I Dreamed a Dream (of banana pancakes) - A Dragon Age Inquistion Fan Fiction by Foxfire79 (Cullen/Inquisitor)

Disclaimer: I don't work for Bioware, nor have I ever been involved with the creation of any of the characters within the Dragon Age universe. I'm just playing with them (as we were meant to). The only original characters are the ones I created in-game, and have brought over to the fanfic universe: Ceridwen Cousland, my human female rogue Grey Warden from DA:O, Rhiannon Hawke, my female rogue from DAII, and most importantly Lilah Trevelyan, my human female rogue Inquisitor who is currently breaking heads and taking names while tearing around Thedas. Apparently I like being a rogue, human and female. Who knew?

Phew! Sorry this took so long, there's been a lot happening! So I'm thinking this is probably the second last chapter, the penultimate chapter if you like. Everything's just getting wrapped up in a neat little package. Thanks for sticking it out, folks! This is the last chapter from Lilah's perspective, and we return to Cullen's POV in part eight, which SHOULD be the last chapter. Then again, back in the beginning I said this was going to be a two part story so what do I know? May take a while for me to type it up as I am back at work, and getting home every day completely exhausted. Weekends are for writing, and gaming! So I'm going to tell you guys this now too, my next story featuring Cullen and Lilah is going to be entitled 'Running the Gauntlet'. It will feature the many trials they face while trying to get to know each other while the Inner Circle and Advisors try to 'help' them out as well as they can. Hijinks ensue, and adult situations. I can't wait for you guys to read it!

Previously...

She reached the top of the stairs and noticed a familiar yellow glow emanating from Ser Cullen's door. Magically sealed. She imagined the other two doors would be similiarly locked. She sighed and walked slowly back down the stone steps, heading back towards the Main hall. There were only a few minutes before the War Council meeting. She'd surely see him there. She might be able to steal some of his time after the meeting to discuss the events of last night, and figure out where they stood. She couldn't just leave these feelings unexplored. 'Find him. Find him and tell him. He'll understand.' Maybe this is what Fiona was talking about. Discussing her feelings with Ser Cullen so they could come to some sort of... agreement? Or so they could start courting, perhaps? They were almost beyond courting now though, after last night. Hopefully they'd be able to find some sort of happy medium. The way she was feeling right now, though, they'd just have to come to some sort of solution where they could be in a room together without either (a) ripping each other's clothes off, or (b) not being able to speak to or make eye contact with each other. There was a lot to consider. She only hoped she'd be able to find the perfect compromise.

Now...

Lilah took a deep breath and pushed the door leading up to the Map room corridor open. Josephine was already missing from the vestibule. She couldn't hear anyone talking in the Map room yet, so she pushed the door open, entering the echoing chamber. It was indeed empty. She decided to use the time to peruse a few of the available operations on the map. The hand-cast pewter pieces were so pretty, so detailed... She picked one up in her right hand, and another in her left. They were quite heavy as well. The one in her right hand had a highly intricate Inquisition symbol engraved on it. The one in her left hand was a carved tree, representing the Hinterlands. She lifted the Hinterlands marker a little higher in front of her.

"Oh, help us, please help us Inquisition! We have a nasty hole in the sky spewing out demons and all sorts of awful things! Whatever are we to do?"

She moved the Inquisition marker a little closer.

"Of course I'll help you! But in return... give me all of your Elfroot!"

She bounced the Hinterlands piece in her hand, shaking it from side to side.

"Oh no, we couldn't possibly do that! We need our Elfroot for healing! Is there anything else we could possibly offer you?"

She tilted the Inquisition marker sideways, as if in thought.

"Alright then. Give me... six Elfroot. And some gold."

Lilah nodded the Hinterlands' tree as if in agreement.

"That's more like it."

She pressed the two pieces together, pretending they were shaking hands over the deal.

"Very well. We have an accord."

