Incorruptible

by super ginger

Alduin is dead. Purpose and duty fulfilled.Uthreida, Dragon Born, Yesimir of the North, is ready to return, But Tsun's shout is redirected, and finds herself in a land that is similar yet so very different from her home. Commander Cullen is hopeful for the future of the Inquisition. Until an unknown Dragon Slayer falls under his Command that makes him question everything he knows.

23. Chapter 23

An: Last full chapter. A part of me is excited, and another lamenting as I lost the thing that kept me awake at night.

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She bit back the urge to vomit and ran with Royoc, Dorian, Cassandra, and Sera up the hill to the sacred mountain. The red lyrium was everywhere and she felt it. Like a sharpened dagger that touched but didn't break the skin.

"Never." One of the soldiers up ahead shouted as a defiant last stand at life.

She realized she was getting close. She took a deep breath and shouted. "Vensahmaar." She ran to catch up as Royoc slowed down to watch the scene before them.

Cassandra ran first and drew her blade on an enemy. Uthreida followed suit and drew her axe and blade to assist the Soldiers. The tall, odd green beasts taken out, she looked to the group. Corypheus held his arms wide. Royoc took a step forward and Uthreida pulled the mask from her hip. The mask of Alduins priest, Nahkriin. Ripping off the helmet as the large man spoke.

"So it begins." Corypheus's deep chested and winded voice carrying over the field.

Royoc lifted his blade to challenge but she pushed him back. "Sonnak!" She called to him across the field. Her arms held wide in a challenge. "Zu'u dovikiin Uthreda. Hi gruth hin fron ahrk gruth golt. Zu'u wundun gruth hofkahsejun laan tiinvak, Sonnak. Voth dovah gein us gein. Nu gruth thu'um, zu'u nu dii." She gave a low laugh as Corypheus only snarled. It took her a second to realize he had no idea what she just said. Anger and rage filled her as she stepped forward and bellowed, "You call yourself a priest! You don't even speak the tongue." She pointed a finger at him while wearing the mask of Alduins true priest. "How dare you take a title when you don't even understand what they are. Who they are. You're nothing more than a false profit to a false god. You lied! To everyone. To your men. Your countrymen. All will know Corypheus, The Liar. The one death howled for. No one will follow you again." She huffed quickly and rolled her shoulders in disgust and contempt. "I don't know if I'm more angered or disappointed."

"Enough." His red orb glowed in light and the earth began to shake. Uthreida was forced to kneel as the land started to move. Ascended into the heavens. She looked to the sky and breathed. "Durnehviir."

She moved and helped Sera and Cassandra stand as Corypheus watched them. "You have been most successful in fouling my plans." The false priest's deep, garbled voice raised over the field. "But let us not forget who you are. A thief. In the wrong place at a wrong time. An interloper. We shall see which of us is worthy of godhood."

Royoc snarled and opened his mouth to speak.

A loud crash made the entire group look to see a grey-green scaled dragon land on the side of the ruins. It's four curved horns made Uthreida smirk. The dragon gave a quick shake, showcasing the spikes all down his back. The smell of decaying rot and pus was only pleasant to her as it informed her of the presence of an ally. "Qahnaarin." He bowed his head low to her.

Uthreida smiled from the mask. "Durnehviir."

A second crash of heavy weight and unstable rock made the group turn when Uthreida heard a familiar growl on the wall behind her. "Thank you, Vensahmaar." The dragon grunted and Uthreida felt the pull of their thu'ums. Uthreida smiled at Corypheus, whose initial startle was severed by a snarl. And her smile grew wider in his fear.

"How clever." The mockery of human form snorted.

She had to breathe so as not to laugh in his face. "Call your dragon, priest. And let us see who is worthy."

The priest lowered his chin and raised a single hand. The red orb seemed to pulse at his command. A hissing sound emerged from behind the wall in front of them. It was Corypheus's turn to smirk as Niithilin's black body and red crystals climbed over the wall and into view. The companions each took a step back and realized that every avenue was blocked by someone's dragon.

Durnehviir looked at Niithilins horns, teeth, and her own decay. He pulled back. "Impossible. Tahrovin krazz should not touch-"

Vensahmaar looked at Niithilin and roared at her. Niithilin's head moved to return the roar of battle but looked off as if distracted. Uthreida saw the yellow dragon as she approached. She readied the command shout for the approaching yellow as Niithilin lept for Uthreida. The yellow dragon attacked Niithilin and pushed her off the wall. Hitting the ground, and rolled off the edge and both fell out of sight. Durnehviir and Vensahmaar looked at Uthreida in question but she shrugged. Equally confused. Uthreida waived it off and drove on. She looked at Royoc and pointed at Corypheus. "That's you, that's me." She pointed to where the dragons fell. The two missing dragons gave a battle roar and flew on the opposite side of the floating island they stood on. "Dovah," Uthreida bellowed. "Our target is the black dragon. Do not consume the blood. Bring her down."

Both gave a roar and took to the skies. Uthreida took a deep breath and rolled her shoulders.

"Oi-" Sera called. "Since when?"

Uthreida ignored her, Royoc, and Cassandras like questions. Focusing on the thu'um required. Making sure she knew exactly what the words meant. Let's hope this works. "Slen Quah Diiv"

She was blinded by a light and felt her body grow in pain as muscles moved and bones broke. Reforming. Rehealing. Torture at the change of form. She remembered Farkas mentioning the same when he transformed and breathed through the pain. She shook her head and opened her eyes. Standing taller than before. Blue dragon paws below her. She lifted a hand and moved a paw.

It worked. She looked over herself quickly and bounced excitedly. She looked at her back and saw blue wings. She's a jill!

"What the shit!?" Dorian held his arms out to her even if his voice was enraged.

Uthreida looked over to see The Inquisition both scared and confused and excited. Their forms as shades of red like her detect life shout. Dragon eyes.

"All will fall to me," Corypheus called over the field.

Uthreida looked over and called a thu'um. She blasted Corypheus with a natural shout of her blood. Ice force. Neat. Ice dragon. Nord. Of course.

A red spirit moved and flew further into the floating building. He fled. She grunted, conceding to the fact he wasn't her target and looked back at the group. "Your enemy awaits. Go."

Dorian's eyes were wide at her. "Maker, she fucking talks." His hands going to his hair in a panic.

The sound of a dragon's roar reminded her why she did this. She looked at her wings and tested them. Finding the muscles to move them. She gave three test flaps and took a breath of courage. She crossed the field and stood on the edge, looking down. Her eyes turned to the sky where the other four dragons were flying. Fighting. Feeling like a child cowering in fear of the height of the fall. She took a deep breath of courage and flapped, pushing off the side.

She fell. She flapped and figured out quickly how to do this. Filled with an instinct on how to gauge her sped and pattern. She was a dragon. She was dragon born. She circled the field from below and came up on the fighting dragons. Each taking shots at the black dragon. From below, she aimed at Niithilin. Calling her ice thu'um, and hit her.

Niithilin changed her course and flew. Uthreida flew up next to the yellow one and snapped at her. "Who are you?"

"Guardian of Mythal." She shouted back over the winds. "Summoned by her priest."

Uthreida wanted to look at the yellow dragon confused but was keeping an eye on Niithilin. Why would a meric god's priest randomly - wait…Royoc. Royoc has a dragon. Uthreida snarled, but looked at the dragon. This Guardian knew the krass. Uthreida rolled away and dropped low to get behind Niithilin as Durnehviir and Vensahmaar attacks missed. Niithilin turned and Durnehviir had to come to a hard stop from hitting a floating island. Uthreida banked and realized Niithilin was using the islands as defense. She pulled up like the yellow and watched. Niithilin moved and doubled back to attack Vensahmaar. Uthreida held her position. Her ice thu'um taking the field and hitting the black dragon across the back. Uthreida sealed her wings and dropped, pacing above her. The sound of a breath behind her and she saw the yellow dragon start her thu'um of fire. Uthreida had to roll out of the way as the Niithilin screeched at the fire attack in pain. A hit. Vensahmaar slammed into her and knocked her into an island.

Niithilin slid. Her claws attaching her to the island. The three females unleashed on her stationary position in a hail of fire, ice, and lightening.

Nithikine dropped off the side and flew off. Dipping low and using the dust from the risen mountain to act as cover. "With me." Uthreida called to the females and climbed higher into the sky. They followed as they pushed up. "In line." The two dragons matched her speed as they circled the field. A purple flame caught her attention as Dorians magic distracted her. Uthreida saw the Inquisition fighting below on the floating islands.

"What are we doing?" The Guardian shouted.

"Baiting." Uthreida yelled back.

A ball of fire from Durnehviir signaled them. Niithilin was behind them. "Go high. Circle behind." She called to the Guardian. "Low." She yelled at Vensahmaar. Both banked off while Uthreida circled right. Keeping her trajectory and looking for the dragon.

Red crystals slammed into her side. Uthreida fell. Crash landing in the middle of a fight with the inquisition. Crushing the standing pillars of rocks. She stood quickly, shaking off the attack. Making sure she didn't take Royoc or his team with her.

"You? You good?" Sera yelled from across the field.

The sound a slam made Uthreida look over to see a Pride Demon stand slowly and laugh at her. Uthreida arched her brow and slapped it off the side of the island. The sound of a thu'um made her look up. Niithilin was hovering over her. "Fos ro dah." The dragon's thu'um cancelled. Uthreida flapped harder and jumped, flying to the Niithilin. She slammed her side into Niithilin's flank and knocking the dragon off the path.

Fire and lightening hit Niithilin as the three other dragons flew past and made Niithilin run. Durnehviir landed on the island. Snapping and breathing fire on the field as he was attacked by demons. He climbed to the edge and kept up his pursuit.

Uthreida breathed her ice and made the Durnehviir run and chase after the other two. "On me." Durnehviir flew to her side as they stayed on her rear. Each taking shots when they could aerial. Niithilin stayed true, shouting at Vensahmaar as the Guardian flew up. Durnehviir banked left and moved to cut off Niithilin. Uthreida kept up her pursuit in the rear. Her ice thu'ums directed to keep Niithilin moving and not hitting the allies in the area.

Durnehviir attacked, hitting her sides and making her bank right to avoid him.

Uthreida pursued. No longer hindered by allied fire. She unleashed the ice into the black dragon. Niithilin let out a roar of annoyance and banked up. Uthreida realized Niithilin was arching back to attack her. Yellow above and Uthreida realized the Guardian was diving for Niithilin. And Uthreida was in the way. Uthreida banked left hard as the Guardian grabbed Niithilin by the wings and slammed her first into a floating island. The sound of crunching bones and the rise of dust made Uthreida call the others to her. Niithilin snapped for the Guardians throat. The Guardian stood over Niithilin as fire rained on the black dragon. Uthreida landed on the island and pulled the Guardian back by the tail. Durnehviir landed opposite to her as Vensahmaar landed to her left. The four dragons sourrounded the black dragon who tried to fly or snap at them.

Uthreida shook her head. "Niithilin. Yolkahpraan. Surrender."

The black dragon snapped at the ground. She cried in pain as her wing and leg was broken. Circling them. Watching them. Her breathing labored and in both fear and hatred.

"Dovahkiin." Vensahmaar stepped towards her. "Careful. You can't reach her like this. She is consumed. Complused to follow the way of the krass. There is only one way to help her."

"You two," Uthreida called to the females, "after I cleanse her, call your thu'ums." She looked at the dragons who nodded slowly. "Durnehviir." The ancient dragon pulled his eyes from Niithilin. "She has mortal's soul in her. On my mark, remove it." Durnehviir looked to the black dragon, and with a pained expression, nodded. Understanding something she didn't know. "Yol vobein krass."

She pushed the power into the white fire on the dragon. She watched in silence as the Niithilin cried out again in pain as the flames consumed her. Thrashing, trying to put out the flames, screaming in pain, until the black scales turned purple again. Yolkahpraan turned to her. Her yellow eyes to her sisters, and bowed her head. "Now. Kill me." She all but begged the four dragons.

Uthreida inhaled as did the others. Each releasing their natural shouts onto her. Encasing her in electrified frozen fire. Watching the whirlwind circle her as the blackness of the blight was pulled from Yolkahpraan. Shards of red in the light slammed against the ice, when met with the fire, it turned blue, and then when met with the lightening, the shards turned iridescent as the lyrium was purified.

Uthreida looked above the fire storm and met Durnehviir eyes. She nodded.

Durnehviir moved his winged forearms to gather magicka to himself. He stood on his hind legs, a deep purple Magicka enchantment circle formed in the negative of his wings.

Uthreida ended her thu'um and stepped back. The other two severed the spell. The whirlwind still going as he slammed his forepaws into the ground. His soul rend thu'um filling the night air as the cyclone now held a deeper blue.

Yolkahpraan stood above the magic circle and screamed to the havens.

The circle faded and Yolkahpraan lost her footing. Panting in pain and exhaustion. A red orb floated from her back and flew to the tallest floating island. His soul returning to him.

Yolkahpraan panted, falling to the ground in her trials. Uthreida clenched her jaw. It was safe. She was safe. She was free from his clutches. Vensahmaar took a step forward. Stepping over the purified lyrium and ice shards. Sniffing the weakened dragon. Her yellow eyes turned to Uthreida. "She is clean."

"And without mortal soul." Durnehviir stepped forward. "Well done, Qahnaarin."

Uthreida took her own heavy steps to Yolkahpraan. A deep sorrow filling her heart as she looked down at the purple dragon. For what must happen. For what must be done. To protect every one. Every dragon. To prevent this from happening again. "You are free, sister."

She looked away. "I am no longer a slave?"

Uthreida shook her head. Yolkahpraan exhaled deeply. "Thank you, Dovahkiin." She lowered her head to the ground and took her first breath of freedom.

Uthreida nodded. Placing a paw to the top of her lowered, exhausted head. Yolkahpraan eyes closed slowly. Uthreida forced all of her weight into the paw and crushed the dragon's skull. The crack of bones sounded after the warmth of blood and brain matter between her fingers.

Uthreida shook her paw to remove the excess blood. A heaviness in her heart. The orange light of Yolkahpraan soul circled Uthreida. The heat of the fire was warm against her own soul and a sense of peace filled her.

Quick steps made her turn to see the Guardian move. Teeth bared for her throat.

Uthreida barely dodged and ripped her own teeth into The Guardians throat. Clamping down twice to get a grip. Vensahmaar shot the Guardian with lightening which went into Uthreida. Clenching her teeth tighter in the transferred pain. Uthreida thrashed her head and pushed the dragon down on her side. Holding her by the throat, Uthreida stepped on her ribs and pulled.

The sound of a breaking snap and the Guardian stopped moving, but no soul filled Uthreida. She bit harder and pulled the throat while pushing away from the body. Taking the chunk of scale and muscle with her as the dragon laid helpless on the ground. The taste of the Guardian's metallic blood running over her tongue. Uthreida cast the mouthful of meat to the ground. Watching the Guardians blood meld with Yolkahpraan on the ground. The orange haze filled her eyes as the dragon soul melded with hers. No pain of fire. No forcing of space. Easy. Effortless.

Uthreida turned to Vensahmaar and Durnehviir. Both sat patiently waiting on her. She grunted as she could still feel the blood running down her chin and throat. "Thank you, Vensahmaar, for holding our bargain."

