Chapter 4

Cullen grasped Bronwynn's hips firmly with calloused fingers and lifted her towards him as he used his shoulders to spread her legs wider to open her up more for his ministrations. The sound of her soft cries of pleasure was both music to his ears and a goad to his ego. Cullen took his time kissing her clit. When she began to writhe under his tongue he then switched to long caresses from her opening to her clit with that appendage. He gripped her hips harder when she tried thrusting up to get more. He'd been too long without tasting her, too long without hearing the sound of her pleasure, without hearing her pleading with him for release. Cullen was going to take his time bringing her to climax.

Cullen slid his tongue into the opening of her passage, groaning with his own pleasure from the taste of her. He felt her jerk against his hands and laughed huskily as he probed her with his tongue; she gasped tightening her fingers in his hair, softly calling his name. He could feel her body tightening as she began to reach her zenith. Cullen slid one hand from holding her hips in a bruising grip, slid his tongue up her slit, and sucked on her clit as he thrust two fingers into her; her screaming his name as she drenched his hand with her orgasm undid him. He used his fingers to bring her to completion. Cullen quickly stood and undid the front of his breeches and while she was panting but silent and spent he lifted her from where she laid limp and spent. He turned and sat on the sofa; adjusted her legs so they were on either side of his thighs. She had leaned forward to kiss him and as their tongues dueled for supremacy he lowered her onto his erection, thrusting up as he did so to completely fill her. She squealed into his mouth and adjusted herself slightly to take him in even more deeply. Their breathing was heavy and mingled as they kissed, their tongues mating in opposition to their bodies rhythm. He kept her pace slow and even, he could feel her clenching around him, milking him, but he wouldn't increase the pace. Their tongues were mating furiously and he held on to his control with a white knuckle grip.

Bronwynn pulled her mouth from his and pressed her body closer to his, her lips against his ear as she began to plead quietly. Her whispered words combined with the heat of her body as she writhed on him cracked his control. He lifted her and then pulled her down on him sharply. It wasn't enough for him. He twisted them so she was on the sofa underneath him; he braced his feet against the arm of the sofa.

"Open up for me," he growled against her throat, when he felt her legs open more, felt her body relax into the furniture he wrapped his arms under her and bit where her shoulder and neck met. She began repeating his name in a high pitch as she came again while he slammed into her; finding his own release inside her.

He woke a few minutes later, hearing her softly crying.

"Hey, what's wrong?" he asked, sliding from her body and pulling her up against his chest.

"Nothing's wrong," she answered.

"Then you wouldn't be crying," he whispered against her hair. He heard her giggle and pulled back to look at her.

"They're happy tears, my heart," she smiled up at him. Her green eyes were bright and clear; her raspberry lips stretched into a smile that was both innocent and seductive at once. He groaned and kissed her repeatedly along her lips before sitting up once again; pulling her back onto his lap.

"Don't look at me like that, my love, I don't think I can stand it."

"Why?" she giggled as she straddled his thighs, the warmth of her pussy teasing his groin with its closeness. She was still wearing Cullen's under tunic and he frowned in consternation.

"How did I not get this off you?" he wondered aloud. She laughed and pushed his hands away when he tried to slide his hands under it to take it off.

"Hello, I can't see your body with this thing on," he reminded her with mock anger. She moved closer to his chest and pressed herself against him.

"Use your imagination," she laughing ordered before she pressed her open mouth against his closed one and licked his lips. He opened his mouth to capture her tongue and suck on it. He felt her fingers slide through the hair on the nape of his neck, gently caressing him. Her heat stirred his desire; but she was moving languidly, almost sleepily, as she kissed him. When she slid off his lap, taking his hands and tugging him up; he willingly followed her to his bed. Bronwynn slapped his hands down once again before sliding her own small ones under his shirt to begin sliding it up his chest. Her fingers were chilly against his sides but she had her green eyes locked on his blue ones and the intimacy was erotic enough to block out the chill. His manhood stirred against her belly, she sighed as she felt it pressing against her. He let her slide his shirt up his chest, when he lifted his arms for her to slide it over his head he chuckled when she had to stretch on her toes to get it up. She retaliated by leaning into him to lick his left nipple. He sucked in a breath and then his eyes crossed when she lightly nipped it after. He held his breath as he tossed his shirt and she lightly scored his lower back with her nails before running her fingers under the waist of his breeches. They were still open from their earlier lovemaking so when she slid her hands under the waist and down his buttocks they dropped to the floor easily. Her fingers squeezed the muscles of his ass and she used the leverage to pull herself closer. He started to wrap his arms around her she stopped him again. He growled softly but dropped his arms to his sides. He felt her smile against his chest just before her tongue darted out and her hands gripped his hips.

