Cullen

He couldn't stop thinking about Ashe. Not for a single second during his waking time, nor in his dreams when he slept. A myriad of thoughts ran through his head constantly. Why had he waited so long before showing interest in her? At first, he'd not actually even been interested in her. That strange girl with the mark on her hand. He hadn't understood anything about her at first. So young, but strong, confident. Maybe not always in combat, she'd been untested and inexperienced in the beginning, but to his great surprise, she learned and kept up with the Inquisition's strongest warriors exceptionally fast. That was when she really sparked his interest for the first time. And boy, did she know how to talk to people, especially men. Like she was a worldly woman well-versed in different cultures and behaviors instead of a teenage Marcher-girl.

She had started to intrigue him and from there on, he was done for. He watched her. She fascinated him. The more he saw, the more he wanted. Maker, how he wanted her now.

He'd always assumed there would be plenty of time for him to seduce her, she was so young after all. He should have known better, and he cursed himself for it now. She was such a wild soul, and her appeal was not invisible to other men, quite the contrary. But she'd never shown interest in any of them, nothing serious anyway.

Until Alistair showed up.

Cullen gritted his teeth and slashed his sword into the man in front of him, frustration driving him to be more violent than perhaps was necessary. He was still in Emprise du Lion on Inquisition business, and when he'd heard that there was a group of bandits terrorizing the village of Sahrnia, he'd jumped at the chance to get in on the action, even though his men were more than capable to handle it on their own. It felt good to ventilate his anger on these low-lives. Fucking girls who looked like Ashe sure as fade hadn't helped, that had been a stupid idea. If anything, he felt even more frustrated after each time. He felt disgusted with them afterwards, because they didn't sound like her, or do things that she would have done, and they said things that she would never say. Not their fault, but still – a pointless way for him to pass the time.

And time went by too fast. Only a week left now until Alistair's birthday celebrations in the capital. With Ashe as his guest of honor. He spat on the ground in front of him as he cleaned his blade from blood while his men hauled away the bodies of the bandits around him.

She had promised him that she would come back to him after she'd been to Denerim, and fulfill all her promises to be with him. But there was no way of knowing if she still wanted that after Alistair had her to himself in his own domain. There was no doubt in Cullen's mind that the King would do everything in his power to steal Ashe from him, for whatever reasons he saw fit.

There was no way he could let that happen, no way he was just going to sit back and have no clue about what was going on in Denerim. Cullen was a man of action and not someone who left his hopes and dreams to fate. Fate couldn't ever be trusted.

Andraste, he really hated Alistair. He was an opportunist bastard, literally. He hadn't deserved anything he'd gotten and he sure as fuck did not deserve Ashe.

An idea began to form in Cullen's mind and he even smiled as he stepped over the last corpse to make his way back to camp. His business here was concluded anyway, and if this plan was going to work, he had to leave as soon as possible.

Alistair

The day was finally here. He'd thought about it non-stop since he left Skyhold. This was the day before his birthday, which he really couldn't care less about if it weren't for the fact that Inquisitor Ashe Trevelyan would be arriving today, in time for the three day long celebration that would begin tonight. His advisers were pleased that he'd managed to get the Inquisitor to attend and everything had been prepared in great detail. Lavish guest quarters for her to stay in, a grand, public fanfare welcome into the city with Alistair there to greet her. And of course, the parties that would take place each evening. Something he normally dreaded but now found exciting.

He'd told no one, not even Eamon, of his more personal interest in Ashe. But he was sure the old man would fall over in excitement if he knew that Alistair wanted her as his queen.

He stood now at the gates to the palace, his honor guard surrounding him and a sea of cheery people gathered outside to watch the spectacle of the Inquisitor herself arriving in the Fereldan capital for the first time. He actually felt a little nervous, something he'd barely ever felt in the last ten years. The Blight and becoming king had hardened him. He was not the young, babbling boy he once was. But he was betting a lot on this, on Ashe. It was important to him that this was perfect, that she enjoyed her visit and his company. He'd never felt nervous about something like this before, Maker, he'd never even been bothered with or cared about anyone since he became king. Not the countless girls he'd taken to bed, or the conniving bitches who made up Ferelden's noble women. There had been someone he'd cared about before, perhaps, but that was a long time ago and he didn't ever want to think about that.

He couldn't stop a wide smile from spreading across his face when he saw the Inquisition banners flutter in the wind in the distance. A company of people on horseback drew nearer and he could finally see her.

