IDYLL

With the morning's first light, Fenris and Anders were in the garden. Finding their bench by the pond, they turned their faces to the sun and basked like lizards. They'd spent enough time in the garden, under the Tevinter sun, that Anders was taking on color. Fenris was enchanted by the freckles that were now scattered across his cheeks.

They were a bit sleepy, yet. The Iron Bull had, apparently, made Dorian's wait worth his while.

"Anders."

"Hm."

"You once said that you had never been beaten or raped by Templars. Is that true?"

"Yes. I was lucky. Until Danarius."

"But, it happens?"

"Unfortunately."

"Was Cullen like that?"

Anders thought into the misty past. "No. He was devout. He was young. Perhaps younger than I. He'd been there a year, maybe, before the last time I ran." He thought some more. "I don't remember any mages in Kirkwall talking about him, either. And, I heard the stories. I think he's a decent guy... for a Templar."

"Can I assume that remark is about me?" Cullen's voice sounded behind them. He and Eve were approaching the bench. "Given I'm the only ex-Templar on the estate, that is."

Anders scooted into Fenris' side. The elf answered. "I was asking Anders about your reputation. You served in Kirkwall, after all." Anders and Eve both looked at Fenris with surprise. "You're going to spend your life with a woman for whom I care. It's fair to ask."

Eve smiled warmly, and reached to squeeze the elf's hand. Cullen frowned.

"I suppose it is. Things at the Gallows did become bleak. I hope that I am 'a decent guy'."

Eve put her arm back around his waist. "You're the best guy, Cullen. Fenris has a heavy protective streak in him." They joined them on the bench. Anders reached for Eve's left arm. She lifted her stump for him as he ran his fingers over the skin. It was smooth, with no scarring.

"How did this happen?"

"Solas, the elven mage? I caught up with him. There's more to him than we ever knew. But, the Mark was killing me. He removed the affected part of my arm, before it could spread further."

"With magic? That's incredible." He released her arm. "You seem remarkably at peace with it."

Eve gave a small huff. "I've got the future on my mind. And, Cullen." She looked up at the man next to her, who gave her a soft smile. "Dorian's kept me up on activities around here. I'm so happy for how things are going for you both. There was a time, I wasn't sure..."

"You and us, both," Fenris agreed. "It's still hard, sometimes," he said quietly.

Anders sighed. "Some things will always be hard," he added, softly.

Cullen gave a small grunt. "Truer words were never spoken." Anders watched him. There was something painful under that statement.

"Come back to our suite with us. I have some things for you."

They had been in her suite, many times. It was odd to see Cullen's belongings amongst hers, their clothing intermingled. Cullen dug under a pile of luggage, and pulled out a box, and a long, wrapped object.

"Varric had these sent to the Winter Palace, when he learned you were here," Eve said. "I thought it better to bring them, than for them to show up, here, unexpected."

Cullen placed the long package in Anders' hands. Looking at Eve quizzically, he tore off the wrapping. A staff emerged. With a golden statue of a winged woman on the headpiece. His eyes went wide, and jaw dropped.

"It's your staff," Fenris said in surprise. A dozen different memories went through his head. Through Anders' head, as well, judging by the look on his face. "Alright?" Anders nodded.

As Fenris opened the box, Eve explained. "Varric gathered both your belongings, after you'd left. He hoped you'd return, eventually. He thought you might like your things."

The first thing out of the box was a book by Shartan. Fenris ran his hand over the cover.

"My first book. Hawke taught me to read with this." He couldn't believe how loaded this single object was. When Hawke was still his friend. A time when he would never have betrayed him. A time he had cared. Fenris rubbed his face, putting the memories away, for later.

Anders pulled out another book. "My old journal." He flipped through it, seeing his own script. Writings, sketches, herbs pressed between pages. When Anders closed it, he handed it to Fenris. The elf immediately opened it, and started to read.

Cullen's hesitant voice asked, "... aren't journals, usually... private?..."

Anders and Fenris chuckled. Eve smiled at them, and spoke to Cullen. "Consider them one person, dearest."

While Fenris looked through the journal, Anders reached into the box, again. A pillow came up in his hand. Old, with faded embroidery, much loved; the mage gazed at it in disbelief. Fenris watched him closely. He could almost see images passing through the mage's mind. Tears filled Anders' eyes and overflowed. He buried his face in the pillow, sniffling. Fenris rubbed his shoulders, and whispered in his ear, "Good tears?" Anders nodded, keeping his face hidden.

Fenris glanced at Cullen and Eve. Both seemed moved, and kept a respectful quiet. Fenris didn't know the significance of the pillow, but it was obviously great.

More books were in the box, a few quills, and a Tevinter Chantry amulet. Neither man had had many possessions in Kirkwall. The few they'd had, were meaningful.

