Hopefully no code will interrupt this post. And 3 thank you so much for the reviews guys! I'm so happy you're enjoying this story.
I'm addicted to this game. I love Cullen so much but Solas's romance is heart wrenching. This isn't game you can play once guys.
Anyway on with the show
Cullen stared down at the letter on the table. He'd been gazing at the same sheet of parchment for well over an hour. The words made no sense, no matter how many times he read them.
He had not seen Amelia for a week outside of the war meetings. He was also certain it was due to her completely avoiding him. She rarely spoke to him in the meetings. Or glanced in his direction. Her stiff posture had returned in his presence and it drove him mad.
He was a complete idiot. It was his fault after all for her behaviour.
A sudden knock on the door made him jump. He stood bristly-striding towards the door and opening it. " What-" His firm annoyed words were cut off as surprise strangled him.
Dorian stood at the door, arms crossed and brows arched in amused surprise. "Commander.' He spoke smoothly-his lips lifting in a smug smirk. "Going to invite me in I suppose?" The Tevinter didn't await a response however and instead pushed right past the stunned former Templar.
"Is there a reason you're here?" Cullen narrowed his eyes as he pointedly kept the door propped open, turning to face the other man who was inspecting his quarters with a slight look of disdain.
"Not to admire your choice of décor that's for sure..."
Cullen breathed out sharply through his nose. Trying not to grow overly frustrated with the other man. Dorian however turned towards him, crossing his arms and regarding him in a suddenly serious manner. "Annoyed, Commander? Good. Then you'll understand my own sentiment in that regard. I am having quite the hard time helping to deal with the end of the world...and now the hurt feelings of a particularly kind young lady."
Cullen blinked slowly. Not quite following what the mage was getting at. "If you hadn't noticed, everyone's busy with the end of the world. Not just you. And what young lady are you even talki-" He cut off. Looking at Dorian as he merely arched a brow. Cullen snorted suddenly. "You're here about Amelia?"
Dorian seemed surprised it had taken him so long to realize. "Who else did you think I was speaking of? Do you make a habit of such behaviour Commander? Everyone in the keep has noticed the particularly frigid tension between you two."
"Rest assured anything between us has been taken care of." Cullen muttered it in a slightly defeated manner. Rubbing a hand over his face tiredly.
Dorian outright laughed however, causing the former Templar to look up in confusion. "If that was true she wouldn't be so upset."
He ran his fingers over his chin slowly. "Amelia knows what she wants, it's quite obvious in fact. But I suggest you figure out what you want quickly as well...Before things get ugly that is."
Cullen narrowed his eyes, to him these words sounded like a challenge. " What do -you- want Dorian?"
Dorian arched a brow. "...not much." He answered finally. Shrugging a bit. "Though what I want must upset you in some way for you to speak in such a tone." He sighed and unfolded his arms. He walked over towards the door, pressing a hand into Cullen's shoulder briefly. "I just think you should fix whatever mess you and the inquisitor have stepped in. If not as friends than as her adviser."
He released him rapidly and left. "If my words aren't enough encouragement Commander...ill be more forceful..next time." He waved back over his shoulder. Smirking coyly as he took his leave.
Cullen narrowed his eyes but merely slammed the door shut. Leaning his forehead on the cold wood afterwards. He let out a deep sigh form his nose and opened his eyes slowly.
Did Dorian just want him to back off so that Amelia could be with him?
His choice of words were...odd
Cullen moved back to his desk. Signing off on some report he didn't even glance at and then cursing as he read the words over to ensure he understood them. Some of them still seemed to fly over his head.
There was no war meeting that day. Mostly because Amelia and the others had returned from the exalted plains looking exhausted. The normally smiling mage was seen barely able to walk. Mumbling about having closed over ten rifts.
She had taken her food and reports to her own quarters. The breakfast hadn't been touched for a good ten minutes as she had sat with the others. Dorian had been looking at Cullen, glancing pointedly between the commander and the retreating form of the inquisitor. Cullen narrowed his eyes at the other man.
He however ignored the prompting and retired to his own quarters with his food as well.
A silent knock interrupted him as he scraped the food off his plate. He moved quickly to the door. "I'm not going to her room Doria-" He cut off as the shocked expression of Amelia was revealed behind the door.
"Who's room?" She looked confused.
His mouth didn't appear to be working with his mind.
"It's...n-not important." He stammered.
Her lips pressed together. "...May I speak to you?...Alone."
"Alone?" He spoke in surprise. " Are you su-"
"I'm sure." She cut off. Her posture remaining stiff. Arms crossed as she awaited his response.
"okay..here?" He asked as he glanced around. His room was a mess. She shook her head though. Walking past him to another door. "Come on."
He followed after her reluctantly. Feeling a led weight seeming to drop down on to his shoulders.
They walked across the walls, avoiding each others gazes as they moved.
He reached up slowly to rub at the back of his neck, gaze wandering to the clear sky surrounding skyhold in that moment.
"It's a nice day." He muttered out lamely.
"what?" She stopped turning to him in confusion.
"It's...there was something you wished to discuss?"
