Chapter 19: The Templar Pyre

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     Their conversation with Anthony had gone well. The lad wasn't made incredibly awkward by the embarrassing conversation. He still didn't fully understand why he was being told about such things but he took in the information with stride. His cheeks flushed a bright red color when they'd asked about Nicolynn. He was his father's child. Cassandra tried to be accommodating and make their accusations of his admiration of this girl seem like simple things. But in fact, it was no small thing to Anthony. 

     He'd gotten the wrong idea when his parents told him at first. He wasn't fully aware of the word 'adults' at the beginning of his sentence and thus assumed that it was something that he should be doing. Cassandra laughed at that as Cullen cursed himself for skipping important pieces. His parents had made it seem so easy in explaining it to him. Or was it his brother that told him? He couldn't remember. "You are getting older, Love, and as you grow, your feelings grow with you. It's not something to be ashamed of but you are young still and we didn't want you to have to discover these things for yourself." Cassandra said to him in her low, motherly voice. It was small and sweet, the way she always spoke to him.

     "We noticed your fondness of Nicolynn, Champ, and we want you to understand these things before they happen, rather than after." Cullen added as Anthony tried to hide his blush. They hadn't just explained sex to him. There was more that went into it. As parents, the last thing they wanted to do was convey that it was something to take lightly and as meaningless. So the topic of love and respect were more the main topics than that of the physical side. Anthony hid his face in his arms, not allowing them to see his bright red face. "She's my best friend," He said loud enough so they could hear him but his voice was still muffled. Cassandra's hand ruffled his black curls and he allowed himself a glance at them. "She's so...," He didn't have a word, the right word. 

     He let out a shaky breath and looked at the orange sky. The sun was setting, casting a bright peach color across the clouds. "Maker, gorgeous doesn't even begin to describe how beautiful she is." He cursed in a low whisper. Cassandra smiled as Cullen looked to her. They hugged their boy, in turn hugging each other. "Well," Cassandra said as she stood. "you need to wash up before bed and I'm going for a bath." She claimed. She stood in front of Anthony and knelt, taking his hands in hers. "that is if you don't have anymore questions, Love." She added as his amber eyes met her hazelnut ones. He was so much like Cullen, it astounded her. She looked between the two of them with a smile. Anthony shook his head and Cullen watched as she kissed their son's forehead before walking away. He'd join her later. "Thank you for training with us, Champ. And don't worry about all of this. It will hopefully be years before it all makes sense." He hoisted Anthony up, hugging him tightly. The boy hugged back, welcoming his father's warm embrace. It'd been some time since they'd been this close and Cullen was glad for the opportunity. Anthony went back to his room with the other children and Cullen followed Cassandra away for a bath.

      Now, Cullen thought back on that night as he rode his horse beside Maeve. Nicolynn didn't look much like her mother. According to Solas, she got her black hair from him and her eyes, those lyrium blue eyes, those were unmistakably his as well. Nicolynn did have her mother's posture. She always sat straight, looking on with a serious and considering expression. You could always tell when she was thinking about something. But that was the opposite of why she was supposed to be going with him. The trip to and from Val Royeaux would be two days if they rode straight, which they would in order to avoid their hunters. He needed a way to distract her from her thoughts. "So, Nicolynn and Mythalus are growing up fast." He began awkwardly.

     Maeve was startled by his sudden remark. They hadn't really spoken except to discuss business at the clinic. Cullen planned to gather the Templars back at Skyhold in order to gain protection from their foes. He supposed it was a selfish reason but after everything he'd done for them, he hoped they'd be willing to return the favor. She finally gathered her whits about her to respond as she thought of her children. "Yes, I suppose they are." She thought on dinner on the night of the fire; how Solas' cheeks lit up with the blush of worry, how his eyes burned with rash intensity. He'd been so startled at how quickly Nicolynn had grown up. 

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