Áine is a mage from Kinloch Tower. She was there during the blight and had Cullen as one of her acquaintances.
She fell in love with him but was too shy to say something about it. Nevertheless, he was in love with her friend Amell and didn't know sh...
Cullen jumps into action when he hears a loud noise in his bedroom, where Áine is sleeping.
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She was running for what seemed an eternity. A never-ending corridor.
"With Caer Bronach under our flag, we are going to need to protect it and Crestwood as well. What is the information we have about it?"
"You are mine... Together forever... never his..."
"Ser, the Inquisitor's report states that..."
Cullen and the soldiers looked up when they heard a loud noise coming from the upper floor, but when he heard her screaming, all of his muscles and years of training jumped into action. He never climbed that ladder so fast.
She was curled up on his bed, and her hands were on her belly. He could hear her soft sobs and unrecognizable words.
He was in front of her. He lifted his arms and his cold hands were almost touching her. Magic was on her fingertips, ready like a trap waiting for a rabbit.
Cullen gently stroke her head, but she used mind blast and sent him flying to the wall.
"You belong to me. No one else loves you like I do."
"Commander, do you need..."
She ran in the opposite direction. For the first time, she saw something, someone. Far away, but there.
"Bring Solas here. Now!"
"You think you're loved by him?"
She was still whimpering in the same position when Cullen stood up and went to her side.
"I am the only one that loves you!"
The room temperature started dropping and Cullen didn't know what to do. He kept calling her name over and over.
"You will never be his and he will never be yours!"
"Áine, I'm here." Cullen's breath sent fog into the air. "Wake up. It is just a dream." He was by her side, caressing her shoulder. His fingers traveled up her skin to wipe away her tears.
Every time he spoke she felt pain. Her robes were soaked in blood. Her cheeks washed by her tears.
She was shivering. She was so cold under Cullen's touch. He covered her with blankets and his fur coat.
He was suddenly in front of her again, she felt his fingers around her arm... She was lying on a table, hands, and feet tied up.
"Áine, please" I want to help you, but you need to tell me how." Cullen was shivering, but he ignored the cold and cupped her face with his freezing hands.
She felt the cut and screamed.
Her loud and painful scream sent fog into the freezing air. Cullen's chest tightened, and his breath was cut short.
"Let me go, stop Aiden..."
Everything was still when Cullen heard Aiden's name on her lips. Every little thing seemed frozen in place.
"Swear you are mine and I'll let you go."
Cullen took her in his arms. He held her close to his chest and sat under the window sill. He called for her while rocking their bodies back and forth. There was no more fogginess in her breath.
"You can do whatever you want. Cut my flesh, mark my skin, but my love you will never have."
Cullen rested her head on his left arm. With his right hand, he touched every part of her face. He kissed her fingertips and then intertwined their fingers.
"Cullen is more than you are or ever will be. He doesn't need to hide in the shadows."
"Come back to me, Áine. You promised me we would play chess today, remember?"
"And you're wrong Aiden..." She lifted her head, looking in every direction. Searching for him. "Cullen likes me for everything that I am and he is waiting for me..."
"Wake up and give me one of those big smiles, please. Please don't scare me like that. I promise I will give you all the candy in the world." He nervously laughed and kissed her cold motionless hand. "I need you, Blue."
Áine opened her eyes and saw him looking at her. His cheeks were wet just like hers. She lifted her hand and touched his smiling lips.
"Hey there, my Lion..."
Cullen kissed her, a deep, passionate, yearning kind of kiss. He needed to feel her, to taste her, to know that she was there with him.
"I will give you two some privacy. I can come back later." Solas was at the top of the ladder, watching them.
They smiled at him, watched him leave, then heard him close the door.
Cullen was still holding Áine under the window sill, and she had her arms around his neck, his curls wrapped around her fingers.
"Are you okay? You were having a bad dream about Aiden and..."
She kissed his lips, cheeks, eyes, and hand.
"It doesn't matter. I'm safe and here with you again."
