[sandbox]

[bringspeopletogether]

Back to Skyhold. Back to work.

Alistair resumes training with the Chargers a few days after his and Cullen's return; the company got back from Halamshiral just before the Basin group showed up, Bull explains, so he was giving them a rest before picking up exercises again. Krem fills Alistair in on all the details as they're exchanging blows. Some of it is just Orlesian Worst Game Ever nonsense, but since it ends with a whole lot of shamefaced nobles with no mercenaries to their names, Alistair's pretty damn pleased.

(Maybe he can get the new mercenaries in on his plan to dress up the training dummies in Orlesian garb. Hmmmmmm.)

Cullen's in a war room meeting by the time Alistair's done. He throws some water on his face and heads for the kitchens -- maybe he can split a small meal with Kieran before Morrigan's return.

Comments

[bringspeopletogether]

Warm: "It just gives me an excuse to make up more fun to replace it."

They climb the last steps to the tower. Alistair pushes open the door to let Cullen enter first.

[howtoactfereldan]

Immediately Cullen starts shrugging out of his coat.

Quietly. Just in case Kieran is still awake.

[bringspeopletogether]

There's no sound from above to indicate either way. (No hint of candlelight, either.)

Someone took advantage of Alistair's disappearance to finally come in and light the torches, however. Firelight glints off the pile of armor next to the chaise; stifling a wince, Alistair moves to gather it.

[howtoactfereldan]

It doesn't seem to register with Cullen; he's busy removing his own.

He should be up early tomorrow. Tomorrow starts the long watch. He'd like to sleep, while he can.

[bringspeopletogether]

Small mercies, as far as Alistair's concerned.

Dragging everything upstairs to properly store on his armor stand will cause too much noise at this hour. Alistair settles for laying it out more neatly on the chaise, then moves on to the ladder.

Kieran's asleep. As expected. What Alistair didn't quite expect was for his son to fall asleep hugging a book to his chest like a stuffed toy. The torchlight -- and the Breach -- provide just enough light to make out a word or two of the title.

Dane, he reads, and cracks a painful smile.

[howtoactfereldan]

Nothing's landed on Cullen's desk -- nothing that needs immediate attention, anyhow.

He lets out a long sigh, drapes his coat over his chair, and starts up the ladder.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair strips down just long enough for a perfunctory wash; as Cullen appears, he's busy rooting up a softer set of trousers to sleep in. Once that's done, he burrows under the blankets.

The temptation's there to pull the blankets over his head entirely. He resists. (For now.)

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen doesn't take long to do the same.

He sits on the edge of the bed, and takes in and releases a deep breath. Then he slips under the blankets and limpets himself on Alistair.

[bringspeopletogether]

Without hesitation, Alistair wraps his arms around him, no less tightly.

"I love you," he whispers into Cullen's hair. "No matter what. I love you."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen's next breath is shaky.

He nods.






Low: "I -- won't sleep well tonight. Bad dreams. I'm sorry."

[bringspeopletogether]

"It's all right."

He touches his lips to Cullen's forehead.

"No need to apologize. I'll be here."

[howtoactfereldan]

"I don't want to wake him."

[bringspeopletogether]

A soft sigh.

"We'll worry about that if it happens," he murmurs. "All right?"

[howtoactfereldan]

It takes Cullen a moment --

-- and his fingers curl into a fist on Alistair's chest --

-- but he nods.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair nods in return, and covers Cullen's hand with one of his own.

(Kieran's a smart child. Alistair...probably won't be able to pass off any noise Cullen makes as his own bad dreams. It might be the only recourse, though.

Hopefully he'll think of something better if he stays awake long enough.)

Low: "Do you want me to wake you if it gets bad?"

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen lifts his head enough to give Alistair a slightly beady look.

"None of this staying awake, keeping watch nonsense."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair smiles, small and rueful.

"If I happen to be awake," he says, "and I happen to notice. How about then?"

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen nods, and settles.

And absently smooths his fingertips over Alistair's chest.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair breathes out, trying to relax further into the mattress. It's a mixed success.

(An idle, selfish part of him wishes for more privacy -- but that would mean sending Kieran away, and that's not to be thought of.)

[howtoactfereldan]

A small sigh. Cullen stills his hand.

If this is the last time he's to feel safe... he should take advantage of it.




It's not long at all until his breathing slows, until his limbs go heavy.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair gives himself a moment to tighten his hold on Cullen a little more. He lowers his face to Cullen's hair, eyes burning.

At least they'll have a little peace during their last few days. That's more than a lot of people get. Much more than any Warden ought to get.

I love you, he wants to say, over and over. I love you. I love you. As if the words alone could hold back the sky as it slowly caves upon them.

(Maker, wouldn't it be nice if things really worked like that.)




'Just happening to be awake' looks quite a lot like 'deliberately staying awake to keep watch.' In Alistair's (admittedly very weak) defense, he did have a nap earlier.

The light of the Breach flickers, every so often, but it still doesn't change.

[howtoactfereldan]

Not until roughly an hour before dawn.

A sharp green beam of light shoots up on the far horizon. On the battlements, guards on patrol stop, coming to attention.

And then the sky, which had up until now been filled with roiling clouds... stops moving. Looks less angry.

That's the only change.




In the tower, Cullen flinches a little in his sleep.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair, by contrast, sits bolt upright.

Through the trapdoor in the roof, it's difficult to tell exactly what happened -- but it's clear something did. The glow brightened, like the lighting of a beacon; there's a stillness Alistair can't pinpoint once it passes.

On the floor, Kieran's sat up as well, wide-eyed and pale in the dimness. He and Alistair exchange a long look.

In war, victory. In peace, vigilance.

Alistair's only tell, as he reaches for Cullen's hand, is that he takes hold of it a little too tightly.

"Cullen." Low. "Wake up."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen flinches again -- and stirs.

Fuzzy: "Alistair...?"

When the knocking starts downstairs, Cullen wakes up a lot faster.

[bringspeopletogether]

"The Breach changed." Still low; more urgent. "I didn't see what happened, it got brighter for a moment -- "

He's taking mental stock: armor and weapons downstairs, five minutes to get ready, where would be the safest place to take Kieran -- the cellars, maybe -- he's sure there'll be a designated gathering place for civilians --