Cullen's Decision

Chapter 10

Disclaimer: You know the drill I'm sure. Bioware's characters, I don't get paid, I just love Bioware and playing with dolls.

Cullen

The hallway to the war room seemed much longer than normal, and he was sure some extra steps had been added. He paused and looked at the wall that had yet to be repaired, bricks diving across the floor. The Inquisition would have to get a mason in to fix that up. It was rather drafty, leaving their papers with a tendency to skitter around the war room. Someone from Serault had been in to fix the windows at least, and SHE had good taste.

Cullen squared his shoulders and entered the war room, taking up his standard position in the middle of the table. Only Josephine had arrived thus far. They were like sisters… she had to know! But she only smiled at him, in the same way she always did. Or was it? It was hard to tell, his headache had been particularly bad after he had left Trevelyan's chambers. He mimicked a smile back and tried to focus on the big map. Focus and restraint! The map markers were all over the place. Sera must have been in to move them, he was sure of it!

The door banged open and Leliana and Amylia strolled in together. The spymaster was saying something about blue velvet with gold buckles. Shoes? He contained his snort as Leliana took her place to his right. Trevelyan stood directly across from him, hands on the table, examining the map carefully.

"So that kid… Sutherland? He saw some suspicious activity in this area…" She gestured. "Can you equip him and send him out with one of your patrols? It shouldn't be too dangerous, and he could point out all the noteworthy… things. In that area."

"Inquisitor." He nodded, meeting her eyes, professional despite his brain quite possibly leaking out of his ears. She offered him a small upturn of the corner of her mouth. Not a smile, but it could have been under different circumstances.

"Josephine, if you could pull some favors, we need to find that magely fellow. We'll see about the DuParaquettes soon, yes?" Cullen had no idea what this about… yet.

"Of course." The Antivan accent betrayed no surprise at the request.

"Leliana, we had Zevran Arinai requesting a distraction from the crows, if you could handle that." Leliana nodded. "Annnnd apparently, I have to attend a ball. What can you tell me about these people? Celene I know is Empress, and Duke Gaspard is an asshole. So why is he trying to assassinate her, and how are we going to stop the plan?"

Cullen jumped in, "Grand Duke Gaspard. He was first in line to inherit the throne after the old Emperor passed, but Celene outplayed him at the game winning over the council. The chevaliers still follow Gaspard however, leaving Orlais' military divided, and a civil war in every corner of the country."

Leliana cut him off. "We shouldn't look solely to Gaspard however. There is an elven ambassador, Briala, who is supposedly a jilted lover of Celene's. The Game can get messy, and it would not surprise me to find out that there is more going on here than even those two."

"Ok then. I'm going to get dressed. You three will be joining me in the ball room, and I'll bring some others in case I need to sneak off." He looked at her, eyebrow raised. "It's a sound plan! I'll probably have to snoop around! Let's see…. I'll need Dorian, because he's probably used to these soirees, and Iron Bull because spy, and….. Cassandra!" She said the last name with such delight. Cullen watched Josephine cover her face and shake her head, however no protest was forthcoming. "All right. Dismissed. Josie and Leli, I'll meet you in a few minutes in my chambers to discuss dresses and shoes. Hair maybe too."

He started, "And for me?" simultaneous to her "I'm sorry." Surprised, he waited for her to continue.

"I'm sorry I ordered you to take lyrium. I know it's touchy, and it's your decision. I just… I didn't sign up for this job you know? Maker this sounded so much better in my head. I didn't sign up for this, and I kind of was a kid. Spoiled, and being forced into the chantry and then here I am, but I can DO this. If I'm going to do this, I have to make the hard decisions and then I have to accept the consequences. Losing you as a general, or a … lover… That's a consequence I do not find acceptable. If you have to take the lyrium to do the job, that's what I want. I know you are strong enough not to, that you could continue without it…" she petered out and stumbled over her words. She looked at him. "It's your decision."

Lyrium or no. Stay or no. "I'll give it some thought… Amylia." She breathed out a sigh, and started to leave the war room.

"Front gate! Morning! Be ready for a grand game of ballroom intrigue!" And she was gone. She certainly was an intriguing one.