It was dark out and Dorian's candle had long since burned down. He sat there just staring at the amulet, eyes strained and so, so tired. That's what he got for working two days straight, but it was better than trying to sleep. Things were not going well. He imagined banging his head against a wall would be more fruitful than talking with the other magisters. And with more attempts on his life, he was more fidgety than usual. And one of his supporters had been assassinated. And his mother had come to see him.

Every time he stopped working his mind would race, going over all of the dangers not only for himself and his people, but for Elden as well. He had been with Divine Victoria for the past month or so, protecting her while they attempted to reform the southern Chantry, which was dangerous enough. Then there was the matter of the Anchor. Sure, it was gone, but what if it really was still killing Elden?

That conversation they had in the carriage on the way to Kirkwall still haunted him. What if Elden really was still dying? Was Dorian once again wasting the time they had left like he had during those two years before the Inquisition had disbanded? He just wanted to be with Elden for whatever time they had left, so what was he even doing here? Why had he abandoned Elden again? He kept telling himself that this had to be done, that this was his only chance to take advantage of his father's seat, but at times he hated himself for it.

Dorian sighed and slammed his pen down, scrubbing at his face. Did he really have to decide between Tevinter and Elden? Could he decide between the two? Elden had made it easy, because that was what he always did, and as usual that left Dorian free to do the selfish thing. And sure, Dorian was supposed to be here for the sake of the Inquisition as well, but honestly Dorian would rather watch it all burn then risk Elden.

This train of thought was getting him nowhere. All Dorian knew was that he didn't want to be alone with his thoughts. Even if he couldn't see him, he wanted to at least hear Elden's voice and know he was safe. That would be enough for the moment at least. Dorian sighed, picked up the amulet, and opened it to see the glittering crystal within.

"Amatus," he whispered as the crystal flared to life, half hoping Elden would be asleep.

"Dorian?"

Damn. "I'm sorry, amatus. I need—" He had been about to say "you" but that wasn't fair of him. He sighed and rubbed his free hand over his face, trying to keep his voice steady. "Can you talk?"

"It's a shame," Elden said with a light laugh. "It would have been perfect if you'd just waited a few more minutes to call me. But then I never did have very good timing."

Dorian froze, his heart pounding in his ears. What was happening? Was he okay? "What are you talking about?"

"I'm two blocks away."

"What?"

Dorian snapped the amulet shut and sprinted out of the room, not even bothering to grab his cloak. He burst out through the front door and ran down the darkened and empty streets, his heart pounding against his ribs. Elden was here! What was the idiot thinking? He could get himself killed or captured! Dorian was all too familiar with any number of ways someone here would no doubt love to study Elden, Anchor or no, but they all ended in fatality and Dorian couldn't, he just couldn't.

He put all that out of his mind and as he rounded a corner and caught sight of a group of riders. At the lead was Elden speeding towards him, his entourage hurrying to keep up. Elden was grinning as he brought his horse to a sudden stop before Dorian and swung to the ground. It was difficult with one arm but somehow Elden made the movement graceful. Elden's grin faltered when he caught sight of Dorian's expression.

"What were you thinking?" Dorian snapped, his limbs shaking with fear and joy and adrenaline and who knows what else. "You're lucky you made it this far. Do you have any idea the danger you've walked into?" The man looked positively crestfallen, and Dorian decided to save all that for later. "Maker, I missed you," he said, taking Elden by surprise as he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him hard until neither of them had any breath left.

Elden always managed to fool the eye with his terrible posture, somehow hiding the fact that he was practically a bear of a man with those impossibly broad shoulders. More than once Dorian had been taken by surprise by just how much Elden enveloped him in his arms. Right now Dorian was particularly grateful for it because he wanted to feel nothing but him. It was impossible to get close enough and he could feel tears in his eyes as he felt Elden laughing with joy against him.

Someone cleared their throat loudly behind them and they reluctantly drew apart, although Dorian did not release his grip on Elden. But then Elden also kept his arms wrapped securely around Dorian's waist.

"Excuse me, serah," one of the soldiers said as she approached. "We really should get out of the street."

"Yes, of course," Dorian said, taking Elden's hand and leading the way, determined to get somewhere private as quickly as possible for more reasons than to just get Elden out of danger.

