Back from our family trip which means the next chapter is up.
I loved writing this chapter because Lara gets vulnerable with Cullen (finally). She's still not ready to reveal all but a part he's wanted to know for so long finally gets revealed to him. And we also have the infamous battlement scene kiss :)
If you're enjoying it or have any feedback, please leave a comment. Even just to say hello xx
—
Chapter 20:
Her legs ran as fast as they could take her. She felt like she was flying. A voice echoed behind her, taunting her. The route was never ending, there was no escaping it. Her lungs burned with each inhale and exhale as she pushed herself on further. Red lyrium hummed around her as if to stop her, lure her in. It was growing closer and closer to her the more she ran from it. The hum louder and louder as if to seduce her. She wouldn't touch it. It wouldn't taint her.
The red lyrium was attached to bodies that threatened to reach out to her. She wouldn't let them take her. They wouldn't take her. She swore to it as she ran out of their reach. A light soon appeared and she followed it, willing her legs to run faster and faster. The light grew and then it surrounded her. A courtyard. The world was still swallowed whole by the Fade.
"My love…" A voice to her left called for her.
Cullen.
She turned to him and her hands covered her mouth. He walked over to her, red lyrium protruding from his body. He looked ill, he was dying. His body trembled as he approached her.
"End me," He spoke again, reaching his arms out to her. A tear rolling down his cheek.
Lara shook her head, tears threatening to spill. She took steps back from him. He was dying but she couldn't end him. She didn't have the heart to kill him, but watching him suffer as they mined his body tore her heart. She felt his grasp on her and her body went stiff.
"No! Cullen, no!" She shouted. The hum grew louder.
He grabbed her more firmly, and kissed her. He tasted of death and lyrium. She screamed as loud as she could into the kiss and suddenly the world shook, the ground splitting in two from the sound of her cry. The ground underneath her gave way and soon she was falling, Cullen's grasp no longer on her.
"Cullen!" She shouted, but everything was dark as she fell. Her shout echoed around her but no response. She couldn't feel him but the taste of the red lyrium left her body tingling, as if it was seeping into her being. As if he tainted her.
Her body slammed against the hard stone ground, causing her to shake on the impact. She struggled to open her eyes, black spots clouding her vision from the fall.
"Ah, the youngest Trevelyan. The unwanted child," The voice spoke, louder this time.
Lara immediately jolted and stood up upon hearing the voice. She was back in the Fade. In the nightmare's lair. There was no rift to escape to this time. There was no way out. Panic rose in her body, bile formed in her throat. She turned her head left and right frantically trying to find the nightmare demon. She had to face it with no staff this time. It was nowhere to be found. A terrifying image caught her eye, a painful gasp of air escaping her at the sight before her. Hawke suspended in the air by the giant monster's legs, slowly pulling her body apart.
"You let me die…" Hawke groaned.
"No, no…I didn't! I didn't want this!" Lara shouted, her body trembling.
In an instant, Hawke's body snapped at the pressure of being pulled apart. Blood and insides spilling everywhere. Lara screamed and screamed.
—-
"Lara! Wake up! Lara, you're having a nightmare!" A voice urgently called to her, and she felt a hand on her mouth muffling her, and another on her body, holding her in place.
With a loud gasp, her eyes flew open in fear. Her body fighting out of the grasp, her heart racing in her chest. Suddenly, it hit her. She pushed the body off her and leaned over her bed. A bucket was pushed underneath catching her vomit just in time. More than she cared to release spewed out of her, racking her body as she heaved. The same hands were on her, comforting her. One rubbing her back, the other holding her shoulder. Once she was convinced she was finished, she lifted herself up trying to recompose herself.
She turned to see who was beside her, and the sight made her heart twist and tears prick the back of her eyes. It was him. Of course, he would be the one to see her this way. Even though she had seen him in a vulnerable state, she didn't intend for him to see her this way. She got up from the bed and went to retrieve some mint from her bag as well as move the offending bucket away from her bed. She sat back down on the bed, chewing shakily.
"How did you know?" Lara turned her face away from him.
"I'm all too familiar with nightmares," Cullen replied.
She looked back at him, feeling sheepish for asking. Lyrium withdrawals. He had told her he couldn't sleep at times because of how bad they were, some nights worse than others. Some days the bags under his eyes would give away how bad they were.
