For the Inquisition

Too Much Climbing

I woke in a small camp inside a red, cloth tent. I slowly sat up, the thick wool blanket that had been carefully laid over me falling to my waist. My armor had been carefully removed and set aside but I still wore my underclothes soaked with blood from the battle at Haven. Another bed roll was laid out beside me and it looked as if it had been slept in. At my feet laid a change of clothes. I pulled on the fur-lined leggings and the thick leather tunic, also with fur lining the inside. The thick wool socks made the knee-high boots a bit tight but my toes were finally warm and that was all I cared about at the moment.

The four leaders of the Inquisition were arguing when I stepped through the flaps of the tent. A soldier raised an eyebrow at me as he walked past, his eyes flicking to the tent behind me. I turned to see a thin stake with a silver templar symbol stuck in the ground, marking whose it was. My cheeks burned as I realized Cullen had slept in the bedroll beside mine. I turned my attention back to the camp. The leaders had stopped fighting and were now sulking in separate corners of camp. I approached Cullen on silent feet.

"Thank the Maker." He breathed and pulled me to his chest. "You were so cold when we found you. I was beginning to think you were lost to us." I relaxed into his embrace, breathing in his scent of snow and ash.

"Of course not. Just remind me to never complain about being too warm." He managed a small smile at me as his hand dropped to my waist and he drew his face closer to mine.

"I don't want to lose you too." We were a breath apart when a song split the night air.

"Shadows fall and hope has fled. Steel your heart, the dawn will come." Mother Giselle was singing as she strolled through the camp. I caught Ariess' eye and she just shook her head, confusion lighting her eyes. It wasn't long before the rest of the camp joined in, including the man beside me. I shook my head as the voices joined together and swelled, echoing through the mountains.

"If Corypheus didn't know where we were before, he definitely does now." I mumbled as silence fell, thick as a blanket, over the camp. I spotted Ariess venturing out of camp with Solas at her side. I smirked and turned back towards Cullen, whose shoulders had sagged from exhaustion.

"Maybe we should go to bed." I slid a hand up his arm to rest on his shoulder as I steered him towards his tent.

I woke with a heavy arm draped over my waist. I shifted on my bedroll and I felt a pair of lips press against the back of my neck. I smiled to myself as butterflies exploded in my stomach, wiggling my hips against the protrusion poking my backside. His grip on me tightened.

"How do you smell so good?" He whispered into my hair.

"It's Mythal's blessing." I answered. He sat up to look me in the face.

"Really?" He asked, curiosity filling his eyes.

"No, silly templar." I reached up to rest a hand on his cheek. He leaned down, bringing his face closer to mine.

"Jesaere!" Cullen flopped onto his own bedroll as I sat up when someone shouted my name.

"One of these days, I'll be able to kiss you without being interrupted." I shook my head as I pulled on my boots.

"Keep dreaming, Commander." I patted his cheek before leaving the tent, stretching my long limbs as snow fell around me. Ariess was waiting for me in the middle of the camp.

"I know where we're going." She had a determined look set on her face. Her gaze lifted to the mountains around them.

"Oh no, no, no, no." I shook my head. "I will not be doing that. I was not built to climb mountains." She reached for me and gripped my wrists, leaning forward until her tattooed forehead touched mine.

"You are Dalish, whether you accept it or not. The Creators led you to this moment and you will best this mountain by my side or so help me I will drag you behind me." I chuckled as she pulled away from me.

"Fine, but you have to use your Herald magic to get people to leave Cullen and I alone so we can have a decent kiss." She gasped and her eyes widened.

"You mean you haven't kissed him since that night?" She glanced behind me, probably to make sure he wouldn't stumble upon us talking about him.

"Well, it certainly hasn't been for a lack of trying." I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. "It seems like the world is against us. Also, you are one of the reasons, by the way." She laughed and covered her mouth with one hand. "I have one more condition to climbing this mountain willingly."

"And what's that?" She was still smiling at me.

"You need to kiss that elven apostate." I grabbed her shoulders and turned her around so she could see Solas standing on the outskirts of camp, staring up at the sky. She squeaked and turned back around.

"Oh, sweet socks of Fen-Harel, is that the time? We really had better get going." And then she was zipping through the camp.

The climb through the mountains was as arduous as it was cold. Solas helped guide Ariess in the right direction, towards whatever he knew was hidden among the snowy peaks. The more time we spent in the mountains, the sharper the world became. My blood flowed hot through my veins and I felt propelled by an unknown force somewhere in my bones. After long days of hard climbing, we came upon a grand fortress nestled into the snowy cliffs.

Cullen made sure to show me his tower that held his office and his bedroom. I sat behind his desk, listening to the sounds of people settling in around me, as I sifted through countless messages. I smirked as I unfolded a letter from his sister, tucking it to the side to tease him about later. Commotion in the courtyard had me leaving the office to stand on the parapets overlooking the open area. The door shut behind me with a heavy thud as Ariess lifted a sword towards the sky as she was proclaimed to be the inquisitor. I smiled and clapped softly as she caught my eye while the crowd dispersed. I leaned against the stone tower and smirked at Cullen as he made eye contact with me. I bit my lip at the intensity in his eyes and winked before turning and walking away, making sure to put an extra sway in my hips.

"Why do you insist on doing that to me?" I tore my gaze away from the beauty of the mountains as I pushed myself off the parapet wall. Cullen was approaching, his gorgeous face a storm of desire. I leaned back against the wall as he rested a hand on my waist, leaning over me.

"Because I have so little to enjoy in this life, so I take my fun wherever I can get it." I rested my hands on his shoulders. He smirked and leaned in.

"You are going to be the death of me." His voice was low as his gaze dropped to my lips.

"Commander, I've got an urgent message for you." Cullen sighed and turned around to face the recruit with fire in his eyes.

"I'm busy, Jim." I coughed and looked away as the recruit's eyes flickered back and forth between us.

"I'll leave this on your desk then." Jim coughed as he walked away. Cullen sighed but didn't turn around, obviously frustrated at being interrupted yet again.

"If you have to go-" I was interrupted when his hands gripped my hips and his lips covered mine. I relaxed into his hold and slid my hands into his hair, pulling him closer. One of his arms moved from my hip to wrap around my waist. I gasped against his mouth and he took the opportunity to deepen the kiss, his tongue moving against mine in a way that sent a flare of heat straight between my legs. I pulled away from him and gave him one final peck on the mouth. "Well, that was certainly worth the wait." I commented. He grinned as he pushed my hair away from my face.

"I'm sorry if I startled you." I rolled my eyes and pulled him down for another kiss.

"I'd be more sorry if you didn't." He smirked before capturing my lips once again, only this time, it was a long while before either of us came up for air.