Part Two:

SHADOWS & DAGGERS

A Warrior's Captured Heart

Chapter Ten

Close Quarters

The Voclain's returned to Skyhold as allies of the Inquisition, donating the use of their estate as an Inquisition fortress and base of operations near Val Royeaux. The return trip to Skyhold gave the Voclain's time to recover, and Cullen had watched Valina interact with her parents: the three shared a strong bond.

On their arrival at Skyhold, however, a heated argument flared between Valina and Dranus that nearly resulted in a section of the fortress catching fire…

'Father, this may be a large fortress, but it is indulgent and inefficient for me to take up a room for myself for the sake of modesty,' Valina said as she packed her things to move from her quarters and allow her parents to take the spacious room, 'there are new delegates arriving daily, and it's important that the Inquisition show them the utmost respect and hospitality. My sharing quarters with Cullen could mean the difference between a packed fortress and a room readily available when needed for an important ally.'

'Valina, you are the next Marquise of House Voclain. It is not proper for you to be sleeping in the same quarters as a man, especially when you are unmarried.'

'You forgot to mention that I would be in his bed, also, father. So improper! The scandal!' she said, mocking his firm accent and dramatic tone, 'plus, you might have noticed that we shared a tent on the way back here from the estate, so you can't really be surprised by this turn of events. You and I both know I lost my precious innocence many years ago, to a handsome rogue of somewhat ill-repute. You were so thoroughly peeved with him that your ears glowed red with anger for a week and he's never returned to Orlais since. Besides, Cullen asked me to move into his quarters days ago, and I said yes.'

'Sharing the tent was different. You were injured.'

'Oh father,' she sighed, pausing in her packing to glance at him with a wry smile, 'you feign innocence so well when you want to.'

'Your Grace,' Cullen started, 'if I might–'

Cullen ducked as a fireball hit the wall a mere foot away. He snapped his mouth shut, but his nose twitched. He gasped, swatting at the fur that sizzled menacingly on his shoulder. He was forced to wait anxiously at the edge of the room, trying not to appear too ruffled by the incident as the pair switched to rapid fire Tevene. He suspected that Valina was scolding her father, but could not follow the conversation; he had only learned a few words so far, having had little time to get Valina to teach him. Despite his best efforts, Cullen was unable to get a word in edgewise, not only because of the language switch but also because he couldn't open his mouth without Dranus flinging a new fireball in his general direction.

A wave of relief washed over Cullen when Amira returned from her meeting with Josephine and Leliana. Her bright blue eyes widening as they fell on her husband and daughter, the pair standing toe to toe, glaring at each other despite the comical height difference.

'What is going on here?'

'Valina insists on moving into the quarters belonging to this man,' Dranus snapped, his gaze still locked on Valina as he waved dismissively at Cullen.

'And?'

'They are not married.'

'Sweet Maker, Dran, what's got into you? You're being a prude and a hypocrite,' Amira chided, shaking her head in disbelief, 'we certainly weren't married when you first presented yourself in my bed in nary more than your amulet, and I know you remember it because my father threw a dagger at you when you jumped bare-assed out the window!'

Dranus' eyes snapped to his wife and his jaw dropped.

Valina nearly fell to the floor with laughter. 'Maker's breath, is that true dad?' she managed between her laughter, 'you always told me you courted mum for weeks!'

Amira arched a fine auburn eyebrow at her husband. 'That's a very interesting definition of courting, dear.'

Valina moved into Cullen's quarters within the hour.

The Voclains quickly settled into daily life at Skyhold form then. Amira was a skilled crafter, with a keen eye for streamlining requisition processes. She soon started working closely with Josephine, providing the Inquisition with new and powerful trade contacts, beyond those which Valina had been able to connect, by drawing on decades-old contracts held in the family vault. She proved to be an excellent ambassador for the Inquisition and became fast friends with Josephine. Although the company of the troops was certainly not dull, Josephine enjoyed the refinement that Amira brought with her, the seemingly gentle but certainly formidable respectability of an Orlesian Marquise. Amira's silver tongue quickly ensnared even the most difficult targets, bending them to her will, and to that of the Inquisition. As an added advantage, Amira could speak many languages and surprised more than one noble who dared speak rudely of her in a foreign tongue. She never blatantly called them on their impertinence, but would, after a few minutes, remark casually on the conversation in their native language, alerting them to the fact that she had understood every word.

