Delani was in the garden, secluded from everyone else as she tried to get through a thick pile of reports. She'd thought that doing something she hated in a place that she loved would negate one another and leave her feeling neutral about the task. She'd been wrong. Now she hated the paperwork, the garden, and life itself. This had not been what she'd signed up for when she agreed to be Inquisitor.

Griping and groaning through every page, she was almost through the pile when her saving grace decided to rescue her from the chore. Varric crossed the garden, approaching her with a reluctant smile on his lips. Something was going on with the dwarf. He had news, though it was hard to tell if it was good news or bad news from the expression on his face.

Once he was close enough to speak to her at a casual decibel, Varric greeted her with warmth in his brown eyes. "Hey, Scar," it was a nickname for her nickname. Delani didn't care, as long as he called her anything other than Inquisitor or Herald, she was happy with whatever name he gave her. His tone was teasing when he asked, "Having fun with your paperwork?"

She glared at him for mocking the loath with which she regarded the task. "Yes," she replied flatly, returning her attention to the parchment starting to crumple in her agitated fist. "I am having the most fun I have ever had in the entirety of my life."

"I can tell," Varric rebutted with a chuckle. Standing beside her table, he informed her, "I could hear you complaining from inside."

Delani set the papers down on the table with a touch too much force before plopping her cheek down on the parchment. Giving Varric a pleading look, she wondered, "Is there something that you needed?" It was more than a question, she was begging him to save her, to give her an excuse to forget her task and leave the paperwork behind.

The smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth was conceding. "You remember that contact of mine who had some insight or Corypheus?"

Without lifting her head from the table's surface, Delani nodded.

Nervously clenching and unclenching his fists at his sides, Varric informed her, "Well, they've arrived and are ready to talk whenever you are."

"Great!" Delani leaped out of her seat, parchment fluttering all around her when the suddenness of her movements caused the papers to scatter. Without turning to look at the mess she'd made, Delani strode past Varric, urgently nudging his shoulder as she walked by, and said, "Let's go now!"

"They're waiting on the battlements," Varric explained, keeping stride beside her. "Wanted to meet in private."

It didn't matter. Delani would meet whoever wherever if it meant getting away from those reports. The way Varric was behaving was a little curious, however. He looked happier than he usually did, while simultaneously being self-conscious, like if the wrong person caught his smile the jig would be up. As they made their way out of Skyhold's main building and toward the battlements, Delani wondered if the name of the person he was trying to avoid started with a C and ended with an assandra.

They climbed up onto the battlements and Delani frowned when she found it empty. Turning slightly to the dwarf, she gave him a worried look as she wondered, "Your friend doesn't happen to be imaginary, does it, Varric?"

Chuckling, he shook his head in answer. "Just give 'em a second, Scarlett."

Just then she noticed the female figure descending onto the battlements. She was human, and beautiful too. Short compared to Cassandra, but still taller than Delani, the human carried herself with confidence and a self-awareness that was enviable. Her skin was pale, made rosy from the cool weather, and her eyes were a sharp shade of blue, like a glacier floating at sea. Loose curls of mahogany fell past her shoulders and framed her heart shaped face. Varric's following introduction was unnecessary, Delani already knew who it was.

"Inquisitor," he started, a fondness in his voice that had never been there before. "meet Bella Hawke, the Champion of Kirkwall."

Hawke gave Varric a warm look, the smile at the corner of her mouth made it perfectly clear that she regarded him as though he were family. When she met Delani's gaze it was to correct Varric's statement, "Though I don't use that title much anymore."

Giving Varric a sidelong glance, Delani asked, "You are aware that Cassandra is going to kill you, right?"

"Only if you let her," Varric retorted with a scoff, waving off Delani's concern as unnecessary. But it was necessary, and they both knew it. Cassandra had a temper, and this was sure to trigger it. Returning his attention to the other woman, Varric continued with the introductions. "Hawke, this is Inquisitor Lavellan. I figured that you might have some friendly advice on Corypheus."

"Make sure he's dead this time?" Hawke replied with a weary laugh. Ruffling her curls, she mussed them away from her face and peered at the landscape around them before sighing. "Honestly, Inquisitor, I don't know what to tell you that can compare to you dropping half a mountain on that darkspawn bastard."

