Cullen still looked uncomfortable in that armor. Then again, Sophia was starting to suspect that the man simply looked uncomfortable at all times.
The two of them had been meeting every single day since the terrible events of a few weeks ago, the night that saw them both promoted to much higher station. Cullen did not officially have the power to raise Sophia to Viscountess, but in the wake of Meredith's demise, the nobility essentially got on their knees and begged her to take her rightful place on the throne. A leader with a healthy relationship to the Templars would be a refreshing change, they believed. Sophia asked them to get off their knees, and get to work repairing their city.
"Knight-Commander," Sophia greeted, from the chair that had belonged to her father. She dressed no longer in armor most days, at least not while within the walls of her Keep. Today she wore a simple but elegant dress, shining silver, adorned only with a belt and armbands studded with small sapphires, and her mother's necklace. And of course, the little crown that would always weigh heavily on her head.
"Viscountess." Cullen bowed shortly, and stepped forward. It had been well established between them that the formalities grew tiresome between people that were forced into practicing them often.
"How is the reorganization faring?"
"Well, though not without issue." Cullen grasped one hand with the other behind his back, standing sharply at attention. "I have almost finalized my choices for the new Knight-Captains, men and women I believe are both capable and trustworthy. There are a few of note who believe they deserve higher standing than I've granted them, but for the most part, Kirkwall's Templars are behind me."
Sophia nodded in approval. "Good. And the Circle mages?"
"Gone from the city. None now remain in the Gallows. My orders are for the Templars to remain in the city, and not give pursuit to any fleeing mages. We will protect Kirkwall from blood mages and other apostates as always, but for now the focus is on rebuilding and maintaining order. Another decision not popular with all."
"But for the best, I think." Kirkwall's mage numbers had been reduced significantly, but even still, further uprising seemed imminent, due to their treatment for a crime they hadn't committed. Rather than see it come to violence again, Sophia had called upon certain allies to see them from the city safely. Cullen, unofficially of course, had turned his head away from such an act. The city would offer no help to the mages, but they asked for none, merely a chance to make their own way. And Sophia saw no harm in giving them that.
The city's opinion on mages had been severely damaged by the attack on the Chantry, and it had already been poor in regards to the Templars. It was best to simply have the mages gone, no longer a concern, and for the Templars to be seen doing something other than oppressing. For the moment, they spent their efforts assisting the guards on the streets, and with reconstruction efforts in Hightown following the blast.
"That will be all, Cullen. Thank you, and good luck with the new Knight-Captains."
"Thank you, Viscountess. I'll return at midday tomorrow, as usual." He bowed again, turned on his heel, and left swiftly.
A brief moment of rest followed for Sophia, who was left alone in the throne room, save for two of Ashton's hand-picked guards at the door. Vesenia was never far from Sophia, even when not dressed for battle. Currently it was propped against one of the arm rests, in full view of those who visited. A reminder that Kirkwall's new leader was quite capable of physical strength as well as diplomatic.
The doors did not remain closed for long, however, eventually opening again to admit Sophia’s next guest, who chose to enter without formal introduction. Lucien was still in armor most of the time these days, but had forgone it for the moment, opting instead for a burgundy tunic and grey breeches, the standard uniform for the Lions. He was armed still, but only with an ordinary sword, which hung from his hip. It was clear that he didn’t expect to have to use it at any point in the near future, in any case.
Actually, he looked a little apprehensive, though he smiled upon catching sight of Sophia, chasing the expression away from his face for the moment. “Good afternoon, Viscountess.” Eyes narrowed with mirth, he swept a courtier’s bow. “I arrive with a most urgent request.” Though he’d used the word ‘urgent,’ his tone didn’t suggest any actual emergency.
Seeing Lucien was the best form of break from her duties, Sophia had decided. Since becoming Viscountess, she'd been forced to remain in Hightown a much greater portion of her day than previously. It was something she'd always known to be true, that her responsibility would make her personal life much more difficult to maintain, or to have at all. Only now, she was much more certain that she could handle such a change, for the greater good. She made it through by enjoying the small moments when they came to her, moments such as this.
She rose from her seat, making her way down the first set of stairs before the throne to stand on even ground with Lucien. It was a relief to be up and about after lending her ear to all those that wished to speak. She smiled at Lucien's tease, and glanced over his shoulder at her guards.
"I'd like a moment, please. I believe I'm in good hands here." The guards nodded, this not being the first time such a thing had occurred. Silently they departed the throne room, shutting the door behind them. "Now," Sophia said, returning her eyes up to Lucien, "before you make this request, all formalities must seen to..." She placed her arms over his shoulders, and kissed him briefly. "... with utmost care."
Lucien’s smile inched wider, his hands coming to rest at her waist as he returned the kiss, lingering a moment to place another at her brow before he pulled back. “Your attention to detail is an admirable quality, Lady Dumar.” The smile lingered in his eyes for a few moments, before fading slowly, and he took a step back.