Lilah thrust the Hinterlands' marker back towards the table, bouncing it up and down excitedly.

"Everybody, crowd around and look awestruck. The Inquisitor is going to help us, for a reasonable price!"

"Sky-hole, begone!"

"Huzzah! We're saved! Ready the Elfroot and gold! Can we offer you a strapping young man to spend the evening with?"

"No thank you, the Elfroot and gold will be just fine."

"Huzzah again! Come, shake our hands and kiss our babies! Gah!"

Lilah's play-acting was interrupted by a slow clap emanating from near the doorway. The Iron Bull was leaning against the wall, trying and failing to stifle a laugh. His mirth gave way after a few moments and he moved further into the room, standing at her side beside the table, rescuing the markers she'd dropped. They looked positively tiny in his huge hands.

"I don't think that recount was entirely true, Boss. I don't remember kissing any babies after you sealed those Hinterlands rifts."

Lilah looked up at him, her cheeks red from being caught 'playing' with the map.

"It was just a little poetic licence, nothing more. I do get rather tired of everyone making such a big fuss about me. If I don't joke about it sometimes, it's more likely to drive me mad."

Iron Bull nodded, nudging the pieces back into place. He grunted softly at her last sentence.

"I guess that's true. If you take this whole 'Herald of Andraste' thing too seriously, you'll eventually lose all your friends. You'll be 'too good', almost on par with your Maker, or Andraste herself. The equivalent for me would be if Koslun himself appeared before me and asked me to help him write a new chapter of The Qun. I can't even imagine what you go through on a daily basis. I'm not surprised you had your... ummm..."

Lilah sighed and pushed a stray lock of hair back behind her ear. She turned her back to the table, leaning against it. Iron Bull did the same, sitting a few inches away from her. He knew she liked her personal space.

"My little breakdown?"

Iron Bull chuckled, giving her a light punch on the bicep. Lilah kept herself from grimacing, but knew it would bruise up overnight. He had tried to be gentle though.

"If that's what you're calling it, then yeah, your little breakdown. Though, you do seem to be a lot cheerier today. Did something happen last night?"

Lilah gazed across the room, not really focusing on anything, then smiled.

"Something... did happen, yes. I spent some time, just doing some things that I wanted to do, nothing Inquisition related. Then I got a good night's sleep, after about a week of not sleeping very well at all. I woke up feeling better. I spoke to all of my friends today, something I haven't done in ages, just walking around, not questing, nothing dangerous. Just everyone, all in one place, safe and relaxed. I think I needed this. I think..."

Lilah stopped, mid sentence, shocked by what she had been about to say. Iron Bull smiled, and nodded.

"You think you needed a day off. A holiday. Am I right?"

Lilah let out a breath, relieved.

"Maker, yes! I know I'm not supposed to want things for myself anymore, because of the whole 'Inquisitor' situation, but... It was so wonderful waking up mid-morning and knowing there was no way we could set out anywhere because it was too late in the day. Is it terrible of me to want some time to myself? I understand I'm the only one that can close the rifts, but I was so exhausted. Leliana being tortured at Redcliffe was the last straw. I've been living off sleeping draughts and stamina potions for the past three days. Frankly, I was surprised I was still speaking in coherent sentences by the end of yesterday's meeting."

Iron Bull rested his left hand on her right shoulder, giving her a friendly squeeze.

"That's not selfish, Boss. That's normal. This is the first time in what, five months, give or take? Five months of endless work, traveling, closing rifts, fighting demons, stabilising regions... I think you're entitled to some time to yourself at least once every five months."

Lilah giggled.

"So I'll write another day off in for just after Feast Day then? Sounds like a plan."

Iron Bull chuckled at that as well.

"Careful now, Boss. Soon everyone will be asking for personal days. You may have created a monster."

Lilah glanced at him, grinning.

"It's alright, Bull. I'll keep it quiet, and I'll keep my selfishness to a minimum."

