It's a few weeks before Brielle returns to Haven with Bull and the Chargers and she can't wait to relax and catch up with Cullen. Before they even enter the gate she finds him with his soldiers training in the field, rides up to him and dismounts.

"Ser Cullen!" she calls to him, her voice muffled by her helmet. She continues for a few moments as she approaches him before Cullen starts laughing and knocks on her helmet, unable to understand what she is saying. She pulls it off and laughs, blushing. "Sorry heh… I said do you want to get some drinks with me later when you're free?"

"Sounds good, we'll be done here in about another hour. Meet me in my office when you're ready?" He smiles as he looks her over, he hasn't seen her in full armor before and she looks quite impressive for such a petite woman. He hasn't seen her in action either and he is curious to see how much she'd learned in her Templar training.

Brielle notices him looking over her armor and she cocks her head to the side. "What?" she asks suspiciously.

He chuckles and shakes his head as if to dismiss her question, "Nothing, it's just odd seeing you like this. Not a little girl anymore."

"Yeah… well, you're a lot less scrawny than I remember too." She retorts jokingly. And handsome, she thinks, has he always been so handsome? She remembers the older girls from the Chantry having crushes on him, but that was during her 'boys are gross' phase and he was like family to her so maybe she just hadn't noticed. "I'm going to change and get cleaned up. You should change too; I haven't seen you out of this armor since I've been here!"

She remounts her horse and heads to her room to bathe and change out of her armor; she's been in it for days and now feels as if it was a part of her, and not in a good way. She sighs in relief as she removes each piece of heavy plate and sets them in the corner before sloughing off her under padding and starting a bath. The warmth of the water seeps into her muscles and she instantly feels better as she scrubs the dirt and dried blood from her skin. Once her hair and body are clean she gets out, slathering herself in a healing balm scented with jasmine, easing the pain of the many bruises she'd acquired while on the road and also making her smell wonderfully feminine. She pulls on a simple tunic and leggings and heads over to Cullen's office.

She finds him at his desk writing a report and is pleased to see that he had changed out of his armor and into casual linen pants and a shirt, she likes this look. "Are you ready?" She asks, her voice startling him.

"Oh! Yes… I was just finishing up some things." He replies, setting down what he is working on and moving around the desk to join her and extending his arm.

Brielle links her arm in his with a grin and they head to the tavern. When Cullen and Brielle enter the bar it is nearly empty and she takes a seat near the hearth where it was warmest while he grabs them drinks from the bar.

Cullen takes a seat next to her when he returns from the bar and hands her a tankard of ale. "Thank you! You know, I never thought I'd get used to the taste of ale, but it sure is a saving grace on nights like this." She smiles at him over the rim of her cup as she takes a drink and then levels an intense gaze at him. "Now, Cullen… I know you've been dreading this but… you have to tell me everything that's happened while we've been apart." She lets out a snort as he rolls his eyes and empties his cup of ale before giving her a smirk and beginning to catch her up on the last eight years.

She listens as he tells her the events at the Ferelden Circle and Kirkwall. It is so good just to hear his voice, to have his eyes looking back into hers with affection and familiarity instead of the reverence or, alternately, disdain she receives from others. Brielle takes in his features as he speaks, the way the firelight flickers in his golden eyes, how he scrunches up his nose when talking about something that make him angry and especially the scar that tears upwards across his lip. Although she feels terrible for admiring his physicality while he is telling her of his hard times, she has to admit, if only to herself, that he is magnificent. He has definitely grown since she's last seen him; after all, he was only eighteen. Now he is taller and broad, heavily muscled yet trim. She can't help noticing the flexing of his muscles beneath his shirt as he moves or how strong his thighs look through the thin linen of his pants.

She starts to feel warm and finishes off her ale, excusing herself to go get them another drink. At the bar she pulls at her collar, trying to cool herself and also clear her mind of these thoughts of her friend. Anxiously sipping her ale as she returns to Cullen she sets the drinks down in front of them, and as she returns to her seat she is surprised when he reaches over and takes her hands in his.

"Brie, I hope… I hope you can forgive me. For not being there… for the things I've done, who I've become."

His pained expression he wears makes her heart ache; the things he'd experienced in the past ten years had been traumatic and clearly burdened him greatly. She squeezes his hands in return and places a chaste kiss on his knuckles. "Cullen, there is nothing to forgive. I only wish that I could have been there for you. All we have is now, and now we are together again." Brie pulls him into an embrace, her hands unwittingly stroking his back comfortingly as she rests her chin on his shoulder.

"I know your heart Cullen, you're a good man. The best of them." She pulls back and gives him a gentle smile, "I've always loved you regardless of what you've done, and nothing will ever change that. Even disappearing for eight years," she chuckles before adding in a chastising tone, "but if you ever do that again… I'll just be forced to track you down and have Mia help me kick your ass."

Cullen scoffs and smirks in return, "You know I love you as well, and I don't plan on going anywhere. Though, it would take more than you and my sister to take me down." His grin widens tauntingly as he drinks from his tankard.