She nodded but had to double take Durnehviir. Uthreida followed her gaze as he held his head low and was bobbing it up and down. Moving in a circle around them with his wings expanded. Vensahmaar shot him with a quick lightening and huffed in disgust. Uthreida looked at her and she heaved like she was about to vomit.

"The pus isn't so bad." Durnehviir said calmly.

Vensahmaar growled.

"Hi, excuse me." All eyes turned to Dorian and his white mage robes who ambled to Durnehviir. "Couldn't help but notice the very intricate necromantic circle you made. Can you, can you do that again?"

Cassandra grabbed him by the collar and tried to pull him back while Dorian slapped her off of him as if Cassandra was embarrassing him in front of a new tutor. Durnehviir got low to look at him. A grin showing his pointed teeth at the mortal. "Certainly."

The smile in his voice made Uthreida vault over the body of Yolkahpraan and stand between him and the mortals. A low growl in her throat. "Not this one."

Durnehviir silver eyes turned to Uthreida in a hubristic question but smiled. He turned to Dorian with a tilt of his head. "Of course, Qahnaarin." His eyes turned to the sky with a slight tilt. "The masters call. I must depart." Uthreida released the tension in her shoulders. She stood back and let him go. He spun slowly and took to the skies. Disappearing from her sight.

She looked at the other Inquisition members and Royoc who seemed annoyed at the death of his dragon. Sera, arrow drawn, looked at her in fright and panic. But kept her distance. "Your enemy awaits." Uthreida lifted her chin to the highest tower and turned away.

She looked at Vensahmaar who was watching the mortals. Uthreida approached but Vensahmaar only watched the Inquisition. "The mortals will never accept you now. Where will you go?" She asked softly. Hiding her capability of speech.

Uthreida looked north. "Home. Across the sea. But first, I have a promise to fulfill. Thank you again."

Vensahmaar opened her wings. "Do not come to my nest again." She dropped from the ledge of the floating island before she traveled east to her home. Uthreida opened her wings, and said her goodbyes to herself.

XxXxXx

"Commander, look."

Cullen followed the pointed hand of a soldier at the Breach. It's sealing. Royoc did something.

The roar of a hurlock caught his attention to see the beast run with a hefted blade. He threw up his shield on the impact and slit at its unarmored arms and legs. It roared and striked again. He held up the shield and took the two hits. He stabbed low and bashed it off of him. It took a sinking step back and he took the killing blow of its head.

"Commander, they're breaking through."

Cullen bent over as he put the last Hurlock down. Makers breath. Keeping them out of the pilgrim's camps was becoming suicidal. Is there no end? Corypheus tapped into the blight magic to make them surface here. While the bulk of the army was still in the forests of the Arbors, the remaining were dealing with him in Haven, he had the Dark Spawn take out the Skelton crew that was guarding the strong hold. It would appear that Sampson was a homing beacon for where to attack. "Guard the south banks. We know where they are coming from. Seal the area." He ordered and made a quick trip to check on his men. Ordering water, healers, and everything else he could to get back in the fight. Ten years under ground has them restless it seems. The few Wardens they were able to keep were doing their part and keeping heads down but it wasn't enough.

Never enough Wardens.

Even the mages exited the castle to assist in the last stand.

"Sir" another soldier called to him.

"What?" He snapped.

"Ogres."

"Andrastes flaming-" He took a cleansing breath and looked to the Captain next to him. "We need a miracle." Cullen shouted and started to run to the front line.

"After glowing hands, I think we're fresh out." The Captain ran at his side as they moved.

The sound of a dragon' beating wings over the field made Cullen stop. Arch demon. And a new wave of anger and dread filled him. "I swear to Andraste, if she let another damn dragon live-"

"Get down" several men in front shouted as they hid behind the wooden barricade. A blast of ice hit the barricade and forced Cullen back. He looked up and saw a dragon fly overhead. He shook his head in anger and pushed on. "Set the catapult." He shouted to anyone who would listen. "Prep ballista and prepare to fire."

He pushed his way to the front and saw a valley of ice in the middle of autumn. Several Darkspawn frozen in place as more rushed to them. He pulled his shield in front with a deep breath. "Shield wall." Several shields interlocked with his along the front line as the darkspawn rushed. "Hold."

He felt the men behind him ready with spears and pikes between each soldier, above their shields. The darkspawn rushed again. The genlocks long forearms hitting the ground as they ran. "Hold."

The sound of wind behind him made him look to see a spout of ice take out the incoming attackers. The dragon flew low and picked up an ogre and dropped it from midair. The thunderous roll that came when it landed on the ground from its height. Oh, Maker's breath, that better be Royocs dragon. Whatever it was, it bought them more time. "Catapults."

The large rocks flew forward to push the darkspawn back. Knocking out entire lines as the ballista's went off on counter counts. Knocking more back and making more holes in the darkspawn lines. As if they moved in lines.

But they were still coming. Still running.

"Hold."

A loud crash and heavy shake of the ground made the men lose their footing. He assumed the dragon landed ahead of the men. That damn dragon was not helping this battle. And the Darkspawn were still coming. "On your feet. Shield wall."

The Hurlocks passed the point of range. One hundred feet. "Archers."

The order echoed back as arrows loosed and fell them one by one. Some driving on with arrows still in them. Fifty feet.

Cullen took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "For we are not meant to wonder the abyss alone." He exhaled deeply. "Hold." He yelled over the panic. Thirty Feet. They kept running and no amount of arrows would stop them. Ten feet. "Brace."

The small of decay and rot assaulted him harder than the chorded muscles of the darkspawn. The pike men stepped and stabbed in place. Knocking down and killing or wounding a few. Cullen kept his shield up but could hear his men fall or take wounds. Few breaking to attack then resumed to hold the wall.

"Forward." They stepped. Stabbing and bashing the hurlocks and genlocks down. Using the interlock to protect one another. The arrows creating a whistle as they reached out and attacked the ones in the rear. The Spears covering the shild holders in blood. "Hold."

The men stabbing above their shield to keep them down. "Forward." On command, the shields, bashed back, knocking them down. Taking one to two swings before interlocking to press forward. Stepping over bodies and holding their lines. The pike men stabbing as they kept to the rear. Cullen inhaled to order but a cold wind caught in his throat and knew.

The dragon's ice was on them. Freezing the darkspawn before them. He checked his flanks and saw his men were alright. "Shatter the ice and press forward."

In a ruckus of breaking ice, the men ran. They reached the clearing to see the blue dragon. It watched the rear as the darkspawn ran away. Back to the hole they crawled out of.

Cullen took short breaths and forced himself to calm down. "Shield wall."

The men stood next to him in an instant and the dragon turned to look at them. Kaltenzahn. No horns, but a red frill on top of its head. It looked at the line and took a step back. Growling at them.

Cullen looked into the ice blue eyes of the beast as its sharp teeth were exposed to his men. Its white scales over its breast was covered in black scales and is paws-

He stopped.

Those black designs. The interlocking knots and swirls on the breast plate of the beast. He knows those designs. He looked back at the dragon and saw the same bisecting scar on its lower left eye. The same deep scar below its heart.

His heart stopped. No. That's. No, it's impossible.

Maker no.

It didn't move. It didn't attack. It was defensive, but didn't move.

He exhaled shakily and lowered his shield. No.

In a dazed state, he broke rank. He took a step forward.

"Commander?" Several of the men called to him as he broke the wall but walked. Hearing the men shuffle behind him to take up his forfeited position. The dragon watching only him.

He swallowed the lump in his throat but pressed on. Looking up only at the beast before him. Not hearing his men's calls to him to come back. The curses to and for the Maker. He stood before the great beast. It growled lowly. Cullen licked his lips and bowed. Holding his arms wide as if he had wings like it. "Dream yo lock."

He looked up at it slowly. It took a step back. Its teeth covered as it stopped growling. He noticed the blood on its side. How it favored one leg. The dragon lowered its head to him. Its eyes closing slowly.

He used his shield to cover his eyes to not be blinded by the white light the dragon emanated. When it darkened he looked over his shield.

Black and gold armor stood there. Breathing heavily. She swayed.

Cullen ran. Catching her before she fell. He shoved the mask she was wearing off her face and looked at her. Uthreida looked at him with a weak smile. "Spawn retreating." She said softly. "Safe." Her head lulled back but she was still breathing.

"Healer." Cullen called over the chaos. He knelt low and picked her up with some effort due to her armor. He held her to his chest as he turned to the men. "Healer." He demanded again.

She came back. She's alive.

XxXxXx

Cullen sat in the furthest corner of his room. In a chair. Facing the only entrance. With a sword in one hand, and a whet stone in the other. Sharpening his blade. He had just enough time to move her from the infirmary to his personal quarters before the Inquisitor arrived.

Royoc walked into the hold four days later like the victorious king he was. He received the allocates deserved for his actions. Lady Josephine had pulled him into a kiss. And he thanked everyone, living and dead, who aided the Inquisition. What a ridiculous horse and dog show.

They walked the stairs into the main hall as Liliana pulled Royoc aside. "We have found no trace of Solas, Inquisitor." Royoc stopped dead in his tracks, and glared at Cullen. He looked at Liliana and snarled something he didn't make out. Liliana shot a sly look at Cullen. "Infirmary." Royoc met her look and gave a quick nod to the woman.

Cullen clenched his jaw. He should've taken her and ran. But he needed to make a show in the main hall. He should have had Captain Ameriline take her to Denerim to the King so Cullen could make the show of the present.

He should have ran with her.

But instead, when the letter arrived of what she did at the remains of Haven, and a lack of silent orders from the Inquisitor, he waited.

He ran the stone over the blade again. His eyes flicked to the woman still sleeping. She was discovered to have a minor fractured arm and leg, a tender neck, and several cuts, bruises, and wounds. The healers gave their best efforts to heal her quickly. Mostly under his barking. Knowing what Royoc would order. They healed the wounds, but she needed sleep to heal. She lost too much blood and needed to heal on her own.

His eyes drifted to the magic nullification shackles she was in. And hammered to the wall above her. She wouldn't be able to run. Even if she did kill him. It should prevent her from pulling magic at least.

She wouldn't be able to run if he failed to protect her.

He clenched his jaw. He needed a few more hours for the party to be in full swing and for most of the fort to become drunk on victory to smuggle her out.

He needed her awake to ride on her own.

He needed her to answer questions.

He needed her to live

He needed to get her to Denerim and away from Royoc.

He wanted to run with her.

He wanted his atonement.

He wanted to understand.

He took a breath. No longer knowing what he wanted, needed, or knew.

He could still see her. Standing above him in her blue dragon form. The Kaltenzahn. The red frill from her head to her back. No horns, but the sharp teeth of a dragon. The scar that bisected her left ice eye and the darker scales across its chest and hands. Paws. He wasn't sure.

He knew.

Maker. He's always known.

But to see it. To stand before it.

He ran the stone over the blade. And he protected her. Carried her from the field and into the hold. Knowing, not assuming, not fearing, and knowing what she was.

She excelled at dragon hunting because she was a dragon.

And he loved her.

Maker, he loved a dragon.

Well, the human side at least.

And that is where he was torn. She knew. She knew he would see. She went out of her way to see him again. In that form. This was her telling him of her final secret. All because she promised to see him again.

If she didn't make that damn promise, if he didn't press the issue, she could be home by now.

But she came back. Like she said she would. She saw him again. True to her word.

And he hated it. A part of him hated that she choose this knowing she was ready to leave. True to her word, that she would leave the Inquisition the moment Corypheus was killed. Hated that she is so stubborn that she would've left without even a good bye. That she would just leave him behind like that. Like their time meant nothing. Like he meant nothing.

And yet, she came back. And when she saw him, not as a threat, but as her husband, she changed back. She fell into his arms. Weakly smiling at her final report. The darkspawn had retreated. Promting his order to seal the pass to prevent their rise again.

He wiped his face. Maker, now what? He stood and paced, watching the frivolities from his window. Watching the drunken swing of the party across the yard. His heart in his throat. She needed to run. He needed to run. He needed answers.

He turned slowly to the bed. She slept soundless over the soft sounds of the bards playing.

He took a deep breath, hearing the old proverb to let sleeping dragons lie, but couldn't shake it. His armor removed to save weight for the ride. Her armor removed to save weight for hauling her. But as she laid in his bed, chained, unconscious.

He took a final breath of courage and sat on the bed next to her. He shook her hips gently. Urging her to wake. "Utha." He called softly. Her brows furrowed in waking, but didn't open her eyes. "Utha."

She groaned and looked at him with one eye. A smile crossing her features as she's looked over him. A question pulling her brows. "Valok?"

"We need to talk."

She smiled kindly. "It's a wee bit earl-" she moved and heard the rattle of the chains. She was instantly aware and looked at the shackles that were chained above her. Her wide eyes turned to him in question, then betrayal.

He moved slowly so the point of his blade was at her chest. "I have a few questions." She looked at the blade then him. Panic setting in as she pulled at the chains to find no give. "Please, don't make this harder. Don't shout." Her rage turned to him as he stood over her. Needing the leverage to deliver the blow. "What are you?"

She snorted in disgust. "You know what I am."

"Pretend I don't. Pretend I'm just as clueless as you've kept me."

Her nose twitched at him. Watching him to garage him. With a hateful pop of her jaw, "I am Dovahkiin. The last Dovahkiin. A mortal born with the blood and soul of a dragon. I am the wind of war, the storm of change, and the fire of mortality. I am blessed by Akatosh, a child of Kyne, and flesh of Shore. I am the feast to my allies and the famine to my foes. I am as ravenous as the Battle Tongues, patient as the Grey Beards, and as devious as the thrives. I walk the path of Wulfhearth, Whitestrike, and Talos. I am Yesimer of the north. The breath of winter. The undying song of my people. I am dragon born."

He cocked a brow at her monologue. "That doesn't explain anything."

She scoffed. "If you but knew the sagas."

"Want to try again with less poetic epithets?" He asked again slowly.

Her anger turned annoyed. "I am dragon made flesh, Valok. What more proof do you need?" Cullen took a deep, shaking breath. "You knew this, Cullen." Her voice cutting into his confidence.

"I thought you meant like a spirit animal. A totem. Not physically."

She rolled her eyes and looked away. A heavy sigh lowered his blade in his hold. "That was the first time I've taken such a form." Cullen looked her over. Her lack of a cough meant she wasn't lying.

"You didn't know?"

"I assumed. Theoretically. But it wasn't until recently that I figured out how."

"When?"

She looked at him, then his blade. Not speaking. He pressed the point but not to wound to get his answers. "The Arbors."

He looked away in thought. "You…when you were meditating in the tent. My tent. That's how you learned."

"Aye."

"When you were…converting…with the souls of dragons…that you've slain."

She frowned quickly to concede. "It does sound rather dark."

"Yes." He said slowly. "Yes it does."

She looked away with a breath. "Aye."

He pulled the sword back from her. "So you can literally change your shape."

