[sandbox]

[bringspeopletogether]

No Orlesian nobles pounded down their door to demand their hound back, so when Alistair and Cullen left Halamshiral, the newly-dubbed Gruyere happily trotted alongside their horses.

A few weeks after -- which included some quiet conversation, a few orders placed with a few merchants, and almost an entire extra pack of gifts slung over one of their mounts -- Gru just as happily trotted along as they turned for South Reach.

Years of correspondence led Alistair to build an elaborate image of Cullen's family in his mind; Mia, perhaps, more fully realized than the others, but everyone with a name and a voice to match their letters. They're...not wholly inaccurate? But Mia's definitely shorter than he expected, and one or two of the children a little louder.

(Mia's voice, however, adopts exactly the pitch he imagined it would when Alistair brings up the whole I'm-your-brother-in-law-now thing.)

It's a nice place. Just the right kind of rambunctious, with all the kids running around; just the right kind of homey.

If only Cullen weren't -- well, reacting more or less precisely how Alistair worried he'd react to the reunion.

Comments

[howtoactfereldan]

"A full list?" Cullen raises his eyebrows. "Apparently I need more of your... direction... than I thought."

[bringspeopletogether]

"It's mostly compliments." Low; sweetly serene. "The direction may turn to 'Maker yes keep doing that' after a few minutes."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen closes his eyes for a moment.

No louder:

"At your order."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair has to draw a careful breath, eyes closed in turn, to keep from shivering.

"Later," he murmurs, and caresses Cullen's cheek. "Once we're guaranteed some privacy."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen leans into his touch with a small, appreciative smile.

"We could walk into town." Softly. "Start making inquiries."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Let's." He chuckles. "I think the horses will be in good hands without us. Or paws, I suppose."

He links his fingers with Cullen's again.

[howtoactfereldan]

"Oi!" bellows a voice. "Quit caboodling, you'll sour the milk!"

Branson is passing on the other side of the stable, carrying a bale of hay on one shoulder and grinning.



Without thinking about it, atavistic reflexes kicking in, Cullen pulls a face and makes a very, very rude gesture in Branson's direction as he wanders away, cackling.

[bringspeopletogether]

"I could send Gru after him." Thoughtful. "Knock him into a puddle. No one would ever fault us."

[howtoactfereldan]

"So," Cullen says, mildly, even cheerfully. "We were saying? About finding a place?"

His mouth twitches as he tugs Alistair in the direction of town.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair snorts, amused. "For our sakes and the milk's, apparently," he says, freely allowing himself to be pulled along.

It's a nice enough day for a walk: clouds dot the sky, but none of the angry sort that foretells rain. And as much as Alistair enjoys the chaos of the Rutherford household, there's a lot to be said for a stroll with just his husband, sans inquisitive relatives or overeager children.

[howtoactfereldan]

And, fortunately, it's a short walk. Cullen knows to check at the tavern.

Even more fortunately: no one recognizes him. Cullen can go straight to the barkeep and ask if anyone's letting rooms, or a cottage. In return, she hands them a short, poorly-scribbled list.

"Shall we walk?" he murmurs to Alistair. "We could look. Or we could try to find an agent to do it for us."

[bringspeopletogether]

He smiles. "I could do with a walk."

Alistair peers over Cullen's shoulder to get a better look at the list.

"Any chance some of those will have space for Gru, too? If not -- he can always get to know his cousins a little better while we're away, I suppose."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen glances back at him, eyebrows raised.

"You think I'd abandon our dog?"

[bringspeopletogether]

It's a small thing, but hearing Cullen say our dog instead of your dog warms Alistair's heart.

"No, I didn't think you would." A quick kiss to Cullen's temple. "So we'll need something with at least two rooms so he doesn't ruin the mood either."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen leans back against Alistair for just a moment.

Then he taps a listing. "Cottage. I think we walked past it. Shall we?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"Yes," he declares cheerfully.

They double back a short distance. The cottage, once located, proves to be modest -- a small kitchen, a separate bedroom, and little else -- but they don't need much more than that, in truth. And the kitchen table (just big enough for two) rests next to a sizeable window, the better to take in the sunrise over a cup of tea.

You know. If one was inclined to wake up early enough to watch the sunrise.

[howtoactfereldan]

It's a simple enough matter to let it for a few weeks: the owner relocated to Denerim, but wanted to retain the property. By noon, it's done.

Standing in the kitchen, Cullen points to a spot by the hearth. "Good place for Gru," he murmurs. "Just enough room."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair nods. "Warm, too. Give him a few bones from the stew and he'll be in paradise."

Also: thoroughly distracted from any goings-on in the bedroom.

Straight-faced, he adds, "Shame the gryphon statue won't fit in here, but maybe we can put it in one of the stables at your family's place."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Sounds adequate revenge on Branson," Cullen observes. "Right. Shall we go get our things and make our excuses?"

[bringspeopletogether]

He nudges Cullen in the side, smiling. "Unless you've changed your mind about buying miniature trebuchet supplies."

[howtoactfereldan]

"They can wait until tomorrow."

They're alone in the house; he slips an arm around Alistair's waist. "Or beyond."

[bringspeopletogether]

His smile grows; he settles an arm around Cullen's shoulders in kind.

"All right." Warm; amused. "Back to break the news to your family, then."

Considering the conversation with Mia this morning, Alistair's a little worried she'll be hurt by their departure, even if Cullen will only be a short walk up the road. But his husband's needs take precedence -- and if Cullen knows he can retreat to a safe place if necessary, maybe that will relax him enough to talk to his siblings.

(Look, Alistair can dream.)

[howtoactfereldan]

It's -- not as bad as Cullen thought it would be.

A flash of hurt crosses Mia's face, but is gone just as quickly. Listen, Cul. It's not like you're the first one we've seen come home from a war and need more space. We're here. And we'll expect you tomorrow night, to eat with the family.

He's not the first. He's not the first. He doesn't have to explain it from nothing, with no hope of being understood, much less believed.

Throat tight, he pulls his sister close, and doesn't say anything at all.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair, meanwhile, tasks himself with packing their things. Gru drops a particularly large stick at Alistair's feet and insistently nudges it toward the bags; only when Alistair adds it to his pack does the mabari trot away, satisfied.

(Alistair does draw the line when Gru comes back with a half-eaten apple, though. You'll have more of those at the cottage, he says, and gives Gru an apologetic scratch when his ears droop.)

The children aren't too pleased to see their new playmate go, but perk up when Alistair reassures them both Gru and Cullen will be back. Plenty of flower crowns to be made, after all; plenty of dogs to festoon them with.

He considers joking to Bran that he doesn't have to worry about spoiled milk anymore, but -- that would come off as unnecessarily cruel, he thinks. Best he doesn't.

[howtoactfereldan]

It's easy to go. Easier than he expected. Cullen retreats to the stable to saddle their horses, and bring them to the house. And it's not much work to load them.

And within an hour --

Within an hour, they're back on the road to town. Cullen lets out a long breath, looking up at the sky.