My apologies on the late update. I'm forced to admit my updates will be far more chaotic than organized, I simply cannot find the time to write.
Also, Chapters 9-11 have not been beta'ed. I do not want to overwhelm my beta reader. If you're interested in beta reading for me, please let me know, I would welcome the help.
Story Notes: The developers have said very little about the country of Rivain. I've seen people speculate that it's based on southern Spain, and I took my cues from there. I've given Rivain an Andalusian feel to it, and I will develop that more in the chapters to come. Talise speaks Rivaini, and I'm using Spanish for it.
Talise's title, if Alistair would agree to the terms she had put forth, if she would go to Denerim to swear fealty, all of it was pushed to the back of Cullen's mind. Shortly after the meeting in the war room, Talise had left with several of the companions to meet a Qunari war ship, and finish up Inquisition business on the Storm Coast. Her absence from his quarters, from the keep, made his heart ache, he found himself standing on the ramparts, gazing out past the bridge, looking for any sign of the assassin atop her mount often during the day. At night he slept little, but when he did, nightmares tortured him, and he awoke to an empty and cold bed each time.
There was a mountain of paperwork on his desk, and he was doing none of it, instead he stared at the drops of crimson blood staining the wood. When Talise had staggered into his office one night, arm sliced to the bone from a Venatori blade, she had bled on his desk, and drops of crimson had soaked into the grain of the wood. One gloved hand reached for the spots, proof that she had been here, that her presence in his life was not just the product of some lyrium-withdrawal dream, and traced over them gently.
A knock sounded on one of the doors to his quarters, and he sighed, "Come in."
Valissia's head came into view, her fiery hair twisted into a perfect, braided bun atop her head, but the dark circles around her eyes testified to how badly she was taking the absence of the Herald and her friend. The spirit mage was not sleeping any better than Cullen, and had frequently seen candlelight in his quarters as she walked the courtyard at night, "I…."
"Is something the matter Valissia?" He knew that Talise wrote to her, and for a moment his heart constricted, squeezing tightly as fear seized him.
"No, everything is fine. I'm just… lonely. I thought maybe I could talk you into a game of chess", she stepped into his quarters, her stormy gaze going to the desk, and the spots of Talise's blood.
For a moment Cullen thought of telling her no, that he had work to do, but one look at the mage's face, her skin more pale than usual beneath a smattering of freckles, dark circles like bruises rimming her eyes, and he decided to ignore his work for the moment, "I could use the break."
They played one game of chess in near silence, both letting the focus on the game take away the stress of having those closet to them gone. By the second game, they were talking back and forth, and by the third they were laughing at each other, making jokes and teasing each other. It was a badly needed respite for them both.
"We have much in common, you and I", Valissia spoke, moving a piece across the board.
Cullen made a move as well, capturing a different piece on the board, "We do?"
She nodded as she moved another piece, her stormy gaze flicking over the board, "Yes. We're always the ones getting left behind"
"How do you do it? How do you watch her leave all the time?" The mage's words burrowed straight into Cullen's heart, which beat painfully against his ribs for a moment. Talise had left while he was in a meeting, having said her goodbyes quietly in his quarters. The moment he had stood in front of his desk, realizing she was gone, had hurt more than he had expected, she left an ache that rivalled the lyrium withdrawals that plagued him.
"Well, I don't love her like you do. I love her, but I don't look at her like she's the brightest star in the night sky", from underneath a forest of dark auburn lashes, Valissia's gray gaze watched Cullen carefully. Talise had been secretive, as usual, about her feelings, but she could read the commander far easier.
He flushed a deep pink at her words, his gaze dropping to the chessboard, "I wasn't aware anyone saw the way I looked at her."
"Anyone with half a brain and a working pair of eyes sees it Cullen. I understand why you were wish to keep it quiet, but know that you're doing a poor job of it", she smiled at him, sighing when he captured another piece, "Why did you have to take that one?"
"Because you beat me with it last time", he smiled at her, his amber gaze warm with humor.
"Fine. Be that way", she sighed, moving another piece on the board, "I know you're not sleeping well again. I see the candles in your room at night."
"Which must mean you're awake to see them", Cullen shot Talise a pointed look over the top of the chessboard, his amber eyes gleaming with knowledge.
Valissia flushed slightly, nodding at Cullen's words, "Touché Commander. I'm not sleeping well either. When all of this over, I'm going to sleep for a week straight."
"If I only I could sleep that long", the dark circles around his eyes testified that his sleeping problems had started long before Talise had left, long before the assassin had ever set foot in Skyhold.
"Talise told me of your lyrium withdrawal", her gray eyes were serious as she looked across the table at Cullen, "I may have some solutions for you. Or at least some things to help ease the symptoms. Which is why she told me, to try and help you."
He said nothing for a moment, his amber eyes wide with the realization that Talise had confided in Valissia. He was torn, he had not exactly told Talise to keep it secret, but he was not prepared to find out that she had confided in someone, even her best friend. His words were stilted when he finally spoke, "Thank you Valissia."
"My concern isn't completely altruistic." Her shoulders tensed briefly when he spoke, and she kept her tone deliberately light as she continued to study him from under the cover of her lashes.
"It's not?"
"No. Talise is more herself, less of Ghost, when you are around. You're good for her."
He smiled, relaxing in his chair once more, Valissia was both trying to help him, and to help Talise at the same time. She would not use the knowledge of his struggles with lyrium against him. A smile curved his lips as he shook his head at her words, "No. She is good for me."
