Cullen woke up to Trevelyan wrapped in his arms, one of her hands intertwined with his. After he had convinced her to eat, they sat up talking about anything and everything. It was not long, however, until she drifted off, exhausted from her experiences in Redcliffe. Before she fell asleep, she took Cullen's hand and snuggled into his coat. He had never slept so comfortably.
He sat still for a time, using it to take in the Herald's beauty. Her hair was unruly, a result of the chaos surrounding the previous evening. Curls, something he didn't even know Trevelyan possessed until the other day, twisted through her locks, cutting through one another and reaching just past her shoulders. Her lips curved into a small smile, making Cullen wonder what she was dreaming of. The one hand not holding his hand was grasping at his undershirt loosely, a gesture that was somewhat uncomfortable but not at all unwelcome. She was in a dark red sweater that reached her mid thigh, and knee high socks, leaving a great deal of her tantalizing legs exposed. Trevelyan was not tall by any means, but her legs stretched to the end of her bed, forcing Cullen to follow every curve of her body with his eyes on the way up.
When he returned his gaze to her face, he realized that she had been looking up at him for quite some time. "Enjoying the show?" she smirked, pulling her hand from his and slipping it around him in an embrace. "Did you sleep alright?" she inquired.
"Yes, this was quite better than last time," he chuckled. "How about you?"
"I was safe and sound in a Commander's arms, what do you think?"
He looked down at her and pressed their foreheads together. "Good," he whispered, his tone deeper than he intended. She must have sensed it. As her thumbs drew beneath his undershirt, she drew her face even closer to his. Just as Cullen closed his eyes, her door swung open, causing her to jump.
"Herald, it's-oh!" Leliana's familiar voice rang out. "Sorry, Herald. I was unaware you were not alone.
A blush spread up his cheeks, and for the first time when he looked at Trevelyan she was visibly blushing as well. "It's alright," she stuttered, attempting to clear the hunger building in her throat. "What is it?"
"Well I was hoping we could all gather and discuss the strategy for closing the Breach this morning, so by the evening it may be done."
"Ah," she said, and Cullen thought he sensed an undertone of sadness. "Very well, we'll meet in the war room in ten minutes, yes?" With that and a nod of Victoria's head, Cullen rose from her bed, ready to kill Leliana, and walked out with the spymaster.
They walked silently into the war room where they were greeted by Cassandra and Josephine. "What took so long? Where is the Herald?" Cassandra inquired. Interrogated, more like.
"The Inquisitor is getting ready, she just woke up. I had difficulty finding Cullen, as he was sleeping in the Inquisitor's room," Leliana lilted, humor running through her voice.
Cullen and Cassandra groaned at the same time, though Cassandra's was more of confusion than frustration. Josephine was joining in on Leliana's merriment when Victoria walked in.
"All right," she sighed, still half asleep. Her hair had been pulled back in order to tame it, though parts were still down by her face. "What's the plan?"
"The best of the mages are ready, Herald," Cullen explained, trying his best to remain professional despite his fellow advisors' teasing. "Be certain you are prepared for the assault on the Breach. We cannot know how you will be affected."
"We start our trek to the temple in 3 hours then. In the meantime I'll make sure our companions are all properly outfitted and ready. They need to know that this is something they do not have to see through if they're scared." Always thinking of other people, Cullen thought, bringing a smirk to his face.
This time Cullen was the one to grab Trevelyan on her way out of the war room. "Trevelyan-Victoria," he began, correcting himself. No matter how professional he had to remain in front of others, he could not remain that way when they were alone. "My statement from our last war room meeting still stands-you better survive. A world without you is, frankly, one not worth saving."
She let the blush rise to her cheeks. "Plus," she added, "I feel like we have some unfinished business to attend to when-not if-I survive the closing of the Breach. Time to go be the Herald." She smirked and left the room, and brought all of Cullen's confidence with her.