"Aye." He puffed his cheeks at the thought. She pulled the chains passively with a deep sigh. "I don't expect you to understand. I didn't mean for you to see me like that. I-"

"Then what did you mean?" He snapped at the frustration that is the dragon slayer. "You said you would come home. I thought that we would, that we were going to-"

"I said I would see you again." She stated quickly but looked away. "I never said you would see me." He looked at her with a renewed anger. Not seeing the difference. "I just meant to fly over. To see you, and get as far away as I could. But then I saw the darkspawn and your men and-" she sighed. "It just…got out of hand." He shook his head in anger. "I knew the thu'um was getting weaker. I knew I was losing it. I felt the exhaust, the sickness, but, I couldn't stop. Seeing your men out numbered, I-"

He snorted with his back turned. "Your hubris." He said slowly with a snarl. "You faced your fear, abandoned your plan to leave me without so much as a tidings, but will swoop into the field to fuel your own vanity." When she didn't speak, he spun on his heel.

"You're not wrong." She said with a sigh.

He scoffed at her passive admittance to her own conceit. His tongue touched each of his teeth in a desire to bite her into submission. "You-" he stepped further away. The reality of her sentence and tactics hit him harder than he'd like. "You left me." He said softer. "Believing you would come back and just-"

"I know."

"Why?" He spun again to see her. To see her look him in the eye and tell him, without lies. To see his face. His heart turning into stone and felt the weight of it sink in his chest. "Why did you? Why feed the empty promise?"

She slowly looked away. "Why would you accept me like that?" She whispered softly. "I've been able to skirt your training against blood magic based on nothing but technicalities. Seeing me in that form, as a true dragon before you," she looked at him. A pain mixed with wonder as she searched his eyes. "Why did you? Why did you stay your blade?"

"Because I love you. Maker," he ran a hand through his hair, "is it that hard to figure out?"

"You're lying." Her voice was quick but broken as she looked away. "What mortal would love such a beast?"

"I would. I do." She looked at him slowly. Waiting on his lie or his blade, he didn't know. But her eyes, drawn brow and lowered chin. She was scared. Insecure of his standing of her. He stepped towards her. "I love you. More than I logically should."

"Exactly." Her voice still broken. "Too much power in one form. I could kill you in a word, and even now, you keep your distance."

He met her observation and walked to her side of the bed. "You could've gotten out of those chains by now. If you question my feelings, you have but to ask why you haven't yet."

She looked at the cuffs then him. Drawing her eyes away from him in shame. "I owe you this much."

He scoffed. "You owe me nothing, Utha. And you know that. That's why you were content to fly off. To leave me with nothing but hope and despair. To watch the skies and pray." He leaned over the bed. Over her. "Your resistance to the dragons call is why I love you." His free hand fisted near her head to hold his weight. "You aren't a dragon."

She looked away with tears in her eyes. "Cullen, I have walked this path. A willful blinding to the truth. Do not repeat my mistakes."

He paused and realized she spoke of her wolf. "I would hardly compare your wolf to a-"

"You don't know a wolf's heart like he did. You don't know a dragon's heart like I do."

"Perhaps not, but even you said you have the heart of a mortal."

"Don't blind yourself-"

"I know you-"

"Your Solders know as well." She stated quickly as if to remind him of his prestige, even now. Cullen arched a brow of defiance to show it wouldn't work this time. She looked away and knew her tactic wouldn't work. "It is warming. To see me as I am, but you don't understand-"

"Then explain."

Her chin quivered as she looked up at him. Chained and held as she warred with herself. Swallowing back something. "It is because I love you, that I didn't want you to see me like this. To see the darkness that will one day consume me." She looked away with tears in her eyes and a quiver to her chin. "To leave you with hope rather than the knowledge that I too am a demon you should fear. I-" she closed her eyes tightly. "I didn't want that for you." Her voice cracking in pain. She took a deep controlled breath. "I saw the men in the field, and I didn't know if you were down there, but I knew you had to be, and I didn't want to lose you, but I couldn't just leave, but if I stayed, so" she signed and shook her head again. "I didn't want to frighten you, or make you question or me or this or my intentions, but I-" she bit her lips to control her emotions. "I don't want your fear, Valok. I thought it would be kinder to just-" she shrugged passively. "And hope you would understand that it was out of love. So you could keep the memories without the guilt of what I am." Her chin quivered. Guilt she would carry.

The air left his lungs slowly. She admitted. She said- she…loves him. His heart swelled at the idea. He took a step back emotionally to see what she said. "We all have a darkness in us, Utha. And it only grows darker when we walk the path alone." He moved and pulled the key from his pocket. "But you want the darkness, don't you?" He spun the key in his fingers. "You want to be alone. That's why you always kept me at a distance. Always lied to me."

"I only-"

"You lied." He swallowed back the pain. "You lied every time." He bit his lips and dropped his face to hide the pain. "You hid so much from me. And in that omission, you lied. And I fell for it." He looked at the key then at her wrists. There is no taming a dragon. There is no alliance with dragons. There is only the fool and the mistake. In a renewed emotional numbness, he unlocked the shackles and turned his back to her. "Go. Run. Fly. Whatever you have to. Just go." She didn't move. "Leave. Like you always intended. Without me." He sniffled and looked on. "Go. Run to the King. Get your crown and your trade. Your accolades." She still didn't move. "You have to leave. Royoc will kill you. Your contract is severed and now your threat. Just. Just go." He spat. Tempted to throw something at her to make her leave faster. To show his own betrayal.

"Come with me."

He scoffed at her soft, innocent request. The too-late invitation. "It's not that easy." He looked out the window slowly. "You should leave now. The men will be drunk on celebrations. They won't ask too many questions. Your horse is in the stables. You need to go."

"What will happen to you?"

He shook his head with a pained smirk. "I'll be dead by the end of the week. As a Templar, I can't be suffered to a blood mage." He looked over his shoulder to see the pillow she was still on. "And I won't watch you die."

"Come with me, Valok."

"Don't you get it-"

"Do you?" She sat up quickly behind him. "I will not suffer your death." Her voice cracking in tears. He turned slowly to look at her. She sat on her ankles and dropped her eyes from him. "Do you- can you see past the blood? The dragon?" Her hand went to her heart. She slowly looked up at him. His eyes.

Cullen clenched his jaw as he looked at her. Knowing all he saw in her was the form before him now. A scared woman who had no idea what anything really meant but knew she was strong enough to face the storm. "I do."

Her brows curled and her chin quivered as she looked at him. A smile curling on her lips. "I was wrong." She said softly. "About you. About us. About this." She looked at him, searched him. Her eyes turned hurt as she looked at Cullen. "I'm so sorry I kept so many secrets from you." She tried to speak but seemed to lose her words on her excuses. "I'm sorry I-"

"I forgive you."

Her eyes grew wide until they shone with tears. She looked away and covered her mouth. "I'm so sorry."

He turned to face her on the bed. "You need to run."

She shook her head. "Not without you. Not anymore. Not now. I won't leave you to them."

Cullen took a deep breath. He touched her hand, rubbing his thumb across her tattooed knuckles. "I can get you to Denerim. But after that-"

She pulled him to her. Taking his lips in a desperate plea. He fell into her. Feeling the knife in his heart and the warmth of her body. Not yet. He pulled her to him. Moving her so she straddled his lap. One last moment. His kiss confining her mouth and wanting nothing more than the fantasy she made real to him. She pulled at his jerkin to feel his skin. He ripped her shirt over her head to feel her skin against his. Ripping her smalls from her breasts to feel her. Cup her. Taste her throat and chest one last time. A true goodbye.

She pulled him down with her. Rolling them so he was on top and between her legs. Unwilling to let her go. But knowing he had to. "We need to run" he said in a horse whisper as he took her lips again. "You need to run."

"I know." Her hands moving up his back and shoulders. Pulling him closer to her. Apart of her.

"We can't stay." He kissed her throat, moving his way down her collar bone as she leaned back in his arms to give him the leverage and motivation he needed to go lower.

"Aye." She moaned as his tongue laved at her neck. "Come with me."

He kissed her lips harshly. Anywhere. Where ever she is, so is he. It was a childish dream, but he wanted it. His arms wrapping around her to hold her closer to him. Drowning in her scent and taste. Maker, don't let this end. The loud sea of work and life and expectations shouting around them. Let him have this. Have her. Forever.

"Stay with me." She whispered into his lips. "Mara, please." Her heaving breaths heating his skin. Her hands moving desperately to touch him. Her hands holding his chin. Her sex rubbing against his in perfect friction. He threw his head back to hiss at the pleasure. "Valok," he saw her lusted gaze. Her brows furrowed as her hand curled his hair tighter. "Bury yourself in me."

He paused, realizing what she asked. He shook his head slowly. "We have to run."

"I will not lose you. Not to them. But if you force me to leave, let me carry your seed." He stopped at her breathless, sweet, plea. "I will not lose you too." She kissed him quickly. "I will not let another man I love be butchered again. Not you." She kissed his forehead. "Not again." She kissed the scar on his cheek. "Come with me. Let me carry your children." She kissed his lips in sorrow. "Let us find our own peace in the arena."

He looked down at her. Seeing the darker scar on her cheek as if a blush. His dream. His wants. Desires. In her arms.

He kissed her harsher. Pulling his hips back and removing the belt from his trousers. In the space, she did the same. Pulling her legs from around him to shimmy her pants off as they stayed kissing.

They both laid naked before the other. Their skin touching and heating his core. He pulled her leg higher to her chest. Cullen held her as she deepened the kiss, curling herself into him. Asking, pleading.

He pulled back to line himself up and took her lips in a savage kiss as he plunged himself into her. Engulfed in her soft warmth, his breath hitched.

Her sharp intake of air made him faulter but her smile. Maker, that smile. She kissed him, rocking her hips into him. He leaned in to kiss her again. His hips moving on instinct as he feel deeper into her. The slight metallic clicking distracted him from her pants and moans of his movements. Her warmth and velvet vice.

Uthreida held the iron imagery of her god around his throat in the same hand that held his the coin of Andraste around her throat. The mixing of their gods, the unity, like their own. "On me" she moaned, running her free hand through his hair. "Focus on me, Cullen." She pulled him by the neck down to her to kiss him. She gently bit his lip for him to focus.

Cullen laced his fingers in the hand that held their gods. Melding their lives as they melded their bodies. She lifted a leg so her ankle was held at his shoulder as he drove into her. Watching her clutch at the sheets as her red halo of hair spilled over the pillows. The sweetness of her warmth surrounding him as he watched her, touched her, tasted her skin now damp from their exertions and heat.

Maker, this is all he ever wanted. A hand drawn her breast as it circled in his movements. Feeling the smoothness, softness and the pert tip of her soft pink nipple. Her blue eyes fell to him in a lustful haze. One hand clutching the sheets and the other on the headboard too keep her seated for him. A moan escaping her full lips. Maker, she was beautiful.

His hand rolled down her thigh to grip her rear only to hold her by the waist. Holding her down and steady as he pumped into her. Hearing her breath hitch and her free hand to his chest and thigh around her. Her nails scraping his skin making him shiver in fear, but as he looked down at her, he felt eased.

He moved her ankle off his shoulder and leaned down to kiss her. His tongue dancing with hers as he felt himself opening more to her. Free from fear as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. She rolled her hips into him, grinding. He bit at her neck and throat when she moaned again. Cullen leaned back and pulled her higher on his hips. Earning him a breathless praise to Dibella as he took her breasts, teasing her nipples. Her hand traveled over her body and was touching herself with him inside of her. He could feel her grow tighter as she circled herself. Her hips bucked, throwing off his rhythm, but was paid off as she moaned his name. Begging for him while buried deep inside her. She grabbed him by the neck and pulled him down to her. Cullen went for her throat again. His teeth biting in and she bucked. "Right there." She whispered, her breath held in her chest, thrusting her breasts onto his chin and arching her back.

Maker,

Cullen dug his hand into her hips and refused to deviate from her plea. Driving harder into her. Her back arched with a vocal break. Curling her fingers tighter into his hair. Cullen pulled up slightly only to feel her start the quiver. A smile pulled at the corner of his lips as her sex pulsed around him. The tightening making his head throw back. Her heavy heaves rocked the rest of her body as she fell into rhythm with him. Riding him and matching to meet him. She pulled him back for a deep kiss. Her lips pulling in a smile as she cupped his cheeks.

Cullen rested his forehead against hers, feeling her soft heat enclose him tighter than before. He opened his eyes to see the amulet of Andraste fall to her shoulder. He bucked at the idea of her, of this, with her, forever. Trapped in time of this beautiful and brave woman that allowed him to enter her. To be with her. To be-

"Yovon." She kissed his cheek rolling her hips into him. "With me." She took his ear between her lips and sucked. "Only me."

Cullen realized he had slowed. He wrapped his arms under her shoulders to pull her tighter to him and rammed hard. Uthreida smiled at his actions, biting her lip as if to see if that was all he had.

He kissed her. No longer caring where his hands went as all he could feel was her hot skin. Not caring of the rhythm as her moans and heaves and tightening over her core muscles gave him all the instruction he needed. Feeling his body grow taught with the want and need of her release. He held tighter, pulling her closer as his hips snapped instinctively into her. Feeling the heat of his own impending orgasm.

He bit into her shoulder. Her vocal moan, hearing her beg for him while inside of her, feeling her tighten and grow wetter from his teeth until the chord snapped. He filled her to his hilt as he released his seed into her. Lazy rocking his hips deeper to catch his breath.

She kissed his forehead, drawing him up to meet her lips. She relaxed into the mattress. Her hand drawing down the plane of his back until she gave an appreciative squeeze of his own rear before smacking. She chuckled lustily. All Cullen could see was the smile that curled her lips and the deep exhaustion in her eyes as she looked at him.

He kissed her, holding her face and hair in his hands as he ran his tongue over hers. Her saited, appreciative, moans into his lips. "Tha gaol agam ort" he breathed as he kissed her. "Maker, tha gaol agam ort"

She pressed her forehead to his with a smile. "I love you, too." She panted.

A smile ripped across his face at her confession. He kissed her gently, pulling himself from her. She moaned at the missing him and pouted playfully. He rolled to the other side of the bed to catch his breath. He laid on his back, and slowly closed his eyes, smiling like a fool.

She loves him. She LOVES him. SHE loves HIM.

Maker.

Uthreida rolled on the bed and tucked herself under his arm, laying her head on his shoulder as her free arm drew lazy circles on his chest. Lazily tracing the scars in his skin. He kissed her forehead. His eyes closing again and breathed her in. Maker, if he died now-

She pulled the amulet from around his shoulder down to his chest. He opened one eye to see her pulling the Andraste coin from her throat, holding it over his heart. "Talos" she said in higher pitched voice, holding the coin like a doll, "what will my husband think?"

Cullen laughed at her implied meaning. He looked down at her to see a smile. He held the amulet of the hammer the same way. "Given the audience," he cleared his throat and took a deeper tone, "but Andraste, were one and the same. Our union was foretold by the stars."

She laughed at his obvious jab. She danced the coin as she spoke in the same mocking pitch. "We were both mortals, generals, beloved by the people, and betrayed by our allies. But Talos, I am a married woman. Married, to an absent man. An absent god."

"Hey." Cullen warned.

She laughed again. "Just go with it."

Cullen rolled his eyes, dancing the hammer with a tip at his own chest. He lowered his brows and looked at her. "Who came first?"

"Oh, Talos, by like three hundred years."

"Of course." He cleared his throat and moved the amulet. "But Andraste." He said lower and stopped. He didn't know where to go from here. "Our union is the union of the people.' Right?"