"You are good for each other", when Cullen relaxed, so did Valissia, and she propped her chin on her hand as she stared at the board. The commander had pinned her into a corner of the chessboard, again, a favorite move of his, and now that he was accepting of her knowledge, she was able to concentrate on the board. Her auburn brows drew together in a frown as she realized he was likely to beat her once again.
"You're good for Christopher you know. I did not get to know him much before Haven, but he was struggling with the burden of the mark. And running things. He seems to have found some balance to his life", Cullen spoke, gazing intently at the chessboard.
Valissia turned bright red at the commander's words, the color deepening the smattering of freckles that topped her cheeks, "He's not what I expected."
"Neither was Talise. Something else we have in common", he spoke, moving another piece and then taking one of hers.
"I am sorry for blurting out Talise's heritage at a meeting. I know she wanted to tell you herself." Valissia heaved a sigh as he took a piece of hers, she chewed on her lip thoughtfully as she stared at the board.
Cullen waited patiently as Valissia looked over the board, his amber eyes taking the spirit mage in. She was not as boisterous as Amelia, not as stealthily quiet as Talise, but she had the softest touch of any of them. He had to tell his soldiers to stop bothering the redhead with every ache and pain, she healed any complaint they had, and oftentimes left the infirmary too exhausted to walk. At her words he shook his head no, disagreeing with her, "It was not your fault Valissia. There are things I need to tell her about me."
"I can't imagine what Kinloch Hold must have been like. And I was in Kirkwall several times, I know how chaotic things got." Valissia lifted her stormy gaze to his, sympathy evident in her gaze. She knew what had happened in Kirkwall, and as a mage, knew the horrors that had been unleashed within the tower better than most. Although she was afraid of the templars, and was often nervous around them, she trusted Cullen; she was also moved by her compassion, and an urge to make things better for anyone she knew, that included the commander.
Cullen nodded at her words, his fingers tightening around a chess piece for a moment, "Have you ever been in a circle?"
"No. My magic manifested itself when I was 10, and I stayed at Nightreach. The templars were not interested in battling the Storm Raiders, so they never came. I went to Rivain several times, and once Talise was… Ghost, I traveled with her." Tucking a loose strand of shimmering auburn hair behind her ear, she shook her head no at his words.
"It shouldn't surprise me that Talise was in Rivain. She seems Andrastian, and then at the same time, she seems like she isn't." Cullen frowned at the chessboard, Valissia had managed to get out of the trap he had laid on the chessboard.
"We all absorbed much of the Rivaini beliefs, but for Talise, it came naturally." With a triumphant grin, Valissia leaned back from the chessboard, watching the commander lean forward, his gaze sharp on the chessboard. For a moment a memory flickered to the surface, the hot nights in Rivain, the seers, answering never ending questions from three young girls. She had seen that same intent look Cullen wore, not on someone's face in Rivain, but in a dream, or a memory of one.
Cullen nodded, even as he kept his gaze on the chessboard, studying it with a focus born of long years of training as a templar, "The Circles must be reformed. I'm not sure I even believe every mage should be in them."
"Careful Commander, one might think you're a heretic", Valissia grinned at him, finally making her move. One final game, which Cullen won, and he went back to his office. He found it easier to concentrate, and over the next few days he found himself sitting across from Valissia several more times.
The rain on the Storm Coast was never ending. Talise had gotten used to being soaked to her skin by the time the day was done. This time though, she did not feel the cold rain soaking into her. She stood behind Christopher, and the Herald stood in between Iron Bull and Gatt, her bright gaze focused as she studied the coast.
A Qunari ship was supposed to meet them here, and they had just fought off a large group of Venatori agents. Talise slipped from her spot behind them, vanishing from sight and slipping off towards the forest behind them, intending to scout it one last time. Deep in conversation, no one saw her go, until Christopher looked over his shoulder at the companions, "Where is Talise?"
"She slipped back towards the forest, probably doing one last patrol", Blackwall points towards the tree line, as the assassin comes back into view.
"By herself?" Varric frowns, following Blackwall's hand back towards the trees, "Let's not tell Curly about this part."
"He's going to have to learn to let her go", Iron Bull rumbled in response, frowning as he scans the beach, studying the horizon for the Qunari dreadnought.
"Would you?" Varric looked over at Iron Bull, lifting a brow in question.
"If Iron Bull was in Cullen's shoes, Talise would likely be tied to the bed while he was gone." Varric grins wickedly as he watches Talise make her way back towards them.
Blackwall snorts a laugh, nodding in agreement, "With silken ropes."
"How about we not talk about Talise tied to a bed", Christopher spoke then, as he watched the horizon for the Qunari dreadnought.
"Would you prefer we talk about Valissia tied to a bed?" Iron Bull grinned, delighting in poking the Herald over the red-headed mage, "All that red hair, spread out over a silken pillow."
Christopher frowned, shaking his head at the question, "No. Not any better."
"They seem incredibly close" Iron Bull let the sentence dangle, grinning at Christopher.
"Are you inferring that the girls are…?" Blackwall lifted a dark eyebrow, barely able to contain his laughter.
"She's going to kill you if she hears you talking about this you know", despite his words, Varric laughed.
"If they do sleep together, I would kill to be the man in the middle of that", Blackwall smirked.
"So would I." Iron Bull nodded, folding his arms over his barrel chest, "A blonde, a redhead and a brunette. It's the holy trifecta."
"I'll drink to that back at Skyhold." Varric laughed, checking to make sure Bianca, his beloved crossbow, was loaded.