Victoria always managed to surprise herself. Despite all her doubt and panic, she was able to close the Breach. She stared down at her left hand, marveling at the ability that was pooled in the center of her palm. Closing the Breach was only a small part of the battle that the Inquisition had to fight, but it was a start. She could finally relax a bit.
She watched the refugees of Haven dancing around a fire pit, revelling in their success, when her mind darted to Cullen. They were so close to finally confirming their feelings in the morning; though, now that she was significantly less useful in terms of saving the world, she wondered what use she would be to him. She was accustomed to people desiring her for her power. Though the nobles of Ostwick did not hold much, many tried to marry her in an attempt to rank up. Why should Cullen be different? But he is different, she reasoned. Surely if they could just talk-
Her thoughts were interrupted by Cassandra at her side. "Solas confirms the heavens are scarred but calm. The Breach is sealed," she stated triumphantly. "We've reports of lingering rifts, and many questions remain, but this is a victory."
Cassandra looked like she could hug Victoria, but she knew that the Seeker would be too prideful. She wrapped her arms around Cassandra for just a second and offered a smile, which Cassandra returned.
"Word of your heroism has spread."
"You know how many were involved," Victoria scoffed. "Luck put me at the center."
"A strange kind of luck," Cassandra chuckled. "I'm not sure if we need more or less. But you're right. This was a victory of alliance. One of the few in recent memory. With the Breach closed, that alliance will need new focus."
Just then, a warning rang out through Haven and Victoria saw Cullen running toward the center. "Forces approaching! To arms!" he shouted, worry obvious in his eyes.
Dorian and Solas responded immediately, accompanying Victoria and Cassandra to find out what was going on. When they reached Cullen, Josephine and Leliana were already there. "Cullen?" Cassandra inquired immediately.
"One watchguard reporting. It's a massive force. The bulk over the mountain.
"Under what banner?" Josephine asked.
"None."
"None?"
Just then, there was a banging on Haven's doors. "I can't come in unless you open!" A young voice shouted. Victoria, trusting the voice instinctively, opened the doors and was greeted by a young man in a rather large hat. Cullen was by her side immediately, sword drawn. "I'm Cole. I came to warn you. To help. People are coming to hurt you. You probably already know."
"What is this? What's going on?" Victoria questioned.
"The templars come to kill you."
"Templars? Is this the Order's response to our talks with the mages? Attacking blindly?" Victoria looked back at Cullen and could see the hurt in his eyes. The templars were his people, and in many ways still are. To see them become this...she wanted to hug him, but there was no time.
"The Red Templars went to the Elder One" Cole explained. "You know him? He knows you. You took his mages. There" Cole pointed to the mountaintop, where a massive amount of forces were gathering.
"I know that man," Cullen remarked. "But this Elder One…"
"He's very angry that you took his mages."
"Cullen!" Victoria shouted, "Give me a plan! Anything!"
"Haven is no fortress. If we are to withstand this monster we must control the battle. Get out there and hit that force. Use everything you can!" His eyes met hers with fear and desperation before he broke off, withdrawing his sword once more. "Mages! You-you have sanction to engage them! That is Samson, he will not make it easy! Inquisition! With the Herald! For your lives! For all of us!"
Victoria helped to clear both turrets and launch them as quickly as possible, causing avalanches to fall over a great deal of the forces. When they thought the battle was over, a dragon appeared overhead. This would not end well. Victoria and her party headed back to Haven, trying to save as many of Haven's people as possible.
Victoria was relieved to see Cullen still alive at Haven's gates. "Move it, move it!" he shouted, ushering in the last of the surviving soldiers. "We need everyone back to the Chantry! It's the only building that might hold against...that beast!" He looked to Victoria then, defeat apparent in his eyes. "At this point...just make them work for it."
They assisted as many people as possible on their way to the Chantry, and rushed in, Cole holding Chancellor Roderick up as best as he could. "He tried to stop a templar. The blade went deep. He's going to die."