"Delani is fine," she said, stepping up beside the human. When Hawke peered up at her with confusion in her blue eyes, Delani clarified. "My name is Delani. If it's all the same to you, I'd like to deal with as few formalities as possible."

Smiling at her request, Hawke nodded that she both understood and approved. She stretched out her hand toward Delani and said, "Bella will do just fine then."

She shook the other woman's hand, glad that finally someone had agreed to call her by her name and not her title. When Bella released her hand, Delani crossed her arms in front of her chest and pursued as much as she could about Corypheus from the human. "You don't lack experience. You did save a city from a horde of rampaging qunari, after all."

"I don't see how that applies," Bella replied with a laugh before gesturing toward Skyhold's grounds in demonstration. "There doesn't seem to be a horde of qunari around here, rampaging or otherwise."

"No," Varric agreed from the other side of the platform, a bottle of wine in hand. Taking a swig straight from the bottle, he grinned and said, "We've just got the one. Thank Andraste for that."

The wind swept Bella's curly hair into her face and she patiently brushed it back. Giving Delani an apologetic look, she admitted, "I've fought and killed Corypheus before, and he was dead. Believe me, I know dead when I see it. Last time he was able to influence the Grey Wardens through his connection with the darkspawn."

Stepping up beside the conversing women, Varric looked up from one to the other before informing Delani, "He got into their heads and messed with their minds." Sighing, Varric moved his gaze onto the training ground when he finished. "He turned them against each other."

"If the Wardens disappeared," Bella started, wincing at what would come out of her mouth next and how Delani might take it. "They could have fallen under his influence… again."

Rubbing her fingers into her eyes, Delani sighed deeply. A thousand year old magister was trouble enough on his own. He was far from alone now. "So, Corypheus has the Venatori, the Red Templars, and now possibly the Grey Wardens?" Peeling her digits from her eyes, she met Bella's slightly amused gaze again and grumbled, "That's just wonderful."

"Isn't it though?" Bella retorted, a sympathetic laugh in her voice. Blue eyes glittering with solidarity, she added, "Luckily, I like to balance my bad news with some good. I have a friend in the Grey Wardens named Stroud. He's hiding out in a smuggler's cave near Crestwood and he should be able to offer us some insight on what's going on with his faction."

Nodding in gratitude, Delani admitted, "That's more information than we had an hour ago. I'll have you mark his location on my map, and Cullen can send a few men to scope the area."

Her blue eyes widened at the mention of Commander Cullen's name. Excitedly Hawke stated, "Varric told me that he was with the Inquisition!" Turning her amused gaze onto Delani, Bella wondered, "Tell me, does he still make this face when he's upset?" Bella's face turned serious, her lips pulling downward with displeasure, her eyes turning hard as though it weren't possible for her to feel anymore disappointed than she was feeling right then.

A surprised laugh sounded from Delani at the sight of Bella's face. She knew exactly the expression that the other woman was referring to, having received it at least once or twice since joining the Inquisition. Nodding, Delani was laughing too hard to not choke on her confirmation.

Smiling to herself, Bella informed her, "Oh, I used to get that face all of the time."

"That's because you were always putting the moves on him." Varric explained, a chuckle in his voice and mirth in his brown eyes.

Hawke's nod was agreeing. "It's true," she admitted, a girlish giggle bubbling out of her at the memory. "I had a bit of a crush on him my first few years in Kirkwall. I still haven't recovered from his lack of interest. My ego bruises easily."

Turning her attention to the training soldiers, Bella inspected the rows of men below. After a moment of concentration a grin expanded over her face, and she pointed Delani's attention to the blond haired man with the dark pauldrons covering his shoulders. "Is that him? Training the recruits? Well would you look at that, he's gotten pretty in the last year."

The dwarf stepped between Delani and Bella and stared down below. Finding where Cullen was standing, overseeing the training, he commented, "Now, Hawke, I don't think Fenris would appreciate you making eyes at the Commander."

"Oh, Fenris knows I have only eyes for him," she rebuked with a flippant wave of her hand. Grinning to herself she added, "Anyway, if he were here he'd make eyes at Cullen right along side me."

