Jacquelyn sat in the courtyard, staring at the chessboard in front of her. She needed a break. She'd just come from talking with Leliana and Cassandra about the possibility of one of them being Divine, and about how they felt about it. Neither of them instilled that much confidence in her, but she knew that she definitely didn't like the idea Leliana had for if she became Divine. It sounded too dangerous. At least Cassandra at least somewhat wanted to bring back templars.

"Everything all right?"

She glanced up at Cullen and smiled as he sat down opposite her, leaning back in his chair slightly. He seemed more relaxed than he had in a while, and Jacquelyn couldn't help but appreciate how it made him look. He didn't have the sweat of a fever, the colour had returned to his cheeks, and he seemed actually healthy. It made her feel… content. Pleased. And she certainly felt less worried for him than she did when he wasn't taking lyrium.

"Yes," she said, "I believe so. At least, nothing more is occurring than usually is. You solve one problem and something else pops up to take its place," she chuckled, shaking her head slightly. "But everything will work out. I have faith that the Maker knows what He is in the meantime… fancy a game?"

Cullen smiled, sitting forward to better view the board.

"I didn't realise you play," he said.

"I am a bit out of practice, I am sure," Jacquelyn admitted, "but I have been known to play on occasion," she reached out and moved her first piece, then leaned back in her chair to watch Cullen. He took his time to ponder his move, looking at the board closely. So early in the game it would be difficult to tell what Jacquelyn's plans were, but she knew that he would think through every possibility carefully.

"When was the last time you played?" Cullen asked as he decided what piece to move. Jacquelyn paused for a moment, thinking, then let a sigh escape her.

"I am honestly not too certain," she admitted, "but it was well before the events at the Conclave. I believe it was against my eldest brother, and he has a bit more experience than I do."

"You don't talk about your family much."

"What is there to say?" Jacquelyn half shrugged, regarding the board. "I am the youngest child of four. My eldest brother is set to inherit our father's land and title, while the rest of us are expected to serve the Chantry in some form or another. My sister became a Sister in the Chantry at Ostwick, and my other brother and I were set to become templars before Anders began the mage-templar war. I have not heard much from them since the explosion, other than one letter from my parents saying that they are proud of me, and maybe a few times hearing that they have been attempting to use my position as Inquisitor to their advantage. Mostly I have been letting Josephine deal with any arising issues."

"You're not close with them?" Cullen asked, frowning slightly. Jacquelyn shrugged.

"I am not… not close with them. However, they have always had their expectations of me, and I have never been certain I have lived up to them. My brother, Edmond, however. Well, Edmond Trevelyan, heir to the estate, seems as though he can do no wrong," Jacquelyn smiled slightly, shrugging again. "I hardly hold it against him, of course. I am certain our parents had expectations of him that I was simply not exposed to."

For a moment they fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts. Jacquelyn didn't think about her family much. They all had their own lives, and while she did miss them sometimes, it wasn't like she had a lot of free time to visit them or to write. Eventually, Jacquelyn reached out and moved her chosen piece.

"This is nice," she said eventually, breaking the silence.

"Hmm?" Cullen asked, looking up from the board.

"Spending time together without there being some life and death situation to be dealing with, or some Corypheus shenanigans. I am finding it rather pleasant. We should do it more often."

"Yes," Cullen agreed, though there was the merest hint of a frown as his eyes once again fell to the board, "we should."

Jacquelyn frowned slightly, watching her lover closely. There was something that didn't feel quite right. But just as she was opening her mouth to say something, they were interrupted.

"Inquisitor, Commander, we have a situation," Jim greeted. A sigh escaped Jacquelyn before she could suppress it.

"As there always is," she muttered, turning to face Jim. "What has happened?"

"Those missing soldiers," Jim started. "We just received word back."

"Is that not a good thing?"

"It would be, Inquisitor, but…"

"Out with it, man," Cullen scolded. "Tell us what the problem is."

