Doom Upon All The World

Chapter 23: The Joys Of Children

     Cassandra sped from her room. She knew running wasn't a particularly wise decision but she did it even so. She couldn't help it. The excitement, the happiness and joy was beginning to take over her body. It moved her in such sways, with such speed, fastening every footfall. The grin stretched from corner to corner of her face. She felt the slapping of her boot straps against her leg. She'd gotten dressed with such haste that she didn't care to buckle them down. She rushed through the bunches of guards and nobles and servants to the entrance of Skyhold. The hall was bustling, people crowding in and out with gifts and surprises. They'd all gathered to congratulate Maeve and to wish her well. Of course Solas detested the idea of the party but once things like these were set in Josephine's mind, they were set in stone. It was even more difficult arguing with her while she was pregnant. No one wanted to risk getting on her bad side, or Tom's. 

     She thought perhaps she should wait to tell him. There was so much to consider but with the immediate danger gone, she didn't see any reason to not get excited. She had to tell him. She couldn't hold it in. So with exuberance in her eyes and warmth in her heart, she found Cullen hiding out in the war room. He gave a relieved sigh as his eyes met hers and she came around the side of the table. There was an unbelievably big smile in her face. He didn't think he'd ever seen her smile so widely. She wrapped herself around him, feeling the immense warmth of his body against hers. It was soothing and almost took the excitement out of her. She wouldn't let it though. This was too important. "You're beautiful." He whispered softly as he looked over her grinning face. 

     These were the moments he lived for, to be able to see the joy in her expression and feel it in his heart. She blushed, shying away from his gaze, turning to look elsewhere, those honey amber eyes burning into her. He cupped the side of her face in his hand, feeling her soft skin beneath his fingertips. He brought his lips to hers and kissed her slowly. It lasted only a moment but it was the most precious instance she'd felt that day. She pulled away and looked into those eyes, which color she admired with great fever. "I'm pregnant, Cullen." She confessed quietly, barely able to get the words out. She stumbled over her excitement as she spoke. Cullen's face tensed and went void of color. For a moment she thought he was upset. 

     Then the muscles in his face relaxed as he came to the surface of reality, his expression being filled up by a smile. He reddened with glee and began laughing. It was a high exasperated chuckled that erupted from him as he brought her closer. "Pregnant?" He asked for validity as he all but jumped up and down for joy. She nodded and he brought her in again, kissing her with fierce, intense pressure. He'd thought he was imagining things when she said it, his nightmares taking him back to that sadder time, when they lost their child before. When he finally broke from her mouth, he just held her, keeping her as close to him as he possibly could. "I, I have no words. You're sure?" He questioned again. It was understandable that he'd be hesitant to believe her. He didn't want to get his hopes up. They hadn't been trying but it was not as if they weren't hopeful that it would happen again. 

     She nodded with a slight giggle at his optomism. "Yes, Cullen. I've just seen the physician. I've been sick all week," She began listing her symptoms and he combated them jokingly. "Could have been something you ate." He jested. "I can't shake this head ache," She continued. He chuckled as he thought for a moment. "Too much time around Dorian does that to you." He remarked. She had to stifle her laugh at that one trying to finish her statement. "and I've been exhausted of late." She ended and looked into his eyes as he smirked deviously. "Well, that would be another fault of mine. You don't get much sleep these days." He teased suggestively and bent to kiss her slender neck. "Cullen," She batted him away with a playful smirk. They were alone but she didn't want to risk being walked in on. People, the nobles and most of Thedas, were just now hearing of their marriage, with so many of them here, she didn't want things to go badly.