Alex became more at ease towards them after that.
She started talking to everyone more often, though she preferred the company of Varric and Bull for most of the time. She drank in the tavern with Bull, Varric and Sera, researched magic with Vivienne and Solas and even helped Cassandra and Blackwall with sharpening their swords or cleaning their armor. She smiled much more often, too… which made Cullen blush more often as well.
She also found comfort in Cullen's presence, and he, in turn, found comfort in hers. They were often found in the training grounds, helping each other with training the soldiers and talking about the templars, life at the Circle or of the Inquisition. And while Alex was away for weeks of traveling, Cullen became her second-in-command, and was often the one dealing with her various letters while she was gone.
Two months later, after thoroughly scouring the Hinterlands, the Fallow Mire and the Storm Coast for possible allies and people in need of aid, Alex had returned to Haven after gaining the mages' alliance, with the help of a Tevinter mage named Dorian Pavus. There was some… trouble while they were securing the mages, though.
It had something to do with time magic, that the Herald had gone forward in time, a year during their present time to be exact, only to see that with her disappearance, the enemy, who they now identified as someone they called the Elder One, had won, and that the Breach had encompassed all of Thedas. A demon army had run rampant, and even the mighty kingdom of Orlais fell after Empress Celene was assassinated by an unknown assailant. Alex had reported that the future they witnessed was horrible, that she even shivered as she gave her report during their meeting at the War Room. They were only able to return due to the knowledge of Dorian. The leader of the mage cult, which were known as the Venatori, was apprehended… a magister by the name of Gireon Alexis.
With the mage's help, Alex returned to the rubble of the Temple of Sacred Ashes and closed the massive rift in the sky with the mark on her hand. And they celebrated.
Cullen laughed at a joke Varric made, before looking up, seeing Alex talking with Cassandra. He couldn't help but smile to see her relaxed, with a drink on her hand. She had been rather busy with securing the mages' alliance and closing the Breach, and it pleased him that it was over, for now. The things the Herald and the others had experienced were still a concern, but for now at least, they were able to rest.
A sound of loud horn drew him out of his reverie, and he looked at the giant doors that led into Haven. He dropped his drink and ran towards the gates, just as one of his soldiers drew near. "Commander! Unknown soldiers approaching! They are too many, moving fast and most of them are beyond the mountain!"
He nodded and looked around at his other men, "Inquisition soldier, defense positions! Take civilians and the wounded to the Chantry. MOVE!"
"Cullen?"
He turned around to see Josephine, Leliana, Cassandra and Alex come near him, their drinks and food forgotten. The Seeker had her sword drawn and the Herald held on to her staff, even Leliana had brought out her bow and arrow.
"One watch guard reporting… it's a massive force, the bulk over the mountain." He said, and Josephine looked at the horizon, "Under what banner?"
He sighed as he shook his head, "None."
The Ambassador blinked in shock, "None?!"
He nodded, but he drew out his blade when the doors of the gates clanged, and a red light flashed underneath it. "I can't come in unless you open!" A voice called out from beyond the door.
He ran forward with Alex, and the two of them pushed the doors open to see a red templar standing. He readied his stance but he blinked when the templar fell down dead, revealing a lanky young man, with blonde hair and a strange wide-brimmed hat that almost covered his face. He came forward to Alex in distress as he spoke, "I'm Cole. I came to warn you. To help. They are coming to hurt you. You… probably already know."
Alex blinked at the boy, "What is this? What is going on… Cole?
The boy lifted his head a little to look at Alex, and Cullen saw pale blue eyes wide with fear, "The Templars have come to kill you."
Cullen blinked and he rushed forward towards Cole, causing the lad to back away a little, "Templars?! Is this the order's response to our talks with the mages, attacking blindly?!"
Cole shook his head again and looked at her, "The red templars went to the Elder One. You know him? He knows you. You took his mages." He turned towards the mountain and pointed at it's peak, "There."
Cullen scowled as he looked up to where the boy was pointing, and he growled when he recognized the face of a templar, clad in a strange red armor. Beside him, a puff of smoke began to form into the shape of a strange creature… neither human nor darkspawn, with shards of red lyrium on his face and body as his men marched towards them.
"I know that man." Cullen growled out, "But this Elder One…"
Cole shook his head and lowered it, covering his face with the hat again, "He's very angry that you took his mages."
Alex turned him, "Cullen, give me a plan. Anything!"
His military training kicked in, and he surveyed their surroundings before looking at her, "Haven is no fortress. If we are to withstand this monster, we must control the battle." He pointed at the trebuchets, "Get out there and hit that force. Use everything you can."
She nodded and looked back at her companions, "Bull! Varric! Blackwall! With me! Everyone else, keep them back and evacuate the villagers to the Chantry." She cried out as she ran forward, pulling out her staff as the Warden, the qunari and the dwarf followed her, as her other companions drew out their weapons to defend the village. He looked back to see that the mages stood behind him. He raised his sword, and turned to them, pointing at the templar at the mountain peak.
"Mages! You—you have the sanction to engage them! That is Samson! He will not make it easy!" He raised his sword high again as the red templars started charging down from the mountain slope. "Inquisition! With the Herald! For your lives! For all of us!"