"Drink to what?" Talise appeared behind Varric, lifting a dark eyebrow in question.
"Ahhhh… getting warm again." Christopher flushed lightly, his olive complex hiding the flush that creeps over his cheeks. The other companions burst into laughter at the Herald's response.
Later the Herald and companions were deep in an argument with Gatt, the elf sent to them on behalf of the Qunari. Talise said nothing, but watched the argument intensify between the elf and the companions, stepping silently towards Iron Bull. She stopped just behind him, watching the horizon, the ship they were supposed to meet grew closer, and more Tevinter mages were gathering on the beach. Bull's mercenaries, the Chargers, would be in danger soon, and a decision had to be made. When the Qunari mercenary looked at her, and she caught a glimpse of pain in his gaze, Talise stepped from around him, her chin lifting as she looked up towards the Herald.
"Christopher", Talise spoke, waited a beat, and then repeated the Herald's name, "The Chargers have been loyal to us since the beginning."
"I know. But we lose the Qunari alliance if we save the Chargers."
"Some things are more important than alliances Herald", Blackwall spoke, his eyes dark as he watched the Chargers.
"You do this, you'll be Tal Vashoth", Gatt argued, pointing towards the Qunari ship, under heavy attack by Venatori mages.
"They're my men" Iron Bull gritted the words out, his gaze dark as it bounced from the Chargers to the Qunari dreadnought.
Talise looked pointedly at Christopher, folding her arms over her chest, "Blackwall is right. Some things are more important than an alliance."
Christopher nodded, heaving a sigh, "Call the retreat Bull. Save the Chargers."
Talise started to walk towards the beach, unsheathing the daggers strapped to her back, when Iron Bull stopped her, laying a hand on her shoulder, "What are you doing Bull? We can fight through the Venatori and save any survivors."
"There won't be any survivors", as Iron Bull spoke the words, the ship exploded, and he lifted a massive arm, shielding his face from the blast, while pushing Talise behind him with the other arm.
That night in camp, huddled around a fire as they tried in vain to dry out their gear, Talise sat next to Iron Bull. The Qunari warrior stared at the flames of the campfire, most quiet than usual, "Well hey there little love. I'm not good company right now."
"If I wanted to sit with someone and hear them wax poetic, I'd be sitting with Varric", Talise answered, bringing her knees up to her chest and propping her chin on one.
Iron Bull snorted a laugh at her comment, "You're here to cheer me up then."
She shook her head no at his words, keeping her gaze on the fire, watching the branches in it burn, "Nope. I'm here because I want to be here. Got a problem with me sitting here?"
"Let's talk then. Does Cullen call you little love?" disbelief evident in his tone, Bull looked down at Talise, folding his massive arms over his chest.
She can feel the blush that crept up her face, staining her cheeks a dark pink, "No. He doesn't. He calls me Talise."
Iron Bull did not seem surprised by her words, "Ahhhh... that explains the attraction then."
"What does?" Her brow furrowed at his words, and she looked up at him, her chin propped on her knees, long strands of hair cascading down around her back, light from the campfire making the strands sparkle with red and gold.
"You're not the Ghost of Ferelden to him. You're not Hale Montgomery's daughter, Jordan Montgomery's little sister, possible heir to a brand-new title."
"I'm not that to everyone here too." One slender arm lifted to gesture towards the group gathered around the fire. Varric was entertaining the Chargers and the other companions with a story, one of Hawke's misadventures in Kirkwall.
"Yes, but you don't look at Blackwall, or me, the way you look at Cullen. And he doesn't look at anyone the way he looks at you. We all see it." The Qunari warrior looked at the other companions, all listening spellbound to the surface dwarf. On any other night, he would be over there himself, laughing and talking, drinking too much ale; but tonight, things were too raw for the battle-hardened Reaver, and he had sat by himself.
She blushed again, her smooth cheeks turning a deep pink, "And we're changing the subject."
"Talise, I don't care who you do what with. But do not think you are fooling anyone, sneaking off to his quarters during the day, or staying there in the night and slinking out in the morning. You, Amelia and Valissia share a room in the keep, yet only one person sleeps in that room most nights", Iron Bull leans down, until his good eye is level with Talise's bright gaze, "Valissia is with Christopher. Amelia lusts after Michel and he tucks her into bed with courtly manners and good intent. But you're not in your bed at night, are you?"
The flush on her cheeks darkened further, and she chewed on her lip while looking up at the Qunari.
"You know, you're bringing the pieces of your life all together. And Cullen is a huge part of that right now. But he's not your salvation. Like I told you when you first got here, he's not the sunrise. He just taught you to look for it", Iron Bull stood, stretched his arms above his head, and then leaned down, dropping a massive arm around Talise's shoulders affectionately, "Thanks for the distraction."
"Sometimes doing the right thing is more important than who you swear loyalty to. I'll stand beside you in any fight Bull", she leaned into his arm, winding an arm around his neck for a brief hug.
"And I'll block a sword for you any time you need it." He let Talise go, and started to walk back towards the Chargers were sitting, "Got to get you back to the Commander in one piece."
Somehow, he was not quite sure exactly how, Cullen's quarters had been overrun with the research Valissia was working on, and within a day she was joined by Amelia. The two of them read books, made notes, sometimes argued about different magical theories, spells that might work in different situations, and were occasionally underfoot. He was never lacking for company though.