"Also, you were screaming…" His voice trailed off.
She buried her head in her hands, embarrassment washing over her at the mention of that. If he heard it, that meant others nearby did as well. No one else entered her tent, most likely Cullen had told them not to. She felt herself being pulled into his chest, his warmth soothing her, his scent enveloping her. She felt clammy in her skin, shivers taking over her as images of her nightmare came back to her. This would need a visit to the Fade with Solas at some point, but for right now, she was still annoyed with him.
She welcomed his hold. Her hand reached for his chest, resting on his loose tunic he wore, feeling his muscles underneath. He tensed slightly in response but eventually relaxed under her touch. She decided to move it, but his hand caught her swiftly and placed it back on his chest, holding it there.
"Let me get used to it," He said, his voice deeper.
They sat there in silence, him holding her, comforting her. She held onto him, curling into him as if he were her safety. She reveled in the fact that this was the closest she had ever been to someone. She had never been held like this before, not even as a child, not even by her own parents. This is what it felt like to be held, to be protected. And it was in the arms of an ex-Templar. A place she never expected to find comfort and safety. The realization that she hadn't held her end of the promise hit her. He let her touch him despite his past, despite his trauma. He let himself be vulnerable but she didn't do the same.
"I didn't keep my promise," She whispered aloud, breaking the silence.
"Lara, now is not the time," He replied immediately.
"You don't want me to tell you?" She asked, confused.
"Of course I do. But you just had a nightmare and have been through Maker knows what in the Fade. You have forever to tell me," Cullen responded, holding her closer.
"In the Elder One's future, the Breach swallowed the word whole…" She started.
Cullen let out a sigh. "Stubborn as ever," He muttered.
She sat up, breaking from his hold and looking into his eyes. Suddenly, everything spilled out of her. She told him everything, and she couldn't stop. Alexius's plans, time magic, the dungeons, the red lyrium growing everywhere like a poison, corpses everywhere, bodies mined for lyirum, demons running rampant. Cullen's eyes widened as she continued on but he didn't interrupt. He stayed silent and gave her space to talk, even when she struggled with her words.
"There was something else that happened…" She looked down at her lap, her fingers fumbling with each other.
"I'm listening," He finally spoke.
Lara suddenly felt nervous, her skin turning clammy as her heart raced. She swore to herself she would never tell him. She was bent on preventing the Elder One's future, Cullen included. She would never entertain a future with him and yet here she was, alone with him in her tent. They had kissed before Adamant and it was an unspoken tension between them as they reached for each other now.
"I saw you there. In a courtyard. You were against the wall, red lyrium growing out of your body. It was consuming you almost like it was making you mad. You called out to me, you said 'my love'. You thought I had died and you couldn't believe I was alive. Everyone thought I had died. You wanted me to end you so you could be with me," Lara spoke, talking to her trembling finger rather than facing him.
She was met with silence. Cullen knew there was more to the story and was waiting for her to finish. He was giving her the space that she needed to share and be vulnerable with him. He didn't rush her, but he stayed there solid, providing comfort to her. It was her cue to continue.
"I couldn't do it. Dorian did it. I couldn't even look at you when he did. I didn't want that to be my last image of you in case we didn't make it back in time," Lara finished. Her eyes were now pricking with tears threatening to spill out at the memory. How much his words haunted her dreams for nights after Redcliffe. How she was determined to keep him at arm's length.
"Is a future where we are together so bad?" He finally asked.
Lara stayed silent. She still kept her eyes on her fingers trembling in her lap, nervously intertwining with each other. She didn't know how to answer his question. A tear snuck out of her right eye. She didn't dare wipe it, she wouldn't let him see her cry. Not like this. Too many emotions were involved. He was talking about them.
Cullen let out a sigh. "That's why you were so bent on distancing yourself from me after Redcliffe. All your attempts to push me away and hurt me. So I would what? What exactly were you trying to achieve?" Cullen continued.
"I wanted to avoid any chances of us ever being together. It would save us both. You from that future, and me from getting hurt," She answered. The truth was out now, might as well continue on with it.
His hand cupped her chin and moved her face towards him. He leaned in close to her, eyes locked on hers.
"I hate to tell you that your plan failed," He whispered to her.
"I'm well aware," Lara responded, her heart beating in her chest.
