howtoactfereldan | (no subject)

"Fortunately, it takes up absolutely no room in your pack, so it's quite portable."

He closes his eyes.

"So long as you don't mind its nattering."

"Much as I hate to admit it... most of it's pleasant."

Smiling, a little.

"Might go so far as to say it's welcome."

Alistair's smile grows.

"The pillow's relieved to hear it," he murmurs, warm.

"Yes, well, it has feelings, and it seems like the least one could do is to be aware of that."

That spurs another quiet chuckle out of Alistair.

"It's appreciated." Beat. "Likewise, the pillow will endeavor to do better about recognizing its favorite person's feelings in the future."

"...it has preferences, does it?" Amused.

"Oh, yes." He grins. "It won't let just anyone cuddle with it, you know."

"...is that what I'm doing? I thought I was resting."

"You can do both." He kisses Cullen's hair. "I hear they go hand-in-hand quite often."

"I think I'm offended." His tone says otherwise. "I've never cuddled in my whole life."

"You haven't? Really?"

He struggles not to laugh as he tightens his embrace a bit.

"It's rather pleasant, I hear. I think we ought to give it a try."

"Really?" Cheerfully dubious. "Fine. What am I supposed to do?"

"From what I understand," says Alistair, with great solemnity, "you're off to a good start so far. Maybe...hm."

He takes one of Cullen's hands and moves it an inch or two higher.

"There." Satisfied.

"How boring."

"Did I ever say it was exciting?"

Alistair's laughing again, quiet and fond.

"No. Pleasant, yes. Comforting. Peaceful. Not exciting."

"It's almost as though you're saying," Cullen says, "that the point of this is quiet."

"Shhhh."

He pats Cullen's head.

"I have a reputation to uphold, Commander. Don't tell anyone I actually enjoy quiet things sometimes."

"Never."

Cullen nestles closer, and shuts his eyes.

(And allows himself a moment to be so glad Alistair could come.)

"Oh, good."

Alistair presses another soft kiss to Cullen's forehead. "Sleep well," he murmurs. "I love you."

I'm here.

"Love you too," he mumbles.

Third watch will end just before dawn, and they'll be on the road again by sunrise. Fortunately Cullen's tired enough that it doesn't take long at all for him to drop off.

Alistair isn't far behind.

His sleep's been more restless since they began traveling; hyperaware of every unfamiliar noise, he wakes every couple of hours, lies awake, listens hard.

(Tunes into Cullen's breathing, eventually, and drifts off again.)

He's up for good just before third watch ends.

When Cullen wakes -- not long after -- he plants a sleepy kiss on the corner of Alistair's mouth, and mumbles something that sounds like morning.

"Morning," whispers Alistair in return.

Uneasy sleep: always worth it, to wake up to this. (Worth it, if his presence can ease Cullen even a little.)

He doesn't ask his customary sleep all right? -- he was awake often enough to see for himself. Instead: "Heard the watch changing over."

"Mm."

Cullen rubs at his eyes. Gravel-voiced: "Sooner we move, sooner we see if it's still there."

He's not holding out much hope. He can settle for matter-of-fact perseverance.

Were it any other morning, Alistair might try to coax Cullen, however playfully, to stay in bed a little longer. Considering how Cullen reacted at the mere suggestion of not going to Honnleath, though...

Not today.

"All right," is all he murmurs instead. One last squeeze, and he pushes the blankets aside to start reassembling his pack.