#they travelled to this lake because cullen wanted to give her a coin

[pupkinpumpkin]

Headcanon time!

Thinking of my Lavellan learning when Cullen's birthday (or name-day I think) is during their little chess game before they enter a relationship

She keeps the info tucked away for later until a bit before In What Pride Had Wrought, where she realizes Cullen's birthday is coming up and wants to do something for him

So, the plan-

- Ask Cassandra if it's possible for her to take over Cullen's duties for a day (she's reluctant, but Lavellan begs, and she can't say no to being part of a romantic gesture, so she agrees, but she makes Lavellan promise to tell her all the details the day after)

- Ask Josephine and Leliana if they don't need Cullen for the day and if they're okay with Cassandra running the show instead (They give the okay and Leliana has her scouts inform Cullen's men)

- Ask the main cook if they can whip up some classic Ferelden meals, desserts, any other foods she knows Cullen likes, etc, for which they will be compensated for working outside their hours (she's very grateful, pays them way more sovereigns than she probably should've)

- Stands at Josephine's door for 5 minutes afraid to knock on the door, finally does, Josephine invites her in, and it takes Lavellan a few moments of blushing and hyping herself up to ask if Josie knows any places that may sell good wine or...lingerie. Josephine tells Leliana and Vivienne (mostly for advice on good stores, but also because of that sweet sweet gossip), Vivienne tells Dorian, Dorian tells Iron Bull, and guess what, they're all going with her on her secret shopping trip and giving Cullen funny looks when he asks why they're all going with Lavellan just to buy cheese

- I think she would have already been using her magic to help dull pain when he has headaches, but she'd be researching a lot more possible ways her magic could help with any negative effects just in case

- Buys a transportable chess set (those nifty ones that fold and hold the pieces), commissions a very nice Ferelden looking sword (with a mabari face as a hilt) from Harritt, and, after badgering Cullen about how, yes, don't deny it, you absolutely do use hair products, which ones specifically do you use, she buys a bunch of hair care stuff, because as much as she adores his curls, she knows how particular he is about it

The day comes and she doesn't sleep with how nervous she is over getting everything just right

She's learned Cullen's schedule by heart at this point, so about an hour before he usually wakes up, she gets ready (wearing a quite well-fitting dress) knocks on his door and he invites her in

She gives him the hair care as his first gift and sits on the bed as she watches him do his hair and generally just get ready for the day. When he makes the small remark at how even on his birthday, he's working, she oh so subtly tells him "Well, actually..."

She smiles at his disbelief, and when he starts stressing over all the reports he needs to finish writing or instructions he needs to give Cassandra on what to do, Lavellan calms him down and tells him that Skyhold will still be here when he gets back and she made sure that he doesn't have to worry about anything today, giving him the sword as his next gift

They travel to the same lake where he gave her the lucky coin and have a picnic full of food freshly prepared by the cook. They walk, talk, maybe even swim, she gives him the chess set, and they leave again for Skyhold, arriving just when it gets dark

She takes him to her room, gives him one last present, and then she immediately falls asleep because Creators is she tired. That lack of sleep got to her eventually.

Cullen just holds her in his arms, running his fingers through her hair, and thanks her, whispering that an entire day spent with her was the best gift he could've asked for

[shittybundaskenyer]

the lake scene was cool, but...