He rested his forehead on hers. "I've been drawn to you since I first laid eyes on you in the dungeon," He said.
"You saw me?" Lara asked, her green eyes searching for his honey ones that were now closed.
"Yes, when you were imprisoned. The moment I saw you there, I felt a pull towards you, a need to protect you. The irony of you being a mage is not lost on me but I couldn't help myself. When I saw you alive, it only confirmed my feelings. Your attractiveness, your fieriness, all of it. I wanted you for myself," He confessed.
Lara's eyes widened at his confession, her heart skipping a beat. Her mind was struggling to wrap around the idea of someone saying these words to her, of someone even meaning them or desiring her in this way. She was even more shocked that he felt the same pull to her that she did to him the more she laid eyes on him. Their first encounter piqued her curiosity about him despite him being a Templar and representing everything she hated. Over time, she was beginning to realize it was the Order that caused both the suffering of both mages and templars. Cullen was showing her a different side to templars that she never knew before.
Lara moved her head back so she could look at him. Cullen opened his eyes, his honey hues locked with hers, They were as golden as the sun and raw with emotion as he poured out to her.
"The moment I saw you in the Temple of Sacred Ashes, I couldn't get you out of my head. I was angry at myself for so long that I even felt the way I did about a templar. I was drawn to you too," Lara confessed back. It wasn't as powerful as Cullen's but she had no experience with men, with desiring someone. It was the best she could explain.
"I thought I was bound to live a life of service. I never expected or wanted to find anyone, especially not after what happened to me. I never expected to find you yet I'm so grateful I did," He spoke.
Lara had never felt so vulnerable, so raw, so exposed. Feelings stirred in her that she was not used to. It made her feel weak like she needed protection. She curled into his chest again, needing an out of this heavy conversation. His body was her shield. She already admitted too much to him. Strong arms wrapped around her, holding her. Her body sagged into him welcoming his warmth, his scent.
"Maker, you must be exhausted. You need your sleep," Cullen spoke as he laid her down in her bed, putting the blankets over her.
"Stay with me Cullen," She whispered out as her eyelids began to feel heavy, sleep overcoming her as she fought to keep them open.
He stood there, staring at her and at the exit of her tent conflicted. She was barely holding on. Before she could force another plea, he turned to her and climbed into her bed. His arm wrapped around her, pulling her to him. The feel of his warm, muscular body behind her was heaven. He placed a kiss at the top of her head. She could hear his inhales and exhales which soon rocked her to sleep. She didn't dream the rest of the night but felt a pang of disappointment and loss when she didn't find him beside her in the morning.
—-
Lara and her party were not coping well even back in Skyhold. The events of the Fade had tormented all of them. There was a reason why no one had physically survived it yet here they were. Hawke's sacrifice still wrung Lara inside out. Even if it was Hawke's choice, it was Lara's fault she was there in the first place. She hadn't seen Cullen since that night in her tent nor had she well since that night either. He stayed behind until all the men were healed enough to travel. From what she heard, Cullen and his men all arrived safely back in Skyhold yesterday. Lara made her way down the stairs to Dorian. He was lost in books since they arrived back.
"Ah, just who I wanted to see. As promised, I've been doing some research about quitting lyrium and what we can do. Since Solas is in charge of teaching mages, do I at least get to be in charge of this?" Dorian greeted her.
Lara forced a smile. "If it makes you happy, yes."
Dorian motioned for her to sit down. "I've mostly been curious about side effects but hopefully with reducing their intake over time, we won't run into many. I hope your strapping templar knows they need to be treated with magic and potions. You know, the very thing that makes them a bit edgy?" He smirked.
"Cullen said he was going to make them aware," Lara shrugged.
"Oh, on a first name basis now are we?" Dorian's smirk grew.
"I would certainly hope so after he put his tongue in my mouth," Lara arched an eyebrow.
Dorian let out a chuckle as he flipped through another book.
"Business first, pleasure later. First we need to do an assessment of those who want to quit. It may require tampering with the dosage a bit, possibly on a case by case basis. We'll manage them over time. Once their bodies get used to a lower dose and they're stable, we can lower it again until they are rid of it. Of course this is very simple. There could very well be complications," Dorian concluded.
"The memory loss worries me," Lara admitted.
"And me. Last thing I need is one of them thinking they're back in a Circle forgetting where they are and trying to kill a mage. We may need to keep them separate, especially those with severe symptoms," Dorian answered.
