NSFW!
"Cullen! Keep still!"
"I am!," I laugh as Evelyn's fingers gently unwrap the thick bandages from around my waist.
Have I mentioned that I absolutely adore the way she snaps at me when she is irritated? I find it most endearing.
She sighs audibly and gets up from her knees, placing her hands on her hips and regarding me with a knowing look.
"I know you keep turning your head to look at your reflection in the mirror," she tells me accusingly. "You can stare at the scar all you like as soon as the damned bandages are off, agreed?"
I chuckle lightly and lean down to kiss the tip of her nose.
"Agreed," I grin.
She gets back down onto her knees (Maker, but that does sound rather...ahem, never mind) and re-commences her quest to untie the bandages as carefully and gently as possible from around me.
"All right, I'm right at the wound, so let me know immediately if you feel any pain, all right?"
"All right," I nod.
I look down as she peels away the bandage with a drawn-out pace, her brow furrowed in concentration and her teeth biting down on her lower lip.
"Nothing?" she looks up at me and asks, the end of the bandage held between her fingers.
"Nothing," I smile.
"Excellent," she glances back down at the wound—now a fleshy pink scar- and examines it silently. "It's healed very nicely," she murmurs, prodding it lightly with her finger. "How does it feel?"
"A bit sore," I reply. "Quite like a sore muscle."
"So the discomfort originates on the inside..." she murmurs thoughtfully to herself. "Does the scar itself hurt at all when I touch it?"
"Not at all."
She nods, her gaze lingering on the scar for a moment longer before standing up straight, gathering the bandage into a wad in her hands.
"Thank the Maker we were there to heal you in time," she says gravely. "If the attack took place any further away from Skyhold..."
I cradle the side of her face and stroke her cheekbone with my thumb.
"You need more mage healers amongst your ranks, Cullen," she continues in a serious tone. "At least two per section. We cannot risk this happening again to any of the Inquisition's members."
"Of course," I nod professionally. "I will see to it immediately."
She smiles up at me and wraps her arms around my neck.
"You're so sexy when you have your serious Commander hat on," she comments in a purr.
I smile back, eliciting a deep moan of approval when she kisses me.
"I gather I am no longer restricted by my injury to spend some...quality time with you?" I grin against her slips, running my fingers through her hair.
She lets out a light, melodious chuckle that never fails to brighten my day, no matter how despondent my mood.
"I think an entire week of abstinence is enough punishment for the two of us, don't you agree?" she grins back, gently pressing her forehead against mine.
"Oh, I agree," I growl, my fingers already halfway down her blouse, flitting around her buttons to unfasten them. "Wholeheartedly."
She laughs as she shrugs off her blouse and lets it fall to the ground before hastily pulling down my briefs (for that is the only article of clothing on me) while I impatiently pull off her own undergarments, which quickly join the rest of her clothing on the carpeted floor of her quarters.
My blood pounding in my profound excitement, I kick off my briefs from around my ankles and pull her mouth back to mine. Without breaking the kiss, I slide my hands down to her bottom and hitch her up, prompting her to wrap her legs around my waist for support. I walk us to the bed and lie down on my back, my hands leaving her waist and moving to cup her breasts. I slide my mouth away from hers and down her neck, hungrily kissing and tasting her skin until I arrive at her plump breasts. I squeeze them close together and cover her nipples with my mouth, a restrained whimper slipping through her lips when I roll my tongue around and over them.
I slide my hands down to her bottom and force her forward until she is sitting close enough to my mouth for me to pleasure her. Breathing raggedly, she shifts and places most of her weight onto her knees on either side of my head and lowers herself down against my lips.
"Maker!" she gasps as I slide my tongue against her, and she plants her hands backwards on the mattress on either side of my chest, leaning back against them and throwing her head back. I grab her hips and press her closer against my mouth, groaning as she gasps and moans loudly over me and moves her hips back and forth, following the rhythm of my tongue's strokes.
I tighten my grip around her hips and steady her when she starts twitching over me.
"Oh Maker, Cullen," she whimpers. "Don't stop. Please..."
As if I would ever consider doing such a thing.
Seeing her writhe in absolute pleasure over me like this... knowing that I am the cause of her ecstasy...
It is the most incredible feeling I have ever experienced.
"Oh, Cullen!" she cries out, her eyes rolling into the back of her head and her mouth forming a sweet 'O' of pleasure as her entire body spasms uncontrollably.
I keep my mouth buried against her, sucking her in as she rides out the waves of her rapture. She slumps herself off me and onto the mattress, panting loudly as she gradually comes down from her high. Grinning, I roll onto my front and crawl over her, and she buries her fingers in my curls and kisses me chaotically as soon as my face is level with hers. I groan into her mouth when I feel her fingers curl around my arousal and move up and down slowly and firmly. I re-position myself over her, placing most of my weight on my forearms against the mattress, and allow her to guide me into her.
My eyes roll into the back of my head, and I let out a long, trembling shudder as I slide into her and feel her incredible warmth envelope me entirely.
"Maker..."