In return, Valissia and Amelia were gaining an impressive understanding of how the army trained, battle tactics, and what it took to run the army. Several times they had pointed out different ways of doing things, a new way of approaching a problem. Amelia would nearly bounce in her chair, her blonde curls swinging around her face, until he acknowledged her, Valissia simply waited until a calm moment, but could argue her point with an equal intensity. They also had meals delivered to his quarters, and soon had someone assigned to clean his quarters while they forced him to play chess or take a walk through the garden.
"I sense Talise's hand in this", Cassandra spoke from the doorway of Cullen's quarters, grinning as she saw the spot where both had been working on research. One corner of his office, a spot where the sun shone in through the window, now had a small table, which was heaped with books, reams of parchment sat in one chair, quills and bottles of ink decorated the empty spots on the table. It was a disaster, and more than one Cullen had made up his mind to clean it, only for the two mages to insist there was a point to the chaos.
He held a mug of hot tea, spiked with several herbs, in his palm, as he read over a report, and absorbed in his work he responded with a noncommittal murmur. In truth, he missed the company Talise had provided, she often forsook her spot in the rookery to sit with him, and when she left on a mission, his quarters had seemed emptier than ever.
"She sends her best friends to watch over you. They're turned your quarters into a virtual library on magic and healing, they make you eat meals, offer their opinions in the middle of meetings, and I've seen Amelia dragging you around the garden. And all you can say is hmmm?"
"I know what she did, and I know why she did it", Cullen answered, setting the cup of tea down to write something on the report, "And… I find I like it."
When the tawny-haired commander had muttered his enjoyment of the attention and friendship, Cassandra's grin had widened, her eyes twinkling with mirth, "You got used to having company here up here."
"I did. And I find I quite like having their company", Cullen picked up his mug, sipping at it and then setting it down with a look of disgust on his features, "That is… interesting."
Cassandra snorted a laugh at Cullen when he sipped the tea, "Valissia experimenting again?"
"Yes… and it's awful." His nose wrinkled at the mug, as if the mug itself had offended him. Valissia had been experimenting on him, using different spells, potions, and teas spiked with herbs, all in effort to find ways to ease his pain from the withdrawals, and the aches that came with it. In all honesty, he was feeling physically better, his joints did not ache as much, his head did not pound with frequent headaches; but the spirit mage could do nothing for his lonely heart.
"Talise makes one that is far better. Has all these spices from Rivaini in it. She uses it after she's had a particularly hard fight." Cassandra leaned against his desk, her fingers tracing over the crimson stains on Cullen's desk.
"You know gotten to know her well." To appear more casual about Talise than he truly feels, he spoke more to a report on his desk than he did Cassandra.
"I wouldn't say that. I know her, I know some of her secrets. Not all of them. Not nearly as many as you do." The Seeker's gaze lifted from the stains on his desk to Cullen's features, gleaming with a knowing look as she studied him.
Cullen felt a deep pink flush creep up his face and settle onto his cheekbones at the Seeker's words, one hand lifted to rub at the back of his neck. It was unnerving to know that his feelings were so easily seen, "I… I mean…."
"Look, we all know you're trying to keep it quiet. But that doesn't mean we don't all know. I knew the first morning she was here." Never one to shy away from something, Cassandra pointedly looked at Cullen, folding her arms over her chest.
"You… ahhh... you did?" One large hand rubbed at the back of his neck as his cheeks darkened further, flushing a deep red in embarrassment as Cassandra looked at him.
"I saw it when she stood for judgement. The entire court saw part of it, but she looked at you last. You were the last person she looked at, before making her decision."
At the mention of that morning, Cullen's amber eyes lifted towards the main keep. The memory of Talise, broken and hurting, demanding judgment for what she had done, still haunted him, especially at night, "I wanted to keep her safe. She was hurting, and I just wanted to make it better for her."
"Like I said, we all know. Some of us have known since she first got here." A blast from the horns at the main gate, beneath Cullen's quarters, sounded, and shouts went up, sparing Cullen from having to respond. A cheer started among the soldiers that were on guard at the main gate, the Herald and his companions had returned. Cassandra walked to the doorway, and stopped to grin at Cullen over his shoulder, "Speak of the devil. She has returned."
"And here I thought she was a ghost, and not a devil." Cullen followed Cassandra out of his quarters with a pounding heart, trying his best to appear as just the commander, and not like his heart had just crossed the bridge back into Skyhold, safe once more.
Talise slid from her mount, a tall, dark gray horse with heavily feathered feet, and heaved a grateful sigh. They had been out for longer than they expected, the Storm Coast was crawling with undead, and bandits. All her gear needed cleaning, her weapons badly needed to be sharpened, one dagger was working loose of its handle, her poison stocks were low, and she wanted nothing more than to see Cullen.
She had not expected to find that leaving Skyhold, leaving him, would leave her with an ache that hurt to her very bones. Her summer bright gaze had swung back to the Frostbacks more often than she wanted, she had written pages of letters to him, and received plenty back. There was some comfort to be had, Valissia and Amelia had promised to stay with Cullen: she had confided to them that Cullen had stopped taking lyrium, and the two mages had volunteered to pore through the library, looking for ways that would make the process easier. Still, she had been caught off guard by how badly she missed him, and had channeled that against every opponent they faced. She fought harder, faster, was more ruthless; like she had for years, she had channeled her emotions into her skills.
Standing in the muddy courtyard, she caught the jingle of mail, the clank of plate armor; as she took a breath a whiff of elder flower and oakmoss hung in the air, and chills raced down her arms. For a moment, tears burned in her gaze, and she heaved a breath into her lungs, looking up through a heavy fall of dark silken hair, to find Cullen standing just out of arm's reach, "Commander."