"No, you're doing great." She threw a leg over lap and curled tighter to him. He ran a hand over her thigh as he waited for her part in the story. But she didn't speak. She took the two icons in her hands and sighed. "But it's not is it? It'll just make more war, won't it? Jealous husband then attacks the Adrea. The Adera retaliate."

He ran a hand over her thigh again in thought. Seeing a war of the gods for dominance in his mind. "Probably."

The mood shifted. Her silence as she looked off in silent contemplation. Her hand drawing lazily across his chest again. Her fingers delicately touching his scars in thought. He could imagine that her war she had always feared will eventually come to pass. And that they will be on opposing sides of the field.

She kissed his throat, nestling back into his shoulder. He held her closer, not wanting to think of war. Of the blood soaked fields that will come. And yet, all he could do was hear the sounds of battle.

She was too quiet. He grabbed a handful of her ass and shook it. Jiggling the rest of her excess weight. He felt her smile into his chest. She scooped up the icons again. The sound of rubbing metal made him realize he closed his eyes again. He tilted her chin and kissed her. Calming her mind of the future she may never see. "Everything's going to be alright." He whispered as he kissed her forehead. "It has to be."

She sighed deeply. Her head on his shoulder, her hand over his heart, and he closed his eyes. Never feeling more peaceful in his life.

The light filtered through the rafters and Cullen opened one eye to greet the morning. The warm body in his arms shifted slightly. He looked down and smiled at the naked woman with him. Maker, she's more beautiful than-

He missed his opportunity to run.

Shit.

Stupid dick.

Damnit.

He ran a hand over his face in anger. Let it never be said neither one of them was smart.

She nuzzled herself deeper into his chest. So much for starting over. Or running. He smirked at her red hair. To be honest. Staying until the end of the fight was more their style anyways. After all, if they ran together, with no word to anyone, what would that prove?

He sighed and looked her over. Maker, she was gorgeous. Maybe not in a traditional sense with all the scars, but damn if he didn't want her more.

He smiled devilishly, noticing they are still alive, had time, and he owed her.

He rolled her onto her back gently. He kissed her heart, her stomach, the hollow of her hips. Following the line of moles from her hip that seemed to tease a route to her sex. She inhaled sharply to awaken to see him at her hips. "Cullen, wha-"

He slid a hand under her knees to rise her leg. She complied groggily. He continued his assault with the flat of his tongue across her lower lips. She moaned with a clenched body. "Cullen," her hands fisted in the sheets as he smiled. Tasting her one last time. Wanting nothing more than to feel her again. He listened, learning what she liked, hearing her moans and breathless inhales as he moved. Not knowing what he was doing, but knowing he was doing it well. Licking and suckling at her pearl and her soft orders. Switching his hands for his mouth as he would taste her essence as she rubbed against him. Eager for friction.

His manhood growing in pride but painfully pinned between him and bed, controlling himself so not to take her. Letting her have this.

She tilted her hips into his mouth. His two fingers entering her as his free hand reached up to cup her soft breasts. Her hand fisting his hair and drawing her nails against his scalp. Her heavy, vocal breaths made him smile in his work.

Her hips quivered as she held a hand to her mouth. He held her by the wrist to pull her hand down to hear her. "Dibella, deliver me" she moaned as she ran her nails over his back. "Don't stop." Her breath rapid as she clenched below him. Maker, she was close. He used the tip of his tongue to ravage her pearl.

"Commander." Came a deep voice from below them. Cullen slowed to realize whose voice it was. Bull. Why was-

She tilted her hips again to get his attention. Cullen sat up and saw the angered look on her lips and wide eyes of a promised demise. He smirked, moving higher to the bed. She beat him in the chest with frustration but that smiled at. He kissed her forehead as his hand trailed back down to her apex, sliding back into her. Halting her desire to fight him. "Greedy dragon." He whispered in her ear.

"Commander" Bull echoed again.

"Yea." Cullen called over his shoulder as he watched her breathe deeper. Her eyes sliding closed and she bit her lips to silence herself. His palm moving to rub against her pearl while his fingers gave her the fulfillment she desired.

"Inquisitor wants to see you."

"I'll be down in a minute." Cullen watched her hands clutch the sheets and her legs quaked below him. Her warm entrance clamping around his fingers and she breathed harder. Her head thrown back and one hand to his chest to keep him with her.

"He wants to see her too."

She held her breath, arching her back. He had her. Her warmth surrounded and tightened around his fingers as the scent of her essence filled the small space. Watching her breathe deeply and smiled at him. Her hand stopping his wrist from moving. It only occurred to him what Bull said. "What?"

"Inquisitor wants to see her too. The Slayer. I'm assuming she's with you."

Cullen looked down at Uthreida. She slowly opened her eyes to see him in a haze of lust and love. Her arms encircling his neck to kiss him. He didn't move to her. Seeing her one last time. Memorizing the way she looked right now. Elated. Loving. His. After a few blinks, she looked at him with growing concern.

Royoc was going to take her. Her contract completed. He was going to send her away. Or, Maker, kill her.

"You up there, Uthreida?" Bull hollered. She looked at Cullen with a confused brow. Cullen shook his head slowly. He licked his lips to come up with a lie. "We're here to escort you to the Inquisitor, Slayer. You alright?"

They both looked at the ladder at the word escort. Royoc was going to kill her.

Cullen stood from the bed and looked out the windows of his quarters. Looking at the battlements, the Soldiers lined the walls. Facing inward. Ready for an attack. He turned at the sound of the groaning bed. She walked to where he stood and saw the same soldiers ready for their exit. He tried to crane his head to see the horse stables below but was out of sight. He moved to look across the bridge and didn't see any fires lit in the main hall. A dark omen.

"Who you got with you, Commander?" Bull called again. A knowing curl in his voice.

Cullen looked over to see her thinking. Looking for her way out. She looked at him. Keeping silent in her thoughts with her pale flesh visual in the light of the dawn. His bites, her bruises from battle. He could only imagine what state he was in. She had never looked more fearsome or beautiful in that moment.

"Commander," Bull warned, "don't make me come up there. Or one of these fine soldiers down here with me."

His men. His trained men. His soldiers. She jutted a jaw quickly and looked him in the eye. He didn't want to leave. She couldn't stay. "We'll be down in a few minutes." She said over her shoulder. Cullen held up a hand to stop her. "Let us get dressed before our interrogation."

Bull chuckled. "Of course. Take all the time you need. It's not like you can run."

She puffed her cheeks. Trying to figure this out. Cullen looked over her exposed chest and moved to stand in front of her. "Could you at least get away from the window?" He ushered her back over to the center of the room when she realized what he was saying. She gave an embarrassed smile and sat on the bed. He ran a hand over his face, still smelling her scent on him and sighed. He looked down at her. How were they going to get out of this one? The encroaching thought of loneliness was severed as she smirked at him. Cullen took a step back as he realized his crotch was at her eye level. She smiled wider with a hand held out to him. He watched her as she leaned back on her elbows, hiking a knee. Rolling her hips so one thick cheek was visual. Slight bruising on her hips showing where his fingers pressed into her.

He found himself smirking at the invitation. Wanting her, his wife. His heart. His love.

He shook his head. "We have to get dressed." He whispered. Moving to his washing basin for the cold water.

"Like it matters." She whispered back. "We know what he's planning. His intentions. May as well have some fun." Her low voice sounded like a smile as he filled the basin. "Make him wait."

He looked over his shoulder with a smile. Uthreida was bent over the bed, her rear pointed high for him to take. She looked at him with a wanton smile.

Cullen rolled the rag in his hands as he thought of holding her in his arms one last time. Of being inside her again melted his stomach with desire. He threw the rag into the basin and crossed the room smoothly. She watched his movements with a growing smile as he grew closer to her lifted rear. A single hand moved to feel the smooth softness of her skin of her ass. Lifting the cleft to watch the jiggle of her skin from his actions. He held her rear in both hands and gave a firm squeeze causing her to jump pleasantly. He removed one hand to lean into her back and gently bite the pocket of her shoulder. His other hand calming her. He removed his teeth when she took a sharp inhale. Replacing the submission with a smack on her ass. "Get dressed." He whispered into her ear.

She turned to see him over her shoulder. Moving her massive red curls from her eyes. "No." She whispered with a smile.

He smiled, loving her defiance at every turn. "No?" He whispered into her spine. He wrapped his free arm under her chest and held her rear to his crotch. "Then what do you want?" She looked at him, biting her lower lip with a smile. He kissed her neck, his second hand moving to her front, between her legs to work her pearl again. She made an appreciative hum. She moved her hips to feel him against her. Giving him the girth and friction to get hard again. "Say it."

She chuckled softly, opening her legs wider to allow his hand to find her most sensitive area. "I want you," she whispered with a deep husk, "to annoy the Inquisitor by wasting his time as you fill me with every inch of you." Her hand coming up to cup his cheek behind her. A malicious smile on her lips that he matched.

"Maker, I love you." He kissed her lips. Allowing their common enemy to be the fire that brought them together. Her hand went into his hair as he trailed kisses down her back. His hands taking in every scar, every inch on her flesh. Gently moving a foot to bring her lower to him. Seeing her settle on the bed with her back arching unnaturally for him. The scars at the small of her back from one of her first dragons invited his fingers to cross them gently. Her arms moving forward on the bed and gripping the sheets and blankets in her hands in anticipation. Her long red hair thrown above her to give him an unobstructed view of her back. The scars, the soft flesh, the beauty of her. His.

He used one hand to tease her while the other pumped himself for her. Using the head to tease her opening. She pushed herself back to bring him into her. He took a step back, passively punishing her greed, and she looked at him with annoyance. He spanked her to watch it reverberate across her back side. "The spanking you want, not the one you deserve."

"Yea, get it." Bull yelled from below.

Cullen groaned but chuckled with her at Bull. "Aye," she said with a laugh. "Get it."

Cullen cleared his throat and stood up. "We have an audience and you're not exactly quiet."

"Oh, Aye" she shot back in a whisper to match his, "because the groans of the bed isn't going to give it away at all."

Cullen popped his jaw. She had logic but it wasn't the point. This is entirely unprofessional. Those are, presumably, his soldiers below them. He can't exactly engage in…this…with his wife…knowing they will…know. "We should, uh" he cleared his throat and tried not to see the slowly growing red mark of his hand on her pale cheek. "Get dressed." He said slower, watching her wiggle her hips. Memorizing him in a kind of hypnosis at the jiggle of her ass, thighs, and hips. He took a deep breath, sure he was breathing fire from the heat of his lions at this point. There was a sense of pride as she waited for him. Watching her wait for her prize. That somehow came back into his hand as he watched her seduce him. Damn it was working.

He took two steps to be behind her again. "Makers breath," he held her thick ass in one hand as he pumped with the other. "Keep it down."

His tip finding her opening on instinct and entered her slowly. She made a throated moan at his intrusion and he bent over to whisper in her ear. "Keep quiet." A small laugh coming over him as he seated himself as deeply as he could.

"Or what?"

He grit his teeth, he didn't want to but she issued the challenge. He pulled himself out of her entirely. The cold air was horrid compared to her wet warmth. He rested his member on the top of her ass and waited for her to comply. She looked over her shoulder at him, resting her hand on a fist off the bed. A look of boredom clouded her eyes. "Are you going to behave?" She shook her head slowly. A smile on the corners of her lips.

"Tie her up."

"Damnit, Bull." Cullen shouted his warning across the room. Bull gave a large laugh from below. Cullen took a deep breath, hating himself, and took a step back.

She met his bluff and laid down on the bed. Her rear still exposed to him. Waiting on him. In the silence of figuring out his next move, she flexed her glutes that caused her lower body to shake. She waggled a brow at him. Still waiting on his next move. Cullen snarled, wanting to smother her but too delighted in the opportunity before him. She saw his plight and bounced. Shaking her ass for him. He glaired at her but she winked, knowing she was winning.

"Makers breath." He climbed on the bed behind her. He straddled her legs as he grabbed her ass. She scooted her body closer so her back arched for him. To access her easier. He entered her slowly, throwing his head back at the feel of her again. His hands gripping and holding her to him as he moved within her.

Maker.

She moaned, the bed groaned, and Bull chuckled, but none of it mattered. He held her by the hips and he moved. Holding her and moving her to match his rhythm. She would bounce into him, letting his thighs recover from a movement he wasn't used to. Her moans escaping an open mouth without abandon as she rode him. He leaned down to kiss her neck, pushing her deeper into their bed as he pumped. He leaned over her, finding an easier position as he moved. Her breathless moans were a chorus in his ears. The sound of the bed didn't even register as he focused wholly on her. He sat back up to touch her. His hands going to her back, and hips again. Grubbing her ass to move her just so. Maker.

She moved to be on her knees before him. Their body's slapping at the contact and she had a higher moan. Cullen looked down to see her touching herself. He leaned forward and held a breast in his hand and he snapped behind her. She rested her weight on one arm, telling him she was close. Right there. Praising Dibella. She pushed back into him. He let her, knowing she knew what she wanted. Her breathing was erratic. Longer than usual. She was missing something. Cullen slammed into her, leaning forward and bit her shoulder. Snapping his hips into her hard and fast.

Her quim quivered and she called his name. He held her by the shoulder. Driving harder than before when her opening tightened around him like a grip. Pulsating.

Cullen leaned forward, close to his own orgasm. Her hand went into his hair. Maker. He sat back, pulling her with him by the shoulders. He snapped his hips into hers. Hiding his face into the crook of her neck. So close, "Maker"

The held her waist tighter and snapped one final time as his body stiffened at the release. His hips involuntary bucking into her as he spilled his seed deep inside of her.

His body relaxed, breathing deeply at the exertions. Her hands lacing his and he barely had the presence of mind to realize she was sitting on his lap. He kissed her back, his hand lazily trailing her to apex to feel her open legs and rub her precious pearl as he was still housed inside of her. It was becoming painful. But he wanted one more from her.

He rubbed her clit. She guided his other hand to her breast as he worked. Her hand fisting his hair to hold him to her. "Don't stop" she whispered, her moans quieted and he imagined she was bitting her lip to stop herself. He kissed her shoulder before biting her again. Holding her still as he worked. She threw her head back to rest on his shoulder. He went faster. Her breathing become short and she clichéd at his thigh. His hair being pulled from the rood as her body seized. Only to shake as she took deep breaths in silence when she was satisfied again. He pulled his hand way gently. Licking the wound he made on her shoulder before kissing it. His hands trailing her body that still sat on him, pulsating his painful post organum dick.

There was a slow clap from below that seemed to echo with four to five people. Both groaned at the acceptance of the performance.

"Makers breath. I'll never hear the end of this."

"Probably." She said with a chuckle. She moved to get off and rubbed her thighs at the pain of sitting on his lap like that. His own thighs burned from the exertion. Both fell back on the bed. Wrapping arms and legs around the other without prompting.

Cullen took several deep breaths as he looked at the open ceiling. Drawing lazy circles on her shoulder. "Now what?"

She ran a hand along his chest in thought. "If you can take out Bull," she whispered, "I can take care of the rest."

Cullen tried to hide his smile. He was far too exhausted to fight, let alone Bull. "I'm not really in a position to fight, right now."

She slapped his chest as if annoyed but saw the smile. "Men."

