[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]

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.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair glances over.

Soft: "All right?"

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen gives him a small, bright smile.

"Better than that. Much."

[bringspeopletogether]

It might be the happiest he's seen Cullen since they arrived at South Reach. Alistair exhales a tiny laugh; says, not much louder, "Good."

Once they're off their horses, Cullen is getting the biggest hug.

[howtoactfereldan]

It's not like it's a long ride. At the small stable in the back -- three stalls, that's all -- Cullen dismounts, immediately starting to detach his pack.

He does, however, spare a moment to thoroughly ruffle Gru's ears, murmuring that they've got a good place for him, right next to the fire.

[bringspeopletogether]

Gru rumbles his approval, tail wagging furiously. A spot by the fire AND his favorite stick?? This is going to be awesome!

Alistair, being nothing if not polite, waits until Cullen's done fiddling with his pack before sneaking his arms around him in a quick, fierce embrace.

[howtoactfereldan]

Immediately Cullen drops his pack, sinking into Alistair.

He murmurs into Alistair's ear, "What's this for?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"No reason," he whispers.

Alistair kisses Cullen's cheek.

"I'm just glad you're happy. And I love you. That's all."

[howtoactfereldan]

He slips his arms around Alistair with a soft sigh.

"You're a marvel." No louder.

[bringspeopletogether]

The tips of Alistair's ears redden; his smile grows.

"Not an incurable sap?"

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen shakes his head. "Lots of things. Never that."

He gently tugs at Alistair. "Let's go. Then we can do this for the rest of the day."

[bringspeopletogether]

He laughs softly. "An excellent plan."

Alistair steals one more kiss before going to untie his own pack. The first thing out of his bag once they're indoors is Gru's stick; the mabari is so delighted to see it that he spins in circles like a puppy half his age. Soon enough he's settled into his bedroll in front of the hearth, gnawing contentedly at the thickest part of the branch.

(Alistair gives it four hours before he has to go find a replacement stick, to be honest.)

Smiling, he hooks a fingertip into the collar of Cullen's shirt, lightly tugging him toward the bedroom. "Shall we?"

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen trails after him, content. "Anywhere you lead, Theirin."