Chapter 4 Secrets Revealed
Tempest left her friends to return to her quarters, a bath was beginning to sound good. Not having one in her quarters she gathered her things and headed to the bathing room. Several tubs that had been lined up with screens between them for privacy. She picked one in the middle and pulled the lever letting the cold water spill into the tub. Once finished she closed it up and runs her fingers gently through the water until it's hot enough. Shaking her fingers and drying them on her towel, she placed her belongings on a nearby stool and slips off her robe.
New soap in hand, a gift from Ulna for the cake, Tempest slid into the water hissing slightly at the heat. Lifting the soap to her nose she smiled at the floral scent. Ducking her head underwater she emerged and began washing her hair and shoulders.
"Can I get your back for you?" a voice asks.
Startled Tempest threw her soap onto the floor. Looking back she saw Ayden grinning at her. "Damn it Ayden you have to stop scaring me!" she growled at him irritated. "Will you hand me my soap please?" She watched him lean down and pick it up and holds it out for her, just out of her reach. Growling she rose up from the water and grabbed the bar of soap.
"Getting cold?" he smirks.
"Get out Ayden!" he laughed as he walked away. Tempest shook her head; he was confusing something about him was odd. From what she had heard he was mixed some said he was a dream, others said he had a mean streak when he didn't get what he wanted, which was according to them a rare occurrence.
After finishing her bath Tempest turned to the chair and froze "That shit took my clothes. Damn it." Getting out she grabbed her towel and groaned. This was one of the children's towels. "Maker this is awful." She groaned again. The towel barely managed to cover her. Holding on to it tightly she opened the door and glanced down the hallway. Straining to listen she didn't hear anything. Water dripped from her hair on to her chest and she shivered.
"All right better go." Making a bolt to her room with head down, she never saw him. Hitting metal armor full force was in no way pleasant. Tempest flew back her towel dropped and pooled around her waist while her hair fell all around her. It would almost look provocative if not for the embarrassment on her face. Resisting the urge to scream for fear of having more on lookers she looked up to see Cullen mouth dropped open staring at her.
"I'm, Tempest…wh what are you...wh why are you?" she snatched the towel and tried to cover herself.
"I grabbed the wrong towel and forgot my robe please tell me the way is clear behind you." As much as she wanted to get Ayden back she wasn't going to be rat.
Cullen's eyes widened and he grabbed her arm and pushed her against the wall and checked. "Let me escort you." He held on to her arm while keeping Tempest shielded with the wall and his body.
Reaching her room she breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you Ser Cullen." Nodding he makes a quick escape leaving her to get dressed.
"See you made it safe to your room." Ayden rounded the corner from his room.
"I can't believe you took my robe Ayden." She snaps.
"Sorry it's a prank we play on every new mage who comes up here. I drew the short straw and had to come in and steal your stuff and switch your towel." He seemed genuinely apologetic she though.
"Don't feel bad, when it happened to me I didn't get a towel, I got a hand towel." She burst into laughter. "Well that does make me feel better."
He smiled. "So what are your plans this evening?"
"I don't know what are yours?" she shrugged brushing her hair.
"Talking to you." He smiles and makes his way into her room and lies down on the bed.
She hears a meow "Hey Mr. Wiggums." Picking him up, she cuddled him for a moment before setting him down. Tempest yawned and stretched the warm bath having made her even more tired.
He pats the bed with a smile. "There is room for two."
"What little cat and mouse game are you playing Ayden?" his grin is dark and he looks her over.
"What game do you think I'm playing?"
"I have several that come to mind." He stands up and walks over to her and those same strange feelings pass over her over.
"Any of them you are interested in playing?" He's leaning in and his breath is warm, what would it feel like to kiss him. She wondered when she got her answer his lips were soft and gentle. He gently opened her mouth and began coaxing her tongue to play with him.
His hands rested gently on her shoulders and then slide down to her waist. Tempest's hands were on his chest when pulled away and began kissing down her neck. She was dizzy and the blood was rushing from her head to other regions. His lips found hers again and he pushed her gently against the wall. His kisses became far more urgent and he began gathering up her robe pulling it up. Things were moving so fast she was trying to figure out what she wanted to do when the door opened and Armor rustled. Ayden flew off her and practically dove into his room. Tempest was left bewildered and half unbuttoned and robe hitched up "Mage Tempest are you decent?"
It was Cullen maker "Yes Ser Cullen what is it?"
"The First Enchanter wishes to speak with you."
"All right I will be right there." He leaves and Ayden pops out. "Well my little mouse we will have to finish this another time."
Ayden was incredibly gorgeous with his jet black hair and crystal blue eyes Tempest shivered and touched her lips. The kiss had been nice but it felt…empty. Her body had been more than happy to comply but her head just couldn't see it. Irving's door was open and she walked in. "Did you want to see me Irving?"
"Yes child, shut the door."
She turned and closed the massive door and went to sit on the chair in front of his desk. "My dear I have asked you here for selfish reasons. I know you came from the Tower in Orlais, but you were born in Fereldan. Why were you sent here? You have the confidence of Knight Vigilant these are not easy things to attain. Gregoir knows something but refuses to tell me."
