Chapter 27

The sun shone brilliantly on the white marble of the courtyard as Elena drew her horse up to a clattering halt. Fabien, laughing, came to a halt beside her. Their horses tossed their proud heads and their tack jingled merrily.

"Well, I'll be damned! You hustled me!" He reached over and shoved at her shoulder, knocking her slightly askew in her saddle. "All that 'Oh no, Fabien, I don't want to race. I'll just lose to you.' Nonsense. I should've known better than to trust you." He slung his great frame to the ground and passed off his reins to a waiting hostler before walking to her mount's side. He reached up for her, his face still shining with laughter.

Obligingly, she put her hands on his shoulders and allowed him to pull her from the saddle. The soft leather of his armor was warm beneath her hands as she looked down into his sparkling, forest green eyes. The Winter Palace gleamed in the near distance; its towering white spires and pale blue roofs with gold accents were something to behold. Fabien set her down on the ground carefully, her hands trailed from his shoulders to his chest. He helped straighten her clothes from riding, smoothing the spring green fabric of her dress down around her hips and settling the ribbons hanging from her shoulders back into their proper place. Before she could swat his hands away from her, he had reached into the back of her bodice and tugged up her chemise into its proper position in a most experienced demonstration of a Lord's pull. He grinned wolfishly down at her as he danced away out of her reach.

"Tut, tut! Don't make a scene!" He admonished playfully waving a finger at her. She pulled a face at him and smoothed her dress down again primly.

"I would never." She huffed at him as she stalked past towards the waiting palatial grounds. "I'm here representing my family." She lifted her chin proudly as they made their way beyond the gates and into a series of connected gardens and courtyards.

"I know, and don't misunderstand me, I'm thrilled you are here instead of your brother… but… why are you here instead of Adrian?" Fabien queried, settling into place beside her, hands tucked neatly behind his back, looking for all the world a perfect gentleman for once.

Elena nodded politely to a passerby. "Adrian's wife is about to bring the next heir to House Trevelyan into the world. Seeing as this will also be Adrian's first child, Father was kind enough to permit him to stay home and send the only other person he could beside himself, me."

"And the fact that your brother specifically requested your presence had nothing to do with it?"

"I may have written a letter…ardently requesting that he do this small favor for me…" Elena grinned sheepishly up at Fabien.

He smirked down at her, "Of course, since this isn't Skyhold, you were permitted to come. And being without either of our presence in Ostwick must've just been so enjoyable for you that you couldn't bear to not come and tell us of all of the day to day tasks that so enthrall you."

"Indeed. I do so find housework and housekeeping and management to be such rewarding work. It was hard to tear myself away." Elena agreed solemnly.

Presently, an armored Inquisition soldier presented himself in front of Fabien, snapping into a sharp salute. "Captain!" He said and waited as Fabien saluted him back. "Your presence is requested immediately by Commander Cullen. I am to escort you to him."

Fabien heaved a sigh and turned towards Elena. "I'm sorry, my lovely lark, but duty calls." He bent and slipped a hand behind her head, pressing a kiss against her forehead. "I'll come find you as soon as I can. In the meantime, mind your manners." He turned around and marched away with the soldier.

As she continued making her way through the gardens towards the palace, Elena marveled at how quickly he went from Fabien to Captain Shaw. His back ramrod straight, walking with the confidence and purpose of a man in charge. She caught herself wondering if she loved him romantically if that would be a sight that would make her feel all weak in the knees. As it were, she just appreciated him like a work of art. She had frequently wondered these kinds of things every time he had visited Ostwick the last three years. She wished she could fall back into love with him, it would make the whole situation so much easier. She just couldn't. She had found a love that had filled her entire soul and she had squandered it. Taken it for granted and cast it from her with hardly a thought until it was too late. Why is it we never appreciate what we have until we lose it?

She saw several familiar faces as she walked around, touring the lush verdant gardens. The Iron Bull, Sera, and Maryden were in a small bar set up in a small building. Maryden was singing "Sera was Never" probably because Sera was close by and she seemed to always do that. The Iron Bull was having an arm wrestling match with, she assumed, one of his Chargers. Sera was sitting on top of one of the tables relaxing back on her hands as she heckled and hooted at the two arm wrestlers. Elena did not go in, but the scene was pleasant. Off to one side she spotted Blackwall sparring with a practice dummy and kept walking. She had never much enjoyed speaking to him. He was too much like her father. She also saw Varric speaking with a few Free Marcher nobles she recognized but did not remember their names. While she would've enjoyed stopping to chat with the Dwarf, he was clearly busy, so she kept walking.

She passed through a tall, arched iron work gate and was looking around, enjoying the aesthetic of the whole place when she caught sight of a splash of red. He looked up at the exact moment she turned towards him, hoping initially that it might be Erik. She stopped and stared openly at him. She was taken aback by the feeling of his eyes looking back at her. The world slowed in a way it hadn't in three years as the details of the scene etched themselves in her mind…

A wide smile crested his lips as he laughed at the antics of the dog in front of him. He slapped the muscular shoulder of the animal as he gently admonished him for being too playful. His warm, liquid golden-amber eyes locked onto hers. She felt herself relax her posture as he choked his laughter back into his chest, his wide smile shrinking but not disappearing as recognition dawned.

She was transfixed by the sun catching in his amber eyes and golden hair, illuminating his angular features softly. She felt her heart stumble against her ribs in a way that was not wholly unpleasant. It had been too long since she'd felt anything like this, and she quickly remembered how much she liked it. It was simply exhilarating.