It's been so long since I have been able to be with her like this...
I have literally been aching for her, and to finally feel her surrounding me so completely again...
"Don't go too fast," she whispers jaggedly, her eyes barely open. "I don't want you hurting yourself."
I bury my face into the crook of her neck, my groaning muffled as I move slowly inside her.
The slow, gentle pace does nothing to take away from the pleasure. In fact, if anything, the prolongation intensifies it.
"Oh, Maker," I cry out, gripping at the sheets beneath me. I pull my face away from her neck and look at her eyes, desperate for eye contact before I come. I intertwine my fingers with hers and press her hands down against the mattress on either side of her head, the bed creaking noisily beneath us as I cannot help but increase the pace of my thrusts as the heat and need build up between my legs.
When I realise that I will not be able to last any longer, I slide my right hand down between us and rub her to deepen her pleasure, biting her lower lip when she cries out and clenches around me.
The sound of her coming beneath me is what does it for me. I bury my face in the crook of her neck again, my fingers still rubbing against her as I am engulfed in hot, sweet ecstasy—a pleasure so intense, it literally causes me to drool.
Evelyn turns her head towards mine and buries her face into my hair, breathing in deep as she kisses me.
"How's your wound?" she asks breathlessly into my ear. I lift my head up and smile lazily at her, my eyelids heavily drooping.
"Would you stop worrying about it?" I chuckle lightly, stroking her matted hair away from her eyes. "I'm absolutely fine, Evelyn. Better than fine. Ecstatic."
The concerned look on her face tells me she is not convinced.
"Lie down on your back," she instructs me.
I roll my eyes and carefully slide out of her, smirking to myself when I feel her gasp and clench around me as I do so. I then do as she asks and lie down on my back next to her. She sits up and shifts closer to my lower abdomen, her eyes squinting as she scrutinizes the scar.
"Do you believe me now?" I ask with a raise of an eyebrow.
She nods and shifts back up to me to nestle by my side. I wrap my arm around her and kiss the top of her head, closing my eyes as she sighs against me.
"You should care more about your own welfare, Cullen," she chastises me softly. "For my sake, if nothing else. I worry for you. Constantly."
I smile and look down at her, trailing my fingers along her arm.
"For you," I murmur, "I'd do anything."
"Though all before me is shadow, yet shall the Maker be my guide. I shall no be left to wander the drifting roads of the Beyond. For there is no darkness in the Maker's light, and nothing that He has wrought shall be lost."
"A prayer for you?"
I turn around from where I am kneeling by the altar and see Evelyn standing by the door.
"For those we have lost," I respond and turn back to the altar. "And...those I am afraid to lose."
I think of her, and of the final task that lies ahead. It feels as though a fist clenches at my heart, and I let my head drop, closing my eyes as I try to shake the dreadful feeling away.
She takes a few steps closer, hesitantly.
"You're afraid?" she asks.
"Of course I am!" I exclaim as though it is the most obvious answer in the world. "Corypheus possessed that Grey Warden at Mythal! What more is he capable of? It's only a matter of time before he retaliates."
I exhale loudly and stand up, turning to face her. I take a few steps to close the distance between us, and I rest the palm of my gloved hand against her cheek, my eyes searching her face.
"We must draw strength wherever we can," I continue, admiring the warm, deep brown shade of her eyes. Again, the prospect of losing her crosses my mind, and I slide my hand away from her and close my eyes, the fear that I harbour so carefully within me threatening to spill over.
"When the time comes, you will be thrown into his path again," I tell her, my voice breaking. "Andraste preserve me. I must send you to him."
I feel her hands cup either side of my face, and I open my eyes to see her smiling gently up at me.
"There's nothing to worry about," she says. "I have luck on my side, remember?"
I follow her gaze down to the coin hanging around her neck, and I let out a weak chuckle at the sentiment.
"That's less comforting than I'd hoped," I smile, brushing a strand of hair away from her face.
She gazes at me, the smile fading from her lips, and she wraps her arms around me in an embrace. I wrap my arms tightly around her waist and pull her close against me, burying my face in the crook of her neck.
"Whatever happens," I whisper against her, "you will come back."
"Cullen, you don't have to-"
"Allow me this," I implore her, trying my best to keep my voice steady as I feel the moisture sting at my eyes. "To believe anything else... I can't."
The battle to hold back my tears was doomed to failure from the start, and they are soon rolling down along the edge of my nose, dropping onto Evelyn's shoulder.
I have never cried in the presence of anyone before.
I even attempted to hide my tears from my family as a child, not out of shame—for there is no shame in human feeling and emotion- but to avoid causing them any concern over whatever it was that was troubling me at the time.
But with Evelyn...I am vulnerable. Exceedingly so. I cannot seem to be able to hide my troubles from her, no matter how hard I try.
"It's going to be all right," she whispers soothingly. She loosens her arms from around me and cradles my face in her hands, leaning back slightly to appraise me. She looks at me with a profound melancholy when she sees the tears staining my eyes, and she gently pulls my face closer to hers, covering my face in light, caressing kisses.