Bull and Dorian emerged from Dorian's suite before lunch. Both wore expressions of supreme satisfaction. The Chargers had also slept in. Apparently, the party had gone into the wee hours. Several House staff were yawning, as well.

"Kadan, you're keeping us in a style to which we're unaccustomed. We like it."

Dorian laughed. "I'm sure. Life on the road getting old, Amatus?"

"Never. Always something new to see, someone new to kill. Nice to get a hot bath. And, a hot bed partner."

"The things you say. How long will you stay?"

"A week or two. We're pretty far across the border, but the Boss needs time to do whatever she's gotta do. And, I need time to do you. So..."

"Such a way with words."

Anders and Fenris looked at each other and snickered. Bull pinned them with his eye, humor written all over him.

"That wall has two sides, fellas-don't think we couldn't hear you, last night. Quiet Vint's a regular chatterbox when he thinks no one's listening."

Fenris laughed out loud. Anders blushed, but couldn't help smiling. While they hadn't tried to contest Bull and Dorian's personal quest; Fenris had been happy to provide Anders with a single, energetic performance.

The whole party moved onto the grounds. Staff and Chargers brought out chairs and sofas to set in the grassy clearing near the pond. It looked like a huge sitting room had sprung up among the flowering shrubs and trees surrounding the clearing. The Chargers outlined a make-shift sparring- ring, and began challenging each other to bouts and wrestling matches.

Fenris claimed a love seat for he and Anders, and pulled the mage next to him. Anders nuzzled into his cheek. Fenris kissed him happily. "Tell me about the pillow," he murmured in Anders' ear. Anders smiled.

"My mother made it. It was the only thing I was allowed to take with me to the Circle. I carried it with me on every escape, on Grey Warden missions, across the Waking Sea to Kirkwall. I can't imagine how I'd forgotten about it. I'm glad to have it back."

Fenris understood. If he'd had something to remember his mother by, he'd be overjoyed to find it, again.

Then, a thought occurred to him. A thought he couldn't believe had not occurred to him, before. A thought he knew he wouldn't be able to forget, now he'd had it.

Anders touched his face. "What is it?"

"Varania."

"Your sister. Holy flames, Fenris... what happened to her?"

Fenris shook his head. "She said Danarius would make her his apprentice. He had no apprentice while we were there. Did you see her, that first year we were apart?"

Anders shook his head. "Maybe he changed his mind. Maybe he lied to her. Maybe he left her in Kirkwall."

Fenris' brows drew together. "Maybe she's here, in Tevinter."

"Alright?" Anders asked, softly.

"Yes. I'll think on this, later." He would tuck it away, for now. Anders sat comfortably against his side, his family of mages was together, and boisterous distraction was played-out in the beautiful grounds of their estate. Nothing would detract from that.

It was an enjoyable afternoon, watching the Chargers and Bull spar one another. It was just as enjoyable watching Dorian and Bull spar with compliments and faux insults. The affection between them was clear.

"What's 'amatus' and 'kadan'?" Anders asked Fenris.

"'Amatus' is Arcanum for 'love' or 'loved one'. Kadan is Qunlat for 'where the heart lies'."

"Wow. They're really serious about each other." He'd never seen Dorian so demonstrative. He wasn't as at ease with displays of affection as Bull seemed to be. But, he had no qualms accepting those that Bull made toward him. For such a giant wall of muscle, the Tal-Vashoth could be incredibly tender.

"It would appear so."

Krem wandered over to their pool of shade, and sat on the grass. He and Fenris began talking. Krem was Tevinter, a fact Bull used as fodder for playful banter. Anders realized Fenris was sounding-out Krem for information on Bull. He was looking after Dorian by learning what sort of man his paramour was. Anders was pleased at that. It became clear that Bull could do no wrong, in Krem's eyes.

After a bit, Anders gestured to Fenris, who nodded. The mage stood and wandered toward the pond. Making frequent glances back at the the elf, he skipped some stones across the water. He heard footsteps coming his way, too heavy to be Fenris. He was surprised to see it was Cullen who approached.

"I just need to get away from the noise. If I go off on my own, Eve will come after me. I don't want to pull her from everything just because I'm mildly antisocial."

Anders understood completely. He didn't answer; he simply turned back to skipping stones. He glanced at Fenris, and saw the elf watching him. He smiled and gave him a wave. Fenris returned both, and watched Cullen a moment. He turned and resumed talking with Krem.

He and Cullen skipped stones in easy quiet.

A pattern to their days evolved quickly. Varying parties awoke at varying times. Lunch. Out to the grounds. Dinner. A party, large or small.

Although Anders wasn't carrying on much conversation, he enjoyed listening. He joined Fenris, Dorian or Eve, and acted as a sort of spectator. Cullen often took a backseat to the activities, as well. Anders thought it made sense. As a Templar for most of his life, Cullen likely grew accustomed to being a quiet observer. He also looked as though he suffered a headache, on most days.

