Cullen hoisted her back into his arms, marveling at the simple feel of her without the armor creating a barricade between them. She clung to his arm as he helped her over the side of the boat, the muddy bank he had pulled the boat on completely different from what she was used to. Selfishly he let his hand linger on her soft hips as she glanced around, neck stretching and turning back towards the Tower. Then suddenly she shrunk back into herself, glancing up at him timidly.
Cullen gently pushed her up the bank, entirely not ready to have a conversation yet. He pulled the boat the rest of the way and then slung the bag over his shoulder. She stood exactly where he had pushed her, dark eyes wide as she glanced around the entire bank, shrinking away from the trees. He wasn't able to stifle his smile, the thrill that he felt when she reached for him. She tried to hide from the wild that he had thrown her into.
But then he realized that he was probably just the lesser- well known- evil of the two.
He led her up and away from the Tower. Every time she glanced over her shoulder, and then timidly up at him, he felt like saying something. Andraste herself would come and condemn him to the void before he would be able to figure out what to say, though. Instead he swallowed and continued to lead her away. Instead of paying her attention- and Maker was it difficult- he tried to plan farther ahead.
There was a small village east of them. They would be able to buy a room at an inn. Before that, however, he was going to have to figure out how to hide Amell. Her robes were a rather dead give away that she was a mage. Even if most had never seen a mage in real, their robes were still a tell tale sign of magic. Rubbing his brows he pushed the foliage out of the way for her. She was slow, and more than once held his arm to keep herself steady.
That was why they didn't get very far. He found a small alcove for them, keeping her away from the opening. Not because he was scared she'd run- though he was. He didn't imagine she'd survive well out on her own. Especially since they weren't even at a village. But more to keep himself between her and the dangers. He honestly did not think she realized that though. Andraste's dimpled ass, they needed to talk.
Instead of opening his mouth Cullen stroked the fire to keep them warm, preparing the food as she huddled near the fire. Cullen couldn't work up the nerve the entire night to speak to her. Nothing was passed between them beside food and murmurs of 'eat' and 'rest now'. He didn't miss the way she looked at him, watched him. More than once it looked like she was going to say something. But something stopped her every time. Cullen wasn't sure if it was the way he tensed, because he did a few times, or something internal.
Being honest with himself, like he tried to be, he was glad they postponed the talk.
Cullen dozed off and on through the whole night. She lay curled up in the blankets, her light breathing his only comfort. He saw the golden ribbons of the morning sun and he began to pull out a little bit of the food for breakfast, having to take out half the contents to find it. The noise ended up waking her. He glanced up in time to see the blankets pool around her waist, her dark eyes blinking. Slowly she arched and stretched, giving a quiet mewl before a sleepy "Cullen?"
He tried not to get too excited over any of it.
Still he blushed and found the fire to be very interesting. "So it was real," she muttered, rubbing at her eyes before fighting the blankets for freedom. When he said nothing her shoulders slumped. "Well good morning, anyway." She then turned away from him, face twisted in an angry sort of pout, and began unwrapping her hair from the bun she wore it in. The brown hair fell in tangled knots and she stubbornly began running her fingers through it.
Swallowing the lump in his throat he uttered a small "Good morning" in response. She gave him a side long glance through her hair. The awkward silence then filled the air as he served breakfast. It persisted because he had no idea what to say. Should he apologize? Would it be better to just carry on and ignore that he essentially just kidnapped her? He frowned and ran his hand through his hair as he finished. Instead of any of that he awkwardly stood and stammered out an embarrassing "Stay here. I'm going to- I'll be right back I have to- I mean- relieve my- um"
She held a dainty hand up over her mouth, trying to hide her mirth. "I will stay."
Face like a ripe strawberry, Cullen fled the alcove and made sure he was far enough away that she wouldn't hear. Because that would be horrifying. He quickly relieved himself and spent the next two minutes rubbing his face and muttering encouraging mantra's to himself. He could do this. This was for her. He would do this. He'd keep her safe. Licking his dry lips he turned back to the alcove.
It was amazing what a moment alone did for his confidence. And how easily it all shattered when he saw her. Even just sitting there, completely innocent, he lost all his nerve to say anything he had planned. She sat next to the bag, closing the flap with a pleased smile. When she saw him, it grew. "You know, if you were just a little more organized you could have fit the rest of the kitchen in the bag." She patted it, and he did notice it did not seem stuffed to the brim anymore.
