Chapter 29

The next morning Cullen and Riona, along with just a handful of Cullen's men left Skyhold. Cullen had not told Riona where they were going, but she didn't really care. She'd follow Cullen anywhere. They had been on the road for a few days when they finally reached their destination. Cullen's home town, just a stone's throw to the kinloch hold. The circle tower where he had been tortured by the desire demon. Riona was surprised they were here of all places.

"Why are we here?" She asked looking around the small village.

"I wanted to show you where I grew up." Cullen explained taking her hand and walking with her around the village, that had been pretty much deserted because of the war.

Riona smiled at him, as he led her around, pointing out different places that were important to him, leaving the men to make camp near the lake. As the sun began to set, Cullen led her towards a small dock on the lake, the circle tower visible in the distance.

"I came here, the night before I was sent away to train to be a templar. We weren't allowed to take any personal belongings with us but my brother wanted to me to have something for good luck so he gave me this." Cullen told her as he pulled a scared coin from his pocket, Andraste's face on one side. "I've carried it with me all these years, the only thing I have from my life before the Templars… I want you to have it." Cullen said as he opened her hand to press the coin into her open palm.

"Cullen, I can't take this…" Riona hesitated, trying to give it back.

"My love, I don't have much to offer you, all I have is this. My one token, my one memory of what it felt to be loved. Please … I want you to have it… to know my intentions for you." Cullen breathed out.

Riona looked at him and then at the coin in her hand, understanding dawning on her, this was his promise to her. She closed her fingers around the coin, bringing her hand to her chest above her heart. "I'll treasure it always." She promised, leaning in to Cullen as their lips touched. She slipped the coin into her pocket before putting her arms around Cullen, pulling herself closer to him. He lifted her up against him, taking a step back only for his boot to catch on a loose board on the dock.

Cullen fall backwards, Riona being pulled down with him as they splashed into the cold water. They both came up sputtering. He looked over at his love, her hair hanging down in front of her face. He pushed it back to see her eyes that were shinning with laughter. Cullen's laughter bubbled up until he was almost doubled over with it, Riona's bell like laugh joining him. Then he had her in his arms, his mouth crashing against hers. His tongue seeking entrance to her mouth. She let him in. her moan setting his body on fire. Cullen quickly broke apart, before he began pulling her from the lake, back to the tent that his men had set up for them far away from the others. As soon as he had her inside, his mouth was back on her.

Riona broke the kiss, her hands going to the buckles of Cullen's armor as she began removing it piece by piece. She did not stop until he was left in just his breeches and tunic. Cullen began removing her armor then until she was just in a tunic and leggings. Riona with trembling hands reached for the hem of Cullen's tunic and began pulling it over his head, Cullen doing the same with her own. His hands went for her breast band, quickly removing it. She stood bare chested before him, the tips of her ears burning. "Maker's breath you're beautiful." he breathed, as he moved closer to her. His lips kissing down her neck to her chest, he sucked one nipple into his mouth, his hand teasing the other. Riona moaned at the sensation.

Cullen scooped her up into his arms to carried her to the cot, laying her down on it. He pulled her leggings down her legs and off her body, leaving only her small clothes covering her. His eyes devoured the sight before him. "You have to many clothes on." Riona stated, arching an eyebrow at him as she looked at his breeches. Cullen's face flushed but he unfastened the ties and let them drop, stepping out of them. The corners of Riona's mouth turned up in a smile as she saw how Cullen was straining against his small clothes. Cullen looked down at himself as he followed her line of sight. He smirked, the scar on his lip giving him a rakish look.

Riona reached up and pulled Cullen down to her, his body stretched out on top of her. His hands roaming her body, not knowing where to touch first. His mouth trailing kisses along her heated flush. Riona was a whimpering mess under him. His hands went to her small clothes, slipping them from her body leaving her completely bare. His mouth descended to her mound. "Cullen?" she asked questioningly.

He looked up at her, as he lowered his mouth to her core. Riona cried out as his tongue slipped between her folds. Riona's hands went to Cullen's head, her fingers in his hair as she pushed him closer to her heat, his fingers thrusting into her. Gods, she was going to come undone. Riona screamed out as her walls tightened around Cullen's fingers, her thighs almost crushing Cullen's head between them. She was spent, as she was coming down from her high, Cullen began kissing his way back up her body until he reached her mouth. She could taste herself on Cullen's lips.