He sucked in a breath as he saw her, sliding from her horse. Suddenly his heart was thudding against his chest, "I've had some company the past few days".
"Oh?" Her question was light, as she struggled to keep her emotions in check. She was grateful for the scarf that covered the lower part of her face, it gave her something to hide behind as she looked up at him.
"I gather you sent Valissia and Amelia to keep me company?", the smile on his face faded away as he looked at her. She was wrapped in black leather armor, bristling with more daggers and knives than he thought possible. Over her face she wore a black scarf, drawn up to the bridge of her nose, and up over her high cheekbones; the lower portion of her face was obscured, leaving her bright eyes blazing out at him in shades of cerulean. With the hood of her cloak up over her head, he realized, she would be almost invisible, without using any of her skills.
Her heart pounded against her ribs, she wanted to throw herself into his arms, wanted to hide behind him from the world, wanted the comfort that she found in his arms. One hand slowly tugged the scarf that covered her face down, revealing the high cheekbones, the small, pointed chin, and leaving her nowhere to hide, "I did. Were they too much?"
"At times, yes", he nodded at her words, his fingers curling into fists to keep from reaching her, "But I appreciated the company. After you left, my quarters seemed too… empty."
"They can be overwhelming." A small grin lifted her lush lips as she looked up at him, aware of how overwhelming both Valissia and Amelia could be at times.
"I found they were what I needed though", as he spoke the words, he continued to stare at her. For the first time since she set foot in Skyhold, he was looking at the Ghost of Ferelden. The eyes he was lost in were the same eyes that a target saw last, the smell of water lilies, a scent that hung about his quarters even now, meant death for a target. Standing before him, holding his torn and battered heart in her ebony gloved hands, was one of the most feared assassins in the world.
None of that mattered though, and he reached for her without a thought for the people that would see him, or what they would say. When she tugged the scarf from her face, and looked up at him, he was lost, falling into her summer bright gaze again. One large hand slid down her armor-clad shoulder, down her arm, and reached for her hand.
Talise had seen the look on his face when he first saw her, she knew the look, had seen it before; outside of Antiva assassins were feared, and the mere rumor of Ghost in a city was enough to set a city on edge. Guards would be doubled, mercenaries hired to protect the rich and powerful, and people who had no reason to live in fear found themselves drowning in it. She braced herself for Cullen's reaction, for the moment he turned from her, and instead he pulled her to him.
Relief coursed through her veins, and she launched herself at him with enough force to send him staggering back. Nearly a foot shorter than he stood, her booted feet left the muddy ground as she wound her arms around his neck, and buried her face in the fur mantle of his surcoat. Cullen took several steps backwards when she flung herself at him, his free hand reaching up to cup the back of her head as she came up off the ground, the arm around her back shifting to hold her more firmly to him.
"Thank the Maker", his heart pounded with an equal amount of relief. The nightmares that had tortured him, her broken and bleeding, needing help, or the worse one, the dreams where Christopher and the companions brought her body back with them, were all untrue. Talise was not only standing before him, he was holding her in his arms, pressing one gloved hand against the hardened leather armor on her back.
Over Cullen's shoulder she saw Amelia and Valissia leaning their heads together, golden and auburn strands of hair mixing as they leaned against her, and she caught Valissia's soft smile. Christopher swept Valissia up and walked for the main keep, while Amelia was pulled away by Michel, and the other companions dispersed as well. She was still in Cullen's arms, feet dangling off the ground, as the stable boys came to collect the horses, "Can I tell you a secret?"
"Of course."
"I missed you."
Cullen smiled at her then, leaning forward to brush a kiss against her forehead, "I missed you. I was grateful for the company you sent me. But I am so glad you're back."
Behind his neck she tugged her gloves off, holding them in one hand, the other she sunk into his tawny tresses, tipping her chin up to catch his lips. Cullen sucked in a breath, as she nipped at his lower lip, and he parted his lips, rubbing her tongue with her. Before the kiss could deepen further, he lifted his head, and let her frame slide down his, catching her finely boned face in his leather gloved hands, "I think… we need to go upstairs now."
Talise nodded in agreement to his words, taking a step back from him to clear her head. Already her cheeks were flushed with arousal, and she could feel her heart racing as she looked up at him. With a brief peek at the courtyard, she turned, and walked up the stairs. Cullen was right behind her, his fingers reached for hers as they walked, squeezing tightly.
Once in his quarters, he slammed the doors shut, and turned to Talise, who reached for a dagger in her boot. Wordlessly, she started tugging her weapons she off, the daggers in her boots, the long ones strapped to her back, and started to work on her armor. Her bright blue gaze met his as she popped the clasps on her chest piece, letting it hang from her form as she tugged the rest of her armor off, the pieces hitting the ground with thuds. Across from her, he tugged his surcoat off, dropping it in his chair. A few moments later, and he was down to a pair of leather pants and a linen tunic.
"Are we going to break in your chair? Since we've already broken in your desk?" She grins impudently at him, shaking her hair free of the high ponytail she wore it in.
When his armor was off, he reached for her, sinking his fingers into her hair, and tilting her face up to him, his demeanor had changed, she saw the somehow sweetly dominating gleam in his eyes, and it sent a shiver up her spine, "Not the chair. Upstairs. Right now Talise."
"And if I don't?" she challenged, rebellion gleaming bright in her sky touched gaze, as she looked up at him, tugging the last piece of her armor from her wrist.