"What?"
"Packing it. I organized the contents. You can fit more now." She tittered again at him, shaking her head before standing, dusting off the dirt on her robes. "Where are we going?"
"Um- there is a small village just-" He pointed.
"Okay. I get it."
"Do you have anything else to wear?" he said suddenly, and then realized the stupidity of that question.
"Just my smalls," she said with a light hearted shrug. Then with his blush she giggled. It took Cullen a full moment to realize she did it on purpose. He scowled, but that was the worst he could do against her. "Apologies. No, I do not have anything else besides my robes. I can, however, wrap up in the blankets."
"That will have to do," he said, rubbing his neck and staring at the dieing embers. The tension slowly came back, and everything that needed to be said was ignored. His hand went to the satchel he still carried, where her blood was. All of it was ignored. Cullen swallowed hard as he hoisted up the bag, nodding to her and they began walking. She shrunk down, leaning close to him as she stared at the wild.
That was why he didn't tell her; he wouldn't tell her in the wild.
No, they were going to a village where they would be at an inn. He would give her the blood there. He would tell her everything there. If she hated him and was disgusted with him, then she'd at least be in civilization. With people. Not lost out here with bandits and wolves. If she ran, it wouldn't be far. That's why Cullen waited. Not because he was terrified of her actually being disgusted and leaving, he told himself.
The fact that he was trying to delude himself was not missed.
Cullen spotted the small village and turned back to her. She was standing on her toes, her slippers torn and dirty he realized, as she stretched to see it as well, using a tree for balance. She slowly had moved away from him. She began touching the wild life, petting the leaves and bark of trees. Cullen admitted he was saddened by the lack of contact between them as the day dragged on.
She rocked back, glancing up at him questioningly. "I should wrap up now, yes?" He nodded, swinging the bag around to get the blanket. She was busy pulling up her sleeves, rolling them. He flinched and stared at the ground, the green yellow and black bruise along her arm like a blow to his face. He slowly unfolded the blanket, eyes of course trailing back to her. He stared at her feet, at the dirty and torn slippers. And then she reached down and was hiking up her robe. His face went red and he was looking at the trees opposite of her so fast he should have gotten whiplash. "What are you doing?" he stammered.
"They can't see my robes, right? Well, I'm going to have to bare some skin. The blankets won't hide my legs and I need my arms to wrap and hold the blanket." Then she gently pulled the blanket from his hands and wrapped it around her. "See? I'll kick off my shoes before we enter the village. We'll have to make up a story why I'm... less clothed but..."
His eyes stayed on her milky legs as she spoke. Realizing she was waiting for him he coughed and stuttered. "Let's go then." He rubbed his face as he led the way down. She followed after him clumsily. They stopped for her to toss the slippers and then she held his arm and they slowly walked in, even more mindful of where he led her. Her slippers had been of little protection. Now she had even less.
They found the inn easily enough. It was the largest building in the village. She glanced around, one hand wrapped in his shirt as she took in the decorations of the inn with wide eyes. The furs, the fires, the dark lighting was all foreign to her. "A room, please," he said to the large man behind the counter. He felt her startle and turn to face him.
"A room?" the man said with a smirk, his tongue traveling across his teeth, eyeing her curiously. That, Cullen could handle. Even the meaning behind the question. It was to be expected. It was the leers from the men sitting at the tables that had him tongue tied with anger. They eyed and howled wolfishly at her, barely over the general noise of the other men. They elbowed each other and watched them. He glanced at Amell who moved to stand closer to him, hidden from them, before turning to the man.
"Yes, a room please," she said pointedly, though so quietly. As if she was still in the Tower. "We are a married couple. But the bandits that attacked our little traveling band took my ring." She made a point to rub where the ring would have been sadly. "We were able to salvage some things. The bandits left in a rush after a display from my love here. But they destroyed so much."
Cullen made sure his jaw didn't drop and ruin her lie. "You poor dear!" another voice said. The inn keepers wife no doubt. "Get them a room dear! And at a decent price you hear me? Come along dears. You're newly weds. I can tell. Still aren't used to being married, and a fright like that in your honey moon period. Poor things."
