Idol
A Word: Request for Cullen being a total fanboy for Alistair's actions as a Warden and then meeting him for the first time in Skyhold.
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"Wait, what?" Cullen snaps his attention away from the patrol reports Leliana handed him as something Josephine says registers. "The Warden Alistair?"
"Yes!" Evelyn says immediately. Showing the same kind of excitement that Cullen is now feeling. "The Warden Alistair! I couldn't believe it when Hawke introduced us."
Cullen thinks about not being jealous for a brief moment before giving it up for a lost cause. He is jealous, there's no denying that. Who wouldn't feel a little jealous at not being introduced to one of the greatest heroes of the era? Even without his particular history he would feel a little envious.
"I see," Cullen can't help the envy but he chooses instead to focus on the Inquisitor's words. "Did he say why he was refusing the guest quarters?"
"Because that is what Alistair does," Leliana cuts in smoothly. Amused as she looks over Evelyn's suddenly embarrassed face. "Fame has never suited him, and he really will feel most comfortable bedding down in the stables."
"But, it's the stables!" Josephine protests. Quill poised like she can write away the problem. "How can we allows such an important guest sleep with the horses?"
"By not pestering him," Leliana suggests and Cullen knows the woman well enough to know she's laughing at them all. "It really will be fine, stop worrying so much and let the man be comfortable however he can. Maker knows he doesn't often get the chance."
Her words are enough to somewhat mollify Josephine and Cullen clears his throat before talk can go further off track. "About that request from the Western Approach..."
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Cullen doesn't plan on tracking the Warden down. Leliana's words about not pestering the man linger in his mind, and it's a small enough reward for a man who has done so very much. He studiously steers clear of the stables, and thus is completely unprepared for when he stumbles across Alistair on the battlements.
"Warden," Cullen manages to get out somewhat coherently when the man turns to look at him curiously.
Alistair has changed. Unsurprising really given how very many years passed since he last saw him.
"Ah, yes, that's me. The Warden. And you are," Alistair tilts his head to the side briefly before nodding, "the Commander? Captain? Something. Your the one in charge of all those men with swords and spears and whatnot."
"Commander," Cullen affirms and shifts on his feet as he looks around. This section of the wall is relatively clear. A roving sentry having just passed by. They're about as alone as it's possible to get in the keep. That does very little to ease Cullen's nerves. "Cullen Rutherford, and yes. I lead the soldiers, and- other forces we have."
"Other forces," Alistair repeats with a bit of emphasis. A slight grin tilts his lips up and there's the cheerful Warden Cullen remembers pulling him through the fallen wards. "Other glowy, magical forces?"
"Mages, yes," Cullen clears his throat because he's been prodded on that point a little too often to not be a little sensitive of it. The Inquisitor put her trust in the mages, and Cullen follows suit. He's not had many reasons to regret it. "Mostly I was referring to the mercenaries. My mages would be counted as men carrying spears."
Alistair barks out a sharp laugh and holds his hands up in mock surrender. "Sorry, I didn't mean anything by that. I've got nothing against them really."
"I didn't think you- I didn't mean to imply you had," Cullen blows out a sharp breath and rubs at the back of his neck with one hand. Grimacing a little as the Warden smirks just a bit more. "I know you've worked with mages admirably during the Blight."
"Yeah, that," the grin and light of humor dies almost immediately and Cullen's left a little at a loss. "That's me, Alistair with the Darkspawn and Archdemon. I really need to change my name if people are going to keep bringing up my 'admirable' past."
"Admirable," an understatement really but there's a weariness buried in Alistair's eyes that goes beyond the physical. Pestering. Cullen wonders how very sick he is of people bringing the Archdemon up around him. "Personally I'm more grateful for your help at Kinloch than anything else."
"The Tower?" That throws Alistair, and he blinks before carefully studying Cullen. There's no recognition in his eyes at all, and Cullen's not at all disappointed by that. It speaks well of how very far removed he is from that shaking, hurt and angry man.
"I was rather delirious. Shamefully so, and lashed out wrongly for it," Cullen remembers that trip back down to the ground floor. Nightmarish and sickening as Alistair dragged most of his weight for him. The blood stained halls blurring around him as the Warden kept up a light stream of utter nonsense that Cullen hadn't been able to appreciate until much later. "I think I may have actually punched you once or twice."
Three times before they reached the second floor, and once more just before the first.
"Oh, well, don't worry about that. I have that kind of face really. Everyone seems to want to hit it," Alistair relaxes a tension Cullen hadn't noticed easing. He gives a slight smile, it's not as bright as the smirk from earlier but it seems more sincere at least. "You look much better though."
"I think I'd have to work extremely hard to look worse," Cullen points out and almost immediately thinks he really wouldn't. He's seen Samson and his Red Templars and knows it's possible.
Alistair says nothing in response and seems a little lost. As lost as Cullen feels really. He has the urge to thank Alistair. Thank him for being there, for dragging him down the stairs, for telling him the stupidest story about a wheel of cheese and two nugs. He gets the feeling though that Alistair is tired of that and keeps his silence.
"If you need anything-" Cullen starts to say when the silence grows awkward.
"Yeah, sure," Alistair says dismissively and turns back to the view from the walls.
Cullen nods and turns to walk away. A little disappointed but he did vow not to pester the man over much. Besides, with such a short interaction there's been little chance for him to make an idiot out of himself. He gets maybe a few steps away before Alistair calls out.
"Wait," Cullen turns around and Alistair steps away from the wall. He's smiling a little sheepishly as he shrugs slightly."I hear there's a tavern here. Want to grab a round or two with me?"
"Of course," Cullen nods his head in acceptance even as it leaves him open to more chances to make a fool of himself. "I can't recommend it, but after the first few drinks you stop tasting it."
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