"Just let me know what you need. I would advise speaking with Cassandra. She may be able to aid you in this," Lara offered.
"Already on it, my dear," He winked at her. "Oh, I should also mention the elf has been asking for you. He annoyingly came up the stairs just to prove a point to me."
"I'm still mad at him," Lara said.
"Because he didn't translate? His gravestone said dying alone. Whatever was said in elven most likely has to do with that," Dorian offered.
"Don't be rational when I'm trying to be mad," A smile played on her lips.
"Someone here has to be," Dorian replied.
Lara arched her eyebrows and shot him a look.
—-
A scout soon approached her as she walked around Skyhold, trying to clear her head. She had debriefed with Leliana about the situation with the Grey Wardens now that Lara had recruited them. Leliana and Josephine were now trying to smooth over any disagreements with her choice. Leliana had also wanted to discuss Divine Justinia and how it was like interacting with her in the Fade.
"Inquisitor, Commander Cullen has requested you to come to his office when you can spare the time," The scout said, taking her away from her thoughts.
Lara nodded, "Thank you."
As the scout saluted her and walked off, knots formed in her stomach. What could he want from her? Her feet began to lead her to him, making her way there. They hadn't seen or spoken to each other since that night in her tent when he held her. He had slept in her bed. The first man she ever slept with. Did anyone know that he slept in her bed? Did anyone find them there? No one spoke of it. There was so much between them, and so much left unsaid. That kiss they shared left Lara wanting more. Their admission to each other was strong. Would it just be left at that?
Before she realized, she nearly walked right into his door. She was here already, lost in her thoughts again. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as if to prepare herself. She opened the door and he spun around, a smile forming on his lips at the sight of her. It melted her.
"There you are. I was wondering if-uh, we could…" Cullen started, raising his hand to the back of his neck. He was nervous.
"You wanted to talk to me?" Lara helped him.
"Yes. Alone," Cullen answered as he made his way to the side door, opening it up to face the battlements.
Lara swallowed, and nervously made her way to the open door he held for her to walk through. His office had too many distractions, too many people coming in and out, they wouldn't have any privacy. Her skin was growing clammy, her clothes feeling too tight. They were alone on the battlements, a breeze rustling through them. The gentle caress of the wind caused goosebumps to break out on her skin making her wish she hadn't worn a sleeveless top.
"Lara, I'm going to be plain with you," He started, finding his confidence. "I care for you. You know I'm drawn to you. I need to know if you feel the same. Could you feel the same for a templar, even though I no longer serve?"
How dare he…
"Of course I care! I know you left the templars but I'm still a mage, Cullen. Can you trust me? I mean…I fucking used magic against you. Could you think of me as anything more?" Lara's voice was shaky. This would always come between them it seemed.
"I do, Lara. Isn't that clear to you by now? Your magic against me was an oversight. I pushed you too far but I've long forgiven you. I've accepted you as my Herald, as my Inquisitor, without any hesitation. I willingly serve you," He stepped closer to her, making the hairs on her body stand up. His intensity was radiating off of him. "And I will willingly accept you as my lover if you will have me," He finished, his eyes turning darker, filled with longing.
Yes…Maker, yes…
Longing pooled in her body. How she ached for him. Hearing those words from his mouth she couldn't stop staring at was the last blow to her already crumpled barrier. He had successfully broken it all down brick by brick and made his way through. She didn't want to fight him anymore. She couldn't. Not when he had kissed her, had comforted her, had stayed by her side when she had been horrible to him. She didn't deserve it, yet here he was.
"Then take me," She whispered loud enough for him to hear.
It was as if her words were his undoing. He reached out to her, leaning her against the cold battlement walls, her face cupped in his hands. His face inches from her, leaning in closer, taking what he wanted, what he desired….
"Commander!" A scout called out.
He stiffened, gripping onto her as if trying to control himself. Lara looked down, heat creeping to her cheeks as they had been caught. The Inquisitor and her Commander.
"You wanted a copy of Sister Leliana's report…"
"What!" He gritted out angrily as he turned towards the scout, taking predatory steps towards him, ready to attack.
"Sister Leliana's report. You wanted it delivered without…delay…" The scout looked between her and Cullen. Lara wanted the ground to swallow her whole as the scout realized what was going on.