She led them up the stairs after Cullen passed over the coins. "I suppose in the end you're quite lucky though. Smart too. To travel through the woods without a man who knows how to handle his sword would be foolhardy. Smart to marry one too," the old woman said with a wink before laughing loudly. Both she and Cullen blushed bright red. The old lady noticed. "Ah, to be young again." She opened the door for them with a bright smile.
"Thank you," they said in unison.
"You two deserve a bed! And a lock. All them scoundrels down there. They fondle me, and I know I'm not a looker anymore. So you protect your wife, young man. And I'll see to it that you get a dress. I'll send my daughter up. Can't tell your size under that blanket, but you're smaller than my girl, so it'll do."
"Thank you. Again, for everything," Amell said with a bow of her head. The woman shooed them farther inside and shut the door. Amell blushed and stepped away from Cullen, letting the blanket loosen and inspected the room.
Cullen, for all he was worth, and no control of his tongue around her. "Married?"
She was still blushing, but shrugged and answered calmly. He wished he had that control. "You weren't saying anything, and I didn't like those men. Don't look at me like that. I'm sheltered, not stupid. I don't want to be anywhere alone with those men. And if I am claimed by you, that might deter some of them. Besides, I read it in a book once. The heroine and her hero pretended to be attacked by bandits and were married and- I thought it would work here. You don't look clean and your clothes are a mess and- I'm rambling. Apologies."
"I- No. It's a good idea." She beamed a smile at his praise and then turned and began inspecting the room. She poked the bed, leaned against the window, and played with the mirror. All so amazed. Cullen set the bag down and his sword. He hid his absolute elation over how she had treated him. About how she called him her love. He tried to hide the anger. Just remembering what they had said or did in response to her legs made him grit his teeth. It was better not to dwell on any of that.
The room was silent until the door knocked again. Amell made her way over, opening it and smiling at the old lady. "Daughter said she was too busy. Said if the man was already married then she had no reason to come up. Blasted girl and her 'go to the big city with her roguish white knight' dreams. Bah. She'll grow out of it. And she'll be polite she will."
"I'm sorry to say, she'd of been disappointed anyway with my husband, if that is what she wants. He is no rogue."
The woman barked some laughter. "Well here's her dress. And some shoes. You go ahead and keep it now. A pretty little thing like you shouldn't be running around in smalls and a blanket. Just, if my husband asks, tell him you paid for it. I don't need him pouting the rest of your stay. Because he will. Grown men are fictional my dear. And I hope you knew that before you wed yourself."
"Thank you. You are too kind."
"Bah. I'm just jealous of your legs." The woman winked and then shuffled back to the stairs.
Amell closed the door and glanced back at him. "I'll just go out to the kitchen. Get some lunch," Cullen said. She nodded and he heard the door lock behind him. He wondered how much those men had honestly bothered her. Gritting his teeth he made his way down to get some lunch for the both of them. That was the best thing he could do. At the bottom of the stairs he avoided the crowd and instead focused and getting to the back. He knocked on the door frame as he peered inside.
"Pardon me?" he said.
"Well now, didn't know you'd be such a cute one," he heard. Cullen jumped, turning to see a young woman smiling at him, holding the tray of dirty dishes against her hip. She gave him what she must have thought was a sultry smile as she moved to dump the dishes. "What can I do for you, handsome?"
"I was hoping to get some lunch. For me and my wife." It felt so odd to say that. He glanced back at all the men. He was mildly curious why most weren't out in the fields but didn't care enough to question it. Not to her anyway.
She glanced at him, seemed thoughtful a moment, then said, "In your rooms then? I'll bring it up."
"I'll wait. It's fine."
She gave him a smile, and he mildly wondered what she thought he had said but definitely didn't care to ask that. Giving her a polite smile and nod, he turned to find a table and chair to wait at.
So, here we go. I'll admit, these were about the easiest parts for me to write. Also, they were written in a slightly better part of my life. Not that currently I'm living in hell or anything. But it's always the subtle things that affect my writing, more than the large big obstacles. Which is why, those on LJ have probably noticed I've slowed a bit. And I apologize for that. But this will be finished. Especially so long as everybody keeps writing me reviews and motivating to get off my ass (or sit on it I guess) and update.
Because I give reviewers the right to tell me to hurry the hell up if I take too long. Because I sometimes do.