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...
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Áine moved to stand up, but her right foot was stuck under debris. She tried to remove it, but a piercing pain rose up through her ankle and went up to her knee. She started pouring healing magic, but her eyes lost focus, and the world started spinning around her.
She leaned back on the wall and counted to ten. She had no time to lose. That demon took her appearance and wanted Cullen. The things it said it was going to do to him before killing him and assuming his identity.
"You will not have him." Her breaths came in a ragged manner. "Not even after I'm dead."
The image of a tortured Cullen. His arms tied on his back. His face swollen and blood dripping from his mouth made Áine pour every last drop of her magic into the wound.
She remembered his boyish chuckles and the times she held him close, breathing in his smell and teasing him about his curls.
"No! You will not have him, even if I die killing you."
She was drained but ignored the pangs in her head and left the crumbled house.
The day in the cave when the boys found her shivering from the cold and weak from the hunger came to her mind. All the lessons about hunting, fighting, and surviving were carved in her soul, and so were the ones about friendship, living, enjoying life, and family.
"If you so touch a hair of my brothers. Maker forgive me!" She growled through clenched teeth.
She took two steps and leaned on the wall with her right hand. Blood was running down her cheek, and she cleaned it with the back of her hand. She searched for her staff but remembered the demon had taken it in the fight. No matter, she didn't need it.
The demon was standing there, watching her every move. It paced from one side to the other. A mocking smile on its face. She straightened her spine and walked in its direction.
"Strange." She thought. "Fighting a copy of myself."
She took the bow from where it landed after the demon teleported behind her and threw her against the already broken wall, checked if it was usable, and adjusted it on her back again.
"What is it? Which battle tactic are you going to use now? Kneel and beg?" With a big smile, the demon tilted its head left, and the blue curls covered its face.
Áine laughed, placing her hand over her eyes and took the opportunity to survey the area. She needed her lyrium, and she needed it at that moment. She spotted her satchel and her quiver near the well and went in its direction.
"Do you mind if I drink some water? I'm a little thirsty." She pointed to the well.
