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[MacyNell]

     HAPPY PAGE 3000, EVERYONE!!      

 

First offering, a FANFIC…..This fanfic has sort of developed a life of its own. It takes place in the same world state with the same main characters as my Page 1000 Celebration story, A Quiet Knight Alone, only a few months later and from the Inquisitor’s POV. Here are the first three chapters. WARNING: There is some soft smut: https://www.fanficti...ying-I-Love-You

 

Second offering, my first publicly seen drawing EVER…..

 

[faerie dragon]

Happy Page 3000! 

 

A gift for each thousand pages for my fellow Cullenites. I hope you enjoy them! 

 

Stretching Kitten Pose

http://flightofthefa...-Pose-481802175

 

Hair Snuggles

This one is especially for TreeHuggerHannah (and Tempest)!

http://flightofthefa...ggles-481802289

 

Happiness

http://flightofthefa...iness-483328224

 

 

 

[R2s Muse]

Happy 3000 pages!!! 
 

[Hellion Rex]

Rain by me

 

Summary: Cullen must commit a hard act when the group of companions is ambushed in the forest.

 

http://archiveofouro...g/works/2329394

[LolaLei]

Here are some hilarious pictures from the DA Keep Code Cullen competition I held yesterday for page 3000's viewing pleasure!

 

Bitscreed:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gala's "arse of Cullen":

 

[Aunty Social]

My fanfiction:  First 3 chapters.  It was originally intended to be a series of drabbles, but this one grabbed me and took on a life of its own.  And I have the other drabbles for later submission

 

Cullen's Decision

[LolaLei]

Something I knocked up 5 seconds ago because I suck!

 

[LolaLei]

Art work by Kaibe!

 

 

[Panda]

Cullen as various characters continues, this time Cullen as swimmer!

 

[Tishina]

First Impressions

 

Spoiler

Cullen tiredly started to follow the waiting soldier when he heard a shouted “Hold!” A muscular dark-haired woman strode up to a young man at a pell, snatching his wooden sword away. “I thought you were a soldier, not a drunken dock hand!” From there she tore into him, calling him a lazy, pot-bellied pile of nug s**t and elaborating in colorful detail, her crisp, penetrating alto dropping into absolute, unmoving silence. When she ordered the man to report to the stables for extra duty, every soldier in sight visibly jumped back to work. At that moment, Cullen was fixed by piercing violet eyes framed by precisely braided black hair. She ran her eyes over his armor, up and down aggressively, an arms master looking for flaws with a militant self-assurance that made him stiffen in reaction. Then her eyes lit on his vambraces, and violet flashed back to golden eyes as if identifying him. Stiffly, without giving away any of her thoughts, she inclined her head slightly, then turned toward the guard perimeter.

 

“Who in the Maker’s name is that?”

 

“She’s a right terror from them Free Marches, she is.” The private suddenly remembered Cullen was from Kirkwall and swallowed nervously. “This way, Ser.”

 

Cassandra and Leliana greeted him at the door to one of the more substantial buildings. “I thought I heard Sil’na’s dulcet tones, Commander, did you meet her?”

“If you mean that fishwife, no, thank the Maker.” The private seemed to be strangling on something. “So, where is this Lady Trevelyan you wrote about?”

 

Leliana glanced at the soldier. “Please ask the lady to join us.” The man quickly vanished as the two women steered Cullen inside, settling him into a chair with a mug of hot mulled wine to warm him. “The lady is shy, I think, and not used to Fereldan’s climate, so we sent her to rest.”

 

“Spoiled and pampered?” He sighed. “Is that fishwife her body guard?”

 

A wry voice brought him back to his feet. “You say fishwife like it’s an insult, Ser.” The dark-haired woman leaned casually against the door jamb, her arms crossed over her breastplate.

 

Leliana recovered first, smiling sweetly. “Ah, Sil’na, may I introduce Commander Cullen? Cullen, this is Lady Sil’na Trevelyan.” Cullen stared, patches of pink creeping up his cheeks.