Dorian brought a chess board out to their activities area. A table and chairs appeared in the shade close to the pond. He and Cullen sat at the board, jibes passing between them as the game played. Eve told Anders and Fenris that they'd begun a habit of the game in the garden at Skyhold. The comments and accusations were part of their routine.

Anders was skipping stones, again. Dorian had just bested Cullen at chess, and was now playing against Eve. Anders turned to see Fenris talking with Bull and Krem, rather animatedly. As though he felt Anders' gaze, the elf turned and smiled at the mage. Anders smiled in return, filled with happiness that Fenris was so ebullient.

Cullen approached as he watched his elf. Anders looked at him from the corner of his eye. The ex-Templar bent to search for pebbles, and began skipping them across the pond. He looked better rested after a few days away from travel, and a comfortable bed. Until they arrived at the estate, Anders had never seen the man without Templar armor. He was just as brawny in appearance, wearing simple breeches and a light tunic. His blonde hair was less curly than it had been. He must do something to achieve that.

Cullen turned slightly, returning Anders' sideways gaze. "Anders?"

Anders gave a small smile, and ducked his head. He threw some stones.

He moved along the shore of the pond, searching for more pebbles, and spotted a grey bit of fur under a leafy shrub. He moved the leaves and saw it was a kitten. He thought it was dead, at first, and his breathing hitched. Then, he saw the movement of its ribs. Its nose and eyes were running. He realized it had been abandoned by the mother, probably because it was ill.

Cullen's voice was at his shoulder. "Is it alive?"

Anders carefully picked it up. It looked about four or five weeks old.

"Can you heal it?"

Anders pulled-up healing energy, and trickled it into the tiny creature. After a few moments, it tried to roll to its belly in his hands. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, and cleaned its nose and eyes. It gave a small, indignant squall, and both men chuckled.

Fenris suddenly appeared beside him. He'd seen Anders curled over in the shrubs, and become worried.

Fenris looked at the little ball of fur in the mage's hands, then looked carefully at Anders. The mage seemed steady. "Are you alright?"

"Yes. It's alive. It was abandoned. I need to get back to the House, for a dropper and milk."

"Alright." Fenris pulled Anders against him and walked him back to the kitchen and then the infirmary.

It took some spilled milk and messy whiskers, but the kitten caught on to drinking from the dropper. Fenris watched Anders tending the kitten. The mage gazed at the little cat with a peculiar sort of adoration. Fenris had never had a pet. In less than a half-hour, Anders was clearly in love with this furry little creature.

Fenris put his arm about the mage's shoulders, and kissed his temple. "So, we have a cat."

Anders smiled at him with bemused joy. "You don't mind?"

"How can I see your happiness, and mind? I have never had a pet. I don't know what happens, now."

"We need a sandbox. Bowls for food and water; it's old enough to start weaning to soft food. I'll make up flea-repellent potions."

"What will you call it?" The kitten was now curled in the crook of Anders' elbow, against his ribs.

"A name will come, in time," the mage said, dreamily. "It's a girl. A little grey tabby. I like tabbies."

The kitten went everywhere with Anders. He fashioned a pouch to wear around his waist, that she could snuggle into. He was endlessly patient with her. As he was with everything, Fenris thought. He taught her to use the sand box. He began transitioning her to soft foods. He stroked and talked to her, continuously.

The first time Anders took the tiny thing, and placed it gently on Fenris' chest, the elf had been afraid to touch it. Lying in bed, he watched as she padded her way up his bare chest to investigate Fenris' face. As it tried to pull itself over his chin, Fenris puffed air to get the fur out of his mouth. Tickled by the air, the kitten danced up on her hind legs and then rolled off into the hollow of his neck and shoulder. Anders laughed, and reached for it, but Fenris waved him off. Tentatively, he reached a hand to stroke the chubby kitten. Curling into her new-found nest, she fell asleep.

Anders lay beside him, cuddled into his other shoulder. "What are you going to do about Varania?"

Fenris closed his eyes. "I don't know. She betrayed me. She handed me over to Danarius as much as Hawke did. I would have given her everything. Anything. But, now..." He shook his head. "What would be the use?"

"Maybe he made her do it. He would have had her watched, don't you think?"

"Maybe. Dorian might know how we could find if she's in Tevinter." The kitten woke then, and dug tiny claws into the elf's shoulder to climb back up to his chest. "Gahhh... that smarts. She's a little tigris."

Anders beamed. "That's her name. Tigris."

Fenris lifted her up onto his chest, where they both pet her round, furry body. "It suits her."

