Belathen had taken to the treetops. Her shining Inquisition armor lay in a pile by the campsite alongside her shoes, left behind along with her pack and everything else besides her bow and the Dalish leather she had lived in for so many years. Yes her daggers were a part of her, but the bow had a familiarity and grace she had all but forgotten. The curve spoke to her, begging for her fingers to strum it as if it were an instrument. This was an old skill, and one she took pleasure in.

Wolves. She saw them near the graceful deer around the few open areas, and fired shots to warn them away, but did not hurt them. She left those deer alone as well. Easy shots, requiring little finesse: a beginner's prey. She focused downwards. There, just in the grass of the meadow, was a full grown rabbit. From the exceptional size this was almost certainly a male, and his dark color proclaimed he was nobody's wayward pet. Belathen took aim and loosed the arrow expertly, a precision to her work that she had not experienced before becoming Inquisitor.

It seemed the title and resulting job were good for something.

Bel had downed three of the rabbits without disturbing the deer when her ears picked up someone approaching. The sound actually have her relief, for as heavy as the steps were. The deer looked up at the sound, though did not run. Satisfied, Belathen slid from her perch and to the ground directly next to Cullen.

"Feeling better?"

Cullen blushed slightly at her question but nodded. "I do apologize if I worried you."

"Ma'enasalin!" The rebuke in her voice was louder, obvious. "Do not apologize for what you can't control."

"I thought I was stronger," he explained. "I actually imagined it somehow would fail to affect me."

Belathen shook her head. "Cullen. Do you know why I call you enasalin?"

The commander shook his head, admitting, "To be honest it's not a term I understand. So many blend together when I try to comprehend elvhen..."

"The simplest meaning is victory. A triumph." She smiled at him sweetly, seeing that little widening of his eyes. "When you learned cul'len meant kitten I know you were anxious I find a more apt nickname. It took a while to find one that really suited how I see you. You, Cullen, are my certain victory. I know your strength better than anyone. You won't be taken out by lyrium. Of any color. Come on."

Cullen followed her to the clearing. "Bel... I don't know what to say."

"Maybe an admission that being around that much red lyrium was a bad idea?" Her suggestion hung in the air, accusing. "I could have taken care of this Cullen!"

"I don't know how to explain, but I needed to be here."

"Wanted."

Cullen looked around the field, seeing the standing deer. "You... missed?"

Belathen chuckled as she bent down to earth be of the spots, picking up her arrow with the mercifully dead rabbit on the end. "Assuredly," she mocked, snapping the wood shaft and tying the legs to toss the creature destined for dinner over her shoulder. "I've heard a lot of people prefer nug, but this far north we only get these furry rabbits."

Cullen took quickly to helping gather the last of Bel's hunting, a companionable silence taking over. They grabbed hands as they returned to the campsite together, neither really wanting to think about what came next.

Because there was no getting around it. It was time to head to the Arbor Wilds, following Morrigan's suggestion; this would be the moment to make or break the Inquisition. And both of them feared the potential results.

Those fears simply could not last inside the circle at camp. Cassandra was calmly astride Bull's back, reaching up to help sharpen the edge of his horns while giving them a seductively loving polish as she went. And Dorian looked up as soon as they entered, relief and recrimination as he glowered.

"Amati. I'm glad you chose to come back."

"I was finding dinner?" It was a question, and Bel's voice was definitely wavering under his glare. She wasn't going to explain however. He had to know that she had been alone, feeling helpless while Dorian was able to help with the worst of the afternoon. After leaving the Shrine of Dumat, when everything was clearer, Cullen had finally given in to the headache that ha been building. Only it wasn't just a headache; proximity to that magnitude of red lyrium had taken a toll and sent him briefly back to some of the worse withdrawal symptoms. Dorian knew just enough healing to aide; Cassandra and Bull had... made themselves scarce once camp was set. With no way to be of use, Bel had decided to momentarily stop being the Inquisitor and go back to being a simple hunter. Just for a few hours.

Apparently she had managed to frighten Dorian. Cullen knew her well enough that once he was feeling less likely to fall over and die, he'd immediately figured out what the stack of belongings in the middle of camp indicated. Had he not explained?

No. Seeing the sheepish expression on her commander Belathen realized he had simply run after her instead.

"You two," Dorian accused, "are trying to kill me. There's no other explanation."

Cullen looked horrified by the implication.

Bel just rolled her eyes. "Dorian, da'vhenan, if that were the case you would be very aware."

It was a week later, the night before they were leaving for the Arbor Wilds, when Dorian conceded that matter. It was in the Inquisitor's quarters, next to her in bed, and he had to laugh as the phrase came back to him. This had been very different than with Cullen, with a different expectation of what came afterwards, and somehow it only added to the strength of that first shared experience.

"Bel?"

"Yes, Dorian?"

"You were right. When you're actually trying to kill me, I know."

The elf laughed along with him and threw a pillow in his face before rolling to her side and curling into her companion. "Consider that a warning then."

"I love you anyway."

"Hmm. Ar lath ma, da'vhenan."

"Ma emma lath, emm'asha."

Hearing the words actually got her to pause and sigh happily. "You... you learned... for me?"

"I wouldn't have any other reason for picking up a mostly dead language."

"Even Cullen has trouble," Bel admitted. "But... not you. Thank you, vhenan."

When the morning and there would be preparations and exits, but not now. Now there was just a quiet moment of calm before a very disconcerting storm.