Cullen sat in the tavern where, it seemed, most of the population of the town seemed to dwell. Apparently the Grey Warden had done something large in Redcliffe. The story changed with every tell, but the general gist was that he saved the town and castle from monsters, and saved the Arl. Not that anybody knew the Arl was in danger, but he was saved now.

There were rumors that the Grey Warden was starting an army, traveling around to try and fight Loghain and the Blight. Cullen found little interest in the gossip and the rumors. He could also do very much without all the ladies crowding him. Especially whenever Solona wasn't with him they found him very interesting. Perhaps because he was a traveler, a warrior, or maybe they just assumed he had soverigns to spare. Whatever the reason, Cullen was not impressed. Course, if he wanted better he knew he should have gone to a better bar.

Cullen looked back to his drink. He was still on his first. They didn't have coin to spend on much else. The plan, for what it was worth, to get out of Fereldan was shaping up mentally. And they needed coin. He savored the drink, mostly to have something to do as he waited. Tomorrow he was going to have to speak to a Mother to speak about sending him to another Circle. It'd be the easiest way to get out of the country. They'd have money for Solona and the Chantry would pay for him. Whether he actually went to the Circle would be a question he faced when they got out of Fereldan.

His largest problem was that he didn't lie very well. In fact, he was a horrible liar, over all. Solona had been helping him with the story and Cullen wasn't sure he liked that she was so competent with coming up with a believable lie. But what did he say to that? Cullen was more the abnormal one then her for that. Cullen gave another sigh, running his hand through his curly hair, fighting the knots with a flinch as he reclined back. Another drink of the swill and he decided he was done for the night.

He waited moments more before making his way up to his room. Because of the lie he and Solona were no longer able to share a room. And Cullen found himself staring at the wall that led to her room far too much to be healthy. He shook his head before pulling his shirt off and sitting on the bed. His side was fully healed, no longer even pulling against him when he moved. The scar was gruesome, but small.

Letting his hand fall away he crossed his legs and began his meditation. It would help calm him and make sleeping much easier. He had easily grown used to Solona at his side and he had problems now that she was forced in a room next to his. Besides his nerves were strained anyway and meditation did much better than alcohol for him.

Cullen jumped out of his skin when he felt small hands snake around his side and an incredibly soft- curvy body pressed against his back. He stiffened, the cold hands against skin making his gasp and shudder. "I just wanted to say good night," she whispered into his ear before letting go and disappearing like a ghost. He heard the door click shut. He let out a deep breath, closing his eyes and knowing his meditation was shot to the void.

"Good night," he whispered to the room, rubbing his eyes.

What little sleep he had during the night made him sluggish in the morning. Or perhaps the lack of sleep. But Cullen got up and dressed appropriately to meet with the Mother. Stubble gone, hair trimmed, clothes clean- at least he looked good. His stomach was eating itself. Rubbing the bridge of his nose he glanced again at the elderly lady as she finished up with the scroll on her desk. "Cullen, was it?" she asked finally, voice rough in her old years.

"Yes ma'am."

"And you're a Templar?"

"Yes. If I may-?"

"Of course. Tell me."

Cullen took a steadying breath. "I was out on a hunt for an apostate. The team got news of trouble brewing back in the Circle and we doubled back. However, the mage took advantage of it and began to pick us off. I survived long to get away from him. But- There was no reason to go back to the Tower."

He was such a horrible liar. She'd never believe him.

"I'll have the Templars check around for the apostate."

"Thank you," Cullen muttered. He hoped her tone wasn't as bad as it sounded. Plenty of Mothers just sounded mean and angry with you.

"And you?"

"I have the lyrium from the other Templars- my brothers. It has lasted me well enough."

"We'll resupply you, dear. What am I to do with you?" Her cobalt eyes narrowed. "I have two options. You are a Tower Templar. You're always needed. But to resign you is going to take more paperwork than is already on my desk. So, two options. I slip you under the desk to somebody who really needs you or you end up in a Chantry somewhere."

Cullen's eyes nearly bugged out of his head. "What?"

The Mother's eyes narrowed even further. "There are Circles, as I'm sure you know, that are very underhanded. They will take you, and accept that the paperwork is... severely lessened. Do you want to go back to a Circle? You have apparently done some very good work. You're hunting apostates, you heard about the Circle. You're obviously very good."

Cullen was pretty sure she didn't really know if he was any good. But she was saying she'd put that in his letter and everything would go smoothly. For some reason, knowing that the Mother was willing to be so underhanded- to twist the rules made Cullen feel even worse. If his stomach had been eating itself before hand it was devouring now.

"What other Circle, Mother?"

"Does it matter?"

Cullen swallowed. "I suppose not, Mother."

