As they walked around the outskirts of the camp, between the tents and the defenses, Cullen talked about some of the other books he's enjoyed over the years. Emery was not surprised that military tactics had been included in the list.

"That's so like you."

Cullen looked at her. "And what about you? Do you read anything other than cookbooks?"

"I actually don't read cookbooks," Emery replied, sticking her tongue out at him. "I learned everything hands-on, from whoever would teach me in the moment."

"Really?"

Emery nodded. "After Mum died, I found work wherever I could and since I grew up cooking, it wasn't difficult."

"How'd you end up in the Inquisition, if you don't mind me asking?"

"There's nowhere safer than with the Inquisition these days," Emery replied, kicking a small stone aside. "Too many demons and opportunistic twats roaming the lands for my liking."

"Fair enough."

"Now, to answer your earlier question," Emery added with a chuckle, "I don't really read much, I'm usually too busy with work."

"That sounds familiar," Cullen said, chuckling. "There are many books in the atrium library, as well, that you could browse."

"Maybe when we can get a real break from it all, we can find something to read together," Emery half-joked.

"That would be nice, I can't remember the last time I was able to just sit and read."

"I can even make us some nice tea and snacks to enjoy."

Cullen and Emery just sort of looked at each other, waiting for another witty quip, then burst out laughing.

"I must say, Emery, you're quite the interesting woman."

"Oh, my dear Commander, you don't know the half of it."

They had circled around the entire camp, finding themselves outside of Cullen's tent.

"I wonder if that's a sign we should call it a night," Emery mused.

Cullen shook his head and smirked. "Or perhaps it's a sign to continue our own little party."

Emery's brow raised. "Oh? What's this now, has the Commander gained a boost of confidence thanks to Willy's Brew?"

Cullen wouldn't deny that he was a bit more tipsy than he'd originally thought. "Perhaps, or perhaps I'm simply taking your advice once more."

Emery smiled at that, stepping closer to him and placing a hand on his chest. "Shall we continue inside, then?"

"After you," Cullen pushed aside the tent flap, confused for a moment when Emery stepped back. He rolled his eyes when she presented the bottle she had snagged from nearby.

"What?" she asked with mock innocence.

Cullen just gestured for her to go inside the tent and followed after, wondering where exactly the rest of their night would go.

Back by the fire, Sidney looked around for Emery, but couldn't find her. When he asked Vernon, who was sitting with Angie- the female companion he had been bunking with a while now, all Vernon knew was that she had excused herself to get some air.

"I guess she called it a night then?"

"Or maybe she's having a bit of fun of her own."

Little did either of them know yet, that was exactly what was happening.

Emery and Cullen sat in his tent, passing the bottle of what ended up being some of Menek's blackberry whiskey between each other. They swapped stories about their childhoods, things they had heard in their lines of work, and things that they had heard in their travels.

"Seriously?"

Emery nodded. "Dead serious!" She took another swig. "The man came barreling through the great hall, buck naked with nothing but his lute, and dove through the window just as the butcher came barrelling after him."

"Maker's breath, I don't know whether to applaud the man or disparage him."

"It's probably the craziest thing I've ever seen." Emery scooted closer to take the bottle from Cullen. "What about you?"

"Me?" Cullen asked, giving her the bottle.

"Aye, what's the crazy story you've got?"

Cullen thought a moment, then chuckled. "Alright, here's one."

Emery sat there like a young child hearing a grand tale from a traveling minstrel, eager to hear his story. It was one about a Templar recruit that Cullen had once worked with, which wasn't surprising, but what happened to the recruit was.

"The poor recruit ran out into the dining hall in nothing but his knickers and this profound silence fell over the hall as seventy mages and thirty Templars turned to stare at once."

Emery snorted. "Oh no, what happened next?"

"A slow round of applause began and spread until every soul was on their feet."

"A standing ovation?"

Cullen laughed and nodded. "A standing ovation."

"What'd he do then?"

"Saluted, turned on his heel, and marched out like he was in full armor."

