Laelia Caudill, known as "Kitten" of the Twilight Walkers division of the Allico Keepers, sat perched on a rooftop near the Gallows, waiting for the shift change. She had been hired to replace an item that was stolen from the Knight-Captain, Cullen Rutherford, two days prior and he wasn't due to return to his quarters for another hour or so. When the shift change occurred and the coast was clear, Laelia activated her shadowing technique, silently walked across the roof and opened the window to his quarters. Slipping inside, she quietly opened the drawer and took out the item- a small dagger with his family name engraved upon the blade- to slip it into the drawer. As she placed it gingerly into the drawer, she heard the door open and quickly made to hide somewhere.
'Andraste's flaming ass! What is he doing back so early?' she thought to herself.
Laelia watched as the Knight-Captain came into the room and started to remove his armor, setting it on its stand in the corner by the window.
"I could have sworn I closed that window..." he muttered to himself, then noticed the gleaming light dancing on the wall as the moonlight reflected off the gilded scabbard of the dagger inside his desk. "Maker's breath, how did this end up here? I reported it stolen not two days back."
Laelia smirked as he held the dagger gingerly in his hand, a loving look upon his face. Using her shadowing technique, she made her way from her hiding spot and started to make for the still open window.
"You there, halt!"
Laelia froze, looking at him. 'Maker, did the moonlight give me away?'
The Knight-Captain looked at the glistening outline of someone in his room, trying to sneak away. "Show yourself, I know you are there."
Laelia sighed and showed herself to the Knight-Captain while still remaining in the shadow of his room. "The moonlight gave me away, didn't it?"
The Knight-Captain nodded. "Yes. If it hadn't been a clear night, you may have slipped by unnoticed." He could only see her feet in the lighting; she did well to conceal herself as best she could.
Laelia smirked at that. "I'll remember that for the next time I return something to you."
The Knight-Captain crossed his arms. "Are you one of the Allico Keepers?"
Laelia bowed and smiled. "Aye, allow me to introduce myself. I am Laelia Caudill of the Allico Keepers, head member of the Twilight Walkers. I was hired to find your dagger when word was received that it had been stolen. Now that it has been returned to you, I must be on my way."
"Before you leave, I must thank you. That dagger has been handed down within my family for generations. It means a lot to have it back."
Laelia smiled. "You are most welcome, Knight-Captain Cullen Rutherford. It is always a pleasure doing business with the Templars, even if you and your boss don't approve of our tactics."
Cullen watched as Laelia made her way to the window, his eyes widening when he saw her hop onto the window sill and open the window. The moonlight shined down on fair skin, raven black hair and brilliant green eyes. A headband, embroidered with an elven filigree design, covered her ears and forehead. She wore simple elven hunter light armor, easily accessible in the markets of Lowtown or in the Alienage, but instead of a Dalish symbol her guards were decorated with the symbol of the Allico Keepers. It was form fitting and accentuated her physical features. She was breathtakingly beautiful.
"If you ever need anything from the Keepers, just ask." Laelia said, smiling before she leaped out of the window.
Cullen, not realizing how nimble she truly was, ran to the window to make sure she wasn't hurt. He leaned out the window and looked around, then his head jerked up in surprise when Laelia hung upside down in front of him, her nose just inches from his. He felt his face burning, realizing that such a beautiful woman was mere inches from him.
"Oh, I almost forgot." She pulled something from her belt pouch and handed him a card. "If you need us, just present this card to whoever you speak to. Try not to lose it, alright?"
Cullen took the card and looked down to see the Allico Keeper's symbol, but there was a filigree border around it, each corner sporting a lily. He looked up to see Laelia smiling and waving from another roof before she disappeared off another roof. Cullen watched her come from around the corner in the street and head west towards the Allico Keeper's headquarters. Looking back at the card, sensing it was Laelia's personal calling card, he smiled to himself and wondered if the Allico Keepers were really that bad, even for their thieving ways.
-O-
Several weeks had passed since Laelia and Cullen had met. They didn't see each other too often, but when they did Laelia gave him a knowing smile and Cullen bowed his head in reply, blushing every time. She was still as beautiful as ever and Cullen almost wished for an excuse to call upon her.
One day while Cullen walked his rounds with the Knight-Commander, Laelia approached, hopping off the nearby statue's pedestal base.
"Good afternoon, Knight-Commander Meredith." She replied, bowing to her. Then turning to Cullen she smiled and bowed as well, the same way she had when they had first met. "And to you, Knight-Captain Cullen."
"Ah, Serah Caudill. Thank you for meeting me here." Meredith said.
Cullen looked between his commanding officer and Laelia.
Laelia offered a cautious smile. "Of course. I couldn't refuse a request from the Knight-Commander herself."
Cullen stayed silent, still confused beyond belief, and listened for the answers to his questions would surely come.
"I requested your presence because I wish to ask for your aid in a mission I am sending my Knight-Captain on. Your skills will surely come in handy; aside from your obvious skills as a Keeper, I hear that you are skilled with healing medicines as well."
Laelia raised an eyebrow. "I presume that this will be dangerous?"