A moment passed and all the three of them did was watch as Cullen supervised his soldiers' combat training. Leaning her weight on the ledge, Bella observed, "You know what the problem with warriors are?" She glanced at Varric and Delani in time to catch both of them shrugging, gesturing for her to continue with her thought. "They think that brains and brawn are one and the same. Rogues like us need to be twice as fast and four times as smart."

She pushed herself off of the ledge with an irate shove, grumbling, "We're the better fighters yet they're the ones getting all of the recognition. I say someone teaches the Commander what it's like being brought to your knees by a pair of daggers."

Delani smiled at the thought, imagining Cullen on his knees before her. "Now that's a sight I'd like to see."

"You could," Bella replied, giving Delani a sidelong glance. When she saw the elf's gaze snap toward her, Hawke gave Delani her full attention. There was a challenging smirk on her lips, a taunting sparkle in her eyes. Doubtfully shrugging her shoulders, she continued, "That is if you were up to it. I know that you have an image to maintain and all of that."

Quirking an eyebrow, Delani wasn't entirely sure that she appreciated the other woman's tone. Lowly, she returned, "You think I won't?"

Hawke laughed, the sound was demeaning, goading, making it clear that she didn't quite believe that Delani would risk doing anything to tarnish the way the public looked at her. "I know you won't." She supplied before grinning innocently. "You have a reputation to uphold as Inquisitor. Can't let the soldiers see you get your ass handed to you by your commander."

Her jaw fell. Delani blinked hard before shaking the surprise from her features and snapping her mouth back shut. "So not only do you think I won't challenge him to a sparing match, but you also think that I'm going to lose?"

Bella shrugged, unashamed, refusing to take any of it back. "I could weigh you down with iron, cast you into the Waking Sea, and you'd still float," she said, her tone challenging Delani to argue with her, daring her to try and prove her wrong. "Tiny little thing like you, I'm not sure you stand a chance against a strong wind, much less Cullen's Templar training."

Still standing between the two women, Varric's attention had been going from Bella to Delani and back again with each word said. Now that Bella had officially made a challenge, Varric wrung his hands together and tried to talk Delani out of whatever was about to go down. "Scarlett, you don't have to—"

"Fifteen sovereigns says I'll do it," Delani shoved her hand between them, her narrowed eyes daring Bella to shake her hand and take the bet. Glare sharpening, she added to her wager, "And twenty more says I win."

"Put him down in less than ten minutes and I'll give you forty." Bella took her hand and gave it a firm shake, her grin wide and victorious.

"Deal." Delani released Hawke's hand and turned on her heel. She headed for the battlement's stairs so that she could go to where Cullen was supervising his men. Over her shoulder, Delani instructed Hawke to, "Watch and learn, Bella."

Before she made it to the stairs, Delani heard Varric turn to his old friend and say, "You know, Hawke, this is exactly the reason why I can't take you anywhere."

"You love it, Tethras," Hawke replied with a self-satisfied laugh. "And you owe me ten sovereigns. Told you I could bait anyone into anything."

Delani didn't have it in her to care that she'd just been goaded into challenging Cullen to a fight. She hadn't had a chance to speak to the Commander all day. What better way to say hello than by picking a fight with him? There was no way that she was going to lose this bet, even if she had to fight dirty in order to win. Delani only hoped that the Commander would make it the ten minutes. She didn't want to embarrass him too badly in front of his men.

"Lift your shield," Cullen shouted at the recruit, his voice booming and authoritative. "Square your shoulders and keep your feet grounded!" The Inquisition's forces grew everyday but, Maker, some of these recruits were still boys. "If you insist on getting yourself killed, at least make your enemy work for it."

Waving for the two soldiers to give it another go, Cullen shouted, "Again!" and gave them both a word of praise when their performance improved on the second attempt.

Cullen moved down the line, watching as the combat training went on. Normally he left this task to his captain but, on occasion, he felt the need to supervise training himself. Despite the cool mountain air, there wasn't a single cloud to disrupt the sun's rays, and Cullen could feel sweat start to bead on his brow, and dripping down his back.

He glanced at the soldier standing at attention beside him and asked, "How are we doing on water?"

"There are barrels ready, Commander." the soldier supplied.

Nodding once, Cullen instructed him to, "Make sure everyone is getting plenty to drink. I won't have anyone falling to dehydration."