 

“Do I sense disapproval, Commander? Well, it’s true, I am a lousy noblewoman; believe me, I can recite a dozen versions of that lecture by heart. But I’m a d****d good soldier, and soldiers die when their officers are soft. If it would keep these people alive, I’d do an Antivan fire dance naked in the snow while balancing a goblet of wine on my head.” Cassandra coughed suddenly, and Cullen realized the Seeker was laughing. “I’m long past apologizing for being good at what I’ve had to be.”

 

“I suppose I deserved that, Lady Trevelyan, it’s just…” he hesitated, “I am, was, a Templar; I don’t expect that kind of language from…an officer.”

 

Sil’na shrugged. “You left out noble, everyone gets around to complaining about that one eventually. Usually about the time they remind me that I’m called the Wolf B***h of Ostwick.” She chuckled at his expression. “Leliana, you are a wicked woman. Shy?”

 

“I thought the Commander should discover your unique qualities for himself since you’ve been gifting us with them.”

 

“I’ll point out that I haven’t held a sword to anyone’s throat.”

 

Leliana simply grinned back. “Yet.”

 

Shooting his own sharp glance at the redhead, Cullen rose to bow. “I apologize, Lady Trevelyan, if we could start over.”

 

“Accepted, Commander. And my sister is Lady Trevelyan, not me, so just Sil’na. Commander, the troops are all yours. I hope you won’t mind if I keep them on their toes, though?”

 

“I suspect you’ll keep all of us on our toes, Trevelyan.” He watched as her violet eyes flashed in response to his challenge.

 

“Only if I have to, Commander.”

[morie91]

HAPPY 3000TH PAGE!!!!

 

something sweet and heartbreaking from me...

 

She approached him, her hands shaking.  Her eyes were weary and full of tears that were spilling down her cheeks.  Confused at finding her on his doorstep, he doesn’t know what to think or say to her.  Before he has the chance to speak, he sees her knees buckle before she starts to fall.  Without hesitation, he catches her and holds her to him, his arms circling her small frame.  She rests her head on the crook of his neck.  She breathes in his familiar pleasant scent allowing it to help comfort her.  He begins to stroke her back and she begins to sob once more unable to control herself, “Cullen, this power…I don’t know if I can take this any longer.  I feel like it is consuming me…” her voice sounds small and she slips unsteadily in his arms as though all her strength has left her.  Cullen picks her up gently, so that her head rests against his chest and her legs drape limply over his arm.  He heads towards the bed and sits at its edge while still continuing to hold her to him gently but firmly.  He continues stroking her back to calm her as he whispers reassuring words into her ear.  After a few moments, her crying stops as her body grows still in his arms.  She was able to fall asleep because of him.  All that she ever needs to find strength and to carry on is him.

 

 

and the infamous buttshot ;P

 

Spoiler

http://moriesartwork...quisitor-values

[LolaLei]

By Luiz Ferrarezzi (commissioned by me):

 

[Lady Shayna]

Fan fiction:  https://www.fanficti.../Elke-Trevelyan

 

Description:  Elke, scion of the house of Trevelyan, is captured by Cassandra, Leliana, and Cullen after the events at the peace conclave. I not only have not yet played the game, but I'm pretty convinced this scene cannot happen the way it is laid out. This is an alternative history, in a way, and how Elke might have explained herself to the Inquisition leaders.

 

Congrats on 3000 pages!

[LolaLei]

Drawn by the talented Lorien19 for the page 3000 celebration!

 

[Liadan]

Congratulations Cullen Thread  !!!

 

And a really bad Photoshop    for the man behind the soldier theme:

 

[R2s Muse]

 

Hello everyone. Family drama, work and not having finished my fanfiction in time for page 3000 has resulted in my work being at least 8 pages late. I expected to be 20 pages late, so this isn't so bad! d:

I originally intended it to be 5 "Chapters" long and that each chapter would have to do with this letter, the last chapter being the letter itself. This started not happening that way and I decided not to fight it, so now the first Chapter is the letter and the story veers off into nothingness ...

Chapter 1

Spoiler

My darling boy,

I don't want you to fret more about having gone to Kirkwall, and I assure you, had you stayed in Ferelden, even had you returned home, there would have been nothing you could have changed in my circumstances. I am so proud of you; your advancement in the Templars is all I ever talk about, Maeve is sick of it, but you do the Maker's work, and each day that passes without incident I know is due in part to the burden you carry.