“I do need to speak with you, though, Sophia.” This was, in a sense, a conversation they both had known was coming for quite some time. At first, it had been at some nebulous point on the horizon, but after the battle, and after it became clear that what had begun in Kirkwall was not stopping there, Lucien had begun to prepare for it in earnest. He’d already changed the power structure of the Lions, giving each of them as individuals a choice: remain in Kirkwall as before, or depart with their founder, and make for Orlais. Most of the younger ones had decided to leave, having little to tie them down: Cor, Estella, Donnelly, Lia, and about five others. Rilien, of course, had agreed long ago to accompany him back as well. But the majority of he Lions had chosen to remain, something he was glad of. They were not the Guard, and they would not function like them, but he knew they would prove to be of use to the city, and Havard was more than capable of leading in his stead.
With the restructuring done and the rest of the preparations well underway, what had once been a fuzzy moment in the future was now imminent, and approaching at a pace that felt to him not unlike a warhorse at full gallop. He’d tried not to think of it, not wishing to allow the constant thoughts of what must come to tarnish what was still left, but it wasn’t something that could be ignored forever.
“Rilien believes that we will be ready to leave within another fortnight.”
"So soon," Sophia said, the words leaving her before she even realized it. Her own approach to this had been to ignore it until ignorance was no longer an option. She was actually thankful Lucien was able to bring it up. Had it been left to her, they probably would've waited until his departure was imminent to speak about it. Perhaps it was a blessing, she wondered, that she had so many other things to worry over. They gave her some small chance to stop thinking about this.
"We should do something, shouldn't we?" Her hand wandered from her hip to her hair, running through it softly in thought. Trying to convince him to stay was a thought long in the past, as was going with him. It had been determined that their paths would split at some point in the future, and that each of them was resolved to follow their own, until they could find some point to reconnect. It wouldn't be the last time they saw each other, of course, and Sophia knew that. But it still felt like within another fortnight, she would be tearing a piece of herself away.
"What should we do?" It wasn't occurring to her how best to spend fading moments with someone she loved. Her experience had only taught her how to react when they were suddenly torn away. It was always a surprise, a shock, a sudden strike to the heart. Not a looming shadow in the distance, impossible to prepare for.
“I don’t know,” he replied somberly. This experience was as new to him as it was to her, and he wasn’t sure there was any right answer about how to handle it. He closed his eyes for a moment and sighed, shaking his head before cracking his eyelids again. “Honestly, I’d like to spend as much time with you as possible, but even that would be considerably inconvenient for us both.” There was, after all, still a city to put back together; its Viscountess could not spend all her time with any soon-to-be-departed lovers. Just as a mercenary commander about to put his people through a seismic shift in lifestyle could fail in preparing them for it as well as he could.
“But… there’s some work I can do that doesn’t really force me to be anywhere in particular, so if you can clear some space in your office for me, I suppose I could be here, at the very least.” He rolled his eyes. “Which is extremely romantic of me, I know.”
"No, don't worry about that," Sophia said, stepping halfway to him. "That doesn't matter to me, it's never mattered. Well... that one time, it mattered, a little." She had to admit a certain evening spent with Lucien in Orlais would not have had the same effect anywhere in Kirkwall, or the Free Marches for that matter. "I'll have the Seneschal arrange for it. A quiet place to work, whatever you need." And Bran would be happy to do it. He'd been overjoyed ever since Meredith's fall to be serving a Dumar again. Sophia was glad to see him that way.
"You'll be here, with me, as long as you can, and that's the important thing."
“I can think of something more important still,” he replied, quite seriously. For a moment, he visibly prepared himself to say something, exhaling softly before raising a palm to one side of her face. “This isn’t the end, Sophia. I know we’ve said as much in vague terms, but I… I want to say it definitively. This fortnight… it’s not all there is. It’s not all we have left.” Lucien didn’t let himself make promises he could not keep, and he’d tormented himself for quite some time over whether or not he could in good conscience let himself make this one. Could he promise anything beyond the end of the coming two weeks, when he knew not where his obligations would take him, or what they would demand of him?
He could, and he would.
“Whatever comes, I promise I will survive it. I’ll do what I must for Orlais and my family, and when I have, I’ll be back. And I’ll ask you the question I most want to, and nothing and no one will stop me.” He leaned forward, so that his brow touched hers, heedless of the thin strip of iron that graced it, and lowered his voice, though it lost none of its certainty. His hand slid to the back of her neck, his thumb tracing her jawline. “Not even duty.”
She closed her eyes briefly at his touch, leaning her head slightly against his hand. She smiled slightly, thinking that if he was worried about not being romantic enough, he needn't worry any longer.
"And I promise the same," she said, reverently. "No matter what this city faces me with, I will be here, still standing, and waiting for you. And you'll have my answer."