"M-my lady Trevelyan." He stuttered out, rising to his feet to affect a short bow. His cheeks were flushed, presumably from playing with his dog. "Can I help you?" The soft, rounded tones of his voice drifted over her ears like a cool breeze in summer. Elena shivered.

She shook her head to clear it. "Commander! I– I was just looking for–" she cast around herself, looking for someone else she knew desperately, unable to voice anybody's name on the spot like this.

"Lane!" Fabien's voice cut through her chest like thunder.

Oh no. Not him! Her head whipped around and she found Fabien quickly. It was always easy to spot him since he stood head and shoulders over most of the other people in the courtyard. He was wearing new armor that shone happily in the sun. She shaded her eyes as the light bounced off of his pauldrons. He stopped in front of her a few moments later and pulled her into his arms for a quick kiss. "Stop that." She admonished, brushing off his embrace and feeling her cheeks redden in embarrassment at the display of affection. She stepped a few feet away from him. Fabien's brows drew together, puzzled by her actions. She ignored this, "You snuck up on me there."

He shrugged, grinning mischievously at her, "Oh, you know me… I'm as a stealthy as a cat." He sank down in a half crouch and prowled around her in a small half circle.

Elena rolled her eyes, "Maybe in a room full of mouse traps." She teased. Fabien stood up and tried to grab her but she danced out of the way and knocked into the dog. He yelped pitifully as she stepped briefly on a paw. She had forgotten about him! She turned swiftly, kneeling and taking his big face between her hands, "Oh, I am so sorry! Are you OK?" She rubbed behind his ears affectionately. The big animal's tongue rolled out as he went from looking pitiful to positively gleeful in a split second.

"He's a little goofy, isn't he?" Cullen mused out loud. Elena froze. She had been distracted enough by Fabien's arrival and stepping on the dog to forget Cullen's presence. When had she become this forgetful?

"Well, sir, he could some training. I've never seen a Mabari this old be this friendly to strangers just grabbing their faces. Where did you get him?" Fabien commented.

Elena relaxed and added in, "Leave it to the Fereldens to obsess over a dog while the fate of the Inquisition hangs in the balance." She chose to ignore the fact that she was now rubbing the dog's proffered stomach and thoroughly enjoying the experience. "What's his name?" She prodded, trying to rope Cullen into speech so she could simply listen to him.

"I got him from a noble here. These Orelesians buy Mabaris as status symbols and whims, but when the dog proves to be too difficult for them to train, they get rid of them. I couldn't let that be this fellow's fate. Mabaris are excellent war dogs. The Hero of Ferelden is said to have had one." He explained joining Elena in the belly rubbing. She felt the fabric of their sleeves brush every now and then with their movements. "As for a name…" Cullen continued slowly, "I haven't thought of one. It will come to me."

Fabien knelt to join them as the dog rolled over to allow them access to his back and sides, panting heavily into their faces as he looked between the three of them. "He may not have a name, but he is clearly in Heaven." Fabien chuckled as he scratched the dog's spine. "He's a fine dog, Commander. I'm sure he'll train up nicely." He gave the dog a few final pats and stood. "I'm afraid I have to return to my duties now that I've made sure Elena is behaving herself." He winked at her and held a hand out to help her up. She reluctantly took it, allowing him to pull her to her feet where he wrapped her in a hug and kissed her deeply. "I'll see you once the hearing concludes, all right?" He whispered huskily as he dropped his forehead to hers.

She nodded, stepping away from him and feeling embarrassed again at his actions, "all right. Do… good work." He bowed to her, saluted Cullen, and left. Elena stood awkwardly where he'd left her, avoiding looking at Cullen. It was hard to do. It had been so long since she left Skyhold. She had penned what felt like a million letters to him that had all ended up in the fire. What could she say to the man after what she had done? There wasn't anything left. She had burned that bridge thoroughly. And yet, here he was, watching her in the surreptitious way that she was watching him. Elena looked away from his gentle gaze; she nervously brought a lock of hair from behind her shoulders around and began to fidget with it, keeping half an eye on Cullen.

Cullen stood, clearing his throat. Elena looked at him fully now and waited, her heart felt like it was going to jump out of her throat. She swallowed. "I see you and Captain Shaw are happy together." He paused, considering her carefully, waiting for a reply.

"Really? What makes you think that?" She was genuinely curious because 'happy' wasn't the word she could put on her relationship. She'd assign it more as 'pleasant enough to live with for now.' She didn't really know if she could ever be 'happy' with Fabien or not. She just knew that she much preferred him over the other suitors she had been presented with. He was one of her closest friends. He was loyal. He treated her well. He was madly in love with her. But when Cullen had said that… it had still surprised her. That was not a reaction she would have anticipated happening prior to this moment.

He swallowed hard, "I just meant that– that– you two seem to get along w-well."

Elena nodded her head slowly, "Yesss. He's always been someone I get along well with." It was true. They had been fast friends almost from the moment they met in the Circle Tower.

Cullen nodded and remained silent.

After a few minutes of silent standing and watching the dog gnawing on a bone, Elena blurted out, "I should probably go." She curtsied, "Thank you for your time."

"Oh! Un-until next time, then." he replied, bowing in return. Was that… disappointment on his face? Elena frowned as she turned and left. Surely she had imagined it or displaced her own disappointment at leaving onto him. By now he must've moved on just as she had… or at least was pretending to have. He would've needed someone to comfort him in the night when the Lyrium's pull was the strongest and he was exhausted. He would've wanted someone to fill the empty space in his bed. He would've searched for someone to be his companion.

Wouldn't he?

She looked behind her to see him watching at her.

Wouldn't he?