Evelyn was kept busy for the next week. She worked diligently through stacks of missives, found time to take court, suffered through a dress fitting to appease Vivienne, and spent far too many hours pouring over the war table. Every time she strayed to Cullen's office, she was interrupted by more work, or he was. It felt like the only thing she could talk to him about was the military operations she sanctioned, lest some scout magically appear.

Watching him train the recruits first thing in the morning was a guilty pleasure she pretended was work; a stack of parchment in her lap as she sat on the ground near the sparring ring. She should be reading, working on some correspondence, but she couldn't stop herself from glancing up, eyes following him move through the recruits, helping them with stances, demonstrating the moves. The early morning light made him shine, and his voice was clear above the clang of metal.

"I'm supervising," she answered the unasked question as a shadow fell across her.

"Supervising his arse, yeah?" Sera flopped down next to her, waving a sheet of paper in the air. "Don't care; need a favour."

Evelyn took the paper, reading it slowly, admiring the doodles in the margins. "Is this a Sera favour, or a Red Jenny favour?"

"Just do it, yeah? Marchy marchy. Dull and effective, no pointy bits." The elf dropped onto her back, bringing a hand up to cover her eyes from the sunlight. "'less you want pointy bits, but little people just need a show."

"I'll see what Cullen can do," she sighed, adding the paper to her pile.

"Thought you'd already know what General Uptight can do," the elf giggled, rolling onto her stomach and looking up at her. "You know, 'cos you and him are all serious like again. Like you got him out your system or whatever. But you're still staring, so maybe not?"

She glanced over warily, finger marking her place on the paper she'd been trying to read. "You have a bet with Dorian, don't you?" Sera rarely looked for gossip without some kind of compensation and if she wanted to talk seriously, Evelyn usually found herself being dragged out on the roof.

"No!" She cackled, springing back up to her feet. "Yes. Two sovereigns. Varric's in for three!" She twirled on the spot, then wandered off with a wave. "Marchy, marchy, Inky! Don't forget!"

Evelyn shook her head and returned to the missive at hand. She managed to get through it before another shadow crossed her path and she looked up with an irritated grunt.

"Inquisitor."

"Commander," she murmured, eyebrow raised, taking in the sight of him up close. He looked tired, and his hands gripped the pommel of his sword like it was keeping him grounded. The withdrawal was clearly not ebbing today. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I didn't mean to interrupt." He looked over his shoulder at the recruits, still engaged in their practice. Turning his amber gaze back to her he continued, "I was just wondering if you had a moment to talk while the recruits are occupied. Alone?"

Gathering up her papers, she nodded, accepting the hand he offered to help her up. "Of course." She dusted herself off and followed him up to the parapets. They walked in silence for a moment, passing only those on watch, the day still early. She snuck glances at him as they strolled, taking in the bags under his eyes, the furrow of his brow, the tight set of his jaw. Clutching her missives in one hand, she let the other reach out to brush his, pulling him to a stop in the shadow of one of the towers. The last guard they'd wandered past was out of earshot and line of sight as she turned to face him. "What did you want to talk about, Cullen?"

If his original intent had been official business, she'd never know. He had her back against the crenelations with a rough shove, his mouth greedy as he tilted her chin up to him. The pitted stone dug into her spine as he held her trapped, his other hand gripping her waist tight. His tongue ghosted her lips before he deepened the kiss and she reached up to stroke his stubbled cheek with an amused hum.

When he pulled away, he looked ashamed and kept his gaze on the ground. "I'm sorry, it's just that we haven't had the chance- I shouldn't have..."

She shook her head, leaning forward into his eye line, hand still cupping his face. "Don't be silly."

He chuckled wryly, reaching up to catch her hand and pressing a kiss to her palm. "I can't help it, you make it hard to think." To prove his point, he kissed her wrist then pulled her in, capturing her lips again with a smirk. They broke apart and this time he released her, taking a step back as he cleared his throat, hand running over his neck. "I shouldn't keep you."

Evelyn frowned, taking a step forward to match him. "You don't get to lure me out here then leave." Her free hand grabbed his vambrace, pulling him back to her. "Don't make me order you, because I am not above abusing my position."

He made an amused grunt but stayed, pressing his lips to her forehead as he closed his eyes. "We can't have that."

