Chapter Text
How many tasks can you put on one man's back before he bends, and breaks, and snaps? Before he stumbles and makes a mistake? And how long before this mistake of his is deadly?
Today, Cullen found himself torn from his overflowing amount of tasks, hoisted out of the comfort of his office by Josephine, who, with a surprising amount of strength, dragged him towards the courtyard to meet the person she’d assigned to be his Captain.
It wasn't a frequent occasion that Skyhold's Ambassador and its Commander would meet with the nobles arriving right on the first day of their stay. Nor was it a habit that they would wait for them in the courtyard instead of receiving their visit in the war-room.
Cullen certainly had better things to do than this. There were drills to be run, reports to be written, not to mention the gaping hole in his bedroom ceiling he still had done nothing about. Yet, here he was. Dressed in his warm, furred cloak that made him look twice as big, while his skin itched uncomfortably beneath. Whether that was caused by the coat or the situation was unknown.
"You need help, Commander." Josephine gave him a warm glance as if she could see right through him—ever the observant one.
"There is too much responsibility on your shoulders. You know you are overworked. At least meet him before you send him away; he is a great candidate."
Cullen sighed. He somehow couldn't imagine anyone from Orlais being a good candidate for anything.
Airon Valmont had grown up with eccentric architecture. In Orlais, everything had to be pristine and shiny and marbled, especially in the royal family. He didn’t mind– He liked shiny things as much as any Orlesian did.
But when he laid his eyes on Skyhold for the first time, it was... Well, a castle. A proper, rugged castle. The likes of which he’d only ever seen in art or in his mind's eye.
He looked out of place as he approached. A red-headed nobleman appearing on horseback, not with an Orlesian mask, but a grin on his face.
The stable-hands scrambled to meet him as he unmounted the horse, though they puzzled when he greeted them. Heads turned, and people whispered about the longhaired nobleman – could this really be him? The Orlesian Duke they’d been told to expect?
But Airon, he was too preoccupied with his surroundings to take note. With the way his boots clicked against the cobbled ground and the way the wind brushed through his hair. The wind was never this… Alive, in Orlais.
Every curve, stone, and window looked just... Perfect. Well, not perfect - the place was run-down, but in a distinctly other way, it was beautiful.
Arion's gaze trailed over his surroundings until it landed on the commander and Josephine. His face lit up in a grin as he started making his way towards them. The Commander had a sceptical expression, as though he'd rather be anywhere other than there at the moment, and like Airon's arrival was more of a nuisance than anything.
The commander was not someone he was acquainted with. The ambassador, however, was someone he knew well. Even considered a friend.
"Lady Montilyet! It has been far too long!" His greeting, when it came, was cheerful. "You cannot imagine my excitement when I heard you had become Ambassador for the Inquisition! I am just thrilled."
The man was clearly Orleisan, judging by the telltale accent, but his words were disarmingly earnest. Not as though he was trying to win something from the conversation, but as though he were merely excited to speak with Josephine.
"My lord!" Josephine greeted him right back with a large smile, her eyes warm and friendly as she took both of his hands and squeezed instead of a more formal bow. Airon, despite his noble status, was one of the easiest people to converse with that she'd ever encountered. He was kind and light-hearted, and his energy was highly contagious. Something Skyhold desperately needed.
"Too long indeed. I would have never thought we would meet again under these circumstances. However, I was very pleased to read your letter and even more pleased to accept the offer of your aid. Thank you, truly. Our numbers grow in size every day, and we are short of skilled combat trainers. You came at the best of times."
"Oh– please, no need to thank me!” Airon immediately dismissed, clutching her hands right back, “I am very grateful for this opportunity to be here!" He responded giddily.
They looked just a few seconds away from linking arms and spending the rest of the day gossiping over a bottle of wine, and Cullen felt… Out of place. Like he was intruding, when Josephine had been the one to drag him along in the first place.
It seemed that Airon realised they weren’t alone around the same time as Josephine did, both of them separating and straightening up. Airon returned his hands to his back, turning towards the stranger – Cullen – with a charming smile, as Josephine returned to her professional demeanour.
"My lord,” Josephine stepped back over to the blonde, placing a hand on his shoulder, either to ground the commander or to display him to the newcomer, “let me introduce you to a former Templar and Commander of the Inquisition forces, Cullen Rutherford."
The ginger glanced at his friend as she introduced the man, and then looked back at him, scanning him discretely– checking him out, less discretely. He was undeniably handsome, all blonde and curly, and wearing armour that made him look bigger than he was. He even had a few inches on Airon heightwise.
He put a hand on his chest, the other one still behind his back, as he bowed politely.
"It is an honour to make your acquaintance, Commander Cullen. I am Grand Duke Airon Valmont, former crown prince and Chevalier- Eh, former Chevalier now too, I suppose."
He grinned as he stood straight again, big brown eyes settling on Cullen again, continuing to inspect him. The blonde was watching him back, a conflicted look on his face that made Airon’s grin broaden.