"Bronwynn!" he ground out between clenched teeth when she traced her tongue from his chest down his belly, his erection sliding up her belly to nestle between her breasts just before she was fully on her knees. His dick was so hard it actually pulled the tunic she was wearing up; she tugged the garment over her head as Cullen opened his eyes to look down at his mage, once more reaching for her only to stop when she raised her green eyes up to his. There was such wanton desire burning from them his breath caught in his throat and he held his breath once more. She moistened her raspberry lips with her strawberry pink tongue, his cock jumped and he released the breath he had been holding. He started panting in anticipation.

She smiled; a smile so seductive Cullen thought his knees were going to buckle. Her tongue slipped from her mouth and; while she was still holding his gaze, she swiped her tongue over the head of him. His breath caught, she swirled her tongue around the tip. He heard her moan of appreciation as she did so. Her eyes were still on his when she slid him into her mouth. His hands were then in fisted in her hair as he tried to pull her off. She simply pulled him forward by his hips as she took him deeper into her mouth. Once more he growled her name; she traced the shape of him in her mouth with her tongue, then slightly sucked. She kept looking up at his face, watching his reaction. His pupils were dilated and he was breathing heavily as she used her mouth on him the way he used his on her. She had never felt more powerful; or more excited. She had power over him, equal to the power he had over her it seemed. She could tell he was trying to stop her without hurting her, but she was having none of that.

Bronwynn took him as deeply into her mouth as she could. Her tongue danced against his testicles and she felt them tighten. His fingers opened to grasp her head and hold her still. She chuckled and used her own leverage to keep bobbing her head, although she had closed her eyes as she savored the taste of him. Hot and salty, he was satin covered steel in her mouth. She pulled back to the head and swiped her tongue across the very tip and sighed when she tasted the moisture from his pre-ejaculate.

"Bronwynn!" he hoarsely shouted just before she felt his penis jerk in her mouth. When the first spurt of semen hit her throat she swallowed instinctively. Her nails dug into his hips as she kept swallowing, her body responding to his orgasm with its own release.

Cullen felt her throat working to swallow his seed as he filled her mouth. His breath came in harsh bursts as he tried not to thrust into her mouth the way he would her vagina. She swallowed the last of his semen and she dipped her head once more to the base of his dick; licking him clean as she did. He growled and grabbed her by her upper arms and yanked her up his body; she let go of his penis with reluctance. He clamped his mouth on hers, tasting himself while he kissed her had him immediately hardening again. He took two steps out of his breeches and to the bed, dropping her on the overstuffed mattress. She squealed and began laughing. The sound gave him a brief pause. He'd never heard her laugh and he liked the sound. It made him smile mischievously, her green eyes widened when she saw it.

"No! Don't you dare!" she said as she started crawling backwards up the bed to get away from him. He started to chuckle as he knelt on the bed and grabbed her right ankle. She was shaking her head and jerking her leg to get it away from him.

"Oh, yes," he said as he then grabbed her left ankle and pulled her to him. She squealed again and tried grabbing the mattress to stop herself from moving to no avail.

She lay laughing beneath him, his hands lying lightly upon her sides, his eyes following the movement of her breasts as she laughed. He swallowed his desire, as difficult as it was, and concentrated on how to keep her laughing. She had not sounded so carefree in the year and a half he'd known her.

Bronwynn took advantage of his distraction to try and slide off the bed; he grinned again and lightly tickled her sides. Once more she squealed and bounced and squirmed trying to get away.

"No! No nonononononononononononono!" she pleaded as she laughed. When he leaned over her to tickle under her arms he slid inside her and the play quickly turned to passion. Their lips met and she wrapped her legs tightly around his waist to pull herself up higher onto him. Cullen shifted so he was sitting on his calves and pulled her up to thrust more deeply into her. He still marveled that she could take all of him, she lowered her mouth to his and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. They moved together hard a fast, their breath and moans mingling.

In minutes it was over, they stiffened as he filled her with his seed. He heard her sobbing as he pulled out of her to lay them down.

"Did I hurt you?" he asked in concern. She shook her head and pressed herself closer to his side.

"No, you didn't hurt me," she said as she got her breathing under control.

"So you're crying for joy?" he grinned with pride. She laughed huskily at his puffing.

"Yes, even though you don't need to get a bigger head," she quipped. He was silent for a moment and then burst into hearty laughter. She frowned at him. "What?" she asked. He just shook his head and laughed harder. She leaned up on her side and frowned at him. "What did I say?" Her innocence, despite their relations for the last year, awed him. He had to catch his breath before he could answer his lover.

"A double entendre, my love," he managed as he calmed down.

"What?" she shook her head.

"You were speaking of my ego when you said bigger head," he stated, she nodded. "Well, there is a slang for a man's penis; well the tip of a man's penis," he said. She opened her eyes and waved her hand as if to say well. He smiled but managed not to laugh. "What you did when you took me in your mouth is called "giving head" he said and then waited. She frowned in confusion for a moment then her eyes widened in shock and she blushed to the roots of her hair. This made him laugh again, although he pulled her mouth to his to kiss her while he did. His laughter was contagious; now that she knew why he was laughing, and she laughed with him.