The soldier saluted, "Yes Sir!"

"You sure are working your men hard, vhenan'ara." He turned at the sound of Delani's melodic voice coming from behind him. She had a confidence to her step, an eagerness to her gait, a roguishness to her gaze that immediately put Cullen on edge. He knew Delani well enough to know what that look meant: trouble.

Returning his attention to his men, Cullen placed his hands on the pommel of his sword and cleared his throat. He could feel it when she stepped up to stand beside him, could feel her proximity and knew that he could break it with a stretch of his arm. Cullen gave the elf woman a sidelong glance and felt his heart flutter in his chest.

Her auburn hair shone like strands of crimson under the sun, her skin glowing like copper, and her sea green eyes were more brilliant than any gems known to man. She stood almost as tall as his shoulder, her hands on the swell of her hips as she regarded the men training in front of them. Delani was wearing her typical Dalish garbs, her tights hugging her legs snuggly, and her tunic was form fitting, intimately following the shape of her womanly curves. She was the strangest combination of delicate and dangerous, and Cullen found it hard to breathe when he was in her company.

"It's the best way I know to keep them alive, Inquisitor," Cullen replied to her observation, trying to keep his tone professional but finding it difficult when she smirked at him like that.

Delani nodded slowly, her lips pursed in thought. He could hear the underlying plot in her tone when she stated, "You train fine warriors, Commander."

His tone was cautious as he replied, "Thank you," and he narrowed his eyes a bit.

Cullen could feel that something was about to happen, but he hadn't the slightest idea what. He could tell just by looking at Delani that she was planning something, he could see the wheels turning behind her sea green eyes, and all he could do was wait for her to let him in on whatever it was. Luckily he didn't have to wait long.

"So, tell me, vhenan'ara," she turned her body to face him, the smirk on her lips was wolfish and Cullen swallowed hard. "Have you fought very many enemies?"

She was asking after his qualifications? Now? Cullen couldn't help but wonder why. He watched as she started to walk a slow circle around him, his curiosity eclipsing the intimidation she'd probably been aiming for.

Without shifting from his position, Cullen turned his head to see her coming back around to his front. "Yes," he said in answer to her question, his tone firm, controlled, suspicious.

Delani stopped in front of him, her hands resting casually on her hips as she stepped toe to toe with him. The smirk on her lips grew at the sight of his eyes dilating slightly, his nose flaring as he breathed in the mouthwatering scent of wildflowers. She was so close. If Cullen craned his head down a bit he would've been able to push his lips against hers, taste her, finally feel her swollen lips pressed against his. Cullen tried desperately not to think about what she would feel like, her body against his. Maker strike him down, his thoughts were starting to warm his blood.

Tilting her head slightly, she asked, "And what would you say is the most difficult adversary you've encountered?"

The moment she turned from him was the moment he was free from her spell. He sucked in a deep, calming breath and tried to convince his racing heart back down to a steady beat. Delani walked a few steps away, her gait like that of a wild cat. She was sizing him up, he realized, taking stock of his build and stance. But why? What was she up to?

"Two handed warriors," he answered truthfully. A warrior who knew how to properly wield a battle axe or a great sword could cut a man in half with a single swing. They took greater damage, and were damn difficult to take down. Men like Iron Bull were easily considered legendary for good reason. Even without lyrium, Cullen's templar abilities held their own against the strongest of mages, but sometimes a war hammer simply outmatched a sword and shield.

Delani nodded, accepting his answer but also looking disappointed by it. The look she gave him was predatory, the smile on her lips appearing more akin to a snarl. "You warriors," she started after tsking at him in scolding. "So infatuated with your own strength, as if it were impossible for someone with less brawn to outclass you."

She sauntered over to the table at the edge of the training grounds, where the practice weapons were laid out for grabs, and Cullen had to tear his gaze from the sway of her hips. Delani walked her fingers over the table's surface, before turning to face him and leaning her bottom against the table's edge. Her head was tilted as she gauged him, her auburn hair catching the sunlight and reflecting it like silk.

Sea green eyes narrowed in on him, challenging him, goading him, and Cullen couldn't help but find the look she was giving him to be mind numbingly sexy. He wondered if this was part of her game, if she was trying to seduce him so that he let his guard down. If it was, it was working.

