I do not own Dragon Age.

Chapter 4

She was different. Gone a little over a month, she had a different air about her. He liked it, a lot. She seemed more confident with herself and with the others. She teased them and laughed with them. What no one seemed to know before and what he was just beginning to learn, was how funny she was. Nadia was witty and smart, and she could go back and forth with Varric with ease. He was jealous of all of them. They were able to get to know her, to be around her, to see her fight, and bond with her.

Even the aloof Solas seemed to have formed a relationship with her. Cullen's first worry was that their time together would push the two elves into a more romantic relationship. But Cullen was able to see that the older elf held almost a brotherly affection for the Herald. Affection was all anybody seemed to have for her. It was amazing in the short amount of time how she had won them all over. She wasn't loud or fond of grand speeches to gain favor. She did it in the small things. She asked about their families and questioned them about their lives. She discussed what books they like and asked them to teach her things. She seemed to have a childlike curiosity that was never sated and it was infectious for everyone.

She was sitting in between Vivienne and Leliana, and they were giggling. He was worried about Varric declaring that they were going to have a party at the tavern tonight. He normally didn't interact socially, at least not with alcohol with his troops. But Varric insisted. The little dwarf could be persistent. Everyone was here surprisingly. Even Cassandra, who seemed more serious than him, was nursing a mead and talking quietly to Josephine.

Cullen sat next to Blackwall. He liked the Warden. He didn't mince words and was not one for flowerily rhetoric. They got along well. Blackwell got up to get him and Cullen another glass. He looked up from the table and his eyes met Nadia's. She smiled at him and her dimples stood out on her tanned skin. He smiled back, it was impossible not to. He had already acted a fool in front of her earlier today when he practically threw her off of him. It was the most natural thing in the world to hug her when she returned. But he got nervous and was worried about her intentions and what she wanted. He felt like an insecure schoolboy. She kept smiling at him and slowly got up from the table and started walking towards him. She came around the table and sat next to him on the bench. Their arms were touching and he could feel her foot just lightly touching his under the table.

"Are you having fun Commander?" She was drunk. He could see that in her glassy emerald eyes. He chuckled.

"Yes Herald, I am having fun. And you look like you are having fun as well."

"Ha- well I don't really drink. I mean I have before but not this stuff. It's good. Like real good. Iron Bull keeps calling me a lightweight." Her brow furrowed and he wanted to kiss the frown away.

He laughed lightly. He leaned conspiratorially towards her. "Forgive me, Nadia. But I think Iron Bull is right."

"I am not!" she cried and pushed his arm lightly. She didn't pull her hand away. She started playing with the edge of his coat with her fingers.

"I've watched you all night Herald. You've had one and a half glasses of this delicious ale, which forgive me, doesn't necessarily have that much alcohol actually in it. You're a lightweight. But that's really not your fault. You don't drink and you barely weigh anything." He took a sip of his drink and finished it. Nadia playing with his coat was distracting. She was sitting so close to him.

"You've been watching me?" she said slowly looking up at him with her large doe eyes.

His face reddened and she giggled at his discomfort. He looked down at her. "It's hard not to," he murmured. He averted his gaze from hers; afraid he was being to forward.

She leaned her head gently against his upper arm. Whether she was meaning for him to hear or not he heard a whispered, "I've been watching you too."

At that moment Blackwall appeared with more ale and Cullen gratefully took a large gulp. Nadia lifted her head and shifted back to her original position but she made no move to leave the table. She immediately greeted Blackwall and began to talk about an episode in Val Royeax where Blackwall offended some idiotic Orlesian noble

Nadia didn't leave his side for the rest of the night and he made no move to get up from his spot. If anyone noticed their close proximity, no one made a remark other than a sly wink from Leliana before she left the tavern. Normally he would have checked out much sooner, but he soon found himself one of the last in the tavern besides some soldiers who had passed out on the corner, Sera who was laying on top of a table singing to herself, and the Iron Bull and Varric sitting across from him and Nadia.

The Bull and Varric together were a sight to see. Both drunk beyond measure, they fed off each other with storytelling and trying to out-drink the other.

Nadia's eyes were starting to droop and she even was leaning up against him. She looked up at him. "I'm sleepy."

"I can walk you to your room if you like," he said.

She nodded slowly and started to get up and walk towards the door.

"Gentlemen, goodnight," he said to Varric and Bull. Both looked at him then looked at Nadia by the door and then again looked at Cullen.

"Commander Curly, be good to her," Varric slurred.

Bull laughed and Cullen started to walk out the tavern. It was lightly snowing outside and Nadia started walking when Cullen came out the door. She wasn't stumbling necessarily, but she swayed from side to side while singing a song he had never heard before. He had never heard her sing, but she had a lovely voice.

"Is that a Dalish song?" he asked. She turned around and hooked her arm with his.

"Yup yup. It's what my brother and I would sing when we were little."

"You have a brother?"

"Yes, he's three years younger than me. His name is Kaden." He looked down at her. She looked sad, the alcohol probably not helping her mood.

"Have you spoken to him?"

"I've sent them a few letters, but got nothing back. I asked Leliana to check for me to make sure they are all right."

"I'm sorry Nadia."

"No! I mean, tonight was fun. I can't be sad. C'mon." She grabbed his hand and started to pull him into her house. He suddenly got very nervous.

"Um…uhh Nadia I don't think I should…"

"Yes, please. C'mon. I got you something. Err…well I guess I made it."

She brought him in the room and shut the door and then went over to her desk. She opened a black leather bound book, but he saw it contained drawing paper.

"Here." She handed him a sheet. It was a drawing of a village with a forested landscape around it. The sun was poking out from the horizon of hills and mountains. It was colorful and there was something more than picturesque. It was hopeful.

"I know I've never been to Honnleath but you described it a little to me once and then when we were in Val Royeaux I bought some drawing supplies, and then I looked at one of the libraries and looked at some other drawings of it, and then I talked to Varric and he's been there so he gave me some descriptions...Sorry I'm rambling. I promise I'm never drinking again," she laughed nervously. "Do you…do you like it?"

He kept staring at the picture. It was perfect. She was perfect.

"I uh…didn't know you could draw."

Fuck, Cullen. Tell her you like it.

"I mean I'm not an Orlesian artist or anything. I just do it in my spare time and well…I thought…um well I just thought you might like it. You can tell me if it's bad, it's okay."

"NO! Nadia, I love it. I'm sorry…I'm just…No one has ever done anything like this for me before. Thank you. I love it." He grinned at her. She smiled back and then looked down.

"Good. I'm glad you liked it."

He decided to throw away caution and he pulled her in close to him. Her arms circled his waist under his jacket and she buried her face into his chest. He didn't remember how long they embraced. Not long enough for his liking. They eventually parted but he kept his hands on her waist.

"I'm so glad you are back. Thank you for the drawing." He leaned forward and lightly kissed her forehead. His smirked when he could feel her breathe hitch. He stroked her cheekbone with his thumb.

"Goodnight, Nadia."

"Goodnight, Cullen."

He slept peacefully, with no nightmares. And when he woke up the next morning the first thing he saw was the drawing tacked on his wall.

Thank you to all that have followed/favorite this little story. It means the world to me that I know you are reading. I think I will have a couple more chapters in Haven before I move the story along to Skyhold (meaning Cullen and Nadia will finally start getting a little more physical, thank god). Good luck to all those starting a new semester of school. This story will be my only refuge from the hell that is law school.

Until next time.