Meredith nodded. "Most likely. I need you and Knight-Captain Cullen to go to the Wounded Coast. There are reports of an apostate camp on the shore nearest the base of Sundermount. It is dangerously close to a Deep Roads entrance we have knowledge of thanks to Serah Hawke's endeavors. You are to find this camp, apprehend the apostates- or handle the situation accordingly if they cannot be brought back alive- and return here to the Gallows."
Laelia nodded. "Understood, Knight-Commander. When are we to leave?"
"Immediately. Will that be an issue?"
Laelia shook her head. "Not at all. I will need to gather my supplies, but I will return here within the hour if that is acceptable?"
Meredith nodded. "It is." Looking to Cullen, she said, "Knight-Captain, go prepare yourself for departure. Meet Serah Caudill here in the Gallows within the hour."
Cullen bowed his head. "Of course, Knight-Commander."
Meredith gave them both a curt nod and headed back towards her office within the tower. When she was out of sight, Cullen turned to Laelia and found her smirking coyly.
"What in the Maker's name is going on?"
Laelia shrugged. "We got the request this morning and Meredith specifically requested me. It's a first for us all, Knight-Captain. Meredith approves of the Keepers no more than you do."
Cullen sighed and rubbed his neck. "I know, but still... I should go prepare then."
Laelia smiled. "Cheer up, Cullen. I'll see you within the hour, ready to go."
Cullen watched as she waved and started heading towards the Gallows entrance. Her hair was braided still, as it was every time he saw her, but her bangs swished at the side of her face with each step, her hips swaying to the same beat. He felt himself blush and quickly turned away when some of the recruits snickered, making hushed comments about him having a crush on a Keeper. 'Maker's breath...'
-O-
As was agreed, Laelia waited in the Gallows for Cullen and found him hurrying down the steps from the Templar quarters, his pack shouldered. They set off immediately, only stopping when the light faded and night descended. They quickly made camp, setting up a small fire pit and their bed rolls. Laelia pulled out some dried meat, bread, fruit, and a bottle of wine. She split the food between the two of them, then offered him wine. He declined, showing her his water skin, to which she shrugged and took a swig from the bottle. Over the course of the night, they shared stories from their pasts- mostly from when Cullen was a child rather than his past as a Templar and Laelia's entirety within the Allico Keepers' ranks. They laughed and got to know each other a bit better as the night went on.
As it was getting later, Laelia looked over at Cullen as he stared up at the stars. "You should take your armor off, it won't be comfortable sleeping in.
Cullen looked at her, seeing her cheeks flushed with the alcohol. "I've slept in this armor before. I'll be fine."
Laelia set the bottle of wine aside, putting the cork back in, then crawled over to Cullen. "Fine, it makes me uncomfortable thinking how uncomfortable you'll be. Come now, Knight-Captain, take your armor off."
Cullen tried to protest as she undid his armor clasps and pull the pieces off, leaving him in nothing but his tunic, trousers, and boots. He felt himself blushing and looked at her, noticing how she was bent over, leaning towards him.
"There, isn't that better?" Laelia asked, smiling.
Cullen felt his blush deepen, then fell back on his hands when Laelia came closer to him, looking at him concerned. "W-What are you doing?"
Laelia cocked her head. "Are you blushing, Knight-Captain? Have you never had a woman undress you before?"
Cullen looked away and felt as if he would catch fire as his blush spread. "Maker's breath..."
Laelia giggled. "You haven't, have you?" He refused to look at her. "Aww, that's adorable. I bet you haven't even kissed a woman before."
Cullen looked back at her, his face and ears burning. "Now see here, I-"
Laelia giggled again as she leaned closer, kissing his cheek. "It's alright, Knight-Captain. If it makes you feel better, I've never kissed anyone before either. I've never been attracted to someone enough to want to." She sat back and touched his armor, smiling softly. "As a Templar, I guess it would make sense for you. Whether you take vows of chastity or not, life as a Templar is hard enough. Throw a romance and family in the mix, you're asking for trouble. It would all be used against you, one way or another."
Cullen looked at her, seeing a sense of longing on her face.
"You know, my father was a Templar. At least, that's what my mother would tell me. She had met him while she was trading in the city he lived in, but when she made to leave and return home, he came after her and raped her. That's why I never really like Templars; they remind me of how sad my mother was. That is until I met you." Laelia looked up at him and smiled. "You make me want to try and trust Templars. You make me see that not all Templars are bad people."
"Serah Caudill..."
Laelia shook her head. "No, please. Call me Lia. All my friends do."
Cullen smiled a bit at that. "Alright, if that is what you wish."
Laelia leaned forward, getting close to him again. "If you don't mind, I'd like to call you Cullen when it's just us."
Cullen felt his blush deepen again, but he nodded. "I suppose that would be alright. So long as it's just with us."
Laelia smiled. "Of course." Just to make him blush even more, she leaned forward a little bit more and cupped his cheek as she pressed her lips against his lightly. Lingering there a moment, she pulled back and giggled at how red his face and ears were. "There, my little treat for being such a gentleman. Now you can say you've at least kissed a woman."
