Lainey

It had been nearly three weeks since Alistair had come to Skyhold and he was due to leave for Denerim the following night. Lainey had grown to really like him, finding him charming, funny, sweet, and just enjoyable to be around. They had spent much of their free time together, often sitting in the garden or sharing a cup of tea in the library or walking the battlements together and just talking. They had gotten to know each other fairly well over the time Alistair was in Skyhold and Lainey found herself dreading having to say goodbye.

Leaning back on one of the chaises in the library, Lainey read through another spell book, this time one about arcane magik. She was curious after many discussions she had had with Alistair on the matter. Humming softly to herself, she smiled as she read through the passages. 'Maker, why haven't I looked into this before? This is magnificant!'

"Ah, there you are!"

She looked up and smiled, standing when she saw Alistair come into the library. "Alistair, I was wondering if I would see you today."

"I'd have expected you to plan the going away party Lady Monilyet and Leliana insisted on throwing."

Lainey shook her head. "No, Josie insisted on it this time. With no work to be down for a few days at least, she needed something to keep herself busy with."

"Well, I'm glad I have you to myself for the moment. Would you care to join me for a walk?"

Lainey smiled. "Sure."

Alistair offered her his arm and she took it, tucking her book at her side.

As they walked, they discussed the plans for the evening and when Alistair was to leave with his men to return. They made their way around the battlements, stopping at Lainey's favourite spot.

"It'll be weird to see you leave." Lainey said, blushing as she looked out over the mountains. "I've enjoyed spending time with you."

Alistair chuckled, his free hand coming over to rest on hers. "I've enjoyed my time here as well, but I am needed back in Denerim."

Lainey sighed and looked up at him. "I wish we had a little bit more time."

Alistair felt himself blush. "Well, my uncle is planning a party to celebrate my birthday in a few weeks. I was actually hoping to ask you to come back with me and help aid in the planning."

Lainey blushed. "You want me to help plan your birthday party?"

Alistair rubbed his neck and blushed, looking away for a moment. "Well, my uncle is very dear to me, but..." He looked back at her and tucked her hair behind her ear as he continued,"He lacks the sort of magikal touch- if you will- that you have."

Lainey felt her blush deepen, her cheeks burning as his fingers grazed her skin.

"Will you come back with me?" Alistair asked, sounding a bit hopeful.

Lainey took a deep breath and tried to keep her composure. "Will you give me some time to think about it?"

Alistair nodded, a bit of disappointment in his eyes. "Of course." He looked up at the sky, seeing that the sun was on its course to set. "I should walk you back to the keep. The party will begin at sun down."

Lainey nodded. "We both need to get ready." She blushed as Alistair led her from the battlements and down the stairs to the keep. He walked her through the main hall and up to the living quarters, stopping just outside her door.

"I will leave you to your affairs." Alistair said, bowing to her and taking her hand to his lips, kissing it. "I shall see you tonight."

Lainey nodded. "About your request, Alistair, I will have an answer for you tonight. I promise."

Alistair smiled. "I'll await your answer." He bowed again, then turned towards his room only glancing back to her when he reached his door.

Lainey waited until he was in his room, then hurried into her own room, her heart pounding. She smiled to herself, feeling her cheeks burning, and hurried to her wardrobe. She needed to find something to wear, something different than what she would normally wear, and then she found the perfect dress. Smiling to herself, she got herself ready: making sure her hair was perfect, her makeup was perfect, her dress and accessories perfectly in place. For once she was choosing to do this, for once she didn't have Josephine or Leliana trying to dress her up to impress a guest. No, this time, she was doing it herself. This time, she really was trying to impress Alistair.

Once she was ready, she left her room, her nerves waivering as she seriously considered the King's proposal. 'Skyhold will be fine without me. Eddie will be fine without me. Cullen would be fine without me.' She thought. 'What am I going to say to Cullen..?' For some reason, she was most worried about what he thought. He was her best friend and she truly cared about him, sometimes even thinking there was something more beneath their friendship, but she was fine if there wasn't. Cullen had been like an older brother to her, protecting her almost more than Edmund did as her cousin. She valued his opinion far above everyone else's.

Lainey was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't realize she had already reached the door into the main hall, music pounding on the other side of the door. She stopped, suddenly too anxious to reach the door and turned away, going down the hall to one of the balconies leading outside. She stood with her hands gripping the railing, the cool summer night air calming her down.

"Lainey?"

She turned and saw the one person she wanted to talk to the most. "Cullen."

Cullen

Cullen had finished getting ready for the party and had come down the stairs to Solas' old study then out to the hall when he saw Lainey running down the hall and outside. Worried, he had gone to check on her, finding her outside on the southern balcony. She looked unnerved, anxious, a look she hadn't had in a very long time. "Lainey?"

She turned and looked at him, a sense of relief playing across her face. "Cullen."

He walked towards her. "Is everything alright?"

Lainey nodded and looked out over the keep grounds. "I'm just nervous..."

"About what?" He asked, coming to stand next to her, his hand reaching up to rub shoulder in comfort.

"Cullen, I don't know what to do." She said, looking at him. "Alistair asked me to go back to Denerim with him. He wants me to help plan his birthday party, but I wonder if there's something more and that makes me nervous."