He trembled under Cullen's gaze. "Or…on your desk…Sir!" The scout turned and ran back into his office.
"If you need to go…" She let out a gasp before she could finish that sentence. Cullen grasped her needily as if she was his survival and crashed his lips onto hers. He wasted no time in claiming her mouth, his tongue dancing with hers. Lara returned the kiss fervently, letting it wash over her. Heat pooled between her legs at the urgency, the contact, his mouth on hers again. His touch burning her and she ached for his hands on her bare skin. To feel his calloused hands on her, to feel his lips on her body. She needed more of him.
"Sorry…I, uh, I missed that," He confessed. Their first kiss. She had missed it too.
"I missed it too," She whispered, trying to catch her breath.
"Good," He whispered back as he kissed her again, but gently this time. His light kiss soothed her bruised lips from his kiss earlier. She let herself sink into him as he kissed her.
—-
It was tavern night again, but the air hung heavy this time. Drinks were served to drown what misery weighed them down. Varric's pain was deeper as Lara had to tell him about Hawke. She wanted to be the one to tell him. Despite being on a high from Cullen becoming her lover, even though she could barely wrap her head around it, Hawke's death still wrung her inside out. The guilt she felt for her death, the guilt she felt for leaving her behind haunted her dreams still.
"Did I ever tell you about the time Hawke was on a Merchant Guild hit list?" Varric finally spoke after having a few drinks.
Dorian, Varric, and Lara mostly sat in silence while they drank. Iron Bull and Sera seemed to be oblivious to the dark cloud hanging among them as they laughed and drank or maybe they just didn't want to be involved in the heavy shit, which Lara couldn't blame them.
"No, but if it helps you, then I'd like to hear it," Lara tried to offer him a comforting smile.
Varric let out a sad chuckle, "Hawke's uncle got into an investment scheme with a couple of merchant castle businessmen. They took a lot of people's coin in order to arrange the import of wandering hills from the Anderfells. A delicacy, I'm told," He took another gulp.
Lara nervously took another sip of her wine, remaining silent. She was giving him his space to talk and cope. Dorian gave Lara's hand a squeeze.
"Their weird, foreign foodstuffs arrived…alive," Another sad chuckle. "And one of them, true to its name, wandered off in the middle of the night."
The pain tugged at her heart. Seeing Varric in pain over the loss of his close friend tugged at her heart. The pain was too much. Lara stood up and walked over to sit beside Varric, enveloping him in a hug while a few tears slipped from her eyes. To her surprise, Varric leaned into her, welcoming the comfort.
A sniff escaped Dorian, "Oh, now you two are making me emotional," He said, wiping his eyes.
"Shit…" Varric muttered, still holding onto Lara.
Lara separated, still having her arm around him. "I'm so sorry. You lost your person, I can't imagine how that feels," She spoke, tears still forming, her heart felt like it was being shattered.
Varric gave a pained smile. "The Guild," He continued, "traced the shipment to Hawke's uncle, but as usual, he was so far in debt he couldn't see daylight…"
"I take it they went after Hawke instead?" Dorian said before taking a sip.
"Yup. They sent guys from the local carta to Hawke's estate one night. Five big dusters, armed to the teeth. They kick in the door and Hawke yells, 'You're just in time!' and drags them over to a game of Wicked Grace," Varric started chuckling, "They played two hands of cards before the City Guard showed up to take them away," Varric chuckled some more before taking another sip.
Lara could've sworn she heard a cry amidst the chuckles he let out. She felt her heart wrench.
"A couple of them became regulars in our weekly game. Hawke just…had that effect on people," He said after his sip.
A heavy silence hung among them.
"I've always wanted to tell that one. Thanks," He finished and took another sip.
"Thank you for sharing Varric," Lara said as she gave the dwarf another hug.
"I say we celebrate her memory. Why don't we all get together to play a game of Wicked Grace?" Dorian offered while raising his glass as if it were a done deal already.
"That's a brilliant idea. I'm shit at it, but I will play for Hawke. Maybe somewhere she'll be able to watch how shit I am and laugh at me," Lara said with a sad smile on her lips.
Varric let out a sad laugh, "She would love that. Watching your shit play that is."
Lara laughed and grabbed her glass from the other side, raising it as well.
"To Wicked Grace and to Hawke," Lara said.