The two of them had been meeting every single day since the terrible events of a few weeks ago, the night that saw them both promoted to much higher station. Cullen did not officially have the power to raise Sophia to Viscountess, but in the wake of Meredith's demise, the nobility essentially got on their knees and begged her to take her rightful place on the throne. A leader with a healthy relationship to the Templars would be a refreshing change, they believed. Sophia asked them to get off their knees, and get to work repairing their city.
"Knight-Commander," Sophia greeted, from the chair that had belonged to her father. She dressed no longer in armor most days, at least not while within the walls of her Keep. Today she wore a simple but elegant dress, shining silver, adorned only with a belt and armbands studded with small sapphires, and her mother's necklace. And of course, the little crown that would always weigh heavily on her head.
"Viscountess." Cullen bowed shortly, and stepped forward. It had been well established between them that the formalities grew tiresome between people that were forced into practicing them often.
"How is the reorganization faring?"
"Well, though not without issue." Cullen grasped one hand with the other behind his back, standing sharply at attention. "I have almost finalized my choices for the new Knight-Captains, men and women I believe are both capable and trustworthy. There are a few of note who believe they deserve higher standing than I've granted them, but for the most part, Kirkwall's Templars are behind me."
Sophia nodded in approval. "Good. And the Circle mages?"
"Gone from the city. None now remain in the Gallows. My orders are for the Templars to remain in the city, and not give pursuit to any fleeing mages. We will protect Kirkwall from blood mages and other apostates as always, but for now the focus is on rebuilding and maintaining order. Another decision not popular with all."
"But for the best, I think." Kirkwall's mage numbers had been reduced significantly, but even still, further uprising seemed imminent, due to their treatment for a crime they hadn't committed. Rather than see it come to violence again, Sophia had called upon certain allies to see them from the city safely. Cullen, unofficially of course, had turned his head away from such an act. The city would offer no help to the mages, but they asked for none, merely a chance to make their own way. And Sophia saw no harm in giving them that.
The city's opinion on mages had been severely damaged by the attack on the Chantry, and it had already been poor in regards to the Templars. It was best to simply have the mages gone, no longer a concern, and for the Templars to be seen doing something other than oppressing. For the moment, they spent their efforts assisting the guards on the streets, and with reconstruction efforts in Hightown following the blast.
"That will be all, Cullen. Thank you, and good luck with the new Knight-Captains."
"Thank you, Viscountess. I'll return at midday tomorrow, as usual." He bowed again, turned on his heel, and left swiftly.
A brief moment of rest followed for Sophia, who was left alone in the throne room, save for two of Ashton's hand-picked guards at the door. Vesenia was never far from Sophia, even when not dressed for battle. Currently it was propped against one of the arm rests, in full view of those who visited. A reminder that Kirkwall's new leader was quite capable of physical strength as well as diplomatic.
The doors did not remain closed for long, however, eventually opening again to admit Sophia’s next guest, who chose to enter without formal introduction. Lucien was still in armor most of the time these days, but had forgone it for the moment, opting instead for a burgundy tunic and grey breeches, the standard uniform for the Lions. He was armed still, but only with an ordinary sword, which hung from his hip. It was clear that he didn’t expect to have to use it at any point in the near future, in any case.
Actually, he looked a little apprehensive, though he smiled upon catching sight of Sophia, chasing the expression away from his face for the moment. “Good afternoon, Viscountess.” Eyes narrowed with mirth, he swept a courtier’s bow. “I arrive with a most urgent request.” Though he’d used the word ‘urgent,’ his tone didn’t suggest any actual emergency.
Seeing Lucien was the best form of break from her duties, Sophia had decided. Since becoming Viscountess, she'd been forced to remain in Hightown a much greater portion of her day than previously. It was something she'd always known to be true, that her responsibility would make her personal life much more difficult to maintain, or to have at all. Only now, she was much more certain that she could handle such a change, for the greater good. She made it through by enjoying the small moments when they came to her, moments such as this.
She rose from her seat, making her way down the first set of stairs before the throne to stand on even ground with Lucien. It was a relief to be up and about after lending her ear to all those that wished to speak. She smiled at Lucien's tease, and glanced over his shoulder at her guards.
"I'd like a moment, please. I believe I'm in good hands here." The guards nodded, this not being the first time such a thing had occurred. Silently they departed the throne room, shutting the door behind them. "Now," Sophia said, returning her eyes up to Lucien, "before you make this request, all formalities must seen to..." She placed her arms over his shoulders, and kissed him briefly. "... with utmost care."
Lucien’s smile inched wider, his hands coming to rest at her waist as he returned the kiss, lingering a moment to place another at her brow before he pulled back. “Your attention to detail is an admirable quality, Lady Dumar.” The smile lingered in his eyes for a few moments, before fading slowly, and he took a step back.