"Oh, I don't know, I'm sure it would be fun for a little bit. Before everyone gets mad and chucks me off the battlements, anyway." Evelyn smiled as he chuckled at the joke and reached up to cup his face again, thumb brushing against his scar. She followed it with a light kiss, but he pulled away again. "Is everything alright?"

Concern marred her face and something in his gut clenched as he realized it was for him. Cullen inhaled, letting the air go slowly. He had to look past her; over the walls. Looking at her face, at the emotions there... Her eyes were too bright, too expressive in the early morning light. Too blue. "I haven't been able to sleep. Withdrawal," he shrugged, as if that was all, a small irritation.

She was biting her bottom lip, papers clutched to her chest and he started to pace under her watchful gaze. How exactly could be explain it? She knew the details already, had seen him waver. Twice, she had soothed him. Once, she had dragged him back from the edge.

"I have faith in you."

His feet stilled and he glanced at her. Somehow, she had known exactly what he needed to hear and the words filled the space between them. This was the woman the Inquisition believed in, and she believed in him; broken and scarred, she still believed in him. He tore his gaze away, feeling ashamed and unworthy.

"I care for you, Cullen, you have to know that by now, and I will do whatever I can for you." She put a hand on his arm. "Nothing will change that."

He stared at her hand, her words sinking in and banishing the blue. It had been the longest they'd talked uninterrupted since their return, and he remembered Barris's words in the tavern. "I didn't think it was possible, that you-" He grabbed his neck again, shrugging and turning aside. "You're too good."

Evelyn laughed, that beloved silk and honey to his ears, shaking her head. "I'm just human."

"Funny. That's how I feel when I'm with you." He leant in, intent on thanking her with his lips.

The tower door groaned and creaked as it opened, and the scout blinked nervously as the morning light hit his face, making him squint in the glare. He gripped the missive tight in his hands as he spotted the person he'd been sent to find, a knot forming in the pit of his stomach when he realized who she was with. Not again. He took a deep breath as they turned to face him, exhaling shakily.

"Inquisitor, report for you," he held out the offending paper, focusing on not letting his fingers tremble. It felt like he'd been all over Skyhold this morning trying to find the Inquisitor for the Spymaster and was already tired. Why did he always have the misfortune of running into them together? The last time, a couple of days ago, the Commander had almost thrown something at his head! It wasn't his fault Sister Leliana had so many urgent messages for them.

He looked at the ground as she took the report from him, shuffling his feet as he waited for a reply. At least this time the Commander didn't look too mad. In fact, he wasn't even looking at the scout. Usually he would glare and glower until the scout fled to safety with the response, but this time the man looked as uncomfortable as he felt, rubbing his neck and looking out over the parapets. And was he blushing? Just what had he interrupted?

He stood there, puzzling it out. The Inquisitor added the report to the pile already in her hands, then rifled through a pulled a few more sheets out, handing them over. "Can you deliver these to Josephine for me? And let Leliana know I'll be there shortly to discuss matters."

The scout nodded, rolling the papers into a tube and planning his route to the Ambassador's office. Or should he go to the Spymaster first? No- the Ambassador made the most sense. "O- of course, Inquisitor," he bowed. His feet couldn't move him fast enough away, still expecting the Commander to yell at him for interrupting. But he was still confused as to what they had been doing on the battlements in the first place, and he replayed the scene that had greeted him when he finally found the Inquisitor.

He supposed they had been standing a little close together. And had he seen the Inquisitor's hand on the Commander's arm? Had the Commander been- Surely not, he shook his head. He was losing it. The sun had blinded him. He was still half asleep, even.

There was no way he'd just seen the Commander and Inquisitor kissing.

Evelyn was laughing at him as the scout disappeared. "Poor man," she chuckled, and Cullen didn't know if she was talking about the scout or himself. He grunted in response, glaring in the direction the scout had gone. It never seemed to fail; any time they got close, someone interrupted them. And that scout in particular showed up more than any other.

"I'm going to reassign him to the Wastes," he grumbled.

"And what about the other scouts?" There was a mischievous gleam in her eye as she leant back in, ruffling his hair.

"I'll reassign the whole damn Inquisition if it means I get you alone for more than five minutes, Evelyn." Maker, but he loved it when she blushed at something he said. He waved her hand off, fixing the curls she'd teased out. "What does Leliana want?"