"Haha, really?" Emery cracked up laughing. "Oh, what I would have given to have been there!"

Cullen sat back and smirked around the bottle as he took another swig. "Your cooking would have been most welcome, the food we had to endure hardly had any flavor to it."

"I bet it was more nutritious than tasty," Emery mused, accepting the bottle as Cullen offered it to her. "Food is meant to be enjoyed, not just sustain you."

Cullen watched her a moment. "You know, Emery, I can't say that I've met another person who views food the way you do. Except perhaps Leah."

Emery caught the sadness behind her name and passed the bottle back to him. "She was right, though." She leaned forward and poked Cullen in the forward, making his head bounce slightly.

"What was that for?"

Emery kept her finger on his forehead and gently rubbed it in circles. "You're too young to be having so many worry lines, Commander."

Cullen reached up and grabbed her hand, moving it away. "So you decided that poking me would help?"

Emery stuck out her tongue. "It distracted you, dinnit?"

"There are far better distractions, you know."

"Oh? Like what?"

Cullen pulled her from her chair and brought her closer to him until they were just barely touching their noses, earning himself a squeal. "You, for one, are quite the distraction yourself."

"Is that right?" Emery caught herself against his chest. "And is the mighty Lion asking for my assistance in that regard?"

Cullen set the bottle aside, his free hand coming to rest on the small of her back. "And if I am?"

Emery smirked. "My, my, Commander, where did this confidence come from?" She moved her face closer until their lips were nearly touching. "It suits you."

Cullen closed the remaining distance between them and held her firmly in his arms. One hand stayed at the small of her back while the other cradled her neck.

Emery felt as though she'd melt into his arms. He was holding her firmly, but gently, and the warmth of his lips against hers was matched only by the rising heat of her body.

They immersed themselves in the kiss for several moments, only pulling back to catch a breath before crashing into each other once more. Each kiss grew more urgent and eventually, Emery had moved from being between his legs to straddling them. She could feel his hardening member against her loins and wanted nothing more than to discover the feel of it inside of her.

Cullen broke away for a breather and looked at her, seeing the same sense of desire in her gaze as he felt. As her weight shifted and grazed his groin, he groaned. "Em..."

Emery liked the way it sounded when he called her "Em"; it was different and new, as no one had ever called her that before. "We can stop if you'd like, Cullen..." she offered, knowing he hadn't been with a woman before.

"I don't want to stop," Cullen gripped her hips, kissing her collarbone.

Emery's loins ached and she reached down to start undoing the ties of his trousers. "Just remember, my dear lion, you started this."

Cullen gasped as Emery slid his dick inside of herself, feeling the wet and hot mess surrounding him. His hands cupped her buttocks as his grip tightened.

Emery began to move her hips, slowly easing Cullen into his first time. "Maker, you're big."

Cullen could feel Emery tighten around him. "Em..."

Emery took his face in her hands and kissed him, meeting his tongue with her own. 'He feels so good...'

The more Emery moved her hips, the more Cullen got riled up. It was such a new sensation that he was finding it difficult to restrain himself.

"We'll go at your pace, Cullen," Emery said, panting. She cradled his face, kissing his forehead. "You can let me lead, or you can take over whenever you'd like."

Cullen wanted more of her and pulled her back in for another kiss. With one hand cradling her neck and the other sliding across her back until his arm encircled her, Cullen urged her to move faster. Emery followed his signals, going at whatever pace he set, and she loved the way he felt inside of her. It had been longer than she'd have liked since the last partner she had taken, so she was more sensitive. She let Cullen guide her hips and take over the closer he got to climaxing.

"Maker, Em..."

Sensing he was reaching his limits, Emery matched the pace he set. Cullen gasped as she went faster, feeling a new pressure building more and more until it felt as though he were about to explode.

"Em, I-"

Emery silenced him with a kiss and let him slip out just as he came. She felt the hot, sticky mess cover her thigh as she pulled back from the kiss, her forehead pressed to his as they tried to catch their breaths.

"Maker, that was..." Cullen panted, his eyes closed for a moment.

"Ya, it was..."