Chapter 4

The next day Cullen and Dorian rode beside each other into Redcliff. The place had changed since Cullen had been there last. Cullen pulled aside his team and placed them around the tavern where the meeting was to be held. After his team was in place he walked to the entrance with Dorian at his side.

"Are you sure you want to go alone? I could go with you," Cullen offered.

"You have done so much for me already. And if it's just to talk, I wouldn't want to involve you in the family drama," Dorian said.

"I don't like this. Something doesn't feel right," Cullen said.

Dorian felt the same, but he didn't want to worry him more.

"I'll be quick," Dorian said. He grasped Cullen's hand with a small squeeze. Cullen nodded and watched as Dorian entered the tavern.

Cullen held his breath as he walked slowly down the steps. He paced in front of a ledge, eventually sitting down, as he waited for Dorian to return.

"Uh oh," Dorian said as he walked into the tavern. "No one's here."

His heart beat faster. It was a trap. He had been so blind by his love for his father that he had hoped he would just talk.

"Dorian," a low familiar voice called to him. Dorian froze. His father descended the steps from the second story.

"Of course, there was never a family retainer to meet," Dorian muttered. "Father, why are you here?"

"I knew the instructions would not have been followed in my letter. The Inquisitor is an elf is she not?"

"What of it? She has done more to save this world than any human ever could," Dorian said defending her honor.

"Yes, yes. And my son a follower of hers. A true honor, you should be pleased. But I am not here to congratulate you. I am here to apologize," Dorian's father said.

"You, wait, what?" Dorian asked confused.

"You have a duty to your family, a duty you have neglected for many years. You are wasting time here in the south. I am sorry, but if you do not come peacefully, I will have to use force," he said.

Dorian reached for the staff on his back.

"That's all you ever cared about. You're fucking legacy!" Dorian spat.

"Think about what you're doing Dorian," he said.

"No you think! I am your son! I used to crave your love until you tried that ritual on me!" Dorian was now shouting. He had his staff ready.

"And now I have perfected it! You can be normal, my son."

"Why can't you just love me for who I am?" Dorian asked.

"It is you who does not love your family!" his father yelled.

Dorian was done listening to his father. He summoned a force spell to knock his father back, but he already had a barrier up.

"I'm sorry it had to come to this," his father said before flinging a binding spell at his son. Dorian froze, unable to move because of his father's magic. He felt his mana draining and he was powerless to fight back. He only hoped Cullen could feel the magic from outside.

Cullen rose to his feet. The hair on his arms stood up. He felt a slip of magic come from the tavern. He wasn't sure at first until he felt it again, this time stronger and longer.

Cullen unsheathed his sword and busted through the door. He saw Dorian frozen in place and a thin, blue line coming out of his body. An older man was pulling Dorian's mana from him using his staff. Cullen raised his sword to the man to strike him down. His sword fell and bounced off him.

A barrier.

Cullen summoned a holy smite but it failed. Without his lyrium, he was weak against mages. The elder man took notice to Cullen and began a fire spell in his direction.

Cullen ducked out of the way and rolled toward Dorian. He touched his shoulder but Dorian was unable to react. His eyes dropped to his waist and noticed his belt. He unhooked the pouch and found several vials of lyrium. He grabbed one without thinking and downed the contents. He felt his power return instantly.

He summoned a holy smite once more. This time all magic stopped in the room. Dorian was free from the binding spell but Cullen could not worry about him. He took his chance and plunged his sword into the gut of the magister who had bound Dorian. The man kneeled before Cullen

Cullen withdrew his sword from his gut. The magister grasped his stomach to stop the bleeding.

Cullen raised his sword once more, ready to swing and end his life.

"Stop!" Cullen heard Dorian call behind him. He turned to look at him, confused.

"Please don't kill him," Dorian pleaded.

"Dorian, are you mad? This man tried to kill you!" Cullen shouted.

"He is my father," Dorian said weakly.

Cullen slowly lowered his sword and looked down at Dorian's father. Dorian stood up and Cullen noticed him swaying and gripping the side of the chair for aid. He rushed to his side to help him. He grasped Dorian's arm and felt Dorian shaking.

"Let's go," Dorian said.

"We should bring him in," Cullen said.

"What for. He will never get what he wants," Dorian said.

"Dorian, he tried to kill you," Cullen said.

"And you stopped him. Let him live his miserable life," Dorian said.

Dorian already turned to the door, Cullen helped him forward. They opened the door to leave.

"I'm sorry, Dorian," his father said, still bleeding on the floor.

Cullen made sure to hold his smite. He didn't want to release it and take any chances.

"Keep your sorries," Dorian said.

