Cullen hadn't seen Trev for weeks. She'd gone off to Val Royeux on some political mission that he had nothing to do with, so there were no excuses for him to join her. He'd stayed in Skyhold, running things in her absece.

He'd gotten used to having her around more these days. He hated it when she had to leave, or if he had to leave her. He missed her laying next to him in bed. His nightmares were always worse if she wasn't there.

He missed hearing her speak, he missed the way she looked at him, he missed her smile, her beautiful, radiant smile. When she directed that smile at him, everything else disappeared and there was only her.

He'd been trying to work up the courage to tell her that he loved her. He had no idea why it was so hard. There was no doubt in his mind that he loved her with all his heart, and that he wanted to spend the rest of his days with her. He was even fairly certain that she felt the same about him. She regularly recieved a number of proposals, from various lords and even the occasional prince. She laughed them all off and told Cullen that she had something far better right here in Skyhold.

Maybe it was because saying those three little words just didn't seem like enough. They didn't do his feelings justice. He didn't just love her, he worshipped her, he'd die for her without a second's hesitation. Just being around her made him happier than he'd ever dreamed of being.

But maybe he was just a coward, afraid of rejection. He would still wonder sometimes, why in the Maker's name she wanted to be with him, of all the men she could have had. Men, and more than the occasional woman, threw themselves at her feet.

She is without a doubt the most beautiful woman in Thedas.

Even Josephine had gasped in surprise all those months ago when she realised that the girl who stepped out of the Conclave ruins was the youngest Trevelyan. Apparently she was the Trevelyan, famous in all of the Free Marches and beyond for her stunning beauty, although her father had, for reasons unknown, refused to marry her off yet.

It wasn't just her beauty that made her so desirable now, though. She was the Inquisitor, the Herald of Andraste, and thus the most powerful woman in Thedas. And unlike the Divine, there was nothing stopping her from getting married.

Cullen ached at the thought. He wanted it to be him. He had pictured her more times than he wanted to admit, in a traditional Fereldan wedding dress, speaking the words of eternal promise before a Revered Mother while looking into his eyes. He'd dreamt of kissing her to conclude the ceremony, the guests appplauding while he held her in his arms, his forever.

But that wouldn't happen if he couldn't even muster up the courage to say those three simple little words.

When she gets back, I will tell her, I swear.

Cullen was asleep when she returned from Val Royeaux in the middle of the night. He woke up when he felt her snuggle up against him under the covers.

"Trev..." he murmured and pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her as she kissed his cheek.

"I'm sorry Cullen, I didn't mean to wake you."

"Don't worry about it. How was your trip?"

"Long and boring. You know I hate politics. I'd rather stab something than listen to those stuck up Orlesians all day."

Cullen snickered. "You're good at stabbing, but unfortunately for you and fortunately for the Inquisition, no one is better at politics than you."

Trev feigned a dramatic sigh. "I know, it's my eternal curse to be the best at everything."

"Everything, you say?" Cullen said and pulled her on top of him. "Show me, then."

She laughed softly before she kissed him. Cullen moaned as she slid herself down his cock and started moving slowly.

"I've missed you so much..." she whispered. He felt his heart flutter at the tenderness in her voice.

"And I you, you have no idea."

He grabbed her hips and helped her move against him, pushing himself deeper into her. He caressed her beautiful, smooth skin, pale in the moonlight. He traced his fingers across her arms, her belly and finally her breasts and felt her shiver in pleasure.

She picked up the pace and started riding him harder, guiding his hand to her spot, moaning deliciously while he used his fingers to pleasure her. He could feel a tiny bead of her sweat dropping down on him, and he sat up and pulled her to him, her movements never ceasing. He pressed his upper body against hers and kissed her, his tongue playing with hers, revelling in the sounds she made into his mouth. Their sweat mingled, her scent making him heady with desire. He grabbed her ass with his hands and she whimpered and bucked against him, saying his name over and over as she came.

The pressure of her spasms around his cock made him join her, and he thrust himself into her a few more times as he came inside her.

They both fell back on the bed, sweaty and spent. She rested her head against his chest while he tried to calm his breathing.

"Trev, I..." he started, but stopped himself as he could hear her breathing become heavier. She'd fallen asleep.

I love you.

After a few minutes, he felt his own eyelids close as he joined her in sleep.

The next day, he woke up to an empty bed. She'd left a note at the bedside table.

'Cullen, I had some business to attend to this morning but I'm taking the rest of the day off, and so are you. I think we deserve it. It's a beautiful day out today, come find me in the garden when you wake up.

Yours, Trev.'

Cullen did indeed find her in the garden. She was sitting down in the grass, shading herself from the sun with one hand, and she didn't see him approach. Cullen smiled as he snuck up on her from behind and bent down, grabbing her around her stomach. She squealed in surprise and laughed heartily when she saw it was him. They both sank down to the ground and he pulled her into his lap and kissed her.

"You are so beautiful, Trev..." he mumbled as he pulled her into his arms, embracing her tightly. She hugged him back and looked at his face when he loosened his grip on her, still sitting in his lap.

"You're the one who's beautiful. My handsome man," she said and gave him a wide smile.

My man... she called me mine, Maker... Just tell her already.

"Trev, I have something I need to..." he started but was interrupted by the sound of fast approaching footsteps.

They both looked up and saw Leliana walking up to them. She stopped before them and they both got up to their feet.

"Inquisitor, I have an urgent message for you," she said. The serious expression on her face made Cullen alert, and Trev frowned while she took the parchment Leliana was holding out to her. She opened it and Cullen could see her whole body tense while her eyes scanned the paper.

"What is it, Trev?" he asked, worried now.

"N-nothing." Trev shook her head. "I... I need to take care of this. We'll have to meet some other time, Cullen, I'm sorry." Trev gave Leliana a strange look and the spymaster nodded and followed the Inquisitor as she started walking towards the door.

Cullen felt a strange, sick feeling in his gut. Something was wrong and she didn't want him to know what. He could tell from the way she tensed up that this was no ordinary problem. He'd never seen her like that before.

What is going on?