The next few days had passed in relative quiet, though the tension of Haven was rising. Mages and Tempars. Chantry and Inquisition. All were at each others throats. It was only Cassandra and Cullen that seemed to be trying to keep the peace, and at times it was a losing battle. People believed in the Inquisition, but still had a lingering doubt each time they looked into the sky. The breach still hung like a sword above their heads and all that was needed was one more breath to tear it open and swallow the world.

The news that the Templar order had all but abandoned the people it had once swore to protect didn't help matters, and the rumors of Tevinter magisters in Red Cliff made an impossible situation even more precarious.

But this was the problem of the Inquisition itself, not hers. She was helping though, in her own way, hunting the wild game that roamed the nearby valley. She could help supply the kitchens as well as the armorers, while getting out of Haven, and away from eyes that she could feel nearly burrowing through her armor.

She had checked the last snare, when she heard the steps of someone else and turned, her fingers notching an arrow and pulling back as she rounded the tree. She would have fired if she did not hear a metal clang then a familiar voice mutter something she didn't quite understand, but then she saw the feathers at the shoulder, framing darkened plate that had been fashioned just for him.

"Commander?" she said lowering her bow and rising from her defensive crouch.

Cullen turned to the source of the voice, his hand moving yet again to his hilt, a gesture that Talia had noticed was one of instinct and comfort.

"Ah, yes, Dancer is it? One of the Bulls Chargers?"

Talia nodded, "Yes, I didn't expect to see anyone out here." her eyes moved over him looking for a bow or anything that would explain why he had trekked to the other side of the lake.

Cullen let his eyes pause on hers. So gold, like the Maker himself had allowed a golden ember of the golden city to blossom in her eyes. Her brows were sculpted gracefully, even as one shifted, arching as she waited for him to speak again, but he was distracted with the way her whole face seemed to be sculpted as Andraste's own, with lips that would make a desire demon die of envy.

"Commander?"

Those lips moved and his mind flowed back to thoughts he had fought to forget. Whispers. Promises of power and love. An end to that ache he felt, the grate of loneliness in the night. You can have her brave Templar, you can have her again and again. Your mage, your secret love...

Talia tilted her head and watched as the former Templar closed his eyes and winced in pain. Her eyes narrowed as she tried to figure out what was happening. "Commander?"

Cullen took a deep breath and forced, pushed his way past his memories. Follow her voice. Her voice is real. Forget -that- voice. His eyes finally opened and his forced his lips to smile. "Yes, I'm fine just...a headache. I will be fine in a moment." He raised his arm to tell her that she needn't come closer.

She backed off and moved to retrieve the passel of rabbits she had caught that morning. She was done her morning hunt, so there was no reason to delay her trip back, Commander or not. "I was heading back to Haven when I heard you." she said as though she was reporting him.

"Uh yes, of course, Dancer." Cullen said half marvelling at the sight of the rabbits.

"Talia." She corrected him.

"T- Talia."

She was already heading back to Haven when he said her name, but the way it rolled on his tongue made her smile, just as he did when he had said it.