What? It’s Cullavellan week again? Sign me the heck up
Day 1 (September 11th) - Mabari, Halla, and Harts, oh my!
We all know Cullen winds up with a mabari, but are there any adorable animals that the pair share? Or perhaps your Lavellan has someone to add to the mix! This day is all about pets!
Cullen: So this is the hart that kicked you in the face and gave you the scar on your eyebrow?
Delilah: Yes, she’s a real sweetheart.
Cullen: What did you do to make her mad?
Delilah: I may have been goofing around when I was young and...accidentally shocked her on her rear.
Cullen: ...we’re not taking her back home with us, are we?
Delilah: It’s enough work keeping your mabari fed, I’m not adding a hart on top of that.
This is a wee bit late, but here is the one-shot for the amazingly patient @milkynozomi, who won @cullavellanheaven‘s giveaway ages ago. Thanks for tolerating my slowness (and lack of reliable internet). I hope it satisfies!
You will remain with the Inquisition, and rebuild with us. We still have an archdemon to kill.
Indis knew her decision with the Wardens was controversial at best, and she was not shocked that many of her friends had been vocal with their displeasure. Such was the way of power. The proper decision was not always the popular one.
This did not prepare her for the Commander’s outrage, however.
“Ally with the Wardens? Have you gone mad? What were you thinking?” he asked. His voice was only slightly raised in outrage, but it left a silence that was worse than yelling.
Not for the first time, Indis was on opposing sides of the Commander. However, though he had disapproved of allying with the mages, he had kept most of his thoughts to himself that time. After Adamant, however… no such luck.
“I was thinking of the archdemon we still have to face, Commander,” she said, as frosty as the ice she commanded, her spine fused with silverite. “I thought you of all people would have appreciated the strategy.” His hand, which had been resting on the makeshift map in his tent, recoiled as though she had smashed her fist into it. Quickly, he recovered and placed his hand to hold onto the pommel of his sword.
Cullen nodded curtly to her, his amber eyes alight with rage. “Very well, Inquisitor.” The formality stung. “If you would excuse me, I must confer with the Wardens about the march back to Skyhold.” He didn’t wait for a dismissal, before quickly exiting the tent.
A chill that had nothing to do with the sudden gust of air let in by the Commander’s abrupt departure, made Indis shiver, breaking the stiffness of her posture.
“Idiotic Templars!” she hissed, smacking her fist against the makeshift map. “Have I gone mad? What kind of a question is that?” Rage seethed with her exhaustion, but she tamped down on the recklessness the combination threatened to release. It would be foolish to do anything rash, especially when she still had the long march to Skyhold with the Commander always in close quarters.
Damn him. And damn the Wardens for their idiocy as well!
It was a very long march to Skyhold. It seemed that winter had decided to come early, bringing in bitter winds to fight against, or thick snow storms in which they lost all sense of direction.
Still, Indis and Cullen managed to keep as much distance as possible. When duty forced them to interact, it was short and frostier than the winds that froze them to the bone. Both believed, or perhaps neither wanted to admit, they were in the wrong, and that stubbornness lasted them the journey to Skyhold and several weeks beyond. If Josephine or Leliana noticed the abrupt change from secretive sidelong glances to pointedly avoiding the other’s eyes, they said nothing.
They kept dancing around each other for weeks, until Josephine finally interfered in the way she knew best: diplomatically.
“Inquisitor, when you pass by the Commander’s office next, I would appreciate you telling him the next dancing lesson for Halamshiral is this Thursday after evening meal. And if he protests, as I know he will, you can remind him that it is vital we all show ourselves equal to the Orlesians. They will look for any weakness to exploit, whether it is a dancing misstep or a disagreement in our ranks. We must make sure we show them none.” Indis rubbed at a bruise on her hand, but she could feel Josephine’s pointed look as she handed a missive to Indis.
“I’ll pass on your message,” she replied, snatching up the letter. “Thank you, Josephine.”
“You are welcome, Inquisitor,” Josephine said amiably. “Good day.”
Indis wasn’t sure if either of them were willing to apologize – she knew she was in the right, and Cullen was likely too stubborn to change his mind – but Josephine was right: this couldn’t go on. The Inquisition needed a unified front, and could hardly afford its leaders to fall apart because of their own personal feelings.