"How you so easily forget about rogues," she stated, despondency in her voice as she untied a leather band from her wrist and combed her auburn hair away from her face. Holding her hair back, she managed to tie the leather band into a tight knot and secure her hair into a ponytail.

Cullen swallowed hard. Delani's hair was always worn down, the crimson strands falling well past her shoulders like silken threads colored by blood. When her hair was pulled back like that, her entire beautiful face revealed to him, he found it difficult to breathe. He could clearly see the scars marring her face, the line of discolored flesh that started at her brow and ended on her cheek, and another on the opposite side of her face that started at the corner of her jaw and traveled toward her mouth.

He'd noticed the scars before, what he hadn't noticed was that they were lovely, what he hadn't acknowledged was how badly he wanted to brush a trail of kisses over each of her scars before ending on her lips. Did she even know how beautiful she was? Had she any idea what she was doing to him when she looked at him like that? Cullen fought for control over the warmth spreading through him. He tried to remind himself of the importance of professionalism. She was his superior, he was her general, people were watching.

Keep it together, you fool, he scolded himself, tightening his grip on the pommel of his sword.

Slowly Delani started to undo the knots that kept her snug fitting tunic together and Cullen felt his throat tighten with surprise. Her motions were meant to challenge him, he knew, not seduce him, but the result was the same. With each knot undone Cullen cared less and less for propriety and wanted nothing more than to claim her lips with his own. Maker, where had this woman come from?

Once her tunic was completely undone, it was clear to see that all she wore underneath was a breast band. His blood was pumping in his ears as he watched her shrug out of her tunic. Delani's vallaslin did not end at her chin. With her chest, shoulders, and torso bare in the daylight, Cullen could clearly see the crimson branch like markings covering her shoulders and traveling over and around her biceps. When she turned around he gaped at the intricate line work coursing down her spine and over her shoulder blades. Her markings were breathtaking, just like the rest of her.

She was thin, comprised primarily by lean muscle and Cullen would be surprised to discover if she had even a shred of fat on her. Her biceps bulged with strength, her stomach was flat, curving and dipping with the shape of her abdominals. Her tunic did her curves no justice, seeing them now was disorienting.

He didn't know how he felt to discover that the scars on Delani's face were not the only ones she had. Though they certainly did add to her sex appeal, they also served to remind him that she was not nearly as indestructible as she often pretended to be. Delani could get cut, she could get hurt, she could bleed, and she could die. And that train of thought only served to make him want her all the more. He would protect her, he would serve her, he would do damn near anything for her, and it was a startling realization.

When Delani turned back around it was with a practice sword and shield in hand. She walked only close enough to toss them at him. Luckily Cullen had gathered himself enough to catch the wooden weapon and shield, and not make a fool of himself in front of his men. He stared down at the weapons in confusion, not quite sure what she intended him to do with them.

He glanced back up in time to catch Delani return from the table with a pair of daggers in her hands. She was twirling the wooden blades, before lifting one toward Cullen and grinning devilishly at him. "I think its time I familiarize you with defeat, Commander." Her smile grew. "Maybe then, the next time I ask you that question, your answer will be different."

Cullen looked back down at the practice sword and shield in his hands. She wanted to spar, did she? He allowed a small smile to curl his lips. This was not a game of chess. If Delani wanted to spar then he would not go easy on her. She'd boasted about how her victories were earned, but this one would not be earned so easily; or at all, for that matter.

Striding over to one of the soldiers, who stood gaping at the Inquisitor, Cullen handed the man the practice weapons. He gave the soldier a hard look, wordlessly reprimanding him for gawking at his superior. He didn't care about Delani's current state of undress, only he could look at her like that.

Carefully he took off his gloves, then his cloak, his armor, and when he was all the way down to his undershirt, Cullen removed it as well. He glanced at Delani and smiled to himself. Her mouth was hanging open slightly, her eyes wide and dilated. Cullen was pleased to discover that he had the same effect on her as she did on him.

He accepted the practice weapons back from the soldier and turned to face Delani. Allowing a smirk to twitch at the corner of his mouth, Cullen warned her, "I will not go easy on you, my lady."