"I want you to know, Enchanter Bronwynn Amell that I love that you didn't know that." He brushed her hair behind her ear, tracing it with his fingers. Bronwynn leaned into his hand and made a soft sound in her throat. Cullen reached across himself and pulled her down onto his chest, she sighed and snuggled into him. The fingers on the hand on his chest wiggled and the covers settled over them. Cullen smiled sleepily as he heard her breathing even out. Perhaps the day had been a bit eventful, and he still felt he owed her some sort of recompense for his callous comment about the magic; but she was back where she belonged. In his bed, in his arms. Hopefully she wouldn't try and find an excuse to leave it again.

Bronwynn stood facing the Knight-Commander and First Enchanter the following morning. Neither were happy with her as she hadn't come running to answer their questions the night before. Greagoir's expression said he suspected there had been a reason other than she slept through the night although Irving's expression was simply annoyed. She kept her expression polite but blank, it was harder than usual because she wanted to smile. Her heart felt lighter than it ever had and her body felt loose. She could almost feel Cullen's hands on her like they had been that morning.

He hadn't put on the Templar armor, but his leathers. He had called her his love even when they were in the main room eating the breakfast she had made. She hadn't felt slighted when he hadn't tried to take her hand or arm, especially since he had been walking close enough to touch her with his arm should he want to.

Bronwynn had seen the looks they had gotten that morning; some were outright violent while others were confused. No one had said anything, but she knew it was only a matter of time. There were too many mages who felt the Templar's had no right to stop their use of blood-magic, too many mages in this Circle who felt they had the right to use their magic however they wished. Aquetarian's like herself were the largest faction of mages; mages who wanted simply to be allowed to live within reasonable guidelines. Bronwynn knew that throughout Thedas the Aquetarian's were the largest group, but the smaller groups tended to be louder so were more obvious. She worried more about the mages who didn't shout their preferences, however. Uldred was the main one; he led a cabal of blood-mages and yet because he was of an age with Irving and was on the council for the Circle no one would believe her.

Now the Knight-Commander and First Enchanter were staring at her and saying nothing after their brusque question of where she had been all night. Cullen stood beside her with his arms behind his back and his eyes boring holes into the Knight-Commander.

Irving chose to break the silence.

"We had hoped to get to their questioning before the rumors began to spread about yesterday," Irving told them. Bronwynn shook her head.

"Why didn't you? Surely you could have put the hot pokers to them without my assistance?" Cullen cleared his throat, which had Bronwynn look at him. His face had not changed expressions, but she could see laughter in his eyes.

"Enchanter Bronwynn, you are already on very thin ice today, do not add an improper attitude to it."

Bronwynn narrowed her eyes at the Templar commander. Cullen reached over and touched her shoulder. She took a deep breath through her nose and held her tongue. She did see the older men frown in unison when Cullen had touched her. 'Too bad, gentlemen' she thought to herself. 'He does know me better than either of you'. It was a petty thought and she immediately felt badly for thinking it, but it didn't change the facts. He was only trying to keep her from angering them unnecessarily.

"Templar, please wait outside," Greagoir intoned with an evenness to his voice that was completely unnatural. Cullen narrowed his blue eyes at the older man but nodded and left. Bronwynn forced herself to stay relaxed, to not go into a defensive and defiant stance.

"Did he tell you why we wanted to see you last night?" Irving broke in before Greagoir to verbally attack his student mage. Bronwynn nodded curtly.

"Then why didn't you come to us last night?" Greagoir demanded.

"I have already stated that I was sleeping, Ser Cullen didn't tell me until I woke this morning," she managed to keep her voice even, she kept her attitude under control; barely.

"Are you willing to give them a once-over, Enchanter Bronwynn?" Greagoir asked stiffly. He sounded offended, though Bronwynn couldn't think why.

"Of course I will, Knight-Commander; that was never in question," she answered, a little more snidely than was polite. He let it go, however, when Irving took her arm and led her through to the room with the mages. He chose to step into the hall and confront his Lieutenant.

"Is this ability you have to spot the taint of blood-magic something you can teach, Enchanter Bronwynn?" Irving asked her as she entered the room before him.

"Yes, otherwise I wouldn't know how to do it," Bronwynn said.

"How did you learn to do this?" Irving asked with genuine curiosity.

"We have an entire section of books on the subject of aural site," she told him with a hint of excitement in her voice. Irving nodded in appreciation.

"We will have to go over them together, Enchanter, see if there is a way for us to pass this information on," Irving said. They both looked at the five mages who had survived the encounter yesterday. The ones the Fear Demon had not killed.

"I know a few other tricks as well," Bronwynn said as an aside, as if what she was about to do didn't sicken her. She already knew that these men were either going to be put to the brand or killed. Their actions yesterday had seen to that; but she didn't like that she was going to confirm their guilt. Then she thought of something that horrified her even more.