Dranus, on the other hand, caused quite a stir the first day he stepped into the library. When he cursed vehemently at the lack of texts, Dorian looked around the corner from his usual bookcase to investigate. He nearly cried with excitement: Dranus flagged down one of Leliana's scouts and ordered her to retrieve a number of volumes from the private collection at the Voclain estate, many of them rare texts which were seldom seen outside of Tevinter or the most prestigious royal libraries. Dorian swooned with delight when they arrived, rushing between tables to read multiple volumes at once, much to Dranus' amusement. The Tevinter mages bonded, finding a quiet understanding: they had each, for their own reasons, turned their backs on the Imperium and found a new life.

Valina woke every morning with a feeling of contentment, wrapped tightly in Cullen's embrace. She stretched languidly as she woke to warm rays of sun on the bed, her hand sliding beneath the pillow. She brushed something much softer than the relatively coarse sheets. Her interest piqued, she grasped the object tightly and propped herself up on her elbow, a grin lighting her lips as her eyes fell on the black gloves.

She rolled to face Cullen, leaning on her pillow. She gazed down at his devastatingly handsome face. In the early hours of the morning, she had woken him for a nightmare, soothing him until he slept calmly. His body was relaxed in slumber now, no trace of the terror that had plagued him; he was stretched out on his back, one arm still beneath her, his other hand resting on his stomach. She traced his stubbled jaw with nimble fingers, then bent to place a soft kiss on his scarred lip.

Cullen took a shuddering breath, his eyelids fluttering as he woke. His tawny gaze found her, and a smile tugged at his lips. He reached up, his calloused hand cupping her cheek. 'Is it morning already?' he asked, his voice rough from sleep. He drew her down to his chest, claiming her lips softly, leisurely.

'You have some explaining to do, handsome,' she whispered against his mouth.

'Mm?'

Valina propped herself up on her elbow again, trailing the gloves along his stomach and up to his chest. When he looked down, his cheeks flushed softly.

'I, uh, yes, those–'

'You kept them.'

'Well, I was going to return them to you, it's just–'

'Of course, you were,' she said, sitting up beside him.

He watched as she slid the silken gloves onto her hands, a wicked smirk on her lips. He felt his body stir. 'I never got the chance.'

'Never?'

'Well, it's been rather hectic.'

'Indeed.'

Cullen's breath hitched as Valina trailed her fingers down his chest, the soft silk of the gloves tickling his skin.

'So, if you planned to return them,' she said, 'why are they under your pillow?'

He felt the colour of his cheeks deepen. 'Because...'

'Yes, Amatus?'

The name slid over Cullen like a caress, her sultry tone tantalising his senses.

'Because they're yours,' he admitted, breathless as her hand flattened over the sharp lines of his stomach, 'I… I liked having them close... the fact that you'd given them to me made me hope that… that I would see you again.'

'Oh Commander, I knew you liked me long before you could admit it to yourself,' she said, her hand trailing over his hip.

'How could I not? You are so strong, so beautiful, Valina, and…'

'And?' She prompted, her hand pausing on his thigh. She flicked the cover back, and he saw fire in her gaze as she glanced down, finding him eager.

'You tempted and tormented me with suggestive talk and unveiled flirting. Relentlessly,' Cullen said, his jaw locking for a moment at the memories, 'I've never had a woman be so forward with me before. Maker's breath, how else can you expect me– my body to react, especially when a beautiful, fierce woman fondles me out on the bloody battlements?'

'Well, that certainly confirms why I thought you were eager to keep a desk between us on so many occasions.'