They lay together on Dorian's bed, limbs intertwined, holding each other tightly like they never planned to let go. They were both more content and at ease than either of them had been during the three months they had been apart. It was amazing, really. Elden thought he could remember everything about Dorian, from every detail of his hands, long and elegant and heavy with rings, or the feel of him in his arms, but none of it did the reality justice. Elden wrapped his arms more tightly around him, kissing his ear gently and trying to memorize everything about him all over again.

Elden recalled how desperate Dorian had been to hold him, kiss him, and Elden had no idea how he had survived. Even before all of this, before they had even met, Dorian had suffered here in Tevinter, denied this sort of closeness, and yet he still cared, still wanted to save them all, and that was why Elden loved him so much.

Now, Dorian was smiling, curled up against him, but Elden couldn't help wondering how long that smile would last. Soon they would be drawn back to their own tasks, to the loneliness that awaited both of them. Dorian deserved better. Elden hated to ask now, but this couldn't wait and it had to be asked in person. He loved this man so much and he would fight tooth and nail for his happiness, but what was he supposed to do when it was his own limitations keeping them apart? Was it cruel of him to want this so badly?

"We should talk," he said, and felt Dorian tense against him, his heart rate speeding up, matching his own. Elden hadn't meant to start it off so ominously.

"Indeed, amatus. A lot has happened since we last saw each other."

"Are you…" Elden started and faltered, not really sure how to start this. "Happy?" he ended rather lamely.

"Of course, can't you tell?" Dorian said in a clipped tone without opening his eyes, and Elden couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or not.

"Will you still be when I leave? You deserve to have this all the time," he said in a bit of a rush, wanting to get it all over with as soon as possible before he lost his nerve. "Is this enough for you? I just need to know that in a month, a year, more, that you aren't going to regret this."

Dorian sat up and pulled away, his expression disturbingly blank. Elden wanted to reach out and take him into his arms again but stopped himself.

"I suppose I was selfish, wanting this as well as to save my homeland," Dorian said in that flippant tone he took when he was trying to hide his true feelings. "It wouldn't be surprising if this didn't work out."

"Meaning what?" Elden asked, holding his breath.

"What?"

"We've sort of switched places, haven't we?" Elden began. "You were there for me through everything when I was Inquisitor, but now... It's cruel of me to not offer the same and expect you to be okay with just this, just a visit every few months if we can even manage that."

"I don't care about any of that. This was my idea after all."

"Then just tell me what you want," Elden said, frustrated. "Maker, sometimes it's so hard to get you to talk about what you want."

Dorian sighed and looked away, unwilling to meet his gaze. "This is enough for me right now. I sort of lost it a bit, and for that I apologize."

"No, that's not why I brought this up," Elden said desperately "I just wanted to make sure you still wanted this. So much has changed."

"I—" Dorian began hesitantly, looking at him again. "I can't lose you. I am selfish and cruel and I don't want to lose you. Do you still want this?"

"Always," Elden said with a smile, relief warming him from within.

"Always? Even if we don't see each other for another year?"

"Dorian, I love you so much. A little distance isn't going to change that. I don't want to lose you either." Elden reached out, running his fingers gently over Dorian's cheek. "So we're agreed? This is indeed working and we're both fine?"

"Are you going to do this every time we meet up? Because it really kills the mood." But Dorian smiled at him, covering Elden's hand with his own before they both let their hands drop.

"As long as you accept the fact that I won't stay away from Tevinter."

"No," Dorian snapped. "You're not coming here again."

"I think we've pretty much established that you aren't going to stop me," Elden said. "Wouldn't it be better if you helped smuggle me into Tevinter in the future instead of me doing it behind your back?"

"How did you manage it, anyway? Subtlety isn't exactly your greatest strength."

"Maevaris helped. And Leliana."

"Maevaris!" Dorian threw his hands up in the air. "Of course."

"We did a pretty good job if your spies didn't hear anything."

"Considering my spies are also Maevaris' it isn't surprising." Dorian trailed off and just studied Elden for a moment. "Don't do this to me, please," he said at last, reaching out and taking his hand. "I told you, I can't lose you to them."

"And what about me?" Elden said. "I'm just supposed to watch you take on all of Tevinter alone? Am I really that useless to you?"

