Hello Everyone! Before this chapter starts, I just want to say hi! And if you are so inclined, I have a Tumblr account, and I love to hear from people! Also, sorry for the chapter, it is a bit of a slow point between interesting parts! My tumblr name is cometeclipsewriting (since it won't let me put in the direct link...)
Ari'elle's first letter was a surprise. Cullen received a packet of dispatches, fresh from Leliana's birds. He recognized Varric's scrawl on the outside, and eagerly set aside his current documents. He admitted he was worried about the little band, despite it being only a few days since their departure. Although they were following in Scout Harding's capable footsteps, Ari'elle was no seasoned veteran. Any number of things could go wrong on her trip.
Cullen broke open the wax on the bundle, noticing the depth. There was a definite increase in the amount of paper used for this report; he could only hope it was not due to problems. Varric gave a succinct report, telling of their trip down the mountains, their start around Lake Calenhad.
The refugees of the Hinterlands, the village of Crestwood, and the Inquisition's keep Caer Bronach were their main destinations. Ari'elle's abilities were in great demand, but Cullen couldn't ignore the sheer amount of people affected by the Rifts in those two regions. Cullen didn't know if the density of the Rifts were due to the fighting there, but there were certainly opportunities for Ari'elle to help. So she would be traveling first into the thick of the Templar and Mage conflict.
Cullen winced and rubbed his jaw. He really didn't want to place her in this position. He sighed heavily and smoothed the papers on his desk, reading Varric's words by the last of the brilliant summer sun. They were making good time, the roads dry and their horses fresh. In no time, Varric expected to be hitting the Hinterlands. They had encountered only other Inquisition members, and those who didn't know about Ari'elle were soon made acquainted. Apparently the rumors about her abilities had spread rapidly, however, and the attitude she had been met with mostly was curiosity, not distrust.
Cullen let himself smile, relief easing some of the heaviness in his chest. Good, she was doing well. For a few days now, he had felt… down. His work seemed more wearing, his days longer and full of frustration. He told himself it was because things were settling back into a routine, but he knew…
And now, Ari'elle has her own report. She insisted, seemed to think she should get the practice in. Varric's scrawl left off with his unreadable signature. Cullen felt his heart jump, and he tossed Varric's letter hastily to the side.
Inquisitor Cullen, she began. The words were obviously painstakingly written, but still large and messy. She was a beginner to writing, but Cullen could see that she had been practicing. His lips quirked as he looked at his title; the second i had been left off originally, then crammed back in between the u and s.
Inquisitor Cullen,
Varric made me re-write this, because I spelled words wrong. He is a good teacher, but he can be mean too. I have had fun so far, and have met lots more Inquisition people. Everyone has been so nice to me, and I cannot wait to see more of Ferelden. We are riding next to a lake that is too big to be real. Dorian tells me there is water that is even greater than this. Bull says he crossed one, a sea, he called it. Have you crossed a sea? How do you do it? I hope you and everyone at Skyhold are doing good and having fun. Has Sera done her pranks yet? Writing is hard, I do not always like it, but I am working on it every day.
Ari'elle
P.S. Skyhold is fun to write! Skyhold. Skyhold.
Cullen found himself smile at her words. Skyhold was written more elaborately each time than before, Ari'elle taking care to embellish little details to the word. He could see the attention she put into spelling the names of places correct, how slow and steadily she had written them. There were little blotches of ink every now and then, and hastily correct mistakes, which apparently Varric didn't feel the need to make her rewrite.
It was a simple letter, not the words Cullen knew she would say if she were standing here with him, but he couldn't help but be pleased. He was proud of her for working so diligently on improving herself. He had seen her and Varric working on her letters each day while they had been here, but he hadn't thought that she would keep it up while journeying. Maybe when they got into the thick of things she wouldn't be able to, but he wanted to give her a reward.
Cullen pulled out a sheet of paper and quill, an excited buzzing reverberating through him. But then he paused, frowning down at the crisp sheet. What was he to say to her? He knew what he wanted to say. He wanted to tell her to be safe, to have fun while she could. He wanted to whisper in her ear the dreams that were rivaling his nightmares. How he would wake hard, and how he no longer had the will to stop himself from taking his cock into his hands and think of what she had done to him.
Just thinking about the pleasure she had given him for just a few short times made his body heat, made him shift in his chair. Cullen sat back; glad he was only in his shirtsleeves and trousers. The heat of summer was tempered by the cool breeze coming through the balcony doors, but it did little to cool the embers in his gut. He was finding it far too easy to sink into memories, to fight the urge to lock his doors and strip for some time to himself. He was back again to being a randy youth, only now he could have the privacy he had never been afforded before. It was a dangerous temptation.
With a rueful smile, Cullen leaned back over the paper. He knew what he wanted to write, but he couldn't. Between Leliana and Varric, the words he wrote were sure to be read by someone else besides Ari'elle. Plus, he didn't think that she would understand all the things he wanted to describe to her. So instead, he settled for simple and polite.