"Wait, First Enchanter, I can't be the one who does this thing," she said, barely suppressing the panic.

"Why not?"

"I will not be considered an objective party, ser." Irving sighed in frustration because he knew she was right. There was no one, however, he could bring in. He told her so. Her russet brows drew together as she thought hard.

"I can teach you," she said. His brows rose in surprise. "It's not really that hard, First Enchanter," she told him. He thought for a second and decided to humor her. When she explained to him what to do he found she had been correct. It wasn't that hard to do at all; and what he saw when he looked at her was amazing. He could see her, although her features were somewhat fuzzy he could see a soft yellow light clinging to her skin; it looked almost as if she were surrounded by candlelight. There were hints of a soft pink and a deeper blue around the edges of the light and Irving got the sense that she was at peace. He was also certain she was feeling love. How he could tell this from colors he wasn't sure but he knew these were her feelings.

When he turned his new vision towards the prisoners, however, it was a lesson in contrasts. Three of the five had auras that were a dark and angry red. He could see something that looked like black stains on their auras. The other two had aura's that were, while not red, were definitely not healthy. Again, Irving did not know how he knew this; but he was sure he was correct.

"Liam and Dalton are not healthy," Irving said to the young mage next to him, she shook her head, not in disagreement, however.

"No, they are not," she agreed. "Notice, however that they do not have the stains on their auras that Marven, Charles and Dar'ren have." Bronwynn pointed out. Irving nodded.

"Is there a way to help them," he wondered aloud.

"We'd have to separate them all," she said. Irving frowned when he saw the three mages stir. He could see and feel their pulling on their magic when she said that. He was amazed anew when Bronwynn shook her head and smiled grimly.

"Oh no you don't, you aresholes," Bronwynn said with a menace Irving had never heard from her. Then he felt another stirring of energy from her. When he looked at her he could see the yellow of her aura swirling; it seemed to reach out to surround the three mages. Then he realized it wasn't just surrounding them, it was smothering them. The energy they were pulling stopped abruptly. He gaped at the young mage woman in shock. He had never even heard of someone being able to shut down another mage before they cast a spell; much less see someone doing it. Perhaps Greagoir was correct and this one woman was meant for so much more than what she was currently being held to. The looks the three men gave her were full of venom and hate. The other two men looked very frightened. Before Irving could decide what he should do about moving them Greagoir and Cullen entered the room.

"Bronwynn, are you sure separating them will help?" he asked her by way of passing the suggestion to the Templars. The redhead nodded absently, as she watched the three blood-mages carefully. She knew they would be unable to cast anything until she released them from the binding, but she had to be sure they weren't going to try anything. She felt Cullen move to stand behind her, his presence actually reassuring now. She could see the tension in both his and Greagoir's aura. Apparently there had been more words between them. She could not allow that to distract her; of course that was easier thought than implemented.

"Why separate them, Enchanter?" Greagoir asked roughly.

"Marven, Charles and Dar'ren are the blood-mages; Liam and Dalton are ill and if we separate them I may be able to help make them better." Bronwynn answered the Knight-Commander. She saw all five men look at her as if she were mad and she smiled at them. Greagoir made the decision to trust the girls instincts and he and Cullen grabbed the two men she indicated and dragged them out of the room. Irving and Bronwynn followed, shutting and locking the door behind themselves.

Greagoir directed Cullen to a small room on the left of the original room while he took the other man to a room on the right. Bronwynn thought about the two men for a moment. What did she know of them. Probably not as much as she should since she was normally isolated from the other mages.

"Tell me about Dalton, First Enchanter," she said. He looked startled by the request. "You do know something of him, don't you?" she asked. Irving had been in the circle for over fifty years, he had been First Enchanter for thirty years, as long Knight-Commander Greagoir had been Knight-Commander. Bronwynn felt sure he had to know something about his charges.

"He has a passion for nugs, he likes strawberries, and I think he's been seeing Lynette," Irving answered quickly. Bronwynn laughed softly.

"Nugs and Lynette, well that kind of figures." she said wryly.

"Now, now, Lynette is a perfectly lovely woman," Irving said and Bronwynn couldn't help but smile. She knew how protective the First Enchanter was of his charges. Bronwynn took a deep breath and went into the room on the right where Greagoir had taken the younger of the two mages. The three males followed her in and arranged themselves behind her as she stood over the young, frightened mage. The Knight-Commander was to her left, First Enchanter to her right and the Knight-Lieutenant behind her once more. Dalton looked up at the red haired mage with eyes so brown they were almost black. He had clearly not been allowed to clean up since the fight yesterday. She could see the dirt from where he had fallen to the ground on his face and robes, there was blood from where he had bit his lip and she thought she smelled urine. He was on the floor curled up in a tight ball with his back to the wall. She shook her head sadly. There were no stains on his aura and that relieved her, because she could say he hadn't begun to practice blood-magic. She could see what appeared to be hooks sunk into his aura, however and that worried her. It meant that someone else was able to draw from his life, and also meant that someone could possibly control him.