"Do you have any idea the number of people who would love to get their hands on you?"

"I imagine they're the same ones who'd love to get at you, so I think we're about even. You might even be at the top of the list now that the Inquisition has dissolved and I've lost the mark."

Dorian sighed in irritation but he reached out, resting his free hand at the back of Elden's neck, and pulled him close until their foreheads touched. "You are a profoundly difficult man, but I do love you. Fine, but you know this has to be a secret. We mustn't make this too easy for our enemies, after all."

"Of course. I wonder if Sera would be willing to open a branch here in Tevinter?" Elden mused.

"What?" Dorian exclaimed, alarmed. "You can't be serious."

"No, think about it. That way I could be here, helping you, while still being under cover."

"Maker, that is the most idiotic plan I have ever heard." Dorian sighed, collapsing against Elden as they both lay back down together. Elden couldn't help but muse how well they fit together. "Although I suppose that makes it Sera's specialty."

"Otherwise, I am becoming a pretty good bodyguard," Elden said with a smile.

"You are not going to be my bodyguard!"

"Yeah, I didn't think you'd like that idea either."

"What about Leliana?" Dorian asked. "I thought you were working for her?"

"She wants me to become her right hand."

"What?" Dorian sat up slightly so he could see his face. "Elden, that's huge!"

"I... don't think I want to do it," Elden said, finally putting words to what he only now realized he'd been feeling since Leliana brought it up. "I'd be her enforcer. Sure, I'd be keeping the peace, but I'm just not sure I can be that anymore. I don't know where it would lead but I know I don't want to leave that sort of legacy behind, particularly considering what the Templar Order became. Besides, I want to be able to focus on stopping Solas. Being a Friend would give me more freedom. And keep me out of the spotlight. Once was enough for me. I'd rather not do it again."

"Of course, there is another option," Dorian said, settling back down again. "I've been in contact with Varric's friend Merrill. She'd been studying the Eluvians for some time and from what I've gathered has made quite a bit of progress with the information I provided her. She even has one at her disposal and I'm certain someone from the Inquisition could get us a few more."

"What? No, Solas owns them now. It would be incredibly dangerous."

Although it would be convenient if he happened to run into Solas in the Crossroads. Getting that confrontation over with would certainly save Elden a lot of time and worry. Of course, he probably wouldn't survive the encounter. But what if it was Dorian who ran into him? That wasn't something Elden wanted to think about. Yes, he wanted to stop Solas, convince him that he didn't need to go through with this, but if he killed Dorian, or any of his friends really, would Elden still be able to?

"We'd use two mirrors isolated from the larger networks, of course," Dorian said. "And we'd bypass the Crossroads entirely. I think that would be safest."

"Why do I have a feeling that if we are able to pull this off, it will be because Solas is letting us?"

"Because you're still thinking of him as an all-powerful god. He's just an elf and he's slipped up before. Actually, he tends to slip up more than not. The point is, we have options. We don't have to make this work with just the crystals."

"Good, because as much as I love your voice, I love being able to see you as well. And feel you," Elden added as he ran his fingers through Dorian's hair.

"That makes two of us," Dorian said with a smile as he leaned over him to capture Elden's lips in a passionate kiss.

As much as they both would have liked to remain wrapped in each other's arms, eventually hunger forced them to rise. Elden reluctantly crawled out of bed and began gathering up his clothing. He found his amulet in the pile and picked it up, but it rattled oddly. He held it up to look at it more closely, but Dorian leaned over and snatched it out of his hands.

"That one is mine."

"What have you got in there?" Elden asked with a confused smile.

"Ah, yes," Dorian said quickly, turning it over nervously in his hands. "I suppose now's as good a time as any." Dorian leaned over and pulled a small box out of the side table drawer and tossed it to Elden. "I thought it was about time we made it somewhat official and all that nonsense. I know we never really discussed it but seeing as we're still here I didn't think you'd mind if, well, I hung on to this."

As he spoke, Dorian popped open the amulet and dumped a ring into the palm of his hand. Elden stared at it, at a loss for words. It was the ring he had intended to give Dorian at the Winter Palace. His memory of everything that had happened there was still a bit hazy, but he had figured it had been long since lost. And besides, he hadn't actually thought Dorian was interested in exchanging rings, considering how he had reacted. But Dorian had been wearing it all this time, close to his heart next to the crystal in the amulet. Elden looked down at the box in his hand and quickly opened it, heart pounding in excitement and anticipation. Sure enough, inside was another ring, this one remarkably simple and so so perfect for him.

