A/N: Smut ahead. Rise and come indeed!

Chapter Eleven: Rise, Clasp My Hand, and Come

Summary: Good news; the Inquisition reacts variously; Cassandra and Cullen come together at last.

"All which thy child's mistake

Fancies as lost, I have stored for thee at home:

Rise, clasp My hand, and come!"

–Francis Thompson, "The Hound of Heaven"

In the end, Cassandra had allowed herself to send him that one letter via messenger. I owed him special thanks. And he has surely covered hundreds of messengers, she thought, remembering the revelation that he had been their unnamed supporter had been him all along. Nothing else could have made him even more attractive.

No, I can think of other things… I can hardly think of anything else.

Even so…

After the letter was sent, the Inquisitor's party pressed on through the wilderness of Emprise du Lion, and Cassandra knew she wouldn't receive a reply from Cullen. A hard knot of worry twisted up in her stomach anyway. Suppose he suffered a relapse while she was away, suppose he injured himself, suppose, suppose…

Her fears only increased as they rode up to Skyhold. The ancient fortress seemed stoic, impassive. The whole time, this was where he had been. The day that marked a month of safety had come and gone. Provided he had stayed the course, of course, could the world remain so unchanged?

Uncharacteristically, she slowed her pace and hung back, afraid. She heard cheers when the Inquisitor passed through the gates, but Cullen's voice wasn't among them. Her heart sank. Then her horse carried her forward and she saw him, standing at the back. He looked thin and anxious.

But his eyes met hers and a broad smile broke out across his face. He nodded.

The Inquisitor had seen a few things in her time, but perhaps none so astonishing as the sight of Cassandra leaping off a moving horse to run to their Commander, kissing him passionately in front of the entire welcome reception.

"Well, batter my heart, that took them long enough," the Inquisitor remarked cheerfully. "I was beginning to think they'd need my help!"

"I assure you the timing was perfect," Leliana said fondly.

"I do, however, share your sympathies, Inquisitor," Josephine added. "It is a rare blessing for any matter in the Inquisition to take care of itself."

Vivienne dismounted beside the others. "It seems we've made quite an entrance," she said. "Perhaps this is how the Inquisition should announce all of our arrivals from now on."

"Yeah, why bother striking fear into the hearts of our enemies when we can just make them all pukey instead?" Sera said, making a face.

"I'm with you, Imperial Enchanter," Blackwall said. "It's good to see a different side of us, for a change."

"Are you all right, Varric?" Dorian asked slyly. "You look rather like a proud father. It's quite disconcerting."

Varric blinked rapidly. "You'll just have to be disconcerted, then. I know a good romance when I see one." He pulled himself together. "Love and Lyrium. Think it'd sell?"

"Damn, that is hot," Iron Bull said enthusiastically. "I'm glad they don't mind onlookers."

"So many feelings!" Cole said. "How can anyone live with so many feelings!"

"That is the sense inititially, yes," Solas replied. "But then you wonder how you ever lived without them."

"Come along, let's let them have a moment," the Inquisitor said, as she dismounted her nuggalope, patting its flank.

"A word, Inquisitor, if I may," Josephine said quickly, as the group began to disperse. With Leliana, they headed off towards the stables, speaking rapidly about what could have been grave Inquisition business, if not for the wide smiles on their faces.

There were briefings to complete, horses to stable, ravens to send, and a multitude of winks and nudges to bear from everyone he passed, but Cullen hardly noticed any of it. He barely seemed to breathe again until evening, when the sun hung low and gentle over the battlements, and Cassandra was there beside him, wondrously illuminated. They watched people pass through the courtyard, simply enjoying being out in the open together. After a while, by unspoken agreement, they went into Cullen's quarters and shut the door.

Lingering for a moment by the entrance, Cassandra asked, "How did the Inquisitor react to you telling her that you are no longer in need of lyrium?"

"She was surprised, but more supportive than I thought she'd be. She said she wished I'd told her what I was going through, though she understood why I kept the matter private."

"How about Leliana and Josephine?"

"They seemed very surprised," Cullen said dryly. "Actually, I think Josephine was, genuinely. Leliana…"

He stopped short, distracted by Cassandra casually bending over to unlace her boots. Maker, she had to know how inviting she made even the simplest gesture look. "Leliana what?" she said, as though she didn't.

"Leliana…" Watching her step out of her boots, he found he couldn't even finish his sentence. "Never mind. It doesn't really matter."

"What matters is that you're free now," she said, smiling.

"Free to be yours," he said, smiling back at her. "Wait."

She'd moved to embrace him, but stopped. "Is something wrong?"

"There's something I have to do first." Her eyes went wide as he got down on one knee before her. "If I'm asking to be wholly yours, I must ask you to be wholly mine. Cassandra, will you marry me?"

To his surprise, Cassandra made an exceedingly disgusted noise and smacked him on the shoulder.

"Cullen, you are insufferable! And I know for a fact that Leliana is busy all day with a visit from her Antivan agents! I suppose if we can find her later tonight, and if she can spare the time to perform the ceremony…"

He laughed; he couldn't help himself. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean before… I couldn't possibly make you wait any longer. All I need is your answer. Cassandra – Cassandra Allegra Portia Calogera Filomena Pentaghast," he added with a grin, as she glared at him. "Will you marry me?"

"Yes," she said at once, "yes, Cullen, yes."