His fingers tightened in her hair, tipping her head back until he could press his lips to hers, gently, belying in the strength in his arms as he held her, "Now Talise."
She shivered, nodding at his words, her momentary flash of rebellion gone. His fingers slipped from her hair and she turned, walking to the ladder and then climbing it. Cullen took a moment to lock the doors to his quarters, before climbing the ladder after her. Talise was standing by the bed when he stepped onto the balcony, her eyes nearly glowing with arousal as she watched him cross the wooden floor to her. Instead of pulling her to him, he reached for the hem of her shirt, tugging off, and then tugged on the ties on her leggings, pulling those free and then yanking them over her gently curved hips.
She managed to kick her feet free of her leggings at the same time she tugged his shirt up towards his shoulders, and then her fingers went to the ties on his pants, only to stop when his hands grabbed hers. Holding her hands in one of his, he pushed her towards the bed, until she fell backwards onto it, and then he leaned down, crawling onto the bed after her. Talise scooted backwards until she was at the head of the bed, her arms reaching up for Cullen.
He leaned into her, parting her legs with his thigh, his lips meeting hers, his tongue tangling with hers in a rhythm that matched his hips, which were rocking into hers. Each time he ground against her, a bolt of pleasure rocked through him, and he groaned into the kiss, one of his hands rising to tangle in her hair, cupping the back of her head. Talise scored her nails down his back, leaving trails of fire as she arched up from the bed, her legs curling around his waist.
They kissed until Talise's lips were plump, until Cullen was so hard his cock was leaking inside of his leather breeches, the swollen head peeking up through the untied laces. His free hand cupped her breast, pinching the light pink nipple until it pebbled and pushed against his fingers, and then he broke the kiss, ducking his head to suck on her breasts, while Talise squirmed and writhed on the bed beneath him. Her hands were restless, sliding from his shoulders down his back and then back up, into his hair, holding his head against her.
When her fingers curled into his hair, mussing it, his own reached for the lacy waistband of her smallclothes, tugging them free and sliding them down her thighs, until she could kick them free, and then he settled between her thighs once more. A moan rumbled in his chest when his fingers skated over the tender folds between her legs, she was already swollen and slick; delicately he ran his fingertips over her, again and again until she was arching from the bed, moaning into his kiss.
"Please Cullen… please..." Her hips lifted from the bed, trying in vain to get his fingers to rub against her over-sensitive clit.
"Right…" Already he knew what she wanted, and with a grin of masculine triumph, he ran the pad of his calloused thumb over the bundle of nerves. Immediately he felt her legs twitch, and he pressed a kiss to the inside curve of one breast, "Here?"
"Yes there. Please there. Please." Talise babbled as his thumb stroked over her, and she curled both hands into his hair, holding onto him as her back bowed from the bed.
"Tell me what you need", his voice dropped lower, whispering against her skin, but still carrying the weight of command as he spoke, calloused fingers running over the soft, slick folds between her thighs, which she spread eagerly for him.
"You. I need you."
"You have me. What do you need?"
"Just… " Her words broke apart as her hips lifted from the bed, her legs tightening around his waist. To keep from screaming, she bit her lip, her teeth sinking into the lush bottom curve until she tasted blood. Cullen leaned up then, capturing her lips with his, and she moaned into his kiss, almost shrieking as her body pulsed with her climax.
She drenched his fingers, and the feeling drove Cullen to the edge of desperation. As soon as she relaxed on the bed, blinking dazedly up at him, he moved, rising to his knees and shoved his pants down past his hips. Shaking off her pleasurable haze, Talise reached for his cock as soon as it was free of his breeches, curling her fingers around his length and stroking it as she looked up at him. He fell forward onto his hands, braced on either side of her body, panting as she stroked him, his eyes closing against the pleasure, "Talise, I'm not sure I can be gentle."
"I don't want gentle. I need to know you're real." Her fingers ran up and down his length, not quite squeezing, but not letting go either. She kept her touch light as she toyed with him, knowing he would lose control faster the more she teased him. One slim hand lifted to his chest, pressing against it, as she leaned up from the pillows scattered across his bed.
He blinked confusedly at her, the pleasurable haze starting to swamp his brain, her fingers around his erection making it hard for him to think. Her hand pressed into the muscles of his chest harder, and he leaned back, until he was stretched out in front of her, laying on his back, his head at the foot of the bed. She followed him as he laid down, rising to her knees above him, her fingers continuing their delicate dance up and down his length. The hand in the middle of his chest slid down, her nails lightly raking over the muscles of his stomach, and he moaned in response, reaching for her, intent on pulling her up to his hips.
Talise evaded his grasp, reaching up with a hand to curl round his, as her head dropped over his length. Parted lips pressed soft, tender kisses over the swollen crown of his cock, and down his length, her tongue traced the throbbing veins as she lifted her head back up, her lips parted and she sucked on just the swollen head for a moment. Cullen hissed out a curse, then a prayer, the hand that held hers tightening, the other falling to the bed and grabbing handfuls of the blanket.
From under her lashes her bright sky gaze lifted to watch his face as she sucked on his length, slowly working more of him into her mouth. Tawny hair was tousled by her fingers, his jaw was tight, his face tipped up towards the ceiling, his eyes closed, his lips moving in a soundless prayer. Her lips curled upwards in a grin as she lifted her head from his cock, running her tongue against the sensitive underside, tracing her name in tiny letters with the nimble tip of her tongue over the spot.