Despite this appreciation of your devotion, Cullen, I must harass you again: Find a wife. My trials have been manageable only with your sister's help, and she will have Briant when I'm gone. People need a partner in life, and I'm sure there are girls who would appreciate the freedom marriage to a Templar would allow, even with the absence you'd require.

But I don't want this letter to be a remembrance of my scolding you. I only speak as I do to show you that I care for you, that I don't blame you for anything, and that though I understand this letter will bring with it a sadness ... I want you to know that the heartache will pass, and that I wish you all the joy in the world when your mourning is over. I know you are strong enough to overcome anything. Don't lose touch with Maeve, and remember that even if you never return, you'll always have a home here. May we meet again at the Maker's side. I love you,

Your Mother

Chapter 2

Spoiler

A crimson candle, unblessed as those housed in the Chantry, set a red glow on the west side of Cullen's chambers. Not a warm glow mind you; a red glow, for nothing could be warm in this world in this moment. Suffering the laboured awkwardness of being a foreigner of rank had been all but painful today. He had felt disrespected by Templars and Mages alike during his shift, weathering the difficulty of assimilating into their lives as patiently as possible. It was all he could do to follow the direction of his superiors and hope it would garner someone's positive attention in time.

And yet all this, was nothing.

He had known since dawn that post had arrived for him. He'd carried the envelope on his person all day - unsealed, as per usual. His family had learned quickly upon his joining of the Templar Order that there would be no privacy. Letter carriers clinked around for coin, apostates were always assuming there would be news of them, and ranking soldiers were always scrutinizing your interpretation of absolute secrecy. Cullen had grown to be curt and forth-right, despite stammering every now and again; and there had been nothing overly personal in his letters for years. This one spoke volumes to him, and of him.

He stared at it intently for the longest time, looking for a lie or expecting the words to leap off the page and tell him they were joking. Madness had claimed him for longer than he would care to admit, but when reality set in, the cold, harsh truth choked at his air and stabbed at his heart. He sobbed once in spite of himself, and then covered his mouth with a hand to hide it, as if ashamed while alone in the dark.

There was no one with whom he could share his anguish and no way he could request time to overcome his grief between having just started in his position and the exorbitant problems with the mages here in Kirkwall. The only time during which he might possibly be allowed to succumb to his own weakness would be now.

With that realization, he was a boy again. How thick could his skin appear when he could still feel loss like this ... still feel lost like this. His comrades and charges were treating him warily, but none had dared been aggressive. Despite grumbling, they were heeding his commands ... There was no reason to believe they'd seen his nerves as anything worse than those of any other new commander; and they were not here to see this.

He wept. He kissed the letter. He prayed to the Maker ... And finally, he slept.

Chapter 3

Spoiler

Candles illuminated the halls of Skyhold, beacons in the twilight of the setting sun. Cullen couldn't help but wonder whether the Inquisitor was surrounded by such comforts; certainly aware that countless others were suffering injustices far greater than discomfort ... He yawned lazily, stretching awkwardly as one is wont to do when they feel they are alone. He grimaced and growled a little when he noticed Josephine at the end of the hall, striding towards him with purpose and paper in hand. An emergency, he didn't doubt, to keep him from sleep. The hour was deceptively late, the sun setting later and later at this time of year out here in the mountains. The only comfort was the silence, if there were dragons raging or the clash of metal, or if Josephine were screaming at him, then there might be cause to worry, but as nothing seemed severely out of sorts Cullen allowed himself to smile and incline his head as she approached, "Can I be of assistance, my lady?"

Her smile made the hair on the back of the templar's neck stand on end. It wasn't exactly sinister, but perhaps he'd been premature in thinking nothing was out of place. "Knight-Captain," she greeted in all her earthy tones, "I am glad to have found you. I was reviewing the medical distributions to your soldiers as per your request when I found something that I felt you would appreciate be brought back to your immediate attention."

Josephine's words were professional but her eyes were not, Cullen opened his mouth as if to respond but froze in astonishment as she plucked a very old piece of parchment from the pile in her arms. He knew that Maker forsaken yellowed scroll all too well, its creases and folds, curls and water damage. A vision of him tearing its weathered self to pieces as he attempted to snatch it from her grasp fluttered through Cullen's mind, and so he simply composed himself as best he could. Outstretching his hand, he replied through a tight mouth, "I thank you for returning this to me."