I close my eyes and let out a long breath, instantly feeling calmer under her soothing touch.
"I will come back," she promises me fervently, her thumb sliding beneath my eye to wipe away the glistening tear tracks. I swallow and nod once, my hands wandering to caress her face. "How could I not, with a handsome Commander such as yourself waiting for me?"
I chuckle lightly and softly kiss her lips.
"Come on," she takes my hand in hers and takes a step towards the Chantry door, "let's have a stroll in the garden. The weather is lovely today."
I smile and follow her out, sliding my hand away from hers to wrap my arm snugly around her waist instead.
We walk about the garden, passing by Morrigan, who has her son perched on her lap on a bench as they pour over a book together.
"Ah, Inquisitor," she looks up when she sees us. "I see your Commander has made a full recovery. 'Tis a pleasure to see you looking well, Commander," she adds with a soft smile.
"Thank you, Lady Morrigan," I bow my head politely.
"What are you two up to?" Evelyn asks, smiling kindly at the Kieran.
She would make a lovely mother one day.
"Kieran and I are going through some study," Morrigan responds, looking down fondly at her son.
"Mother says I need to be prepared," the boy adds with a smile.
"Prepared?" Evelyn asks. "Prepared for what?"
"Pay no heed to Kieran, Inquisitor," Morrigan says dismissively. "He is but a young boy with an elaborate imagination."
Evelyn nods and says nothing further on the matter.
"How is the...uh...eluvian?" I ask with an uncomfortable rub of the neck. That thing always makes me feel uncomfortable.
"'Tis fine," Morrigan replies simply. "Why do you ask?"
I glance awkwardly at Evelyn as I try to arrange the right words in my mind.
"I just... don't feel comfortable with it being in Skyhold," I confess. "Corypheus may not be able to travel through it, but what if something else can?"
Morrigan sighs audibly, diverting my attention back to her.
"Let me tell you this, Commander," she wraps her arms around Kieran's waist and holds my gaze steadily, her yellow eyes glinting. "If you close your eyes and wish hard enough, a fleet of griffons will appear under your command."
She says all this with a highly dramatic tone, as though reading a fantastical bedtime story to her son.
I blink at her, uncertain of how to respond.
"See?" Evelyn laughs. "That's... probably not true. But it would be fun!"
"It...well, yes," I say. "But that wasn't my point."
"Quite," Morrigan smiles and turns her gaze back to her book.
I sigh as Evelyn steers me away, still chuckling heartily at Morrigan's embellished words.
"I'll stop worrying about it," I tell her. "So long as someone is watching it. Even if that someone is Morrigan."
"I'm sure it will be fine, Cullen," she smiles, leaning against my side. "Now, how about a game of-"
"Inquisitor!"
We both wheel around, staring as a soldier runs urgently towards us.
"I found this by the stables, Your Worship! Ser Blackwall is gone!"
He hands Evelyn a piece of parchment, which she takes instantly and unfolds.
Inquisitor,
You've been a friend and an inspiration. You've given me the wisdom to know right from wrong, and, more importantly, the courage to uphold the former.
It's been my honour to serve you.
"When did you find this?" I ask the soldier after reading the note.
"Just now, Commander," he replies.
I look down at Evelyn, my jaw tense.
"We need Leliana to confirm it," I advise her.
Evelyn purses her lips as she folds the letter and tucks it into her trouser's pocket.
"You're right," she nods. "If anyone can find Blackwall, it's her."
"Val Royeaux?" I glance at Leliana from across the war table as Evelyn and I read the crumpled report she had spread over the map. "So, what? You're saying Blackwall's gone to put a stop to this Lieutenant Mornay's execution?"
"All evidence points to that conclusion, Commander," the Spymaster responds coolly. "For one reason or the other, Blackwall seems to have a vested interest in the matter. He would not have left the Inquisition for anything that was not of the utmost importance to him. He was extremely loyal to our cause and very fond of our people."
I glance over at Evelyn, who is still staring at the report.
"What shall we do, Inquisitor?" I ask her softly.
She blinks and looks up at Leliana and I, her brow furrowed.
"I go to Val Royeaux and find out what all of this is about," she replies.
"A complement of my soldiers and I should accompany you, Inquisitor," I offer immediately. "We cannot tell for certain what we can expect once we're there."
The stoicism in her eyes fades away to be replaced with concern.
"But, your injury, Cullen," she protests.
"You know better than anyone else how well it has healed, Inquisitor," I tell her pointedly, referring to the 'quality' time we spent earlier together this morning. Leliana, being the skilled bard that she is, quickly picks up on my meaning and smiles into her hand, politely looking away from us.
The colour floods to Evelyn's cheeks, but her expression remains unchanged.
"All right," she finally concedes. "We leave as soon as possible."
"Of course, Inquisitor," I nod. "I will begin making preparations at once."
Once the meeting is over, I head towards the barracks, mentally compiling a list of the most suited soldiers to accompany us on the journey.
Blackwall is a good man.
We cannot let him slip away from us so easily.