"Oh really?" Brielle quirks a brow at him. He shrugs and leans back, lacing his fingers behind his head, still wearing that cocky smile. She eyes him obviously; eyes dragging over his abdomen, noting how his relaxed position leaves him vulnerable to attack as he lounges in his chair.

Her coy smile unnerves him as she leans forward, "You know… I could have you on the floor in seconds. And all I need are these!" She laughs wickedly while wiggling her fingers at him, reaching for his stomach.

Cullen immediately stiffens, bringing his arms down and around his torso to shield himself. "Brie… I swear on Holy Andraste herself, if you tickle me in front of everyone… I'll just have to kill you."

Brie stifles a giggle as she finishes off her drink. "Okay, okay… Commander." She sighs in defeat, her eyes still sparkling with mirth. "I won't embarrass you in front of your men."

"You know, I had been thinking it would be good for you to join us for some sparring. That is… if you wanted a chance to really take me down." He smiles smugly and quirks his brow, challenging her.

"You're on!" Her eyes brighten and she smiles excitedly, "I always wished you were there during my training, I used to love watching you spar. And now it'll be fair, instead of you just letting me beat you up."

He laughs heartily at that, "Brie, you were tiny! It was like being attacked by a small monkey!"

"Shush." She pouts at him, "Ima get you this time around."

"We shall see." He says, and then walks over to the bar to get them another round.

Brielle watches him walk away, noticing how the eyes of most of the ladies in the room also followed him. She laughs softly to herself; he probably has the attention of every unmarried woman in Haven. She can't blame them; he was an amazing man, smart, handsome and strong but also thoughtful and kind. She couldn't ask for a better advisor or friend, and whoever got to have more with him would be incredibly lucky indeed. Although she wishes for him to be happy, the thought of him being with someone stirs some uncomfortable feelings for her and she isn't quite sure where they are coming from. She tells herself it's just the fear of losing him again, of him not having time for her or setting her aside. Surely it can't be jealousy, she's never even considered being with him, their relationship just wasn't like that. Besides, she can't imagine anyone being good enough for him, especially herself.

He returns and they chat for a few moments about the memories of their shared past while drinking their ale before falling into bemused silence. The drinks have Brielle feeling warm and slightly fuzzy, lessening her inhibitions even as Cullen's close proximity makes her heart beat considerably faster than normal. Her eyes drag over his body almost involuntarily; she had trained with many handsome and fit men while with the Templars but she hadn't really paid much attention, but for some reason he has her transfixed. Maybe it's the way he moves; smooth and sure like a big cat, or how he levels his gaze at her during war meetings while he presents his reports. But it isn't as if the allure of him can somehow be summed up into a few actions or qualities. As her eyes move up to his hands resting on his thighs she thinks about the way he is always gripping the pommel of his sword during intense discussions, straining his belt and driving her to distraction. Her mind continues in a downward spiral as her attention moves up along his tapered waist and the broad expanse of his chest, she finds herself wishing she had tickled him after all –for the sole reason of touching him. Sweet Maker, she thinks, I like Cullen.

To her dismay, when she looks up into his eyes they were locked on hers; he has been watching her the whole time. Normally she would have instantly looked away in embarrassment, but the ale has left her feeling extra bold so instead she holds his gaze. His pupils are blown wide; making his eyes look like black pools rimmed with gold and now her heart is beating so hard she thinks it might burst through her chest. Unable to stop herself, she reaches out and touches his face, lightly tracing her fingertip over the scar crossing his lip.

"How'd you get this?" She asks softly, her voice coming out breathier than normal.

Cullen's breath hitches at her gentle touch and he stammers through his reply. "It… it uh... was nothing. Just a close call with a throwing blade." He swallows hard as she continues tracing his lips with her fingertips and smiles lazily.

Brielle bites her lip as she admires his, fighting the urge to close the distance between them and kiss him. He is breathing slow and raggedly now between slightly parted lips, his eyes boring into her in her moment of weakness. Her heavy lidded eyes flick up to his intense stare and, as if just realizing what she was doing, inhales sharply, pulling her hand back quickly as if she's been burned.

"Maker's breath," she says quietly, blushing at her own behavior. "I'm sorry, Cullen… I think I've had too much ale." Brielle laughs softly and looks down to try and hide her embarrassment.

"Please… don't be." Cullen tilts her chin up to look at him and he smiles gently at her, his eyes still dark and heated.

Brielle smiles back at him, a fluttery feeling stirring her belly. "I… I should get some rest. It's been a long few weeks." Before standing, she leans over and placed a tender wisp of a kiss on his cheek. She pulls away slowly, she makes herself, lest she fully give into temptation and kiss his beckoning lips. "I'll join you for training tomorrow morning if you'd like."

Cullen looks up at her and nods, "Yes… that's… sounds good, see you tomorrow." He sighs at his nervous stuttering and rubs at the back of his neck as she walks away. "Goodnight Brie."

"Sweet dreams, Cullen." She smiles to him as she walks out of the tavern and closes the door behind her, leaning against it and resting her hand over her heart in a futile attempt to slow its beating. Brielle never thought she would see Cullen again, let alone be working with him, and least of all falling in love with him. Shit, she was lucky enough to find the one person she has left in the world and how she just has to go and ruin it by having a crush on him.