A/N : Hi everyone, here is this week-end's update! As always thank you all for reading and for the reviews.

"Alright Josephine, I'll make sure everyone attends the fittings. And, as it seems that I won't be leaving Skyhold before we all depart for Halamshiral I suggest we adjourn this meeting. We'll have plenty of time to deal with less pressing matters in the morning."

"Very well Inquisitor." Josephine said with a nod.

The ambassador and the spymaster both took the direction of the hallway, chatting about matters of fashion. 'The outfits for the ball at the Winter Palace needed to be perfect!' Trevelyan glanced discreetly in their direction, taking a very, very, long time to neatly organize on the table the several reports they had discussed throughout the meeting. At the other side, Cullen was doing the same. She smiled. Going through the council without looking dreamily at him had been trying. The intimate moment they had shared, only hours ago on the battlements, was the only thing she had been able to think about. She couldn't wait to have more of them.

Apparently Cullen felt the same way. As soon as the two women were out of the room he circled the table saying:

"I believe that was the most painful…" He came closer to her, slowly sliding one arm around her waist.

"Horrible…." She said, her hands coming to rest on his breastplate, letting him pull her into an embrace

"War council ever." He finished, leaning towards her, laying down a chaste kiss on her lips.

"I whole heartedly agree! I can't believe Josephine insisted so much that we all attend those fittings for the ball's outfits." She said in jest, mirth making her blue eyes sparkle.

"Sure, that's exactly why this evening's briefing felt so endless." Cullen captured her lips again, less gingerly this time. She laughed against his mouth then leaned into his kiss.

"Well that, and the view was very distracting." Alexis added once they parted and she molded against him, her head coming to rest on his shoulder.

"It sure was." He laid a soft kiss on her forehead and closed his arms around her.

They simply stood in silence for a moment, holding each other, enjoying the feeling of their newly found intimacy.

"I was wondering…" Alexis nearly whispered those words, her head still buried in the fur collar of his coat.

"Yes?"

"Well you're the Commander of the Inquisition and I'm the Inquisitor, the Herald of Andraste, so they like to say. If words spreads out that we are… seeing each other, it will have people talking."

She straightened up so she could look Cullen in the eyes. He seemed a little troubled as well.

"You wouldn't believe how quickly gossip spreads through the barracks." He said with a sigh. "And, surprisingly" that last word was said with a clear hint of sarcasm "it always spreads faster when it concerns a superior officer. I already overheard rumors and whispers about me being very displeased at being interrupted while in charming company. Although I heard no mention of you, I guess Jim didn't have the time to recognize you."

"I was trying my best to hide myself. I don't know why exactly. It's not as if we were in a Circle." She chuckled, remembering how cautious and hidden relationships had to be in the Circle. "And I imagine it's better that he didn't realize it was me? These rumors must bother you."

"I would rather my…our… private affairs remain that way. But if there was nothing here for people to talk about, I would regret it more."

"I suppose that, even if we are discreet, people will notice. And that's not counting Varric, Leliana or Dorian… it seems like nothing goes on in Skyhold without at least one of them knowing. So I don't know if being discreet will even be possible. Not that I want to hide anything! Just…" She sighed and looked away, sliding off Cullen's arms.

"What's wrong?" He asked, his brow knitting, unable to help a small pang of fear.

"I'm not very good at this Cullen. I don't know how it's like to be with someone. I mean, yes I've been with men before but it was always brief, or had to be kept secret because it's how things were in a Circle and when you're a mage. I don't know what you expect of me, or even how I should acknowledge what has been going on between us if it goes public." She blurted out, a little flustered.

To Cullen her nervousness was endearing. He had always assumed she would be at ease in this kind of situation. He could relate to her uneasiness. The last time he had been intimate with a woman was in a faraway memory, and the last time he could say he was romantically involved was even further away in time.

"I'm not better at this than you are Alexis. If I seem unsure sometimes, it's because it's been a long time since I've wanted anyone in my life. I wasn't expecting to find that here. Or you." He held out his hand to her and she immediately took it, allowing Cullen to pull her back into his arms. "What do you say about we take this one day at a time? We stay professional when dealing with matters related to the Inquisition, and when we're not, we can take the time to figure out how we're comfortable to act? You need to know that I don't expect anything from you, I'm just fine to be with you and share moments like this with you."

"Me too." She wrapped her arms around his shoulders burying her head in his neck, her lips ghosting over the soft skin of his throat, inhaling his scent. There was hint of leather and armor polish but Cullen, he smelled like earth after a thunderstorm, like fresh grass under a summer rain. He was intoxicating and she already felt like she couldn't have enough of him.

