9:34 Dragon
Aylin ran from Anders' clinic to the Gallows, wanting answers. She had heard from Anders that Tyra's mother, Leandra, had been taken by the serial killer in Kirkwall, a mage named Quentin. When Aylin heard the name, she knew it was the creepy man from the Circle who would always follow around women like a wolf after sheep. Something had always put her off about him, but she never thought anything more of it. When she heard that he had disappeared, she grew worried and now she knows she was right to be.
She ran passed Templars and mages alike, running passed Cullen and straight to the First Enchanter's office.
"Aylin?"
"How could you, First Enchanter.." Aylin panted.
"What are you talking about?" the First Enchanter asked, an elf named Orsino.
"Quentin... he's the one who killed those women Ser Emeric was looking for... he's killed Tyra Hawke's mother..." Aylin said, looking at him. "How could you let a lunatic like him loose? Why wasn't he brought in?"
Orsino looked at her with wide eyes. "I had no idea Quentin was responsible, Aylin. I promise you that we were trying to locate him and bring him in for evaluation."
"Evaluation? Orsino are you mad? That man was a raving psychopath and now Leandra Hawke is dead!" Aylin retorted. "How could you or Meredith let him slip through your fingers? How could you have failed so miserably?"
"Aylin, that's enough."
Aylin looked to see Cullen standing in the doorway with Meredith. "Knight-Commander, Knight-Captain."
"Serah Teyber, you would do well to keep your emotions in check." Meredith said, staring her down.
Aylin wasn't afraid of her, despite hiding her magik right under Meredith's nose. "You and the First Enchanter, along with the City Guard, are all responsible for the deaths of those women and the death of Leandra Hawke. Because of your arrogance and your laziness, Quentin was able to slip away from the Gallows and go into hiding. He used blood magik to kill those women, then piece them together to make a doll in the image of his dead wife. Because of your failure, half a dozen women at least are dead and your Templar Emeric is gone too. You should all be ashamed of yourselves!"
Cullen stared at her in shock. No one ever stood up to Meredith like that. He looked at Meredith, seeing her face contorting with anger. He was going to step in and say something, do something, but then Meredith surprised him.
"You are right."
Aylin stared at her, shocked.
"It was my failings as the Knight-Commander that allowed Quentin to escape and do the unspeakable acts he performed. It is my fault that this was allowed to happen. I should have listened to Emeric when he brought it to my attention." Meredith said. "And I can assure you, Serah Teyber, that it will not happen again. I will not let another mage slip through my grasp again."
Aylin tried to hide her fear as best as she could. She looked down, sighing. "Please forgive me, Knight-Commander, First Enchanter. Tyra is a good friend to me and has helped me through some tough times. Her mother was just as kind. I just couldn't bear seeing her in pain like that."
Meredith surprised everyone even further by pulling Aylin into a hug. "I understand, dear girl. It is never easy losing someone close to you." She looked down at Aylin and smiled- actually smiled. "You should go to her, give her comfort. Thank you for bringing this to our attention."
Aylin nodded, dumbfounded, and left the room, glancing at Cullen and seeing the same expression on his face as she and Orsino shared.
When Aylin left, Cullen looked at Orsino then at Meredith when she spoke.
"Aylin Teyber is such a dear girl. Orsino, meet me in my office at noon. Knight-Captain, send word to the City Guard and have their captain meet us in my office at noon as well. We have much to discuss."
Cullen nodded and watched as Meredith left, heading towards her office. Once she was out of ear shot, Orsino looked at Cullen.
"What just happened?"
Cullen shrugged. "I don't know. I've never seen her act like that."
"Nor have I. It's troublesome to say the least. And what of Aylin? Did you notice anything strange?"
Cullen looked at him confused. "No, why?"
Orsino sighed and shook his head. "It's nothing. She was incredibly upset, I'm just worried for her."
"I'll check in with her later once my duties are complete for the day." Cullen said.
"That'd be good. But you should go, you have your orders." Orsino said, waving the Knight-Captain off. When Cullen disappeared down the hall, closing the door behind him, Orsino sighed. 'What was she thinking, coming here?' He thought, thinking on Aylin.
From the moment that she had walked in to the moment Meredith and Cullen walked into the office, Aylin's eyes glowed ever so slightly and the air around her crackle with a static charge. When Meredith and Cullen stepped in through the doorway, it all stopped. Orsino, in that moment, knew that Aylin was a mage, but had hoped for her sake that Meredith especially did not notice. 'Maker, protect Aylin from Meredith. She deserves better than this place.'
Cullen had just left the Captain of the Guard's office and made his way to the Hawke Estate, knocking on the door once he reached it.
"Ah, Knight-Captain!"
