Cullen was sick. Actually, that wouldn't have been too bad, but apparently he was sick and was also a terrible patient. Nell had been sitting at Varric's table, papers spread in front of her, when a rather harried looking servant had found her and all but begged that she do something about the commander. Apparently he was being short tempered and the healer who had brought him something to take for his fever had threatened to tie him to the bed if he didn't stay there on his own.

Nell sighed at the information and glanced over to see Varric sending her an amused grin. "Your lion, your responsibility," he stated matter of factly and looked back down at what he was writing. She stared at him a few seconds and when he offered nothing further she scowled.

"You have to help me. I don't know how to keep someone in bed, well besides with sex, and I don't think that's helpful right now."

The dwarf looked back up at her and after a moment gave a sigh of his own and set down his quill. "Well why would I know any better?"

"Because you're very clever."

"Flattery from you, Snappy? I'm shocked."

She felt her scowl deepen with the nickname and tapped her finger on the table. "I wasn't flattering you, I was stating a fact. Are you going to help me?"

"Well don't ruin it for yourself by being you." Varric's laughter with his words was rough and made the corners of her lips twitch.

"I wasn't aware your ego was so small that I could possibly put a dent in it by not falling over myself with witty compliments. Allow me to correct that. You are a paragon of manliness, Varric. I contemplate leaving Cullen for you every day but I know that I could never hope to gain your heart." Her words dripped with sugar and the two grinned at each other until, finally, Varric laughed again.

"Alright, alright." Varric waved his hands before reaching up to rub his chin, his eyes dropping to scan the work in front of him. "You're good with stories, why not tell him one."

"Tell him a story," she asked, her mind already wandering to what stories she knew, and how long they would take to tell. "I don't know if I know one that would take days."

"The man is half dead with fever. All you have to do is keep him distracted until he passes out."

It was a good point, and one she was inclined to try, so she leaned forward, her arms coming up to rest on the table in front of her. "Will you help me come up with one?"

"Me?" Varric started to say something, anything, that would help him get back to his writing, but when nothing presented itself as helpful he gave a resigned sigh and propped his head on his hands. "Fine. Let's hear your ideas."

It took longer than she had expected, probably longer than Varric had expected also, to come up with the story, a mix between a half remembered one from her childhood and one that Varric had been telling for years, but by the time they had finished it both were satisfied with the outcome. She had offered the dwarf a wide smile as she stood from the table and reached her arms up to stretch. "I appreciate the help, Varric. I owe you."

"How about you don't drag me out to the Hissing Wastes when you go again?" He frowned as he said it, and she couldn't help laughing at the memory of him muttering under his breath as he emptied his boots of sand for the millionth time.

"That seems fair."

He brightened at that and shuffled papers till the story he had been working on in the first place was back in front of him. "Always a pleasure, You Inquisitorialness."

She sent him a wave before grabbing up the book they had been writing in and tucking it under her arm. "Well, wish me luck."

Varric's laughter followed her as she turned away. "Good luck."

She took the stairs two at a time up to their rooms, slowing only when she reached the final door. Taking a deep breath, because she knew this was probably going to test her patience, she pushed the door open and started up the last set of stairs. Cullen was sprawled across the bed, his chest bare and his linen pants riding low on his hips as he stared up at the ceiling. She let her gaze run over his face and chest, both flushed from his fever, before turning to look at the pile of blankets he had shoved off the end of the bed.

"Hot?"

He blinked before looking over to her with fever bright eyes that seemed to have some problems focusing.

"Good you're here." The words were croaked out, the rawness of his throat obvious in the strained voice. "I need you to tell them to let me up. I have work to do."

She stared at him before making her way to the bed and settling near his head. "No."

"I don't have time-"

"Our armies aren't going to fall apart if you take a few days to feel better. Creators, Cullen, the last time you tried to get up you almost passed out."

"The reports are-"

"Under control. You are going to stay in this bed until the healer tells you it's alright to go back to work, or I will tie you down myself."

When he simply narrowed his eyes at her, his face set in a mutinous scowl, she relented enough to slide her hand over his cheek. Noting that it was dry and burning she cooled her hand until he sighed at the feeling of it and leaned into her touch, his eyes sliding closed. "That feels good."

"I'm sure. Please rest, for me? I don't want you getting worse."

He sighed again and blinked his eyes open to look back up at her. "I'm going to go crazy laying here."

Nell offered him a smile and waved the book in her hand before shifting around until she could cross her legs on the bed. "I know. I've come to offer a distraction."

He eyed the book as she reached over to set a weak ice glyph against the mattress so that it would feel cooler against his bare skin. "You're going to read to me? Really?"

She watched as Cullen relaxed against the colder sheets and tilted her smile a bit. "What do you mean really?"

He shrugged and started to speak again before stopping to cough, the harsh sound of it having her rubbing his arm in sympathy even as her voice laced with humor. "Well, according to the maid you've been acting like a child, so something has to be done to keep you busy and in bed."

The look he gave her was withering, but the effect was nearly lost behind the haze of fever. "I just don't," he started but stopped when she lifted a brow, and watched as she settled the book on her lap and flipped it open.

"Think of it this way, it will take your mind off things, and even if you find it boring it has the chance to put you to sleep."

He gave a weak laugh and reached out to twine his fingers with hers. "Alright."

She squeezed his fingers and looked down to the mess of writing on the page, a testament to the differences she and Varric had had. "Once upon a time," she started then stopped when he laughed again.

"You're telling me a fairy story."

"And if I am?"

He shook his head, his eyes closing as he played his thumb over her knuckles. "Nothing."

She squinted her eyes at him, contemplating, before speaking again. "You're going to interrupt a lot aren't you." It was a statement that had him smiling.

"No."

"Liar."

"I'm not!"

She simply stared at him a moment longer, her fingers picking at the edge of the book. "So I can start?"

Cullen cracked his eyes open, his smile widening. "By all means."

"Uh-huh." She gave a shake of her head and looked back down again. "Now as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted. Once upon a time…"