Tempest frowns slightly, she had known this would come up and she had been made to swear not to tell. The only ones who knew who she really was Mason and Laurie, now Gregoir apparently taking in a breath she finally spoke. "Yes I was born in Fereldan my mother very young at the time and when she found out we were in Orlais and she gave me to the circle there. I did not see her for many years when I finally did I was sworn to secrecy as to who she was…"
She looked at Irving and sighed "…I have been sworn to silence but I trust you Irving but you cannot repeat this to anyone."
"I swear child on my honor."
"My mother was a revered mother and is now her most holiness the Divine Justina." Shock was not a word to describe the look on Irving's face.
"Maker how is that possible?" he said.
"She wasn't always in the chantry, you have heard of her colorful past well I am part of it. It is a secret that few if any know of. Were it to get out…" she shook her head. "Thankfully the idea is so farfetched for most if they did hear it they would brush it off as slander." She shrugged.
"You see, I'm the chantry's dirty little secret and they try very hard to keep it as such. I was transferred because someone found out and was going to expose her holiness. I don't know what happened to him but I was forced to leaved for fear someone else finding out. I am telling you this Irving so you protect yourself."
Weary he sits back "Such a burden for you to bear isn't it child." Her eyes widened in surprise.
"No one has ever really thought about it what it meant to me. But yes it is." Her head drops and she looks away.
"Thank you for sharing this with me Tempest and do not fear. I shall keep your confidence." He walks over and hugs her gently.
"Go get some sleep; you look like you could use some." His voice gentle as he opens his door she nods and leaves.
Her stomach rumbled so she went to the kitchen and grabbed some cookies and milk. As she ate the door opened and Ayden walked partway in and leaned on the counter.
"You are a hungry little mouse." Ayden gave her a wicked smile.
She put the plate away her back slightly to him as she spoke. "Ayden we need to talk…um you and me…I don't really see this going anywhere…" her voice trails off and he grunts "Nothing here ever goes anywhere, it's all about moments."
"Yes well I think our moment has passed." Turning around her face apologetic and his light smile turns into a predatory glare "What makes you say that."
"As handsome and alluring as you are, I will not be a notch on your bed post Ayden." She says firmly. He laughed "I do enjoy a girl who plays hard to get."
"Ayden I am not playing hard to get, I'm sorry but I just don't feel anything for you." She was exasperated at this point.
"What does feelings have to do with this? We live in a fucking tower like rats trapped in a cage. With nothing left to do but practice our magic, read books talk and fuck." She was startled at his vehemence.
"You need to learn that mouse there is no love, no relationships no life. There are just days of endless boredom and fucking helps pass the time." He had moved closer at this point and Tempest moved to the other side.
"I'm going to go now Ayden…" she went to the door and took off out of it.
She didn't know what to do he scared her. Her thoughts flashed to Cullen, maybe he would help. Walking through the halls she searches for him to no end. Frustrated she finally asks a senior enchanter.
"Excuse me have you seen Templar Cullen?"
"I think he was in the back caves." He pointed slowly.
"Oh okay thank you" Tempest took off not waiting to hear the rest.
Opening the door to the cave entrance she hears voices. Walking quickly her mind elsewhere she doesn't realize what is happening until she walks right into it. "Shit." She says just as Cullen smites her on accident.
She can hear the armor rustling and feet scrambling towards her. Coughing she tastes blood and realizes her nose bleeding. Her ears were ringing and the room was spinning. A gauntleted hand opens her mouth and bottle placed inside. The lyrium rushes down her and she gasps.
"Ugh that was dumb of me." She muttered.
"What in the Maker's name were you thinking?" Gregoir yelled.
"I'm sorry it was really just an accident I was looking for Templar Cullen and I didn't know what was going on..."
"Why were you looking for Templar Cullen?" Gregoire asked with suspicion.
"I oh yes I heard him say something about polish for swords and I found a box of it that was hidden." It was strangely enough true.
"Oh well that's good." Gregoire pulled her up "You need to pay a bit more attention."
"I'm sorry Knight Commander I will." He gives her a handkerchief to wipe her nose.
"Go on now we still have work to do." she gets up and when his back is turned she gave Cullen a desperate look.
"Knight Commander Mage Tempest looks Ill should I escort her?" Cullen says calmly.
"Oh yes of course." He waves them both away.
He grabs her elbow "What do you want." His voice angry no one was around so she shoved him into a corner.
"Cullen you cannot leave me alone with Ayden."
"What what are you talking about?"
"He, he maker this is stupid. He kissed me you interrupted I told him I didn't feel anything for him and I refused to be a notch on his bed post and now he he's gotten strange!" she hissed and Cullen is frozen. "When did this happen?"
"When you asked me to go to the first enchanter?"
"He kissed you?"
"Yes Cullen we went over that part. I came back realized there was nothing there and I wasn't going to be one of his conquests. Apparently he's never heard the word no before." She rubbed her face and sighed as Cullen is still locked up in thought.
"Never mind don't' worry about it Ser Cullen I'm sorry to have bothered you." she left him standing there speechless.