"The First Enchanter's favorite," the young man sneered to cover his fear. Bronwynn looked around and saw a chair behind the Knight-Commander; Cullen saw her looking at it and snatched it for her, holding it as she sat down. "Templar's whore," he added. Cullen and Greagoir tensed, but Bronwynn ignored his words. She kept her back straight and folded her hands in her lap.

"Dalton, I have to ask you this question, even though I know the answer," she started, keeping her voice frosty. "Have you ever practiced blood-magic?" The young man twisted his face into a snarl.

"No!" he replied vehemently. Bronwynn nodded. Greagoir was surprised to see Irving nodded as well.

"You can't beli-"

"He speaks the truth, Knight-Commander," Bronwynn said evenly, she kept her eyes on the mage; however. His eyes widened in shock. She believed him?

"Dalton, how long have you been studying under Enchanter Uldred?" Bronwynn asked, he looked confused but answered truthfully. Irving confirmed as did Greagoir. "Has he ever shown you how 'harmless' blood-magic can be?" she continued. He looked startled for just long enough that everyone saw it before he tried for another sneer.

"Enchanter Uldred does not teach blood-magic!" he denied. Greagoir wanted to call him a liar, but Bronwynn asked another question before he could.

"Has he ever cast a spell of any sort on you?" Dalton looked confused by the question.

"Of course he has, so I would know what the effect of a spell would feel," the answer came as if she should know this, which she did. Bronwynn nodded in affirmation. Then turned to the Templar behind her.

"Ser Knight, in our quarters at my large desk there is a very large bag," Cullen nodded, he knew that bag well.

"Would you mind bringing that bag here?" she asked him. He nodded curtly and left to fetch the bag. Bronwynn let the silence stretch while they waited.

"You aren't going to use blood-magic on me, whore, why be so mysterious?" he demanded, trying still to get a reaction out of her.

"You may not want to call me that a third time, Dalton. The Templars may take offense; seeing as I'm a mage," Bronwynn offered easily and without rancor. Her demeanor confused the frightened man. He knew they were going to put him to the brand, they believed he'd purposely been a part of the demon summoning the day before.

"Uldred isn't going to burst in here and demand you stop this, is he?" Dalton asked aloud, without meaning to. Bronwynn, Irving and Greagoir shook their heads sadly.

"Dalton, if he did that he'd be confirming my accusations," Bronwynn informed him. "He knows that I know he planned that attack yesterday morning. He wants me dead for some reason." Dalton was nodding when she finished.

"You won't bend to him," Dalton said. Bronwynn moved so suddenly he shrieked; yet she didn't attack him. He felt a warmth surround him; a warmth that made him think of safety. A safety he hadn't felt since he'd started studying under Uldred.

Then he felt what seemed like a thousand needles being ripped from his skin and the scream it ripped from him made even the Knight-Commander pale in fright. Cullen came in just as the scream started and Bronwynn and Irving both were holding the mage down.

"I need the blue bottle with the red cork!" she shouted at her lover and he simply put the bag down and opened it up. Pulling out the bottle she demanded he handed it to her.

"Hold his legs, Templar! Suppress this magic!" she demanded. "Irving, hold his head, keep his mouth open for just a moment!" The Templars began focusing to suppress the magic in the room as she slowly poured the liquid into the screaming mages mouth. When he started to swallow instead she held his mouth closed and focused on finding the damage. Having the Templars suppress the magic in the room made it difficult, but she forced her own magic passed them to help him. She felt it when she found the first of the hook being activated. Tears filled her eyes and bile rose in her throat.

"No, I will not lose to you, you bastard!" she growled out and wrapped her own aura around the young man.

"Cullen, Irving! Get to Liam!" She shouted as she focused on healing the mage. She could feel Dalton trying to avoid swallowing the rest of the liquid, she leaned down and started whispering into his ear. She spoke as calmly as she could to relax him so he would stop fighting the fluid. It took far longer than she liked, but he did calm down and let the potion take effect. She relaxed slightly herself when he finally passed out. She turned him on his side and slid him next to the wall so his back was propped against the wall. She gave Greagoir a hard look.

"Whatever you do, Knight-Commander, you do not let him choke; I will never forgive you if you do!" She whispered furiously at him. He frowned at her and his response was just as full of venom.

"I don't kill mages out of hand, I won't let one die out of hand, woman. Go save the other one if you can," Bronwynn's eyes widened in shock at his tone but he felt justified since she seemed to think he was out to kill all mages. His Templars were not supposed to treat mages as if they were all abominations waiting to happen. She nodded and rose, grabbing another vial from the bag and ran to the other room.

Cullen turned and wrapped an arm around her waist and hauled her bodily out of the room before she could see anything. He had a green tinge to his cheeks and mouth and he looked ill. Irving slammed the door behind them as he also stepped out of the room. Bronwynn started to struggle against him when he whispered it's too late in her ear. He held her tightly when he felt the sobs begin wracking her body.

