Lavellen's Tale

Young Love

****Warning, mild smut in this chapter****

Since I would be leaving quite early the next morning, my friends decided to throw a small party to say goodbye, everyone attended except for Anders, who was still in solitary from his latest escape attempt. Commander Gregoir turned a blind eye, allowing them to keep my up later than advisable. Thanks to that I now found myself staring out the small window in my chambers, watching the lights dance on the water, excited for the adventure I was about to embark on, and terrified of what horrors war would hold. Normally the sounds of Lake Calenhad would lull me to sleep, but tonight I felt nothing could ease my anxiety. 

Just then, a soft knock sounded from my door. Slipping my robes over my nightgown I slowly opened the door, to find a ruffled looking Templar Lieutenant. 

"Cullen what-"

"I'm sorry, I couldn't stop thinking and so I took a walk and I found myself here, I shouldn't have bothered you so late, I don't know what I was thinking." He turned to walk away but I grabbed hold of his wrist and pulled in the direction of my room.

"Come in." His usual armor was replaced by a loose white tunic and brown pants, his hair looked like he had been running his hands through it, as he was prone to with nervousness. He followed me, and I closed the door behind him. I grasped his one hand in mine while lifting the other to his face, the days stubble lightly scratching my palm. "I cant sleep either." 

"Nari, you don't have to go, we can leave this place, never return." The desperation in his voice made my eyes tear up.

"They'll find me, you know they will." He looked down and shook his head.

"Not without this they won't." Cullen pulled a glass vial filled with a red liquid from his pocket. 

"Is that?" I stopped short of the word and gasped as I read the inscription. *Inari Lavellan*, my name, or so I assume, never knowing my family name before this. 

"Your Phylactery, yes." He placed the vile in my hand and closed my fingers around it. "We can run away, live a simple life, back in Honnleath, it wont be much but we'll be together." 

"Oh Cullen..." Vial still clasped in my hand, I kissed him, deeply, like I was drowning and he was my only source of oxygen. The thought of the two of us together, free to love without hiding in the shadows pulled at me, but I knew it could not be, not yet. "I want to leave with you, I really do, but I cant, not yet at least."

"Why not? I love you, and you love me, don't you?" He choked out. 

"Of course I love you, don't ever doubt that." 

"Then why?" He sobbed "Why cant you just run away with me?" 

"Do you remember the first time you told me you loved me?" I asked him softly.

"There was a bird, it flew into the window in the dining hall," He sighed, "It was barely breathing and the others told you to leave it, but you took it to the apothecary room and convinced Wynne to let you treat it." He smiled at me and I continued the story.

"When I looked up to tell you he was going to be ok, you smiled and let out a breathy confession..."

"'Maker I think I love you' where my exact words." He pulled me close, his musky scent enveloping me. "I understand 'Nari, the same passion that drove you to heal the bird compels you to help in the war effort."

"When this is over, I'll come back, then we run away, I promise." I placed the vial back in his hand, "Until then, keep this, so if anything happens, you can find me." He took it and placed it on my dressing table, then he pulled me flush against him in a passionate kiss. All my feelings, shoved together and wanting to explode made way to a flood of want and desire. I snaked my hands under his tunic and roamed my fingers across his midsection, sculpted from years of training. I pulled at the fabric, coaxing it up to his shoulders and above his head. Cullen smiled before breaking the kiss to remove the clothe that hindered my exploration. 

Flinging the garment aside, my robes were soon to follow, leaving me in a shift, and him in just his trousers. I tugged him towards the bed and he followed, I turned us around and gently pushed Cullen to the bed, his face was flushed just as i imagine mine was. I struggled with the ties on his trousers before succeeding and pulled the hem, indicating that I wanted them removed. Cullen complied and lifted his hips as I removed one more obstacle. "No small-clothes?" I asked with a chuckle. His hands once again found my body and I made no move to stop him.

"No," he breathed as he ran his hands up my sides and under my shift, "I don't sleep with them, and from the feel of it, neither do you." I blushed from that comment despite the activities accompanying it. With the shift removed, we were bare to each other, his toned body insighting feelings in me i had never known before, a desire to touch and be touched I could only equate to the feelings I had read about in books. I reached for him, gently, ran my hand up and down his member, nervous I would hurt him. "'Nari!" he gasped. I pulled away, worried, and he grabbed my hand as gentle as he could. "No, dont stop, it felt good" I resumed my exploration, and kissed him again. He returned my caresses with his own and I felt a warmth spread through me, emanating from my womanhood. 

"Cullen," I pleaded, "I need you." He took control and flipped our positions, he was now above me, possitioned between my legs, and holding himself up on his arms as to not crush me. 

"Are you sure?" he asked while looking me in the eyes. "I don't want to make you do anything you don't want to."  His concern solidified what I already knew, I loved him like I've never thought imaginable. 

"I've never been more sure of anything." He moved slow and carefully, nervous as it was his first time as well as mine. Once fully sheathed he stopped to let me adjust. It didn't hurt like I was told so much as it felt uncomfortable at first and felt better as I moved a little. Rocking my hips against him, I let Cullen know he could move. Our bodies moved together, finding a rhythm all our own. I don't know how long we spent there, bodies intertwined and slick with sweat but when we finished we were both satisfied. 

"I think I can sleep now." I laughed while Cullen's fingers traced random patterns across my skin. "But i'm going to be very tired in the morning." I said, stretching my syllables. 

"I want to let you go even less now." I felt the same but we both knew I had to leave. Cullen lifted himself on his elbow, looking me in the eyes once more. "I love you Inari, no matter how far you go or how long it takes, we will have our happy ending, this I swear." 

"I love you too Cullen Rutherford."