She knocked softly on the door, breathing deeply to calm her racing heart. There was no reply.
“Commander?” Indis asked, slowly opening the door.
He was at his desk, standing over a map, rubbing his temples. As the door creaked, he immediately straightened up, and his hand left his head to rest on the desk. “Inquisitor,” he said. “What can I do for you?” It sounded less like a genuine question, than an automatic response.
“Josephine wanted me to inform you that our next dancing lesson would be on Thursday, after evening meal,” she told him, fighting the instinct to reply just as stiffly. “And I also wanted to speak with you.”
“Yes?” he asked.
Praying to the Creators for strength, Indis rushed in before she could lose her nerve. “When I took the assignment as Inquisitor, I promised to look out for the Inquisition’s best interests, as well as protecting Thedas at large. I have never broken that promise. I know we do not agree on my decision with the Wardens, but the fact still remains that I allowed them to remain because I saw it as the safest option. We may be facing an archdemon at this moment, but regardless of that, we will face an archdemon in the future. I will not allow myself to repeat the mistakes of only a decade before. I will not leave a country defenseless against the Blight.
“I did not simply pardon them from their actions. Do they not work beside the Inquisition? Are they not trying to make amends? Can you, of all people, not appreciate allowing them a second chance? Or would you see them punished for Clariel’s sins?” She had originally intended her speech to come to a truce, but in the end the parallels between the Warden’s and Cullen’s own past changed her argument.
His shoulders, previously so stiff, sagged as her works struck him.
“It is not so simple as that,” he said, his voice so hushed she barely heard the words. “You know of Kirkwall, but before I was sent to that Circle, there was another.”
Indis listened, as he began, “My first assignment, as I told you before, was in the Ferelden Circle in Redcliffe. I was barely there a year before blood mages rebelled and took over. I – I was the only one that survived inside. I don’t know how long I was there, but I watched as they tortured – killed – my friends. Mages that I knew hated blood magic were tortured into submission, becoming abominations for the blood mages’ army.
“The Hero of Ferelden saved me and destroyed the blood mages and their abominations. Perhaps a wiser man would have left the Order, but I wanted to serve. I was sent to Kirkwall, where you know what happened.” Cullen breathed heavily, his thumb and first finger rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Perhaps I judged the Wardens too harshly, but –” he stopped, unable to continue.
Indis slowly approached his side and slipped her hand into the one resting on the desk, squeezing it in comfort.
“It’s all right, Cullen, you don’t need to explain further,” she said, her voice soothing, “I understand better now.” It didn’t change her decision, but she better understood his reaction at least.
“I apologize for how I reacted,” he said, “and that I did not come to you sooner to explain.”
“And I apologize for not trying to speak with you sooner,” Indis said.
For a long moment, they stared into each other’s eyes, and Indis realized how much she had missed him. A piece of her heart she had not realized had grown cold, flared with warmth once again.
“Perhaps next time, we’ll talk when we disagree, rather than ignore each other for a month until Josephine raps on one of our heads with sense?” Indis teased, reveling in how light she felt.
“Perhaps that is a better approach,” Cullen agreed, smiling brightly.
“Good, now I hope you don’t have too much work today, Commander,” she said, smirking devilishly, “because I haven’t been kissed in a month and we really need to start making up for lost time.”
“I suppose I can clear a little –” He had just been about to kiss her, when the door crashed open.
Indis wished the wrath of Fen’Harel on whoever had such Creator’s-forsaken timing.
“Commander, Sister Leliana has a report for you, which she requested you look at right away.” The great Beyond, of course it was Jim. Indis swore Leliana did this on purpose.
In a heartbeat, Cullen had broken away from Indis and towered over Jim. He ripped the report out of his hands, and growled, “Get out.” Blessedly, the scout quickly realized his mistake and practically sprinted out of Cullen’s office.
Indis laughed. “It never ends,” she said, still chuckling.
Day Seven (Saturday, September 10): Happily Ever After
Where are they now post-Trespasser? Don’t forget the dog! x3
Yesterday was the last day of the Cullavellan Week hosted by @cullavellanheaven! I didn’t post on time cause this fic got a lot longer than I thought it would... It was super fun being able to work with my precious Inquisitor and her beloved Commander; expanding their relationship definitely helped distract me from real life.