"Woman." He warned in the same playful manner. "This was your idea."

She laughed, tucking herself back into his shoulder. "Well," she shrugged. "We missed our opportunity last night. May as well eat the sausage. And hope we don't find a raisin."

He lowered his brows and looked at her in confusion at what she just said. "What?"

"You know," she said with a shrug, "do what's required and hope it turns out for the best."

Cullen took a deep breath. "Well, I'm certainly not getting a promotion."

"And I'm sure I'll get an 'armed escort' back to the king." She added air quotations for his benefit.

He rubbed her shoulder and looked at her. A coldness seeping into his heart. "So this is it then? Live or die?" He ran his knuckles over her jaw. "Our time is truly up now?"

She took his hand and kissed the palm his hand. "I think so." She laced their fingers as her eyes seemed distant.

He kissed her forehead. The pain of reality setting as he kissed her. "For what it's worth," he whispered, "it was all worth fighting for."

She looked up at him, a small sad smile on her lips. She rolled over so she sat above him, her hand still on his chest. "You gave me peace in a life of war. Thank you."

He smiled as he looked at her. Feeling the peace she spoke of. The beating his heart snuffed by the intense desire to hold her again. "You showed me love in a time, place, where I never expected to find it. I" he took a breath and fell in love with her all over again. Her bare shoulders, curling red hair that framed her face so beautifully. Her blue eyes seeming more warm and thick lips for him alone. "I have never felt anything like this."

She blushed with a smile. Leaning into him and resting her forehead against his. "I love you."

He moved slightly to catch her lips. "I love you."

She kissed him again. She took a deep breath, moving so she hugged his chest. Cullen wrapped his arms over her shoulders. Enjoying her heat and weight. "I won't kill you."

He placed a hand to her heart, remembering their pact all those months ago. "Nor I you."

She hugged him tighter. "Come with me." She said softly, looking up at him with plea. "You'll want for nothing. I can't offer you men to command, but I can offer peace. I think. You can watch my belly grow big. You can watch our family grow."

Cullen smiled as she rambled her sales pitch. But to see her heavy with child. His child. His children. For permanence. For peace. For home. "One condition." She looked at him with and feared look. "I want to see the Illic Bay."

"Done." She said without thought. "We can go to Hammerfell. I can show you Hrothgar. I can introduce you to Paarthurnax. Reya. We can go to the Blue Palace. Solstheim. Marrowwind. High Rock. Whatever you want. It's yours. Just," she sighed as she looked at him. "Come with me."

He held a hand to her neck and pulled her close. Tasting her tongue and never more sure of a decision in his life. His wife. Their children. His life, with her, forever, until the end of his days. He pulled back slowly. "And I want to get married." She took a breath to agree, "In an Andrastean temple. To make it official."

She pouted. "Fine. We can visit the Mara temple in Riften-oh, you'll have to meet my uncles." She gave a pained expression at him quickly.

"Are they that bad?"

"No, it's just that, you'll have to complete a task before they'll agree to marriage."

"What kind of task?"

"Don't know." She said with a shrug.

He lowered his brows, confused at the prospect. "You'll help, right?"

"Of course."

He nodded. "I should probably inform Mia that I'll be in Skyrim if she needs me. Or wait, has the king landed-" She arched a knowing brow at him. He sheepishly nodded. Right, she can just fly there. Dragon and all of that. He cleared his throat. "Well, then, allow me to submit my resignation, and we'll be on our way." She grinned excitedly at him. Taking his face in both of her hands and kissed him. Her smile was infectious as he couldn't get it off his face either. "Should probably get dressed through."

"Aye." She resigned. "I suppose." But neither moved. Basking in the warmth of the other. Their gentle hands trailing scars, skin, and muscles of what may come. "Whatever happens," she said softly, a tinge of fear and regret in her voice, "know that I'll always love you."

Cullen pulled back slightly to look at her. "Why do you say that?"

She kept her face from him. Her fingertips grazing scars. "I'm scared it's going to happen again."

He lowered a hand to her thigh and squeezed in comfort. "It won't."

She looked at him, licking her lips to fight the fear. "I hope your right."

He tilted her chin to make sure she was looking at him. "No matter what, no matter where we are, I will love you. I will watch you grow heavy with our child. I will watch you train them in magic. And I will die in your arms with no regrets. And I will not let anyone take this from me. God or no. Do you understand?" Her eyes welled with tears as she smiled at him. She nodded quickly. She sniffed, hiding her face in his chest again as she hugged him. Cullen held her to him. Her skin on his cold. He looked to the ceiling and saw the dawn light had shifted into morning. "Probably should get dressed through. It's starting to get chilly."

"Few more moments." She asked, holding him tighter than before.

He released her. "The sooner we leave the better. The sooner we can get started on our own life."

She nodded slowly, forcing herself to rise from the bed. Cullen stood, seeing the piles of armor and clothing that littered the floor. He met Uthreida at the wash basin who was wiping herself down in his soap. Cleaning her thighs. Cullen smirked as he held her from the back. She took his arms and leaned into him. He took the wash rag and started on her back. Looking at all the bruising he caused to her body. How she reveled in it. Her moans of his name. Pride filled him as he washed her gently.

She turned in his arms and looked him over. A smile on her face. She called magic to her, healing, as she worked his neck. Healing the bruises she caused to his body as he washed himself. "Don't forget your face. Only a proud man would keep the scent of his wife in his beard." She kissed his cheek as he smirked at her playful comment. Smacking his ass as she skittered across the room. Watching her thick backside strut across his quarters to dress. He shook his head and ran the cloth over his face.

He turned and dressed himself. But when it came to his armor, he looked at the breast plate and stopped. He looked over his shoulder to see her working the thigh pieces of her armor. He walked to his chest and pulled out the pillow case of the armor she had made. Dumping it on the bed. Looking to her for guidance. She gave a blushing smile at his choice. To choose her over himself.

She abandoned her own armor to help him. Helping him with the mail, buckles, placement, and his furs. She let him finish the easier bits while she finished her own armor. She pulled out her kohl and made it thicker than usual. Masking her eyes like war paint. Taking three fingers, she crossed her forehead and marked the black kohl across her eyes on each side. The two looked at one another. Weapons strapped and armor donned. Ready to face whatever Royoc threw at them. They were a team now. Partners in every sense of the word. And a far as they knew, it was them versus the world. Uthreida picked up his helmet and passed it to him with both hands. He held it under his arm as she picked up her own. She took a deep breath, looking at it, before holding it the same way.

His warrior. Cullen crossed the room and kissed her again. He won't lose her. Not again. Behind her was the shield of her god. Cullen shrugged off the Inquisition shield and slung the blue and white whale over his shoulder. She looked at him with a worried glance. He tapped her chin and smirked. He made his choice. He held out a hand for her to take. She stooped low, recovering her bag. Her hand slipping into his with ease as he guided her to the ladder.

Cullen went first to assess the situation. Bull sat behind his desk with his feet propped up on the desk. Four other Soldiers stood around the room, looking anywhere but at him. "Bull." Cullen said with a casual authority as he walked to his desk.

"Commander." His deep voice rolled in hidden laughter as his silver eye showed more knowledge than necessary.

Cullen arched a brow at the title. Not for much longer. He went through a few of the drawers and collected some personal affects, the rings, and the family letters he was keeping. Bull stood slowly as Uthreida climbed down the stairs. Bull moved to face Cullen and keep his back to the soldiers. He held his hands low and curled his fingers to grasp. A question in his eye. Cullen registered that he was asking if his wife's ass. Cullen arched a bemused brow. But nodded with a smirk when pride of his victory overtook him.

Bull punched him the shoulder, knocking him back a step. "Dog…lord."

"Ox…man."

Bull smiled at the retort as Uthreida hit the landing of the office. Her own eyes shifting to the room. Looking for a fight and an escape. Bull lifted a hand to the east door. "Shall we?"

Uthreida lifted her helmet and flipped it in her hand to place it over her head. She gave a single silent nod to Bull.

The Qunari smirked. "You expecting a battle? With those knees?" He jutted a thumb at Cullen.

"I've seen the battlements."

He larger man hummed with a smirk. "Then let's get started."

Cullen placed his helmet on, seeing her through the Lions teeth. Her thin visor not showing her emotions as Bull opened the door. Cullen looked back at the Soldiers who held their hands to their weapons. Hesitantly. He was hoping he was a good enough leader that they wouldn't turn in him. Hoping they would let him walk if he commanded it. He noticed their eyes were on her. Whatever lie Royoc spread, was about her.

Cullen turned, holding a hand for her to exit first as he would cover her rear. Her thin visor taking in the soldiers that have yet to move. She took a breath, and followed after Bull.

Cullen exited the office. The hold was eerily silent. The usual clamor of the training rings were vacant. The usual hammering of the anvil song was missing. The laughter and gossip of the merchants and nobles were vacant from the courtyard. Merchant stalls emptied. The sights and sounds he had grown accustomed to were replaced with a silent guard. Even the chickens and horses held their breaths for what was to come. Each soldier lined the battlements standing five paces apart with bows drawn at the low. Each holding arrows and swords as needed. As he trained them. The only movement came from the officers who moved with them across their positions in the battlements. He felt every eye of the hold on him. His eyes went to the rookery was they walked. Liliana wasn't standing on the balcony, but her agents were. Watching them as they walked along the bridge.

Bull opened the door to the rotunda. Holding it open for his charges. He heard Uthreida whisper something before entering. Looking up as if to peer beyond the stone before them. She entered.

Cullen took a deep breath, calming his nerves he didn't know he was holding. He entered the darker office. The lonely painted walls greeted them, but so did the Soldiers that flanked every available spot in the rotundas balcony above them. Bows poised, but not drawn. The eyes of every agent Liliana had trained watched them.

Bull cut through the main hall. The tables had been cleared, no nobles standing around and gossiping. Kept safe in their rooms he imagined. But on every available walkway his men could get to, stood soldiers and agents ready to engage if needed. Soldiers with only swords lined the walls of the grand hall. Weapons not yet drawn as they went further. The Inquisitors throne empty as they walked forward. Where was Bull taking them? Behind the throne stood Knight Captain Ameriline. She gave a curt nod to the two armored warriors. Cullen looked away. She was following orders. Orders above him. He can't fault her for this.

Bull opened the door to the Inquisitors personal quarters. Uthreida paused. Taking a deep breath and seeing what awaited them. She raised her head as walked in. Cullen got behind her on the stairs. "What's up there?"

"Eight people. Five standing. Be on guard."

"Who?"

"Don't know. Be ready."

Bull looked over his shoulder at her with a brow. "You can see through stone?"

"Detect life spell." She said monotone.

"Didn't answer the question."

"It was rhetoric." Her helmet still watching where they were going.

Bull chuffed but kept his ascension. He reached the door to the Inquisitors personal quarters and turned to them. "No hard feelings. Just orders." He said with a shrug. A smirk pulling at the corners of his lips.

"No hard feelings." She retorted. "Just survival."

He nodded slowly. "I can respect that." He gave a quick two knock before opening the door. Cullen's hand went to his sword. Taking a deep breath as the light of the sun filtered down to them. Her hand went to her axe, ready to draw. They shared a look before entering.

Cullen took lead up the stairs to the inquisitor's quarters. He guaged the room as Bull took his post. The remainder of the inner circle stood before the windows. Each of them watched Cullen and Uthreida with their own form of bemusement or patience. Armed and armored. Cullen's eyes locked with Cassandras. And she looked away. He looked to Blackwall who dropped his eyes instantly.

In the seating nook sat the Inquisitor at a small table with two other vacant chairs. Liliana stood behind him while Josephine stood in the distance. Liliana's bow was strapped to her back.

Royoc watched Uthreida walk into his quarters. Her helmet turning to Dorian who gave a halfhearted shrug then Varric, who bit his lips sheepishly with a surrendering hand.

"Good morning." Royoc smiled at the two. He drilled his fingers into the wooden top of the table. His smile widening. "You two expecting a battle?"

The two shared a look at the Inquisitor.

"Hang on," Bull took a step forward, "before we move on, gimme my money." He turned to Varric who looked at the Qunari with skepticism. "Confirmed. Give it."

Varric sighed with a cross of his arms as the rest of the circle groaned. "Last time it was confirmed-" he waved a hand to Doran who looked offended.

"I misread the situation. You can't fault me for that."

Bull shook his hands at them. "Confirmed. And four who can verify." He jutted a thumb to the stairs as he stood to impose on the dwarf. "Pay up." Varric looked at him with a bored expression. "Look at him." He bellowed, waiving a hand at Cullen. Bull looked over his shoulder. "Remove the helmet." Bull looked back at Varric with a pointed finger at Cullen. "Tell me that ain't the look of a man who just got laid."

"What?" Cullen barked with a tilt of his head. Uthreida backhanded him in the pauldron. Her helmet looking only at him and he knew he was in trouble for something. "Don't look at me. I had nothing to do with this." He could feel every eye on him. "Bull" he called with more authority. "Explain."

Varric looked at the Commander, then Uthreida, and sighed. "Confirmed." He growled. The dwarf pulled out a small book from his waistband and slapped it against his thigh. He flipped through a few pages. "What's today?"

"Monday, the fourteenth of Kingsway." Bull said with a wide smile. Cullen looked at Royoc who looked just as confused where Liliana was smirking.

Varric flipped a page. He gave a nod. "Okay, fine. You do have a weekly standing on Mondays. But" he flipped further, "you only paid two hundred royals for each of your bookings at five royals per. Making fourty weeks of bets. And you bet for the next two, six, ten, fourteen weeks putting your balance at… negative seventy royals. But because you did get it right, on a Monday, with a one to seven odds, at five counts, minus the debt brings your balance to… negative thirty five royals. Congratulations. And it only cost you two hundred seventy royals. Pleasure doing business." Varric said with a smirk.

Bull tilted his head. "I also have a bet on the night after Corypheus."

Varric looked up from his ledger with a smirk. "The night?"

"Yea."

"Not the day?" Varric closed the book and smirked at him. A long silence be fell the two and the room.

"What the shit, you gold grubbing dwarf?" Bull bellowed with raised arms.

Varric turned slowly to Cullen. "Commander," he smiled, "did you fornicate with your wife on the thirteenth, or the fourteenth?"

His jaw dropped as she slowly turned to look at him. He could feel the ice from her glair. "That's what this is about? When I was going to" he licked his jaw to find the appropriate phrasing given the group. "Make love to my wife?"

Several of them snorted a laugh at his word choice. Varric took a step forward while flipping through. "To be fair," he passed the book to Uthreida to read.

Uthreida stood silently looking down at him. "You lied to me, time and again, to keep the full pot?"

Varric shrugged. "Well, yea."

"What the fuck?" She screeched at the dwarf.

"I mean, I set up situations on days where no one made a bet, if that makes you feel better?"

"It does not." With a grunt she forcefully took the book from his hands. She laughed as she read the pages. "This is horrible. This one." She pointed to section and passed it back.

Varric looked at the page as Cullen widened his eyes to her to stop talking. Feeling the embarrassment rise up his neck even more. Varric looked at him then her. "Are you just saying that?"

"No." She gave a quick shake of her head. "Truly."

"What was that?" He demanded with both hands pointed at Varric.

She shrugged. "Performance evaluation. And" she looked down at Varric, "the Thirteenth."