Airon had thrown him for a loop. Had thrown all of his preconceptions, all his preconceived notions about who he'd be meeting off the roof. Cullen cleared his throat and took a small step forward to meet the newcomer.
"Pleasure is mine... Your… Highness?" Cullen scratched the back of his neck, nearly stuttering with uncertainty over the man's title and cursing himself for his lack of knowledge when it came to Orlesian titles.
A common thing when it came to people from Ferelden. Never any less charming, to Airon.
Airon tilted his head and smiled bemusedly at him. He could tell this man would have stumbled ungraciously through The Game if he ever had to participate in it. Thank the maker for Josephine's knowledgeable presence.
"Oh, please– just call me Airon. Or, well, should you insist on using a title, you can just use 'Lord'." He'd never enjoyed being referred to, or referring to people, as just their title. It felt dehumanising and disingenuous.
Cullen looked taken aback by the answer, or maybe by the smile aimed his way, that remained there even after his fumble. It was rare to meet a noble who didn’t insist on being known by its title– especially when it came to Orlesian ones. There was no time to think about that now. Cullen did his best to move past the surprise that had undeniably shown on his face.
"Pleased to meet you, Airon," the commander spoke his name as if he was trying it out, tasting it, analysing how well it might work in battle. The conclusion must have been good, because his lips quirked up just so at the edges.
"Then call me Cullen. Titles might be difficult to use in our area of expertise." And it was just his luck that he would accidentally use some other title entirely and manage to offend the duke on his first day.
Airon lit up at the permission, like he’d been given a gift. Cullen. Cullen…
"He means, they are hard to use when shouting," Josephine chuckled, her words only a light jest. Cullen looked like he was planning to oppose her until he realised she was right.
"I do not shout... That much," he attempted to amend the accusation and offered a slight smile in return, cautious but genuine, "sometimes I hit a table instead. It works just as well and saves me from a sore throat."
Airon huffed out a laugh, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Should I be worried about getting punched every time there is no table around, Cullen?"
"No need to worry," Josephine jumped in, "we have enough tables around to deliberately help avoid punching our nobles. The Inquisitor's idea. She started to see some reason in Cullen's practices, unfortunately.”
The noble's eyes twinkled mischievously.
"I am not too worried. I have been told Airon is an excellent name to shout, anyway." His grin widened into a smirk.
Josephine gave him an exasperated look, trying and failing to hide how much she had missed him. Cullen took only a second more to respond.
"I... Am sure it is."
And then he paused, looking almost as surprised as everyone else, and wiping a hand down his quickly reddening face. Josephine arched an eyebrow.
Airon raised an eyebrow as well, his smirk growing obscenely large in response. It wasn't often he got reactions like that. Most people he spent time with were used to his particular brand of humour.
"Oh?"
"Well," Josephine decided to cut in and save the poor commander, "Airon, if you are ready to follow me, I can show you your accommodations. Then you are free to return to our Commander if you'd like to, or you can rest after your journey and catch up on the situation with our troops later on. I am sure the Inquisitor would like to see you during dinner, but otherwise, you can agree on your schedule with Cullen. Does that sound good to you?"
"Oh, I would like a tour, if you have the time! This castle is just like a fairy tale."
He swooned, glancing back at the rugged building towering behind them. His lips twitched, barely containing another smile. "I assume you got my belongings. I sent them to be delivered ahead of time.”
"I will be at the training grounds," Cullen cut in to inform the pair before they could disappear inside, just in case Airon meant to join him later.
"Thank you, Cullen," Josephine gave him a warm smile, curling her little arm around Airon's. She had more words to share with him as soon as they would be outside of Commander's earshot, and for that reason, she needed his keen ear close.
"Yes, thank you, Cullen," Airon repeated with a smug smirk his way, his tone a lot more suggestive than when Josephine had said it. Josephine glared at him lightly, but once again, seemed more amused than she was upset.
Cullen watched the pair disappear inside, the smirk he'd received still at the forefront of his mind as he slowly moved towards the training grounds. When Josephine had mentioned the Grand Duke, Cullen had admitted he'd heard rumours about the man, and therefore was conflicted about what to think. Not many rumours- most of the Orlesian whispers were whispered amongst themselves, but he'd certainly heard about the Grand Duke's revolutionary streak. Orlesian rumours rarely held enough weight for him to care about them, however.
Knowing that Josephine wasn't easily impressed, he expected a fine leader, but a douchebag nonetheless. He was Orlaisian, after all.
"You are holding that sword too low, soldier," he shouted through the clatter of weapons and leaned on the fence around the training grounds.
An idea sprang up. If Airon proved himself to be the asset Josephine expected him to be, then perhaps Cullen could start with something he had already postponed for far too long. He remembered small vials waiting in his room with clear lyrium, strong and potent. He hated the substance with passion.
Shaking his head, his mind was immediately filled with ginger hair and an excited voice instead.
The flaws of the castle didn't seem to scare Airon off– instead, luring him in further. He was so used to being around flawless buildings and sparkling interiors. It was comforting to see something like this, something that allowed its wear and tear to show, somewhere where his wear and tear could be allowed to exist.
