Cullen sighed and stepped back into the shadow of the recess a little more. The main hall looked spectacular – candles and delicacies covered every table; small lights dancing like fireflies, conjured by mages, twinkled from the ceiling and corners of the room. A band of musicians were playing lively songs of the Inquisitor's deeds, but the sound was muffled by the chat and laughter of all the guests.

Maker, so many people. He reached up a hand to rub his neck, feeling the noticeable absence of his maned coat and armour. Without it he felt vulnerable – the black and gold ensemble Josephine had given him to wear was nice enough, but after years of living in armour he couldn't shake the feeling of how easy it would be to push a sword through him.

He stepped back again until he could feel the cold stone wall against his back, and crossed his arms. From his hiding spot, he studied the other guests. Orlesian, Fereldan, a few Antivan. He cast his glance to a burst of deep throated laughter on the other side of the room. Iron Bull was surrounded by Orlesian ladies, fanning themselves and tittering. Cullen smiled slightly and shook his head. I wonder how many of them he'll convince into his bed tonight. Then again, they probably don't need much convincing.

He shifted slightly against the wall and scratched his stubble. It had been two weeks since he'd spent any proper time with Aarien, this infernal ball had been taking up most of her time. Since then it had been stolen kisses in alcoves; a wink from across the courtyard; a brush of a hand in passing. He sighed and closed his eyes. The last time they'd been together was when...A slow smile crept onto his face. We were in the store by the kitchen an-

"Sorry to interrupt your day dreaming Curly, but you looked like you needed this" Startled out of his reverie, Cullen opened his eyes to see Varric standing before him holding out a cup of wine.

"Oh...er...thank you" He took the cup and took a long, deep draught. He rolled the thick, spiced liquid around his tongue, and swallowed to feel the resulting burning warmth spread down his throat. "They really went all out, this is the expensive stuff"

"Ah well, you know nobles, not happy unless they're consuming gold in some way" Varric crossed Cullen to lean against the wall beside him. "You know, hiding here isn't working. You've been spotted" He gestured towards a gaggle of nobles who were pointedly looking their way, whispering and giggling.

Cullen groaned and placed his head in his free hand. "Not again" Varric chuckled "Well, you are the Commander of the Inquisition forces, the people who saved the world. You're a certified catch!" Cullen shifted uneasily, clasping his wine cup with both hands. "I do not want to be caught, especially by any of them" He nodded towards the packed hall. Varric chuckled into his cup "Well that's not strictly true is it Curly...there's someone here that's well and truly caught you"

Cullen felt his cheeks redden "I...ah..."

"You'll have to keep an eye on her this evening, there's many a noble suitor in here that's hoping to tame the lioness" Varric gulped down the last of his wine.

Cullen frowned towards the dwarf, forgetting his blush. "But she's literally just defeated Corypheus, saved them all - why would they harass her now?"

Varric shrugged "You know the type of person, like a vulture circling – any chance for a position of influence or power, they take it"

Cullen's frown deepened, and finished his wine in one swig. "I understand that, but you don't think she'd..." He paused, even the thought of finishing that sentence was painful.

Varric clapped a hand on his arm and leaned in. "I don't think it's her you have to worry about lover boy. What's a lioness without her lion anyway?" He released Cullen's arm and chuckled "I'm off to find more wine" he declared and started to move off from the wall.

Cullen glanced over to the nobles that had spotted him, realised that they had inched themselves closer and felt a little desperate. He held out an arm to block Varric's path "Please don't leave me to -" He was interrupted by a staff banging on the floor, his gaze directed to an announcer on the throne dais. The hall hushed to silence, and announcer cleared his throat.

"Introducing Inquisitor Aarien Trevelyn, slayer of Corypheus and vanquisher of rifts; queller of rebellions and healer of lands; Herald of Andraste and advisor to Divine Victoria"

Cullen couldn't help but smile. Josephine has laid it on thick this time. He glanced round the hall, all of the guests enraptured. He ducked his head to hide the smile, then turned back to the dais. The vision he saw made his stomach tighten and turn. Aarien stood before the throne, firefly light twinkling around her. The dress she wore was a shimmering pale gold, catching the light in a thousand places with every slight movement. It was cut just below her shoulders, leaving the creamy skin of her neck and collarbone exposed. Her long, chestnut hair had been plaited and pinned to her head – some small wisps had escaped that he longed to touch, to tuck back. Over the top of the dress she wore a black, over-bust leather corset that was embroidered in gold with Inquisition heraldry. Around her waist was a small matching belt to which a golden dagger was sheathed. She looked around the room with a small smile on her face, shifting uncomfortably a little at the attention. Her gaze found his, and her smile brightened. He felt himself being pulled towards her with that gaze; unknowingly he took a few steps forward. She winked at him, then found her attention drawn by Josephine who had appeared next to her.

"Careful Curly, if you open your mouth any more, a dragon will move in and make a nest" Pulled back into the present, Cullen found himself gripping the back of a chair that was a good few paces from where he had been standing. And he did indeed have his mouth open. Closing it, he released the chair to rub his neck.

"Yes, well...ah", he sighed, reddening once more and turned to Varric "Can you blame me?". Varric shook his head as his body shook with suppressed laughter.

"Sometimes I forget who you are, and all I see is a love-sick teenager" He picked up Cullen's cup and his. "I'll go find us some more wine" Cullen scowled at him as he walked past, then turned to see where Aarien was. All he caught was a glimpse of shoulder, a trail of gold fabric, as it disappeared within a throng of people.