First Enchanter Irving waited until she had quieted somewhat before speaking.

"Bronwynn, I need you to calm down" Irving said in a voice she had never heard before. She nodded as she pulled herself together. When she had control of her tears and was breathing almost normally she looked at the older man. He appeared to have aged a decade in just a few moments time. When she looked up at Cullen he also appeared to have aged. Whatever was in that room was bad, and she knew that what Irving was going to ask of her was going to be just as a bad, if not worse. She swallowed her fear and looked back at Irving to wait for what he had to say. Irving looked into her green eyes and saw she understood there was something bad and that he was going to ask her to do something hard. He felt pride in her swell within him. She was going to make an excellent First Enchanter; if not Grand Enchanter, one day.

"I need you to tell me who did what was done in there," Irving told the young Enchanter. Cullen turned to face the First Enchanter and started to argue when Bronwynn started shaking her head.

"I can't" She whispered to him, only just loudly enough to be heard. Irving frowned, but before he could chastise her she shook her head again.

"I'm sorry, Irving, I can't because I don't have a way to do so. I don't think there is a way," She held back another sob and looked at the man with tear filled green eyes.

Irving cursed, loudly, shocking both younger people. Greagoir heard it as he came out of the other room.

"What has happened?" he demanded. He took in the haggard looks of both Cullen and Irving, could see how upset Bronwynn looked and got a bad feeling about what that answer might be. Before either man could answer him he opened the door to the room they were in front of. He held it open for only a second; his large frame blocking the view from Bronwynn's gaze; before he slammed it shut once more.

"Maker preserve us," he whispered. "Am I to take it that we cannot prove who did this?" The Knight-Commander asked, he assumed this was the case from seeing the look of failure on the girls face. She confirmed this assumption. He sighed sadly. "So we have no way of proving it was Uldred," he said. The other three shook their heads.

"Wait, Dalton should…" Greagoir shook his head. "What happened?" Bronwynn asked.

"He came to; raving." Greagoir answered. All three of them others looked confused.

"He was speaking nonsense, Bronwynn," he continued. She sagged against her Templar; her body folding in on itself in defeat. He felt her frustration and sadness. They all knew the other three wouldn't be giving any information that would incriminate Uldred. They would vehemently deny any use of blood-magic themselves. He felt very old in that moment. Uldred was a Senior Enchanter, and even though he wasn't popular with the other Senior Enchanters he was still a trusted member of the mages council here in the Circle Tower on Lake Calenhad. They would need hard evidence of his guilt before anything could be done, and with two apparent victims unable to speak against him; it was unlikely anything would be done.

"So I went through all that yesterday for nothing?" Bronwynn said with growing anger.

"No, not nothing," Irving began. She waved her hand and cut him off.

"Enchanter, we need you to check the Templar's for, whatever it is you would check for to see if they are under control of a blood-mage," Greagoir said. Bronwynn pointed to Irving.

"He can tell you, it would be better if it were him, anyway." She wiped furiously at her eyes and turned her face away.

"I'll be in the library," she said flatly; pulling away from Cullen. She stepped in the other room long enough to grab her oversized bag and stormed down the hallway.

"Keep her in sight, Templar, I don't want anything happening to her," Greagoir ordered. Cullen simply nodded, following the girl quickly.

The blond man lengthened his stride to catch up to his angry lover. He knew there was nothing he could say or do to calm her down. He was curious to know what she expected to find in the library. Then he heard her muttering under her breath. They had reached their quarters where she locked the door behind the two of them.

"Bronwynn, my love, this is not the library," he said softly. He knew she was angry, as was he. He had walked in that room to see Liam being literally turned inside out. Cullen suddenly broke for the water closet. Bronwynn waited for him to finish before handing him a cloth to clean his mouth with then handing him a glass of water. After he had rinsed his mouth out she stood on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck. He pulled her into his chest and held her tightly. He felt himself shivering, and when he heard Bronwynn squeak he realized he was crushing her. He loosened his grip to let her take a deeper breath.

Bronwynn let him pull her up until his arms were around her waist and her feet were off the ground. She felt his tears staining her shirt but doubted he knew he was crying. She didn't know what to say, she hadn't seen what was in the room, so she didn't say anything. They stood like that for half an hour before he was able to let her go. She asked him no questions; for which he was grateful. When he took her face in his hands and kissed her she slid her arms around his waist and sighed softly into his mouth. She still hadn't spoken and Cullen was grateful for that; but he could feel from her whole being she loved him.

He held her like that for another five minutes, the kiss never becoming more than comfort. He broke the kiss and put his forehead against hers. He heard her sigh again; she sounded content.

"Ma vhenan," Bronwynn said softly.

"What does that mean?"

"My heart," she answered shyly. He gave her his crooked grin and kissed her nose.

"I swear I'll keep it safe," he replied with humor laced sincerity. She smiled up at him, and he couldn't help but kiss her lightly once more.

