I am starting to write these out of order, sorry about that! Depending on how out of order these get, I am starting to post some separately. For example, I already have one pre-romance scene up (titled In Your Head if you want to check it out!) separately since it takes place well before these and I didn't want this to get too confusing.

Thanks so much to my beta LadyMoriel for being awesome and always willing to help. You all should check out her stuff because it is great

Although he would never admit it, Dorian found himself avoiding Elden during their return journey from the Winter Palace. It was a fairly easy task considering how busy Elden was meeting with his advisors and planning their next move. Every time they stopped to camp, Elden would immediately be swept off to the tent they used for their meetings, which unfortunately left plenty of time for Dorian's imagination to run rampant. Dancing at the Winter Palace had been unwise, but kissing the Inquisitor there on the balcony? That was beyond foolish. He of all people knew that even an empty balcony didn't mean privacy. No doubt the moment they returned they would be overrun with letters and ultimatums demanding the Tevinter Mage be removed from the Inquisitor's side. He couldn't help but come up with countless scenarios outlining just how bad things could get for Elden, let alone the Inquisition as a whole.

Apparently, Dorian was making it a habit to break every rule he had for himself regarding relationships. He was determined to be more cautious, and yet once they returned to Skyhold, Dorian found himself standing on the far side of the hall staring fondly at Elden as he charmed more dignitaries Josephine was introducing him to. Staring fondly at someone across a crowded room was an incredibly foolish thing to do. When you were engaged in an illicit affair, you didn't want to make it too obvious, after all. Dorian thought he had overcome that particular tendency long ago, but with Elden he just couldn't seem to help himself. This wasn't the first time he had found himself just staring, a silly affectionate grin plastered on his face, at Elden. The man had done so much and helped so many that a lot of people looked at him with awe. Hopefully Dorian's affection could be mistaken for something similar, but he had already made things so much worse and he needed to stop. He had to get control of himself, particularly if Elden was to salvage any of his reputation.

But then Elden looked up and caught his eye. To Dorian's astonishment and horror, Elden smiled back at him. That smile was so full of affection that a few of the people in the hall actually turned to see who Elden was looking at. Dorian ducked into a hallway, hoping desperately that none of them had seen him. What was the fool thinking? Didn't he realize that this dalliance could ruin him if he didn't learn to be more careful? Skin prickling with unease, Dorian stalked off to his corner of the library. He needed to think and perhaps find something to drown himself in.

After nearly an hour of sitting (and pacing) unproductively with his thoughts, Dorian decided to confront the Inquisitor in his chambers. If this was going to happen, it was best to get it out of the way sooner rather than later. Finding the room empty, he poured himself a glass of brandy while he waited, cursing himself for how apprehensive he felt. He had been through this many times before; he didn't know why this time felt different. He had decided from the very beginning to do all he could for the Inquisitor, and making this next step easier for him was the least he could do.

He let his eyes wander the room as he waited. It was mostly spotless apart from the books littered across a side table and stacked in various corners around the room. He himself had left them here during lazy afternoons when they would do nothing more than sit in each other's company and work. For some reason he was touched that Elden had left them where they lay. Then, of course, there was Elden's desk, which was covered in notes and letters. Elden never had been very good at keeping up with all of it. Dorian couldn't help another affectionate smile. He caught himself and smothered the emotions welling within him as he reminded himself why he was here. It was best not to think about any of that. Experience told him it would hurt less. Later, back in his own room, he could drown everything with more alcohol until he stopped seeing the Inquisitor's face every time he closed his eyes.

All too soon the door creaked open and the Inquisitor hurried up the stairs. When he spotted Dorian he gave a brilliant smile, and Dorian downed the rest of his brandy, beating down the swell of emotions.

"Marvelous business, the Winter Palace," he said casually, setting his glass down as an excuse to look anywhere but at the Inquisitor. "Saving the day, reconciling lovers, mediating a civil war… so sugary, it's nauseating. All this dancing, politics, and murder makes me a bit homesick." He sighed with exaggerated wistfulness.

"That's something you'd like to do more often, then?" Elden asked as he approached.

"Watch as you twist an entire empire around your little finger? Yes, please." Focus, Dorian. "Of course, that leaves only Tevinter, and it wouldn't work as well there."

"No? Why not?"

"Our dances are so much more intense. If an evening lacks a murder, we sniff and call it a bore."

"Well, if you keep helping me practice my dancing I'm sure I'll be able to hold my own," the Inquisitor said, but he looked a bit uncertain as he tried to discern the meaning behind Dorian's words.

This wasn't what Dorian had wanted to talk about. He didn't want to think about how devastated the Inquisitor had looked when they found so many dead in the servant's wing and how the death toll in Tevinter would eat away at him if he ever did go. He didn't want to think of all of the mages, many of them men and women Dorian had considered friends once, who would love to get their hands on the Inquisitor—and he certainly didn't want to think about the experiments and all of the different ways a person could be kept alive long after they should have expired from loss of blood or- He shook himself slightly. No, there were other things that needed to be addressed.

"I hope you tried the ham they were serving, by the way," he said. "Tasted of despair. Fascinating. But really we should move on to more pressing matters. "

"Oh?" The Inquisitor's eyebrows furrowed, which was frankly adorable and not at all helpful. "Such as?"

"Oh, come now," he said, keeping his voice light, flippant. He was good at that. "I know you've heard the rumors. The evil Magister has the ear of the Inquisitor. No good can come of that. And after our display on that balcony I think we've gone a bit beyond that. It's amazing, really, how long we've managed without slipping up."

"Slipping up?" Elden asked, frowning. "Is that how you feel about it?"

"The pariah was always bound to tarnish the reputation of the Inquisition eventually," Dorian continued as if Elden hadn't spoken. "The smart thing would be for you to cut your losses before any more damage can be done."

The Inquisitor froze for a moment, just staring at him. Then he took a stepped forward, pulling Dorian close and wrapping his arms around him. Dorian hadn't realized it, but with Elden's arms tightly around him he could feel himself trembling. He closed his eyes, burying his face in Elden's shoulder. He wanted to memorize the feeling of him, so sure a moment like this would never happen again.

"Of course there are rumors, but no more negative ones than before," Elden said softly in his ear. "I spoke to Leliana. Their reports are actually more favorable than not. But it doesn't matter what anyone says. I'm not going to push you away. Besides, I hate to break it to you, but I've done more controversial things than being with you."

"You must be mistaken," Dorian said, voice muffled in Elden's shoulder. "What could they possibly have to talk about more interesting than me?"

It was hard to banish that fear, that part of him he thought to be so completely ingrained in him that it had simply become who he was. He was starting to think that maybe it hadn't after all. Here, wrapped in Elden's arms, he could almost believe things really would be different this time. He felt himself slipping ever further into this, whatever this was, and he knew that at this rate it wouldn't be long before he was lost completely. It was terrifying, but Elden tightened his embrace and Dorian thought maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all.

Dorian pulled away, clearing his throat and steadying his nerves. "Right, enough of that then. This brandy isn't going to finish itself. Care to join me?"

Elden smiled. "I'd love to."