After hours of mandatory socializing at the great hall, Mihya and Cullen finally slipped away from their duties as Inquisitor and Commander. The stairway up to her quarters was already mostly lit by moonlight, and it was at this moment they first realized how long they had been trapped down there.

Cullen was quieter than usual, and even after closing the last door behind them, the evening and the dull and pretentious conversations didn't seem to leave him. When she tried to engage in lighthearted banter, he did not respond. Mihya looked at him and found his gaze empty.

She stepped in front of him, impossible for him not to notice her. Without waiting for his reaction, she pulled him down to her, crashing into a passionate kiss.

His reaction was instinctual. Deepening her kiss and holding onto her hips tight. Without breaking apart, she started ripping his formal tunic open while gently pushing him backwards towards her bed. They stumbled their way through the room, only breaking away from one another to kiss and lick different accessible parts of their lover's body.

With a final forceful effort, Mihya shoved Cullen onto her bed. Caught by surprise, he held onto her ass, pulling her close between his legs. In that moment her lips left his. She softly cupped his face between both her hands while looking down at him as if she was examining him.

'Is something wrong, my heart? Why are you stopping?', Cullen asked.

With a soft smile, she exclaimed, 'There it is again!'

No words were needed; his confused look spoke for itself.

She continued, 'You seemed out of it; I was just hoping to bring a little light back into your eyes. I think it worked.'

His free hand found the small of her back, and with a single tuck he pulled her down into his lap.

'Oh, trust me, it worked!'