Dear Ari'elle,
Soon you will be writing with no issues. Just keep up the good work, just like you should keep up your close-quarters training. Ask Varric to show you some tricks, he and Bianca are quite good at staying out of trouble. I know your trip has been easy so far, but it will only get more dangerous. Stay safe, and keep your eyes peeled, even when you think you are safe. There are many conflicts in the regions you are traveling to, not all of them as easily solved as using your magic to close the Rifts.
I have moved across a sea before, The Waking Sea, when I traveled between Kirkwall and Ferelden. There are very large boats people use to travel such long distances. Travel over water is called sailing, and you use the wind and currents to get where you need to go. Again, ask your companions, they have all traveled in these boats, and may have some interesting stories for you. As for Sera, I have not noticed anything. But I will put the word out there, keep everyone a little safer.
Please keep me informed. Good luck, Ari'elle. Don't do anything too rash. We need you.
Cullen
Surely no one would find fault with this. It was innocent enough, giving no hint of the… whatever it was between them. Maker knows he had no definition for the tension between them. He shook his head as he waited for the ink to dry. Oh well; he had some time to figure it out, and to perhaps work some of the lust out of his system. Letters would do little to kindle his arousal. Maybe when she came back, he would be able to treat her as just an ordinary soldier. Wouldn't feel the need to kiss her or caress her.
A definite, but studiously ignored, pang skittered through Cullen. With firm hands, he sealed and addressed the letter, then continued with his work.
Ari'elle swiped the back of her hand under her nose, shivering slightly. The rain here was so constant, an endless stream from the sky. She tilted her head back and glared up at the unrelenting gray. When it had rained during her past in her forest, it had been damp, for sure, but the trees had easily blocked the worst of it. The canopy of leaves had created a cloaking effect, keeping her from realizing just how much it could rain.
Now in Crestwood, though, all it did was rain. Rain and make her jump with each sound from the gloom. She gulped as she strained her eyes, looking around. The undead here were frightening. She hadn't told her friends yet, but she was scared here, more so than when she had been sandwiched between rouge Templars and crazed Mages. At least for the majority, she could talk to the latter two. The former, however, were creatures completely past reason, past words. Their eyes dead of thought, only wanting to kill. Ari'elle shuddered again, hunching further into herself.
Against her breast, inside the dull colored water-proof jacket she wore, a letter from Cullen waited. A full four weeks of writing back and forth, and Varric's lessons, had helped to improve her skills. Just last letter, Cullen had said he saw a definite improvement. Ari'elle tugged her hood up more firmly over her head, and pressed a cold hand over her chest, feeling the comforting pages. At least she could write more advanced words now, no longer felt like a child each time she tried to write what she felt.
Finally, through the gloom, Ari'elle saw the torches surrounding Caer Bronach. She sighed gratefully, excited to get back to a warm meal and somewhat dry sleeping conditions. Before her, Iron Bull whooped with pleasure, and spurred his mount into a faster pace. The poor giant workhorse stirred himself into a faster trot, and Ari'elle urged her mare to keep up.
They had been successful in closing the Rift under the lake. In a dwarven ruins! She had actually traveled inside actual dwarven ruins! She couldn't wait to tell Cullen that. Had he ever gone into ruins like that? The shapes of their architecture and how sturdy things were even after all those years, it was truly awesome to her.
Varric had seemed to have no real interest or knowledge of his ancestors' history. When she was back at Skyhold she would have to ask one of the other dwarves all about it. Just, not Dagna. As much as Ari'elle enjoyed her cheerfulness and enthusiasm, Dagna had asked too many probing questions about her Anchor. Ari'elle had tried to avoid her as much as possible. If anyone were to find out her secret, she feared it would be her.
Inside her glove, Ari'elle flexed her hand, trying to feel the Anchor. When she wasn't using it, Ari'elle could never tell that it was there. It didn't hurt or react to anything. But she was worried. Maybe. Perhaps she was just imagining things, Ari'elle told herself, nibbling her lip. She knew that whenever she closed Rifts, it sent pain up her arm; she had experienced that from the first. However, for the upward of 15 times she had closed rifts on this trip, it almost seemed like it was getting more painful. And that each time it took just a tiny bit longer for the Rifts to close. Ari'elle huffed out a breath and shook her head. No, it was all just in her head. Just her thinking that each most recent time felt the worst.
She shivered at the little icy prickles that skated up and down her spine, and said that it was just the cold, her fear of the undead. Pushing aside her thoughts, she focused on the corpses. Perhaps now that the Rift in the lake was closed, perhaps they would stop spawning. That is where the shambling creatures had come from, so logically, now they would stop. She hoped.
They passed under the covered archway of the keep, and Ari'elle sighed mightily. In no time, she was off her horse, leading it to the stable area and removing her gear. She spent some time drying her mare, wondering over how the Hinterlands could be so warm and bright, while just a little ways to the north, Crestwood could be so rainy and cold. She had actually gotten freckles in their journey during the peak of the summer months, and her hair had gained more of the red streaks, lightening the dark brown. Here though, Ari'elle could not easily remember the sun and heat. Did the people of Crestwood just live under constant clouds?