For the prompt, I first have to admit that I haven’t played the Trespasser DLC yet >_> And it’s not just for my playthrough with Enansal. I haven’t even gotten a chance to play it through with my Canon Inquisitor.
However, I already know the main plot points of Trespasser. And I know that when I have to make the choice, Enansal will choose to keep the Inquisition together as the honor guard of Divine Victoria, because she will want to continue helping people. But that is a story for another time.
In the meantime, enjoy!
I am also operating under the assumption that Clan Lavellan is alive and well. And since my decisions as Enansal are similar, if not the same, as the ones that I have made for Elera (my only completed playthrough), then I think it’s safe to assume that Leliana became Divine.
“My dear, you really must stop fidgeting, or we’ll never be able to get you ready on time.” As she spoke, Vivienne gently swatted Enansal’s hand away, preventing the Inquisitor from placing a self-conscious hand on her hair.
She ducked her head sheepishly. “I’m sorry. I suppose I’m just nervous…”
From the corner, Cassandra tsked a little. “I don’t understand why. You two have already been wed for a year.”
“Perhaps that’s the reason,” the Inquisitor mused as Vivienne pinned another strand of her hair, which she had allowed to grow in the year following the Exalted Council. “It was easy when it was just the two of us, a mabari hound, and Mother Giselle. There was no one to pass judgement on us, no one to impress…” Enansal sighed a little, and frowned at her reflection in the large looking glass upon the vanity before her. “I sometimes wish I had made the decision to disband the Inquisition. We wouldn’t have had to deal with this nonsense.”
“For what it’s worth, Cullen is actually looking forward to this.”
Eyes widening a little, Enansal shifted her gaze to the corner of the looking glass, looking at her eldest sister-in-law without disturbing Vivienne’s work. “Are we really talking about the same Cullen? The one who becomes skittish at the thought of a Satinalia gathering even if it’s only with his close family?”
Mia laughed a little bit. “Yes, it is true that my brother hates parties of any kind. However, he did say that your marriage at the Winter Palace felt rushed. He feels that the decision stemmed from the uncertainty about your survival.”
“He said he’s looking forward to actually enjoying his wedding,” Rosalie added with a small giggle and a wide smile.
Enansal flushed, and averted her gaze from the Rutherford sisters.
“And at least you share the sentiment,” her youngest sister, Elgara, piped up from where she sat cross-legged on the bed, which only added to Enansal’s blush.
“You haven’t shut up about it,” her other sister, Adahl, added with a smirk.
“Oh, hush, da’len,” Enansal grumbled, now fixing her gaze upon her lap, trying very hard not to flush even further.
Vivienne hummed a little in approval as she pinned up the last bit of the Inquisitor’s hair. “There you are, my dear.”
The Dalish woman returned her gaze to the looking glass, and tilted her head to inspect her friend’s work. Her black tresses had been pulled back into a soft knot at the nape of her neck, with some of the strands twisted to form a wreath of hair just above the base of her ears. A few wisps artfully framed her face.
“Oh…” she breathed softly, amazed by the transformation.
She turned a little in her stool and smiled up at Vivienne, whom she was glad to have befriended over the course of the Inquisition’s existence, despite their initial clashes over their opinions of mages. Though they still disagreed sometimes on that very same topic, Enansal had noted that Vivienne still gave her support and guidance to the Inquisitor.
Overcome with emotion, she reached out to wrap her arms around the First Enchanter. “Thank you,” she enthused, and hoped that Vivienne understood that her thanks was not only for the simple task of styling her hair.
“Now, my dear, we don’t want to ruin your hair before the ceremony has even started,” Vivienne scolded lightly, though she did have a small smile on her face when Enansal pulled away.
There was a knock on the door, and within a few moments, Josephine was ascending the last flight of stairs that led into the Inquisitor’s living quarters. In her arms was a large blue box, nearly the length of the Ambassador’s torso. “I apologize for my tardiness, Inquisitor. The seamstress only arrived an hour ago. There are already quite a lot of people making their way to Skyhold for the wedding.”
Enansal shook her head. “It’s alright. We still have an hour or so before we begin. Is that the gown?” she added with a nod towards the box.