Cullen felt his face burning like the lyrium in his veins and touched his lips as Laelia went back to her bedroll and laid down.
"Good night, Cullen."
"Good night, Lia."
-O-
The next morning, they packed up their things and ate on the road. There was an awkward silence as Cullen didn't know what to say to Laelia after she had kissed him the night before.
As the next couple of days progressed, they were able to find the apostate camp but they weren't welcomed. The apostates resorted to attacking them, many of them using blood magik at the sight of Cullen in his Templar armor. Laelia and Cullen fought off the apostates, unfortunately killing every one of them. Clearing out the campsite of supplies, Cullen watched as Laelia set the campsite aflame as a burial for the apostates. He wondered if it was because she understood why they resorted to blood magik or attacked them outright, or if it was just because she couldn't leave them there like that. When she rejoined him, they walked in silence until darkness surrounded them and the moon shined brightly in the sky.
As they set up camp, the silence continued through their meal until Laelia couldn't take it anymore.
"Cullen, I want to apologize for kissing you the other night. It was out of line, I had the wine affecting my judgement, and I-"
Cullen shook his head and put his hand up to stop her. Ignoring his blush, he replied with, "Don't apologize. There is no need to. If I were to have my first kiss be with anyone, I am just relieved it was with such an extraordinary woman as yourself."
Laelia felt herself blush, not expecting that kind of response from him. "Oh, I see. Well, thank you, and I guess you're welcome at the same time." She giggled and leaned forward. "You're pretty great yourself."
Cullen blushed and smiled, rubbing his neck. "It is getting late, and I um, I did rather enjoy sleeping without the armor on last night."
Laelia smirked. "Are you asking me to help you out of it again?"
Cullen looked at her, his blush deepening, then looked down. "Well, I uh, you see it's just... It's rather difficult to get out of myself sometimes. Would you mind?"
Laelia shook her head and crawled over to him. "Not at all. Sounds more to me like you just wanted an excuse to have me close again."
Cullen blushed. "Now see here, I-"
Laelia silenced him with a kiss. "Hush, Cullen, I am only teasing. Now sit still so that I can undo this fasten."
Cullen was taken aback by another kiss form Laelia and sat silently while she removed his armor and set it aside.
"There we are."
Cullen looked at her. "Thank you, Lia."
She looked back at him and smiled. "Of course. Now, best get to sleep. We've got a long day ahead of us tomorrow."
She started to turn away, but Cullen grabbed her hand and pulled her back. When Laelia looked at him to see what was the matter, she was surprised by Cullen returning her kiss. When he pulled away, he blushed and looked towards the fire.
"I, um... Sorry..."
Laelia cupped his cheek. "Don't be."
Cullen looked back up at her and met her kiss as she leaned in.
They sat there kissing for a moment as Laelia's fingers grasped his hair and he moved his hand down to the small of her back, causing her to curve her body against him. A soft moan came from her and Cullen pulled her into his lap, his lips never leaving hers. Laelia wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled at the ties on his trousers as Cullen moved his hand up the skirts of her armor, feeling the softness of her skin. He gasped as Laelia slid him inside of herself, feeling how tight she was. Laelia bit her lip and kissed his ear to hide her pain as she felt her virginty breaking. The moan that escaped her lips when he started to urge her hips to move was like nothing he had ever heard before- primal, sensual, delighted, almost as though she had been longing for him and his touch. Laelia began to give in to his urging and started to move her hips, feeling his hardness rubbing every pleasurable spot in her body.
Unable to take it any longer, Cullen flipped her onto her back and he began to thrust, inhaling sharply through his nose as Laelia kept her lips locked with his. The feeling of her body was exhilarating and his movements quickened in response as a fire began to rise within him, burning him with desire. Laelia broke away and gasped as he quickened his pace.
"Lia..." he whispered in her ear, kissing her cheek.
"Please..." she gasped, turning her face to where their cheeks touched. "Keep going... It's alright..."
Leaning on his elbows, one hand cupping her cheek and his other gripping her thigh, Cullen felt himself climaxing and the warm rush erupting from him.
Laelia gasped as she felt the warm rush of his seed filling her, and she gripped his shoulders, pulling him closer as she reached her own climax. As Cullen stopped moving, Laelia felt her body shaking and shivering, tensing around him. They stayed embracing each other, their bodies heaving against each other as they tried to catch their breaths. Pulling out of her, Cullen rolled onto his back and stared at the starry sky, trying to slow his breathing. A cool breeze blew through, working its way into their clothes and touching their flushed skin, sending shivers through each of them. Laelia rolled onto her side and looked over at Cullen, smiling.
Cullen looked over and returned her smile, raising his arm up and offering her a spot to rest against his chest. When she scooted over and settled in, he turned to kiss her forehead- silently thanking her because words would not come. Laelia rested her cheek against his chest, hearing his heart beat slowing as he began to relax.
Feeling exhausted, Cullen pulled the blanket over them both and tucked it around Laelia's shoulders. "Good night, Lia."
Laelia smiled. "Good night, Cullen."
