Cullen sat at his desk as he read his reports when his door slammed open with Leliana storming in. She began pacing his room and ordered her agents to keep everyone away for the time being. He raised a brow at the redheaded woman who was biting her thumb as she paced. Something had either gone wrong or well, very wrong. Like Corypheus was getting ready to send an air raid of dung on the castle. He shook his head at the thought before clearing his throat and gave the spymaster an inquisitive stare.

"She's coming here." She barely whispered as she paused in her pacing only to resume it.

"The dutchess? Yes I have the reports all lined up, she should be here within a few days." He said slightly confused. Leliana was always collected, why would the dutchess cause her to act...unless. He stood abruptly. "No, you don't mean…"

Leliana stopped completely and took a calming breath with her eyes closed before smiling brightly. "I do. Grey Warden Commander Surana is on her way as we speak."

"Isalora." He whispered, the name brought a tingling to his lips. The last time he had seen her was at the Circle of Magi in Ferelden. The memory made him cringe as he thought of the torture before shutting the memory off. Though he did have a few fond memories of Isa it was hard for him to dwell on them before they became blighted with the blood mage uprising. He wondered what her views were on everything that had happened these past few years. He could remember when he had first met her, her almost white hair braided loosley ready to fall apart with the softest of touches but always defied the matter. The soft lines of her vallasin that caressed her still tan cheeks. He had heard of the stories from the other templars. She had been captured when she had ventured into the city away from her Dalish camp. When she arrived she had to be put into solitary as she had severely damaged several templars prior to being restrained and then again while being restrained. Something about seducing the men and then biting ears and noses and stomping on unmentionables. To say she had been called as savage as a blistering winter was an understatement. He had to chuckle at the thought. She had been there for maybe five years by the time he had arrived and she still held this wildness to her. Isalora's movements were almost predatory but also graceful. She reminded him of a caged tiger the way she moved and acted, always looking for a way to escape.

One day on his watch duty in the library, there Isa sat soaking in the rays of the sun in the window seat. The softest smile gracing her full lips as her head leaned against the warm glass, the tip of her ears barely peeking through her thick braid. His heart had warmed at the sight and he could almost imagine seeing that all the time but more in a home setting than the tower. Her steely grey eye opened and caught his breath as she caught him staring. His face had turned bright red as he had stammered out an apology looking away. The next thing he knew he could feel the heat from her body radiating into his as she peered up to him with a curious stare. Before he knew what was happening he felt the whisper of the softest lips on his and then she was gone. He had to blink and make sure it had happened. The only thing that reassured him that it wasn't a dream was her perfume lingered in the air, roses and vanilla.

"When should we be expecting her arrival?" Cullen asked trying to keep his mask in place. He would not be one to be placed in the schemes of the notorious matchmakers, Leliana and Josephine, hands.

"A day after Emery should be arriving back with the Dutchess. So plenty of time to uh, prepare everyone for the Commander…" Leliana laughed. Prepare indeed, Cullen thought shaking his head.

Isa sighed softly as she looked up the trail ahead of herself. The great castle of Skyhold loomed over her and she could feel the radiating magic cascading over the keep. The reports she had been receiving had her a little concerned. The hole in the sky of course was a big concern but the grey wardens all hearing the call, it was alarming to say the least. Even Alistar had mentioned he could hear it faintly but it was there. She pulled her bear furred cloak closer around her before pulling on the reigns of her horse to finish the trek. As she entered the keep there were shouts from the soldiers wanting to know who their unknown guest was as she was stopped. "I am here by the request of Leliana." Was all she supplied before pressing in further and taking in the scenery of the castle.

"Beautiful isn't it Da'len." A deep voice sounded to her right. Isa bristled as she looked at bald elf that had spoken to her. He reminded her of a freshly washed egg as his head shone in the sunlight.

"That it is but it's hard to see it all with all that reflection coming off of-" Isa began.

"There you are! I told you to play nice when you arrive." Leliana interrupted her only to receive a cheeky smile from the commander. Isa just gave her a shrug before dismounting from her horse in one smooth motion and pulled down her hood.

"I told you I couldn't promise anything, Leli. You must be Solas." She said turning her piercing gaze to the man who shivered at her stare. It was as if she could see right into his being and detect just who he was.

"I am and you are?" He questioned with a raised brow. Something about the man screamed danger and put her on edge. He felt like a starving wolf ready to devour anything that was alive.

"Isalora Surana, Commander of the Ferelden Grey Wardens." She answered pushing a strand of loose hair back. She shifted uncomfortably, her silver chainmail clinking in the silence as she waited for an answer.

"The Hero of Ferelden? My what an honor to meet you, I have so many questions. I watched your battle at Ostagar and I must say you were amazing in that battle."

"Excuse me?" She bristled.

"Ah allow me to explain, I watched in the fade, the imprint the battle had left there." He answered trying to soothe the woman who had magic crackling around her. She relaxed if only a little before Leliana took her hand to distract her from her killing instinct.

"If I might interrupt we do have many things to discuss, there will be time to sate curiosity later." Leliana interrupted before tugging the smaller woman with her before the whole keep could swarm them with the intention of meeting the great hero. Once inside the main building and into the hall to the war room, Isa sighed softly and rolled her shoulders.

"I...forgive me but it has been quite sometime since I have had the chance to be around allies once again." She smiled sadly looking to the floor as she tried to find the right words. "It's good to see you again though Leliana, though you look like you should be eating some more. What do they do half rations here? I mean hell you ate just as much as Alistar and I ate at the camp sometimes!" She laughed before her smile fell. "If everything we have been hearing about is true…"

"Don't finish that sentence Isalora. You know this is not going to be the end. You defeated an Archdemon! What's a crazy darkspawn magister got on that?" Leliana asked with a raised eyebrow.

"That's what scares me." Isa gave a dry chuckle before shaking her head. "Alright let's go meet the rest of the crew that you want me to meet." She said before slapping a fake smile before opening the doors to the war room. There she was met with Morrigan, Stroud, a woman who held a wooden tablet who must be Josephine, a young man with short black hair and green eyes, and a woman leaning against the wall with a bored look on her face. Then her eyes met the warm caramel brown eyes that still haunted her dreams. Her face lit up in a bright blush as all she could manage to squeak out was.

"Ah, Cullen."

Author's Note:

It has been a really long time since I got back into the sway of writing so flames are just fine but maybe go gentle on me? lol

Welp I hope you like it so far! I'm working on the next chapter now and as we go further in I promise there will be desk lemons ;)

Might be a while before get there though but I promise it will happen cause I mean its Cullen *drools*

Alrighites lovelies let me know what ya think and I shall see you soon! Oh and I don't own any of the characters except Isa and Emery ^-^