Chapter 25
Riona was thrilled when she saw Skyhold come into view, six weeks. Six weeks...that's how long it had been since she had last seen her beloved. Six long grueling weeks. Six weeks filled with fighting Red Templars, Demons, mages, a dragon or two. Six weeks of soggy shoes from swamp lands. Six weeks of listening to Varric and Cassandra fighting constantly only for their sexual appetites to came the rest of them up all night. Six weeks of hearing Iron Bull and Dorian going at every night. Six weeks of Sera complaining about everything. Six weeks of Vivian being a bitch to everybody but especially to Cole. Six weeks of listening to Cole spill her own thoughts out for everybody to hear. Six long weeks of pure hell. Riona just wanted a hot bath and her Commander, forget everybody else.
Cullen saw Riona's party approaching long before they got near the gates. He sent a servant to have a bath readied for the inquisitor knowing she would probably want one. It had been six weeks since he last seen her. Six weeks since he had broken down in front of her, showing her how weak he was. Six weeks since he had been tempted to take the lyrium. Six weeks since he started training with other templars on using their talents without the lyrium. Six weeks since he felt useless. Six weeks since he realized that he didn't need the lyrium, he needed Riona. He wasn't weak. He was strong to overcome the addiction that the Chantry had forced on him and his brothers in arms. They were stronger without the lyrium. They didn't need it to fight magic. They were stronger. He was stronger. It had not taken his long at all to figure out that all he had to think of was Riona in trouble and his Templar abilities just rushed out of him. Dorian had been right. Their abilities were tied to their emotions. The Chantry had lied to them all, they made them addicts to keep them on a short leash. Cullen was furious but he was also glad, cause it made him realize he could help. He wasn't a shell of a man at least in that aspect. If only his body would recover as fast as his mind had from finally being free.
Upon entering the stronghold a servant rushed up to Riona, "lady inquisitor! There is a bath prepared for you in your chambers and the Commander request your presence after have bathed at your earliest convenience."
"Thank you, please tell the Commander I shall be with him in an hour." Riona replied smiling knowing her love had the bath prepared for her.
"Go on your inquisitorialness, we'll take care of the horses." Varric told her after she dismounted. "you should bring Curly by the tavern later, we're going be playing Wicked Grace."
"Oh...I think I will. See you later then" Riona said with a wave as she walked off to her chambers.
Riona entered her chambers barely avoiding the visiting dignitaries, the hopeful suitors, the pilgrims who wanted to worship the Herald, and Josephine who no doubt wanted to introduce her to everybody who she thought she should know personally. She was glad that most people didn't look at an elf twice as it let her slip by unnoticed by most. She sighed as she closed the door leading into the great hall with sigh of relief before walking up the flight of stairs to the door that lead to her personal room. As soon as she opened the door revealing the steps leading up to her bedchamber the smell of flowers hit her. She smiled at the scent, it reminded her of home, a wistful sigh escaped her. She would never have that home again. Skyhold was her home now. As she reached the top of the steps she spotted the giant tub, steam and bubbles rising from it. Then she spotted the source of the smell, a beautiful garland of flowers had been strung around her four post bed, and they graced every single available surface. Tears sprung to her eyes at the thoughtfulness of it.
After quickly shedding her armor, Riona sank gratefully into the hot bath, a groan of pleasure escaping her as the heat relaxed her stiff and sore muscles. This was paradise after her long trip. She washed quickly, wanting to rid herself of the grim and muck that was soaked into her skin and hair. She really wanted to just soak in the tub for as long as possible but after washing all the filth from her body the water was disgusting. There would be no soaking tonight...at least not in the tub. She had heard that there was a large pool somewhere in the lower levels of Skyhold that was filled and heated by a natural hot spring, she wondered if Cullen knew where it was. She had not explored the whole keep as duties kept her away so much, but Cullen was here almost all the time, surely he knew every inch of the Keep.
Stepping out of the tub, Riona wrapped a towel around her body before ringing for a servant to take the tub away. She went behind her dressing screen and donned her comfortable house clothes. She really didn't know what to call them, she thought they were bedclothes but they were so nice that she had worn them around the Keep and nobody said anything about it so she figured that they couldn't be bedclothes. After dressing she came back around the screen to sit on her bed to brush her long hair as some servants arrived to get rid of the tub.
"My lady, do you require anything else?" one young elven girl asked as the two older male human servants removed the tub.
"Thank you but no." Riona responded, "What is your name?"
"me? My lady. I am nobody." the elf squeaked in surprise.
"Nobody is nobody. You have to have a name." Riona said looking at her with what she hope was encouragement.
"I'm...I'm Lyra, my lady." the young girl stated unsure of why she was being asked.
"Lyra, that is a pretty name. I'm Riona, you do not need to be so formal around me."
"thank you miss but that would not be proper. I'm just a servant. Excuse me please." Lyra whispered before bowing and rushing away.
