Chapter 6: Chess is just a metaphor
'Gloat all you like, I have this one.'
She had been tending to the elfroot plants in the gardens when she'd heard Cullen's voice. Liethe Lavallen looked up from the planter and across the courtyard in time to see Dorian's head tilt. 'Are you sassing me, Commander? I didn't know you had it in you.'
Cullen sighed heavily as she moved closer to see what was going on. 'Why do I even-' He looked up suddenly and saw her approach. 'Inquisitor!' The jump to get out of his seat was, frankly funny. Clearly Dorian thought so, too.
'Leaving, are you? Does this mean I win?' He smirked. Cullen sat back heavily with a scowl at him in reply. They were playing chess on a little table and chairs that had probably been scavenged from one of the dilapidated rooms in Skyhold. The board was littered with black pieces, but few white.
'Are you two playing nice?'
'I'm always nice.' Dorian quipped back. Judging by Cullen's expression, he certainly didn't believe so. 'You need to come to terms with my inevitable victory. You'll feel much better.'
A twinkle had entered Cullen's eye as he gripped one of the black pieces and set it down on the board perilously close to a white that had been surrounded. 'Really? Because I just won and I feel fine!' He gloated.
Dorian's scan of the board was unfavourable to say the very least. There was nothing he could do. 'Don't get smug.' He returned darkly as he stood. 'There'll be no living with you.'
Triumphant in victory, Cullen turned to Liethe. 'I should return to my duties as well. Unless… you would care for a game?'
Games and Liethe had never mixed well. When she was a child, she wanted to win at any cost and that competitiveness was usually her downfall. Still, a chance to go up against Cullen head to head was rare and, if she actually won, Dorian would be elated that Cullen feel the sting of losing as he had.
It was too irresistible. 'Prepare the board, commander.'
'As a child, I played this with my sister. She would get this stuck up grin whenever she won, which was all the time.' Like the grin that he himself had worn while trouncing Dorian? She wondered. Almost like the reminiscent grin he was wearing now, as he reset the pieces.'My brother and I practiced together for weeks. The look on her face the day I finally won!' His face fell somewhat, after the recollection and Liethe found that she didn't like it as much as his smug smile. 'Between serving the templars and serving the Inquisition, I haven't seen them in years. I wonder if she still plays?'
His hand reached out and nudged the first of his pieces forward, his mind clearly on something else. She could have taken advantage of his occupied mind to cheat, but Keeper Deshaana used to say that Mythal would make note of injustices for Elgar'nan to wreak vengeance on, later. As the humans would say - Cheaters never prosper.
She decided to play fair.
He was clever and misleading, she'd give him that, but she was not a bad player, herself and could see what he was plotting. Eventually, though, Cullen looked up at her from the board and said 'This may be the longest we've gone without discussing the Inquisition or related matters. To be honest, I appreciate the distraction.'
It was out of her mouth before she could stop it, too busy focused on his next move, his next strategy. 'We should spend more time together.'
She only realised she'd erred when Cullen had gone quiet. 'Cullen?' She asked and looked up at him. Was he smiling at her? Oh, Creators, what had she said? Liethe hastily shuffled through the conversation of the last few minutes and paled as she finally remembered what she'd said. Dirthra'ma. Creators, kill her now.
'I would .. like that.'
Okay, maybe not yet. 'Me too.' She admitted with a smile. She enjoyed his company, after all, and games like this were a good excuse to be in it.
'You said that… We should finish our game. Right. My turn?' He replied, still beaming slightly as he moved a piece.
Fehendis, Liethe, get your head out of your bony elven arse and play chess. Stop noticing how nice he looks when he smiles, damn it. She moved a piece and the game progressed. Cullen was an excellent chess player, but it was clear she was gaining the upper hand.
Eventually, Cullen tipped his king and sat back. 'I believe this one is yours. Well played.'
Victory. Liethe smirked, Dorian would be pleased she'd thrashed their commander.
'I cannot stand for that.' Cullen replied. 'I have a reputation, you know. Best two out of three?'
She laughed. 'By all means, please set the board again, commander.'
A/N: So, real life smacked me upside the head and dragged me away. I have a couple of finished chapters but surprise! They're all Cullen/Lavellan. So Rather than run around like a headless chicken trying to get something else done, just have this and know that I will eventually be focusing on a broader spectrum of events including an update on Goat-flinger Chief Movran and the poor unfortunate he's been stuck with.