Acknowledgments to Bioware's Dragon Age, the Cullen Romance mod by Cmessaz and to the Cullen kiss scene by Dahlialynn, within it!
Chapter One – I Will Be Watching You
The first time he saw her, she was sitting on the floor in a corner of her dormitory. Her thick, shiny, auburn hair was cascading around her face, and she was giggling softly with a young girl, a child really, no more than 10, her arm around the young girl's shoulder, comforting her.
"There!" She said giving the young girl a hug. "It is all better now!"
The sound of boot on stone echoed in the room. Ashlyn drew her finger to her lips motioning the young one for silence.
Knight Lieutenant Cullen had been doing his rounds, and had entered what he thought to be an empty dorm for a cursory check. As he gazed around the room, he thought he noticed a slight movement in the shadows beside the large wooden book case near the lavatory. Alert and tense, for he could smell the faint taint of magic in the air, he approached, and there, he saw them, two apprentices alone and unsupervised.
Ashlyn heard him approach and looked up at him with the most beautiful clear blue eyes he had ever seen.
"Ser?" She asked.
Cullen was taken aback by her nonchalant response. " Ah, what are you doing Miss" He stuttered. As he surveyed the scene, he could see that the child's face was stained with recent tears. On Ashlyn's lap, he noticed a small silver key chain.
"Give me the chain Miss." Cullen demanded. He could see the look of abject horror on the child's face. Ashlyn stood up, and with a bright smile she walked over to Cullen. Cullen was struck by her beauty as she walked towards him. She was tall and shapely, and she walked with a graceful sway. Her skin was pale and soft looking. Along with her large blue eyes and shimmering long auburn hair, she had full, lovely shaped lips and a regal but slightly turn up nose.
"Of course Ser. Here you go." Ashlyn said casually and looked him straight in the eye. Cullen felt strangely unsettled as he met her gaze. She hesitated slightly before she placed the chain in his open hand Cullen observed.
Cullen could feel the chain was warm. As he looked at it more closely he detected that the metal clasp meant to hold the small heart shaped charm had been fused together, and he was certain that it had been fused by magic. Cullen was one of the few Templars that could actually smell magic – a faint unusual metallic odor that he could not even describe.
"Great!" He thought to himself. "Two untrained, unsupervised, apprentices playing with magic!" This of course, was strictly forbidden, and these two apprentices would have to punished. As Cullen stood there staring at them, his mind mulling over his options, he heard the sound of boots running down the hall.
"Shit!" Ser Frederick could be heard to say rather loudly as he entered the dormitory. Frederick's eyes widened when he saw Cullen standing there. "Double shit" he muttered under his breath.
Ser Frederick was a young Templar, new to the order. He was enthusiastic and well-meaning, and his good looks and charm made him a favorite of the young apprentices.
"Ser Cullen, I can explain." Ser Frederick said.
"Please do Ser." Cullen responded.
"Young Tess was upset and I asked Ashlyn to take Tess to her room to settle her down. They have only been here a few moments Ser. I needed to find someone to watch over the other students. This is my fault." Ser Frederick glanced at Ashlyn, and Cullen could not help but notice the love sick puppy dog look he gave her.
"Demons do not need more than a few moments Ser Frederick." Cullen replied sternly. Take the young Tess back. I will have a word with – Ashlyn is it? - and I will deal with you later."
When the two had gone, Cullen turned to Ashlyn.
"You have used magic on this chain Miss." Cullen said.
Ashlyn paused a moment. She had not seen this Templar before. "He must be Knight-Lieutenant Dawson's replacement" She thought to herself. "That he could detect magic means he is not one to trifle with like Dawson – shit!"
"Yes Ser." Ashlyn replied evenly. Ashlyn could see this Templar was no push over. There would be no use lying, "I used magic to fix it. It, it was all she had left from her family."
"I see…" said Cullen.
"Perhaps you do Ser, or perhaps not." Ashlyn replied evenly. "I know the rules and the reasons for them. I made a choice.
Cullen waited – simply staring at her, hoping she would say more.
"I am not possessed Ser. This is not blood magic. Do what you will with me. Make me tranquil or kill me. It matters not. But if there is any caring in you, please leave Tess alone." There was a sadness in her eyes that belied her defiance and her brazen words.
Cullen was an astute man. He could see the truth in her eyes, hear it in her voice. He recognized the absurdity of the situation, a mage, however unlikely, could indeed be killed for using unauthorized magic even for something as simple as fixing a chain. It struck a chord in him.
"Perhaps tomorrow then." Cullen replied evenly.
"Ser?" Ashlyn was confused.
"Perhaps I will kill you tomorrow… or make you tranquil." Cullen laughed. "We shall see. But you will not do this again. I will be watching you."
Ashlyn stared at Cullen. She was unsure of what to make of him. Usually she could read people well. Cullen's response was unexpected. Indeed Cullen himself was unexpected. She did not know this Templar. She knew of course, she would not be killed or made tranquil - not in this situation. She had said those words for effect, gambling that they would buy her a lesser punishment. Was this man to be her punishment? Cullen left her feeling unsettled, on edge.
"He is an arrogant bastard." Ashlyn thought to herself as he escorted her back to the others. "He will be watching me will he! Well, I will be watching him!"