Josephine nodded with a wide smile, and crossed the room to lay it down on the bed. The Inquisitor got to her feet to join her side, peering inside curiously as her Ambassador lifted the lid—stamped with a silver filigree mark to indicate the shop it had originated from—to reveal the wedding gown she had ordered for Enansal. She reached into the box to pull out the garment, and held it up for all the gathered women to see.
The Inquisitor gasped, and covered her mouth with her remaining hand. The gown was white, with a square neckline, a subtle Basque waist, and bell sleeves. The neckline and waistline were both lined with beaded and braided silver accents. A length of the braid trailed down the front of the skirt, which was embroidered with silver thread in a floral pattern. A brooch made of silverite and sapphires was pinned to the center of the neckline, forming the crest of the Inquisition. Overall, the ensemble was simple yet elegant.
“Oh, Josephine, it’s so lovely,” Enansal breathed, feeling certain that she was on the verge of tears.
“I’m glad it’s to your liking. Now, shall we help you into it?”
Both Adahl and Elgara moved to help their sister into the gown, working together to pull it down over her head. Adahl bent down to straighten out the skirt while Elgara moved to tie the laces at the back of the dress, being careful not to pull too tight. Meanwhile, Josephine worked on folding up the excess fabric on the left sleeve, and tying it off so that it was artfully wrapped around the stump of her arm.
Once they’d gotten her dressed, Elgara then led her sister back to the vanity and sat her down in order to work on her cosmetics. “You’re going to take their breath away,” she promised with a small smile as she picked up a pot of rogue.
***
“You know, it’s not too late for me to call up the Chargers to hide you away for the next couple of days,” the Iron Bull told Cullen jokingly as he watched the Fereldan man fumble with tying on his belt.
“I’m seriously considering it,” the Commander sighed. “I feel like we’re staging this for the amusement of the Orlesians.”
“You are doing this for the amusement of the Orlesians,” Bull commented dryly, which earned him a grimace in a response.
“Is this the part where I remind you that you mentioned you were looking forward to this?” Branson questioned as he handed his brother a black, sleeveless robe that was meant to go over his white-and-silver tunic.
“I’m looking forward to marrying the Inquisitor properly. I never said I was looking forward to our guest list.”
This cued a snort of laughter from the Iron Bull…and a whine from Buster, the mabari hound that Cullen had taken in a year prior amidst the Exalted Council.
“I know, it is rather unfortunate,” Cullen told the canine with a heavy sigh. “But at least we will only have to entertain the nobles for one day, and then we’ll be allowed to take our honeymoon tour.”
“By the way, how did you manage to have the wedding last for only one day?”
The Commander smirked faintly. “Through many objections from both myself and Enansal about having a multiple day affair, much to Josephine’s chagrin.”
The Qunari laughed again. “Well, let’s hope it all runs smoothly. We wouldn’t want the two of you to be trapped at the keep, now would we?”
“Please don’t even joke about that.”
***
Nervous energy thrummed through her veins, and Enansal tried very hard to calm herself down before her magic got out of control. Her hand was already beginning to feel cold, and she knew that if she continued like this, she would inevitably cast ice spells without meaning to.
“Oh, da’len…Oh, my darling, you look so beautiful…”
The Inquisitor looked up at the sound of her mother’s voice. Tristan and Diwa Kavanagh were waiting for Enansal at the bottom of the staircase that led up to her tower room. At present, Diwa had both of her hands clapped over her mouth, and her eyes watered. Enansal was certain that Diwa would not be able to hold back the tears at the ceremony, and she herself had to swallow the lump in her throat so as not to smudge the kohl that her sister had lined her eyes with.
“Thank you, mamae,” she murmured, and moved forward to wrap her remaining arm around her mother in a tight hug. She then pulled away, and turned to her father.
Tristan also offered her a smile, and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. “You’ve come so far, Nan. I’m so proud of everythin’ you’ve done, an’ I’m so glad to see that leadin’ the Inquisition has brought you such happiness.”
“I really am happy, papae. I’m especially glad that the Clan was able to come across the Waking Sea for this day. It means so much to me to be able to see you all again.”
In response, her father placed a kiss upon her brow. “We are glad to be here, Nan. Now, I believe that your husband is eagerly awaiting to marry you all over again.” He stepped around to the Inquisitor’s right side, and looped his arm with hers.