Maker's breath.

She looked spectacular. Her hair, the deep color of blood, surrounded her, loose curls twirling down around her head. She was dressed in all black, tightly fitted leather traveling gear, boots laced up all the way to her thighs. Alistair could practically feel his mouth water at the sight, and not just from her sexy appearance. She oozed confidence and poise, not like an ordinary noble who thought she was better than everyone else. No, Ashe simply was amazing, so there was nothing fake about it.

She halted her horse in front of him and got off effortlessly. She dusted her hands against her legs and removed her gloves, smiling at him as she met his eyes. He didn't waste any time and stepped in front of her immediately.

"Welcome to Denerim, My Lady Inquisitor. I hope the journey went well?"

Ashe let out a delightful little laugh and damn him if it didn't make him want to just grab her hand and run away with her to some place where hundreds of people weren't watching them. Oh, what he would do to this woman later, alone with her...

"Your Majesty." She inclined her head. She was probably the only woman in the country who didn't have to bow to him. "Of course things went well. If there's one thing I'm used to, and quite good at by now if I do say so myself, it's long and tedious rides on the back of a horse." She winked at him and he chuckled while taking her hand and kissing it, inhaling her sweet scent as he did so. Not even days on the road could take away the smell of honey she always had around her.

So delicious.

He saw someone else dismount behind her. A tall man with messy black hair and a black beard and a red streak across the bridge of his nose.

New bodyguard?

Ashe turned to see what he was looking at and smiled when her eyes met the other man. Alistair didn't like that smile one bit but he said nothing.

"Alistair, I hope you don't mind that I've brought a friend. He came to visit me in Skyhold and I thought it would be beneficial for you to have him here as a guest as well. Powerful friends will make people think twice before messing with you." She smiled again, so warm and irresistible that he felt some of that suspicion and jealousy fade quickly. The black haired man approached them and bowed in front of Alistair.

"Your Majesty, let me introduce you to the Champion of Kirkwall, Greyer Hawke."

Alistair heard Eamon almost gasp beside him and the old man looked like a kid on Satinalia. Alistair shook Hawke's hand. "Wow, Miss Trevelyan wasn't kidding when she mentioned powerful friends. Ser Hawke, you're most welcome here in Denerim. We'll see to it that you'll be installed in the palace and we'll put you on the guest list for the celebrations, of course..."

"Thank you for your hospitality, Your Majesty, but I actually have other business I need to attend to while I'm here. I'm a simple man, I'll stay at an inn if it's all the same to you. It's going to save me some time. But I would be honored to attend the festivities, of course."

Alistair felt relieved that this man wouldn't be following Ashe around everywhere. He couldn't even say why, but he felt immediately threatened by the man. He didn't like the way Ashe looked at him. Plus, this meant he would have her to himself during the days, just like he'd planned.

The exchanged a few more pleasantries before Hawke went off into the city and Ashe was shown to her quarters so she could freshen up and unpack.

Later that evening, Alistair sat in his throne in the grand hall of the palace. He was clad in the royal blue colors he preferred, a blue vest around a black shirt and deep blue trousers and black boots. His golden crown adorned his head as usual at these events. People mingled and musicians were playing merry music in the middle of the hall. Tables as long as half the room were lined up against the walls, filled with all sorts of food, and servants were milling about with trays of sparkling wine. It was... boring. Until Ashe showed up, of course.

She looked stunning, as always, in a green, flowing dress that hugged her curves almost painfully tight for Alistair's eyes. He asked her to dance and she said yes, and they twirled around, laughing and making small talk while his hand slipped almost scandalously low on her back. Hawke was there as well, but Alistair didn't worry too much about him. He was entertaining a whole group of women who'd gathered around the Champion and he was telling some story to them and smiling and laughing, charming every last lady who stood there swooning, listening intently to every word he said. And Ashe didn't seem to care of even notice. All her attention was on him. This night was exactly what he'd hoped for.

Until the announcer shouted out that there was another arrival and the whole room fell quiet and stared at the two people entering the room. But no one stared harder than Alistair, who couldn't believe his eyes. He felt Ashe stiffen in his arms as she saw the new pair as well.

"Commander Cullen Rutherford of the Inquisition, leader of Her Worship Ashe Trevelyan's army. And Lady Mahariel, Hero of Ferelden!"