Hi everyone! Thanks for reading!

A quick note: This chapter starts in Cullen's POV but switches to Ellie after the line break.

A not as quick but more important note: This chapter marks the end of me using the in-game canon between the Inquisitor and Cullen. While the actual main plot of the story will stay the same, the romantic sub-plot between the two will be changed from here on out. Hopefully that doesn't deter anyone, but as far as I'm concerned, if you wanted a direct relay of the game content, you might as well just play the game instead. As much as we all love their little rendezvous on the battlements, I feel there is so many more options to be had. We've all played the game and we know how things progress between Cullen and the Inquisitor and while I enjoy it as much as the next person... Change can be fun. I also am changing the back-story for the Inquisitor quite significantly. I know what the game wants us to think about Trevelyan's past but I couldn't help but think that their version was rather... Boring. So I decided to take some liberties.

Any feedback on my take of a more interesting Inquisitor and Quizzie/Cullen romance would be greatly appreciated!

Enjoy!

Cullen was shocked at his own words. He knew they were true, Ellie deserved so much more than to be paraded around as some man's prize. She was wise, caring, courageous and independent, not to mention intoxicatingly beautiful. She deserved someone who truly valued who she was, not what her title meant. The thought that her parents only saw her as a pawn they could use to better their interests, making her suffer the fate of being in a loveless marriage to some noble idiot that wouldn't appreciate her for all that she is, made his blood boil.

What Cullen couldn't believe was that he actually verbalized how he felt about the matter to her. It may have only been a simple sentence, but when he spoke those words he was horrified by his candor. The fact that her expression was unreadable only panicked him further. He watched as her eyebrows knit tightly together, her eyes filled with thoughts and emotions he couldn't place. He cursed himself over and over again in his mind.

He had to do something, he had to change the subject in order to distract her from his mistake. When Cullen offered that they should begin their game, he noticed it shook her from whatever her train of thought was. She mutely nodded to him and he moved one of his pawns on the board.

They played in quiet for a few minutes. The Commander tried desperately to focus on the game, to come up with a strategy but his mind constantly drifted back to the woman sitting in front of him and what she must think of him now.

Granted, the night before she let something slip that was far more forward and suggestive than anything that had transpired between them before. He remembered her words clearly as well as the distinctly heated glances and subtle touches they had shared that night. Cullen had convinced himself that it was the alcohol, that deep down she didn't really want someone as damaged as him. He was beyond thankful she opened up to him now, but her reaction only confirmed Cullen's fear.

It was her soft spoken voice that pulled him out of his self-loathing thoughts. "What of your family? You said you left them when you were thirteen?"

A slight smile appeared on his face at her interest in him and at the fact that their entire game wouldn't be in silence. "That's right. Between serving as a Templar and joining the Inquisition, I haven't seen them in years. I do not write them as often as I should, but I miss them."

She nodded in understanding, stealing a glance up at him for the first time since they began playing. "Are they in Ferelden still?"

"They moved to South Reach after the Blight. Last I heard they were all still doing well there. It was actually my sister who taught me to play chess," he smirked at the memory, "She would get this stuck up grin on her face whenever she won, which was all the time. My brother and I practiced together for weeks. The look on her face the day I finally won… I wonder if she still plays."

His mind drifted to his family. It was true he hadn't seen them since he left to join the Order. He hadn't even written them since he was serving in the Circle Tower. He still received letters from his sister Mia, scolding him for not keeping them updated with his well-being. He was suddenly pained with guilt at the thought. Here he had a family who actually cared about him and he couldn't be bothered to do so much as write them and let them know where he was and that he was okay. Ellie's confession of how her parents viewed her made Cullen realize he took his family for granted. He resolved to respond to his sister's letters later that day.

"You have siblings?" The question made Cullen's attention snap back to the present. He couldn't help but notice that Ellie's tone was gradually getting less reserved.

"Two sisters and a brother."

"You were close with them during your childhood I gather?"

He nodded slowly as he finished his turn, the conversation making him more attuned to cunning of the game. "We were. My sisters would try and gang up on me and my brother. Him and I would taunt them relentlessly, as young boys do I suppose. They always found a way to get us back though."

A gentle chuckle fell from Ellie's lips and Cullen was happy he was able to make that happen after their awkwardness a few moments ago. "I would love to meet them one day, I can only imagine the stories they'd be able to tell me about my Commander."

His stomach tightened significantly when she had specified that he was her Commander. But he tried to pay the sensation no mind. "I'm sure they would be more than happy to tell you all sorts of things," he replied dryly, "They're all lies though, I was an angel."

She laughed openly this time, "Whatever you say, Cullen."

Cullen couldn't help but smile as he looked at her. She appeared comfortable again, meeting his eyes and matching his facial expression. It made his breathing hitch momentarily but he was quick to recover.

"You know, I think this is the longest we've gone without talking about the Inquisition or related matters," he pondered aloud.

She nodded in agreement, "I think you're right. I appreciate the distraction honestly. And thank you for listening to me vent earlier, I'm not used to opening up to someone when I'm upset but talking to you helped. I…" She paused, biting her lip nervously, "I think we should this more often, I'd like to spend more time with you and get to know you better."

It took everything in him to keep his jaw from dropping at her words. Instead he blinked rapidly, not entirely sure he could respond intelligently, "I, uh, I would like that, Ellie. Very much."

She beamed at him, her eyes dazzling. She was stunning when she did that.

Sweet Maker, she's going to be the death of me.

"Me too," her admittance was quiet and he almost thought her cheeks looked a little more pink than normal.

He couldn't even imagine how red he must be in that moment, hearing her willingly say as she was completely sober that she wanted to spend time with him, to know him.