Varric and Dorian nodded and they all clinked their glasses with each other followed by a desperately needed gulp of alcohol to cope with the current mood and emotions.
"It's not your fault Lucky. If I know Hawke, she would've volunteered to be left behind," Varric said.
Lara was relieved Varric didn't hold her responsible but it didn't make her feel any less guilty or responsible for Hawke. Even if she did volunteer, it was Lara's fault she was in there.
"She did," Dorian confirmed.
"I knew it," Varric chuckled.
"I opened the rift…I sent us there…I experimented with something I had no idea of," Lara sighed, staring into her wine glass.
"My dear, it was either the Fade or plummet to our deaths. Neither option is preferable but if we're choosing the lesser evil, then the Fade it is," Dorian answered, giving her a look.
"Don't be too hard on yourself. We all volunteered to be a part of the Inquisition knowing the risks and the outcomes. Hawke included," Varric put a hand on her shoulder.
The reality of how many people sacrificed their lives because of her weighed even heavier. An ounce more and she would suffocate. She didn't deserve this sacrifice. Not after knowing that she only received the mark by being an interference. She was no Herald nor did the Divine guide her. People were dying, their families and loved ones suffering over her being a fake. It was just her fucking up as usual. She gulped the rest of her wine wanting the guilt to release its hold on her. Or to take her completely and kill her.
Either option was good for her.
—-
After much of Dorian's pestering about Solas coming up the stairs every so often, Lara decided to pay him a visit. She couldn't be mad at him forever and she needed a visit to the Fade with him. Her nightmares were taking a toll on her. Cullen had asked her what was bothering her, but she was closed off, much to his disappointment. She wasn't ready to speak to someone who wasn't there, who may not understand. Despite her seeing him at his most vulnerable, she wasn't ready to expose herself so much to him just yet. Was he her boyfriend now? Was she just his lover? A hidden secret? Lara wasn't sure exactly what the terms were between them.
She opened the door to Solas's rotunda and found him hunched over his desk, buried in thought and books. He lifted his head as he heard her enter.
"Inquisitor," He greeted her. The formality stung.
"Oh, we're back to that now?" Lara replied sarcastically.
"I'm not entirely sure. I am under the impression you are angry with me although the reason is unknown to me. I apologize for any hurt I've caused," Solas answered.
Lara let out a sigh. "Don't make it harder for me to be mad at you."
Solas smiled. "Is it something to do with the Fade?"
"What was it the voice said to you in elven?" Lara asked, crossing her arms.
"Why is it important?" Solas didn't seem angry at the question.
"Because you've heard ours…it seems unfair we can't know yours. Is it really that bad?"
"Life is unfair, lethallan," Solas replied with a smile.
"Ugh…" Lara rolled her eyes.
"If it eases your mind, it merely commented on my loneliness. It seems inevitable I must die alone. It is a burden I carry but perhaps it is easier that way," He replied finally.
Lara looked at him. It confirmed what Dorian said, but a part of her was hesitant to believe it. Was that really what the voice said? If that truly were it, surely he would've said from the beginning instead of hiding it all this time. She didn't know elven; he could easily lie to her. For now, it would have to do.
"I am sorry. It is not a subject I like to talk about. Is there anything I can do?" The elf continued.
"I think having to walk up the stairs a few times to your best friend is punishment enough," Lara smirked at him, still angry.
Solas let out an annoyed exhale, closing his book.
"Are you two finally making up? Excellent. That will stop him trying to prove a point to me about stairs," Dorian called from above.
"Fenedhis!" Solas whispered harshly under his breath. Lara couldn't help but giggle, earning her a not so amused look from Solas.
"That's enough, Dorian," Lara called to him.
The silence meant he had retreated back to whatever it was that he was doing. Most likely still researching lyrium withdrawals. He had been conversing with Cassandra and researching, mostly as a way to distract from the events in the Fade.
"I take it you require a visit to the Fade," Solas snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Yes," Lara responded.
"I have some time now if you are free before I teach the mages today. I must also request you pay the College a visit. They understand you are busy but would like to see you," Solas neared her, getting ready to depart.
"Fade first. Then the mages," Lara offered a smile.
"Come, let's find somewhere private," Solas headed towards the door.
Lara knew he meant somewhere away from Dorian, which made her smile. The normalcy of the two at each other's throats warmed her heart.