The gasp that sounded from her was teasing. "Creators forbid, vhenan'ara." Her smirk was piercing and, if he'd been a lesser man, Cullen might have reconsidered agreeing to spar with her. "When I bring you to your knees it will be because I put you there with skill alone."

"Alright, Inquisitor," he rumbled, growing tired of her arrogance. Arching an eyebrow, Cullen wondered, "Let's put your skills to the test, shall we?"

The second his question was asked Delani was on the move. She was charging at him and Cullen lifted his shield in order to meet her direct attack. When she twisted out of his shield's path, he'd been expecting it, and he moved right along side her, keeping his shield between them at all times. Delani was as fast as she was graceful, but she was also over-confident and reckless. And, in the end, his self-control and awareness would see him victorious.

Cullen kept his sword trained on Delani, waiting for her next attack, anticipating for her to come at him bold and brazen again. He only had to wait a short breath before she followed through. Delani ran straight for him before faking to the right, twisting to the left, kicking up her food to jostle his shield, and thrusting her dagger behind the plank of wood.

Her wooden dagger nearly made contact with him. Had he not jumped out of the way when he did, she would have scraped the practice weapon against his stomach. Before Cullen could pin her arm between his shield and his torso, Delani pulled back and rolled away, swiveling on her knees until she was kneeling behind him.

He retaliated just in time to bring his shield around to meet her wooden dagger. The sound of cheering faintly registered in the background of his mind. Cullen was only partially aware that they were being watched, their audience growing as their fight went on. For the time being, Delani had his undivided attention. If that stopped being true for even a second, it could cost him the fight.

Cullen pushed his shield forward and Delani leaped back a step. A laugh sounding from her, provoking him. When he swiped his sword at her she was no longer standing where she'd just been. He turned a second before her dagger could make contact with his cheek, parrying the attack with his sword. She turned her body out of the way of his shield coming down on her, and again she was circling him.

Keeping his gaze trained on Delani, he followed her as she circled him, not allowing her to get a view of his back. She twirled the daggers in her hands, putting on a show for their audience as the two of them circled one another. Having had quite enough of her arrogance, Cullen was the first to make a move and he realized too late that it was exactly what she'd wanted.

Delani watched as he charged at her, his practice sword lifted and ready to strike. The moment that he was within sweeping distance she ducked out of the blade's path, bounced off of his shield and wound up behind him. Cullen reacted quickly, pulling his shield around to catch the brunt of her next attack. It was exactly what she'd been expecting.

As Cullen moved his shield bearing arm to deflect her attack, Delani moved with his momentum and managed to rip his shield from his grasp. It happened so quickly. One moment Cullen was moving, could feel the air flow around him, his sweat beading down his back, his breath expelling from him, and then he blinked and Delani had a grasp on his shield and followed his movements until she was able to rip the straps from his arm.

His recovery was seamless, firmly adjusting his grip on his sword. He smirked at the sight of premature victory shining in her eyes. She thought that without his shield he would no longer be able to hold his own against her, but Cullen was a warrior. His blade was an extension of himself. He was not weaker without his shield, he simply had more mobility this way.

He swung his sword left and right, goading Delani like she had goaded him. Victory shone bright in her eyes, arrogance pulling at her lips, and just like that she had taken the bait. Delani ran toward him, her pace casual, as though she were just drawing out the fight. Later Cullen would shake his head at her overconfidence, now he was going to teach her that even practice blades left bruises.

Cullen jabbed at Delani with his blade, and she pivoted out of the way. Arching her body to the side she slashed her dagger toward him only for his sword to block the blow. When she tried to follow up the attack with her second dagger, Cullen backed up a step, brought up his wooden sword to catch the attack, and parried the blow with enough force to send the dagger flying.

Another cheer broke out now that the fight appeared to be even, though it wasn't. Cullen could manage just fine without his shield, but Delani's every instinct demanded two daggers. With only one, it was like Cullen had removed an arm and no amount of arrogance was going to save her from defeat.

Lifting his practice blade above his head, a roar bellowed from him as he brought the wooden sword down. Delani sidestepped his attack and ended up standing beside him. With viperlike reflexes she attempted to stab her wooden blade down, to catch him in the neck, but Cullen lifted his forearm to collide with hers, stopping her attack mid-strike.