Iron Bull smiled back down at her.

"Everyone needs to be a little selfish sometimes, Boss. But look, here comes the rest of your merry band of misfits!"

The door was indeed opening, and in came Solas, Cassandra and Varric, closely followed by Leliana and Vivienne. There was a slight chill wind to Lilah's left, and she jumped when she realised Cole had just materialised beside her. He gave her a small smile before his face became obscured once again by the wide brimmed hat he insisted on wearing, even indoors. The door flew open next, thunking heavily into the wall behind it, making everyone jump. Dorian and Sera stumbled into the room, both looking slightly the worse for wear. They winced simultaneously as the door swung back, slamming behind them.

"Well, so much for making a quiet entrance..."

Dorian threaded his arm through Sera's and paraded grandly up to the table.

"My Lady Inquisitor. We made it. As you know, Sera and I are both terribly hung-over, so if you can keep this meeting brief, that would be brilliant."

Sera rolled her eyes, but kept her arm threaded through his. It was highly likely it was the only thing holding them both upright.

"Go drown in your hair products, drunky. I'm hung-over from last night, whereas you... well, I've never actually seen you NOT drinking. Are you ever sober?"

Dorian blinked at the elven girl.

"Sera! You wound me! I can assure you I am perfectly capable of hurling well-aimed fireballs while being highly intoxicated. It's something I learned to do in Tevinter, but it seems to be useful everywhere."

Lilah shook her head. She was fond of Dorian, but honestly...

"Dorian, I'm not sure that's something to be proud of..."

Dorian grinned, dipping his head in defeat.

"Very well, then. I shall strive to be more respectable in the future. Only because YOU want me to, though. Inquisitor's privilege."

Vivienne laughed behind her gloved hand.

"I think I'd like to see that, my dear. You, being all respectable and trustworthy. I might die first."

Dorian raised an eyebrow in Vivienne's direction, throwing her a cheeky smirk.

"That could be arranged... My Dear."

Cassandra huffed, and stepped up to the table.

"If you two are quite finished..."

Vivienne looked down, still smiling, and Dorian went back to leaning heavily on Sera's shoulder. Sera stifled a yawn, then looked around the room.

"Oiy, hang on. There's still people missing. We can't start 'til everyone's here. Because if we do start and then people start showing up late, we'll have to go back over everything we've already said, and I'm really not in the right mood for that sort of pish today, yeah?"

Cassandra threw her hands in the air, exasperated.

"Uh, fine! Five more minutes."

Luckily, the door opened almost immediately. Blackwall entered, then gallantly held the door open for Josephine who had been following closely behind him.

"My Lady."

He gave her a slight bow as she came in behind him, and her cheeks turned a pretty pink.

"Why, thank you, Ser Blackwall. That's very... sweet of you."

His voiced dropped a couple of octaves, to a deep, gravelly growl.

"It was the least I could do, My Lady."

Josephine's hand fluttered up to her throat, as her cheeks grew even pinker.

"Oh My... But I can see everyone else has already arrived. My apologies for my lateness. Something urgent came up..."

Blackwall coughed, and moved to stand beside Varric. The dwarf gave him an appraising look but said nothing. Cassandra cleared her throat, bringing everyone's attention back to her.

"Well, now everyone is here we can get started."

Lilah looked over at the Seeker, surprised. Not everyone was there. Where was Cullen?

"Ser Cullen will not be attending this meeting. He sends his apologies but he is still not feeling the best. He hopes he will be able to catch up on everything tomorrow."

Lilah didn't know if she felt relieved or not. She needed to see Cullen, but she also needed to put her friends at ease. Maybe it was for the best that he hadn't shown up now. They could have their much needed chat after the meeting, she'd just have to figure out how to bypass the magical locks on his office doors. Solas could probably help her out with that. He owed her that much, surely. Cassandra gave her a glance, then went to stand behind the map table with Leliana and Josephine. Leliana stepped forward, leaning against the table as she spoke, still favouring one leg over the other.