“I do need to speak with you, though, Sophia.” This was, in a sense, a conversation they both had known was coming for quite some time. At first, it had been at some nebulous point on the horizon, but after the battle, and after it became clear that what had begun in Kirkwall was not stopping there, Lucien had begun to prepare for it in earnest. He’d already changed the power structure of the Lions, giving each of them as individuals a choice: remain in Kirkwall as before, or depart with their founder, and make for Orlais. Most of the younger ones had decided to leave, having little to tie them down: Cor, Estella, Donnelly, Lia, and about five others. Rilien, of course, had agreed long ago to accompany him back as well. But the majority of he Lions had chosen to remain, something he was glad of. They were not the Guard, and they would not function like them, but he knew they would prove to be of use to the city, and Havard was more than capable of leading in his stead.
With the restructuring done and the rest of the preparations well underway, what had once been a fuzzy moment in the future was now imminent, and approaching at a pace that felt to him not unlike a warhorse at full gallop. He’d tried not to think of it, not wishing to allow the constant thoughts of what must come to tarnish what was still left, but it wasn’t something that could be ignored forever.
“Rilien believes that we will be ready to leave within another fortnight.”
"So soon," Sophia said, the words leaving her before she even realized it. Her own approach to this had been to ignore it until ignorance was no longer an option. She was actually thankful Lucien was able to bring it up. Had it been left to her, they probably would've waited until his departure was imminent to speak about it. Perhaps it was a blessing, she wondered, that she had so many other things to worry over. They gave her some small chance to stop thinking about this.
"We should do something, shouldn't we?" Her hand wandered from her hip to her hair, running through it softly in thought. Trying to convince him to stay was a thought long in the past, as was going with him. It had been determined that their paths would split at some point in the future, and that each of them was resolved to follow their own, until they could find some point to reconnect. It wouldn't be the last time they saw each other, of course, and Sophia knew that. But it still felt like within another fortnight, she would be tearing a piece of herself away.
"What should we do?" It wasn't occurring to her how best to spend fading moments with someone she loved. Her experience had only taught her how to react when they were suddenly torn away. It was always a surprise, a shock, a sudden strike to the heart. Not a looming shadow in the distance, impossible to prepare for.
“I don’t know,” he replied somberly. This experience was as new to him as it was to her, and he wasn’t sure there was any right answer about how to handle it. He closed his eyes for a moment and sighed, shaking his head before cracking his eyelids again. “Honestly, I’d like to spend as much time with you as possible, but even that would be considerably inconvenient for us both.” There was, after all, still a city to put back together; its Viscountess could not spend all her time with any soon-to-be-departed lovers. Just as a mercenary commander about to put his people through a seismic shift in lifestyle could fail in preparing them for it as well as he could.
“But… there’s some work I can do that doesn’t really force me to be anywhere in particular, so if you can clear some space in your office for me, I suppose I could be here, at the very least.” He rolled his eyes. “Which is extremely romantic of me, I know.”
"No, don't worry about that," Sophia said, stepping halfway to him. "That doesn't matter to me, it's never mattered. Well... that one time, it mattered, a little." She had to admit a certain evening spent with Lucien in Orlais would not have had the same effect anywhere in Kirkwall, or the Free Marches for that matter. "I'll have the Seneschal arrange for it. A quiet place to work, whatever you need." And Bran would be happy to do it. He'd been overjoyed ever since Meredith's fall to be serving a Dumar again. Sophia was glad to see him that way.
"You'll be here, with me, as long as you can, and that's the important thing."
“I can think of something more important still,” he replied, quite seriously. For a moment, he visibly prepared himself to say something, exhaling softly before raising a palm to one side of her face. “This isn’t the end, Sophia. I know we’ve said as much in vague terms, but I… I want to say it definitively. This fortnight… it’s not all there is. It’s not all we have left.” Lucien didn’t let himself make promises he could not keep, and he’d tormented himself for quite some time over whether or not he could in good conscience let himself make this one. Could he promise anything beyond the end of the coming two weeks, when he knew not where his obligations would take him, or what they would demand of him?
He could, and he would.
“Whatever comes, I promise I will survive it. I’ll do what I must for Orlais and my family, and when I have, I’ll be back. And I’ll ask you the question I most want to, and nothing and no one will stop me.” He leaned forward, so that his brow touched hers, heedless of the thin strip of iron that graced it, and lowered his voice, though it lost none of its certainty. His hand slid to the back of her neck, his thumb tracing her jawline. “Not even duty.”
She closed her eyes briefly at his touch, leaning her head slightly against his hand. She smiled slightly, thinking that if he was worried about not being romantic enough, he needn't worry any longer.
"And I promise the same," she said, reverently. "No matter what this city faces me with, I will be here, still standing, and waiting for you. And you'll have my answer."