Chapter 8

Several weeks passed with Elena trying to return the Commander's cloak, and him pointedly avoiding her causing her to be unable to do so. She grew frustrated and distant with him. She could understand now why Erik and Mother Giselle had cautioned her against the Commander. What she didn't and couldn't understand was how a man could defend her honor, kiss her with a passion to rival a thousand burning suns, leave his clothes in her room, and then refuse to speak to or be near her. Her friends did their best to keep her distracted, but Marston always hung around them, and she couldn't help but feel he was partially to blame for the outcome of that fateful night. She hadn't gone into the night thinking she'd get the kiss of a lifetime, but that's what had happened. She also hadn't gone into the night thinking that she would be turning herself into a pining imbecile either, but here she was. Pining for his touch, a greeting, a look, or something! The Commander, for all intents and purposes, acted as if she didn't even exist. She was stomping around, slashing at the training dummies with her good arm while trying to maintain a shield height, thinking about all of this when her brother found her.

"Elena!" He called out, strolling up to her, "So I heard an interesting story…" He started coming to a halt behind her dummy.

Elena sunk her blade into the dummy's stomach with a grunt and straightened up, pushing her hair out of her face. "Oh yeah? What about?" She panted, pretty sure she knew what about. He'd just arrived home from the Storm Coast a little while ago and was now down here after meeting with his council. She put her shield to the ground, and rubbed her aching shoulder.

Erik assumed an innocent air and leaned on the impaled dummy's shoulders, looking around its stuffed head at her, "Some little birdie told me the Commander had drinks with you and your friends."

Elena nodded, "Yeah, so what?" She placed her hands on her hips and paced in a small circle.

"And he ended up knocking Marston out in one punch because he called you Cullen's whore." Erik's face contorted as he tried not to smile broadly at her, he failed.

Elena kicked the ground and stood still, "Well, of course. I'm not his whore." She told him calmly. "I'm not even sure what we are anymore."

"You were something other than the friends you claimed to be?"

Elena shook her head, "No. Maybe we would've been something in the future but…" She raised her hands to the sky and let them fall again where they thumped against her legs, "Maker knows what happened. I sure don't."

Erik grew serious, "What happened? What did he do?"

Elena rolled her eyes, "Would stop that nonsense! I thought you'd moved past whatever it is you have against him when you came down here needling me like that!" She snapped at him, "Nothing happened!" She started pacing again, hands on hips, determined not to look him in the eye. "Sweet Maker give me strength."

Erik wasn't to be appeased so easily, "Then, explain why I saw his cloak in our room? How'd that get there?"

Elena stopped in her tracks, thankful she was facing away from him as she felt her face turn bright pink, "Oh, he… he uh… he lent it to me?"

Erik came around to face her, "I'm going to let you think of a better lie, or better still, the truth, and try again. Why are his clothes in our room?" He placed both hands on her shoulders and held her firmly still. Elena remained obstinately silent. "Whenever you're ready, Lane…"

She tried to brush his hands off of her shoulders, "Let go, Erik."

"I will once you answer me."

She grimaced at him, "The truth is he let me borrow it. He took me home after our night at the Singing Maiden. It was cold. He lent me his cloak and he won't take it back." It was mostly the truth, a good lie.

Her brother squinted at her, "At least this lie is more convincing." He told her taking his hands away, "There's nothing for me to worry about is there?"

She shook her head, "No there never was. He doesn't really want me anyway."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that!" Dorian's posh voice chimed in, "I've been looking all over for you, Herald. We really need to gather the mages if we're to get this thing done soon."

"Dorian! What? Are you leaving so soon? Where are you going?" Elena couldn't pick what to say first, so she said it all as she hugged the Tevinter mage fiercely around the neck. "Tell me everything."

"I see who the favorite is." Erik said laughing, "I'm glad you two get on so well without me." Elena and Dorian both turned their heads and stuck their tongues out at him. "That's not polite!"

"Who cares what's polite?" Dorian replied, "It's fun being impolite." Elena nodded in agreement, "Anyway, my dear," Dorian continued, stepping away from Elena and crossing his arms across his chest, "The gossip around the village is that the Commander is behaving strangely. He keeps going to speak with Cassandra about something mysterious. If you want to know more about him, that's who I'd go speak to." He chuckled, "Or you could try your own luck with the Commander. I'm sure a pretty thing like you could get more out of him than Cassandra." He gave a hearty chuckle and winked at her.

Erik stepped up beside Dorian and interrupted, "She won't go speak to either of them if she's smart. To address your second question: We are leaving again. This time, though, we're not going far. We'll be back by tomorrow night at the latest."

"Where are you going?"

Dorian and Erik shared a weighted look, "We're going to close the Breach, Lane." Erik whispered soberly. "It'll be dangerous, but if I succeed, all of Thedas will be safe once again."

Elena looked between the two of them, feeling their anxiety in her own throat, "You promise you'll come home tomorrow night?" She asked quietly.

Dorian stepped forward and patted her shoulder, "Of course, my dear, it's going to take a lot more than some hole in the sky to dispose of me!" He took his hand away and looked at her a little sadly, "Though, if it does, I hope you'll remember me fondly."

