Cullen and Mahanon play chess and talk

Mahanon strode through the gardens at Skyhold, picking the herbs he had been growing there. Truthfully he wasn't particularly skilled at herbology, but he figured the least he could do was learn how to make health potions and a few other useful combat oriented potions. It was pleasant here now and was easily Mahanon's favourite place. Second only to his bath filled with hot water perhaps. A number of other Inquisition members gathered here in their down time as well, and chairs and tables had been set up, along with a chess table.

Wrapping his clippings in cloth to protect them, Mahanon wandered over to it. Cullen was playing the Vint there and seemed to be losing. Mahanon stood off to the side watching, facing the Vint so he could always watch him - he wouldn't allow himself to be surprised by another of his kind again! The Vint, for his part, seemed to become a little wary seeing Mahanon there, but loath to cede victory to Cullen, he didn't leave as he normally did when Mahanon approached.

"I believe I have won," the Vint said.

Cullen just wore a small smile that, to Mahanon, said that he knew otherwise. He moved a piece and said, "Check mate."

The look on the Vint's face as he realized he had been outmanoeuvred was priceless. He spluttered for a little, then stood. "Well, I can tell when I'm no longer welcome," he said before strutting off like the peacock he was.

Cullen simply chuckled to himself and gestured to the now empty seat. "Why don't you join me now you've scared off my opponent?"

"I highly doubt I scare anyone," Mahanon said, but he sat anyway and watched as Cullen reset the pieces.

"You scare plenty of people. But Dorian? It's obvious to everyone that you can't stand to be around him and it reflects on him."

"Then why does he stay? He would be better off going back to where he came from if it's all so horrible for him here," Mahanon said as he made the first move.

"Maybe you should talk to him." Cullen moved his piece.

"What and have him complain about the plight of blood mages while bemoaning the lack of slaves? I don't think so." He moved another piece.

Cullen looked up sharply. "Lavellan, that was cruel and unfair."

Mahanon looked up from the board in surprise at the anger he heard in Cullen's voice, then his own eyes hardened. "Truly, you think so? Then why don't you cozy up to him and when your loved ones are killed and your friends sold to slavers then we'll see just how cruel and unfair you think I'm being," he said. Scanning the board Mahanon saw an opening that he could take if he cheated. Usually Mahanon would play fair but right now, he wasn't exactly in the mood to play fair. He made the move.

"You can't keep painting everyone you see with the same brush based on a few bad experiences. Next you'll be telling me that all mages are blood mages because a lot of them joined the Venatori, or all Templars, including myself, are tyrants because of what happened at the Kirkwall circle."

"No," Mahanon countered, "only those who deserve it. And I've yet to meet a decent Vint yet."

"You already have if you would just talk to him."

Mahanon groaned and said, "Look, this isn't what I came here to talk about."

"You came here to talk about something? I thought it was to lose at chess."

"What?" Mahanon looked down at the board. Sure enough, he had lost. "How did you-"

Cullen just laughed. "Dorian cheats too. You actually have a fair bit in common." Seeing Mahanon's scowl though, Cullen rose both hands placatingly before he reset the board. "All right, what was it that you came to talk about."

"Laying siege to Adamant fortress," Mahanon said. "That's where the Grey Wardens are holed up, attempting to summon enough demons to destroy any arch demons in the deep roads. Or so they believe. More likely it's a ruse of Corypheus sine he has gained complete control over any mages who perform the blood ritual. We need to take Adamant fortress and stop them." He made his first move.

"That's not good," Cullen said as he made his move.

Mahanon scoffed. "Understatement of the year," he commented.

"I know the fortress, not well, sure, but well enough to know that it will be a tough battle. I take it Leliana doesn't have any kind of covert way to take it that won't cost so many lives?"

Mahanon shook his head. "I asked and she said she could get agents in, perhaps even enough to make a difference if we had several months to do so. Since we don't, that leaves only aggressive diplomacy as Josephine calls it."

