It was dark by the time Alex, Cole and Varric returned to Skyhold from Val Royeaux, and the boy had felt a pain in his lower abdomen, which meant to them that the boy was ready to use the privy. It was kind of awkward for Varric to assist him, as Cole was technically a full grown boy already, but he shooed her away to show the boy to do his business. She headed around the castle, talking to Leliana and the others, but she was surprised when she headed over to the barn to speak to Blackwall, and realizing the man wasn't there. She waited for him for half an hour, brushing and feeding her horses with Dennet, before realizing that the man was taking far too long and she left, heading for Cullen's tower.

The door was ajar when she got there, and Cullen's men filled the space, so she decided to stand back and watch the man work as she crossed her arms. He looked… exhausted, the rings on under his eyes becoming rather prominent, but she surmised that it was from his withdrawal from the lyrium and the fact that he was running himself ragged looking for Samson. Despite of it all, she marveled at his handsomeness and ability to lead, as all the soldiers were taking in what he was saying. They seemed to be discussing the Wardens at Adamant Fortress, and she leaned against the wall and listened to them.

"Rylen's men will monitor the situation." Cullen was saying to his soldiers as he signed one of the papers they gave him. And the woman saluted him, "Yes, ser. We'll begin preparations at once."

"In the meantime, we'll send men to…" He stopped as he looked up, seeing Alex standing at the back. His face softened a little at the sight of her, "Assist in the relief effort." He finished as he waved his soldier's off, "That would be all."

"Ser!" The soldiers saluted him, and he followed them as they headed for the door to exit his office. He closed it slowly, pushing at it with his hands and leaning on it before sighing tiredly, "There's always something more, isn't there?"

She smiled at him, "Wishing we were somewhere else?"

Cullen laughed a little as he looked at her, "I barely found time to get away before." He sighed again as he walked away from her, heading to his desk, "This war won't last forever. When it started, I hadn't considered much beyond our survival. But things are different now."

Alex looked confused at him as she made her way beside him, "What do you mean?"

He turned to look at her with a strange look in his eyes, "I find myself wondering what will happen after. When this is over, I won't want to move on… not from you."

Her breath got caught in her lungs when his gaze settled on her, and he reached up to touch the red tendrils of hair that framed her face, as if he was touching the finest of silks in Thedas. But then he blinked, and uncertainly filled his amber eyes as he looked away, back down at his desk as his face flushed scarlet, "But I don't know what you… that is, if you… ah…"

Alex smiled to herself, amused that after all this time, the Commander was still the blushing former templar he was when she first saw him. She felt her heart burst at the knowledge of how much she adored and loved him, despite of everything that has happened or will be happening to them. She glided her way to him, moving so that he faced her and she leaned back against the desk. He looked down at her, and she smiled, "Cullen, do you need to ask?"

His breath hitched, and his voice lowered to a barely audible whisper, "I suppose not. I…"

But Alex gasped out as a bottle shattered to the floor from his table, and she realized that she had nudged it with her hand. She watched as the amber liquid spread through his floor, before looking up at him, looking apologetic while biting her lip.

But at the sight of her biting her lip, Cullen almost growled, before flinging out an arm across his desk, scattering ink pots and papers to the floor. His gaze heated as his body urged her backwards, like a lion stalking his prey, pushing her up on the top of his desk on her back.

"Alexandra…" He whispered, his voice constrained as he lowered himself on her, her soft, supple body molding on to his armor. He kissed her hard, his mouth opening and tasting her mouth as she moaned under him. Her hands frantically pushed at the feathered coat covering him and he released her just enough to let it fall to the floor. His breath became ragged as he reached for the buckles of his armor, releasing them as Alex's hand ran up his head through his curly blond hair. His armor fell to the floor with a loud clang, causing Alex to stop kissing him, and blinking up at him.

"Cullen, I…" She said, but his head dropped to her neck and licked her there, making her gasp, "Your bed… we should move to your bed."

He pressed against her again and moaned, "But I want you."

"I know. I want you too, so much." She whispered as her hands travelled down his shirt, "But if… if your soldiers come here, they might find us in an… inappropriate moment."

Cullen groaned, but he stopped his assault on her senses, and he pushed himself up, although his eyes were still hot with wanting. "Upstairs… up the ladder…"

Alex nodded as she righted herself, pushing against him as they stood again, and she breathed in heavily. "You might want to… clear up the bottles first… and the papers… and the mess… they might think you got attacked by someone."

He blinked, looking down at the floor to see the papers he was supposed to sign scattered all over the floor and he let go of her. "Oh… right… I'll just be a moment."

She nodded and swallowed heavily, before moving away from him, and he watched as her as she climbed up the ladder to his room, her hips swaying as she lifted one leg to the other, before disappearing upstairs. He sighed heavily as he bent over, picking up the papers and putting them on his table again, and he combed his hand through his hair, as he picked up his coat and armor.

"Hey, Cullen!"

He looked at the ladder just as something dropped from the top of it, and he made his way to it, only to realize that the thing was actually… Alex's shirt.

"Fuck the mess!" Alex shouted from what he could tell was where his bed is, "Get up here!"

Cullen's face split into a wide grin as he picked up her blouse, "As you command, Inquisitor." He said, going up the ladder to be with her.