The Commander's Wolf

Seven

Three years later Tala opened her eyes to see that she was resting on Cullen's bare chest and smiled as she heard him snore. Yes, he still struggled with his nightmares and lyrium withdrawals on somedays, but she was always still so patient with him. She sat up smiling as he slowly groaned and opened his eyes to see her watching him. "Morning," She greeted him as he smiled.

"Morning." he returned the greeting and pulled her close for a kiss.

"Do you know what today is?" She asked as he nodded.

"The day we first met, after you woke up in the healer's tent." He replied laying back down on his back. "It's still so hard to believe we've known each other for this long," he said as he looked at her, then he sat up and took her left hand in his own, lifted it to his lips and kissed not only the ring on her finger, the symbol of their eternal love but also the back of her hand. "And I'm still in disbelief that I am speaking to you as my wife." He said as she chuckled.

"Well you are, and that is the way I will remain for the rest of our lives." She said as he watched her with a light in his amber eyes. "What all do you have planned for today?"

"I have a meeting with her, Leliana and Josephine. Then it's training the troops, and then paperwork until around dinner time. Why?"

"No reason in particular." She informed him as he frowned for a moment. "Try not to become too upset at the recruits today, alright?" she smiled as he chuckled.

"You know me well enough by now to know that won't work." he smiled as it was her turn to laugh.

"True but I don't want my dear Husband too upset." She replied as he brushed some of her hair out of her face.

"What's going on Tala?" he asked as she shook her head.

"Can you wait for later? It's nothing bad I promise." She told him as they stood and prepared to dress.

"Tala..." he started but she smiled.

"Just wait for tonight. I will tell you then, I promise." with those words he became pacified for the time being. As the day went on, he felt the gazes of the others and questioned why they were watching him so. But when nighttime came around, he went to go find Tala and found her standing at the place where he had first kissed her. "There you are!" He smiled as she looked at him with a hint of surprise. "What are you doing out here so late?"

"This time I lost track of time." She admitted sheepishly as he walked up to her.

"Are you sure you are okay?" he asked as he wrapped his arms around her.

"I'll be asking you that here in a few months." she smiled as his face turned into one of confusion.

"What do you mean?" He asked as she smiled. He felt her take his hands into her's and she lowered them to her stomach, then it hit him hard. "Your...?" He couldn't even find the words to finish the sentence as she turned her head to look into his eyes.

"Yes, I am." She smiled as he felt a whirlwind of emotions coming forward, but the most powerful of those emotions had him turning her around and he spun both himself and her around as his tears of joy slid down his cheeks.

*****

Tala awoke to see the sun was close to the time for it to rise and the previous day came back to her. Looking around she noticed that she had been sleeping next to Cullen and sighed as a gentle snore escaped him. She closed her eyes and kept them that way until she felt him pull her closer. She looked up to him, only to see that he was smiling warmly towards her and so she cuddled closer to him. "Morning," he greeted her as she smiled upon hearing his voice.