Riona pushed Cullen, until he was on his back. "My turn." she grinned wickedly. She kissed and nipped down his neck. Bitting lightly on his nipples. She sat back on her knees, as she rid Cullen of his small clothes. Her fingers stroking his hard appendage. "Sweet Andraste." Cullen murmured. Riona eyed his hardness, even though he wasn't completely hard, Cullen was impressive, she wasn't sure he'd actually fit inside her. She bent down, her tongue licking him before she took him into her mouth, her hands stroking him where she couldn't get all of him in her mouth. Cullen bucked his hips as she began to bob up and down his shaft. "Maker's breath you must stop." He cried, his could feel his climax close. "Please my love I'm going to cum." Riona just smiled around his member and hummed. Cullen cried out as he reached his peak, spilling himself inside her sweet mouth.

After swallowing all Cullen had to give her, she released him with a pop and stretched out beside him, kissing him softly. "I'm sorry my love … I couldn't hold on." Cullen said ashamed.

"You have nothing to be sorry for ma Vheran." Riona said placing a kiss to his throat.

"I don't think… it will … come back." Cullen admitted gesturing towards his now limb manhood.

"Next time then. I'm content for tonight." Riona told him as she snuggled against his naked body. "I love the feel of you skin against mine."

Cullen smiled as he pulled a blanket up over the both of them, "I loved the feel of your legs around my head." he teased causing Riona to blush.

The two held each other until sleep claimed them, morning came to early. "Sir … umm … it's time to be heading back to Skyhold." one of his men called from the front of the tent.

Cullen groaned he didn't want to leave Riona's side. "Very well." he called to the soldier. Shaking Riona wake, "time to get up my love."

"No." Riona muttered, earning a chuckle from Cullen. "Yes, my love. You must dress or did you want my men to see you in all your glory." Riona opened her eyes to glare at him. "only if you keep your clothes off too."

Cullen stood up and stretched, Riona drinking in the sight of his lean muscular body. She wanted to pounce on him then and there and bring him back to bed to finish what they had started the night before. But instead she sat up, looking around for her clothes. "Where's my under things?" she asked not seeing them anywhere.

A throat cleared at the entrance to their tent, a hand sticking in Riona's small clothes hanging from a finger. "Andraste's ass!" Riona cried embarrassed. Cullen snatched them and tossed them over to her both of them dressing quickly.

They emerged from their tent to find Cullen's men had already broken down the rest of the camp. None of the men making eye contact with them. Riona could feel her ears burning, Cullen kept rubbing the back of his neck, until Jim finally looked at them and began laughing. Pretty soon all of them were doubled over, "Sir… I'm sorry." Jim laughed out trying to get control of himself. "But may I speak freely?"

"What is it Jim?" Cullen asked a little scared to know to be honest.

"It's about time." he said which caused everybody to break down laughing again, even Riona giggling uncontrollably. Cullen's laughter joining them, before he kissed Riona soundly.

"Alright, let's get moving." He said a few moments later.

As the company was leaving, Riona spotted something in the bushes. She stopped and starred, dismounting from her horse, she crept over to the bush where she found a small funny looking dog. "Oh you poor thing." Riona said when she realized it was hurt. "you're just a puppy." she realized as she picked it up.

Cullen had turned back when he realized that Riona wasn't with him, "What is it?" he asked.

"It's a puppy, he's injured." Riona told him as she lifted the dog to show Cullen it's back leg that was bleeding.

"That's a mabari!" Cullen exclaimed, quickly dismounting to go over to Riona.

"What's a mabari?" Riona asked as she sat on a boulder holding the puppy so Cullen could tend to its leg.

"A ferelden war dog. They are bred for battle, hunting, protection. But they are also wonderful companions, fiercely loyal to their owners." Cullen explained, "I always wanted one."

Riona smiled, "Maybe you could keep this one?"

"Mabaris bond with their owners, they won't except another one." Cullen told her.

"How do you know if one has bonded with you?" Riona asked as Cullen finished up on the pups leg, earning a happy yap and a lick across his face. Cullen chuckled.

"You can't get rid of them for one." Cullen said as he took the pup and put it down on the ground. "Come on we best go."

Riona went back to her horse and Cullen his. They began their trip home. They had been traveling for some time when Riona looked behind them and laughed causing Cullen to look too. The mabari pup was following them. Cullen stopped his horse and got down, the pup eagerly running to the commander, barking happily as he jumped up and down against Cullen's leg. "I think he has chosen you ma Vheran." Riona teased.

Cullen grinned, "it would seem so." he reached down and picked the pup up, climbing back on his horse, he tucked the pup into his outer vest. Riona rode up beside him, the pup's face sticking out. She smiled at the look of share happiness on Cullen's face. This had been a good trip.