The world slowed for a moment when his eyes met hers. In the span of a second her eyes narrowed with outrage, a smirk coiled her lips, and Cullen felt himself falling to the ground. Delani had swiped his legs out from under him, and Cullen had enough sense to react before she jabbed his chest with her wooden dagger. Just barely rolling completely out of her path, he kicked himself back onto his feet and lifted his sword in time to defend himself against a series of serpent like strikes.

Cullen met each blow with his sword, allowing her to continue to strike him until she'd worn herself out. The moment that he noticed her movements start to slow, he changed the flow of their battle. Instead of brunting her attacks, Cullen returned them with force and fervor. Soon Delani was being pushed back, unable to avoid him even if she tried to twirl, spin, or leap out of his path. Cullen stayed on her, kept bearing down on her, gave her no quarter until it was clear in her sea green eyes that she knew that he had won.

Just when Cullen thought that the match was his, Delani surprised him. She raised her dagger to meet his sword as it fell toward her, like she'd already done several times before. The moment their wooden weapons met there was the slightest of openings, and Delani used it to launch herself at Cullen. Surprised by the suddenness of her attack, Cullen was tackled to the ground by the tiny elven woman.

They rolled, and he had enough self-awareness to move his practice sword into position. The moment that their bodies stopped moving, the moment the dust settled, Cullen allowed a victorious grin to spread over his lips. His wooden sword was hovering just over Delani's neck, a fatal blow should this have been a real fight.

"It appears my answer remains unchanged, Inquisitor," he said, not bothering to try and disguise his simper.

Delani lifted her head off of the ground and snapped her teeth at him, their lips nearly touching at her proximity. When Cullen immediately felt his cheeks flush at the gesture, a mischievous grin expanded over her lovely lips and she purred, "I wouldn't be so sure, Commander."

He felt a tapping on his side, and looked down only to find that her dagger was positioned in what would have easily been a killing blow as well. A laugh spilled out of him and Cullen shook his head. Looking back down at Delani, he murmured, "It looks like we have a draw."

Shrugging, Delani picked her head up again and brought her face so dangerously close to his. Cullen froze at her proximity, focusing on the smell of her filling his nose. Her voice was deep when she next spoke, husky yet sweet like smoked applewood. "Then perhaps we should have a tie breaker."

Suddenly he realized their position. Cullen had the Inquisitor pinned down, his weight imprisoning her beneath him. Their lips were near to touching, and both of them were wearing next to nothing. How many times had he already fantasized about getting her into this position? In none of those fantasies did he have a courtyard full of onlookers, cheering over their impressive show of skill.

Cullen jumped off of Delani faster than he thought physically possible. Offering her his hand, he helped her back onto her feet as well. Once she was standing Delani tried to reclaim her fingers from his, but Cullen tightened his hold on her hand. With a gentle tug he pulled her a step closer to him. Cullen dipped his head down a bit, bringing his mouth to her pointed ear.

The smell of her was intoxicating, emboldening him with a courage reserved for the drunk. It must have been the adrenaline of a good fight, but suddenly Cullen could care less about propriety or professionalism. Delani Lavellan was a woman with no equal, and he wanted her for himself.

"That was fun," he admitted, his voice a deep and vibrating rumble. "But you're going to have to try a bit harder if you want to put me on my knees, Delani."

Her eyes widened at the sound of her name, her nostrils flaring as she sucked in a deep, surprised breath. Cullen watched in amazement as, for the first time in their entire relationship, a blush started to spread over Delani's cheeks. The way she was looking at him was as though she were seeing him for the first time, and Cullen had to bite back a sense of self-satisfaction that grew with the knowledge that he had made her blush.

"I—um.. What I mean to say is—" she stammered, blinking rapidly as she tried to gather her bearings. With a quick shake of her head, Delani recovered herself enough to allow a small abashed smile to curl her lips. She looked shy and self-conscious, and Cullen wondered how one woman could have so many different sides.

Carefully holding his gaze, Delani replied, "Then I will have to try harder next time, my heart's desire."

He'd had to strain to hear the last part of her sentence, but hear it he did. Cullen held her beautiful green gaze and he knew. True to her word, Delani had finally translated her nickname for him. At last he knew what vhenan'ara meant: my heart's desire. The only thing that kept him from kissing her was the feeling of a hundred eyes watching them closely.