The scribe relinquished his possession swiftly, her demeanor changing entirely. "I did not mean to offend."

Cullen let out a scoff of disbelief in an unwitting smile as he lowered the object of their animosity to his side in one sweating hand. "Offend?" he probed, an eye brow raising.

The Antivan tilted her head to the side as she queried, "Are you not enraged? You look ... well your face ..." she hesitated as realization caught her off-guard, "has ... reddened."

The Fereldan rubbed his head with his free hand, as if to soothe his mind or hide his face. He had survived many awkward situations throughout his life, and yet it felt like it had been years since he'd been reduced to the physical mess he found himself in. "Di-" he hesitated and ran his thumb across the paper absently, "Did you read it?"

The woman's pearly teeth bespoke her answer ere the words parted her lips. "But of course. You handed me information to review and I couldn't know what it was until I started to read it, and then I couldn't know it was yours until I finished it."

The soldier hummed politely, accepting the response. He was able to fold the worn letter in one hand, so pliant was it at this stage that hardly a sound permeated its crinkling. "I - it doesn't mean anything, by the way."

Her green eyes were judging him, though the smile remained, "What?"

"I - er ... the letter - it was from my mother before she passed on -"

"I gathered that."

"Yes, well ... it was many years ago. My mother's dying wish had nothing to do with ..."

Cullen stopped. He couldn't believe what he was saying, that his mangled logic had fallen out of his head and onto the floor between them for them both to stare and gawk at. After what felt like forever, Josephine unlocked from her trance and hefted her workload under one arm, linking the other in the Knight-Commander's to kindly lead him down the hall. There was a bit of scurrying involved, and despite his humiliation, Cullen took some small pleasure from the woman's amusement. She reminded him of his sister, full of mischief and adoration. The diplomat had led him to her office, and sat him in a chair. Then she poured them both a glass of wine before taking the seat across from him. He was grateful for something to drink, but wished it was something less ... inhibiting.

"Nothing to do with what, exactly?" Josephine's interest was palpable. Cullen swallowed deeper than he should have to avoid answering for a time.

"Nothing to do with ... her," he contended, as flatly as he could. He'd thought himself professional and subtle in his affections once, but now he knew better, that all could read him - it made it easier to be honest, passionate and brutal. He got lost in Josephine's doting eyes, wondering at her thoughts, he could tell she was breathing harder - but what sort of reaction might that be?

Suddenly she squealed like a schoolgirl and slammed her goblet on the table, "I knew it!" She beamed, "Eugh, I didn't know it, hence the suspense but ... I worried your attention was either hatred towards our mage leader, or else wondered if it was affection towards a beautiful woman."

Cullen could feel the blood rise in his face this time, he hadn't had a person talk to him with such familiarity since childhood. It was nice to pretend they were friends for a moment. "You don't think she believes I mean her any ill will?" He asked, disregarding the concern in his own voice.

Josephine bobbed her head from side to side, whinnying a noise to express her uncertainty. Cullen simply nodded. The Antivan moved as if about to confess something, it was a behaviour with which the retired templar was familiar, from mages and recruits both, but she stopped short, and that was fine, because there were many things about the Herald of Andraste he wasn't prepared to know. The next thing to happen was more surprising to Cullen than the invitation to a drink, Josephine lowered her eye brows and squinted at him like a curiosity. "Why should I have thought that the letter had to do with her though, Cullen? It was ambiguous enough. Would you have admit to such a thing in front of Iron Bull?"

"No," he admitted immediately, "but I wouldn't have thought him to make such a connection. You seem more ... observant, I suppose. I guess I was worried that ... well if I did pursue my interest in Ms Trevelyan, and if this letter came up in conversation between you two, that it might be seen as if I was not pursuing my own interests, that I was ... just following orders, as I so often do -"

Josephine chuckled, "You do not follow orders."