'Wait, you–'

All thought fled Cullen's mind when Valina wrapped her gloved hand around his shaft, stroking. She rose to straddle his strong thighs, her other hand roaming freely over his heated skin. Cullen's head dropped back on the pillow, a ragged moan rumbling in his chest at the feel of the silk on his body. She slid her hand along his chest, her body rising over his. She continued to stroke him as she trailed her lips over his stomach, his pecs, her teeth scraping his neck. He shuddered as she nipped at his skin, his hands reaching to grip her hips tightly, desperate for something to hold onto as she pleasured him.

Cullen's moans turned to a gasp when Valina positioned his cock at her entrance. He hardly had time to think when she slid onto his shaft, her hips rocking to take him deep. A sultry moan tumbled from her lips as she settled on his length, her serpentstone eyes shining in the early morning sun.

She claimed his lips, stealing his breath with her passion. He could feel every curve of her body against his own, her rigid nipples rubbing against his chest with every wicked roll of her hips.

Cullen grasped her thighs tight, lifting his hips. A startled gasp escaped Valina as he thrust, a wicked smirk lighting her lips. He had quickly learned that she loved this angle, loved how deeply he filled her, his pelvis teasing her clit with every thrust. She tangled her fingers in his hair, her hot breath falling against his neck as she gladly released control to him. Her throaty moans filled the room, growing louder until he was sure that the whole of Skyhold would hear her pleasure, but he did not care, not when a blissful scream wrenched from her body as she climaxed on his shaft. He soon followed, unable to resist the pull of her silken core, his cock pulsing deep inside her as his broken cry vibrated through their quarters.

Cullen's hips dropped back to the mattress, and Valina lay limp on his chest, her panting breaths falling on his skin.

'Mm,' she whispered, nuzzling his neck, 'I do love waking up to you.'

He placed a soft kiss on her forehead. 'We'll have woken the whole fortress with that.'

'Scandal,' she muttered deviously. She rose, trailing her hands down his chest, then up her body, his eyes following every move. She slid the gloves off slowly, biting a fingertip with her teeth to pull them from her hands. 'I think these should stay under the pillow, don't you?'

'You'll hear no argument from me, my love.'

'I think I've corrupted you, Commander.'

'Indeed.'

She smiled, rocking her hips on his softening shaft just to earn another gasp before she slid off his hips and rose from the bed. She went to the corner where a new dresser and large bathing basin had been added and washed his climax from her skin, her body tender from their love-making.

Valina glanced back as she dried herself. 'What have I told you about looking at me like that, Commander?'

Cullen cleared his throat, sitting up. 'You like it, but it's distracting.' He smirked, and she melted at the wicked look in his golden eyes as he said, 'I suppose I best get dressed then if we are to accomplish anything today.'

'I suppose,' she pouted, 'but I'm declaring this room a clothes-free zone from now on.'

'Deal.'

Valina threw him a final wicked smirk before she turned to the dresser, finding suitable training clothes.

'So, the rogues today?'

'I believe so,' Cullen said as he rummaged through a chest.

'New recruits?'

'Yes.'

'That means training weapons,' she said, pulling on soft leather pants and a dark tunic, 'that's no fun.'

'I wouldn't trust them to wield a scroll of parchment, but we need them trained, and we do need them alive, my love.'

'I know,' she sighed as she moved to the bed to pull on her boots.

As Valina tied the laces, her eyes lingered on Cullen. Pale strands of his tousled hair fell over his forehead, waiting to be tamed by a brush of his hand. As he dressed, muscles rippled beneath his skin. He strapped his armour with meticulous movements, his fingers deft; his hands almost never shook now, even after nightmares.

She took a breath in the warm sunlight, taking the hand he offered, even for the short walk to the ladder.

…the weight of the air on a warm summer morning… he feels like quiet in chaos, safe and solid…

Valina shrugged on her coat and donned a set of fingerless gloves, then walked down with Cullen to the Herald's Rest. They shared a quick breakfast and sat side by side on the bench, their thighs touching beneath the table, a free hand reaching to rest on a knee whenever possible. They outlined a training regime as they finished a strong pot of tea.

When they exited the tavern, a contingent of soldiers waited at the training ring. They shifted nervously as Valina and Cullen approached, and, for a moment, Valina thought one or two might be preparing to flee. Whispers broke out among them as they glanced at Valina with darting eyes.

