The Golden Halla and The Dread Wolf

Chaper 5

5.

"So you're telling me you slept with the Inquisitor?" Mia chuckled. Cullen and his sister stood in the doorway of the castle. From here they could see Evangeline and Lyra over where Cassandra used to use practice dummy's. Lyra's was putting flowers in her mothers braided hair.  Evangeline spotted Cullen and Mia standing up at the castle doors, she smiled and waved at them. Cullen noticed that this was the first genuine smile he had seen from her in a long time. Other times when she would smile it was just trying to hide the pain. But this time her smile was bright, warm and full of joy.
"I did not sleep with her- well we slept together in the same bed but we didn't sleep together." Cullen began to blush which made his sister Mia very happy.
"But she did cuddle with you all night."
"Yes." Cullen said quietly so no one would hear this conversation.
"I like her. She has her own issues but we all do. She is good for you."
"What do you mean."
"Don't act so stupid brother, you're in love with her."
"Am not!" He defended.
"It's okay because she is in love with you too."
"Excuse me?"
"Anyone with eyes can tell you two are hopelessly in love. I think everyone in this place is just waiting for you two to admit it, I know I am." She crosses her arms. "She needs you, just as you need her. And don't worry about the rest of the family liking her because I already do and it's hard to get approval from me."
"Mia-"
"What's going on here?"  Evangeline had walked up with Lyra, she was carrying her in her arm.
"Noodle!" Lyra shouted and start to grab for Cullen. Evangeline handed her to Cullen and she started to play with his hair.
"Cullen was just telling me about how he wanted to take you out to Val Royeaux, just the two of you." Mia informed Evangeline.
"What?!" Cullen was stunned.
"That sounds like fun but who will watch Lyra?" Evangeline asked.
"Leave that to me." Mia took Lyra from Cullen's arms. "You two have fun." She winked at her brother.
"I wonder if I have anything to wear that isn't armor or my PJs." Evie giggled.
"You could borrow something of mine." Mine offered. "I'll pick out a few things and have them sent to your room." She looked at Cullen who looked like he was gonna explode.
"Thank you. I should probably freshen up then."
"Momma wait!" Lyra wiggled out of Mia's arms. "I want to help."
"Okay sweetie." Lyra took her mothers hand. "I'll come find you when I'm done Mia."
"Take your time." Mia and Cullen watched Evangeline walk away with Lyra. Cullen looks at her sister who had a smug look on her face. "You can say it."
"Say what?" Cullen started grinding his teeth.
"Say you're welcome. I just got you a date with the love of your life." Mia shrugged and started walking away.
"It's not a date!" Cullen shouted.
"You'll thank me later." She waved her brother away.
"It's not a date." Cullen said to himself.
"Yes it is." Cole popped up behind Cullen. "We all know it is."
"Ugh" Cullen grunted. 

"Cassandra can you help me?" Evangeline asked. She was going to wear her prosthetic arm when she went out with Cullen. Cassandra joined  Evangeline at her full length mirror. Cassandra picked up the prosthetic arm and help Evangeline put it on.
"Is this a date?" Cassandra asked when she finished strapping on the arm.
"What?! No!" Evangeline crossed the room to her dresser.
"It seems like one to me." Cassandra sat down on Evangeline bed.
"No- I don't know. I just thought he was trying to cheer me up."
"Mommy wear a pretty dress!" Lyra shouted!
"Um."  Evangeline looked down at the contents of her dresser. "Well what did Mia send up?" She walked over to her daughter who was playing with some toys on the floor. "Help me pick." She kissed the child on the top of the head. They stood next to the bed and looked at the simple dresses that lay there. One was pink, another blue and the last was gold. All simple dresses but still beautiful nonetheless. Lyra walked up to the gold dress and tugged on it.
"That one?" Evie asked and Lyra nodded.
"Yeah, It's a date." Cassandra said with a smug voice.
"No it's not!"
They heard a knock at the door. "Come in." Evie called and the door creaked open. They waited and watched for whoever it was to come up the steps. It was Mis who was wearing a long royal blue cotton dress.