"As much as I'd like to stay here with you, I believe we should go before our 'delay' becomes suspicious." He said with a smile, laying a kiss on the top of her head.

"You're right. If we could avoid Josephine and Leliana's comments for a few days I wouldn't mind." Her lips traced the arch of his throat, then the line of his jaw, as she slowly made her way towards his mouth.

"You have no idea in how much trouble I am when those two will find out!" Cullen said, shivering from her touch.

"Oh I know." Alexis laughed, and she softly laid a kiss on the scar that marred his lips. "They will gang up on you as if they were your sisters and play mean tricks on you."

"Something like that." He said, groaning when her lips brushed his scar. No woman had touched this scar, even less kissed it. It was a new sensation and it felt both good and a bit exciting. "Then, I suppose this is good night?"

"Yes. I promised the boys I would go to the tavern and have a drink with them. And if the rumors reached them you have no idea in how much trouble I am for the rest of the night. But I was planning on doing some early training tomorrow… if you'd like to join me?"

"I would like that."

"Then I'll see you tomorrow morning."

"See you tomorrow."

They kissed one last time, both fighting the desire to make it last longer and longer. Using every ounce of their will, they grudgingly let go of each other, whispering a last goodbye and wishes of good night.

"I'm not putting some fancy pants to go to some shite noble ball!"

"A shirt and a jacket, really boss?"

Trevelyan was at the Herald's Rest, sitting between Dorian and Varric. At the table were also present Blackwall, Sera and Iron Bull. The last two were complaining since she had informed them of Josephine's plans on making everyone go through fittings for the Inquisition's formal outfits.

"Again, if you're not happy about it, please go see Josephine! Believe me I already tried to talk her out of the idea but she was adamant about it. And I don't even want to think about what she has in store for me." The last part was said in a whisper.

"Ruffles has something special up her sleeves for you Frostbite?" Varric asked with a smirk.

"Apparently. As she said, 'I need to stand out in the crowd'. Don't know what she meant by that, but the idea alone is frightening."

Trevelyan took a sip from her tankard of ale, ignoring the sly grin Varric was throwing at her.

"Why? You would look ravishing in a dress. Though not in Orlesian style, no. You need something more form-fitting, something that will emphasize your curves!"

Alexis nearly drowned herself with her ale at Dorian's comment.

"Whaaat?"

"Yes! Fashion, my dear Alexis, is an important part of those events. You have to be at your advantage! And there sure is a lot of advantage to take from your slender figure and from those curves." Dorian said pointing at her breasts and hips.

"I have to agree with the Vint on that one." Bull smirked.

"You will look lovely." Blackwall added sincerely. He probably was the only one who wasn't trying to mess with her right now.

"I am not going to chase after an assassin through the Winter Palace in a dress!" Alexis countered. "That's the important part of our mission! Not… cozying up with some Orlesian nobles."

"My point exactly! With the perfect dress, it's them who will come cozying up to you. You deal with the boring nobles quickly and you can focus on the task at hand. Besides you can easily hide weapons underneath a dress."

Dorian winked and Trevelyan let out a tired sigh. It was impossible to win with him in those kinds of situations, so she stayed silent and drank her ale. No one else wanted to push the topic further so the subject of conversation quickly changed and she listened to her companions' chatter, happy to no longer be the center of the attention. Varric was telling one of his famous stories when cheering, coming from a nearby table, drew their attention.

There were several soldiers sitting there and they were all looking at a young man who had just entered the tavern and was walking towards them. Trevelyan gave him a quick and uninterested glance and then, she froze.

"Hey Jim! Heard you got yourself into trouble with the Commander earlier!"

Trevelyan's mouth dropped and she quickly looked away from Jim. Why, of all the soldiers of the Inquisition, does it have to be the one that had walked in on Cullen and her on the battlements?

"Trouble? Void, that's one way to say it. Nearly thought he was going to strangle me." Jim said sighing and literally letting himself fall onto a chair.

"What happened?" another soldier, a woman, asked.

"Oh you haven't heard yet? Jim caught the Commander with a woman earlier on the battlements!"

"No way! How did it happen?"

"How many times will I have to say it." Jim complained.

"One more time at least! Tell us!"

"Fiiiine. Well, I had to deliver him a report he wanted 'without delay' so, as he wasn't in his office, I asked where he was. They told me he was walking the battlements so I went to find him and when I did, he was with a woman, they were very close and the Commander looked very, very, angry that I had… interrupted them."

Alexis' attention was purposefully fixed on her drink, the silence at her own table was proof enough that all her companions were carefully listening to the chatter from the soldiers.

"The Commander with a woman, well that's something new!"

