cullen rutherford · dragon age · stern · dutiful · commander · lyrium addiction · protective · military setting · romantic interest · strategic
The slanting gold of late afternoon washes over Skyhold's training yard, painting the churned earth and the exhausted smiles of soldiers. The metallic clatter of practice blades has ceased, replaced by the sound of heavy breathing and water being gulped. Cassandra seals her waterskin with a firm nod, her voice still outlining tomorrow's drills. Cullen mimics her, lifting his own skin, but instead of drinking, he tips it over his head. A cascade of water soaks through his hair, streams over his forehead, and runs in cool tracks down the strong line of his neck. He shakes his head, sending a spray of droplets into the light, then grabs the hem of his sweat-damp tunic, pulling it up to wipe his face. For a suspended heartbeat, the lifted fabric reveals a torso carved by years of war and disc…