Cullen looked down at her. He reached up and stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers. "Lainey, if you're that worried, then don't go. Stay here with the Inquisition, if it makes you that uncomfortable."

Lainey looked at him, her eyes searching his. "But I do want to go, Cullen. I just don't know what to expect and I normally know what to expect."

Cullen chuckled. "I know, and I know how much it bothers you to not know. It's part of what I love about you."

Lainey smiled and sighed. "Well, that's one of us." Her smile faded and she looked up at the moon. "Maker, I'm just being a fool, aren't I?"

Cullen looked at her. She hadn't been this nervous or anxious, this confused since Edmund had gone to Redcliffe to stop Alexius. She knew it was a trap, but it wrecked her when she realized she didn't know what to expect and couldn't do anything to help. She was anxious beyond belief until Edmund had returned and she healed his wounds- even the mental ones- as best she could. Then he noticed how she looked for the party: her hair slightly curled, crystal tassel earrings dangling above her shoulders, a dark blue one shoulder dress with a lighter blue hem and an elegant filigree embroidered design along the fabric. The dress was slit up the sides, coming just to her mid thighs and she wore a pair of simple dark blue heels to match. Her makeup was soft and subtle with a silver eye shadow and a soft gloss on her lips that deepened their natural color.

"Lainey, look at me."

When she did, he took her chin in his grasp and looked down at her.

"You are beautiful. Any man would be a fool to not want to win your heart and give you every you desired. You are kind, caring, intelligent, daring, adventurous, protective, witty, cunning, wise, and when it comes down to a fight, you can hold your own with or without magik. You are remarkable in every way possible and have earned every bit of trust and respect the Inquisition has for you, that I have for you. You are not a fool, nor will you ever be a fool." Cullen said, then leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "Trust me, Pixie, when I say you'll be alright if you go to Denerim."

Lainey looked up at him, a small blush on her cheeks. He never usually called her Pixie. "I'm worried about Eddie, the Inquisition, about you if I leave. I won't go if it means that you aren't looked after."

Cullen chuckled and pulled her into a hug. "Lainey, we'll be just fine. We can manage without our Pixie. Just promise you'll write?"

Lainey giggled and hugged him back her head resting just under his chin. "Of course I will, my dear Commander." She stepped back and looked at him, the warmest smile he had ever seen upon her peony lips. "You are my best friend, you know that right?"

Cullen smiled and nodded. "Of course, Lainey. And you are mine." He offered his arm to her. "Come on, let's go enjoy the party."

Lainey smiled and took his arm, letting him lead her back inside and down the hall to the door.

"So have you come to a decision yet? On leaving for Denerim with the King or not?" Cullen asked.

Lainey nodded. "I have."

Before Cullen could ask for her answer, the door opened and Josephine saw them standing together.

"Ah, there you are! The King and the Inquisitor have been getting anxious waiting for you! Come, come!" She said, ushering them into the main hall.

Josephine led them to the throne where Edmund and Alistair stood waiting, each sporting a drink. "Your Majesty, Inquisitor! I found them!" she said, standing next to Edmund.

Cullen bowed to Alistair and smiled at Edmund. "Sorry to keep you waiting. Lainey and I just got to talking along the way down here." He glanced over at Alistair who stood there, gaping at Lainey, a huge blush playing across his cheeks. Chuckling, he looked down at Lainey who had an equally large blush on her cheeks. "Lainey, why don't you and the King share a dance? I'm sure there is something you'd like to discuss with him?"

Lainey looked up at him and nodded. She reached up and kissed his cheek, giving him a quick hug before asking Alistair for a dance. As they began to walk away, Lainey looked at him and smiled. "Thank you, Curly."

"You're welcome, Pixie."

When they walked away, Edmund put an arm on Cullen's shoulder. "So, do you know what's been going on with Lainey? She seemed a bit off today."

Cullen nodded. "You see how close she and the King have become, right?"

Edmund nodded. "Aye, what about it?"

"Well, the King asked her to return to Denerim with him. Apparently he wants her to help plan his birthday party."

Edmund sighed. "Well, Lainey definitely has the touch. Is that all that was bothering her?"

"No, she was worried about leaving us if she agreed." Cullen said. "I told her not to worry about us."

"It seems like she's made a decision." Edmund said, watching as Alistair's grin grew after Lainey said something to him. "So then she's leaving in the morning?"

Cullen nodded. "Yes."

"And you're not upset about her leaving Skyhold with another man?"

Cullen looked at Edmund, seeing his coy smile. "Ed, I've told you: Lainey is my best friend, nothing more."

"Then why are you blushing?"

Cullen felt his cheeks burning and looked over at Lainey. "Maker, Ed... Shut up..."

Ed chuckled. "Maybe you should tell her how you really feel, before the King sweeps her off her feet."

Cullen shot him a glare, then watched as Edmund whisked Josephine away for a dance.

"Don't worry, Cullen." Leliana said, chuckling. "If Lainey falls for Alistair, he won't hurt her. I've known Alistair over a decade. He's a good man and would treat her right, just as you would if you only admit you love her."

Cullen watched Leliana give him a smile before leaving to go speak with Oghren, who was having a drinking game with the Iron Bull, Varric, and Sera. He looked back at Lainey as she and the King danced and he sighed. 'Maker, why did I wait until it was too late to tell her I love her...?'