"I believe The Inquisitor wished to make a brief speech before we started this meeting. Trevelyan, the floor is yours."

Lilah stepped forward, turning to face her companions, then realised she had her back facing towards Jospehine, Leliana and Cassandra. The three women noticed her quandary and stepped around the table, coming to stand in front of her with the rest of her companions. Lilah smiled and took a deep breath.

"I'm going to have to thank you all for your patience, firstly. This past week has been a trial for everyone, especially Leliana, but luckily for all of us we escaped from Redcliffe with no permanent damage done. If anything, the Inquisition is even stronger for having come through this. Word of mouth is spreading, and more people join our cause every day. The thought of that many people depending on me... I just didn't know what to do. I felt that if I'd let our own Spymaster almost get killed, how could I possibly protect anyone else who came to fight under our banner. That also compounded with the fact that my three older siblings all died at the Conclave, leaving me the last of my father's line, with all the responsibility that brings along with it..."

There were sounds of sympathy coming from the group before her, and a couple of gasps. Leliana stepped forward, grasping Lilah's forearm.

"Trevelyan... Lilah. I didn't know about your brothers' dying at the Conclave. I'm so very sorry for your loss. If there's anything we can do...?"

Lilah smiled, her eyes a little teary, but shook her head.

"It's fine, and I'll grieve in my own time. I already informed my parents just after the event, and they know that I am to remain with the Inquisition as long as I'm needed. I will eventually have to leave and take Deacon's... I mean, my rightful place as heir to the Trevelyan name. Hopefully that won't be for a while. There is still so much to do. Which is the point I was getting to. We've been languishing about Skyhold for three days while I've been feeling sorry for myself. I've decided to put a stop to it. As of now, my life is, once again, property of the Inquisition. We'll be setting out early tomorrow morning, back to the Hinterlands, to close those two rifts we found out about in Hafter's Woods. From there, we'll look for the Mercenaries' Fort and clear it out. We'll collect any resources as we go, like we usually do, and Ser Morris wants us to be on the lookout for more logging stands and quarries. He says there's more that we can do to make Skyhold better, he just needs those resources and no-one else is available to go out looking. Oh, and one more thing: I need to kill a dragon."

Iron Bull made a victory fist and punched the air.

"Yes! Please tell me I'm going with you, Boss? I need to be there for this!"

Lilah pointed at him, grinning.

"Absolutely! Any other volunteers?"

Sera raised her hand, and in doing so also raised Dorian's hand.

"We'll do it. Dragon's are bad-arse, but we're... badder-er."

Dorian looked at his arm, confused as to why it was in the air.

"What did you just volunteer me for?"

Sera looked at him, stifling another yawn.

"A splendid party, with lots of big hats. Oh, and slaying a dragon."

Dorian's brow creased, and he rubbed his hand over his eyes.

"Fine. But if I wake up in Rivain wearing nothing but my smallclothes, I'm blaming you."

Sera giggled, wiggling her eyebrows up and down at Lilah. Lilah chuckle-snorted, then looked away.

"I also realised I haven't sent any of Leliana, Josephine or Cullen's agents out for three days, and this needs to be remedied. So..."

Lilah perused the map and moved the three Inquisition markers to three available missions. The last one was to gather gold for the coffers. You could never have too much gold after all. Josephine wrote the changes down in her ever present writing board, and ended the last word with a large flourish.

"Ah, now I feel accomplished. We're back in business... so to speak. I will inform my people and Cullen's men of their new tasks. Was there anything else...?"

Lilah raised her hand, gaining everyone's attention back.