"Well, Commander," Jim turned to Cullen, seeming to find it easier to talk to him than to Jacquelyn, "they've been found. In the Fallow Mire. They're being held hostage by Avvar, and they are demanding that they meet the Herald of Andraste," he turned to Jacquelyn, "that they meet you, if we want to see them alive."

"I knew things were too quiet," Jacquelyn sighed, turning to face Cullen. "While I recognise it is certainly not the most… delightful of settings, would you care to join me in the Fallow Mire?" she asked. "It would be good to be able to spend some more time with you, and I would appreciate your skills and experience in rescuing our men."

"I'll need to make sure everything is tied up here, but if it's what you really want," Cullen smiled, bowing his head to Jacquelyn slightly, "I can hardly say no to my Inquisitor."

Cullen was just going through his papers in his study, making sure everything was in order while he was away. Of course, he could still correspond with people via a bird, but it was better to have things in place. Faster, more efficient. Though Cullen also recognised that things would go wrong somewhere. They always did. He looked up briefly at the knock on his door, looking back down at his papers without seeing who it was.

"Come in," he called, placing the report in his hand down on one of the taller piles of paper on his desk. The pile that Leliana might like to look over while he was gone.

"The Inquisitor tells me that you will be joining us in the Fallow Mire," Cassandra said, stopping in front of Cullen's desk. "Are you sure that is wise?"

"The Inquisition's army will be left in good hands while I'm gone," Cullen assured her, "just as it always is."

"That is not what I'm asking about."

Cullen sighed, leaning forward slightly and regarding Cassandra tiredly.

"Then what is it?" he asked, though he suspected he knew already.

"You're taking lyrium again," she said, not being one to beat around the bush. "We got back from Adamant not too long ago. Are you sure that you're in the right place to be going on a rescue mission? In the Fallow Mire, of all places."

"I appreciate your concern, Cassandra, but I'm fine. I feel better than I have in a long time."

"I'm not just concerned about your physical health, Commander."

Cullen regarded Cassandra closely. He knew she meant well, and he appreciated her concern. She had always supported his decisions around lyrium, and he knew she wasn't exactly challenging his decision. Simply questioning it. And the truth was, she wasn't saying anything that hadn't crossed his own mind. He couldn't truly say he was happy about being back on lyrium, and he was already thinking about when he could safely try to come off it again. But he also recognised the truth of the matter, as much as he didn't like to admit it.

"The Inquisitor asked me to join," he said. "Whether I'm taking lyrium or not doesn't change if I am able to do this. I made my choices, and I will live with the consequences, whatever they may be."

"I will be straight with you."

"When have you not been?" Cullen sighed, crossing over to his window, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"You stopped taking lyrium for a reason," Cassandra pressed. "I could understand that reason. I respected it. I cannot understand why you started taking it again."

"Is there a question in there, Cassandra?"

"Yes. I want to know what was going through your mind when you started taking lyrium again."

"A lot," Cullen admitted. "I can't say I wanted to take lyrium again, but when I confided in Jacq - in the Inquisitor, she didn't want to risk my health, and possibly my life, on an ideal. On something that might not even be possible," he half turned to look back at Cassandra, leaning against the wall. "How many templars have you heard of that have stopped taking lyrium and survived?"

"I don't know," Cassandra admitted, an almost pitying look on her face, "but there have been some."

"Not many."

"Only because not many have tried."

Cullen didn't say anything, once again looking out his window over the snowy mountain side. He didn't look around at Cassandra as a sigh escaped her.

"Just so long as you're doing this because you want to," she said. "I'll see you at the gates."

Cullen listened to her footsteps as she headed for the door, to the quiet squeak of the hinges and the soft thunk as the door shut behind her. He sighed, looking at the floor. He didn't want to be taking lyrium, but he also knew his odds if he stopped taking it again. Enough templars died from coming off lyrium once. Failing, and then attempting to get off lyrium a second time was unheard of.