue walking backwards, giving a deep bow. "I do beg for your forgiveness, Commander. I leave my punishment for such childish behavior in your hands."
Before my confidence wanes I spin around and slip into the cabin, nearly tripping over a stack of papers. Despite that obstacle, little else clutters the cabin aside from a cold fireplace, a bed, and a brewing station. Gathering up the papers, I examine them and determine these must be the notes Adan was looking for. I turn back to the outside, my nose buried in the documents, making sure to bump the door closed behind me.
"It looks like these could be for-" A snowball hits the wall in front of me, barely missing my nose by an inch. Ever so slowly, I tilt my gaze unto the Commander who stands just past the treeline, hands clasped behind his back and whistling.
When he meets my gaze, he shrugs. "What?"
"Was that my punishment?"
"Well, I had planned on hitting you with the-" His explanation is suddenly cut off by a snowball exploding across his left shoulder. "You can't retaliate on a punishment!" Cullen reprimands, stooping low to gather more snow.
"Can too!" I shout, rolling behind a stack of logs. The notes are set to the side as I begin preparing snowballs and stacking them to my left. "Besides, a snowball fight isn't exactly 'professional punishment!'"
"You never said it had to be professional!" A snowball flies over my barrier.
"And you never said I couldn't-" I pop up and fling one in the vague direction of where Cullen used to be. "-retaliate?" The clearing is suddenly empty, so I hesitantly stand, scanning, listening, for if he snuck up on me once, shame on him; should he be able to do so a second time, then shame on me.
A twig snaps to my left. I barely have time to dive over the stack of logs before a snowball is lofted. The projectile grazes my side, but I use my momentum to spring out of the roll and onto my feet, throwing snow behind me while I begin to run, stumbling through the packed snow.
"Oh, so close, Commander!"
"Stay still!" He laughs, his voice far closer than I expected. Rather than glance behind, I keep running, stumbling, throwing loose snow at every opportunity. Snowballs hit the trees to my left and right, each getting closer. As we reach the treeline where we first entered the forest, I get an idea.
In a moment of tactical genius, I swing around the last pine tree, grabbing a low branch and pulling. The bow resists until I release it, shaking the entire tree, snow cascading down just as Cullen catches up and lunges. We explode out of the treeline in an avalanche of snow and laughter, my genius burying us almost completely.
"Holy-" I clutch my sides in mirth, brushing snow from my face and sitting up. Next to me, the snow is disturbed and I reach over to help Cullen emerge, clearing the snow from his waist up. "I am so-" Another bubble of laughter cuts my apology short.
Rather than scold me, Cullen joins my laughter, his cheeks glowing from the cold and the exercise. His normally immaculate hair is disturbed by a dusting of snow and pine needles; the way the corners crinkle illuminates the shine of his usually serious gold-colored eyes. Sitting here, up to our waists in childish mischief and snow, Cullen looks happy and content, appearing his thirty years, rather than the thirty-eight the stress lends to his features.
My hand absently finds his arm as we snicker in the snow, leaning to rest my head on his shoulder. Cullen looks up, resting a hand on my knee. "That was-" He begins to say, stumbling just the slightest bit.
Behind us, someone clears their throat.
I gasp and spin, finding Cassandra staring at us from the main camp, along with every recruit and soldier lingering amongst the tents. At the gates of Haven, a cluster of nobles gawks in our direction, Josephine standing at the steps, pinching the bridge of her nose. No one moves; every jaw drops.
My face lights up with a burning blush. I close my eyes, biting my lips to keep from laughing as I finally turn to Cullen. His expression is similar to what mine must be, if not redder. Ever so slowly, we stand, brushing ourselves off.
"Um..." He mumbles, brushing snow from his hair.
"Uh...thank-you, Commander for..." I struggle to find words under the interest of what must be at least fifty people.
"Accompanying you." He mumbles, covering his face with his hands.
"That!" I nod, furiously. "For accompanying me to retrieve-um-these. On that note, I should present these notes to Apothecary Adan so he can...note them."
Cullen snorts, placing a hand over his mouth.
"Shut-up." I hiss, shoving him. He stumbles back into the pile of snow as I retreat, stomping past the soldiers camp, giving Cassandra a wide berth, and trotting up the steps to Haven. At the top, I turn and bow to the still wide-eyed nobles. "The Inquisition welcomes you to Haven, Sers. I do hope you enjoy your stay."
I mouth 'sorry' to Josephine as I slip past the gates.
A/N: Three things.
1.) Thank you for reading. Any feedback is appreciated.
2.) There was just so much snow around Haven! I had to!
3.) Shale. According to the wiki, Shale.