'Attention!' Cullen shouted over the group. Silence fell sharply, and Cullen's firm voice carried over the crowd. 'You have all been selected for reconnaissance and covert operations training due to your aptitudes and reported skills. If any of you lied when you were questioned about this, leave now and report back to the recruitment officer, who will direct you to a suitable training co-ordinator.' He stared out at the crowd, his eyes scanning the faces. Some shifted, but none moved. 'Good. Lady Voclain will be taking you through your training over the next month. Maker preserve you if you have lied.'

Cullen stepped back to observe.

Valina threw Cullen a wink when he passed to lean against the side of Herald's Rest.

'Now that the formal stuff is out of the way, we get to the fun stuff,' Valina said, 'have you all been issued with training weapons?' Heads nodded slowly among the group. 'And it appears you're all wearing suitable training armour, not that it will do much good. It's still going to hurt when I hit you.'

A few nervous chuckles sounded in the crowd as if she joked. A young man nudged his friend, pointing at Valina. '…cannot believe the Commander is handing us to this prissy little noble. She probably couldn't give us a proper slap if we grabbed that fine ass.'

Cullen bristled a few feet away, almost rising from his leaning post, but she flashed him a warning glance. He stayed in place, reading her message: if one soldier doubted her, the seed could bloom among them, even if they knew her reputation.

Valina hid a venomous smile. 'Your name, soldier?'

He smirked at her, his eyes trailing a leisurely over Valina. 'Louis.'

'Step forward.'

Louis glanced at his friend, cocking his head sideways before he strolled to the front of the group. He gave her a mock bow.

'Louis, I see you have your training weapons. Would you like to give your fellow new recruits a demonstration?' She directed his gaze to the training ring.

'A demonstration?'

'Yes. Clearly, you think you're already very capable, so I'll try my hardest to slap you good and proper, and you can try and grab my fine ass.'

Louis smiled like he'd won a bag full of gold. 'You better get some blades out. I don't want to beat you too easily. It wouldn't be fair.'

'No, it wouldn't. But then, that's the first rule of rogue training: rarely are fights fair.'

'Suit yourself darlin'.'

Excitement radiated from the group as Valina stepped into the training ring. She tied her hair back, waiting for Louis to stroll in after her. 'When you're ready, Louis,' she said, picking absently at her nails.

He rolled his shoulders, drawing his training daggers from his belt as he glanced around at the eager audience. There was a flash of regret in his dark eyes, but he knew he was in too deep to bail out now. 'So, how are we doing this?'

Valina glanced up at him, her elbow still resting on her hip. 'You attack, darlin', and I'll flail uselessly at you, I'm sure.'

The new soldiers huddled around the outside of the ring, whispers sounding. When Valina glanced to the side, she even saw some coins exchanging hands in favour of Louis: there was the seed blooming, as she had suspected. Cullen stood opposite her, his arms folded over his chest, a knowing smirk on his lips. Even though the recruits were fighting for the best view, none strayed too close to him as he stepped up to the edge of the ring.

Louis shrugged. 'Okay lady.'

He gripped his daggers awkwardly, still smiling when he lunged at her. For a moment, Valina considered merely sidestepping his clumsy advance and allowing him to careen into the training fence. The flip would be dramatic if he went over, but the embarrassment would probably not deter him from challenging her again.

Decision made, Valina stepped a fraction left, and as Louis sailed past she grabbed the back of his collar. She heard him choke on his shirt, her grip never faltering. She turned to follow his momentum, darting around him, spinning him on clumsy feet and slippery dirt. With one deft movement, she gripped the back of his shirt and his belt, then kicked his feet from beneath him, using his own weight and the momentum of her spin to throw him over the soldiers crowded at the fence. The group in the firing line ducked, though some at the back weren't as quick to avoid Louis' flying body; sharp cries sounded as they were knocked to the ground under Louis' weight.

Valina brushed off her hands. She turned slowly on her toes, her hard serpentstone glare finding each of the new recruits as she glanced around at stunned faces with a gaze so frosty that some jaws froze where they lay on the ground.