"I just wanted to say one more thing. It's just... without all of you, I wouldn't be able to run this Inquisition at all. The fact that you are all such strong, independent individuals, with such varied opinions and advice... It's given me a much broader way of looking at things. Sera keeps me down-to-earth, Vivienne keeps me fashionable, Varric is constantly entertaining, Cole keeps me in touch with the spiritual side of things, Iron Bull gives me new plans of attack, Solas always lends us the elven perspective, Blackwall is always stepping in front of attacks to protect me, be they verbal or physical, Dorian is constantly trying to get me to relax more, and Cassandra... well, Cassandra keeps me in line. Without all of you... I'd be a mess. So thank you. Thank you for helping me, thank you for being there for me, and thank you for understanding when I mess things up occasionally. I'll try not to do it too often. That's it. Meeting adjourned."

Dorian seemed to be blinking back tears.

"Come here, you daft thing!"

He drew Lilah into a crushing hug.

"I'm going to blame this on the alcohol later, so don't bring it up in conversation ever again. You don't need to thank us, Lilah. We're your friends. Friends look out for each other, and friends need to be told when half your family's just died and you need some time to grieve. We knew something was wrong, we just didn't know what. Don't keep any more secrets from us, or at least from me, because I swear I'll find them out somehow. Probably by plying you with wine. Do you understand?"

Lilah could feel a tear running down her own face now, but she was still smiling. She felt relieved.

"I... yes, Dorian, I understand. No more secrets."

She felt his lips brush the top of her head, then he finally released her, stepping back. His eyes did look rather misty.

"There now. Nobody else has to hug you and get all embarrassed because I've done it for everybody. And if this meeting is adjourned, I'm going to grab something to eat, then have an early night. To clarify, an early night with no more wine, because we're going out dragon slaying tomorrow. Sera, Iron Bull, I suggest you do the same. We'll need our wits about us. Those beasts are wily."

As he spoke, the bell rang alerting them that dinner was ready. The room was a lot calmer than it had been the previous night. They all drifted to the door, rather quietly, when Iron Bull pulled Lilah gently aside.

"What is it, Bull?"

He glanced at the others heading out the door, then leaned down to whisper in Lilah's ear.

"I just wanted to tell you one thing: Sometimes I sneak in here and play with the map markers too."

Lilah looked up at Iron Bull, her face incredulous.

"You do not! I can't even begin to imagine... Seriously?"

Iron Bull chuckled, scratching behind his right horn.

"Oh, it's true. I just can't help myself. They're like a set of toy soldiers but for adults."

He leaned closer, to whisper again.

"I even do voices. Not as good as yours, but still... they deserve personalities."

Lilah's smile turned into a full-blown grin. Maker's Breath!

"Iron Bull. I think you've just made my day. And now I'm going to have to check and see if you're in here every time I walk past, just to see if you're interacting with the world map."

Iron Bull laughed, making the others turn around and stare at him.

"Good luck catching me, Boss. For a big guy, I can be VERY stealthy when I have to be. All that Ben-Hassrath training comes in handy..."

He started heading out the door, throwing an over-the-shoulder wave back at Lilah as he left. Leliana was waiting for her by the door, looking worried.

"Inquisitor... Lilah, I... I don't know what to say. I'm your Spymaster, and I didn't know that your siblings had died at the Conclave. That is a grave error on my behalf, I should have known about this, at least given you some time away with your family to grieve..."

Lilah placed a hand on Leliana's arm, and raised an eyebrow.

"How were you supposed to know? Have you become a seer? You don't know absolutely everything about absolutely everybody, that would make you some kind of demi-god. Frankly, I find you terrifying enough as it is. This small oversight... it makes you seem more human. Honestly, I think I've been better away from my parents then I would have been if I'd gone home. Mother would be nagging at me to get married, even more so now that I'm the only one left. No, the right decision was to stay here. I may visit them at a later date. With soldiers, under strict orders to drag me back to Skyhold if Mother gets too clingy."

Leliana's lips had curled into a slight smile when she realised Lilah had almost quoted her own words from the previous day back at her.