"Maybe ..." Cullen finished. He sighed, "I don't know why I keep the letter. I know what it says, I won't be taking advantage of what it promises, and my mother managed to write it in such a way that it would be embarrassing to ever show anyone ... But I've never been able to bring myself to abandon it -"

"Of course not! It ... it is home. You're speaking to another immigrant, Cullen. I understand that ... should you ever chose to return to the place of your childhood, you will never be returning to your childhood home. This letter is that home for you ... we all have things like this," Josephine took a graceful gulp of wine, staining her lips a deep and luscious red. Cullen looked away, and tried to think of home as she was, but still noticed in his peripheral vision that her mouth curled up at the sides. "There is no shame in having had a mother that loved you."

The Knight-Commander went to take another long drink of wine, and found his goblet empty, a rarity if ever there was one. Josephine's eyes darted back and forth, offering him the bottle with her gaze. He would not have expected to stay in her company so long after such an admission, and attempted to remain casual as he poured himself another glass.

Chapter 4

Spoiler

Cullen and Blackwall had been discussing battle strategy for passing through a mountain, by way of the Deep Roads to have the Inquisition arrive in time to protect an outpost of theirs under siege on the opposite side of the map. It had all been "as per usual," in the ever present crisis mode since the Fade Rifts began, professional and agreeable in mostly all regards, but the air had felt flat when their discussion had ended and the Knight-Commander felt obligated as that conversation ceased to ask as indirectly as possible, "Is there anything else I can do for you?"

Blackwall moved slowly, deliberately, obnoxiously. Rolling his maps, piling his papers, smirking with one eyebrow, "Yes. As a matter of fact, there is something you can do for me." The templar regret asking. He swallowed in anticipation, but would not be the next to speak. Cullen let the silence drag until Blackwall looked at him again, smiling bitterly - what did he have to be bitter about? "You can make a move," he said plainly, and had Cullen not been standing, he would have jumped out of his chair.

"I beg your pardon?"

Blackwall's mouth moved, a gesture Cullen couldn't decipher, and he did the polite thing, and sat across from his confused rival. "Ms Trevelyan deserves ... attention, that you have thus far have failed to provide despite your obvious ... connection. Maybe you're waiting for something to happen naturally, or waiting for peace or the perfect time ... perhaps you think that matters, and maybe it does to you ... but I have spent many a night, many a battle, beside this woman, and I assure you, it does not matter to her." Cullen was astounded, so much so he didn't know if he could spare the energy to be offended, though he did feel in part that Blackwall was scolding him and treating him as a child. He held his tongue and stared the man in the eye as he slowly lowered himself into the superior seat at the head of his desk, attempting to remain as unreadable as possible. The Knight-Commander was afraid to provide a response for the dignity of all involved. Blackwall sighed, "That being said, this will be a mission in my territory - she will be seeking my counsel and company for the next week at least, and either one of us could face death at any moment. I have restrained my interest in the mage for your benefit, and because I am ... a Warden, and that is no life to be shared with anyone. But if you fail to ... relay your intentions to Ms Trevelyan before we depart ... I ... will not be so respectful of this thing you do not have together."

Another pause on the part of the Warden, but it was not so tense as it was before. Though stoic and polite, and plainspoken as commoner, Cullen could appreciate that Blackwall was wearing his heart on his sleeve, something that was surely more difficult to do in his company than the Inquisitor's. Just as it was difficult for him to offer any kind of rebuttal. He'd wrongly assumed paternal attributes in the Warden's affections, but he was just a man, hardly older or more worldly than he. The Knight-Commander even mused, perhaps pompously, that Blackwall wished their circumstances reversed, and that he would not have taken so long to communicate his desires for Ms Trevelyan were it not for duty. Whether this jealousy he envisioned of Blackwall was real or imagined, his own was undeniable. To think of the woman wrapped up in his arms, her lips hidden in his beard, and other more indiscreet imagery, was enough to turn his stomach.

Cullen grit his teeth and looked away, scoffing and regaining his composure before smiling at his companion, amusement and defeat in his eyes, "I suppose it would be rude not to thank you for the warning - and yet it feels wrong to offer thanks for the sour note you've left in my mouth."

Blackwall chuckled sadly, it seems he'd expected as much, but hoped for otherwise, "You can yet repay me by conceding to my request."

The templar sighed, allowing his eyes to close, he wished he'd acted sooner to have spared them both this conversation. He met Blackwall's gaze as he responded, "Consider it done."