"Hello, Bodahn. Is Aylin here?"
Bodahn nodded. "She's in the parlor with Mistress Tyra."
"May I come in? I wish to extend my condolences to Hawke."
Bodahn stepped aside, ushering him in.
Cullen thanked him, making his way to the parlor. He saw the door partially open and raised his hand to knock, but he stopped when he heard talking on the other side- his name mentioned.
"Aylin, I'm fine."
"No, Tyra, you're not. And right now, I can't talk to Cullen. You need me more right now; you shouldn't be alone."
"Aylin, he needs to know. You can't keep hiding it from him, especially with the tensions rising between the Templars and mages."
"That's exactly why I'm not telling him. It'd just ruin everything and I only just got him back. I can't risk losing him again."
"Ow! Careful, Skipper! What is Anders even teaching you these days, how to torture me?"
Aylin giggled. "If you held still, it wouldn't hurt as much."
"Ow!"
"You big baby. There, all done."
"Thanks, Skipper."
"Any time. You're just lucky I was able to fix you up this time. Anders has been on edge and slipping up here and there, so I've been trying to help him pick up the slack."
'Anders, where do I know that name...' Cullen wondered. 'He's one of Hawke's companions, isn't he? And what were they talking about? What isn't Aylin telling me? What does it have to do with the tensions rising?' He shook his head and knocked.
"Come in!"
Cullen pushed the door open and stepped into the parlor.
"Ah, what brings the Knight-Captain to my home?" Tyra asked, grinning.
"I came to offer my condolences, Serah Hawke. Aylin informed us of what happened." Cullen said, looking at the two women.
"Did she now?" Tyra looked at Aylin as she packed away her first aid supplies.
"She was worried about you, and felt it necessary to let us know what happened. It was our fault that this was allowed to happen and on behalf of the Circle and the Order, I offer my most heartfelt apologies." Cullen bowed, placing his hand over his heart.
Tyra sighed. "It's alright, Cullen. I appreciate it, though, I truly do."
Aylin stood and hugged Tyra. "We should let you rest, Tyra. I'll stop by in the morning tomorrow to check in on you. Anders said to come see him if anything changes or happens."
"Thank you, Skipper. Be careful going home." Tyra said. "And thank you, Knight-Captain, for stopping by."
Cullen nodded and followed Aylin out, leaving Tyra to rest. He watched as Aylin hugged Bodahn and his boy, Sandal, before leaving with him.
They walked in silence for a bit before either said anything.
"Aylin, are you doing OK?"
Aylin looked at him and nodded. "I'm fine, just worried about Tyra. Her brother died during the Blight, Bethany got sick in the Deep Roads and went with the Grey Wardens, and Gamlen isn't much of anything near being family to her so Leandra was all she had left. I know how she feels too, like she failed her family, like she wasn't strong enough to protect them. It's not easy, but she's going to be fine. It'll just take time."
Cullen walked with her a ways before anything more was said.
"Cullen, you don't have to walk me all the way home." Aylin said, looking at him.
"Let me at least walk you to the edge of the city?" He asked.
Aylin smiled. "Alright."
They continued to walk until they reached the edge of the city. Cullen stood with her just outside of the gate that led out into the fields outside the city.
"Are you sure you don't want me to walk you home?" he asked, looking down at her.
Aylin smiled. "You don't have to." She looked down at her feet, feeling her cheeks beginning to burn a bit. She looked back up at him. "I'll be safe, I promise."
"Good. Say hello to Conrrat for me?"
"I will."
Cullen watched as Aylin began to turn away, but just as he started to turn away himself, Aylin called out to him. When he turned back to her, his eyes widened as Aylin stood on her toes and kissed him, gently pressing her lips against his. When she set herself back down, her cheeks were as red as he knew his were and she smiled, giving a little wave before walking off towards home. Cullen watched her until she disappeared over the hill, still processing what had just happened.
Varric had been passing by and saw Cullen standing there, staring off into space. He went up to check on him and chuckled when he saw the look on his face. "Well now, Curly, you look like you just won the grand prize!"
Cullen looked at him, his blush deepening. "W-What are you talking about?"
Varric just shook his head and laughed. "She's a sweet kid, Curly. Just be sure to take good care of her." He winked and headed off towards the Hanged Man, leaving Cullen to himself.
Cullen sighed, rubbing his neck as he made his way back to the Gallows. The whole way there, he couldn't get Aylin out of his mind. He cared for her quite a bit, but he hadn't realized how much he really had come to care for her the last couple years. Then her kiss, while it had caught him off guard, made his head spin. Even just thinking about it made his heart race and his skin burn. He found himself smiling, really smiling, for the first time in a long time.