"Thank you, my love," Cullen whispered to his red haired mage. She simply nodded and hugged him once again. Cullen felt the terror from what he had seen receding. The sight may never leave him and he was sure there would be nightmares, but the intensity was fading.

"Still, this is not the library," he said again, this time with humor. She laughed softly.

"As if I need to go to the library for my research," she responded with sarcasm. He laughed aloud as she flounced over to their bookshelves. Which did take up one whole wall of their quarters.

"How many of these books are you supposed to be keeping?" he asked her. He hadn't really thought about it before, but she had a lot of books.

"All of them, I bought them." She said. Cullen was actually confused by this statement.

"How is that?" he asked "You haven't left the Circle," he reminded her. She laughed at his statement.

"One does not necessarily need to leave the circle to make money," she replied. He watched her check a small book she had next to the shelving and then pull several books off one of the lower shelves near the middle of the wall. "Here, Ser Knight, skim through this one and see if it has any references to magic removal." Cullen did not question her, and even though he was confused he did as she asked. He also knew it would be simpler to simply mark down any sections of the book that had the information she was asking for.

He sat in his leather armor reading for over an hour before he realized he was uncomfortable. He had already marked several pages for her and was nearly done with the book so he put it down and went to change out of his leathers. Bronwynn watched him from the corner of her eye and realized he might need more than to just change out of his armor. He had blood on his boots. Bronwynn shivered in revulsion and decided to fix that.

"Cullen, I'm drawing you a bath," she called out to him. When he answered with a relieved grunt she grinned. He came out of the room with a towel around his waist and a bare chest. Her eyes danced across the breadth of his shoulders and down the muscles of his chest. Her fingers ached to trace the defined muscles of his upper chest and she could almost taste the salt of him as her eyes played across the musculature of his abdomen. She restrained a sigh when he dropped the towel and she could see the rest of him. His member was almost hidden by his pubic hair but she was looking more at his thighs. He was clearly built for strength and endurance, and she liked the shape of his legs. He turned to get into the tub and she wasn't able to hold back the sigh when his wonderful bottom came into view. Her eyes traveled up his back and she gasped when she saw several small scars along his shoulder blades.

"What?" Cullen whipped around to ask her, arms moving as if pulling a sword and bringing up a shield. Bronwynn shook her head and stepped behind him.

"What are these?" she demanded as she traced the lines with her fingers. She didn't see Cullen close his eyes at her touch; he repressed the shiver her touch evoked. Then he realized what she was tracing and let out a hearty laugh, turning to pull her clothed body tight to his nude one.

"Those, my love, are where you've marked me in your passion," she shook her head.

"I don't understand?" she asked.

"You scratch, my love, you've drawn blood a few times." Bronwynn's eye widened in shock and then she turned red in embarrassment. He laughed again and kissed her sharp cheekbones. "It's okay, darling, I like it," he whispered in her ear before releasing her and stepping into the marble tub. He wasn't sure where she got the thing, but it was very comfortable. Bronwynn was still embarrassed thinking about her leaving scars on his back when she heard him sigh in pleasure from the heat of the water.

"I think I'll go clean your armor," she said. Suddenly shy even though she knew his body as well as her own. He reached out to grab her hand.

"Stay," he said softly, she turned to look at him. He looked so worn out, so defeated that she did. She pulled up a stool and sat beside the tub, holding his hand while they talked of mundane things.

When Cullen started to fall asleep in the tub she laughed throatily and insisted on helping him bathe before he fell asleep. The Templar groused until her soap covered hands found his genitals. Then he pulled her, fully clothed, into the tub with him. Her laughter filled the room when he did. Her passion filled moans soon followed. Her water soaked dress hit the floor seconds before she cried out with her first orgasm. His shout of release was right behind hers. Cullen stood with her in his arms and took her into their room where he spent the next several hours coaxing his mage to more orgasms. When he finally fell asleep it was with her body wrapped around his.

Bronwynn stroked her fingers through his hair, letting his breathing sooth her. She let her mind wander through all that had happened that day. It was pretty clear Cullen wasn't going to tell her what he had seen; and that may be a good thing. She thought she had a pretty good idea it had been extremely traumatic. Cullen had participated in three Harrowings that had gone wrong; he usually had a glass of West Hill Brandy or Rowan's Rose. This was the first time he had actually turned to her for comfort. The other times she had usually been asleep when he came back in. Only the empty glass had ever clued her in on a bad Harrowing.

Bronwynn tried shifting to a more comfortable position, only to have him growl softly and pull her closer. She wondered idly what he was dreaming before letting her mind wander once more. She was drifting off into sleep herself when he started mumbling incoherently. She began to stroke his hair again, placing a soft kiss on his temple. She squeaked in surprise when his arms tightened around her painfully. He was still sleeping when he rolled her under him; thrusting hard into her and saying 'mine' before his teeth locked onto her shoulder.