Riona frowned at the retreating girl. The human servants did not act so scared to be informal when asked, but none of the elven servants responded well. Every single one that she had tried to befriend somewhat had run away scared only to be replaced by someone else. Why couldn't they understand she was one of them? She shook her head in confusion before placing her brush on her bedside table. She had decided to leave it down as she went in search of her love.
"Cullen?" Riona called upon entering his office and not seeing him behind his desk where he usually was. There was no answer from upstairs. "Hmm...where is he at?"
"Fresh air is soothing. Cool wind on his face. Sun warms him… reminds him of you." Cole's sing song voice called out from atop the ladder leading into the loft.
"Umm thanks?" Riona said before Cole vanished. "not really helpful."
Riona walked out of Cullen's office and look for him along the battlements. She finally found him at the upper most corner looking out over the frozen lake where the troops camped. His back was too her, face lifted to the sun, a soft smile on his lips. He looked so relaxed.
"I should thank you," Cullen said quietly without turning or opening his eyes.
"Thank me for what?" Riona asked coming up beside him
Cullen open his eyes and turned to her, his hand cupping her face. "For believing in me."
"Feeling better I take it?" Riona asked leaning into his touch.
"I've not felt this good in a long time. Things are looking better, my mind feels free, my body...well it's a work in progress but I feel stronger." Cullen smiled at her. "I've been training with a few volunteers while you were gone. Dorian was right… Templars do not need the Lyrium. The Chantry has lied to us all. But at least I know now that I'm not useless. I can still protect you, that I can still fight against the mages that go against us."
"That's wonderful! But you were never useless Cullen." Riona exclaimed giving him a hug.
"I felt useless, still do in some respects. My body … it's still weak from going through the withdrawals but I think I'm truly over them now, I feel it getting stronger." Cullen said his cheeks growing pink.
Riona wrinkled her brow in confusion before his meaning dawned on her. He still was unable to be with her physically. "it's alright Ma Vheran," She whispered touching his cheek.
Cullen grasped her hand with his pulling it away from his face to kiss the inside of her wrist. "I don't deserve you but I can't give you up."
"I don't want you too" Riona breathed out before his lips crashed against hers.
Cullen gripped Riona's hips hard pulling her tight against him, she was so soft and warm. Her arms clung to him as his lips moved against hers. He felt her tongue brush against his bottom lip so he opened up to her allowing her to take control. His hands moved up her body, an arm wrapping around her back holding her even closer, his other hand going to her flowing locks. They felt like silk. He heard her moan against his mouth. The sound causing to feel a twitch in his pants that he had not felt in a while. Another moan escaped but this one came from him as he felt her rub against the front of his trousers. He was hardening. Thank the Maker, he was getting hard for her.
"Commander sir, Sister Lil..." , the scout name Jim stated walking up at that moment his eyes on the papers in his hand only to stop in midsentance when he raised them to find the Commander and the Inquisitor. Jim gulped and his eyes went wide as Cullen broke away from Riona, and quite literally growled at him. He was so imposing as he turned to him and glared daggers. "I … uh ...I'll just put this on your desk." Jim stammered as he swiftly retreated.
"Cullen if you need to go." Riona said looking down, her face flushed, disappointed that they had been interrupted. Had she imagined what she felt pressed against? She gasped when Cullen was back on her in a second his lips capturing hers in a desperate kiss.
"I'm sorry …" Cullen breathed pulling away, "I shouldn't have … that was …"
"Amazing" Riona finished for him a smile on her face.
"Amazing doesn't do it justice." Cullen stated, his forehead pressed against her, his breath ghosting across her face.
Riona brushed her lips against his quickly before pulling back, breaking contact with him. They both sighed at the loss of each other. "As much as I would love to stay in your arms all day and continue this we both have duties to attend."
"you're right, I should see what that report was Jim was bringing to me." Cullen sighed his hand going to the back of his neck as he rubbed.
"I do believe you scared the shit out of him Cullen." Riona giggled
"Did I actually growl at the man?" Cullen asked chuckling.
"Yes but it was deserved." Riona said with a grin.
"I love you" Cullen whispered before kissing the top of her head.
"And I you." Riona returned as he started backing away. "Cullen?" She called almost forgetting.
Cullen stopped and turned back to look at his love, "yes?"
"Varric invited us to play Wicked Grace tonight in the tavern, do you want to come?" Riona asked with a hopeful expression.
Cullen cringed inwardly, Riona had no idea how a game with Varric could get, but he would pass up the opportunity to be near his love. "I will try my best to be there." Cullen said stepping closer to her to grab her hand to press a kiss to her knuckles. "Until then my love."
Riona smiled as she watched him walk away, his steps lighter then she ever remembered them being. She grinned as she thought of what had just taken place. She knew she wasn't imagining things, she really had felt Cullen's hardness against her. He was getting stronger. "Soon Ma Vheran, soon we shall be one." she whispered to his retreating figure.