Varric smirked where Bull cursed loudly. Varric closed the book and looked at Bull. "Seeing as how Corypheus died five days ago-"

"But," Bull waived a finger, "she was unconscious so the first-"

"I don't keep track of medical contingencies. So the seventy Royal debt," Bull turned his full anger in the dwarf. "Consider it a friend discount." He reviewed the book and arched a brow. "Let's see, Summers, Overbridge, and who the hell is Sparrow? Anyways. Won the sex pool." The companions grunted. He placed the book in his waist. "All bets are off. Today's a good day." He waived his hands in the air to end it. "Whew, was getting scared there for a minute. Do you know how many people bet for next week on your one year anniversary?" He gave a laugh.

Several of the others whined. Cullen tilted his head. "You actually started and successfully ran a sex pool?"

"Yea."

Cullen grunted. "When's my anniversary?"

"Uh," the dwarf flipped open the book. "Six days."

"Huh." He looked at Uthreida and smiled. "Happy anniversary, dear."

She placed a hand over her heart and sucked her teeth. "Aww, Valok, you remembered."

Royoc cleared his throat and stood. The loud scooting of the chair silenced the room. His brown eyes focuses solely on them. "If it's not too much trouble, can we get back to the reason we're here." His voice holding a sense of impatience for the crowd.

Any sense of gambling was pushed aside as the eyes fell to them again. Cullen took a deep breath and removed his helmet. Running a hand through his hair to meet his opponent head on. Uthreida followed his cue and removed her helmet, her hair falling to her shoulder in a single braid.

Royoc held a hand to the seats for them to take. Cullen looked over his shoulder to see the discomfort of the room. Even Sera was chewing her lip at what was going to happen. Cullen looked at the chairs, taking a deep breath at Liliana's emotionless expression. He walked into this lion's den with nothing more than a sword and a dragon.

Uthreida smirked and started off. Taking the offered seat before her. He sighed deeply to himself. If she was going to, so was he. He took the furthest seat, watching the room for movement. His eyes drew to Cassandra again, silently demanding to know what he just walked into.

Leliana moved behind him to Josephine while Royoc and Uthreida smiled at one another. Menacingly. Each thinking they had the upper hand. "I'd like to say you both seem well rested, but given the-" Royoc waived a hand to the commotion before and to his friends.

Cullen crossed his arms. Being defensive over his choice of partners. "Fucking say something." A few of the observers snorted but Bull opened his mouth into an 'o' of excitement at his curse.

Liliana passed a scroll of parchment to Royocs folded hands. The sound of drawing metal made Cullen stand as the coldness touched his throat. Liliana held him to her chest and Uthreida stood.

"Don't." Cullen held a hand to stop Uthreida from drawing her weapon. Her eyes only on Liliana behind him. "You kill her, you kill the next Divine. And that war you fear will come." Uthreida stopped, her eyes searching Liliana's with a twitching nose. "Sit down." She hasn't killed him yet. He was a pawn for Uthreida's good behavior. "Utha, Sit down." He commanded with one finger pouted at her face. She took two deep breaths.

"Do not speak." Liliana said darkly, lowering Cullen back to his chair, her blade warming on his skin. "Speak, and he dies."

Uthreida looked only at Liliana as she grit her teeth. She moved slowly to take her seat. Her hands fisted in the table before them.

Cullen's eyes flicked to Josephine's movement. Uthreida turned as the Antivan held a mask that was retrofitted to act as a muzzle. Maker, was that a Saarebas mask?

"Put it on." Liliana demanded. Pulling Cullen tighter to her chest. Uthreida's nose twitched as she looked at the spymaster. "Now." Uthreida's ice blue eyes moved to Cullen who was still struggling to keep his balance between her and her blade.

He met her eyes and he sighed. "Do as she says. Please. Once we leave, you can take it off." She only snarled more as Josephine grew closer. "Utha." He said softer. "We need" he said slowly in Clannic "to get home."

She searched his eyes as her anger and frustration slowly drained from her face. She lowered her eyes. Her jaw grinding as Josephine placed the muzzle over her jaw. She sat patiently. Her eyes on Royoc who was smirking at her temporary submission. Waiting for Josephine to finish the buckle at the back.

Cullen looked at her. The golden cow mask seemed to out of place for her superior back armor and presence of a dragon.

Royoc picked up the scroll and tossed it across the table. "You're contract. Fulfilled. The price of your dragon slaying will be sent to Denerim. You're free to go. And never return."

Her eyes shifted to Royoc with a confused brow. The blade on Cullen's that slacked slightly to allow a breath of reprieve. Uthreida tilted her head slightly to look at him. She pointed at Liliana, rubbed her forefingers and thumb and pointed at her chest. Her eyes flicked to Liliana then the blade. She gave a dismissive wave. Liliana scoffed, pulling the blade from Cullen's throat.

"You did keep your end of the bargain." She took a step back and Cullen held a hand to his throat to check for blood and take a deeper breath, appreciating life a little more. Liliana slid something across the table at Uthreida. A blue rock. Her blue rock. Cullen looked at it, but didn't feel the pull of the lyrium like before. "Favor for a favor." Uthreida looked at it, spinning it on the table as if to inspect it. She looked back at Liliana. "Payment, for blinding the Commander." Cullen watched as a smile curled in Liliana's lips. "You allowed us to move his troops as necessary without his knowledge."

Cullen smirked as he tapped the table. "Are you referring to the ones in Vercheif?" the slight tink of Lilianas armor made him smile. "It's a good stregtitical location. Rather thought that was you. The Duke of Meceillic has been speaking too much. Though I did send one of my trusted men to supervise it. He should be arriving tomorrow. To ensure ethical implications of the location." He smirked at Royoc. The Inquisitors smirk shifted slightly.

Uthreidas eyes shifted to Royoc as she picked up the blue rock with one hand. Throwing it over her shoulder. The sound of shattering glass stunned the group. Blue ink seeping into the stone. Cullen lowered a brow. Lyrium doesn't do that.

Uthreida looked at Liliana and smirked. She pointed at the spymaster, the Cullen, pointing to her eyes. Her smile reiterating that Liliana let Cullen see her moves. Her eyes shifting back to Royoc with a smirk. Royoc looked at Liliana, his smile gone from his face. Cullen smirked, showing the inner circle how the advisors were each going behind the Inquisitors back to make ends meet for the people.

Uthreida leaned over slowly for her pack. Liliana took a step forward and the Slayer paused. She reached slower, pulling out a knitted black fabric. She pulled some aside to show the incandescent blue of lyrium. Her true stone was with her.

Josephine took a loud exhale. Cullen looked at her and her soft eye roll. The slight way she collected herself. Cullen smirked, looking at Uthreida. "You stole it back?" She winked. He looked at Josephine and crossed his arms, leaning back in his chair. "And you commissed the replacement when it was discovered missing, didn't you?" She didn't dignify the question with an answer.

Liliana walked behind Cullen and grabbed Uthreida's bag. Dumping it on the table. Seconds ticked as she went through Uthreida's things quickly. "Where is it?" She demanded of Uthreida' who arched a brow in question. "Where is the scroll?"

Uthreida looked at her with a smirk. And shrugged.

Liliana looked at Cullen with hate filled eyes. "You know what comes next. Where is it?"

Cullen smirked, crossing his arms and leaned back in his chair. "What scroll?"

"Do not play coy with me. Where is it?"

Cullen sniffed. "Gone."

"Gone?" She snorted at him, the point of her blade held to Uthreidas throat. "Where?"

Uthreida looked at the tip and smiled. She looked to the ceiling and slowly lifted her fingers to indicate her gods took it. Cullen watched as the two women waited for the other to move.

Cullen leaned forward on the table, looking at Royoc. "If it's all the same to you, we'll take the gold and be on our way."

Royoc looked at him with a lowered brow. "We? What makes you think you're going anywhere? You've yet to have your blood mage trial."

Cullen smirked. "As much as I am aware of the irony, that won't be necessary."

Royoc smirked. "It would be a shame to inform the men that the blood mage Uthreida, former dragon slayer of the Inquisition, and her thrall, the former Commander, are to be hunted day in and day out by my Templars. At least with trial, you will seek some justice."

Cullen arched a superior brow. "Justice by your blade, I'd imagine. For the injustices done in Kirckwall. A justice decreed by the divine." Cullen leaned back, a passive hand waived to Leliana. "Send my men if you must. After all, I'll be weighed down by gold. Should make for an easy target." He turned to look at Uthreida. "How many dragons have you slain without compensation? Four?"

Uthreida held up six fingers. "Six. So, forty-eight hundred royals should cover the bill? I'm sure we have that in the treasury. Or maybe in the chest you hide in the loft above your bed, to keep it from everyone else. And us. Sera. Could you please verify for me."

"Don't." Royoc ordered. Sera paused and looked at them. Her eyes roving between the table but stepped off to the other side of his bed. The room waited as she climbed the ladder and picked a lock. "Andrastes ass." The elf exclaimed from above as Royoc shook his head at Cullen slowly. "You could've freed an alienage with this. You could've fed that village. Maker." Cullen smirked at Royoc as the elf was pacing, thinking. "Frick. I knew it. Too damn good to be true. I-" she gave a sharp exhale. "You're just like the rest of the wobbling wankers, punching down."

Cullen smirked at him. "Fulfill the contract."

Royoc looked between the two of them. "So, that's what this is to you. Gold? How easily your bought Commander. How far you have fallen."

"An honorable man fulfills his word." He said slowly. "You signed the contract. Keep your word."

He took a deep breath. "The monies will be sent to Denerim, where your wife is expected to return." The sound of shoveling coins made him look up at Sera on the balcony. "Sera." Royoc barked.

"Shove it." She called back. A heavy flour sack landed on the table from above and almost broke it. "There." She called from above them. "There's your payment, now run." Cullen kept his place watching Royoc lose all of his control. "Don't just sit there, daft pig shit. Run." The sound of her drawing a bow made them look up to see her pointing her arrow at Royoc. "You really think this wanker is going to deliver you to Denerim without an arrow in your chest? I like you, Lady, yea. Don't make me do this. Run."

Cullen blinked and in the split second, the world around him changed. The table was cleared and Uthreida had moved. He spun his head quickly to see her kneeling before a man in gold and blue robes and another in full black. The one in blue had a yellow hood to cover his face while the one in black, standing a pace back with a long sword strapped to his back, had a black hood, but netting to hide his face.

"Guar-" the shout was silenced as an arrow flew.

"Qah Diiv Joor."

A knife slid across Cullen's throat and he looked wide eyed at Uthreida. He was dying, and there was nothing her magic could do. Her wide eyes looking at him as blue and orange ethereal horns appeared over her head and she growled slowly. The mask removed at some point to see her face one last time. Cullen held a hand to his throat to stop the bleeding and inhaled.

Wait.

He looked at his hands. No blood. He could breathe. He alive. Wow, Liliana really needs to sharpen her blades. He looked at his hands, covered in orange and blue like her. Scale armor up his arms.

"Ow." Royoc stated, holding his chest. Cullen's eyes widened as the man had the same orange and blue horns and ethereal armor like Uthreida.

"You've got horns." Sera said, a confused tone.

"Yea, I know." Bull bellowed but shrieked when he looked to his right to see Dorian who looked just as confused as he looked at the table.

The room exploded in screams and confusion as they looked at one another. Panicking at the scale armor that encircled them.

"Calm down." Uthreida held her hands wide to the room. But no one seemed to listen.

Cullen watched confused as the room seemed to descend on the intruder. A quick wave of the blue robes and everyone took a deep breath. Cullen felt the confusion and fear leave his body like her calming shout. Their weapons seeming to faulter in their hands. Wide eyes as they looked at them. The one in black robes only crossed his arms as he surveyed the room.

"Forgive them, Quaranir. They are" Uthreida scratched her head. Cullen noticed the serabas mask laid broken on the floor. "They're idiots."

The one in yellow robes and oddly golden skin gave a small laugh. He sighed as he looked to the ceiling. He spoke something in a foreign language that sounded like Uthreida's language. He placed a hand to his chest and bowed to the room. When he stood again, he waved a hand to Uthreida and smiled. Something about his looks wasn't right. He looked humanoid, but his eyes, skin, was off. And he had never seen those kinds of robes before. But above all, he was a mage.

Royoc tilted his head at the intruder. "What?"

The one in robes waved a dismissive hand to him but looked to Uthreida again. He took a breath but she cut him off. "No no, where in Oblivion am I?"

The man pulled his head back slightly to look at her in confusion. He turned to look at his companion, then back at her. He said something with an open hand. Something that made Uthreidas face drop in realization and surprise. She took a step back. She had to force the air from her lungs as shock was written in her face. "Altimeris." She said with a shaking breath. The man nodded. "This is Altermris?" He tilted his head again with confusion. Uthreida shook her head. She looked at Sera on the balcony then back at him. "You mean to tell me this is Altimeris? Ancient ruins, fine. But," She waved a hand to Sera. "She's not an Altimer." He followed her hand and tilted his head at the elven woman. He said something else that made Uthreida's face contort into disgust. "Breeding out?" She shook her head. "That's messed up." He retorted with a shrug. One she matched. "True. That is the Alyssian way." She looked at Sera with a brow. "Breaking the blood like the Breatons."

Royoc slammed a hand on the table, violently standing from his chair. "What is going on? Who are these men? What are they doing in my hold?"

The man in robes looked at him with boredom and Uthreidas malice was one of warning. The foreign mage looked back at Uthreida with a patient smile. She cleared her throat awkwardly. "Explain that." She waved a hand to Bull with a smile.

The qunari lowered his brows to her but looked at the mage who turned to look at him. "Who is this?" Bull asked with hesitation and a slight lean to Uthreida.

"Qunari." The one in black said quickly. His voice was indistinguishable as he spoke. Even speaking in the foreign language of the mage as if to explain something.

"Aye, horned Dunmer, maybe but look at his eye. Steel, not red. And he's taller than most Dunmer. Almost as tall as a Dwemer." She grinned at the mage who gave her a playful look but didn't speak. Uthreida crossed her arms. "He knows Dovazhul. Unbeknownst. Casually. Like part of his culture. Care to explain?"

Cullen watched Bull lower a brow at the woman and mage while mouth breathing in question. His eye flicking to the group to make sure it was really happening.

The mage smiled at her and she sighed annoyed. "Or" Uthreida said quickly, pointing behind the mage at Varric. Who held his hands up in surrender.

The mage turned to look. His companion speaking again. The mage tilted his head as he looked at Varric. "Dwemer?" He asked skeptically to his companion. The mage looked between Varric and Bull. Shaking his head. He gave a slight bow to Varric. The dwarf looked to the group and bowed back awkwardly. "Am I don't this right?"

"You're perfect just as you are, Varric." Uthreida stated with an open hand and a smile.

Cullen looked at Cassandra who met his gaze. He gave a short nod. Their hands fisted, watching the mage.

Uthreida, Dorian, and Vivienne each took a pained breath. Each looking at him or Cassandra. Cullen's eyes widened as he looked at the mage. He didn't faulter. He was extremely powerful if the minor sapping of magic didn't affect him.

Uthreida looked at him with anger. "Stop it." The one in black followed her eyes, his hands going to the blade on his back. He spoke something else that made the mage look at him. A brow arched. And a smirk on his lip. He waived a hand to stop his guard. The mans golden skin shimmering in the light as he looked back at Uthreida.