Together, the three elves headed out into the great hall, and then through the large double doors at the entrance of the keep. Enansal shivered a little when they stepped outside, but was amazed by how…magical the snowfall looked. The white flakes were soft, and fell from the sky at a slow and steady pace, and the Inquisitor was thankful that Josephine had agreed to have the ceremony during the winter months.
Diwa and Tristan led their daughter down the stone steps that led from the keep to the upper courtyard. A moment of nervousness seized the Inquisitor’s heart as she saw just how many people had arrived to watch. Orlesian nobles, Inquisition soldiers, and Dalish elves alike were all gathered together for this formal marriage ceremony, and Enansal felt the urge to turn around and run back to her quarters like a startled halla.
But then her eyes found sight of Mother Giselle, where she stood with Divine Victoria herself—Enansal was surprised, but very glad, to see Leliana after so long—and Cullen. At her husband’s feet sat Buster. The grey-and-white mabari seemed as uncomfortable with the gathered crowd as his master was, and it was a relief to the Inquisitor that the two shared her sentiments.
All too soon, the Inquisitor and her Commander were standing across from each other, much how they had a year ago. Cullen’s smile was soft and full of adoration as he held Enansal’s right hand in both of his own. Due to the formality of this ceremony, their vows reflected that, lofty promises that felt as if they focused more on their political roles and how they were tied to the people.
When they ceremony ended, and Josephine began to direct the guests back into the great hall for the wedding banquet, Cullen stayed by his wife’s side, waiting for the crowd to disperse.
He smiled down at her and kissed her softly. He pulled back slightly, pressing his forehead to hers. In a whisper, he repeated his vow from the private ceremony they had had before. “I swear unto the Maker and the Holy Andraste to love this woman the rest of my days.”
Enansal returned the smile, and whispered in return, “Sylaise enaste var aravel. Lama, ara las mir lath. Bellanaris.”
May Sylaise favor our home. To you, I give my love. For eternity.
Day Six (Friday, September 9): Soulmates
AUs, different interpretations of the couple, reincarnation, etc.
Oh, my goodness, I’ve been looking forward to this prompt ever since I saw the announcement for Cullavellan Week! AUs are honestly my favorite thing to work with. However, since I have several of them for Enansal and Cullen (or the equivalent of them, before I actually created Enansal in-game), I’m going to list some of the AUs that they have featured in. Mostly because @battlefox and I are always RPing together. I might flesh certain ones out for fanfiction purposes...
Modern AU: Honestly, I have a couple different ideas for what could be considered modern AUs. However, the main one, and my personal favorite, is where Enansal is an elementary school teacher and Cullen owns an animal rescue. They met when Cullen was walking some of his dogs from the shelter in the classic “Help me, I’m tied up in leashes” scenario.
Falling for the mafia AU: In which Enansal is an optimistic police officer fresh out of the academy, and Cullen is a smoldering mob boss. He likes to thoroughly distract Officer Lavellan from digging too deep into his criminal records. She just thinks he’s a flashy, and handsome, businessman.
Pirate AU: Lady Enansal Lavellan trying not to get swept off her feet by Captain Cullen Rutherford.
Vampire AU: Long ago, Cullen was bitten by a vampire. While he’s not terribly fond of his reliance on blood, he grew accustomed to his new powers, and climbed the vampiric social ladder until he became a very popular lord. He eventually fell in love with a human (Amell), but she was killed by a hunter. Centuries later, he meets Enansal, and is surprised by how familiar she is to him, despite the fact that they have never met before. As it turns out, she is the reincarnation of Lady Amell. Alternatively known as the AU that gives me an excuse to indulge in feels.
College faculty AU: Cullen is a grumpy librarian, and Enansal is a professor of cultural studies.
I also want to work with a space pirate/sci-fi type of AU. Maybe a Mass Effect cross-over, since that’s something I’ve started playing. I might even start working on a Fallout cross-over.
And I also want to do a 1920s AU, though I have to decide if I would want Cullen to be a cop or a bootlegger.
Day Five (Thursday, September 8): Sharing Customs
Because cultural exchange is important!!
Ah, this ended up being shorter than I thought it would be. It also ended up a little bit more one-sided than I had intended. In my opinion, though, the culture clash part of the Cullavellan relationship would evolve over time, and that would work best when addressed in a multi-chapter fic. Which I plan on doing...eventually.