"You said that," he breathed, still in disbelief. Then he shook his head and cleared his throat. He couldn't let his feelings consume him now and turn him into anymore of a blubbering fool. "We should finish our game. My turn, right?"

For the first time that day, Ellie was content. Her mind was cleared from her audacious parents and she was thoroughly enjoying the light conversation between her and Cullen. While she had admitted to herself she had always rather liked being around him, she had never fully gotten a chance to truly enjoy his company until now. They felt like friends, not just colleagues and for that Ellie was infinitely grateful.

"You know," the Commander started, "I hate to admit it but I think you might be winning."

Ellie chuckled. "I think you underestimated me, Cullen," she replied as she lined up her knight to take out his queen.

"Where did you learn to play so well?"

The question tugged on a memory that hadn't surfaced in ages. But she figured if she had told him briefly about her childhood already today, divulging a bit about the years after wouldn't be the worst idea. It actually made her realize she hadn't told anyone here how she went from being a little girl of nobility to a trained assassin.

"After I ran away from home, I went to Ferelden actually. It was only a couple months after the Blight had ended and I was hoping that in the turmoil I could be mistaken for a refugee and get along that way. I managed to survive a little while on my own but eventually I gained something of a mentor, I suppose. He took me in and taught me everything I know, gave me the discipline and skills to be what I am. He made me play chess for hours on end every week, saying that the best way to outsmart any opponent was to always be three steps ahead."

Cullen gave a look of approval, "Wise advice. Where is your mentor now?"

Ellie tilted her head to the side, "I don't know, actually. We parted ways a couple years ago. Haven't seen a trace of him since." It was true, she didn't know where the man had vanished after they decided to split up. Part of her felt guilty for that. She owed him so much. "Maybe once this is all over I'll try to find him. I never really got to thank him for everything he did for me. I doubt I'd still be alive if it weren't for him taking me under his wing, even when he wasn't supposed to and it was at great risk to him."

"Wasn't supposed to?"

His inquiry made Ellie realize she had been thinking out loud. She wasn't entirely sure how to explain her next words without earning some distrust from her advisor. She didn't want to lose his respect now, but figured he might deserve the truth.

"He was... Is an Antivan Crow," she said slowly, glancing up to gauge Cullen's reaction. His eyebrow quirked up but other than that, he face remained stoic. "If I was going to learn their trade secrets and skills, he should have forced me to join their guild but he didn't. He trained me in secret and anytime in our travels he ran into other Crows, he simply said he'd hired me as something of a servant girl. By the time that happened, he'd already taught me how to act and lie pretty well so they never questioned it."

Cullen slowly nodded, taking in the information that she had provided him, "That must've been a…. Colourful life."

Ellie winced at his seemingly disapproving tone, "You don't think less of me do you?"

Cullen looked taken aback, "No! No, not at all. I wasn't expecting that, but I have to say that's a bit more interesting than you starting out as a bard to gain your skills, like Leliana and Josephine did."

Ellie exhaled in relief, then smiled, "That's my specialty, keeping things interesting."

Cullen grinned at her playfully, "I'll say."

Before she could retort with something equally coy, a messenger approached them hastily. "Inquisitor, I'm hear to inform you that Varric's friends have arrived and are waiting for you on the rooftop. Varric asked that you come right away."

Friends? Plural? I thought he only sent for one of them, Ellie thought, puzzled.

"I think it's safe to say you have won this game anyways, Ellie. Best not keep the dwarf waiting," Cullen jilted her from her thoughts, encouraging her to tend to her duties, but his voice sounded like it held something close to disappointment. Ellie couldn't help but feel that way as well, not wanting to leave his company. But she knew this shouldn't wait.

"Let's play again soon, yeah?" She offered, her words being met with the broad smile of the Commander.

"Of course." The anticipation in his eyes made Ellie's stomach flutter, giving her hope that he was enjoying being around her and much as she like being around him.

They both stood to leave and Ellie made her way up to the battlements and towards the rooftop. Her head was in the clouds, mind constantly skipping back to the curly-haired man she had just left. She wasn't even really paying attention to what was in front of her, her brain on autopilot. She all but skipped down to where she saw Varric, a silly smile slapped across her face.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw another figure next to Varric. A male she had never met with deep brown, almost black hair that was pushed out of his face. He appeared to be only a couple years older than Ellie, but his ice blue eyes were haunted, clearly having witnessed more in their time than they should have.

"Ellie, this is Garrett Hawke," he introduced.

Ellie's mouth fell open, "As in the Champion of Kirkwall, Garrett Hawke?"

He simply nodded in response, showing no self-inflicted glory from his famous title, "Varric told me this threat we're facing is someone I was responsible for killing a long time ago. I knew that if Corypheus was still alive, I needed to help."

Ellie blinked, "You've fought Corypheus before? If you have any information or suggestions, I'd gladly hear them. I'll take what help I can get."

For once, the Champion offered a semblance of a smile, though it was very faint, "I'll do what I can. I hope you don't mind, but I brought a friend along with me, one who is very determined to put an end to Corypheus as well."

As Hawke mentioned his friend, Ellie noticed his blue eyes look past her. At the same time she heard footsteps behind her. Curious, she turned her head and once she did she felt like she was about to drop dead.

A face that was all too familiar stepped out of the shadows and Ellie could feel a violent flood of anger and hatred ignite her veins.

Not him, anyone but him, she practically begged her eyes to be deceiving her, that she was hallucinating the man who was now standing in front of her.

It was his voice, clear and real as ever that made her realize that she was not having a nightmare, "Hello, Ellie. It's good to see you again."

*In Sandal's voice*: Cliffhanger? Cliffhanger!