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

It's Perfect

17 Wintersend, 9:42

Shadows all around him, the burning hands of rage demons, the inky black of shades, the smooth purplish skin of desire, crowding him. As though they were dancing in a ring, whirling, spinning, a child's game, their voices loud in his ears, chanting, the Chant of Light perverted by their demon voices ...

"No! No! Leave me!" he called out. "Leave me!"

And then he awoke, blinking in the bright light of morning, coming slowly to full alertness and awareness that he was no longer in the tower as he felt the fresh breeze cooling his skin. For a moment, he thought he must still be dreaming, because leaning over him was Antonia, her beautiful face concerned.

"Bad dream?"

He closed his eyes, banishing the last vestiges of the demons, at least for now. "They always are. Without the lyrium, they're worse."

Some part of Cullen had always assumed that in the face of the dreams she would feel he was more trouble than he was worth ... but when he opened his eyes she was still there, and with the sight of her the memory of the night before came flooding back, in all its sweetness and passion.

Sitting up, he put his hand on her cheek, her skin so smooth to the touch. "I didn't mean to worry you."

Antonia leaned into his caress. "I think you can let me worry about you a little."

It wasn't what he was used to, but it sounded so good coming from her. "If you insist."

"I do." She smiled, bending toward him and stroking the side of his face with her fingertips. "Despite the dreams, is it still a good morning?"

She needed to ask? "It's perfect," Cullen breathed.

Antonia rested her forehead against his and they looked into one another's eyes, the moment somehow feeling equally as intimate as last night's love-making. Cullen had never in his life imagined he could feel this much for one person—perhaps later, in the depths of night, it would be frightening, but right at the moment, it was ... wonderful.

"You are ..." he whispered, but there were no words. "I have never felt anything like this before."

"Neither have I." She paused, taking a deep breath, and then she made his dreams come true. "I love you, Cullen. You know that, right?"

"I love you, too." He reached for her, bringing her head down to his so he could kiss her. She started to draw away, but he kissed her again, unable to make himself let her go. "Stay," he said, realizing for the first time that she was fully dressed. "Don't go."

"I thought you were so busy." Antonia smiled, but she didn't pull away, and Cullen took that as agreement.

He tugged her down onto the bed, kissing her some more, loving the way she yielded to him, the way her body warmed and molded itself to his.

And then, downstairs the door opened. Cullen rested his head on her shoulder, sighing softly so as not to be heard by whoever the intruder was.

"Good morning, Commander," came the resigned voice of Eustace. And then, after a moment, "Good morning, Inquisitor."

Antonia giggled. "Good morning, Eustace." She kissed Cullen quickly and sat up. "So much for that, then." In his ear, she whispered, "For your consideration, let me point out that my quarters are completely private."

He caught his breath at the thought. This morning was unbelievable enough; he hadn't been prepared to think about what happened next. Cullen found himself utterly unable to let go of her hand. "You'll think this is foolish," he said softly, mindful of Eustace banging around in the office below. "But I'm ... I'm afraid if I let you go this will all have been a dream." It was hard to admit to that, the fact that despite all the evidence before him he still had difficulty trusting to such incredible good fortune.

Antonia looked at him thoughtfully, and again he was astonished that she hadn't run out of patience with him yet. Then she laughed, as if an idea had struck her. "I'll tell you what," she said. "I'll leave you some incentive to come find me tonight."

"What kind of incentive?"

"You'll see."

He loved the wicked twinkle in her eyes, although he was a little nervous about whatever idea she was having.

And then she was gone. He heard some indistinct sounds from the office, then Antonia's voice. "Installing locks on the doors, Eustace? Good man. I heartily approve."

"Yes, Inquisitor."

Cullen lay back on the pillows, sighing contentedly.