Cullen watched as the shimmering rip in the sky grew smaller and dimmer until only clouds remained. The moment he took to marvel at the unblemished sky was interrupted by a painful wheeze and out of the corner of his eye, he saw the Inquisitor fall to her knees.
He was at her side instantly, appearances be damned. The rest of their group hadn’t stopped talking just because he had insisted they keep a professional distance. Even his own heart still whispered indecorously to him despite his efforts to quiet it. And it would not let him refuse to listen now.
“Are you alright?” Hands on her elbows, he supported her as she returned to her feet shakily.
“Yes,” she said a little breathlessly, wiping at cold sweat on her brow. Ashlynn knew her companions would expect an explanation but none more so than Cullen. She offered him a shaky smile.
“It passes pretty quickly.”
He tensed. “This happens every time then?” At her nod, he had to breathe deep through his nose once or twice, trying not to take it personally that she hadn’t told him.
“At first it was just a little dizzy spell that came and went in a blink. But it has been getting worse each time.”
“And… how much worse do you think it’s going to get?” Varric edged closer, looking intently at her, concern etching his features. He cast a sad glance at Cullen. “We have a lot of tears to close, oh fearless leader. I’d hate to celebrate the last one without the hero of the hour in attendance."
Cullen was grateful for the dwarf’s penchant for asking what he couldn’t. Ashlynn wasn’t trembling anymore and didn’t need his support so he released her and stood at an angle to her and Varric, the three of them forming a triangle on the rocky knoll. Cassandra and Vivienne hovered nearby, keeping an eye out for more nasty Fade creatures but he suspected they were taking in every word that was being said, just as interested in the answer as he was.