'Would anyone else like to be part of a demonstration today?'

Silence, except for a stifled cough from Cullen who fought to hide his laughter.

'Very well,' she said, 'let's begin.'

Cullen watched from beside the Herald's Rest as Valina began putting the recruits through some basic training routines to assess their base strength and stamina. He leant his back against the stone wall of the Herald's Rest, enjoying the warmth of the early morning sun. Occasionally, he would catch sight of Louis in the crowd, and he would feel a laugh tickle the back of his throat.

Valina was a taskmaster, and within half an hour the recruits had learned to heed her warnings and obey her instructions without question, lest they meet the same fate as Louis. She quickly trimmed the group of fifty-odd by ten, directing them to appropriate advisors better suited to their skill set, then set up the remaining soldiers to run drills in small groups.

Cullen tensed when Dranus joined him, the mage leaning against the wall of Herald's Rest mere feet away, his serpentstone gaze observing Valina. Cullen's instinct told him to run, but there had been no hint or threat of flames.

Yet.

Cullen dared a glance at the mage, though only a glance. This was the first time Dranus had approached Cullen in weeks, let alone without a prompt from Valina. Cullen had done his best to be unwaveringly polite, hoping to win some level of approval from the mage, if not at least a hint of indifference. But, despite Amira's firm words on the day Valina had moved quarters, and Valina's attempts to promote a relationship between them, Dranus' attitude had been increasingly icy as if he was the eye of a storm: calm, quiet, waiting.

'Commander,' Dranus said, his firm accent biting in Cullen's ears. It felt strange; Dorian's accent seemed just as strong, but it had never felt as sharp as Dranus'.

Cullen bowed his head politely. 'Your Grace.'

'Valina has insisted I allow you to call me Dranus.'

'Ser?'

'Yes, Ser is much more appropriate. Valina may wish for a level of familiarity to grow between us, but I don't see that happening,' he said, turning to face Cullen, his gaze burning, 'I don't care to know what you have done to ensnare my daughter, but know this, boy: I do not accept you. I did not fight my father's assassins for nearly twenty years, nor train Valina to protect herself, just to see her fall to the grasp of a Templar.'

'Ser, I'm not–'

'Once a Templar, always a Templar,' Dranus snapped, 'the Templars in Tevinter may not have much power in the Imperium, but I know the bloody history of the Ferelden and Kirkwall Circles. And I know who you are now.'

'And who am I, Ser?'

'Cullen Rutherford. The same Cullen Rutherford who wished to see the Lake Calenhad Circle purged, and the same Cullen Rutherford who was involved in enacting the Right at Kirkwall.'

Cullen felt anger pour through his veins, white hot as it surged inside him. He clenched his fists at his side as memories bombarded him. 'I was following orders.'

'And yet you found a voice to question them when your life was threatened,' Dranus bit out.

Cullen felt his chest constrict, his throat so tight he could not speak. He had questioned it before they attacked the Gallows, hadn't he? He had told Hawke that he did not agree with the path Meredith was leading the Kirkwall Templar Order down, but he could not have foreseen all that would happen, all the lives…

All the lives I took.

Dranus drew to his full height, and despite their even stature, it felt like the mage towered over him. Dranus' serpentstone gaze was both ice and fire, freezing his soul and burning him all at once.

'Just as I thought,' Dranus said, venom in his soft words that could not have been matched by the anger in a shout, 'whatever feelings you think you have for Valina… forget them. You will only cause her pain.'

Dranus turned, but Cullen did not watch him leave. He sank back against the wall of the Herald's Rest, his mind churning. A heavy weight settled in his stomach, a deep dread like he had not felt for so long. He fought to keep control of his mind, to keep control of the doubt that washed through every memory. When he had strength enough to move, he pushed off from the wall and headed back to his office, intending to bury himself in work. He took the seat behind his desk, rifling through the papers that covered most of the surface, but when he picked a new report up, his eyes could not focus on the page. His vision clouded, and he buried his head in his hands, his shoulder shuddering at the thoughts that haunted him still.