"All right… spill it. What did Warden Alistair mean about 'previous accidental professions of love towards his wife'?"

Cullen blinked and looked at Alex, who was leaning on the battlements overlooking the mountains. She was wearing a mischievous grin as she looked up at him, holding on to his gloved hand beside him. He sighed, "I attended her Harrowing. Your sister was a lovely woman."

"Lovely?"

"There was some… youthful infatuation on my part. A feeling I had forsaken until recently." He said, smirking down at her before kissing her temple, and she smiled before asking again, "You never acted on it?"

Cullen shrugged as he shifted, standing behind her and wrapping his arms around her, "Your sister was one of my charges. Even if she felt the same, it would've been… inappropriate. I saw her once, after she became a Warden. She had Alistair with her at that time already, and Leliana, and her teacher, Wynne. She freed the Tower during the Blight. I would be dead or mad if not for her." He sighed as he tightened his embrace on her, as if he was seeking comfort from her very presence, "I was in a sorry state when she found me. The things I said were… unkind. Untoward. I regret them now. I wish she knew that."

Alex bit her lip before turning her head to look at him, "I could… send her a message if you want."

He blinked and looked down at her, "You… you can? How?"

"On our way back here from Crestwood, I talked to Alistair." Alex said, "He said he could work with Leliana to try and find her. Apparently, Solona is travelling around Thedas and is researching for a cure to the Calling. She has sent letters to him from time to time. Leliana said… she could send a scout to give her a letter from me."

Cullen sighed as he quieted, before turning to her, "If you allow it, Alexandra."

Alex blinked in surprise, and she turned around to look at him, "You said my name. My real name…"

The man chuckled, "It is a lovely name. You should never shorten it." But he grew serious, "Unless, you don't want me calling that, Inquisitor?"

"Oh! No… it's nothing like that… it's just…" Her face flushed as she reached up and played with the feathers of his coat, "I… like it. I like it when you say my name." She smiled as she looked up at him, "I love it when you say my real name."

Cullen laid a kiss on her lips again, "Then I vow to always say it, Alexandra. When we're alone, at least."

She smiled and kissed him back, but all of a sudden, Cullen chuckled. She looked up at him, her face confused, "What's so funny?"

"I just… remembered something Bull told me." The man said, smiling down at her, "He said that there's a line… a line to capture your attention. He said he was standing in that line, along with Blackwall, Krem, Stitches, Sera and many others. He said I should cut into the front of that line."

Alex laughed, before smirking at him, "Really now? Actually, Bull told me something interesting, too. He said that you look at me like you want me panting and writhing in your bed."

Cullen blinked in surprised and blushed red, "I… I don't look at you like that, do I?"

She smiled, "Well… in truth? Sometimes you do." She said, smiling when the Commander blushed even redder, "And besides, that line Bull spoke of? You didn't have to stand in that line at all."

"Really?"

She nodded and wrapped her arms around his neck again and placed a light kiss on his lips, "Yes. Because that spot is already reserved for you."

He laughed before he kissed her back eagerly, his arms wrapping around her hips, before he drew back, "By the way, I almost forgot to tell you. Josephine needs you to head to your room. She said something about fittings for the party at Halamshiral with Empress Celene."

Alex groaned and buried her head on his shoulder, "Do I have to?"

He chuckled, "Unless you want that demon army to invade Orlais, I'm afraid you would have to go soon, Alexandra. As much as I want to keep you here with me."

She sighed, "At what time does she want me?"

Cullen looked up at the sky, and chuckled in embarrassment, "Actually, you should've been there an hour ago."

"Oh great. And now you made me late."

"That's because you're an intolerable, incorrigible minx who seduced me out of thinking straight."

She laughed out loud before kissing him again. Cullen reluctantly let her go as she straightened up her place on the battlements, "I'll be heading there now. Back to work, Commander."

"Yes, Inquisitor. Alexandra." Cullen said, and she smiled at him, smacking his bottom through his leather breeches playfully. He laughed as she left using the stairs that headed down directly towards the courtyard, before he headed towards his office again.