Anyway, once again, this is a contribution to the Cullavellan Week event hosted by @cullavellanheaven. I’m also tagging @asiansofthedas for this specific prompt, since Enansal is coded as half-Filipina, and some of her customs and habits are reflective of that culture. However, I myself am quite disconnected from my Filipina side of heritage, so that part feels a bit lacking, to be perfectly honest.
“…You know, love, I don’t think I ever asked you about those,” Cullen commented to the Inquisitor, his gaze focused on the corner of her quarters, and not on the maps they had been poring over together.
“Hmm?” Enansal glanced up at her lover, one eyebrow quirked.
“Y-your, erm, altar,” he stammered out, looking back at her with flushed cheeks.
“…What about it?” she asked slowly, her tone a touch defensive, as she straightened up and met his gaze across the top of her desk.
“When we first came to Skyhold, you were very adamant about making sure it was set up before you even considered moving into your quarters. And you were very specific about what you needed to place on it.”
The Inquisitor nodded a little. “Yes, well…” She bit her lip, and shifted her weight a little. She seemed nervous, hesitant to answer.
Cullen’s expression softened, and he moved to stand beside Enansal, carefully reaching out to rub gentle circles along her back. “It’s alright, love. I asked because I’m genuinely curious.”
“No, I understand that. You’re not the first one to show interest in my beliefs.”
She smiled faintly, but her face fell, a frown pulling at her lips. Her eyes became distant for a moment, and Cullen knew that the Inquisitor was mentally far away. With a sudden, heavy sigh, Enansal shook her head and looked back up at her Commander.
“I value my altar much in the same way Andrastians value their chapels. It is where I pray to the Ancestors and to the Evanuris. It is also a place that I associate with home.”
“You miss your clan, do you not?”
She laughed a little, instinctively lifting her hand to cover her mouth as she did so. Cullen had noticed that it was a habit of hers, and wondered if it was just part of her personality, or something that had been instilled in her by the Dalish.
“Yes, I do miss my clan. Very much so. But I also consider Skyhold my home.” At that admittance, she glanced up at Cullen to give him a soft smile. “And as such, I have to continue some of my habits while I’m here. It’s why I prefer to not wear shoes within the walls of the keep. It’s why I have my altar. It’s why I refused to actually sleep in my quarters until I had a chance to first bring in salt, water, rice, and my carving of Mythal. Any little bit of home that I can carry with me makes me not as homesick. But it also makes Skyhold a little bit more precious to me.”
Day Three (Tuesday, September 6): Working Together
Either as Inquisitor/Commander or anything else!
Whoops, I totally forgot to queue this up for yesterday, so it’s a bit late >_> Another contribution to the Cullavellan Week event hosted by @cullavellanheaven. More ficlets!
We would like to express our thanks for the supplies. We will be sure to use them wisely…
Our sincerest thanks to the Inquisition for sparing forces to deal with the mages and Templars that were warring in our town...
I must say that watching the Herald of Andraste close the rift was quite a sight indeed...
Inquisitor, I have already sent scouts ahead to the Exalted Plains in preparation for your trip at week’s end...
Enansal let out a small growl of annoyance and, in a fit, swiped her arm across the top of her desk. Personal letters and official missives alike fluttered to the floor like many white birds. A few leather-bound books fell with very solid THUMPS. Her quill, still wet with ink, flew across the room. The inkwell slid to the edge of the wooden desk, balanced on the edge for a few precarious moments, and then toppled to the floor with the harsh tinkling of broken glass.
In the next moment, she was on her feet and crossing her quarters. She yanked open the glass doors of one of the large windows of her room, and stepped out onto the balcony. She shivered a little as she was hit with the cold mountain air, but the chill helped calm her down. Enansal leaned against the stone balcony, looking out over the moon-washed terrain surrounding Skyhold.
It was times like this, where she was overwhelmed with reports and requests, that she found herself despising her position as the Inquisitor. While she genuinely enjoyed being in such a position of leadership, being in a position where she was able to help others and spur on political change, it was still a draining task. Especially so when it seemed as if all of Thedas wished to defer to her judgement.