"Sure is! I mean he's a great but he's kinda married to his job. Never saw that coming! By the way, did you see who it was? The woman?"

The more they talked the more Trevelyan felt embarrassed and she couldn't help the blush on her cheeks. Good thing she was drinking, it was a perfect excuse. She risked a quick look at her companions only to regret it immediately. They all had their gaze fixed on her and wide grins that went up to their ears. Alexis cursed and drank again, taking a long gulp. She was definitely going to need some liquid courage to face the rest of the evening with her friends.

At the other table the discussion went on.

"No I didn't really have a good look at her. But she seemed embarrassed and was looking away and I was more concerned about the stare the Commander was giving me! I swear I've never seen a stare so scary before!"

"Yeah, you're probably up for some shitty assignments for the next weeks! And alright you don't know who she is but what was she like? You must have seen something!"

"Why does it matter?"

"Oh c'mon Jim! Aren't you just a bit curious to know with whom our very stern and serious Commander had a little fun?"

"You're not going to drop the case are you?... Fine! Well she was tall, brown hair, she seemed athletic and she wasn't wearing a soldier gear."

"Oh it could be that Templar, Belinda? She had a crush on him!"

"No, Belinda doesn't have brown hair. And besides nearly half the woman in Skyhold had a crush on the Commander at some point." The woman soldier said.

"Yeah, you did too, I remember. What do you all see in him anyway?" The man complained in his most annoyed tone.

"Are you blind? He's damn gorgeous! And it's not my fault if the man decided to be shirtless while sparring with that Qunari mercenary the other day! What's a girl supposed to do if not stare?"

Dorian leaned towards Alexis, whispering in her ear "You should have totally been there, it was grandiose!"

She sank further in her chair, hoping that none of the soldiers, especially Jim, would notice her.

"Yeah sure! Well it could also be that other Templar, Lysette? She has brown hair. Jim what do you think?"

"Perhaps, I don't know. As I said, I didn't have a good look at her. Can we please speak of something else?"

Jim's plea finally had them change the subject and Alexis could breathe a little. Although her relief was short lived, there was no way her friends would get off her back for the rest of the evening.

"Sooo, you and Curly? Good for you!" Varric wiggled his eyebrows at her.

"I'm warning you sweetheart, I'll want details! Lots of them!" Dorian said while sliding his arms around Alexis' shoulder.

"Jealous that pretty Templar boy likes girls, Dorian?" Sera mocked him sardonically.

"Jealous, me? Absolutely not, well perhaps a little, but, no, I merely want to collect my reward for all my efforts in putting those two together!"

"You may want more interesting things to happen before you ask for details." Bull winked at both Trevelyan and the Tevinter mage.

"Bull if you're saying what I'm thinking you're saying… just don't! Please don't!" Alexis said sounding defeated.

"Oh I believe he's absolutely saying what you're thinking he's saying!" Dorian nudged her shoulder smiling all the way to his ears. "But don't worry, unlike our ill-mannered friend here, I am not interested in knowing who will end on top between you and the Commander. Although, please, don't wait too long before you get down to business. If you wait even half as long as you've been waiting before finally acknowledging your feelings for each other, the build-up of sexual tension will be most insufferable. And it will make you grumpy whenever we're away of Skyhold for weeks."

"That's it… I clearly haven't drunk enough to hear more comments about all this! And you all better have changed the subject when I'm back!"

Alexis rose to her feet and walked towards the counter. She was only halfway there when Bull called out to her.

"Hey Boss! Bring some of the good stuff. We need to celebrate!"

She spun on her heels and Bull eyed her lusciously, looking very pleased with himself. She was ready to throw him a witty comment when her gaze landed on Jim. Their eyes met and she saw a spark in them. He knew. He had just connected the dots between her and the woman he briefly saw on the battlements. Brown hair, same outfit, he knew she was the one he had seen with the Commander earlier. Trevelyan's gaze went dark, glaring daggers, at Bull first, knowing he had called her on purpose, and at Jim. The poor lad shrunk underneath her gaze. She felt bad for him, two cold harsh stares in one day? He didn't deserve it. But the last thing she wanted right now was the whole tavern to know that the Inquisitor and the Commander were involved.

She turned around and walked to the counter. She had a feeling this wasn't the last time she would have to face comments or awkward situations because of her relationship with Cullen. It bothered her, for merely a second. Then she remembered the taste of his lips, his intoxicating scent, the way he would close his embrace around her as if she was the most precious and fragile thing in the world, his smile, the desire and affection in his eyes... And she no longer cared for everything else that wasn't him. Cullen was worth it. Every second with him was worth it.