"Would you like a ceremony for your brothers? Perhaps some memorial stones set up in the Garden?"

Lilah shook her head.

"It wouldn't be fair to everyone else who died there. Why should my brothers get a memorial when so many others also died. No, I'll remember them in my own way, maybe set up something away from Skyhold that I can go and visit, and think about them. Thanks for the offer though."

They walked out the door behind everyone else and headed down to eat. Lilah found she was starving, after only having had pancakes for dinner the previous night, and almost nothing to eat the three days prior to that. Even Sera was impressed by the sheer amount of food Lilah packed away. After her third plate of ram chops and assorted vegetables, she'd finally been sated. She started to leave, then saw the large platters of fruit left out for dessert. She grabbed a hand of bananas, suddenly inspired. As she was stepping away from the table, Blackwall approached her, grabbing a couple of peaches for himself.

"Maker's Breath, you're not going to eat all of those, are you? I saw how many plates of main course you ate, you put Sera to shame."

Lilah looked down at the bananas and smiled.

"Actually, I was going to go to the kitchens, see if I could make myself some banana pancakes for a midnight snack. But with staff in there, actually watching me this time. I don't want to almost burn the keep down again."

Blackwall looked at her, thoughtfully.

"Are you sure you're making them for yourself? It's only that I've heard Cullen talk about how much he likes banana pancakes, and well... there have been rumours..."

Lilah looked up at the bearded warrior, puzzled.

"Rumours? Regarding what exactly?"

Blackwall looked away, scratching his beard.

"You know, rumours. About The Inquisitor and The Commander. Being... intimate... Maker's Balls, do I have to spell it out?!"

Lilah could feel her cheeks turning red again. Rumours, already?

"When did you hear these rumours, Blackwall?"

Blackwall thought for a moment before answering.

"They started back in Haven, actually. And have grown ever more rampant since we came to Skyhold."

Lilah let out a breath, and sighed. Clearly these were just rumours, nobody could have possibly seen her and Cullen together last night, nobody had been around at all, unless you counted Cole following them around. And Cole had had enough trouble telling HER what he knew. They were just rumours. For the moment, at least.

"There's nothing to those rumours, Blackwall. There's nothing between the Commander and I..."

Her voice dwindled in the middle of her sentence, and she realised Blackwall was giving her a sympathetic look.

"You just... you don't have to look so sad when you're denying it, My Lady."

Lilah gasped, covering her mouth. She hadn't realised what expression her face had settled in when she'd started answering. To think she'd actually looked disappointed while she'd been saying it, to Blackwall of all people... Maker. He glanced away, over to where Josephine was sitting, and his eyes softened.

"I may not be the best person to be giving you any advice on this matter, My Lady, but Cullen... I think he would be receptive to any advances you made towards him. I've seen him watching you while you train, the poor man could barely take his eyes off you. Though his being a templar and all... I don't know how much experience he would have had with women, let alone with relationships in general. He's extremely competent at ordering troops around, but dealing with women... I think he may still be a novice. You'll have a lot of work to do."

Lilah smiled, looking in the direction of Blackwall's gaze.

"I'm not afraid of a little work. I run this entire Inquisition, don't I? But this is all hypothetical at the moment anyway. I told you, there's no truth to those rumours."

Blackwall turned his gaze back to her and raised an eyebrow.

"No truth yet, My Lady. No truth yet. Give it time."

Sera picked that moment to come over to the dessert table, and Blackwall wandered over to her, ending his and Lilah's conversation.

"Sera. Catch!"

He threw one of the peaches at her, and she deftly caught it.

"What's this for, then?"

Blackwall grinned, his cheeks turning a dark shade of red, even visible beneath his beard.

"I believe I owed you a peach. As a gift, a thank you, for certain... skills you told me about. They were greatly appreciated. GREATLY appreciated. You have my thanks."

Sera grinned, taking a bite out of the fruit.