Inside her jacket, the letter flexed with her movements, a steady reminder of Cullen. Her friends seemed just as disinclined to talk as she did, hurrying their tasks and lost in thought. Usually there was an air of excitement after closing a Rift; yesterday and today they had been subdued though. They parted ways with little murmurs, and Ari'elle slipped up the stairs, looking for an empty room with a fire.
With luck, she found one relatively quickly, and she hurriedly ditched her jacket and changed her clothes, grateful for the thick garments and the heat from the fire. She held out her hands to the flames, letting warmth bring feeling back into her fingertips. Once she was no longer shivering, she picked up her letter.
She carefully broke the seal, opening up the pages to reveal Cullen's familiar handwriting. Just looking at his bold strong letters made warmth build in her, warming her as much as the fire did. His writing was easiest for her to read; Josephine's was so loopy and all the letters connected together, it usually gave her a headache when she tried to decipher the words. Varric usually read those aloud to her. Leliana rarely wrote her notes, but they were usually thin and slanted, and took her a little while to work out. Ari'elle still felt pride, though, that she had progressed as much as she had. While she could definitely read much better than she could write, she felt like she was learning quickly.
Dear Ari'elle,
Crestwood is usually a dreary place, but not typically in the middle of summer. It is strange that it is as overcast as you describe. I hope the weather will clear up soon, for you are likely to be spending a few more weeks there. Since your, rather amazing, diplomatic resolution to the mage conflict in Redcliffe, some swift developments have occurred. The first is that we now have a number of mages moving into Skyhold. I have turned one of the towers into living and research quarters for them, and we are now working on building training exercises for them. Vivienne has been most helpful, and I must say I had not realized how underutilized mages were in our army. Your decision has helped strengthen our capabilities considerably. Thank you for handling the situation to the best of outcomes.
The second is one is even more remarkable. It seems that you made an impression on Queen Anora, and she is most intrigued by the Inquisition now. Due to your influences, she has extended an invitation for the Inquisition to travel to Denerim and be the quests of honor at one of her balls. The move is a political one; I am sure, one due almost entirely to you. Your ability to close the Rifts has been marked with great interest, and your peaceful means of removing the mages from Redcliffe has shown Thedas that the Inquisition is not just a ragtag group of soldiers, but that we are an organized force whose goals are to bring peace, not to take power.
The ball is to take place in a few weeks, and so we have decided that you should stay in Crestwood for the time being. A large group of us will be traveling to Denerim, and we will gather you and your group as we travel that way. For the time being, keep closing Rifts around Crestwood. If you and your group decide you have the time, there are also reports of Rifts out on the Storm Coast. I know you will keep doing all you can to help those you find, so please make sure you have the time before you travel to an area you haven't helped people in before. Your abilities are sure to be needed in those areas, but you are also needed with us.
As always, stay safe. Don't push yourself too hard. Leliana and Josephine are working on gathering together all the items you will need for the trip to Denerim and for the ball, so don't worry about that. I hope that you are well, and that you are still enjoying your adventures. Have you found anymore treasures? Somehow, don't ask me how, Sera was able to stick a whole bee hive inside one of my training dummies. Again, don't ask me how; it seems like an impossible feat. But she did it somehow. Maybe you can get the answer from her. When asked if she would like to come to the ball, she made a very disparaging comment and laughed as she ran away. I am afraid you will have to wait till you return to Skyhold to see your friend. Although she won't say so, I believe that she misses you. As do we all.
Take care,
Cullen
Ari'elle sat back, a confusing swirl of emotions churning through her. She was pleased with how easily she had understood most of the letter, although she would have to ask about some of the words. Thrilled that Cullen had written to her again. But had she really done all that Cullen had said she did? She had helped the Inquisition that much? And Queen Anora inviting her to a ball? She had heard some of what a ball consisted of, and her stomach flutter with nervousness. Shemlan traditions she knew nothing about, dancing and gossiping…
Dorian! Ari'elle latched onto the idea with desperation. Surely Dorian would be able to help her! And when Cullen and his group met up with them, Josephine too. Josephine's position as a political consultant would make her a necessity on the trip.
Licking her lips, Ari'elle read through it again, slower this time. A weight of disappointment settled in her chest. She admitted that she hopped this letter would be calling for them to return to Skyhold. It had been a month already, and now she had some more weeks before she would see him again. And he never spoke of himself. Ari'elle frowned, wishing he would talk more about how he was doing, how his days were filled. Were his nightmares any better? Was he getting enough sleep?
Her lips parted again as she came to the end. As do we all. He missed her? Ari'elle tried not to read more into the words, but she couldn't help herself from imagining things. There was no way he missed her as much as she missed him. She closed her eyes tight and forced herself to not clench her fists so she wouldn't wrinkle the precious paper. Just a little while longer. She would see him soon enough.
She carefully folded the letter up and tucked it with her other letters, all carefully tied and placed in the waterproof pouch Cole had given her. A few seeds were stored in there, but most of the space was filled with her new written treasures.
Ari'elle stood and made for the door. She needed to speak to her friends, and she needed to find some paper to write Cullen back on.
