A/N: This chapter gets...steamy. Thought I'd give you a heads up. Nothing too graphic, but it's there.
"You aren't taking me out to a secluded location to dump me, are you?" Ellana asked from behind him. He choked on air, flabbergasted at the accusation.
"Maker's Breath, of course I'm not!" he screeched, turning to face her. She had a hand over her mouth, trying to stop herself from laughing. He shook his head in wonder. He loved her, but sometimes he did not understand her sense of humor. He supposed he should be glad that she was clearly over her breakup with Solas since she was making jokes about it. She was spending far too much time with Varric and Dorian, though, based on her current taste in jests. He had seen her handing Dorian a dragon's tooth a few days ago, and he hoped he wouldn't end up the butt of one of their jokes. She snuggled up into his side as they walked over to the quiet dock.
"Good." she murmured. She was smiling as she looked around the lonely lake. She had always seemed happier when she was out in nature. The stars were shimmering overhead, and the moonlight made her large eyes shine. "Where are we?" she wondered. The lake near Honnleath was not far from Skyhold.
"You walk into danger every day. I wanted to take you away from that, if only for a moment." his eyes scanned the familiar surroundings. Nothing had changed about this place since he had seen it last. That was a comfort. "I grew up not far from here. This place was always quiet." She looked touched that he had brought her here, and it only reaffirmed his decision to bring her to this place.
"Did you come here often?" she asked. As always, her eyes were wide with anticipation of receiving new knowledge, even if it was only knowledge about him. Her endless curiosity was one of his favorite things about her.
"I loved my siblings, but they were very loud. I would come here to clear my head. Of course, they always found me eventually." he explained. She smiled softly.
"You were happy here." she realized. He nodded.
"I was. I still am." he admitted. Her grin became playful.
"How will you survive without a parade of messengers and war reports?" she teased.
"I should be able to last the day. Besides, I told Leliana to send word if.." he trailed off as he noticed her stare.
"Cullen. You, me, pretty lake?" she hinted. He blushed.
"Right...of course." he apologized. He really did focus on work too much. Ellana was the only thing that really mattered, anyhow. Shyly, he pulled his gift from his pocket. "The last time I was here was the day I left for Templar training. My brother gave me this." he showed her the pressed coin. "It just happened to be in his pocket, but he said it was for luck. Templars are not supposed to carry such things. Our faith should see us through." he admitted, stroking the coin that was stamped with Andraste's face. He watched her as she stared at it, and then suddenly wondered if she would even accept such a gift. She wasn't a follower of Andraste. She was from another world. Nervously he wondered if she would take offense to it.
"A little luck can't hurt every now and then." she murmured.
"I suppose not. I should have died during the Blight. Or in Kirkwall, or Haven, take your pick. And yet, I made it back here." he took her hand and pressed the coin against her palm.
"Humor me. We don't know what you'll face before the end. This can't hurt." he whispered. She took the coin and locked eyes with him as she pulled a band from around her neck.
"I'll keep it safe, so long as you take something of mine as well." she agreed, handing him the necklace. It was a simple leather band, with a thin disc of wood in the center that was carved with a tree. It was the same tree that danced across her face.
"It's beautiful." he praised. He began to lift it over his head.
"It was Mahanon's." she admitted. He paused.
"Ellana, are you sure?" he wondered. She nodded.
"He carved it before we were together. He always told me that it brought him the luck he needed to win my heart. He wore it until he died and...and I've worn it ever since. I want you to have it." she urged. He placed it around his neck, and she stared.
"I am honored." he breathed. She stretched onto her tiptoes and pulled him down to kiss her. It was the first time they had kissed in a while, and it felt like coming home. She felt right in his arms. He realized that he didn't want to let her go. His fear for her, for what she was about to do, began to grow, and with that fear their kisses intensified. She seemed to catch his mood, and she clutched him just as firmly as he held her. He could feel her hands tugging insistently at the ties of his armor, and he pulled back. Her gaze was alert, and there was a fire in her eyes. "Are you sure?" he asked. She nodded.
"I have never been more sure of anything." she promised. He unfastened his cloak and laid it on the dock as she went around behind him to attack his armor more effectively. Soon his armor, weapon, and boots were all set aside, and she began kissing him again. He returned her affection hungrily, lowering them both to the ground. She straddled him as she removed her own shirt, and he whimpered at the sight of her body. He ran his hands over her skin, smooth except in the few places laced with scars. He saw the four scars surrounding her heart, and met her eyes. She looked nervous as he studied her body.
He softly touched the stretch marks on her abdomen, from where she had carried her lost child. He kissed them, and the scars on her chest, before kissing her lips once more. She pulled his shirt over his head and studied his body in the same manner. He had more scars than she, including many from his torment in the Ferelden Circle. She kissed those, just as he had kissed hers. Gently she reached down the front of his pants, causing him to shudder and moan as she gripped him in her hand. He honestly did not think he would last very long with her straddling him the way she was, so he wriggled out of his pants and undid the ties to hers. Her whimper was nearly enough to drive him over the edge as he touched her in the same manner. He rolled her over onto her back, and she began to moan as his fingers slid into her.
"Please, emma lath. I need you." she begged. He growled and gave into her request. Joining with her felt unlike anything he had ever felt before. It felt natural, and he had to try to hold himself together as she cried out ecstatically. He wanted her to finish first. It didn't take long for him to feel her walls clench around him as she did, and he followed soon after. He collapsed on top of her, taking a minute to remember that he was much larger than she was.
"Sorry." he mumbled as he rolled over to the side. She laughed, wiping her hair from her face.
"That's not generally what someone says after that activity." she joked. He laughed with her and she cuddled up against his chest. For a while they just lay there, feeling each other's warmth. He could see the cold air prickling her skin, and he wrapped his cloak around them.
"This war won't last forever, you know. When we started I hadn't given much thought to anything beyond surviving, but things are different now." he admitted.
"What do you mean?" she breathed against his chest. He ran his fingers through her silky hair.
"I find myself wondering what will happen after...when this is over, I...I won't want to move on. Not from you." he revealed. She propped her head up on his chest so that she could look him in the eye. "But I don't know what you...that is, if you..." he stammered. She chuckled.
"Cullen, do you really have to ask?" she wondered. It was then that he realized that she would throw away life and clan for him.
"I suppose not." he murmured back. "Ar lath, Ellana." she smiled.
"I love you too, Cullen." she breathed. They stayed there for a time, wrapped in each other's arms. He knew it was a night he would never forget, and one that he didn't want to end.