Anders brought Tigris with him when the group made their way to the grounds each afternoon. The members of the group varied slightly, day to day. The Chargers were a tight group, and burst into singing their anthem, or other songs, frequently.

When Bull took on three of his men in a sparring match, both Anders and Fenris were impressed. They'd both fought Qunari and Tal-vashoth. Bull was like neither. Fenris decided it was due to his being Ben-hassrath, and less-regimented in his weapon and technique. When the match was concluded, Bull turned to Fenris.

"Hey... Fenris. Show us how that lyrium works." With Anders urging him on, he approached the huge man. The Chargers all shouted, "Horns up!" as he drew near. Fenris had assessed Bull during his spar. He was fast, he had brute strength, and he left himself open, low on his blind side. As fast as he was, however, his massive hammer was slow to bring around.

Bull took a defensive stance, and Fenris pulled his blade. He lit his lyrium, and the Chargers ooh'd and then cheered. The elf smirked, and lost himself in the dance of two warriors. It was a well- matched scrimmage. Fenris blurred across the impromptu ring, power burst, and made his blade dance in a way Bull's giant hammer simply could not.

The match ended with a feint to Bull's blind side, going low under the swinging hammer, and putting his phased hand into Bull's chest. Bull stood stock-still, looking down at the not-quite- there arm partially buried in his torso. The giant man spoke.

"That... is fucking awesome!"

Fenris smirked, and removed his hand harmlessly. His lyrium flickered out.

"So what would you do, then? Rip out my heart?"

"That's usually how that ends." The elf swung his blade onto his back. Bull was grinning at Fenris with frank admiration.

"I've actually heard about you, years ago."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. Came out in a missive. Some Vint asshole had made a lyrium-powered warrior. When no more like you surfaced, the ones in charge of decisions decided it wasn't a threat. So, you dropped off our BOLO list."

Fenris shrugged. "I'm the only one that lived."

"Lucky thing. You're alright, Fenris. So's Chatterbox. Rescuing kittens... that's just not something you expect from a Vint mage."

Dorian was indignant. "Just what do you imagine I would do to a kitten? Saute it in wine?"

Bull roared with laughter. "You, eating pussy? That'd be a first." The entire gathered party laughed as well.

Dorian looked ill. Whether from the coarse joke, or the image, was uncertain. "I hate you." Bull sat down and pulled Dorian onto his lap. "No, you don't."

Dorian snuggled into his expanse of chest. "No, I don't. I should. But, I don't."

Fenris made his way back to Anders. Tigris was bounding in round-bellied cuteness about the grass. She made her way from one person to the next, receiving various receptions. Krem was the most likely to pick her up and let her crawl all over him. As the elf strode past, he scooped her off the lawn and sat with her on his lap. Anders watched with a bemused grin as the white-haired warrior tickled her belly.

Not quite a week after arriving, Eve wanted to make a run into the city to take care of a few details and buy a few items before they left. Cullen wasn't feeling well, so Dorian accompanied her. The ex-Templar emerged from their suite after lunch, and came out to the pond. Anders was watching Fenris spar with some of the Chargers. Cullen quietly sat beside him on the loveseat.

Anders looked at him. He didn't look well. Cullen was obviously trying to hide his discomfort, but Anders had been a healer too long to be fooled. It was more than fatigue or body aches. More than a headache.

Cullen turned tiredly to face him, and for once, Anders didn't feel the urge to look away. Cullen's eyes were red with exhaustion. A muscle twitched in his cheek. He looked... haunted.

"Something on your mind?" Cullen asked, quietly.

"It's not just lyrium withdrawal, is it?" he surprised himself by asking..

Cullen was surprised, as well. "Ah... no." He rubbed the back of his neck, looking down at the kitten crawling into his lap. She settled onto his legs and curled up.

Cullen sighed. "You weren't at the Circle when Uldred took over."

Anders shook his head.

"Did you hear what happened, there?

Anders nodded.

Cullen sighed. "I was imprisoned for days. I was the only surviving Templar in the main tower." His jaw clenched. "Blood mages... demons. They're not gone, not really. They follow me, tormenting my dreams."

"I'm sorry."

Cullen took a deep breath, and let it out. "Eve told me a little of your story. Your demon was a madman. I'm sorry, as well."

Anders ducked his head. He thought a while. "I have a cure for lyrium withdrawal."

Cullen's head snapped up. "You what?"

"I have a potion that will cure your lyrium withdrawal."

Cullen gazed at him in disbelief. "How?"

"I found it. For you. If you want it."

"Maker's breath."

tbc...

Author's Note:

I always felt Cullen and Anders have a commonality in this story. Both have had their minds assaulted. I've always found Inquisition's Cullen to be very mild and soothing.

I'm not sure why, but I like Krem and Fenris as friends.

Bull got a little crude in this one, but I laughed my butt off.