Growing Pains ~Cullen Romance~ Book 1

First Encounter

Aryanna finally awoke from her nap fussy so Maric grabbed a bottle to feed her. After he fed and burped her he looked out and noticed they were close to Honnleath, it was going quite smooth for driving a whole day straight. He knew they would have to stop there to give everyone a much needed break.

He looked down at Ary in his arms and she smiled big at him and he loved it so much. His daughter made him happier than anything else in the world. The Maker truly blessed him he felt. He grabbed her arms and stood her up on her legs and she bounced on her wobbly legs and smiled even bigger at her dad. He called for Cailan to look and he noticed his son smile. He had such a wonderful family.

An Hour Later

They pulled into Honnleath and parked beside the inn. They walked out of the carriage and everyone gathered around. Women, children, men, and a couple Templars came out of the local Chantry. Maric and Cailan smiled and waved at everyone. They started smiling and waving but not at them. Maric looked down and noticed Ary move her little curled up hand up and down at them, her small attempt to wave. He kissed his daughters head and they walked into the inn followed by their knights.

After settling in and laying Ary down for a nap, Maric decided he would go walk around and speak to his loyal citizens. Get to know the town a little bit. He told Cailan to watch his little sister and he walked out followed by a couple knights.

Shortly after his father left, Cailan left to go to the bathroom leaving his younger sister unattended for a quick minute. Unknowing at the time that he was being watched.

A man walked into the inn looking for a way to get to Aryanna. He looked like a typical farmer. The guard not paying him no mind decided to go flirt with some winch running around the inn and the farmer took this as his chance. He slipped into the room and quickly looked around to find Aryanna sleeping. He quickly snatched her up and ran out the back door of the inn before some could notice.

*******

Cullen Rutherford had finished his Templar training for the day and decided to head home. He noticed a bunch of guards as he walked out but he didn't think anything of it. They were probably looking for a criminal. As he made his way past the inn he heard a baby cry.

He stopped in his tracks and listened again. The baby cried louder and he walked towards the inn. Hearing the cry come behind the inn he looked around the corner slightly. His eyes grew wide at what he had seen. A desire demon was talking to farmer Tylon and in his arms was a crying wrapped baby.

Cullen hesitated at first before pulling his sword out. He was only 9 years old and he was about to take on a desire demon and a grown man. He went back to reality when the infant cried out again. Cullen approached the desire demon quietly and plunged his sword in her back before Tylon could react. She screeched and turned into dust. Tylon flabbergasted put the baby aside and ran at Cullen with his knife ready to go right into Cullen's chest. Cullen quickly moved and banged Tylon across the head with his shield. Knocking him out thankfully because he didn't need murder on his hands.

Cullen bent over trying to catch his breathe and calm his nerves. He heard the baby cry once more and he instantly ran to her side. He picked her up gently shushing her. She stopped crying and smiled when she seen Cullen. He smiled back and wiped the dirt off her pink blanket. He noticed an emblem on her blanket but before he could examine it more he heard footsteps behind him.

He turned to see the town's medicine maker looking at him in awe. Before the man could say anything Cullen ran off to his house for he didn't wish to get in trouble. His sister would know what to do with the baby.