She stared at him for awhile, and he watched her fiddle with her clothing awkwardly...she took a deep breath and finally started speaking hurriedly. " I know I've been avoiding you. and I...didn't mean to. I just don't want things to be bad between us any more because...Cullen I care for you and I uh.." she stuttered off lamely. Sighing at her own nerves.
"What's wrong?" He stared at her. Frozen where he was...not fully sure how to register what was just said.
"You left the Templars...but do you trust mages?..." she looked up at him suddenly, amber eyes glistening-she looked as if she was preparing to be let down. Her shoulders hunched, losing the stiff posture in favour of the uncomfortable unsure stance. "Could you think of me as anything more?...or..."
He shook his head slowly, mind slowly adapting to the information he'd just been told.
"I could..I mean..I do..think of you, too much." He shut his mouth and stepped away from her reaching up to rub at his face as he grew frustrated by his own ability to explain. "And what I should be saying in this sort of situation."
She followed after him though, her own cheeks growing warm, she wiped the smile that had begun to grow off her face in favour of catching his arm. "Well what's stopping you?"
He turned towards her, slowly stepping back towards her. Her back pressing slightly into the rock behind her. "Wat isn't? You're the inquisitor...we're at war...and..."
Amelia frowned..looking away as he spoke. She looked back when he hesitated, lines appearing in her forehead. "And what?"
He reached forward-just as she had days weeks earlier-smoothing out the lines appearing in her forehead. She stared at him-merely waiting patiently, even as her lips fell into a warm smile.
"...I need to figure out what I want...but also let you..have what you want." He frowned-his brows pulling together. "I won't step between you and Dorian. Even if you care for me you obviously care for him..."
She blinked, wide eyes at him. "What?"
"You and Dorian..it's understandable..you're both mages...have more in common." he muttered it but Amelia was slowly beginning to shake he shot his gaze to hers concerned only to find the short woman bowing her head, shaking it as she held back on laughter. It bubbled up from her throat escaping her lips in surprise.
"I don't exactly see how this is funny." He grumbled. Narrowing his eyes at her.
Amelia shook her head, lifting it slowly to smile at him. " of course you don't...that's what's funny. you don't see!"
"I don't see what?" he scowled slightly.
Amelia pursed her lips reaching up and catching his cheek softly-the scowl softened but she shook her head at him again, snickering once more.
"Cullen...Dorian's gay.'
All thought seemed to cease existing for a moment within Cullen's brain.
"I'm sorry. -what?-" He stared at her-searching for any sign of teasing, but she was sincere smirking and nodding her head, eyes amused by his...ignorance.
He reached up to cover his face. "Oh maker's breath."
"You were worried about a non-existent competition?"
Cullen groaned and lifted his head. " The two of you made it difficult. You're close. Its easy for anyone to see that...I don't know the man. He annoyed me."
She smirked. Her cheeks flushing...she cupped both of hsi cheeks in hand when he stopped speaking. "...So what's stopping you now?"
He blanched for a moment, blushing..."I uh...the other things I mentioned still apply."
"Yet...here we are." she mused. Her hands fell to his shoulders.
She didn't pull him closer-he made the concious decision to step own hand pressing into her cheek. "...So we are...I'll try not to be blind from now on."
She smiled nervously. Laughing ever so slightly to try and shake it off, his head tipped towards hers and he saw her amber eyes flutter before sliding shut, chin lifting. His own eyes followed her example.
...Until a door banged open and a voice boomed out. " Commander."
Amelia sighed dropping her head down with a look of frustration, her hands tumbling to land on the stone she rested against.
Cullen backed away closer to the one who interrupted them. One of his men came towards him-eyes on the report he held in hand. Still talking-completely oblivious to what he had done.
"You wanted a copy of Sister Lelianna's report."
Cullen slowly turned towards him with a grunt of the word. "What?"
The man lifted his gaze uncertainly. " Sister Lelianna's report? You wanted it delivered...without delay."
Cullen gave the man a glare that should have left him as nothing but a pile of ash on the ground...scorched and forgotten.
His lips remained parted and he slowly registered the woman standing behind the commanders shoulder, his wide gaze shot back to Cullen's angry one. 'Or...to your office...right...I'll...go do that now."
Cullen relaxed as he left, turning slightly back to Amelia...her head was still dropped, eyes avoiding his.
"If you need to-"He cut her off in that moment, turning towards her rapidly, grasping her face in his hands carefully and sealing his lips over hers. The surprised gasp she gave satisfied something within him that he didn't quite understand. He relented after a moment on his harsh behaviour when she returned the kiss. The contact becoming less demanding and more soft.
He backed away to see her eyes wide-cheeks the colour of a tomato-lips still parted. "I...I'm sorry...that was...really nice." He smiled a bit.
She laughed and glanced down, her hands pressed flat against his chest plate. "...That was what I wanted."
He reached down to lift her chin. "Oh?...good." she blushed again, meeting his gaze evenly. He leaned in and kissed her again.
He wasn't sure how they got down off of Skyhold's walls...or how long they stood, merely embracing.
All he knew was that he truly was a fool for taking so long...
He blinked down at the paper in front of him.
"finally" he muttered.
The words now at least-were clear.
((This isn't the end XP more to come))