Cullen gave a snort at that. "Aggressive diplomacy. I'll have to remember that one. It won't be easy but it should be do-able. We'll have to transport lumber there as there's not enough to serve our purposes nearby. If we build some catapults, they can harry the walls while a battering ram smashes in the door. That dwarf in Bull's chargers, what's his name, the guy who likes explosions."

"Rocky," Mahanon provided.

"Yes him. He may be able to bring down a wall or two."

"Then it'll be man to man fighting," Mahanon said, and Cullen gave a single nod. "We'll have to kill the mages, they're entirely under Corypheus's control, those who haven't turned into abominations already. But the fighters might be reasoned with." Mahanon sighed. "Soon enough the Inquisition will be responsible for the destruction of all mages," he said fiddling with the mage chess piece before placing it.

Ironically, Cullen took it with one of his own Templar pieces. "No," he said. "We are restoring order, saving the common folk. We do not set out to destroy them, they are being destroyed because of their own actions."

"I hope others see it that way," Mahanon said.

For a time the two of them played in silence. Mahanon didn't try to cheat again and even managed to win a game or two legitimately. It was nice, Mahanon thought, so long as he didn't bring up any disagreeable subjects.

"I bet you don't get a bath with hot water running straight to it," Mahanon suddenly said teasing.

Cullen gave a bark of laughter. "Maker, no. I still have a hole in the roof above my bed."

"Wait, what? Seriously?" Mahanon exclaimed, sure that Cullen was jesting. But the man nodded. Mahanon grunted. "I'll have a word with Josephine about her priorities. It's nice having my own fancy room and all, but rooves have to be fixed."

"It's fine. We're having trouble getting the wood here. Give it time for the traders to add Skyhold to their routes, especially when word spreads that we'll pay, and we will have supplies a plenty."

"We should put the word out that we're hiring a proper healer," Mahanon said.

"A proper healer? As opposed to an improper one?"

Mahanon snorted. "As opposed to a mage. We have some mage healers here, good ones, but not everyone is comfortable having magic used on them, and they could potentially die just for refusing magical healing. If Adan were still alive it would be different, but since he's not we need to find someone just as good."

Cullen nodded. "I'll tell Josephine to send out word."

They lapsed into a companionable silence once more. Mahanon had been thinking about what Bull had said to him back in Haven, how he had raised a wall between himself and Cullen. He hadn't really thought too much on it then as he never really considered himself the leader of the Inquisition, by the dread wolf he was supposed to have returned home by now! Now that he was, however, he couldn't allow his personal feelings or awkwardness to come between himself and his advisers. They had started to put it past each other, ignoring it during the battle of Haven but, with little else that had happened to distract them, it had started to return to its former awkwardness. Mahanon didn't want that so he had come to the gardens, yes to gather the clippings he was growing, but also to seek Cullen out, to talk and try to regain at least some of the easiness that had once been between them. He hoped that it was working, that this peace would last. Mahanon and Cullen may never be able to be more than friends, but that didn't mean they had to be less than friends either.

It started with a tickle in the throat that Mahanon simply ignored. As it grew stronger though, he was forced to actually try to clear his throat. Repeatedly. When that failed to ease it, the coughing started. Concerned, Cullen stood and moved a couple steps away only to come back soon after with a glass of red wine which he offered to Mahanon. Taking it, Mahanon took a gulp, coughed once more, and took another. It seemed to ease it and he sat back relieved. "Thank you," he said. Looking at the wine he took another, more appreciative sip and smiled. "A good vintage to be wasting just to relieve a cough."

"Well I was sharing it with Dorian - that man does appreciate good alcohol - but there was some left and it was all I had to hand," Cullen said. "Are you all right?"

Mahanon smiled. "Fine, why?"

"That cough-"

Mahanon waved it off. "It was just a tickle in my throat that didn't want to let go. It's been annoying me since we left Haven, probably haven't given myself enough time to get over it, that's all."

"But-"

"Don't worry about it Cullen! Do I look sick?" he asked.

"Well, no," Cullen was forced to admit.

"Exactly. I'm fine. Now are you forfeiting this game now that I'm winning or are you going to play?"

"Ha! You only wish you were winning," Cullen declared and with that the two of them returned to their game.