"Maker's…. breath… Talise…" his fingers rose from the bed, reaching for her, only to fall back onto the bed and fist back into the blankets, pulling them into a heap beside him. His hips rocked upwards to meet her tongue, it was torture, feeling her lick over his length when he desperately wanted her to suck on him once more, but it was a pleasurable torture, each movement of her tongue sent lightning bolts running down his spine.
"What do you need Cullen?" She whispered his words back to him as she looked up at him, running her tongue up and down his length, until it had slid over every inch of skin.
Cullen recognized his words, from just a few minutes ago, and he groaned, knowing she was taking control back from him. He was unable to resist the siren song of pleasure, and his hips bucked as she continued to lick over him, "You… I need you."
"Oh mi amor, you have me. Don't you know?", a wicked grin curved her lips as she smiled up at him, her eyes bright with desire.
He hissed at her words, his hips bucking, lifting his cock to her in blatant invitation, hands squeezing around hers and the blanket. He was throbbing, his cock so hard it leaked, the clear droplets were met by the gentle swipe of her tongue as she looked up at him, and his honeyed gaze closed, "Please Talise… please."
"Now I know why you like me to beg so much", a thrill of power rushed through her, watching one of the strongest men she knew, beg for her. She continued to just lick the head of his length, her fingers curling loosely around his length, fingers not meeting, and stroking gently.
"More…" it was nearly whimpered as Cullen shifted on the bed, his entire frame shaking as she started to stroke him. It had been too long without her, even a day was too long without her, and now she was teasing him, torturing him, with soft licks and sucking, only to back off, "I need you… more than I need lyrium."
Talise's eyes widened at his words, for a moment, and then she dropped her head, her lips tracing over his length once more, before parting and sucking him in. She did not stop, until she had to, until he was crowding the back of her throat, and she was close to gagging. Cullen pushed himself to his elbows with a shout when she sucked his cock back into her mouth, only to fall backwards onto the bed, his hand leaving the mattress to curl into her hair, holding her head gently.
"Fuck… like that…" He could do little more than pant as she sucked on him, her lips moving up and down his length. When she sucked him into her mouth once more, her cheeks caving in as her mouth slid down his length, he cursed, pushing up from the mattress, the hand in her hair fisting it, and tugging her head away from him, the hand that held hers letting go of her slim fingers and reaching for her shoulder, grabbing her small frame and turning her in one quick motion.
Talise bounced slightly when her back hit the bed, and she looked up at him, his frame sliding over hers. A shiver ran through her, and before he could slide his leg between hers, she parted her thighs, letting her legs fall open on the bed. The tender folds between her legs were slick, swollen, the insides of her thighs gleamed with arousal; her breasts were topped by hardened pink nipples, as she lay stretched out beneath him. One hand reached for his length, and she stroked it gently, her eyes darkening with arousal when his hips bucked into her hand.
Cullen looked down at her, seeing her eyes nearly black with desire, pupils taking over the swirling blue of her gaze, her breasts topped with swollen nipples, and the slick, swollen folds between her legs, revealed to him as she lay on the bed, legs parted in a wanton display. A groan left him, and he reached for her hand, stilling her fingers on his length. Keeping his hand pressed over hers, he leaned forward, until the head of cock was pressed tight against her slick opening.
Talise whimpered, her hips lifting from the bed, pressing against him, and she let go of his cock, twining her fingers around his and lifting their arms over her head as he stretched out atop her. Her moan met his as he slid into her, and she lifted her hips from the bed in greedy response, hissing out a breath as he slid further into her. Cullen cursed as his cock slipped into her folds, she was twitching and spasming around his length, one calloused hand slid to her thigh, lifting her leg until it was curled high around his back, and his hips snapped forward, burying his length in her.
"Maker… Cullen… I can't…", She squealed as he sunk into her, her body struggling to accept him, she felt a familiar burn of discomfort until it faded to pleasure, her nails scored his shoulders again as she arched up from the bed. Cullen set a punishingly hard, but slow rhythm, withdrawing from her body and then snapping his hips forward, sliding his free hand down her back until he could cup her ass in his hand, lifting her up to meet his thrusts.
On a moan, she buried her face in his shoulder, her free hand clinging to his shoulder, the fingers of her other hand wrapping tightly around his hand. Eagerly she met each thrust with her hips, she moaned when his hips pressed against hers. She was hovering on the edge again, each thrust pushing her closer to another orgasm, and she whimpered, her nails digging into the skin on his shoulders again. He felt her tighten around him, hissed in a breath when she clawed at him, and he knew she was close. He let go of her ass, snaking his hand around her hip until he could rub at her sensitive clit once more. When she whimpered and whined, writhing on the bed, he moaned, she was so tight and slick, pulsing around him as her orgasm started to overtake her.
She bit her lip once more, as she climaxed again, squirming against his frame on the bed. The sheets beneath her grew damp, slickness dripping out of her folds and sliding over the curves of her behind to drip onto the sheets. A blush darkened her cheeks as she looked up at him, and she blushed further as he leaned back, staring at the space they were joined.
"Missed… this. Missed you." He ground the words out, his eyes darkening with arousal as he watched his cock slid in and out of her folds. His free hand left her clit as the last spasms shook her frame, with a groan he pulled from her body, hands reaching for her hips, flipping her over and then pulling her to her knees in one movement. Talise reached for the headboard with one hand, the other dug into the bed for support; her breath left her as he pushed back into her, her back bowing to push her hips up to meet his thrusts.
