She was simply graceful. The twirl of her staff, the magic swirling around her fingertips, the way she moved with the grace and fierceness of a high dragon. She wore the traditional armor of a keeper, and she fit in so well against the background of the Emerald Graves fighting against the demons and monsters as they fought our way towards Mythal's Temple. A keeper, she'd explained, is the highest position in a clan. They were leaders, and mages. That explained why she was such an amazing Inquisitor. She was literally born a leader. She turned to him, green eyes fierce in the heat of battle. "Cullen!" she exclaimed and seconds later, he felt himself doused in a protective aura right before he heard the shriek of a demon behind him.
He should have been paying more attention to the battle, but it's hard to focus on anything when such a beautiful warrior was mere yards away. However, he returned his attention to the battle slicing his way through the hoard as he attempted to clear a path for Alya err, Lady Lavellan. He needed to stop referring to her as Alya while he was on duty, or one of these days, he's going to slip up in front of his troops and seem disrespectful or worse, unprofessionally affectionate.
He really was the Lion of Ferelden when he fought. And it wasn't just the helmet that made her think so. He was ferocious in battle. Barking orders at troops, and cutting down enemy after enemy with an almost effortless brutality. She loved this side of him just as much as she loved the sweet affectionate side that held her most nights in Skyhold. They were two sides of the same coin, much like the coin she always wore around her neck. She knew that he was always going to be there for her. In life, and in battle.
The thought was comforting. As was the way he kept a vigilant eye on her during battles. At times, though, it seemed he kept too close an eye on her, and she's reminded of this as she casts a barrier around him mere seconds before a demon attacks from behind. The barrier shielded him in time, and Alya felt relief flood her body. After seemingly realizing what happened, Cullen blushed, and focused back on his own battles. The elf chuckled to herself at his antics. She was always happy to see that the dutiful warrior, and her oh-so easily flustered lover were in fact, the same person.