Alec woke up earlier than usual, no doubt because he'd forgotten to draw the heavy curtains shut last night. The room was brightly lit, and a little chilly. Squinting in the sunlight, he rolled over to cuddle up against Dorian some more, but the bed was empty. Immediately, fear gripped his heart like an ice-cold fist. So he's run away after all. Of course. It had been foolish to expect Dorian to stay for the night. He was probably regretting their night together already and-

"Alec. You're awake." The sudden surge of relief on hearing Dorian's voice was so great that Alec had to bite back a sob.

There he was, right next to the window. He hadn't left, he was still here. And now he was walking over to the bed, and Maker, he was completely, gloriously naked. Alec knew he was staring, but he didn't care, and he wouldn't have been able to stop himself anyway. So fucking beautiful. Dorian's body was everything he'd ever dreamed of, well-muscled, with strong shoulders and a smooth, firm chest, tapering down nicely to a slim waist. And now he turned around, surveying the room with an air of smug satisfaction, and the view from behind was even more spectacular.

Alec made a small strangled noise, and Dorian threw him an amused glance over his shoulder. Look at the way he's smirking. He knows exactly how hot he is.

"What's the matter?" Yup, Dorian was positively preening.

"You… Blight it Dorian, I shouldn't even tell you, because you're quite big-headed enough already, but you-" Alec swallowed hard. "You're so incredibly gorgeous."

"You think?" Dorian purred, looking uncannily like a sleek, well-fed cat. "Thank you. I like to keep in shape."

"How do you even do it?" Alec frowned as the thought occurred to him. "It's not as if you ever lift a finger unless you have to. Is there some trick that only mages know about? A secret spell?"

Dorian stretched voluptuously. "Ah, wouldn't you like to know? But yes, let's stick with spells, by all means. Evil blood magic, to keep me forever young and beautiful. It's traditional, isn't it? And you seem quite happy with the results."

Alec snorted. "Why don't you come back to bed and let me have a closer look?"

Dorian complied with a grin, sliding under the covers with him, and that was nice, too, even though it meant Alec couldn't ogle him anymore. "I was admiring your quarters, actually. They look comfortable. Hardly Fereldan at all."

"Move in with me, then." Alec didn't even think before the words left his lips. It seemed a perfectly reasonable course of action to him.

Dorian went stiff, laughing nervously. "I didn't mean it like that. I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Alec shrugged. "But, really, why don't you move in with me? I want you here, every night, every morning." The mere thought made his mouth water.

"Are you serious?" Dorian swallowed. "I thought, now that you've had your fun-"

"Dorian!" To say that he was irritated would have been an understatement. "Blight it, if it was fun I was after, I could have gotten it elsewhere, easily. I want a lot more." Alec felt his throat go tight. "I want all of you."

"The things you say…" Dorian looked at him for a long moment, then sighed deeply. "You mean it, don't you?"

"Of course I do." Alec reached out to run his finger softly down Dorian's cheek.

"But…" Dorian leaned into his touch, but there was still a deep crease between his brows. "If I stay here with you, everyone will know about us."

"And why shouldn't they? Look, I won't flaunt it. I'll be discreet if you want me to. But you're not my dirty little secret." Alec felt another quick surge of anger.

Dorian glanced at him, and, to his surprise, laughed softly. "Not much of a secret anyway. I doubt there's anyone in Skyhold who didn't hear you last night."

Damn. Was it that bad? Alec looked down, feeling his cheeks heat up. "I'm sorry. Do you… mind very much, because if you do-"

"Alec!" Dorian firmly took hold of his chin to make him meet his gaze again. "I very much don't mind. Not at all."

"Oh." Alec couldn't remember the last time he'd gone through such a whirlwind of feelings in such a short time. Anger, embarrassment, fear, and now sheer joy and relief. "Good."

He lay back on the mattress, and Dorian followed suit. For a while they just stayed there, looking at each other, quiet and happy.

Then Dorian reached over, caressing Alec's right eyebrow with his fingertips. "So dashing. How did you get that scar?"

"It's a bit embarrassing, actually." Alec felt a blush rise to his cheeks. "Promise you won't laugh?" When Dorian nodded, he closed his eyes, recalling the events that had led to his injury. "I had just turned sixteen, and I had a… friend, a very good friend, a younger son, like me. Matt. He was two or three years older, and I looked up to him, worshipped him, really. Like a cool older brother." Alec paused, lost in memories for a moment. Looking back, it seemed so utterly clear to him that his feelings hadn't just been brotherly, but back then, he'd still been so confused, so uncertain of his own-

"What happened?" Dorian was listening with quiet attentiveness.

