Of Rumors and Distractions

"You've known her longer than I have, Commander, so tell me. Is she always so… So good?"

"I'm sorry, what?"

To be honest, Cullen hadn't noticed that Dorian had slipped into his office. He had an open door policy, so he fast learned to stop jumping or looking up every time someone entered his office. It seemed to happen every few minutes. And his men learned just as fast if they wanted his attention, all they had to do was say something. So while he had noticed that someone entered, they hadn't said anything for a long enough time that he forgot they were there.

And he most certainly hadn't expected them to be Dorian. The mage was one of the newer members of Trevelyan's inner circle of companions and with how quickly everything (quite literally) went up in flames at Haven, they never had much of a chance to talk. Not like her other companions and friends.

"Evelyn? Evie? Lady Trevelyan? The Inquisitor? The young lady with the glowing hand? Any of these ring a bell or should I grab her and bring her here for your viewing pleasure?" He watched as Dorian ticked off different names and titles for the woman who so often invaded his thoughts and nightmares, half-amused and half-confused.

"Yes, I know who you're talking about. I'm more wondering about what brought this on." Dorian's reply was a simple, complicated look. He could feel a flush start to appear on his cheeks as he remembered the events of the other day and night, or rather, the morning. "Oh. Right."

"Oh, indeed, Commander."

He cleared his throat and glanced back down at his reports. They were all just troop movements and spy reports, a note about a request from someone named Fairbanks (an obvious nom-de-guerre) in the Emerald Graves, and decided they could all wait for however long this would take. "Well, to answer your question simply, yes. Yes, she is that 'good', as you put it."

Dorian sighed and sank into the only other chair with a grace no man should really have. "But how does she even find the time?"

Yet underneath that question, Cullen could hear another: 'Why does she care so much?'

He shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine. Even in Haven, she found time to run random errands for the townsfolk and volunteers. Not to mention the random acts she does everywhere she goes. I believe I recall a report from the Hinterlands how she spent a day tracking down a Templar that had confiscated a wedding ring."

As he spoke, Dorian interlaced his fingers and rested his chin against them, sinking more and more into his pose. "I feel too sober to believe this."

Cullen chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck, feeling some tension leave him. "I know what you mean."

As if that was the magic phrase, Dorian dropped his hands and serious expression in favor of leaning back and resting an ankle on the other knee. "Since we're on the topic of our dearest Evie, I have to say I heard the most interesting rumor."

And just like that, Cullen felt the tension come right back to him and settle back on his shoulders. Just one day, one day, without some rumor or some demand or some teasing about her would be lovely. "I don't think I want to hear it. Nor should you spread it. She's a woman who values who privacy."

"Oh, trust me, I know," Dorian said. "But it's always good to indulge in what the common folk are saying." Before Cullen could say anything in defense, about how he really didn't want to listen to anything (as he likely had heard it already), Dorian had waved his hand as if brushing away his misgivings. "Anyway, as I was saying, there was this interesting rumor. Not like they aren't all interesting, if for the sheer number of people she's been rumored to have been with." He didn't like the look that followed that. "Including yourself.

"Which leads me to this new, juicy rumor. About how more than one little birdy witnessed one of her advisers practically floating away from her chambers in the wee hours of the morning the other day. And how she did the same just a few hours later. Tired, but with such a glow about her."

To his credit, Dorian only grinned smugly a little and Cullen held his gaze with, what he hoped was, a neutral expression. He knew exactly what Dorian was hinting at, knew that nothing untoward had happened because he was the adviser in question, but didn't dare to hope about the last part. Nor did he dare to rise to the bait. "The Inquisitor and her advisers often meet her in her room to further discuss matters related to the Inquisition. Just because Varric is worse than a weaving circle doesn't make anything true."

"Ah, but I never said Varric was involved." Dorian's smile grew even smugger as Cullen knew he thought he had been caught.

Cullen smirked. "Every rumor in Skyhold goes through Varric's hands, along with Leliana's and Bull's."

Dorian huffed and leaned back, and it was Cullen's turn to feel smug. "Well, you're no fun."

He could only raise an eyebrow at the mage. As if he was supposed to be; fun didn't get troops trained and ready, fun didn't take care of requisitions and requests. "If there's nothing else…?"

"Actually," Dorian said, "there was one thing. As commander of the Inquisition's forces, would you say you're...in possession of a mind in love with strategy and tests of will?"

An odd question, and he had more than a feeling that he was being tested in some way. As if he was being judged for worthiness, and he wasn't sure he liked it. "I would say I am," he answered cautiously.

"Good. Then you'll join me for a game of chess." It almost sounded like a question, but Cullen knew demands when he heard them.

"Chess?"

"Yes, you've heard of it, I hope. Board game, white and black pieces, king capturing, all that."

Cullen smirked and shook his head. "Yes, I know of it."

"Good. I found the quaintest set in a room just off the garden. And it's a lovely day for a game." Dorian finally stood and gestured toward the door. "After you."

Said commander sighed, shook his head and decided he could use the distraction. Probably just as much as Dorian needed it, if he was seeking him out instead of someone like Varric or Trevelyan herself.

Had he known what that chess game would lead to, he would have sought out Dorian for a game weeks ago.

Sorry for the long wait, but this chapter just didn't want to be written. And, as a reminder, this story is just the 'in-between' scenes and so I won't be including much of what happens in-game for the romance. So yes, this is the chess game that leads to the kiss/romance initiation, but that is all found in-game and perfect just the way it is without me mucking it up. Instead I'll be coming up with my own reasons and kisses in the coming chapter that I won't feel bad about completely ruining.

And, as always, thank you so much for reading! And for all your reviews, favs and alerts! They always make me smile.