Sisters of Tevinter

If Wishes Were Horses

    Kaisen leaned forward against the wall, the cold stone sending little icy shocks up her arms. This notched barrier along the battlements was the only thing between her and falling to her death. She loved it, looking out over the darkness of valleys and the gentle light of moon and stars, so close to the teasing tug of gravity. Part of her always wondered what it would be like to jump from places like this. It's never dangerous until the last few feet-- and there's always that little voice in your head that whispers about what it would be like to fly. 

       The night breeze stirred the wisps of hair around her face and the heavy blue shawl she'd wrapped around her shoulders. It was late. Very late. In fact, it might've already been tomorrow. She smiled slightly at nothing, watching mist rise and shift like gauze over the distant peaks. The sky was a lovely shade of purple today. 

        She heard him before she saw him. Heavy footsteps she recognized, favoring his right leg, steady with purpose and the memory of marching in rank. "Hello, commander." 

       He breathed in sharply. He hadn't seen her there, she'd been standing so still. "My lady. Am I disturbing you?" 

        He sounded exhausted. There was a weight to his voice, a soreness in his throat that only came from laying on one's back for hours. Kaisen clicked her tongue, still watching the mist curl like fabric and lace over the mountains in the moonlight. "No, commander." 

     Hesitantly, his steps slower now, he came to stand beside her, bracing his palms against the smooth stone lip of the wall. As if he were considering jumping too. A smile tugged at the Crow's mouth. "I'll give you a push if you like." 

       Cullen looked up sharply. "What?" 

     Kaisen didn't look at him, her gaze trained on snow and rock. But she couldn't hide her grin. "If you're having trouble making up your mind, I can give you a shove." 

      "Oh." The Lion frowned, looking pained. His pretty hazel eyes lost some of their weary warmth as they traced over the thousand foot plummet to certain death. "That's rather dark, isn't it?" 

       "Just a thought." It was then Kaisen decided to glance at him. She blinked slowly. He was not wearing his cloak. Just a simple, loose white shirt with sleeves that brushed his palms and a collar cut and folded to his left shoulder. He had stripped off his gauntlets, his boots and trousers were free of their usual armor. He looked surprisingly vulnerable here, his golden hair tousled and disheveled. 

       He looked lost. Dark circles burrowed beneath his eyes. 

       "I won't tell if you don't," she offered. He slid her a glance. "If you thought about jumping, I mean." 

       Cullen chuckled, the sound rasping and full of shadows. A rueful smile tugged at his mouth, cynical as it turned the scar on his lip to a seam of mother of pearl. "Thank you." 

     Kaisen tore her gaze from his face to blink at the sky. "Can't sleep?" 

      "I'd ask you the same." 

      "Funny. We seem to be in sync." 

      The commander nodded wearily, arms braced against the stone. 

       "Aren't you cold?" 

       "Aren't you?" 

       "This is going to be a fascinating conversation. Is there an echo out here?" 

       Cullen gave another bitter smile. "Forgive me, my lady." 

       "No." 

       Cullen blinked at her. Kaisen grinned. The commander released the wall and turned to face her. "I'm sorry?" 

        "You're not forgiven. Feel what that's like for a second." 

        The commander, bemused and befuddled, opened his mouth. Closed it again. Rather like a fish. It made Kaisen's shoulders jerk with a silent laugh. "You're still standing?" 

        "Uh-" Cullen blew out a breath, his brow furrowed in an irritated kind of confusion. "Apparently so?" 

     "Then I guess you didn't need my forgiveness after all. Even if you are incredibly boring." 

      Cullen snorted. "You're insulting me." 

      "Only a little." Kaisen grinned. 

       The wind tousled both their hair and whispered sweet nothings in their ears. Kaisen closed her eyes to listen. Cullen was watching her, mystified, digging his thumb into his palm as he brushed over the skin. 

       After a while, he spoke. "Kaisen. That is your name, isn't it?" 

       "I thought I was your lady. Or the Crow." She smiled, eyes still closed, looking remarkably at peace for someone so young and cruel. 

        Heat crept into Cullen's cheeks. He dismissed it quickly. He was growing flushed from the chill. "Kaisen is a good enough name alongside those titles, I think."

        "Well, I'm glad you approve," she said flatly, smiling again.

        "I hadn't meant-"

        "I know what you meant, commander. And they say chivalry is dead." 

        Again, Cullen was irritated to find embarrassment intertwining thoroughly with the weight and weariness in his chest. His face grew warm as he turned his gaze to the horizon. Kaisen's eyes were open now, he could see the nearly luminous green in his peripheral vision. 

        Something small and silver streaked across the sky, disappearing briefly across the glow of the moon and burning out over the mountains. Kaisen closed her eyes again, taking a soft deep breath as she scrunched up her nose in concentration. 

      Cullen smiled slightly, glancing at her. "Making a wish?" 

       "Shh."

       Obediently, the commander fell silent, a bubble of amusement sitting sweetly on his tongue. He watched the assassin relax slowly and blink her eyes open. 

        After another moment of silence, he gave in to his curiosity. "What did you-" 

        "I can't tell you, knight. Haven't you read a single fairytale?" 

       "One or two." Cullen smiled slightly. "Afraid it won't come true?" 

       "Not if you keep asking about it." 

       "Is that a threat, my lady?" 

       Kaisen grinned. "We can settle it over another practice duel. Because I'm going to kick your ass this time." 

        "Name the time." 

        "Oh, not now. You're tired now, commander." She smiled at him then, and it made his chest feel as if it had been tossed into a vat of molten gold. Bright, heavy and so, so warm. He cleared his throat, folding his arms behind his back in his military way and locked eyes with the moon. 

         Kaisen laughed softly. "I do hope sleep finds you, knight. Deprived and hollow doesn't suit your face." She turned away to vanish along the walls, to find Leliana in her tower. 

        Cullen sighed. "Goodnight.... Kaisen." 

       "Goodnight, commander."