"That's my good girl", he groaned the words out, closing his eyes against the pleasure, only to blink them open and look down once more, past the curves of her ass her folds were spread around his length as he slid in and out of her. His hands tightened around her waist, bringing her back to him, when Talise pushed herself back up, until her back was pressed against his chest, his hands cupped her breasts while he kept up the same hard, steady rhythm from earlier.
She wanted to feel his skin against hers, one of her arms lifted to curl around his neck and tug him closer to her, the other slid down her stomach until her fingers rubbed at her clit once more. Swollen and over-stimulated, she whimpered, the sound growing into a moan as his hand slid over her hip, joining her fingers as she played with the swollen bundle of nerves. Their fingers entwined, she continued to rub her clit, until she was trembling, her legs shaking.
He felt her started to tighten around his length, her folds slick and swollen. Groaning, he continued to slide in and out of her, his fingers curling around her own while she toyed with her clit. Each thrust, each snap of his hips, buried his cock in her, dragging him closer to the edge. When her body stiffened, her back arching, which pushed her hips hard against his, his free hand curled around her hips, pulling her to him; as she pulsed around him in one more orgasm, drenching his length, his hips slammed into hers harder.
Talise moaned, her voice breaking as her release shook her small frame, squeezing around Cullen's cock, which brought him to his climax. Cullen groaned as he slid into her one final time, holding still as he came, his legs shaking from the force. She whimpered, her hips pushing back against his, rocking into him as his orgasm prolonged hers. They rocked together, lost in pleasure, until Talise started to fall forward, Cullen caught her, his free hand resting on her stomach, holding her in place and leaning her back against him.
He slid from her body with a groan, the hand had been holding hers as she toyed with her clit sliding over her folds, cupping her in his palm, the other hand running his calloused fingers over the soft skin of her stomach. Still cupping her slick mound in his hand, he gently tipped her forward, and then on her side, stretching his muscled frame behind her. "Maker Talise…"
A whimper left her when he slid from her, her knees wobbled, and she was grateful to have his strength behind her as she fell against him. When he leaned her forward, she dropped onto the bed, her chest heaving as she panted, "I love you."
Overcome by a sudden rush of emotion, he pressed soft kisses into her shoulder, his lips running down the scar on her arm. A shiver wracked her frame, and she slid her hand down his arm, running her fingers over the back of his hand as he cupped her, carefully she shifted, and he slid his hand from her mound, resting it on her stomach.
Her arms slid around his shoulders, tugging him to her, and her lips met his, she dropped kisses over his face and jawline, her fingers slid into his hair, holding him to her. She was murmuring words he did not understand, and she pressed them into his skin as she whispered them, "Te extrañe. Siempre te necesito… Extrañé tus manos"
He realized she was whispering to him in Rivaini, and he sighed, threading his fingers through her hair as he she laid next to him, "I've no idea what you're saying…"
"Telling you all my secrets", she smiled at him, her sky-touched gaze soft as it traced over his features.
"What are those secrets?", his eyes slid closed as her fingers traced over his jaw, and he sighed at her touch.
"I missed you. I need you…" she whispered something else, slipping back into Rivaini, this time dragging her lips down his neck, "I missed your hands."
"My hands?" in response he lifts one of them, stretching his fingers out. His knuckles are crisscrossed with scars, one of his fingers will not open all the way, it never healed properly after being broken, "They're covered in scars."
"They tell a story. All your scars tell stories." She nodded in answer to his question, tangling her fingers with his as he lifted his hand.
Cullen's warm amber gaze slide over her naked form, for a talented assassin, her reputation well-earned, he was astounded that she had so few scars, "How is that you don't have any?"
"Valissia. Beneath that bookish exterior is a very talented healer." Talise's fingers ran over the scars on Cullen's knuckles, cataloguing them as she touches each one.
"I know. I've become her pet project." His gaze tracked her fingers as she continued to run her fingers over his, and then traced over the back of his hand gently. Chills raced down his arm to his shoulder, and he shivered lightly at the sensation.
Talise lifted an eyebrow at him in question, waiting for him to continue talking.
"She has made me teas, mixed new potions for me to try, she made this liniment for me one afternoon." with their fingers entwined, he gestured towards the top of one chest, which was littered with new potions, small tea bags, and several containers of ointment.
"Is it helping?" her summer bright gaze widened as she saw what Valissia had made for Cullen, in just the time she had been gone.
"Some of it. The tea is awful."
Talise snorted in response, biting back a giggle, "She used to do the same thing to me."
"Your arm scarred though." Letting go of her fingers, he reached for her arm, carefully holding it in his calloused hand as he examined the thin, silvery scar that traced down the inside of her bicep.
"I could have her heal it. I didn't want to." Her skin dotted with chills as he touched her, her eyes watching as his large hand held her arm.
"Why not?"
"Me recuerda a ti", for an answer, she leans up to him, almost kissing him, and whispers her answer in Rivaini to him.
"I'm going to have to learn Rivaini." The movement of her lips against his has him shivering, and he reaches for her, curling his arms around her waist and bringing her closer to him.
"I'll teach you." She lifted a leg, draped it over his hip, and moved until she was curled tightly around him, the arm he had been holding was draped over his shoulder, her hand curling into his hair.
Calloused hands slid down the smooth line of her back, and then back up, in a slow rhythm, his warm whiskey and honey gaze was half hidden behind tawny lashes; for the first time since Talise had left, he relaxed, sinking into the mattress rather than laying tense atop the sheets. There was so much to do, so much that he could not forget, so much that needed them both, but for one moment, everything seemed right in his world again.