Returning to his position against the wall, he studied the floor while thinking. I may not even see her again tonight. He glanced up to see another glint of gold amongst the crowd as the chat and music restarted with a fervour. But by the Maker, I'll be damned if I don't try.

Cullen stared into his wine cup, licking his lips to try to remove the puckered feeling. How many of these have I had? He looked out from his new hiding spot beside one of the large lion statues that were interspersed throughout the hall. Searching for Aarien had gone as far as skirting around the room, never committing to enter the sea of bodies before him. Just getting to this position he had been propositioned three times, and someone had most definitely squeezed his backside (though when he had turned around, he saw a rather inebriated Dorian swaggering off with a smirk on his face). All in all though it was a good party; everyone seemed to be smiling and more than a little drunk. Varric had abandoned him to go and convince drunken nobles to play Wicked Grace; Iron Bull was having drinking contests with the Antivans; and he could see Sera slipping cooked tomatoes into the pockets of the particularly pompous. He should probably stop her, but looking at who she was doing it to, probably won't.

He cast a cursory glance around the room, then back to his cup, swirling the liquid around. That damn woman. She was like a spirit caught between worlds, slipping into reality then disappearing again. Followed by raucous laughter or a sudden hush of quiet, she was present but nowhere to be seen. By him anyway. He sank back against the wall, hypnotised by the small whirlpool in his cup.

So engrossed with his wine, he only noticed someone beside him when a glint of gold caught the corner of his eye. He quickly looked up into the amused pale blue eyes of the Inquisitor.

"I never took you as one to drown your sorrows Commander" Her lip quivered with a suppressed smirk. Caught off guard at having her suddenly in front him, he stuttered.

"It's...I'm not...just..." He rubbed his neck, using the time to string together a sentence "I was just lost in thought" He sighed with relief at finding words, and turned to appreciate her fully. What is it about this woman that turns me into a quivering wreck? Up close her attire was all the more beautiful yet intimidating at the same time. Aarien smiled at him, making his stomach flip once more.

"Nothing too serious I hope" She cast a glance around the room and stepped closer to the wall, and to him. "Is this a good hiding spot, can you fit me in too?" She grinned up at him, their arms brushing close together.

"I'm afraid no where is safe in here it seems" He returned her smile with a warm one. Remembering his manners, he gently reached with his free hand to take hers, raising it towards his lips "May I say Inquisitor, you look absolutely stunning" He went to kiss her hand, but stopped when he felt her resist.

"I...really don't think you want to kiss that. Consider who else has" He looked up to see a disgusted look on her face. Laughing softly, he considered her hand in his. Cullen turned it to expose the wrist upwards, and planted a soft kiss there. He could feel the slight increase of her pulse as his lips brushed across, and he breathed in the slightly perfumed scent of her skin. Emboldened by...however many cups of wine, he proceeded to place delicate kisses up her forearm, slowly pulling her closer towards him.

"Cullen"

"Mmm?"

"Half the room is watching" He rose his head to look into the eyes of several giggling noblewomen. He quickly dropped Aarien's hand and stood up straight. Most of the people around them were looking on with interest. "Sorry, I...got carried away" She moved to step in front of him, blocking the view of most of the onlookers. Aarien took his hand in hers.

"Don't ever apologise for that" she said a little huskily, "Just a better time and place maybe?" Clearing her throat, she examined him from head to toe. "You look...amazing. Though has it occurred to you that we match?" Cullen blinked blankly at her "We do?"

"Both in black and gold" She sighed and looked about behind her. "Josephine's doing no doubt" Aarien turned back and leaned in conspiratorially, "You should have seen what they were going to make me wear originally. It was orange" He chuckled, savouring her being close once more. A few more tendrils of hair had broken free from her plaits, and it was taking all his willpower not to touch her.

"I'm sure it wasn't that bad"

"Oh yes it was, be very thankful for this" she gestured to her dress.

"I am every moment" Cullen said coyly, holding her in a lingering gaze. She lost her composure a little then, taking a sharp intake of breath, but regained it to tear away from his gaze to point towards the corner of the room.

"Over there is the General of the Fereldan army and his second-in-command. They said they'd like to talk to you" Cullen looked to where she was pointing to see two men who looked almost as uncomfortable as him. Trust her to find the two people I can talk to. He brought his gaze back to rest on her, and bowed his head a little.

"Thank you, Aarien"

She smiled warmly, then huffed in annoyance. "I suppose I should go back and mingle" She considered him for a moment before a flash of mischief appeared in her eyes and a seductive smirk found her lips.

"Just one thing before I go..."

"Mhmm?" Cullen had taken a mouthful of wine to prepare himself for the venture across the hall. She leaned in very close, her mouth near his ear.

"Under this dress I'm wearing absolutely nothing...no small clothes...nothing" she whispered, before leaning back.

His eyes widened and the wine caught in his throat, resulting in a coughing fit. Laughing she walked away, turning back to wink at him, then carried on. Stooping and coughing, his eyes still managed to linger on the sway of her hips and the way her dress draped over the curve of her behind. Nothing... He straightened, muttering apologies to the nearby guests he had startled. Andraste save me. Once again she vanished into nothing, a hint of her perfume lingered in the air, the emptiness of the space around him becoming more apparent. Taking a deep breath, he stepped towards the Fereldan General, making sure at all times, he knew where Dorian was.