"Now, I know this wasn't exactly what you'd had in mind when you purchased mine and I'd understand if this is less than satisfactory and if you'd prefer not-"

Elden didn't let him finish. He pulled Dorian into a crushing hug and kissed him breathless feeling like he had never been happier than he was in this moment. "It's perfect," he whispered, resting his forehead against Dorian's.

"Ah yes, well, do avoid crushing the magister, please," Dorian said with a laugh, but Elden couldn't help but notice that he was clinging to him just as tightly.

"I love you," Elden said, kissing him again before pulling away slightly. "There's only one problem."

"Oh?"

Elden raised his left arm. Dorian laughed and the sound was like music to his ears. Elden found it difficult to joke about his hand for some reason, not that he was still disturbed by it or anything. Still, Dorian noticed the effort and as a reward pulled him close and kissed the arm, trailing up to his shoulder.

"Suddenly you're making jokes too, now are you?" Dorian asked, grinning.

"What can I say, you're a bad influence on me," Elden replied. "Seriously," Elden said, running his palm over Dorian's cheek. "I love you. You make me happier than I have ever been."

"I feel the same, but if I don't get some food in me soon I may have to resort to cannibalism, and seeing as you're the only one around that would be very unfortunate."

"I know we're supposed to be keeping my presence here a secret," Elden said hopefully as they both began to dress. "But I don't suppose you could show me around a little?"

"I suppose there are a few places we could visit if we hid your identity," Dorian said as they finished dressing. "We could probably use a cloak, but not that hideous one Sera gave you. Honestly, I think if we put you in some descent clothes for once you'd be unrecognizable."

Elden couldn't help but smile at him, feeling for once like everything was as it should be.

Elden had spent a week total in Tevinter, but it was nearly time for him to leave. He and Dorian were walking down the street in public, Elden wearing a heavy cloak in an attempt to disguise himself. It was wonderful being in public together, and Dorian was enjoying showing him places that had meant so much to him in his youth.

They rested at a café and Dorian had to resist the urge to reach across the table and take Elden's hand.

"The tea is quite good here," Dorian said. "And I used to come here and watch people go by. One can see lots of fascinating things if one only takes the time to look."

"It really is a lovely spot," Elden said.

They were watching each other more closely than their surroundings, however, and there was no stopping the content smiles on both of their faces. This was something Dorian had never thought possible. Sure, it was probably foolish, but right now he didn't care. He just wanted to be able to share everything with Elden and he hoped one day they would be able to return without any disguise.

"I'm going to miss you," Dorian said with a sad smile.

"I know," Elden said. "We'll see each other again soon, though. I promise."

"I know the day is only half over, but I rather want to get you somewhere private. I haven't so much as held your hand in some time and it's rather unbearable."

Elden grinned. "I certainly won't argue, although I was enjoying seeing the architecture. You weren't kidding when you talked about the history preserved in them."

"Really? I'm surprised you had time to notice since you've spent most of the time staring at me."

Even under the shadow of the hood of the cloak Dorian could see Elden's blush. "What can I say; you're incredibly adorable whenever you talk this passionately."

"Right," Dorian said. "It's definitely time to go somewhere private."

"I love you," Elden said in that dreamy way he did when he was so completely caught up he'd say things without thinking. The sooner they got somewhere out of sight from prying eyes the better.

They probably should have been keeping things at least a little more subtle, but Dorian flashed him his most charming grin. Elden smiled sheepishly and they both headed off together, and in that moment they both knew without a shadow of a doubt that they would be fine. They were strong enough to make this work. They would help each other through all the hardships and one way or another they would find a way to be together. They would be happy.

End

Author's note:
Thank you so much everyone who stuck with me to the end and I hope you enjoyed this fic! I don't have any stories in Tevinter planned yet but I will definitely continue to write these characters. Feel free to stop by my tumblr: .com I always welcome comments and critiques and sometimes I post bonus stuff over there. And I'm always willing to talk about Dragon Age!