Author's Note: As always I do not own Dragon Age, I'm just playing with their toys. Also, this chapter was inspired by an awesome comic strip created by Itsmyfreakin on tumblr. You can check out all of their fantastic art of their page here inmyfreaking . tumblr . com and the comic strip at itsmyfreaking . tumblr post/107312734305, though of course, with no spaces in between. I also just want to note that this is story is based off of my version of Lavellan in my playthrough, and not any other versions I have seen floating around. Thanks and I hope you enjoy!
Cullen stood at the entrance of the manor, seemingly at ease in his court finery, though his freshly shined shoe tapping every so often belayed his unease at the situation. Dorian, Varric and he waited in the foyer of the rented mansion near Halamshiral, and they had now been waiting well over forty-five minutes past the agreed meeting time. He wondered what in the name of the Maker was keeping the women.
Vivienne and Leliana had disappeared from the group's preparation meeting hours ago, dragging Lavellan behind them, citing that they had preparations of their own to attend to. Cullen, however, had no idea what could be taking them so long. He voiced his concerns to the other two men, stating the possibility that something malevolent had befallen the ladies. Dorian smugly smirked and rolled his eyes while Varric stared at him with a look of amusement for a few seconds before reassuring him that the other group was, in fact, fine. Cullen swore that he heard Varric whisper something that sounded oddly like "chantry boys" to Dorian, but he couldn't be sure.
A few moments later, Leliana and Vivienne appeared through the door, and made their way into the room to greet the others, both dressed in their finest. Leliana was dressed in a fashionable gown of Orelesian design, all baby blue and silver thread, with shoes that were higher than anything he had ever seen before. Vivienne meanwhile, stuck to a look similar to her everyday Enchanter robes, but with more expensive fabrics and ornate detailing. Cullen supposed to himself that was one way to stand out in the crowd.
While Cullen was busy mentally cataloguing places where the women could store weapons in their gowns, he missed the entrance of his final companion.
"Well, how do I look?" came a cheerful voice from in front of him.
Cullen raised his gaze to the woman in front of him, and he could feel the heat immediately rush to his face. She looked stunning, though like nothing he had ever seen before. Her arms were covered in a thin, transparent fabric, and fluttered around her body with the slightest provocation. This cloth was then disappeared down into the bodice, which seemed to be made almost entirely of gold, with shapes and creatures detailed and cut out of the metal. There were Dalish symbols swirling around her breasts, and cut-outs of halls seemed to be dancing along her hips. The skirt of her dress came from underneath the metal plating, and flared out to sweep dramatically against the floor, the dark green hue matching the valaslin on her face perfectly. He knew such a dress would not be considered fashionable by Orelesian standards, but it made a statement that no one else at that ball would be able to come close to. Despite his very positive opinions on the matter, Cullen found himself rather unable to answer her question.
"Um, well..." he managed to stutter out, "That is...uh..."
"My darling Inquisitor, you look absolutely ravishing tonight!" Dorian's voice cut through the awkwardness. Cullen turned, his face still covered by the embarrassment at his own inability to speak, to the well spoken mage beside him. Thank the Maker for a good distraction.
"Looking pretty damn good, Inquisitor," Varric chimed in from behind.
"Though," Dorian said, sidling up to the Inquisitor's side, and wrapping an arm around her. He turned Levellan and himself to face Cullen directly. "I do believe that dress would look even better in a ball on Cullen's floor."
Cullen could not believe what he was hearing.
"Did you just... proposition the Inquisitor on my behalf?" asked Cullen, his own voice seeming rather far away and disconnected from his body.
"Well, you seem to be incapable of doing so yourself," said Dorian in a matter of fact voice, his eyebrow quirked at Cullen's question. Cullen was struggling to come back with any sort of response, when beautiful, full belly laughter cut through his inner confusion.
"You two are simply ridiculous," Levellan managed to get out between fits of laughter. With that, she turned to Dorian and gave him a kiss on the cheek. She perched on her tiptoes and whispered something in his ear, and with a final wink, she made her way over to Cullen. "I will be seeing you later," she whispered into Cullen's ear. As their eyes met and sealed that promise, she brushed her lips slowly against his, meeting for only a moment before she pulled away. With a final smirk at the both men, she turned on her heel and made her way out of the house.
"You realize you now owe me, Inquisitor?!" Dorian cried at her retreating form.
"You'll get what you want Dorian, no need to worry," she yelled from the carriage she was entering. "Now all of you hurry up, we can't be too fashionably late!"
Lelianna, still giggling into her hand over the whole incident raced out as gracefully as she could to meet Lavellan. Vivienne raised her eyes at the dramatics of it all and their carriage took off, leaving the men to travel together.
Cullen still stood on the threshold of the house, looking out at the street that Lavellan had just disappeared down. His hand still lingered on his lips. "Maker's breath," he sighed, replaying the moment again and again in his head.
"You're welcome" said Dorian, looking entirely too much like the cat who swallowed the cream.
Cullen sighed. He guessed, in a very odd and embarrassing way, he was indebted to Dorian, despite the crass execution. He steadied himself, and as they all walked together out to the carriage that waited for them, the conversation played over again in his mind.
"By the way Dorian, what exactly does the Inquisitor owe you?" Cullen inquired.
Dorian eyes lit up with mischief, immediately putting Cullen on edge. "Just a story," Dorian said, so nonchalantly that even Varric raised an eyebrow.
"What type of story?" asked Cullen, half afraid of the answer that was coming.
"I'm sure that you'll know what it is when it happens," Dorian said with a wink. As Varric snorted with laughter–and Cullen reddened with further embarrassment–the carriage took off towards the palace and the woman who seemed to be the center in all of their lives.
Authors Note: Thanks everyone so much for reading, and thanks again to everyone who has reviewed and favorited.