"Well this is a rare sight," Dorian remarked when they went through the door. For once the Herald's Restwas crowded with more familiar faces than just Bull and Sera (who both had become fixtures of the place). Sitting at the bar were Blackwall and Cassandra, joined by all three of the advisors. Leliana and Josephine were clearly having fun, both laughing. The Commander had a serious look on his face and Trevelyan remembered what he had told her Varric'd said to him, and she found herself thinking Varric might have had a point. While Sera's making light of even the most dire situations was frustrating at times, Trevelyan genuinely felt that without Sera the darkness of these times would overwhelm her. She could actually use some relieve right now but the only open seats were next to the Commander. Dorian had already spotted them as well and guided Trevelyan past the crowd.

"Lady Trevelyan!" Josephine was the first to great her. Trevelyan waved but didn't stop. Leliana greeted her as well, she was one of the only people in Skyhold to call her by her first name.

The only two seats available were on either side of the commander, Dorian took one and Trevelyan took the other. She shifted uncomfortably on the stool and briefly glanced at the Commander, for a second their eyes met but they both looked away so quickly they weren't even sure about it themselves. Trevelyan wanted to say something, greet him, but she didn't even know how to address him, she always called him Cullen but he seemed such a stickler for professionalism she suspected he hated that but saying commander… it just sounded like she was going to order him to do something.

"What a wonderful way to spend an evening, don't you think so Commander?" Dorian's eyes flashed to Trevelyan from behind Cullen's head, a brief smile made her think he was up to something but then again that was usually what she felt when he said something. "Cassandra insisted," was the short reply from the commander's lips. Dorian looked at Trevelyan again with a 'I knew he'd say something like that' look on his face. This time the Commander spotted the interaction between Dorian and Trevelyan. "I should get back to my reports," he said and moved to get up. Trevelyan immediately felt guilty. "Don't go!" she blurted out as the commander put his hands on the bar and started to lift himself from the stool. He turned to look at her, completely surprised apparently. "Don't?" he asked.

Trevelyan felt her face flush with blood. "No, I mean yes! Just… you know, stay?" The expression on the commander's face seemed to be surprise mingled with something else, but she couldn't be sure what he was thinking. "I think you could use a break," she added, hoping to sound less desperate for him to stay. "You never seem to stop working."

For a second the commander still seemed ready to go, but then a small smile appeared on his face, "I suppose you're right." He sat down again. "Good man," Dorian said and his hand almost touched the Commander's back before Dorian thought better of it. "Tell me Commander," Dorian said and by the way he looked at Trevelyan just before continuing she knew she wouldn't like what he was about to say. "How do you like working for the Inquisitor?"

Trevelyan cringed, the title was still fairly new, she had only received it a month ago and hadn't wanted it then. It made no sense. Without her advisors she wouldn't be able to do anything but somehow she was considered the leader. But she mainly cringed because this would involve the commander talking about her and while she didn't think he would publically recite any of the faults he might find in her leadership, she also didn't want to imagine what he might say.

"I, uh, feel very satisfied with the Inquisition's leadership."

Trevelyan shifted on the stool, if he really was happy he wouldn't give such a measured response, surely. "Is that the official position?" she asked, sounding a little wounded.

"No!" the Commander answered, the look on her face must have betrayed her feelings because a second later he added, "yes!" which clearly did not improve her expression. "I only meant to say that you have proven yourself. Not only in Haven, but…" The expression on the commander's face was almost sad now. It reminded Trevelyan of the first time she'd spoken to him in private after the attack, how he'd promised to not let a situation like Haven happen again, she still wasn't sure if he had meant he wouldn't let an attack like that happen again, or that he wouldn't let her almost die again.

"Thank you," Trevelyan said. The commander looked up at her. "The Inquisition would be meaningless without you." Trevelyan froze and she could see Dorian's puzzled expression just behind the Commander's head. The commander suddenly looked flustered, "without your mark, I meant… " he looked at his hands.

"I…" Trevelyan started to say but hesitated. Suddenly Cullen got to his feet. He downed his drink in one go. "I must get back to work now, I have a million things to do." And he rushed off. Trevelyan looked at his back, a blur of fuzz and copper cloth disappearing out of the front door. In fact everyone was staring at his back, mainly because he had left without saying a word and with such haste he had almost knocked Sera off her stool and she had not been silent about that. Trevelyan come back to the world when Dorian made some kind of remark about Cullen, but she didn't hear it. She stared down at her now empty cup.