Royoc growled. "Leave my hol-"

The mage snapped and Royoc fell silent. Cullen looked at the mage who stated speaking to Uthreida while Royoc was waving his hands, a panicked look on his face as he tried to speak but nothing came out. He looked at Uthreida who watched Royoc in silent fear and smiled polity at the mage. "He's a Templar." Uthreida said quickly. "A mystic of this land." The robed man tilted his head at the statement. "They ah," she moved and pulled her lyrium stone from her bag and handed it the man. "They consume the Atherium and it grants them the capabilities of mysticism." The man looked at Cullen with a surprised look of concern. He said something to Uthreida while still looking at Cullen. "They know." The robed man looked at the rock in question then at Cullen, holding the same question. He shook his head as if disappointed, but gave a slow, but sympatric nod to him. As if knowing what the situation was for him.

Cullen stood and the one in black took a step towards him. The one in black asked a question in his language.

The mage waved it off but kept speaking to Uthreida. She widened her eyes to the mage. "There's a spell for that?" The golden man paused while looking at her, posing a simple question. "Well, if I knew the spell, I wouldn't be asking, now would I?" The robed man pulled his head back and asked another question. "I don't know why these people can understand me or I them." She stated quickly with waving arms. Cullen stopped. Eager to want to learn how she did this.

The mage took a step forward. He said something that she shook her head at. Makers breath, translate, woman. The mage nodded taking a step back. "Wait, what are you doing?" He said something with a small wave of his hand. Uthreida pointed at Cullen and Cassandra. "Don't." She nodded to the mage and took a powerful stance as if ready for a punch. Taking a deep breath.

The mage held his hands to his chest and breathed. A silent moment filled the room, Vivienne readied her staff with a cold eyes on the mage. "Cullen dear, our friend here isn't touching the fade."

Cullen put a hand to his sword. Demon magic. One in black pushed the scabbard of their long blade off his back to give a quicker draw. The mage moved his arms in a circle and hit Uthreida in the chest knocking her back two steps.

Cullen drew and so did the one in black. A shriek from Sera made everyone look at her. Her wide eyes drawn to the furthest corner of the Inquisitors office. Cullen took a surprised intake of air. "Wha is that?" Sera screamed. Uthreida turned and screamed quickly. "Get them back." She drew her black blade at the ball of eyes and tentacles that floated above the office. Not again. Cullen jumped across table to stand next to Uthreida. It's tentacles waiving as if swimming. He could remember the sound if it's voice sending shivers down his spine.

Cullen barely registered the mage saying something as an ice blast from Vivienne went at it smashed by Sera's arrow.

"Illusion?" Uthreida shouted at the mage while everyone else was shouting to get information. Looking at the mages and him for some intel. Cullen looked at her as she looked at it in fear. "It's an illusion." She shouted over the room. "We're safe." All eyes turned to her as she looked at it, disgust and contempt marred her features. She looked at the blue robbed mage again. Cullen held her by the shoulders to protect her while the one in black reached a hand to grab the mage. The robbed man was saying something was he waived a hand. Cullen looked over his shoulder to notice the blob of eyes and the tentacles slowly a started to disappear. The fear dissipated with it as he remembered to breathe, feeling his heart beat hard against his ribs.

Uthreida shook her head violently. "I would never succumb to that." She roared, waved a disgusted hand to the corner of the office. "I have always stood in opposition of the Deadra and all their machinations." The mage said something else that she scoffed at. "No. And I am offended you would suggest." Her voice rising an octave to match her anger. "And his fate you stand there and assume that I would be anything like-" she stopped. Cullen looked at her as she remembered something. Her face and body dropped into a silent rage. "It's the black books, isn't it?" The mage raised a brow at her, an inflection of a question in his tone, and she sighed. "Aye. I had to read the black books to get to Apocrypha, to get to morals who he was hiding there like a coward." He asked another question that made her deflate. "No."

Cullen took a deep breath and looked at her with anger and frustration. "Will you translate already." Four different "thank you" raised across the room.

Uthreida shook her head but looked at the mage. "I am not controlled by that-" she growled with a frantic hand waved at the empty corner.

The mage smiled. His calm voice seemed to soothe her somewhat. "A gift?" Uthreida rolled her eyes. "From the damn books." The mage nodded slowly. She gave a violent shiver as if to rid herself if the image they all saw. "Is, is he, if," she took a shaky breath. "If I leave, will he see? Will he know? Of" she held her hands wide to him. "Will he learn of Thedas? Or Altimeris?"

He smiled again, shaking his head. He said something else that made her breathe. Cullen leaned down to her. An open hand raised to the mage and a frustration written on his face.

She took another deep breath. "I can understand you because the gifts of the black books. But, I am not controlled by Hermeous Mora. There's, obviously a tendril, but," she took another breath, "but he does not control. I am in control. I am not his puppet. Right?" She asked the mage who nodded slowly with a soft smile. Uthreida took a deep breath. She looked to the room and ran a hand over her hair. "So, as you can see," Cullen looked around the room to see everyone taking a step back from them with wide eyes. "How is it these people don't know of the Deadra?" The mage said something else with a smile. "Oh."

Cullen looked at her again with a frown. "That's why he's here." She looked back at the mage. "Can I offer a seat?" He smiled. "Can I sit? This is a lot. Its…it's a lot." He gave a small laugh and waved a hand as an empty chair moved across the room for her to sit in.

"Fascinating." Dorian stated quickly. "He really doesn't touch the fade. How is he doing that?" He took a step forward and the one in black lifted his blade. Dorian raised his hands and stepped back. "Who's your friend, there, Utha?"

Uthreida smirked at the Tevinter but took the offered seat. "This is Quaranir. He's a mystic from the Psijic Order. Do your bosses know you're here this time?" They shared a short chuckle, but he straightened his robes. The golden mage took a step back. He made a quick statement and Uthreida stood quickly. "What?!" Her tone terse as she looked the mage down. "Where? When? How?" He gave a shrug and Cullen waived his arms again. She waived his off to silence him as the mage kept going. Speaking a calmer tone with his hands at his hips.

She shook her head. She looked to the inner circle and lowered a brow. She counted them with a finger. Again. She counted out loud each of the members and the advisors and the inquisitor. She turned her ire to Cullen. "WHERE'S SOLAS?"Cullen dropped his face in confusion at her as the mage kept speaking. Cullen waived his hands for her to speak but she only looked at the mage with in intense gaze to listen. She looked away when he finished speaking with a gruff snarl. "Where is he?"

The mage tilted his head with eyes closed, showing he didn't know. He further explained something that she made a frustrated sound at. "Of course. Because of the thicker, second vail, the order can't see Thedas. So your blind here. Shit." He gave a quick nod.

"The Executiors" the one in black spoke with a dark tone, "have been trying to contact you for months." His black hood turning to look at Liliana.

All eyes turned to her as she stopped trying to hold Royoc back. Her blue eyes seemed unperturbed as the black robes, blue robes, and Uthreida looked at her. "You knew." Uthreida made a sound of disgust. "You knew the Thalmor were here and you did nothing?" She shouted to the Spymaster.

Liliana rolled her shoulders back with a cool facade. "There was nothing to verify-"

Uthreida made a sound of anger to silence her. She looked at the mage and checked her tone. "You should've came to me directly." the mage arched a brow and held his hands wide. Showing that's why he was there now. She shook her head again. "Shit. And you." She jutted a chin to the one in black. "You an Executior. For them?" She tilted her head to the mage. The one in black nodded. Uthreida rolled her eyes. "Well, at least I got that right."

Cullen looked between the two men as she spun, wiping a hand over her face. He held her wrist to look at him. "What is going on?"

She looked at the mage then at him. "The Thalmor. They've infiltrated Thedas."

Cullen looked around to see if anyone else understood what was going on. "What's a Thalmor and what's that got to do with Solas?"

"Solas is an agent of the Thalmor."

"Still begs the question, what's a Thalmor?"

"A political group of the Altimer. They want to destroy the world so they can be become gods again."

The mage said something that she pouted at. "I'm aware it's oversimplification. But as a Human Nord, that's all I really need to know." She sighed as she looked at Cullen. "They are trying to destroy the world, the gods, so they can part of the Atheris again. To be a lesser god. As an Et'ada." Cullen lowered his brows again at her words and she rolled her eyes at his misinformation. "My war crossed the ocean." She said more defiantly. "There are layers in this world you are not prepared for. Your vail blinded you to the real monsters. As you fought over enslaving mages, elves, true gods, they have waited. Forced back into the darkness. And if the Thalmor win, that" she waved a hand where the illusion was, "is only one of twenty three princes will become your new masters. Your demons are nothing compared to the Deadreamora of Molog Bolg or Boeotia." She looked at the mage. "Does this land have towers?" He gave a nod. "He knows what they are, doesn't he?" He nodded again. "How many are still active?" He said something and she sighed. "Two remain." She held a hand to her chin in thought. the mage spoke again but he noticed she wasn't listening to him. "I'll see to it." He said something that made her look at him with a pained look. She shook her head slowly and scoffed. "Like I ever had a choice." She said softly. She gave a heavy sigh, looking about the room then at the mage. Her eyes cut to Cullen with a torn expression but looked away. "I'll see to it." The mage gave a nod and snapped his fingers again. Royoc took a breath and looked at the room. A snarling twitch of his nose as he did. The mage gave a bow to her and turned. "Quaranir." The mage turned slowly to look at her. "Out of curiosity, could the eye destroy the vail?"

Cullen dropped his jaw as several of the others made their own arguments. Against the question. The mage cocked his head slightly. The one in black said something to that made the mage smile in understanding. The mage looked at Uthreida again and said a few words. Uthreida threw her hands up quickly in frustration. "It would solve a lot of problems." The mage cocked a brow. Uthreida huffed and walked to Blackwall, holding her hands to emphasis the griffon on his armor. The mage looked at the one in black who seemed to be explaining something. "Aye. No vail, no corruption. The light of Magnus can start to heal-" The mage shook his head. Saying something in a softer tone. "Uh" The mage made another teaching comment as she deflated. "Good point."

The mage nodded and took another step. "One last," she said quickly. The mage turned to see her with a patient expression. "The Hero of Kavatch and the Neverene." She said softly as he approached. "were never seen again. Am I exiled?" she clenched her jaw as she looked at the mage. He gave a soft smirk at her. And slowly shook his head. He raised his hands to remove his hood to reveal a close shaved golden head and elven ears. Wide almond eyes. He said something softer, kinder as he looked at her. He gave a bow, replacing his hood and turned. He stopped when he looked at Liliana. He gave a bow. A smile pulled on his lips. And a soft greeting.

Uthreida looked at Liliana with a happily expression. Liliana looked to her for guidance. Uthreida gave her a thumbs up of good news. In a second, the mage and the guard were gone.

Cullen looked at her as she leaned over the back of the chair, lost in thought. Everyone in the room erupted in a coughophony, demanded answers that she ignored. Cullen held her hand, looking at her with his own questions, "Are you alright?"

She looked away as others were barking their questions. Each turning on one another that their misunderstandings or questions were more important.

"Slayer." Royoc demanded as he approached. "You had better start explaining."

Uthreida didn't even see him as she looked at Cullen again. She took a shaking breath chewing her lip. "I have to go." She said softer. "Solas knows what I am. He needs to feel safe. To draw him out. You," she bit her lips and Cullen knew what she was going to say from her pained eyes. "You have to stay."

Cullen shook his head. "No." He said quieter than the noise. "I'm not leaving you."

"He needs to see that I'm gone. He needs to know it's safe. He needs the safety of familiarity. So he'll move without opposition." She stepped away. Taking a breath. "I need three to five years. To build the army you need to bring him down. To bring them all down. I need time. Time that I need you to distract him."

"Solas." Dorian said with a chuckle. "The, can't be bothered by anything outside of the fade, boring, fashion derived from the gutter refuse, Not my people, Solas?" He laughed. "You must be joking."

She shook her head slowly. "You don't know the enemy like we do." She looked at Cullen with a swallow. "I will move, but on your word alone. I will only believe you need my army when you find me again." She looked away, her hand falling into his. "If I'm not in Skyrim, look for me at the Ruby Palace in Cyrodiil." She gave an angered look to the ceiling. "I'll light the fucking dragon fires." She looked at Cullen again with a curling brow. "Give me three to five years. And you will have an army worthy of your command. My people hate them, and my king will be eager for a new war."

Cullen lowered his brows. "And if Solas never shows? I'm inclined to agree with Dorian. Solas?" His tone holding an edge of skepticism.

"Aye. If he doesn't show, the war will be of our gods. And I will know you from across the field." She clenched her jaw. Looking away from him. Cullen felt his heart breaking. After everything, she's leaving him behind. "I have to go." She looked at him with tears threatening. She took his hands into her. Clenching them tightly and licking her lips slowly. "I hope we meet again."

"You aren't going anywhere." Royoc growled as he shoved her back.

Cullen realized the ethereal armor wore off some time ago and he shoved Royoc back. "Don't you dare touch her." He held his weapon to defend her.

"Get out of my way." She demanded, her chin tucked for war. "You've fulfilled your purpose. And you have hindered mine long enough."

"I demand answers."

"You are not in a position to demand anything.

"I am-"

"Gol Hah Dov." She shouted. Royoc took a step back. His body growing relaxed as he stood. His emotionless eyes staring into a void at the wall. Uthreida walked past Cullen as the room held their weapons ready to engage. She stepped before the Inquisitor and smiled. "Form this day, to your last day, you will do everything you can to protect people, work for the betterment of the people, and will think of yourself last. You will not rest until every fade rift in Thedas is sealed." She commanded. Her voice having a jagged ring that remedied him of her dragon. Royocs eyes glazed as he stood there, not fighting her, not moving. The inner circle looking at one another, a mix of fear and smiles in their eyes. She drew her axe. The room took an inhale as she spoke fire into the black blade and heated it until it was red. "Hands on the table."

"Utha." Cullen warned as Royoc moved at her command. Both of his hands splayed across the wood of his stiting table.

Her axe head slammed down and severed his left hand. The room went wide eyed as they watched her butchery. The smell and sound of sizzling human flesh against the carotid flesh was gag inducing. "You ever harm Lady Josephine in anger again, you will sever your own hand." She placed the hit axe against his arm and intensified the sound of the cooked flesh. She pulled her ax back. With her open hand, she snapped.

Royoc looked at the table and started to scream.

Eyes turned to Josephine. Her jaw dropped slightly but she adverted her eyes. Cullen took three steps to be at her side. Josephine pushed him away but he held her left sleeve. He ripped the fabric of her arm and saw deep bruises on her arm and wrist. She pulled her arm away to hide the bruising. Cullen turned his fury to the Inquisitor. Who was crying at his missing hand. And no one moved.

Royoc started to hyperventilate from his seat. Royocs own anger at Cullen exploded onto her. "What did you do?" he shouted into her face. Holding the nub of his arm to his chest. His eyes drifting to the half hand that was still on the table. She left him a thumb on his left hand, and that was all. Ensuring his 'blessed' hand remained to finish his work.

