A Candle in the Darkness (A Dragon Age: Inquisition fanfiction)

You and I

19 Firstfall, 9:41

"I believe it's your move, Inquisitor."

Antonia glanced up at him, feeling her cheeks turn red. Cullen was smirking at her, clearly having been following the line of thought that had her staring at his hands instead of actually playing the game. Of course, the fact that he was actually stroking the edge of the board, just the way she wished he would stroke ... She dragged her thoughts away from that particular image. "If this is your strategy, it's—"

"Rather effective?"

"You know, two could play at that game, too."

"You're probably right." He looked only a little abashed. "But I still haven't beaten you—I had to try something."

"You could try playing better," she suggested, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Ouch." Cullen chuckled, moving a piece.

It was a good move, and required some thought. Antonia leaned over the board, forecasting moves.

Cullen cleared his throat, and she frowned at him. It wasn't really the time for a distraction. "Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. It's just ... while I have you here, there's something I thought we should discuss."

Antonia looked up at him, her hand hovering over a piece. "This sounds serious."

"It is."

"Just so you know, you're not allowed to break up with me until you beat me at chess." She said it lightly, but her heart was hammering with nervousness.

"Duly noted." He smiled.

"Good. All right, if it isn't that, then what is it?"

"You can go ahead and make your move."

"Not until you make yours." She took her hand away from the board. "I can wait."

Cullen sighed, absently rubbing the back of his neck. "It's about the assault on Adamant."

"Okay." They were leaving in three days—they had both agreed this was pretty much the last moment they were going to have together before the burden of preparing for the army's movement fell on them.

"I had rather been counting on the game to make this easier."

"Fine. But if you win this one, it doesn't count."

"Fair enough." She moved the piece she had been planning on moving, and Cullen frowned at the board.

"This ... thing here," he said. "You and I. I don't want it to be a distraction when we go into battle."

"Oh. Is that what you're worried about? I don't think it will be a problem."

"You don't think it will be a problem?" He looked up, putting the piece in his hand hastily down in entirely the wrong place. "We're both going to be in constant danger, but you most of all. And I—after Haven ..."

"There's absolutely no reason to assume Adamant will be another Haven!"

"There's no reason to assume it won't be, either. It was built to withstand a siege! I can't even guarantee I can get you inside at all, much less be able to ensure your safety once you're in there," Cullen said in a furious whisper, mindful of all the people in the gardens around them.

"It's not your job to ensure my safety!"

"It bloody well is, too!" He shouted it at full volume this time. "As the commander of the armies of the Inquisition, it absolutely is—if it comes down to it, you are part of that army, Inquisitor." He laid a heavy emphasis on the title.