The dark haired man's mouth twitched once more, but he smiled as he stood, nodding his thanks and collecting their paperwork again, once at the door he looked back, "I may be ... pessimistic at times, but ... I assure you that the mountain will not claim her, and I will speak well of you in our journeys together in this mission to come."

"Ser Blackwall," Cullen called, the door now open and the man halfway out. The Warden raised an eyebrow, and the Knight-Commander could do nothing but finish lamely, "bring yourself back too, alright?"

Cullen could swear that Blackwall almost looked more bitter as teeth came into his smile and he acquiesced, "Aye, Commander."

The door closed again, the young man allowed himself to bury his face in his hands, cursing his luck and circumstance. He should have expressed to Blackwall that they should all three hold their distance. Blackwall's responsibilities were immediately obvious, his own less so, but ever present all the same, and the Inquisitor had her magic; facing possession or incarceration or execution or worse depending on the outcome of this disaster. Selfishly too, Cullen couldn't help but be aware that becoming romantically involved with a mage would dismantle the life he had built for himself, should what he considered normalcy ever institute itself again. Moreover, he was just ... embarrassed: a full-grown man unable to speak his mind? What use would he be to her, especially if things went awry. If they adamantly disagreed on a decision for the advancement of their company and the protection of the people, could they forgive one another in private or would that animosity hold true?. Cullen relinquished his head and let it fall to the table, conceding that maybe he was just thinking about this too hard. If they'd collaborated so well in friendship, so that even onlookers could see, perhaps it would be easier if she knew his true heart, even if his affections truly turned out to be unreturned.

Chapter 5

Spoiler

Cullen walked in on two mages whispering in a corner, who came to a hush once he advanced on their presence. It brought back memories, which might've been happy themselves if everything that had happened since then was not so traumatic. Vivienne arched one scrupulous brow and he spoke up before his resolve could fail him, "Ms de Fer, Ms Trevelyan." They nodded each in turn as they were greeted, and Cullen bit the back of his tongue to keep from smiling. The Inquisitor's large eyes sparkled with curiosity, and she had a light blush that he hoped was for him. He turned to the Senior Enchanter, "Might I borrow our illustrious leader for a few moments? Please."

Vivienne's smirk made the hairs on the back of the Knight-Commander's neck stand on end. She was far too smug for one in support of the Circle, he knew many a templar who would have been only too glad to beat that out of her. He didn't know whether to feel ashamed. "Did you just ask something of a mage, Ser Cullen?" She stood, and her authority was staggering. The swarthy woman smiled over her shoulder at her friend. "He's learning," she teased with a wink before leaving the two of them alone. Cullen was surprised, both with her for agreeing so easily, and himself for feeling anything at all as a result of her simple words. It was true that in the Circle he would have only made orders and demands, but it could hardly be expected that he would maintain that behaviour outside the boundaries of that life, could it?

When he looked back at the remaining Circle mage, he was caught off-guard by her genuine smile. Her posture said, sit with me, but the templar became stiff as a board. He had wondered previously whether he could have loved her if he had known her before the cataclysm, how she would have viewed him if they had met when he first came to Kirkwall, whether they would have shared any words, let alone these he was about to share now. He felt his face grow red and had to glance at the floor as he began, "I hope I wasn't interrupting anything important."

The woman shook her head, metallic earrings reflecting light around the room, "Not at all." She hid her smile and tilted her head skeptically, "Is your matter urgent?"

Cullen grinned and then rubbed his chin with one hand, trying to compose himself; at least his behviour seemed to set the Inquisitor at ease, "No - er - y - yes. Yes, after a fashion." He exhaled deeply and wished his body would behave like the man he felt he was, rather than the child he no longer wished to be; still, he smiled. "When we first met," he began, doubting himself, "I would never have expected that you were treating me as a person rather than a gaoler out of respect for me as a person, rather than out of respect of authority." The woman looked confused, but not perturbed, so he continued. "Your ability to see people, where others see only facets is so ..." Don't say beautiful. "admirable." Cullen made his way to sit across from her now. He smiled meekly, "And it's contagious. It makes me want to know you and your many layers of self. I -" he stopped, apparently Ms Trevelyan was not above flattery as she had blushed and looked down and away at the compliment, her lush eye lashes fluttering open to observe him again had set him to stuttering. "I-I-I wanted you to know ... that I value the rapport we've grown together ... and ..."

