Sylvanni Lavellan paused outside of Cullen's slightly opened door, listening to the sound of his voice inside with a smile. Something about the way he talked just seemed to relax her, especially after a long day of training. She didn't pay attention to what was being said, but decided not to linger too long, lest she seem to be eavesdropping.

With a small knock of warning, she pushed the door open all the way and stepped inside. "Commander?"

Cullen looked up, eyebrows raising just a touch when he saw who it was. "Inquisitor." He turned back to the captain he'd been speaking with. "I think that was everything. I'd like those reports by tomorrow morning."

"Yes, Commander."

"You are dismissed, Captain."

The woman saluted, then turned to leave, sheepishly averting her eyes from Sylvanni after an embarrassed moment of eye contact. Sylvanni plastered a kind smile on her face, hoping she wasn't blushing. She knew rumors had started circling the keep about her relationship with the Commander, but that didn't make the sidelong glances from seemingly everyone any less awkward to endure.

As the door shut behind the soldier, Cullen's expression softened. "It's good to see you."

She absently pulled her hair from behind her ears, letting it fall forward to cover them. "I was wondering if you had some free time this afternoon?"

"For you? Always." He straightened a few reports on his desk. "Were you hoping we could take a stroll out on the battlements later?"

Sylvanni blushed, realizing how similar her request had sounded to her usual requests for alone time with him. "Actually, I was looking for something other than a kiss today. Not that that doesn't sound lovely, though."

He blinked, seeming embarrassed, though he tried to cover it with a nervous sounding cough. Though her intention hadn't been to fluster him, she had to admit there was something endearing about seeing him put off balance. "Oh, well. Of course. What did you have in mind?"

"It's somewhat of a strange request, actually," she said. "I was wondering if you might be willing to teach me how to use a sword."

His eyebrows drew together. "Teach you to use a sword? That's… not something many mages would request. Have you decided to stop using a staff for some reason?"

"Not… exactly." She walked forward, sitting down on the edge of his desk. "Do you remember the operation to recruit experts to train me?"

He nodded, though his expression said he wasn't following.

"I've decided to take Commander Helaine as my tutor. You are looking at the newest member of the order of Knight-Enchanters."

She pulled out the newly forged hilt of her blade to show him, though she didn't summon the power to form the sword itself. Learning the basics of how to use the weapon had been her task of the last few days, and Helaine had finally decided she was competent enough to use it on her own, though it would take practice to master, of course.

Cullen stepped forward to get a closer look. "A Knight-Enchanter? That's an impressive choice."

His tone was nothing but supportive, yet she felt a twinge of self-consciousness. Did he think it was foolish? A girl like her trying to fight on the front lines? The Keeper had called hers a "mage's figure"; petite and slender, even for an elf. A part of her still wondered if she wouldn't be better off staying back and casting from afar.

Cullen's line of thinking seemed to be mirroring her own. "Are you sure you want to fight on the front lines of battle?"

She had learned quickly to hide insecurities behind confidence when she'd stepped into the role of Inquisitor. "What?" she asked him, with a self-assured smile. "You think I can't handle myself in a close quarters fight?"

"No, of course not," he said, quickly trying to backtrack. "I was only trying to-"

She laid a hand on his arm, cutting him off. "Cullen, it's okay. I… understand why you'd ask. I've been thinking the same things since I decided to do this. Since before that, even, if I'm being honest. I didn't mean to sound contrary with you. I've just gotten used to acting defensive against critiques while playing Inquisitor that I don't always know when to stop."

"Play Inquisitor, Lavellan?"

She sighed. "Surely you of all people would realize how much of a mask that persona is. You're one of the few people with whom I feel comfortable letting it down."

He gave a small nod, sitting down beside her on the desk. The feathers of his cape brushed her ear. "I suppose it seems to come to you so naturally, even I forget."

"I'll take that as a compliment, I suppose."

"It was meant to be one. Inquis…" He paused, amending his address. "Sylvanni, you're a natural leader, and I believe you were exactly what the Inquisition needed. I have worked closely with people in positions of power for a good part of my life, and I don't know that I have ever seen someone placed under such pressure perform so admirably. Even aside from your situation, I have never served under a better leader."

She couldn't help but crack a smile at that. Sera's influence, no doubt. "You mean I'm not the only leader you've 'served under'?"

"Maker's breath," he swore, cheeks turning nearly as red as his cape. "That's not at all what I was trying to-"

She pulled his head sideways, and cut him off with a quick kiss. "I know, but I couldn't resist." She sat back and leaned against his arm. "I have thought about these things, however. I know I'm not exactly the picture of a front lines warrior, but there's just something that feels right about being as close to the action as possible. You can't understand your enemy, you can't feel the fight standing back and out of danger. I don't feel entirely comfortable letting others take blows for me when I might be able to help by fighting at their side.

"It's been that way with the Inquisition as a whole, as well. Even if I weren't the only one capable of closing the rifts, I don't think I'd be content to stay in Skyhold and direct our resources from the war table alone. We do a lot of good that way, but I need to be out there, doing things on my own, and fixing problems firsthand. Staying clear of the action has never been an appealing choice to me, Cullen.

"I didn't come here to talk the Inquisition, however." Absently, she started tossing her bladeless hilt with her off hand. "I know you're very busy with, well, being the Commander, and everything. If you don't have time, I'm sure Cassandra or Blackwall could help me with this. I simply thought I should ask you first, as you are my first choice."

"I appreciate hearing that I'm your top candidate," he said, the blush in his cheeks still slowly fading away from her teasing. "I have some free time tomorrow, if you'd like. Are you certain I'm the right person to be training you, however? I imagine using a Knight-Enchanter's blade is rather different from a regular sword. I'm not sure I will be of much help."

"Commander Helaine has assured me that they are entirely different, actually," she said. "My training in how to use the spirit blade is almost entirely her teaching, though Vivienne has given me a few tips in passing since she heard."

"If the two are so different…"

"Why would I ask to learn?" She lifted her shoulders in a small shrug. "It just felt right, I suppose. If I'm going to be up close with the enemy, I want to understand how their strategy and tactics work, even if I'm not using them myself. There's a part of me that thinks if I'm going to be using a sword, even a magical one, I ought to know the basics of using a real one as well. I don't expect I'll be trading my staff for a sword out in the field any time soon, but I'd be a somewhat embarrassing knight if I couldn't handle myself around a normal sword when I needed to."

He nodded a few times. "That makes sense. I have a few hours of open time after midday tomorrow if you'd like to meet then. I could requisition one of the spaces atop the towers to give us some privacy."

She smiled. "I appreciate that. Probably best if the men don't see their Inquisitor fumbling about with a sword for the first time."

"I agree." He stood, offering her a hand to help her to her feet. "I, however, am looking forward to seeing you out of your element. You seem to take to these things so naturally, I think I could use a reminder that you're still human."

Sylvanni raised an eyebrow at his choice of words, then not-so-subtly raised a hand to tap her ear.

Cullen winced. "Er, elven. Sorry. You knew what I meant."

She smiled at him, raising up on tiptoes to give him a small kiss on the cheek. "Yes, I did, Commander. I'll see you tomorrow. And, thank you for this. It means a lot to me."

He bowed his head as she started to walk away. "Any time, Inquisitor."