"Well…" Alec felt his blush deepen. "I'd never been with a girl, and when Matt found out, he decided he had to do something about it. He had an understanding with a merchant's daughter in town. Matt used to shower her with presents, he was really generous, and she would sneak him into her room at night and-". He broke off, glancing at Dorian. "It sounds sordid, doesn't it? But it wasn't that bad. She was in love with him, I think, at least a little. Besides, Matt was a good-looking guy, and he was an arl's son. Maybe she was secretly hoping for a noble bastard, a guaranteed lifetime pension. Anyway…" He took a deep breath. "Somehow, and I have no idea how, he persuaded her to let me join in the fun. An act of charity, he called it. We'd share her, and Matt could give me a few pointers, and…" He paused again, his cheeks flaming red by now. "Yeah. It sounded like a brilliant idea."

"But it wasn't." Dorian'Is lips were twitching slightly, but he wasn't smiling openly, and Alec was eternally grateful.

"No." He glanced down at the sheets, unable to meet Dorian's eyes. "Matt went first, you know, to show me how to… And when it was my turn, I was really excited, and eager, and he tried to help me and…" He raised his gaze, forcing himself to look Dorian in the eye. "The moment he touched me, I went off like one of those Orlesian firecrackers. There was simply no holding back."

"Ouch." Dorian was obviously doing his best to look sympathetic. "And the girl?"

Alec winced at the memory. "She… She wasn't happy. She didn't laugh or complain, but the way she looked at me…" He closed his eyes again. "I was mortified, and confused, and right then, I heard a noise from the hallway, and I panicked." He tried to laugh, but it sounded forced. "I bolted and made for the window, but I stumbled and fell and went straight through the window pane. Of course the racket set off her parents, and Matt and I just about made it out into the street before they caught us. My face was badly cut and I couldn't see a thing because of all the blood, but somehow we escaped, leaving most of our clothes behind. Needless to say, that put an end to their trysts. Matt was furious."

Dorian could no longer hold back a soft laugh, but there was genuine sympathy in his eyes as he reached over to stroke Alec's cheek. "Poor you. What a nightmare. It's a miracle you didn't end up taking Chantry vows."

"It was a close call." Alec felt better already. "Well, Matt forgave me eventually. My wounded pride took almost as long to heal as my face, though."

"You could have lost an eye." Dorian traced the outline of the scar, through his eyebrow and along his cheek, a hint of concern in his expression now.

"I know," Alec confirmed earnestly. "I was lucky, really. Though for quite a while, I was seriously worried the scar would ruin my looks."

"Alec!" Dorian shook his head, torn between anger and amusement.

Alec caught his hand and breathed a kiss on his palm. "Well? Are you going to move into my quarters? Now that you know my deepest, darkest secrets."

He'd put on his most winning smile, but Dorian remained serious. "Alec, I… I need time to think. Please."

Regret struck immediately. Stop badgering him. You'll only chase him away. "Of course. All the time you need." Alec couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so anxious. Just please say yes.

Jim was the first to tell him, early in the morning when he arrived with the mail. Accompanied by lots of huffing and hemming, he dutifully reported that the whole castle was abuzz with gossip about the Inquisitor and "the Tevinter". Cullen thanked him with a quick nod, but refused to comment on the matter.

Cassandra showed up about an hour later, and seemed relieved when he told her he'd already been informed. Really, it was grotesque. When Cullen crossed the courtyard at lunchtime, a gaggle of maids by the washing lines were giggling and chattering like geese, pointing up at the pretty stained glass windows of the Inquisitor's quarters. Poor Alec. What a nightmare, to have to spend his day running the gauntlet of knowing looks and whispered rumours.

As if his thoughts had summoned him, he found Alec in the mess hall near the kitchens, about to fill his plate from the big trenchers laid out on the side table. Cullen joined him with a friendly nod and grabbed a plate of his own. They sat down together at one of the long trestle tables, eating in silence.

Cullen rather admired Alec for coming down here for his repast, instead of having the servants bring him food to his quarters. But he seemed relaxed enough, even faintly amused when one of the guardsmen whistled at him and gave him a thumbs-up. Cullen glared at the man in his stead, and he promptly fell silent and ducked away.

They had nearly finished eating, when Alec finally spoke. "Thank you, Cullen. I appreciate your restraint."

When he responded with a questioning look, Alec elaborated. "You're the first person today who hasn't made some sort of suggestive remark or asked about last night. It makes for a nice change."