She sighed heavily and bowed her head, hunching her shoulders in a rare - and private - moment of weakness and exhaustion. Enansal found herself wishing, not for the first time, that she was back with Clan Lavellan…
She jumped when she heard a gentle tapping on the glass behind her. The Inquisitor turned to see her Commander hovering at the balcony entrance.
His expression was one of concern. “I saw the state of your desk. Did something happen, love?”
She ran a tired hand across her eyes, and shook her head. “No, nothing happened. I'm just...tired.” She sighed, and then looked at him with an apologetic smile. “It seems the requests never end. I’ll be fine soon. I just felt a little overwhelmed all of a sudden.” I'm sorry for worrying you.
Cullen grimaced a little, and then looked her over. “When's the last time you slept?”
“Last night,” she assured him. “I actually managed a full night’s rest, despite rising at dawn. Though I must admit that entertaining Duchess Sour Face was rather draining.”
Cullen actually snorted at that. “‘Sour Face?’” he repeated in amusement.
“Didn't you think her mouth looked like she was sucking on a lemon? And those eyebrows painted on her mask? Absolutely terrifying.”
He laughed. “Well, it's good to know that I'm not the only one that dislikes the Orlesian nobles that pass through Skyhold.”
“They are definitely my least favorite part about this whole Inquisitor business.”
Cullen laughed again. “Yes, they are certainly adept at trying one's patience.”
Enansal smiled softly, and then inclined her head. “So, was there something you needed?”
The Commander blinked once, seeming confused. “Ah, yes,” he declared after a few moments, as if finally remembering his initial purpose. “Well, I saw that you still had a fire burning.” He pointed across the keep towards the tower that he had claimed for his office and sleeping quarters. “And I, ah, actually needed your signature to authorize some troop movements.” He met her gaze, looking a bit guilty. “However, if now is not a good time for work…”
Enansal shook her head a little. “Nonsense. I’ll look them over. Let me just straighten up the mess I made…” She stepped back into her room, closing the glass doors to the balcony behind her. She then crossed back to her desk, and slowly began to pick up everything she had tossed to the floor.
After a beat, Cullen knelt beside her to assist. Miraculously, the ink that had been spilled from the broken inkwell had only damaged her novels. It was unfortunate, yes, but at least it meant that she would not have to rewrite any of her reports, a fact that she was extremely grateful for.
Once the desk had been tidied up, Enansal pulled over an additional chair for Cullen, and then she took a seat. She looked up her Commander. “Well, let’s see what you’ve got.”
He frowned, looking skeptical. “Are you certain? These can wait until tomorrow,” he added with a gesture towards the stack of papers he had brought with him, which were currently resting on a corner of her desk.
“Yes, it’s alright.” She glanced up at him with a small smile. “I think it’ll help if you’re here,” she added softly.
Cullen’s cheeks turned pink for a moment, and then he let out a sigh. “If you insist…” He sighed again, and picked up his stack of papers before taking a seat in the chair she had procured for him. He set one of them down in front of her. “Now, we’ve heard word that some of our missing troops are being held in this abandoned keep…”
Day Two (Monday, September 5): Family
Kids, extended relatives, siblings, etc.
Another contribution to the Cullavellan Week event hosted by @cullavellanheaven in lieu of @cullavellanweek.
So, for this prompt, I’m trying my hand at a piece in the style of an in-game codex entry. Some of my personal headcanons are evident in some of the marriages. The birthdates of all the Rutherfords, the names of Cullen’s parents, the middle names of his siblings, and the name of his nephew are all my personal headcanons, as well.
From an official record book in the Inquisition archives
The 1st day of Wintermarch, 9:52 Dragon
Upon this page, I have been tasked with marking the lineage of the Inquisitor and Herald of Andraste, Enansal Lavellan, and her husband, Commander Cullen Stanton Rutherford, the Lion of Ferelden and former Knight-Captain of the Kirkwall Circle.
At present, I have no prior records of either family line proceeding the births of the parents of the Inquisitor and the Commander. Once I have obtained them, I shall update my own records with the necessary information.
From the Rutherford line:
* Tranter Ellery Rutherford – Born the 5th day of Cloudreach in 8:70 Blessed, in the village of Honnleath. Fair-skinned, brown of hair, and golden-eyed. Wed to Kelsie Padmore in 8:98 Blessed. Deceased in 9:30 Dragon, during the Fifth Blight.