He still felt his mind drifting back to the blonde commander at the battlefield. He probably should have been more focused on the inquisitor, who was his boss now, or getting to know the other higher-ups in the inquisition.
He'd get there. He had time.
Eventually, they ended up on one of the stone walls that protected them from the outside. They looked out over the mountains, and Airon looked up at her, stepping closer and lowering his voice with an expectant look on his face, his gaze more intent than before.
"Tell me about the Commander. Cullen."
He was known for being a gossip. There was no proof he had any ulterior motives for asking. "I am going to work with him, am I not? I should know things about him." He added, just to be sure.
Josephine hummed in thought. She didn't seem opposed to the idea since it was put so deliberately.
"What would you like to know? The Commander, as well as the Inquisitor are to be credited for our escape from the apocalypse in Haven. While the Inquisitor gave us time to flee, Cullen led us forward with clear determination when others succumbed to utter panic. He is great at what he does. The best Commander we could wish for. And I am not exaggerating," she smiled. "He cares for his men, and they respect him in turn. He understands politics and war like no other..." She trailed off for a moment, her eyes growing a bit distant before focusing back on the noble at her side.
"But it's hard to read him. Sometimes I feel like he is deeply troubled, and no one can quite figure out what it is. Perhaps he is just tired. There is so much required from him. The inquisitor loses a lot of sleep due to her tasks, but I am afraid Cullen doesn't sleep at all.” She let out a humourless laugh.
Airon listened closely as she spoke, feeling a growing sense of pity for the commander. He had indeed seemed to be a man plagued by duty.
But that was why Airon was there, wasn't it? To aid the commander in his duties.
And if he could cheer the man up as well, that wouldn't exactly hurt.
Cullen seemed to be a great leader, from what she told him, and an honourable man too. All too often, he encountered leaders who cared only for winning the battle and not the welfare of the men on the frontlines– the men who were the ones putting their lives at stake.
"I will make sure he goes to bed," he said determinedly,
"I will do what I can to aid you. Should you need anything, anything at all, just tell me. But am I right in assuming my current work is to assist the Commander in his work?"
"Yes," Josephine nodded. "Assisting is the best approach for now. I think Cullen is worried that once he loses control over things, everything will come crumbling down on our heads. If he sees he can rely on you, he will be more willing to transfer some of his duties to you permanently and perhaps catch an hour of sleep from time to time," she smiled.
"I know this is probably not what you expected, but we really need your help. Cullen had a captain before, but the man couldn't do half the things he was assigned to, and at the end of the day, Commander had even more work than before correcting his mistakes. Not even talking about the fact that the two of them were in each other's hair more often than not.”
Josephine sighed, as if the idea of the previous captain was enough to irritate her. Admittedly, Airon hadn't thought alot about how he'd assist the inquisition, nor how the inquisition would take to his help. Upon seeing Airon’s worried expression, she smiled and put her little hand on his shoulder. "I expect you to be present during the strategic planning as well. We could use your experience in the war-room as well. And... Most importantly," she took a deep breath, "I am in desperate need of someone to gossip with. Nobles here are so dull."
That seemed to do the trick, and Airon immediately relaxed beneath her hand. He grinned in response, putting his hand on hers, his excitement for his assigned task returning like the sun peeking out from behind a passing cloud.
"Josephine, I am thrilled to be here, and I would love to help you in any way I can." Not to mention that he was quite excited about getting to work with the Commander.
"And you and I both know, gossip is one of the things I do best."
Josephine squeezed his hand lightly before leaning in as if she was about to share a big secret.
"I can't wait," she laughed shortly, then released her hold. "Please, if there is anything I can do in return for your help, let me know. I know this place isn't in the best of shape, but it is our home, and now yours as well. I'm happy you're here, Airon." She gave him a grateful smile, somehow seeming giddy to have her friend there and burdened to be in need of so much help at once.
He scoffed lightheartedly, waving a hand to dismiss her words.
"Do not be silly! You are housing and feeding me already. And your fine company is more than enough to repay me." He thought to himself that if Josephine hadn't known his preference for men, this might have come off as him flirting with her. Luckily, she was well aware. Josephine sighed fondly at him in response."Are you going to return to Cullen or will you leave it up for tomorrow once you're rested after the journey?" She asked.
Airon shifted on his feet, casting a glance in the direction of the courtyard.
"Well, I am a little tired... But I believe myself to be rested enough," he shrugged, returning his gaze to Josephine with a small smile on his face, "and unlike him, I do actually plan on trying to sleep at night." He joked playfully. "I will go speak with him."
"Good, one of you should," Josephine chuckled, "or we would have two grumpy officers wandering around Skyhold and staring daggers at our poor recruits." She nodded a bit absentmindedly, her face and posture changing at once in preparation for facing her duties once again. "I hope to see you at dinner tonight. Inquisitor is looking forward to meeting you. If you could manage to bring Cullen with you... Ah, no, forget it. I cannot expect you to perform miracles on your first day," she smiled warmly, and an elegant bow followed next.
"Good luck, Airon. I know you will do well."