"Next time I'll show you how to tie a cherry stalk in a knot using only your tongue. That comes in handy for many, many things..."

Blackwall barked out a laugh, turning to leave.

"I'll bet it does..."

Lilah wandered off toward the kitchen with her bananas, hoping some of the cooks would still be there. The male cook from their meeting that morning was still there, and was happy enough for her to use the utensils and cooking fire. After a few burned attempts and some rather dodgy shapes, Lilah managed to create a stack of mostly round banana pancakes, hopefully enough for Cullen to enjoy for a late supper. She assumed he hadn't eaten anything all day, seeing as she hadn't seen him anywhere and nobody else seemed to have either. She didn't think she'd be able to keep a hot chocolate hot going all the way to Cullen's tower from the kitchen, so she filled a flask with cold milk and sealed it, placing it and the pancakes in the small backpack she'd brought with her. If the doors were still magically sealed, the only possible way for her to get into his office was to climb in through the roof. She knew there were holes large enough for her to climb through up there, so it seemed the most logical choice.

She headed back to the same staircase she'd approached his tower from that afternoon, and sure enough the door still had that yellow glow emanating from it's edges. Solas certainly had been thorough. She slung the backpack over her shoulders, and found some secure hand holds, starting her climb up the outside of Cullen's office tower. This time the climb seemed to be a lot easier. Hand holds and foot holds seemed to appear before her eyes, always right where she needed them, as if by magic. She glanced down below, just to make sure Solas wasn't casting any spells at the wall as she was climbing it, but no-one seemed to be beneath her, or nearby. It must just been sheer dumb luck, or skill. Probably luck.

She made it onto the roof in under fifteen minutes. The sun was starting to set, and the colours from up on the roof were just breath-taking., such pinks, golds and purples as she'd never seen before. The colours seemed purer up here, possibly because Skyhold was so high up in the mountains. She wished Cullen was up on the roof to see it with her, then frowned at herself. She wasn't here to be romantic with the man, she was here to discuss what had happened the night prior. Though the things she'd been hearing about him, that she'd learned from Cole and from Blackwall, made her want to skip past the conversation and move on with the romantic part of the evening. Not that she knew there was going to be a romantic part of the evening. For all she knew, Cullen was hiding out because he didn't want to see her again. She sighed and spun on her heel, turning around to edge closer to the hole in his roof, when there was a loud cracking beneath her feet. Then her footing fell away, and down she went..

"Balls!"

She landed on something soft, thankfully, but then found herself being restrained, her arms stretched above her head and a heavy weight settled across her abdomen and legs. She opened her eyes and found herself staring into Cullen's slightly confused hazel eyes. He was still wearing the rumpled red shirt from the previous night, and he looked like he hadn't had a wink of sleep all night or day. His stubble was twice as thick and dark as it usually was, and his usually neat hair was quite mussed. He looked utterly masculine and handsome, and he was pushing her down into his bed. His mouth gaped open, as he suddenly realised who had literally fallen into his lap.

"Li... Inquisitor?"

He'd almost called her by name. Last night had actually happened. Maker's Breath! Lilah blinked up at him, squirming a little bit under his weight. He noticed her moving, but still didn't loosen his grip. It was possible he thought he was dreaming, much like she had thought so last night. She smiled at him brightly, relaxing back into the pillow. It would be easier not to struggle.

"Hello."

He squinted at her, as if still trying to understand how she'd just fallen through his roof and into his bed.

"Ummm... Hello?"

Lilah rolled her neck to the side and looked at him, a small smile playing across her lips.

"Cullen... We need to talk."

END OF PART 07

Sorry it's a cliffhanger, I know, but it was the best place to break it off for the beginning of part eight. Which will be coming out within the next month, hopefully. Reading back over this I've actually really enjoyed reading it as much as writing it. I hope you guys continue to enjoy this as I'm having a lot of fun writing it! As always read, review and enjoy!

Foxfire out!