Then she was on him again, urgently, passionately, and Maker, her kisses had never been sweeter. He scooped her up in his arms and carried her over to the ladder in one corner of his room. He had to put her down, then, feeling sheepish, but a low chuckle told him he appreciated his ardor. She grasped hold of the ladder, but turned to give him a coy look. "Some other time I would like to make a mess of your desk again," she said. "Maybe even a worse one this time. An utter catastrophe. After last time, I mean, you must have considered…"

He groaned. "I couldn't begin to tell you the things I've considered, Cassandra," he said, and evidently pleased, she paused to deliver a quick, teasing kiss on the lips before she scrambled up the ladder. He kicked off his boots and followed after, congratulating himself on letting her go first, having decided that his view was undoubtedly the better one.

When he reached the top, she was taking off her gloves, laying them on his bedside table. Even was enough to make him go weak. He stripped off his own gauntlets and grasped her hands, reveling in their calloused strength as he bent to kiss her again. Blindly, he fumbled with her clothing. There seemed to be no end to the buckles and straps, and the way she kept sighing and squirming at his touch didn't help. He let out a growl of frustration, even as he managed to undo her breastplate, dropping it unceremoniously on the floor.

He was stunned to feel her lift his own armor off him easily a moment later. "How did you…?"

"I have been observing you closely for some time," she said, with just a touch of smugness. "And practicing this quite often, in my mind."

Her hands slipped beneath his shirt, and he felt a rush of pride when she murmured approvingly at what she found there. Her fingertips sought out the hard lines of his chest, lingering over any scars could find before dipping lower to circle his navel. He let out a groan when she ran her fingers across the skin just above his waistband.

Before she could get any further, he quickly started unbuttoning her shirt, trailing kisses down her chest and stomach as he exposed her skin inch by tantalizing inch. Reaching behind her back, he made short work of the band that bound her breasts. She laughed a little when he drew in a shaky breath, but her laughter quickly turned to moans when he touched her with all the urgency that was building up inside him. Moving up to her shoulders and clavicles, he paused to check if there was a scar where he'd injured her in his delirium, but he found none. "It's all right, Cullen," she said, sensing his worry. "I want you to mark me. Claim me as yours."

Her words sent another surge of arousal shooting through him, mingled with gratitude. She was so much more than he dreamed of. In a fleeting moment of conscious thought, he decided to start on her other shoulder, just to be safe. Choosing his target, he bit and sucked at the spot, gradually increasing the pressure when she moaned his name, until his fear was forgotten. He repeated the sequence, his mouth roughly teasing her sensitive skin, but always finishing with a gentle kiss. For all that he was trying to make this last, he didn't know how much longer he could bear being this aroused by her, not when he was already so close losing himself in her desire.

But she was every bit as eager as he was. A moment later, she tugged on his shirt, forcing him to break their contact while she attempted to lift it over his arms. He struggled playfully against her for a moment, and she grunted, redoubling her efforts until he stood bare-chested before her, already panting from their brief tussle. He was repaid for his impudence when her hands strayed suddenly to brush the front of his pants. He let out a loud groan to feel her there, for the barest instant, and then she was gone again, dropping to her knees as she pulled his pants down. Still kneeling in front of him, she raised her eyes and gave him an innocent look.

He almost finished right then. If she touched him now, he would. He managed to shake his head, and she understood his meaning. He pulled her to her feet, only to tip her backwards onto the bed, groaning as his body made contact with hers. She ran her hands down his back, her touch burning all the more for its lightness.

He wanted her to keep going, but he also wanted more. With as much reluctance as anticipation, he gave her an imploring look. She nodded, biting her lip, and his hands brushed hers. She yielded to him, readily, and both of them shuddered and gasped. After he'd paused for an agonizing moment, he started to move, dipping into her and pulling back again with long, languorous strokes. The room filled with her whimpers and moans; distantly he was aware of echoing them. Her cheeks were deliciously flushed, her lips parted, eyes closed, head thrown back to lengthen the graceful curve of her neck, every strong line of her surrendering to him. He moved faster, urging them both on. "Cassandra," he gasped. "I need you. I need you so much, Cassandra. Let me be yours."

She responded immediately, her voice frayed with longing. "Yes, Cullen, please, yes. Always, yes..."

She broke off with a wordless cry, arching her back sharply as she hit the apex of her pleasure. Her hands slipped from his shoulders, and suddenly he was there with her, shuddering and jerking uncontrollably, holding her tight. He felt more than he ever thought he could feel when he was with her, especially when she was like this, overcome by all that they had together. He couldn't imagine what it would be like to love her more than he did in that moment, but he knew that somehow he would; she would bring him there.

At last their trembling subsided, and he lay next to her, propping his head up one arm to better take her in. She saw where his eyes went and gave him a half smile. Touching the side of his face, she murmured, "I did not get a chance to finish."

Cullen paled. "Cassandra – "

"I am yours as well, Cullen. Completely." Unexpectedly, she leaned forward and gently nibbled his lower lip. "I hope that much was clear."

"What?" she asked, seeing his face. "What did you think I meant?" Indignation crossed her features. "Cullen! You can't have thought – after everything you did – must I prove it to you again?"

He laughed with relief. "I believed you the first time," he said. "I love you, Cassandra. And I'm sorry your promised husband is so dense."

"I will have no husband," she said, and Cullen gaped – "save for the one I already have now."

He exhaled weakly. "Maker, Cassandra, you have to stop doing that."

"Stop doing what? This?"

He didn't even see her hand move, but in the next instant he gasped at the pleasure wracking his whole body. "No," he managed.

"How confusing you are," she said conversationally, reaching for him again. This time he was ready. He shifted his weight suddenly so he ended on top of her. But he didn't expect her to do the same in an instant later, to find himself looking up into her eyes.

"I love you, Cullen. You," she whispered. "Give me something to prove to you again."