"Hm? Oh, just girl talk." She smiled disarmingly but he noted that it didn't reach her eyes. He was about to press the issue but she tugged his head down with her unburdened hand to plant a kiss on his forehead. "And I had better go before that includes what I was doing up on the battlements this morning," she chuckled lightheartedly before pulling away.

"Can I see you tonight?" He blurted out as she turned to leave. Of course they'd see each other in the war room later, but that wasn't what he meant. He wanted her, alone. He wanted her where they wouldn't be interrupted, where neither one would have get called away to work. More than anything, he wanted to repay her for that night in his tent.

She grinned at him as she glanced back over her shoulder. "Is needing my permission the reason you haven't already?"

Maker's breath.

"It's a lovely dress."

"And it will make lovely rags for the infirmary."

"The letter?"

"I'll- Handle it later." Evelyn looked over her shoulder as Cullen walked into the war room, and she loosened her grip on the table. "Commander."

Her voice was terse and she started to knead the anchor, lapsing into a sullen silence as she stared at the map. Leliana crossed her arms, stoic and unrevealing. Whatever they had been talking about it hushed tones, they clearly weren't interested in discussing it in his presence. He shuffled awkwardly as he looked at the map, idly playing with one of his markers.

"Josephine said she would be in shortly," he broke the silence. Evelyn didn't look away from the map, but Leliana nodded, relaxing slightly.

"Before she arrives, perhaps you'd like to tell me how serious it is." Cullen frowned as he looked between the two women. Leliana's gaze was flint and Evelyn's blue eyes were stormy, fixed on the markers by his hands. She made no indication she knew what Leliana was talking about or to whom she was referring and kept her mouth shut, lips pursed. On instinct he rubbed the back of his neck, clearing his throat, but finding no words. The redhead sighed, continuing. "Normally, what two consenting adults get up to in private wouldn't be any of my business. Given your positions in the Inquisition, however, and Lady Trevelyn's outside of it-"

She was cut off as Evelyn slammed her palms down on the table and they both jumped in surprise. The anchor flared weakly, a flash of sickening green fade energy coiling then evaporating, and she snatched her hand back, fingers curling into a fist as she held it tight to her chest.

"Spare me, I've heard this speech before," she snapped. "You can sum it up in two words."

The Spymaster nodded slowly, relaxing from the tense battle stance she'd slipped into. It looked to Cullen like she was returning a blade to her sleeve as she stared down the other woman. "End it."

His mouth was open. He knew he was staring, slack-jawed at the petite redhead, mind reeling. Of course she was aware of their fumblings, that had never been in question, but this ultimatum stunned him. Amber eyes slid to Evelyn, equally surprised by her reaction.

She was still clutching her left hand, and her eyes were downcast. "If you think that's best," quiet and defeated the words fell from her lips, and he made a strangled cry.

"You cannot-"

Leliana rounded on him in an instant. "Evelyn is the Inquisitor, and she must be above reproach. This dalliance of yours is over. For what it's worth, I'm sorry. If I had caught it sooner, I could have spared you this moment. As it is," she sighed, eyes kind but unyielding, "it cannot be helped. There are many players on the board that need to be appeased. I hope it won't ruin your friendship."

He exhaled sharply, fists clenched, biting his tongue against the blue that hummed. He wanted to fight, but he wanted Evelyn to fight and she wasn't. She was just standing there, staring at the ground. He didn't know how she could just shelve whatever it was between them when one voiced raised in dissent. He didn't understand what could have changed. Their early morning walk on the battlements felt like a lifetime ago, already fading into hissing whispers that would haunt him at night. "Evelyn, how can you..." Her words hours earlier played in his head, a sharp contrast to what she said next.

She shook her head, eyes cloudy. Freeing her hand, she'd gripped a missive in its place. "Leliana is right. We cannot afford the distraction right now." Pride wouldn't let her crumble. She should have seen this coming, but she had hoped... For all the good that did. "I still-"

The creak of the door stole the rest of the sentiment, and Josephine hurried in, her face pale. Her hands clutched a single scrap of paper. "Ah, I'm sorry for getting held up. We- We've recieved word from Hawke, Inquisitor. He's at Adamant."