"Where are we?"
Alex and Cullen walked a little towards a small pier on a lake, and amidst the fog, she found the area peaceful and calm and quiet, which she was secretly thankful for. Between the twin's and Sera's ridiculous pranks, Vivienne and Solas' arguments, Varric and Bull's constant tavern drinking sessions, Lady Morrigan and Ser Alistair's banters and the continuous movement and noise of the people of Skyhold, she was a bit glad to get away from it all.
And being alone with Cullen is definitely, definitely a huge plus for that.
"You walk into danger every day." Cullen said as they reached the end of the pier, "I wanted to take you away from that, if only for a moment." And she smiled a little, Ah, so he read my mind, thank the Maker.
"I grew up not far from here." Cullen continued, and he leaned against one of the many support poles of the pier, "This place was always quiet."
"Did you come here often?" She asked as she clasped her hands and looked around at the serene view.
He chuckled a little, "I loved my siblings, but they were very loud. I would come here to clear my head. Of course, they always found me eventually."
She smiled at him, "You were happy here."
He smiled wistfully, "I was. I still am."
Alex looked at the serene look on his face, and she couldn't help but bite her lip and wring her hands uncertainly, "Alone with a mage… that…doesn't concern you?"
He looked down at her, searching her face, "The Templars have rules on… fraternization. I'm no longer bound by it."
She sighed a little, "I know but… you've seen the worse mages have to offer. How can you not see that in me?"
Cullen straightened and looked directly at her, a look of shock in his face, "I don't. If I have given you reason to doubt…" And he sighed as he finally realized that he did gave her a reason to doubt before, and he ran a hand through the back of his neck, "Of course, I have."
Alex looked down at the water in sadness, but she looked up at him again when he took one of her hands into his and held it gently, as if her very hand was worth worshipping, and his voice lowered to a whisper, "Whatever I fear of magic, I've seen none of that in you."
She smiled a little and tightened her hold in his hand, and they silenced as they watched the calm waters lapping against the pier, and soon Cullen spoke again.
"The last time I was here was the day I left for templar training. My brother gave me this." He said as he raised a hand, and Alex saw a silver coin, stamped with the insignia of Ferelden as their present currency has, "It just happened to be in his pocket but he said it was for luck. Templars are not supposed to carry such things. Our faith should see us through."
She nodded and smiled a little, "A little luck can't hurt every now and then."
He smiled at her, "I suppose not. I should have died during the Blight, or at Kirkwall, or Haven… take your pick. Yet I made it back here."
Alex watched as Cullen seemed to gaze at the coin longingly, as if he was debating something in his head, before he turned towards her, smirking a little, "Humor me…" he said, and taking one of her hands, he pressed the coin tightly into her palm. She gazed in shock at him as he used his own fingers to close her palms, making sure that she was holding the coin, before enclosing her fist between his two gauntleted hands, "You don't know what you'll face before the end. This can't hurt."
She gazed down in shock at the coin, surprised at Cullen's small… but obviously treasured gift. The fact that he gave her one of the things from his youth that meant so much to him, that reminded him of his life before, made her heart twist in both pain in happiness. She smiled tenderly at him as she brought her fist that held the coin to her chest, "I'll keep it safe. I promise."
He breathed a sigh of relief as he grasped both of his hands on her waist, bringing her closer to his body, "Good. I know it's foolish but… I'm glad."
She smiled up at him again as his hold tightened, her body pressed against his, and his lips descended upon her. He kissed her gently, but eagerly, and she wrapped her arms around his neck to bring him closer to her, her hand tightening around the warm, silver coin inside her palm. But his kiss, however dizzying and lust-inducing, didn't stop her mind from feeling a little afraid, as she felt like he had just given her his lucky life line, and that should he ever come to harm, luck wouldn't be at his side and he might fall against Corypheus or his army.