Aerowena and Cullen Chapter 14 – How Could She Forget the Boot Zapping?
Aerowena sat idly watching the snow fall through the window. Although Cullen hadn't spent much time with her, she felt more comfortable with him suddenly. Since the night of the potato flinging, he'd seemed much more comfortable with her as well. It seems when you're expecting to get controlled by magic, and instead get a potato in the head, you're much more amenable. She'd forgotten all about zapping his boots, however, something that was most disconcerting. How could she forget about the boot zapping? He deserved it so.
She'd breathed on the window and traced little hearts in the moisture. She breathed again and drew a C + A inside a heart. And just as she finished drawing the A, Cullen came around the corner and looked at the window. He raised his brow as she quickly smoothed her hand over the writing. She found herself blushing again. Cullen simply grinned and went about his way. That was the final straw that broke the bronto's back. He just went about his way, completely ignoring her, and grinning no less.
Following close behind him, she waited until he was in the armory and had his boots on. A satisfied yelp greeted her ears and she was feeling very pleased as he hopped up and down trying to take off his boots. He looked up as she laughed.
"Why you little witch" He shouted and began to come at her. She flew outside grabbed a wad of snow and turned and threw it at him just as he came out the door. It missed by a mile. and as she went to grab another pile of snow she was tackled, face first, into the snowdrift. Sputtering she wiped snow from her face and turned, expecting to be helped up.
She expected him to be a gentleman and held out her hand. Instead she was greeted with a pile of snow directly into the face. She sat there shocked and indignant as he laughed. She lashed out at his boots with lightening but he deftly canceled her magic. Damn the man and his Templar training, she thought.
"Tsk tsk. Using magic in a fair fight" he mocked pulling her to her feet.
"Tisn't a fair fight when you weigh twice as much as I do, can cancel my magic and have a big thick piece of metal guarding your person" she sniffed, brushing snow from her hair.
He reached out and brushed her hair from her face and lifting her chin. "You mustn't use magic on me, Ro"
Her insides turned to mush at the sound of her nickname. "I'll do as I please" She stared at him defiantly "as long as you're not looking that is" she added quietly.
"What were you drawing on the window?" He asked changing the subject and trying, unsuccessfully, to look innocent. His knowing smile let her know he knew exactly what she was drawing.
"A hex", she hissed "A hex that will have you in the latrine for weeks"
He laughed loud and hardy this time and touched the tip of her nose with his finger. He grabbed her hand drug her indoors.
She had a blanket and warm cider as she sat across the table from him. She looked through her lashes at him as she drank. He was staring at the window and smiling contentedly. He looked all of 15 again, like when she first saw him.
She was but nine or ten, she remembered. He was so imposing, even then. The Chantry trained the Templars as early as the Circle trained the mages. Here it was, fifteen years later and she still had no idea about his life, nor he hers.
"Were you terribly afraid when they brought you to the Chantry?"
He looked at her thoughtfully and nodded "Terrified. No family, no friends, just me and a very imposing Reverend Mother and Gregoir."
She nodded in reply, "I remember you then. You were so stern. You never set a foot wrong."
He smiled softly "I remember you as well, quite the opposite; always in trouble, always in the First's office. The rats in the senior enchanter's quarters were quite imaginative."
She gasped and laughed "You knew?"
"I saw you letting them out."
"But you never said a word" She smiled, remembering.
"Couldn't get you into more trouble," he shrugged "It was such a small thing anyhow. And hilarious. Spells flying, women screaming, men screaming, rats turning into stone and ice, best night of my life. Or second best" he winked at her, causing the most wonderful stomach flutters "I think several of the enchanters ended up in the infirmary being healed by Wynn because they'd missed the rats and hit each other."
She laid her hand on his and it felt so right, so perfect. The sat and reminisced and learned about each other until the wee hours of the morning.
She was yawning, but she didn't want the moment spoiled, didn't want the night to end.
"Come on then, Ro, time for bed" She really wanted to say something lewd and seductive just then, but what came out was a jaw cracking yawn.
Leaning over the table she kissed his cheek and then smiling, she danced off to her chamber.
And that's how the winter went, with nights talking and friendship growing.