His face was hot from blushing, the cool breeze in the trellaced garden on the Inquisitor's chambers' balcony offering little reprieve. The silence dragged on as Cullen struggled to find his voice, it was simply too much to bear, that this could finally be happening for him. He daren't share his inexperience with the beauty. She leaned across the table, and the one syllable to escape her lips set his heart to pounding as he realized how much he'd been talking. She'd hardly said a word, and yet it was not as if she was being unresponsive. "And?" she begged.

Hesitantly, he raised a hand to her shoulder, and then realizing that was stupid, moved it to the side of her neck and moved his thumb in a circle on the corner of her jaw. She pressed her fingers to the back of his wrist with one hand, crading his elbow in the other, and leaned in closer, so that he could breathe in her scent of smoke and flowers. "If it's a secret," she murmured playfully, "you can whisper it to me if you wish."

"Heh," Cullen was shocked this was going so well. She was much more forward than any woman he'd felt the slightest bit interested in before. Excitement and nerves were dissolving into anticipation and desire. He could feel her heartbeat in his hand and rest the side of his head to hers amicably, taking a few more deep breaths before declaring, "And I would appreciate the chance to show you how much."

Caught up in the moment he forced his mouth on hers. He might've pulled away from their sloppy, awkward first kiss, but she held fast to his arm and forced herself to stretch across the table in pursuit of him for the moment it took Cullen to lean back into it. When they finally did part, she relinquished his arm in a fumbling action and she squeezed the fingers on her left hand with her right and looked a little distraught. Cullen subsequently moved his hand away and dropped it to his lap. As he opened his mouth to inquire, the woman expressed her concern, "I'm sorry, you pulled away and I ..."

Cullen was stunned and it took a moment for him to smile at her encouragingly. He could see it now in her eyes, and in retrospect, as Blackwall had seen it: she had been hoping for this or something like it. He wouldn't allow himself to spoil it for either of them. He took her chin between his thumb and forefinger, catching her gaze, forcing himself to have a little backbone in this as he had in nearly all other things. "I won't anymore," he assured her before daring to lean in again.

Chapter 6

Spoiler

The company who had gone on the mission through the mountain had been gone for a week. Varric had been one of the few 'regulars' to be left behind, as Bartrand had been successfully retrieved at the Inquisitor's request, believing both that Varric's loyalty and a chance to observe long-term effects of red lyrium were worth the effort, and was to be arriving any day now. However much the dwarf claimed to be appreciating it, he was certainly moody and aggressive for being left behind. As such, Cullen was hardly surprized when the man came barging into his offices, Cole in tow.

"Maker! Varric, what is it?"

"What is it?" he repeated indignantly. He continued, gesturing with his hands dramatically, "Ghost just told me of a conversation he overheard between you and Sparkles."

Cullen did his best to remain complacent and moved his work off to the side while rolling his eyes. He hated that nickname for the Inquisitor - for one, her hand didn't even sparkle. "Ms Trevelyan and I share many conversations. What is it that Cole believes to have overheard?"

Varric shoved at the front of the table with one hand, and Cullen realized the other was still wrapped around the Fade-boy's wrist, tethering him. The dwarf pointed at him indignantly, "I'll spare you the details, suffice to say it was of an intimate nature."

The Knight-Captain could only guess, and the conversation they were referring to ... had hardly been a conversation at all. His brow lowered, he eyed Cole awkwardly, but the boy wouldn't look at him, opting for the floor instead. Despite the offense Cullen felt he was offered in this interaction, he could not see why this should anger the dwarf. He raised an open hand to belie his confusion, "So teach the boy some manners and be on your way. What do want from me?"