She nodded, "Of course I will. You're the only person from Tevinter I've ever liked."

"That sets my mind at ease." He said walking away, "Come along once you're done here, Erik."

Erik looked at Elena and rubbed his neck nervously, "I've got a lot to say to you, don't I?" He asked smiling sheepishly at her, "Please, don't interrupt." Elena nodded and settled herself more comfortably on her feet. "I'm sorry for how I left things last time. I'm not Father and I shouldn't try to act like him. I just want you to know I care about you and when I see you growing up and making decisions about who to spend your time with without me… I get a little crazy. Especially after what I'd just brought you home from. I don't think I could bear it a second time if something like that happened again." He stepped forward and pulled her into a tight hug, "I love you, Elena. You're my only sister. I hope you'll forgive me for being an over-bearing ass."

"Of course I forgive you Erik. I'm sorry for everything, too. I know I'm not the easiest person to talk to sometimes. I have such strong opinions and I hate being bossed around, especially by you. You usually don't try and boss me, so when it does happen I don't always react the best way. I'm sorry. Please forgive me." She told his shoulder, returning his hug.

"All is forgiven." He said, tightening the hug for a couple of seconds before releasing her, "Dorian is right. I had better get going." He paused and looked at her, "You really have grown into a beautiful woman. Mother would be proud." He ruffled her hair as he walked past her, "See you tomorrow night, Lane." She tried to duck away from his hand but not very hard. He chuckled at her and left, sticking his hands into his back pockets as he went.

Elena watched him go, a lump in her throat. Her eyes stung and a few tears managed to escape her lashes. She felt eyes on her and turned her head to see the Commander watching her. She cleared her throat and wiped her eyes across the back of her arm before turning to sling her shield across her back and pull her sword from the dummy's stomach. That was enough exercise for the day. Sliding her sword into its sheath she stalked up the road, past the training grounds and into the woods. She wanted to be alone. She didn't want to think about the Commander anymore. He had made his choice, though it felt like he had left a window open with his cloak still lying in her room.

Snow started to fall as she walked. She rubbed her arms briskly and picked up her pace. She wandered to the opposite side of the lake and sat on the dilapidated pier there, listening to the rams snorts and gallops around behind her. She watched her brother and his companions head from Haven up the mountain, their horses tossing their heads and they trotted forward. She watched as training came to a close and everyone left. She watched the forge and stables shut down. She watched the sun set. And still she sat there, only now she watched the Breach. Snow settled on her, she brushed it off and curled her knees into her chest, wrapping her arms around them and placing her head on her arms. She stared at the green glow of the Breach bleeding into the starry night sky. Elena enjoyed the quiet stillness of this side of the lake. She let her mind stay blank, refusing to think about anything in particular. As the night deepened, a cold settled into her body.

Once the cold started to cause her injuries to ache, she slipped down from the pier and walked across the lake. It had been frozen solid for so long, she didn't even worry about it cracking. The glow of Haven, the stars, and the Breach reflected back at her from blue-black, snow dotted ice beneath her feet. She reached the other side and clambered up the bank, past the trebuchet and was met by the Commander. He had his cloak draped over one arm. As she passed him, he wrapped it around her shoulders, leaving his hands there. He gently guided her to his tent and ushered her inside. She sat on his bed and leaned her head into her hands. Elena didn't really care where she was, but it was nice to be surrounded by his things. He had old books and rolled up maps cluttering his table on which was a map of Thedas with notes and drawings made all over it. Hanging from the wooden supports were more maps and battle plans. In the only chair in the room rested his sword and shield, which he moved so he could be seated. They sat in silence, waiting. She didn't know why he hadn't gone with Erik to the Breach, but, then again, she didn't really care.

At length, she sat up and pushed the cloak from her shoulders. She looked at him blankly. He looked back at her, worry on his face. She sighed and stood, going to the entrance flap and lifting it to look outside. Snow blew in with a gust of wind; she shivered and let the flap fall. Elena looked around as she pulled the shield from her back and unbuckled her sword. She set them down next to the bed and looked around idly, noting the furs that covered the floor and the few personal pictures on his bookshelf. There was a loud explosion from the top of the mountain. Elena felt it in her heart and looked at him, frightened. He stood and wrapped her in his arms, holding her tightly. After a few moments of this, she pushed away and looked out into the night sky again. The Breach was gone. Erik would be heading back soon enough… if he had survived.

Elena turned to look at Cullen, "Commander?" She queried, but was met instead with a kiss. His hands pulled her to him, crushing her in his embrace. She went soft in his arms, twining her own around him.

He pulled away, "I thought you had stopped calling me that, Elena." He said his voice rough and deeper than usual. His eyes darted around her face as if he were trying to memorize every inch of her.

Elena blinked at him and felt a couple of tears slide down her cheeks, "I thought you hated me."

Cullen reached up and cupped her cheek, wiping away a tear with his thumb, "I'm starting to doubt that I ever could."

Author's Note: The calm before the storm. Peace and Blessings