"What a charming boy," Chancellor Roderick muttered as Cole helped him to a seat.
"Herald," she heard Cullen call. "Our position is not good. That dragon stole back any time you might have earned us."
"I've seen an Archdemon," Cole explained. "I was in the Fade but it looked like that."
"I don't care what it looks like. It has cut a path for that army. They'll kill everyone in Haven!"
"The Elder One doesn't care about the village. He only wants the Herald."
"If you know why he wants me, just say it."
"I don't. He's too loud. It hurts to hear him," Cole said. "He wants to kill you. No one else matters, but he'll crush them, kill them anyway. I don't like him."
"You don't like…?" Cullen questioned, returning his gaze to Victoria. "Herald, there are no tactics to make this survivable. The only thing that slowed them was the avalanche. We could turn the remaining trebuchets, cause one last slide."
"We're overrun. To hit the enemy, we'd bury Haven."
"We're dying, but we can decide how. Many don't get that choice." She marveled at his bravery. However, Chancellor Roderick suggested a path that the refugees could take to safety. Victoria would have to draw the dragons attention; death was certain.
"What about it, Cullen?" Victoria asked. "Will it work?"
"Possibly. If he shows us the path. But what of your escape?" Cullen looked at her hopefully, clearly wishing she would give him the answer he desired. When it was obvious that she wouldn't he whispered, "Perhaps you will surprise it, find a way…"
She ran to him then, hugging him for what was probably the last time. Then she pressed their foreheads together. One final moment for the both of them. When Victoria broke away, Cullen turned to the people in the Chantry. "Inquisition! Follow Chancellor Roderick through the Chantry! Move!"
"Herald...if you are meant for this, if the Inquisition is meant for this, I pray for you. They'll load the trebuchets. Keep the Elder one's attention until we're above the tree line. If we are to have a chance-if you are to have a chance-let that thing hear you."
It had been hours since the Inquisition made camp. There was still no sign of Trevelyan. There was nothing Cullen hated more than the idea of leaving her at the mercy of the Elder One and his dragon. What else could he have done? There are a million ways this could have gone, maybe there was a way the Herald could have survived if it wasn't for him thinking too narrowly.
That was when Cullen saw a group approaching. He took note of Cassandra, Dorian, Solas...but no Victoria. His heart sank into his stomach. That was it. He lost her. He collapsed into the snow, staring down and fighting back the tears. A few minutes later he saw someone kneel down in front of him. Cassandra wrapped him in a rare embrace. When they separated, she looked him in the eyes. "Cullen, she may have made it. We were turned away by a blast, but if anyone will survive, it's her."
He wanted to believe it, but when no one arrived hours later, his hope dwindled even further. He stared out into the abyss, until he could swear he saw a figure walking toward the camp. He rose, recognizing the posture-it was Victoria. Before he knew it, he was running to her, Cassandra and Maker knows who else following behind him. She was walking slow, her mark pulsing, pain obvious in her features. Just as she was about to collapse, he grabbed her, throwing his coat around her and bringing her into his arms. Cullen would never let her go again. He brought her to the first free cot and had Mother Giselle wrap blankets around the both of them. He wanted to do all he could to keep her warm. She was asleep in his arms now, breathing slow. Immediately Solas, Dorian and Vivienne rushed to them, Dorian bringing his flaming hands as close as he could to Victoria without burning her. Solas and Vivienne did the best healing magic they knew. After an hour or so, her body temperature returned to normal as well as her breathing.
Cullen sat for what seemed like an infinite amount of time waiting for Victoria to wake, never taking her out of his arms. Eventually he felt her stirring, and he rubbed her back, comforting her as best as she could as she opened her eyes. She looked up at him. "Cullen-"
He interrupted her by placing his lips on hers. He did not push himself on her; she was in no condition to kiss him back. "Victoria, never do that again."
This elicited the smallest of chuckles from her, before she drifted back to sleep in his arms, one hand clutching his shirt as it did the night before.