Cullen let the door close behind them. He felt his smite coming to an end as they descended the steps. He felt Dorian go weak. His legs buckled and Dorian clung to Cullen to stay up. Cullen lifted him under his thighs and carried him to the safe house they had set up. Cullen's team saw Cullen carry Dorian away and followed silently behind them.

"I'm sorry Cullen," Dorian whispered.

Cullen carried him forward. "Why are you sorry?" he asked softly.

"You used lyrium," Dorian said.

Cullen smirked. "And I would do it again if it meant keeping you safe."

Dorian had passed out from exhaustion when Cullen entered their house. He laid him down and turned to see his team with water, rags, and healing potions to tend to Dorian.

Cullen was happy to have such a reliable team. "He is not injured, just drained of his mana. Let him rest, we can give him lyrium if he needs it when he wakes up."

"We're glad he's alright," a scout spoke up.

Cullen smiled. "Take the night off, but stay alert. I will be here if you need me."

"Yes commander."

The scouts saluted and left. Cullen turned to Dorian and sighed. He had almost lost him. If it hadn't been for his Templar training, he doubted he would have been able to help at all. He started a fire in the hearth and pulled a chair next to the cot Dorian was sleeping in. Cullen let the flames warm him. He felt cozy and tired. The last thing he saw was Dorian's disheveled hair before falling asleep on the edge of the cot.

Dorian woke in the middle of the night. He felt exhausted and still drained. He turned his head and saw Cullen asleep on his arm. He was leaning on the cot. Dorian slowly sat up. He brushed his fingers through Cullen's hair.

Cullen stirred and open his eyes. His eyes widened with surprise when he saw Dorian sitting up.

"Dorian, are you alright?" Cullen asked immediately.

Dorian let out a chuckle and smiled at Cullen. "I'm fine."

"I didn't expect you to be awake so soon," Cullen said taking Dorian's hands in his.

"Strongest Mage is the south remember?" Dorian said smiling at Cullen.

"How could I forget?" Cullen asked returning a smile to Dorian. "But how are you really?"

"I'm good as new, honest. Thank you," Dorian said.

The fire crackled making both men jump a bit. They laughed together, then Cullen rose from his chair and tended to the fire. Dorian swung his legs over the side of his cot and placed his bare feet on the floor. He tested his strength then stood up. He walked over to Cullen and wrapped his arms around his waist. Cullen felt his whole body warm up from the contact.

"Dorian," Cullen whispered his name.

"Cullen," Dorian said resting his head on Cullen's shoulder. He nuzzled his nose in Cullen's hair and kissed his neck.

"You're here," Cullen whispered.

Dorian spun Cullen around to face him. "I'm not going anywhere," Dorian said outlining Cullen's face with his hands.

Cullen dropped the fire iron and embraced Dorian, pulling him closer to kiss him. They both ventured toward the bed. Dorian pushed Cullen down and continued kissing him down his throat. Dorian lifted Cullen's shirt and kissed his stomach, trailing up to his chest.

Cullen was uncontrollably hard now and felt he could not keep his control much longer. Cullen threw his head back and let Dorian take full control of his body.

Dorian and Cullen laid together intwined in each other's arms and legs. Cullen kissed Dorian's forehead. Dorian smiled up at him but it disappeared. Cullen sensed something from Dorian.

"What's wrong?" Cullen asked.

Dorian sighed and got up. He grabbed for his clothes. He shouldn't have done this. His emotions were too involved. He had never been this emotionally involved before and he regretted it.

"Dorian?" Cullen asked, more worries now as he saw what Dorian was picking up.

Cullen threw back the sheets and got out of bed. He walked around the bed and grasped Dorian's arm.

"Dorian, wait please," Cullen pleaded.

Dorian stopped and looked back at Cullen.

"Don't go," Cullen said.

Dorian looked at him confused.

Cullen eased up on his grip around Dorian's arm. "Don't go," Cullen whispered.

"You want me to stay?" Dorian asked cautiously.

"Yes! Of course I want you to stay!" Cullen exclaimed.

"I've never...in Tevinter...I've never stayed before with any other man," Dorian said. "Relationships between men don't exist in Tevinter."

"I know. You said you would be mine, and that means staying after we just made sweet love for most of the night."

"I'm sorry, it was just natural for me to leave," Dorian said.

Cullen smiled. "This isn't Tevinter, remember?"

Dorian nodded.

Cullen wrapped his arms around Dorian and looked into his eyes.

"I love you Dorian," Cullen said suddenly.

Dorian's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

Cullen smiled. "You don't have to say it back, I just want you to know how much you mean to me."

Dorian melted in Cullen's arms. He dropped his clothes and let Cullen drag him back to the bed. This time, Dorian had no intention of leaving after.