She smiled, twisting the once peace of Cullens life into a macabre of vile will. "Compelled you to be an honorable man. " Uthreida grabbed him by the hair to force him to look up at her. His screaming softened as he tried to shove her off weakly. "And you cannot break your compulsion."

He finally swallowed his fright and snarled at her. "Honor is nothing more than a chain around your throat. And you carry yours like a slave in collar."

Cullen looked at her as she laughed at him with a vindictive malice. How long has she been able to do that? Control people. Force their fate? "And the only thing keeping you from Oblivion." she pushed him forward so his he was face to face with his own severed hand. "For a man of such untouchable power, not a single one of your friends moved to save you." Cullen watched her smile as Royoc started to hyperventilate. "So much for your legion."

He took a deep breath and push himself off the table. He took deep breaths to yell at her bit Blackwalls movement behind him made him turn.

Blackwall reared back and punched the Inquisitor square in the jaw. Royoc spun and fell to the ground. "Maker that felt great."

There were a few cheers and claps from the inner circle and Cullen arched a confused brow. Bull raised his arms in victory, Varric laughed, and Cassandra smiled. Blackwall looked at the Slayer and smiled. The Wardens smile died quickly as he looked at what he just did. "Take your gold and go. Run."

"I'll order the men to stand down." Liliana stated quickly. "But you need to go. Get away from here. Cassandra, escort her out. Get her the fastest horse we have." Liliana approached her quickly. "Run."

Josephine moved from behind him and ran to Uthreidas side. "Is he-" her eyes shifted to the unconscious Royoc , a hand to her heart as she looked at the slayer.

Uthreida's brows we're drawn to her ripped sleeve and bruises. "He'll never hurt you again. And if does, he'll no longer have hands." Josephine swallowed and threw her arms around Uthreidas neck. She said something in Antivan and Uthreida smiled. "You're safe now."

Josephine took a step back. "He's kept us check for so long, we tried to stop him but,-"

She lowered a brow. "Why did you let him?"

"We named him." Liliana stated quickly. "We raised him. He became our responsibility. We did what we could to curb, but" she sighed. "We didn't see his corruption until it was too late."

"And you chose face over honor." Uthreida asked with a lower brow.

Liliana arched a brow at her. "The high road may be picturesque, but you'll find the real battles are in the valley. And not all of us have the capability to fly over it."

Uthreida looked to the room. "All of you are safe. Forgive me, for taking so long. I stayed out of contract. But I will return to keep you safe. There is a larger threat. One your lands don't understand. My war has come to your shores, and for that, I am sorry. But Royoc will never use you again. You have urged me to run. I must urge the same. Whatever he has on each of you, he cannot use again."

"This is all well and good," Liliana stated quickly, waiving a hand for Cassandra, "but you need to run before he awakens. I'll stop the spread of rumors of blood magic, but you can't stay."

Uthreida gave a nod. She met Cassandras eyes, slinging her pack over her back. Cullen picked up the gold and walked with her.

"Commander." Liliana called. Cullen looked over his shoulder at the spy master. Cullen scoffed.

"She's right." Uthreida said as she descended the stairs. "You can't follow here. You need to stay. Keep the gold, keep an eye, but stay."

Cullen shook his head. He looked at the group before them then looked at Liliana. "Why would I stay? The Inquisition has been nothing but us biting at each other, hiding lies, secrets, and scandals to prevent a corrupt piece of dog shit from ruining everything."

"Because" Josephine stepped forward, "he can't control you. Hasn't been able to control you." Cullen snorted. "Look at us." She held her hands wide to the room as the Inquisitor was still unconscious and no one moved to check on him. "He sabotaged Vivienne's work and blamed it on someone else to keep her loyal only to him. He refused to work with the merchant in Val Royox to help Dorian, murdering him, to keep Dorian here, and away from Tevinter."

"What?" Dorian stated quickly. "That was the goal?"

"Pitting you against your father, so you wouldn't leave and have nowhere else to go. Sacrificing Hawke so Varric had no one but the Inquisition."

"That fucking little-"

"Killing the Chargers so you had only him to go to." Bull snarled. "Holding you in literal chains, Sir Blackwall. Refusing to give the information to Cassandra to locate the Seekers that will eventually come for him. Keeping the Templars on lyrium, hoping he would have favor with the new divine." She waved a hand to Vivienne who scoffed dramatically. "placating the red Jenny to use them for his advantages later when anyone would speak out against him. But not you. Cullen, if Lady Uthreida stays, he'll keep using her against you. That's why she can't stay. And why you need to."

"To be fair, darling" Vivienne spoke up, "I'm the Empresses internal spy. I personally expected all of this."

"Wardens of Ferelden" Blackwall raised a hand. "I'm not even a real Warden, yet. I'm just a spy for now."

"Qunari" Bull raised his hands excitedly and smiled. And looked at the group awkwardly. "Are we not stating the obvious affiliation's for groups we're spying for? My bad."

Varric sighed. "I may have used insider trading to build investments on ore the Inquisition was hording to drive up the price. And the merchants' guild might be aware of what I'm doing." He shrugged so nonchalantly Cullen questioned who else was using them.

All of the eyes turned to Dorian waiting on him to spill something. He met each of them with fury. "Oh come on. Like I didn't know you wouldn't look at me first. Ashata kaffas. Am I the only ethical person here?"

"We need you" Liliana said slowly, "become he can't control you. And because now that he knows what she is, you can control him." She gave a heavy sigh. "I have to leave for the coornination, and Josie can't do this on her own. And who ever he hires to replace you will bend to his will within moments. Please."

Cullen sneered at the women. "Why? My men already think I'm a thrall of blood magic."

"And by the divine's decree, you will be found, not as a thrall, but as nothing more common than a man in love. But if you run, I will be forced to say otherwise." Cullen looked away from her. It cannot be that simple. "The soldiers will only follow you. The Templars will only follow you. If you leave, whoever replaces you will not hold the same authority. They will be controlled like we were. The man is a narcissist and will control anyone and anything he can."

Cullen clenched his jaw. His future was walking away from him. "Why should I stay?" He needed one reason and it better be a good one.

Liliana took a deep breath, stepping over Royoc's body to approach him. "Because what the Inquisition does now will define what the organization is. With Corypheus gone, with the war ceased, we can actually start to work to help the people, to rebuild the Chantry into something good. To make an actual difference in the world. We can bring hope without the threat of war. And if what she said is right, between his new compulsion and" she chuckled, "Solas, I guess. Whatever that threat is, we'll need her people who know how to defend. And she will only believe you. Believe your call to arms because you will know and see the threat for what it is. Between your soldier's reports and our spy network, you will know what it is we will need to face. Because you are the only one that has yet to lie to her."

"Just with." Their annoyed looks turned to Bull who smirked at his own pun. Earning a cackle from Sera.

"All of us came here out of hope. And he corrupted it before us. We have a second chance, to do good for the people. To bring peace and unification."

Cullen dropped the sack of gold, and turned on his heel. Damn, that's a good reason.

He stormed out of the room, the Soldiers not moving to him, but actually smiled as he passed. He heard them whispering as he searched for Uthreida. He walked back into the hall to see it back in full swing of people moving about and talking. Laughing. Some even saluting him as he passed. He lowered a brow at the actions but kept going. He needed to find her before-

He exited to the courtyard and looked to the battlements. No one was standing guard like they were. Lieutenants screamed for soldiers to get back to work and enter the rings for training. Cullen looked around with a confused expression. What happened here? Not thirty minutes ago, they were ready to kill him. Soldiers stood at attention and saluted as he passed. What in the Makers name did she do?

He stopped a boy in a wide hat who was passing by. "You, have you seen-"

"She's outside the gates, heading down the mountain. You can still catch her." The boy said in a ghoulish tone. Cullen released the young man and kept walking. He stopped. A sense of rememberance filling him but forgetting the name. He turned and the boy was gone.

He shook his head and kept walking. He looked over the bridge and didn't see any movements. He found himself jogging to the stables, passing the merchant stall that were staffed. A few waiving to him as he moved. He opened Cadences stall and mounted, riding bare backed on the horse as he heeled her to run. Master Dennett rounding the corner to stop him but got out of his way quickly when Cullen didn't stop.

She was leaving and he had to catch her.

His heart was racing as the shoes clips of Cadences hooves met the stone of the bridge in a full gallop. He knew the way as well as Cadence did down the mountain. Making turns and paths easier than before. People jumping out of his way as he rode.

Maker, he didn't want to lose her again.

He came to the base of the mountain in record time. Cadence was breathing roughly and he wipped her neck in apology. Where did she go? She didn't have that much of a head start she-

He looked around him and found a Soldier. "You there." The soldier looked up and snapped to attention. "Slayer and Seeker Cassandra. Where are they?" He shouted. The Solder pointed down the road. Cullen heeled Cadence again to take off after them.

His heart was in his throat. As he crossed a crest of the hill. He looked around and found two horses on a hill. He drove Cadence to it. They were left tethered to a tree and grazing. That was her horse. Ragnar. "Utha." He called, vaulting off of Cadence and not even bothering to tie her. "Utha." He called again. Desperately trying to listen around him. He pushed out his aura to feel for her. He turned when he felt the fade bend around him. Mage.

He ran through the trees to find her.

His heart stopped when he came to a clearing. Cassandra was holding her in a hug. Cullen took a deep breath, finally able to breathe again. He sprinted to her.

Uthreida took a step from Cassandra with a hand out to stop him. He shoved her hand aside and held her. Holding her to him. Hearing her sniffles of crying into his furred shoulders. Feeling her hands clutch at the furs on his armor. "Don't" she panted, "don't make this harder Cullen. Please."

"Don't go. Maker please, don't go." He cried into her hair. "Stay with me. Don't-"

"I can't."

"I don't care. I-" he swallowed back the pain of everything. "I can't leave. But I can't live without-" he held her tighter. Forcing the pain in his heart to stop, her scent not enough to calm the war in his soul. He was losing her. "I can't." His knees grew weaker, pulling her to the ground with him. "Please."

"Cullen" she forced herself from him to look at him. Her eyes were red and puffy from her own tears. "If Solas tells the Thalmor I'm here, they will hunt me. Their numbers will grow in silence. He needs to know I'm gone. He needs to feel safe so he can make his mistakes. And the only way he'll know is if-" she looked away, shaking her head. "They care nothing for life. I-I won't watch your people suffer as we have. Trapped under their yoke."

"No." He said defiantly. "We'll find a way. Stay. Please, don't, don't leave."

"I-"

He kissed her. Desperation poured from his lips as he held her to him. A kiss she returned with her own self-hatred and loathing of what she had to do. Her duties and position in conjecture of what she actually wanted. "I love you." He whispered between kisses. "I will always-"

She pressed her forehead to his with a pained look. And he knew he lost. He knew she was more stubborn and selfless than he was. He closed his eyes, touching her cheek as he tried to ingrain every detail of her. That she would be his oasis as he fell into lyrium madness. "Sing for me." He begged, looking at her to memorize her face. "One last song that I will carry to my pyre."

She curled her brows in pain as she met his eyes. Her jaw clenched. She squeezed her eyes shut, letting her head fall to his shoulder. "Our hero, our hero claims a warrior's heart. I tell you I tell you the dragon born comes. With a voice wielding power of the ancient nord art, believe, believe the dragon born comes." She cried again into him. Her hands fisting at his furs. "Know that I do this out of love." She said softly. "It -it's not easy, it is not light." She met his eyes as her tears ran down her face. "I want nothing more than a life of peace" her chin quivered as she looked away. "But the doom driven drum guides, and I must dance to its beat." She pushed away from him on her knees. "Know I will return when you need me. Forgive me. And when they come, we will bring them down. I will have Solas on his knees, his back exposed, and show the world the Red Eagle of the Legionnaires." Cullen stayed on his knees, his tears threatening to fall as she took another step away. "I love you. But for your people, I can't." She shook her head. "Find me. And I will come."

Cullen pushed himself to his feet to catch her. She shouted her words of power and was encased in a blinding white light. Her form expanding and growing. the light faded and Cullen was face to face with a blue dragon with a red frill. The scars and tattoos so familiar. Uthreida lowered her head to him. "Drem yol lok, Cullen Rutherford. Cassandra." Cullen stepped towards her, swallowing back the fear of the form of the dragon. Holding one hand out to touch her again. She pushed her snout into his hand. Her large ice blue eyes closed at the contact. "I will find you again."

She opened her eyes and he saw a pain he didn't normally associate with dragons. She turned from him, shaking her wings before flapping twice. Cullen stepped towards her, and she took off.

He watched her fly. Circling the sky and roaring for all who would care to listen.

Cullen dropped to his knees. There goes his life. His future. Everything he wanted. He fell to his hands. Letting the tears fall into the dirt of the grove.

Cassandra touched his shoulder. He shoved her off but she pushed him back. She was saying something but was deafened by the sound of dragon wings. She's gone. His heart shattering as he out his hands in his hair. She's gone.

He didn't know how long he sat in that grove, crying into Cassandras shoulders, how long they watched the sky for her to return.

"She loves you." Cassandra said after their long silence. "She regrets it."

Cullen nodded. "Then why-"

"Because she loves the people more." Cassandra sighed, "she is dragon born. She doesn't belong to any one nation. She is of the world. And the world needs her. Needs you." She placed a hand to his shoulder in comfort. "You will be reunited again."

Cullen scoffed. "I doubt it. She's going home. Across an ocean and-"

"Have faith, Commander," Cassandra looked to the skies, "she does."

Xx

Uthreida smiled as she saw the Throat. Circling from above, she found a landing spot. She shivered, glad to be back on the ice. Paarthurnax looked at her with a tilted head. "Drem yol lok." He said from his perch.

Uthreida was never happier to see him. Thankful Skyrim nor Hammerfell knew what to do with a dragon passing over head. "Drem yol lok, Paarthurnax." He pulled his head back slightly and moved to approach her. "I have seen Altimeris. It still exists. Can you believe it? It's still there. Full of…weird people. And questions. So many questions. But it is safe. For now. How-what are you doing?"

Paarthurnax was bobbing his head up and down as he slowly circled her. "It has been so long since a Jill has come to Sttrunmah."

Uthreida arched a brow and watched him flair his wings at her. "Paarthurnax, it's me. Uthreida. Dovikiin."

He stopped mid dance. Looking her over. He pulled back. "You look like a Jill."

"I know." She said excited. "Altimeris has the females. They look like this?" She spun in a circle to show him. "Why do they look like this?"

Paarthurnax chuckled as he looked her over. "Carful, Dovahkiin, too long in a dragon form will grant you the mind and desire to match."

Uthreida took a deep breath and remembered her human form. With a clearer mind, she severed the spell of her dragon from. She stood before Paarthurnax as a human, looking up at him. He looked down at her and nodded. "You have done well, Dovahkiin. I am proud. But your presence does impose a remorse. Odahviing left, claiming to have heard your Thu'um and went to search. Did he find you?"

Uthreida dropped her eyes. Nodding slowly. "He did."

He was still as he looked her over. In the silence he moved back to his perch. He called fire below him with his thu'um. "Come. Tell me your story of victory."

An:The whole thing Uthreida shouts at Cory is below:

Priest! I am dragon born Uth-thread-da. You have betrayed your kind and your place. I have traveled to your palace to request talks, priest. I request a talks, from one dragon to another. Call your voice, and I will call mine. If you can.