"Cullen!" she tried to shriek but it came out a strangled gasp. His arms moved to wrap her legs around his waist, she could hear him speaking, begging her to hold on, and swearing he'd get her to safety. Whatever he was dreaming about it certainly had nothing to do with the position they were currently in, but he began to thrust into her with hard, heavy, powerful strokes. When she began to whimper and moan from the suddenness of the pleasure he clamped his mouth on hers and stole her breath.

"Shh, love, don't make a sound," he whispered against her lips as he spread his leg further, opening her up more to his assault. Although she knew he was dreaming and wasn't aware of what he was doing she tried, and failed, to keep quiet like he demanded. His mouth covered hers again and their breath mingled in a rush as he rode her through his dream-scape. When he took his mouth from hers she could hear him saying 'mine' over and over again. She began to respond with 'yes' just as she felt him swelling inside her.

"Oh! Maker!" she gasped when he erupted inside her, spilling his seed. She'd felt it before, and she had always liked how it felt; but this felt more primal.

"Bron!" he shouted before he roared with the final release. His blue eyes locked onto her green ones and she was grateful to know he had woken before he finished. He stilled but didn't release her. Instead he kissed her again; took a deep breath and hooked his elbows under her knees opening her more to him. He kept his eyes locked on hers as he thrust into her again.

Bronwynn thought to stop him, but the look in his eyes held her silent. She realized she could only feel his dick as it moved in and out of her, she could only hear his whispering but not make out the words. Her eyes were held by his, by the fever in them.

"Say it, Bron, tell me," he said a little more loudly as he pounded her into the mattress. "Tell me you're mine, Bron, only mine" he demanded. Her mouth worked but no words would come until he released a leg and rolled her clit between his thumb and forefinger. Her eyes snapped closed and he felt her clench around him as her orgasm broke free.

"YES!" she shouted and her orgasm triggered a second one in him. This time he did collapse on her, wrapping his arms under her once more and holding her tight. Bronwynn lay there gasping under his weight; tears spilling from the corners of her eyes from the intensity of her orgasm. He held her like that for a short time before rolling to his back and pulling her on top of his chest.

"I'm sorry, my love," he whispered. "I didn't mean to…" Bronwynn kissed him to stop him talking.

"Don't," she interrupted him. "I enjoyed it," she said with a small wicked grin. He smiled and released his breath in relief. He hadn't realized what was happening. His dream had been about getting her away from the blood-mages and demons, keeping her safe from those who would turn her inside out. It wasn't the first such nightmare he'd had, it was the first time he'd woken up to being inside her. Then again, after the bad Harrowings he hadn't wanted to be near any mage, not even his mage.

"I'm glad I didn't frighten you," he told her as she folded her arms on his chest and put her chin on her hands to look him in the eye. He ran his calloused fingers through the hair on the side of her face, tracing her ear and grinning as she shivered.

"No, just surprised me." She looked up at him again and he could see a discussion happening in her head. "What were you dreaming about?" she asked. He debated how to answer as she had debated with herself if she should ask.

"What happened to Liam," he paused as he considered how to say it. "I have never seen that, I never imagined it could be done," he said hoarsely. When her fingers wiped across his cheek to clear away the wetness was when he realized he was crying. She simply let him speak, though. "Bron, I … it was more than horrifying. No one, not even Maleficarum; deserve to die like that. I was dreaming of getting you away from those who would do that to you," he finished. She nodded and leaned up to kiss his mouth. "How that translated into possessing you I don't know," he admitted.

"Possessing me?" she asked. He held her face between his hands and kissed her, hard.

"Yes, possessing, you're mine" he murmured against her mouth when she had softened against him.

"Umm, okay?" she answered with dreamy breathlessness. He laughed, and she started to slide off his body. "Ack!" she exclaimed while laughing herself. She looked into his eyes and reached up to run her finger across his forehead.

"I love you, Cullen Stanton Rutherford," Bronwynn said to the Templar. He smiled as he kissed her again.

"I love you Bronwynn Elisabeth Amell" he replied. She kissed him softly then suddenly rolled off him. "Where are you going?" he asked as he tried to hold her. She laughed as she avoided his hands.

"I have an idea about how to fix those blood-mages and get them to talk at the same time," she told him as she grabbed an emerald robe and wrapped it closed.

"I don't like that robe," he groused.

"Why not?" she asked, startled.

"It hides your body from me," he grinned wickedly at her. His reply startled another laugh out of her.

"Ser Knight, I have work to do!" she tried to sound imperious, but her giggles ruined the effect.

"Fine, Lady Enchanter, leave me to languish for want of you," he laughed again when she stuck her tongue out at him before flouncing out of the room. He debated following her but decided to get some more sleep. Hopefully he would have pleasant dreams, not the nightmares.

He passed the night in quiet slumber until she slid back into the bed with him. Once he felt her next to him he woke and rolled to pin her to the mattress. She whispered his name as their lips met.