Against his will, Cullen felt his face grow hot. "It's none of my business. I'd never presume-"

"And yet you must have an opinion." There were tiny laugh-lines around Alec's eyes, and Cullen mentally shook his head. If I were in his place… "Come on. Tell me."

He cleared his throat. "As I said, it's your own business. But…" He looked straight into Alec's face. "Dorian obviously makes you happy, and you deserve a little happiness, considering the magnitude of your task. Of course, if he was compromising your leadership in any way, it would be different, but-"

"No worries." Alec smiled blithely. "Cassandra would never stand for that."

Cullen didn't even know why he felt such a sharp pang at those words. "No," he agreed, and fortunately, the tremor in his voice was too small for Alec to notice. "No, she wouldn't."

"Madame Vivienne? You said you wanted to see me in private?" Dorian eyed the Enchanter without attempting to hide his curiosity.

Vivienne tended to be friendly, if guarded, in his presence, but she'd never invited him to her suite before. She had made herself quite comfortable. Her little corner of Skyhold looked as if it had been transported in its entirety from an Orlesian palace.

"I wanted to talk to you, darling, discuss a few things, now that you're the Inquisitor's official paramour." Vivienne clucked disapprovingly and eyed him from head to toe. "That changes quite a lot of things, as I hope you realize."

"With all due respect, Madame de Fer, but I'm hardly Alec's official anything!" Dorian shook his head. "How do you even know that we-"

"My dear, don't pretend to be more stupid than you are. It doesn't suit you." Vivienne's perfect left eyebrow shot straight up until it nearly collided with her elaborate headdress. "Of course everyone knows about the two of you. It's all people have been talking about today."

"Venhedis!" Dorian swore softly. "I told him we should have been more discreet. But Alec wouldn't have it. He even wants me to move in with him and share his quarters."

He'd expected a scandalized outcry, but instead, Vivienne nodded firmly. "And quite rightly so. Ah, it's obvious our dear Inquisitor comes from a long line of aristocrats. He has excellent political instincts."

"What?" Dorian felt his jaw drop and just about managed to avoid an unflattering expression. "Are you telling me you approve of this hare-brained notion of his?"

"But of course, dear!" Vivienne tutted at his reaction. "He's perfectly right. If the Inquisitor wants to enter into such an ill-advised liaison, and yes, I think it's most decidedly ill-advised… If he wants to do so at all, then it's by far the best strategy to be completely open about it." Raising her silk-clad arms as if to deplore his lack of understanding, Vivienne continued. "Just imagine both scenarios, if you will. Scenario One: The Inquisitor has a secret affair with a mage from Tevinter." Vivienne did a fair imitation of a gossiping maid. "That blood mage has been sneaking into his Worship's room again. I bet they're up to all kinds of horrible things. Mary saw them kiss, imagine that!" She returned to her normal voice. "It would be a gossip's paradise, rumours, sordid tales, and exciting revelations. Scenario Two: The Inquisitor tells all the world that he's taken a lover and they settle into happy, boring domesticity. Some complain, others approve, but all in all, public interest soon dies down, because there's nothing more to tell, nothing to speculate about." Vivienne shrugged. "Much preferable in my humble opinion."

Dorian didn't know what to answer. What she'd said did make a lot of sense, much as he hated to admit it. And yet… Instinctively, he latched on to the first thing she'd said. "But you do think it's ill-advised. Just like Mother Giselle, you are scandalized by the nature of our relationship."

"My dear, much as I respect the Revered Mother, I'd like to point out that I am nothing like her." Vivienne's lips had set into a thin line. "I was merely alluding to the fact that you're a citizen of the Empire. I worry about the Inquisition's good name, yes. But I'm also a woman of the world, and as for your relations with the Inquisitor…" She laughed briefly. "You would have to sink to far greater depths of depravity to scandalize me. Contrary to your assumptions, I won't judge you for following your heart. You have nothing to fear from me, if you indeed care for our sweet Alec."

Once again, Dorian was lost for an answer. When he found his voice again, it sounded strangled. "I do. My apologies, Madame Vivienne."

"Accepted." Vivienne nodded regally. "See? It's easy. Move in with him. It won't make things worse, and it will make him happy." For a moment, Dorian almost thought he could detect a hint of warmth in her smile, but it was gone so quickly, he was sure he'd imagined it. "Of course, as I said before, there are a number of ramifications we ought to discuss…"

With a sigh, Dorian resigned himself to another long sermon. One thing was certain: Only the prospect of embracing Alec again tonight was going to carry him through this day.

Hugs and thanks to the best beta ever, my wonderful friend suilven. :)