"Good. I'll write everything up and get you a place on a ship." She turned back to her desk work. Cullen bowed and made his way out of the Chantry so quick he might have been running. Outside he breathed in the salty air and pulled at the collar of his shirt. Maker help him- was he the only honest person around? He running his hands through his hair and shaking it loose.

"Went that well?" He turned to see Solona standing. She had been sitting in the shade of a tree as she dusted off her robes. "Are you going?"

Cullen reached forward before remembering she was just a friend. He let his hands drop and glanced at her shoes. "I am unsure where. She is sending a note to the inn for me later today when she works out where to send me."

"So dates and ships come with that," she mumbled, moving to step beside him. They began walking through the town towards someplace they could sit and relax. "Well, congratulations on being returned to the Circle, then, Cullen."

Cullen frowned. "You're upset?"

"No." She glanced up at him, shrugging. "You're happy aren't you? You like being a Templar."

Cullen nodded. He liked being a Templar. Mages needed to be watched and taught how to control their powers. They were extremely dangerous, not even counting that they could turn into abominations at any time and destroy everything. He liked protecting them and the people. It was something he was good at.

"Never mind. You're probably thinking it bothers me or something." She shook her head and smiled up at him. "Let's get something to eat." She walked ahead of him, leading him to where she wanted to eat, hips swaying in such a damnable way. Cullen licked his lips and said a prayer as he followed her. He was beginning to wonder if he was correct in thinking she did it all unconsciously. Every man always swore women were bred with the knowledge to do what she was doing to him.

While they ate she told him what she had done. He nearly chocked on his food when she said she had gone to the docks without him. When he told her she shouldn't have she just laughed and waved his concern away. That only infuriated him more. Cullen had fumed and pouted the rest of the meal and the walk back to the inn. Solona simply watched him, eyebrows raised and smiling. She didn't understand that the docks were dangerous. She didn't know what sailors did to women. Docks and slums weren't anywhere where she needed to be. Even if she was just looking at the ships and getting information. She should have waited for him.

He had deflated by the time he got to his room, but by then he was alone and it didn't mean anything. Cullen huffed, ire rising again when he realized that. He made his way through the room towards the tub to rinse off. Bathing always made him feel better. That or meditation. But Cullen had a feeling meditations weren't any good when it came to women and his problems with a particular one. Cullen knew, somewhere deep, that he was over protective.

But could she blame him?

She was a mage. She could be taken away at any time. Just one slip up. More than that life was dangerous outside the Tower. Cullen knew inside the Tower wasn't the most safe of places. There were Templars that abused their power before caught and removed. There were mages who were sociopaths of some sort or another. But it was different in the Tower to walking across the docks. Why she didn't understand that, Cullen didn't know.

Cullen soaked in the small tub- almost uncomfortable really- until the water was cold. It was a waste of water, but he felt better. Getting out of the tub he reached for the fluffy towel and covered his head with it to begin patting himself down. Leaving the puddle of water on the ground as he slung the towel around his neck to catch the water dripping from his hair as he made his way into the room. He forgot his pants in-

"Oh! I ah- thought you went out after... I was waiting for you to- Um. Wow." Solona sat on his bed- there was no chair in the room. Her eyes very wide and very much stuck at his crotch. Cullen whipped the towel down, fumbling to get it to cover him. Cullen stuttered, face so red he's sure all his freckles had disappeared. The only thing he can come up with to say is a long strangled sound that was more embarrassing and desperate than anything he wanted to say.

He hopes she- by a miracle- hadn't heart that.

She slid off the bed elegantly, face rosy. But by her expression it was in no way from embarrassment and made his cock twitch. Cullen tried to remember to breath since he was pretty sure he wouldn't be able to move. Her small hand, cool to the touch, slid up from his abdomen and he gasped. The slow trail was burning until the hands found purchase on his shoulders. She stood on her toes, stretching and press firmly against him as she pressed her lips to his.

He did the only thing he could- dipped down to give her easier access, one hand releasing the towel to thread through her hair and pull her closer. He ran his tongue across her teeth and over her tongue, drinking her in like a starving man. And then her hips rolled and his hand was pressed and-

Andraste's freckled tits- he gasped against her lips and the towel dropped.

What? Me? A tease? I have no idea what you could be talking about. :D

So, it's only what, been FOREVER since I updated, huh? Yeah, but absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that. No, my muse went and decided that it wanted some Dynasty Warriors loving, and the stupid fickle thing didn't want to write this. I think it's because I'm scared of ruing the story with my (possibly bad) smut (my confidence- I have none). Usually I'm not scared of smut, but this has sort of become like my baby and I don't want to ruin it. So a lot of this was somewhat forced because I refused to run away from the smut! Anyway, sexiness should be next chapter. If, ya know, you hadn't guessed that.

Reviews will help my confidence and so I should get it done faster (hint hint).