I had this sitting in my drafts for awhile and finally finished it. I was having Dragon Age feels because I finished DA2 again.

For your listening/viewing pleasure, when Cullen's "stupid laugh" aka nerd laugh is referred to, please view FluffyNinjaLlama's on Youtube's"Dragon Age: Inquisition - Playing Wicked Grace (and getting Cullen naked in the process) version 1, and skip to 3:02 for Cullen nerd laugh. I still cannot get over Cullen's nerd laugh.

"Inquisitor? A word?"

Dawn looked up from her desk as Cassandra approached, hands behind her back; it was a box, from what the Herald could make out. Cassandra was red in the face, and Dawn raised an eyebrow. "What can I do for you?" she asked. The seeker cleared her throat.

"I am...aware that you recently told me you wouldn't mind reading Swords and Shields. Did you ever get around to it?"

The Inquisitor raised an eyebrow. "No...I haven't even gotten a chance to buy a copy yet. I will, eventually. Why do you ask?"

"Well, I got you a present." Cassandra pulled a case full of several books from her back. "From me to you, Swords and Shields." She awkwardly cleared her throat. "Just to save you the trouble and to thank you for helping me with the rogue templars and mages..."

"I...thank you," Dawn said, getting up. She took the box from Cassandra and settled it next to the bookshelves, and then turned to smile at the Seeker. "I really appreciate it. I'll try to read these when I can." She paused and pursed her lips. "I thought you said you didn't want me to read them because I'm the Inquisitor."

"Well," Cassandra hesitated, "I...changed my mind. And please," she whispered, leaning in, "if you...have any opinions or...anything...feel free to share them with me. I won't tell anyone."

The Inquisitor paused for a moment, then cocked her head to the side. "Of course I will. Why would you..." Her face blanched. "...you...you read the fanfiction, didn't you?"

Cassandra sighed and held her hands behind her. "Yes," she admitted, "I saw Dorian with it and curiosity got the better of me."

Dawn crossed her arms. "...You want me to get into Swords and Shields. For fanfiction."

"Is that so wrong?" Cassandra griped, throwing her hands in the air, "I will read Hard in Hightown if you read this! I promise!"

"Ugh, fine." The Inquisitor paced back and forth, arms still crossed. She clicked her tongue. "How many people have seen that fanfiction?" she asked, not looking Cassandra in the eyes. The seeker sucked in a breath and hesitated.

"Are you sure you want to know?" Cassandra asked warily. The Inquisitor looked at her, and the seeker sighed. "To start with? Iron Bull, Sera, Solas, Cole, Leliana, Josephine, and Cullen."

"Cullen?!" Dawn put her face in her hands, moaning. "Oh, no, no...Maker, why? What have I done to deserve this? How did this happen?"

Cassandra shrugged and rubbed the back of her neck. "Well...Leliana caught wind of it and had a copy made for her, and then that got to someone else, who showed it to someone else..." Cassandra forced a smile. "It's not so bad! At least it's good fanfiction!"

"Andraste's ass, I'm going to die of embarrassment." The Inquisitor sat down, face still covered by her hands, voice muffled. "Dear Maker, no, anyone but Cullen. He'll be a gentleman and never mention it, but he knows." She looked back up. "How did he react?"

The warrior hesitated again for a moment. "Well, I didn't actually see him react, but I did hear a distinctive, stupid laugh from his office. I am so sorry, Inquisitor."

"Maker, kill me now and put me out of my misery." Dawn groused. Cassandra sighed.

"Maybe the Maker did this to...bring morale up? Everyone's...never mind. Good day, Inquisitor." Cassandra turned on her heel and left. The Herald sat at her desk, staring down at papers for what seemed like a long time, not comprehending the paperwork. She finally got up.

"A stiff drink is what I need." she muttered, heading down the stairs.

Dawn had avoided anyone's gaze as she entered the tavern. She quickly took a seat at the bar. Cabot approached, wiping a mug in hand. "What'll you'll have?" he asked casually, glancing at her briefly from the mug. She sighed.

"Something...actually, just give me something with beer. I'm in the mood."

"Can do." The dwarf turned away to prepare the drink. Dawn fumbled through her pockets and pulled out three coppers, and almost had them down on the bar when a hand fell on her shoulder. She looked up to see Iron Bull, with his hand on her shoulder. Dawn looked to her other side to see Sera with the same sort of grin Varric bore earlier.

Iron Bull cleared his throat. "Let me get this one for you, Boss. My treat." The qunari set down nine coppers. "Hey, Cabot, make it three."

"Sure thing." the bartender said, not even looking back at them. Dawn glanced between both Sera and Bull as the sat down. She muttered a thanks and didn't look up as the barman turned back to them, three mugs settled on the bar. The Herald quickly took a swig of it and shook her head, coughing briefly.

"What can I do for you two?" she asked haltingly, frowning. Sera shrugged.

"Nothing at all, great, illustrious, Inqui..." She snorted and began to laugh out loud. Dawn's head hit the bar when Iron Bull joined Sera in laughter, and he patted the Inquisitor's back.

"Oh, come on, this is hilarious, Boss. Live a little."

Cabot cleared his throat. "Might wanna take your face off the bar, Inquisitor. That bar has been in...unsavory situations."

The Herald picked her head up, nose wrinkling. Her face was a bright crimson. Sera giggled. "Look at her, all like a cherry, her face is so red. You're funny, Dawn."

"I'm going to die of embarrassment. Right here at this bar." she grumbled. Bull shook her shoulder.

"Oh, don't be like that, Boss, we're just giving you shit. Come on, take another drink. Being drunk helps."

"You can say that again." Dawn agreed, pulling the mug to her lips. She stared at the mug. "Booze: the Maker's real gift to the world."

"No," Sera argued, "your fanfiction..." She snickered loudly. "Your fanfiction is the real gift to the world, Herald. It's so nice to see you're just like everyone else. Nerd."

"Maker, I hate you both. Sometimes." The Inquisitor uttered bitterly. Iron Bull beamed.

"We love you, too, Boss."