Mage FAdaar/The Iron Bull
She was tired, so very tired. Every muscle screamed at her to rest. The climb to her room seemed a very daunting task as she debated even attempting the stairs or simply collapsing just inside her door and sleeping on the floor. It would most likely leave her even worse in the morning but she was nearly beyond the point of caring. Her eyes were burning as she struggled to keep them open for even a moment longer.
As she finally forced her legs to move and took a step forward, her door slowly opened again and a voice called out, "Hey Boss, you in here?" His booming voice like a hammer slamming against her skull. "I'm here Bull, please don't yell." "Oh sorry," he whispered as he walked through the door and gently shut it behind him.
As she started to ask him what he needed, she felt her body failing her and helpless to stop, she began to fall. Bull rushed forward and caught her before she could hit the stone floor. Scooping her up bridal style, he proceeded to carry her up the stairs without a word.
She should probably protest that she didn't need any help. She had never needed to depend on anyone for anything but he was more than strong enough to carry her and the warmth radiating from his massive frame felt so comforting and soothing to her aching body that instead she carefully rested her head against his chest.
When they reached the top of the stairs and entered her room, he placed her in the over-sized high back chair that Dorian insisted she purchase the last time they were in Orlais. "You've broken five chairs so far so just buy one big enough. I will help you pick out a nice one."
She had to admit that he had done a really good job at finding one that not only satisfied her functional needs but also matched the style of her quarters.
She was slightly confused as to why he hadn't just placed her on the bed until she saw the bucket of water he grabbed from the corner, most likely left by one of the servants after her arrival back at Skyhold. It was then that she remembered that she was covered in dirt and blood and all manner of gross things. She was thankful that he had the forethought to not ruin her new silk sheets. Without a word, he held it out to her and with wave of her hand, she heated the water. Being a mage did have its perks.
She offered no protest as he began the lengthy process of undressing her. It wasn't the first time he had helped her out of her clothes but under entirely different circumstances. There was nothing sexual in his touches now. He wasn't undressing his lover. He was undressing his Boss. Bull was very good at knowing what a person needed.
When everything had been removed, he gently began to wash the filth from her body. She was pleasantly surprised at how relaxing it was to have someone else bathe you. Or maybe it was just Bull. Her relationship with him had started leaning towards something more serious than either of them had intended at the beginning. It scared her a little how much he meant to her. Her attraction to him was easier before he became Tal-Vashoth. There was no future with him as a Qunari but now it was possible and it terrified her. Now was not the time to dwell on those thoughts though.
When he was satisfied that she was clean, he scooped her up again and this time carried her to her bed. He helped her pull back the covers and tucked them around her the way you would a child. As he turned to walk away she reached out and grabbed his hand. She knew better than to thank him, he would just dismiss it anyway but her eyes told him his efforts were appreciated. He nodded at her and quietly slipped from her room as she finally fell into the bliss of sleep.