* Kelsie Verna Rutherford, neé Padmore – Born the 26th day of Firstfall in 8:80 Blessed, in the city of Denerim. Fair-skinned, golden-haired, and blue-eyed. Wed to Tranter Rutherford in 8:98 Blessed. Deceased in 9:30 Dragon, during the Fifth Blight.
* Mia Shannon Montilyet-Rutherford – Born the 25th day of Justinian in 9:4 Dragon, in the village of Honnleath. Fair-skinned, golden-haired, and blue-eyed. Wed to the Inquisition’s Ambassador, Josephine Cherette Montilyet, in 9:48 Dragon.
* Cullen Stanton Rutherford-Lavellan – Born the 10th day of Kingsway in 9:11 Dragon, in the village of Honnleath. Fair-skinned, golden-haired, and golden-eyed. Wed to Inquisitor Lavellan in 9:44 Dragon.
* Branson Oswin Rutherford – Born the 21st day of Wintermarch in 9:14 Dragon, in the village of Honnleath. Fair-skinned, brown of hair, and blue-eyed. Wed to Hazel Banner in 9:38 Dragon, and then wed to Cedric Finnegan in 9:42 Dragon.
* Rosalie Leanne Aclassi, neé Rutherford – Born the 7th day of August in 9:18 Dragon, in the village of Honnleath. Fair-skinned, golden-haired, and brown-eyed. Wed to the lieutenant of the Bull’s Chargers, a mercenary company employed by the Inquisition, Cremisius Aclassi, in 9:50 Dragon.
* Hazel Madison Banner – Born the 9th day of Harvestmere in 9:16 Dragon, in the city of Amaranthine. Brown of skin, black of hair, and black-eyed. Deceased in 9:40 Dragon, due to difficulties in childbirth.
* Cedric Finnegan – Born the 21st day of Bloomingtide in 9:13 Dragon, in the city of Starkhaven. Fair-skinned, red-haired, and green-eyed. Wed to Branson Rutherford in 9:42 Dragon.
* Landon Riley Rutherford – Born the 11th day of Firstfall in 9:40 Dragon, in the city of South Reach. Brown-skinned, black of hair, and brown-eyed.
From the Kavanagh line:
* Tristan Kavanagh – Born the 10th day of Drakonis in 8:96 Blessed, in the city of Starkhaven. Fair-skinned, black of hair, and brown-eyed.
* Diwa Kavanagh, neé Tayag – Born the 5th day of Drakonis in 8:96 Blessed, in Antiva City. Brown of skin, black of hair, and black-eyed.
* Enansal Rutherford-Lavellan – Born the 22nd day of Cloudreach in 9:16 Dragon, just outside the city of Starkhaven. Brown of skin, black of hair, and brown-eyed. Married to Commander Rutherford in 9:44 Dragon.
* Adahl Lavellan – Born the 3rd day of Solace in 9:21 Dragon, just outside the city of Rialto. Fair-skinned, brown of hair, and brown-eyed.
* Elgara Lavellan – Born the 23rd day of August in 9:23 Dragon, in the Vimmark Mountains. Brown of skin, black of hair, and brown-eyed.
In 9:44 Dragon, the Inquisitor wed the Commander in a private ceremony during the Exalted Council. After declaring the Inquisition as the honor guard of Divine Victoria, the two formally and publicly celebrated their union in 9:45 Dragon. Since their union, they have seen the births of five healthy, elf-blooded children.
* Atisha Kelsie Rutherford-Lavellan – Born the 9th day of Bloomingtide in 9:46 Dragon, at Skyhold. Brown of skin, golden-haired, and brown-eyed.
* Lanaya Cedar Rutherford-Lavellan and Livia Carissa Rutherford-Lavellan – Born the 31st day of Harvestmere in 9:47 Dragon, at Skyhold. Brown of skin, black of hair, and golden-eyed.
* Kegan Falos Rutherford-Lavellan – Born the 3rd day of Guardian in 9:49 Dragon, in Val Royeaux. Fair-skinned, brown of hair, and brown-eyed.
* Masarian Tranter Rutherford-Lavellan – Born the 20th day of Haring in 9:50 Dragon, at Skyhold. Fair-skinned, golden-haired, and brown-eyed.