The Kirkwaller squinted his eyes and dropped Cole's hand, who vanished nearly instantly, Cullen couldn't blame him. "What?" Varric asked, to Cullen's continued confusion. He pursed his lips and ran his hands across his forehead before explaining. "We've discussed having met in Kirkwall in the presence of the Champion a few times, Knight-Captain," the title seemed almost an insult in this circumstance. Cullen merely nodded. "During that time in Kirkwall, I can remember clearly, you stating that could not be treated as people in the same way as non-mages. Worse!" he exclaimed, to keep from being interrupted, "we heard of more than one mage being ... abused by templars, who by rights may have been under your command. Now I have to worry about Sparkles here, Crusader. If you don't see her as a person and you're ..."

Cullen let hm trail off and collected himself before responding. He didn't want to rage over this, he just wanted to move past it. The rogue and the Inquisitor were too close for him to want to damage his relationship to her so swiftly over something so stupid. "Varric," he began, peacefully, "you're quoting me right, for the most part, but you've interpret me wrong. I don't have a hatred of mages. I don't favor stripping them of rights or treating them like animals - or anything unlike people. What I meant then and what I mean now, is that mages are more powerful than any untrained person. They command forces that could devastate a city ... or a mind, and not everyone can handle such responsibility as well as Ms Trevelyan. I assure you that I see her as a person ... and that I didn't ... act without her consent."

Defeated, Varric slumped into the chair at the foot of the desk and rest his mouth on a closed fist as he proped himself up on the edge. Cullen allowed the dwarf the time he needed to unwind. When he finally straightened himself up, he looked sad, and very tired. "I'm sorry Crusader ... I ... I was being unfair."

"Not at all -" Cullen began, but Varric silenced him with a raised hand.

"With my brother arriving, I'm just thinking of what I let that apostate do to him - it was healing magic, so he claimed but ..." Varric shook his head. "I've been questioning a lot from that time. I would never have expected him to ... well ... nobody did, and then the Champion ... supporting him afterwards. I might've left for Starkhaven with Sebastian Vael if Kirkwall hadn't been my home. I really thought we were working for peace." A whimper escaped him, and Varric put a hand to his chest in embarrassment, but the Knight-Captain felt that only he need be embarrassed currently: he'd followed Meredith blindly, and let many things pass in the ranks that he should not have when the templars themselves started losing their sanity under her rule. Varric chuckled and snapped him out of it, "I should be supporting you. A mage and templar union that isn't mired in threats of Tranquility? And good job, seducing the enchantress." Cullen blushed and shifted awkwardly, so Varric nodded and stood up, "I'll let you get back to work. I'm sorry for over-reacting. I'd thank you for downplaying this whole thing if you have to tell someone about it; you should know that I will."

Cullen nodded his head in parting and was grateful that Varric shut the door on his way out. He slouched in his chair and pulled at the hair on the back of his head with both fists, groaning loudly. Then he crossed his arms on the desk and looked up suspiciously. "Cole? Are you still here?"

"... No." Came the disembodied reply.

Cullen smirked and rolled his eyes. "I'm not mad, exactly ..." confessed the Knight-Captain, "but people do appreciate privacy in some ... activities more than others. Can you do me the favor of warning me or Ms Trevelyan that you're around before anything ... like this, happens again?"

"... Yes."

"Thank you," Cullen conceded before swiping his scrolls open to return to work, enjoying the Fade spirit's company as a sort of strange taboo until the boy got bored and left.

I know we know nothing of the character's relationships or behaviours really. Please be gentle in your criticisms. Hope you partied hard for 3k. (:

[LolaLei]

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[R2s Muse]

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Hawke and Cullen Dragon Age 2  by Inveleth (  from my story, Knight's Bloom; my first fanart of one of my stories!! tee hee heee!!)
 

[LolaLei]

[LolaLei]

DA Fan's contribution to page 3000, since he's not here to do it himself.

 

[LolaLei]

[LolaLei]

Made by Lost_In_Anarchy (originally posted on 3002):

 

"I made something for 3000, but had to finish it blind because my laptop died   it also isn't as good as I would like, but anyway... here is the link because it is soooo NSFW. Hope you all enjoy! Happy 3000 everyone! Less than 2 months now y'all. "

http://i34.photobuck...zps6f4bb207.jpg

[LolaLei]

And we're good. Saved a bunch of placeholders for those that couldn't make it in time.

[Ananka]

Happy page 3000, Cullenites!

[LolaLei]

Alrighty! Now I'm gonna grab some coffee and read through these awesome fanfics!