Cullen looked up from the shadows on the ground when he heard someone cleared their throat. "Hawke, what are you doing here?" She had just been here earlier that morning and he was unsure why she returned.
"You said you knew an Amell once." Hawke leaned on her hip while she spoke.
"Uh, did I? I don't quite-" He paused and sighed, rubbing his hand across his face. "What is it you need?"
Hawke grinned. "Nothing too much, just to know who this Amell is. That's not so hard is it?"
"Whether you'll take my word for it, it is hard. This is not the place to talk about this either."
"Then where is?"
He groaned. She wasn't going to let this go. "Follow me, if you must." Cullen led her up the stairs in the Gallows, past the Templar Quarters and to his office. "You may want to make yourself comfortable, this might…" Hawke flopped into the chair in front of his desk, motioning for him to sit in his seat, "take a while."
She leaned her elbows on his desk, supporting her chin with her fists. "So, how do you know this woman of whom you've never met another like?"
"The Circle."
"But not this circle, correct?"
He leaned back in his chair, dreading this every second that passed. "No, not this circle, thank the Maker." She stared at him. "Ferelden's Circle of Magi. What do you want me to say?"
She laughed. "Whatever makes you feel better. What was her name?"
He could play this game. "Amell."
Hawke's smile dropped. "I understand that! Her first name if you please."
"I don't."
"You're just as stubborn as that Qunari that was in Lothering." She scrounged her nose. "He wouldn't tell me what he was trying to guess that started with G. It is a simple question. Look at it this way, the longer you avoid answering my questions, the longer I'll be here to bother you."
He didn't like that. Not that he disliked Hawke's presence, he just didn't want to be talking with an Apostate for long; and to be compared to those heathens. "I am not a Qunari."
She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest, mocking his current position. "Her name then, Knight-Captain."
"Solona Amell." He felt weird saying her first name; he never called her by it. Ever. It was a foreign word to him.
"How did you meet? And don't skimp on the details, just more prodding into your life with my questions." Her face carried a devilish grin as she spoke.
Cullen nodded. "I arrived at the Ferelden Circle when I was 18. She was how old, 15, maybe 16." He felt embarrassed; he couldn't even remember how old she was when he met her. "I would guard the library from morning to evening after the first dinner bell. She was always studying. Never took a break, except when she slept, and I'm sure she didn't want to even then."
"Right, but how did you meet?" Hawke waved her hand at him.
"How did we first speak?" She nodded. "Ah, well. It was…horrible. Surely, you don't-"
She stood and leaned over the desk. "I'm not leaving. Do not try and talk your way out of this. Cullen, by the Maker you will tell me of her!"
He held up his hands in defense. "Since you make such a pleading case. I can already tell you are related, both are so demanding. She was discussing with another mage, one I noticed she stayed with a lot. She spoke of Denerim and not remembering where she came from. When the dinner bell rang, the library was empty, save the two of us."
Hawke interrupted. "This isn't going to turn into the moment where she professed her love for you when you two were finally alone at last?" She clasped her hands, pretending to swoon.
He felt a blush creep onto his cheeks. "Er, no. That is not what happened. She finished her book and got up, silent as she always was. She stopped in front of me."
Hawke arched an eyebrow. "And you're sure it's not turning into this kind of story?"
"I was there, Hawke. She looked at the ground and just above a whisper asked me if I could hand her the book right above my head."
"She was short!" He was unamused with all her outbursts. "You were saying."
"I froze. I wasn't quite sure what to do, even though she made it plain what she wanted. So, eventually I turned and handed her a book. She handed it back."
"What was wrong?"
"Stop interrupting me, Hawke. She said I handed her to wrong book, that she had read this one multiple times before." He smiled. "I didn't go to dinner that evening. Instead I stayed in the library with her, listening as she went on about how much she loves to read. Describing books to me, how to properly hold them."
"She was finicky, then? Showing you how to carefully hold books?" Cullen was feeling annoyed by her and Hawke could tell. She rolled her eyes. "Oh shut up, Hawke." He smiled, ready to continue.
***Hope you guys like this so far? If so please review! Maybe even read my other dragon age stories! :D***
