~Meet Cullen
"Cullen!? Is that Cullen?" Valera asked, her expression one of pure shock.
The little curly, red headed boy who had grown into a handsome man had grown even more so over the past few years. He seemed like he was even bigger, his shoulders full and broad, his height even taller then she recalled. His face still retained a rounded shape, though it had more of a ovalness to it then a roundness, with the ghost of a beard on his chin.
"Valera?" Cullen responded in kind, surprised expression turning to one of glee. Soon she was wrapped in his arms as he gave her a small twirl, crushing her in an awkward hug due to all the armor between them. He pulled away, his hands continuing to rest on her forearms in companionship. "It's been SO long! Look at you!"
Valera simply beamed up at the man and blurted the first thing that came to mind. "Your stutter! It's gone!" She mentally smacked herself for that one but let it go, the happiness in seeing an old colleague outweighing her embarrassment.
Cullen blushed a flattering shade of pink. It brought a torrent of memories rushing to Valera. Her and Cullen as children, having to guard in pairs for safety until they were old enough to be on their own. Memories of stolen kisses in secluded rooms while they were supposed to be on night watch. Fumbling around in childhood innocence, that quickly turned adult like when they both had grown enough to feel the rush of hormones, sating each other night after night.
Valera shivered delightfully, the strong hands resting on her arms raising certain cravings, her flesh becoming sensitive to touch, her pupils dilating. He simply oozed power. And she knew exactly how he looked under all that heavy armor. Perhaps sometime later, they could practice on making those red headed templar babies that they had always talked about having.
"You've grown Cullen." Valera said simply, her smile more genuine then anything she had been able to conjure lately. A plated finger came up to stroke the stubble on the side of his chin. "I missed you… Maybe we could meet up at the Hanged Man sometime and catch up?"
His eyes softened. "I'd like that."
"AHEM!" Someone coughed loudly behind Valera, and she spun around in surprise.
It was her most favorite person in Kirkwall. Garret Hawke. He was accompanied by a group of 3 other companions, a popular number with him apparently. One was the Dalish Elf that had been recently in the Alienage and was almost always accompanying Garret. The second was a short beardless? dwarf with a thick blonde ponytail and a large crossbow strapped on his back. And the third was -she mentally groaned- Anders, of all the people to be with Garret today…
"Val!" Anders greeted her with his usual hand raise. His gaze focused on the templar standing behind her, Cullen's hands resting on her waist from where she had turned. "Is that Stutters behind you!?" Hazel eyes narrowed, "you look awful comfortable standing there…"
"Anders…" Cullen murmured and Valera feared briefly that Cullen would attack the apostate that had made his Circle life a living hell when he was younger. Anders had always hounded the boy that Valera was with romantically growing up. Cullen had taken it like a beat dog, not being able to really do anything about the First Enchanters favorite student. Now that everyone was out of the Circle and in the real world, Cullen could do as he pleased with the apostate.
Instead of violently attacking the mage, he did something that would hurt just as much. Leaning in, he wrapped his arms fully around Valera and whispered softly into her ear, his lips barely brushing the shell causing her to shiver. "I have business to attend to for now. I'll stop by and pick you up at your estate tonight at dusk."
Anders eyes narrowed and the knuckles that clenched his staff grew white, his mouth turning into a thin line of displeasure.
Openly, Anders and Valera could never been anything without the Chantry blowing down their doors and arresting them both. Everything, if anything they would have to have any form a relationship in secret. Where's Cullen was a templar as well as Valera, so any union between them was, if anything, encouraged by the Chantry and praised upon. Cullen knew just that.
"Okay…" Valera breathed, her old watch buddy causing the fine hairs on the back of her neck to raise up in excitement.
She truly felt sorry for Anders, but they were a thing of the past, and he seemed to be more interested in Bethany Hawke then herself. So, she felt that if she wanted to repursue something between herself and Cullen, then that was A OK.
He was just suffering some past jealously was all.
She hoped…?
BREAK
~Drunk as a Skunk
"Annnnders….pleeeeesh…?" Valera moaned, clutching the back of his robes. Her head was in his lap, her arms wrapped around his waist using her handholds in his robes to keep her upright.
Anders was sitting in a wooden chair at his desk attempting to work on his memento to the Chantry. "No Val, you must suffer the consequences of your actions." He had refused to even look at her when she had come crawling into his clinic, smelling like cheap booze and hard liquor.
Valera moaned pitifully, her head slumping against his thigh. "Pweeash? I can't go to work like disss."
"I already don't support your work, so why, would I cure the hangover you managed to get by drinking with Cullen?" Anders grumbled, scratching out a line on his memento rather aggressively.
Valera grinned against his thigh. He was much too cute when he was jealous. "Don't be jealoush. Sides, your waaaay bigger den he ish and much better in bed."
Anders made a choking sound while his pen quickly scratched off the side of the page, tearing it way through the delicate parchment. "Valera!" He blushed.
She nuzzled his lap, causing his face to burn redder. "Come on Anders… just a little magic then poof! Val feels better!"
Anders laid down the quill that had just tore a hole through his parchment. His gaze remained on his memento, his voice soft. "Okay Val… I'll cure you, for payment."
Val blinked up at him. "What chu want?"
"A kiss." He replied turning and looking down at her. A calloused hand threaded through her blond locks, his palm cupping the back of her head. Tentatively he leaned over slowly, large chocolate brown eyes watching.
BREAK
~Twin Memories
"This will be my last run, until the baby is born." Sanya smiled fondly, hand resting on her slightly enlarged belly.
She leaned back on the plush pillows of rare Orlison silk, stuffed and overstuffed to the brim. The one item she refused to leave behind in Kirkwall.
Stupid pillows… they only made for more to lug around when it came time to pack and move on.
It didn't matter then, she seemed so serene in that moment, sitting silently, head titled at an angle to afford her a view of star filled heavens. Hand on her belly. Her whole posture relaxed and docile.
"It'll feel strange, not living on the road. No more nights under the stars with nothing to accompany us other then the wind and wood." Sanya gave a sad, quiet laugh. Shaking out her long, luscious curls, the color of pale blonde. She paused briefly, as if a sudden thought had hit her, "Though I won't miss the critters getting into our supplies! Maker, I swear if I see another nug in my breakfast oats I'll fry the little bugger with a bolt of lightning!"
She peered over at her sister, a look of curiosity in her eyes. "Hey sister? Are you even listening to me?"
Valera's eyes snapped open, her mind returning from the Fade.
Taking in her surroundings she noticed the room was very dimly lit, a candle she presumed was somewhere nearby. The walls were plain stone, unadorned and cracking with no windows to be seen.
Attempting to sit up, she stopped immediately as sharp stinging sensation shot through her abdomen. She let out a gasp of pain and nearly doubled over, off the side of the small makeshift bed of what seemed made of grasses and simple blankets.
"I do not recommend moving right now." A voice said from the other side of the room. "That was a very nasty wound you had. You're lucky to be alive."
That was when she noticed her entire torso had been tightly wrapped in what looked like clean white bandages. A small spot of red was beginning to bleed next to where she knew her navel was.
Slowly Valera got her breathing and pain under control enough to glance up at the newcomer. Thank the Maker for the training her mother had made her go through as a child. It helped immensely as the pain began to fade, stubbornness overriding the searing agony that was her stomach.
"Anderfel… I should of known."
Panting still in slight pain, she slowly righted herself into a sitting position. Forcing the constant throb in her abdomen down, she calmed her breathing. Very slowly she swung her legs off the edge of the makeshift bed to face him.
"Did you knit me back together so when I take you back to the Circle, again, that they'll let you back on good behavior?" She sneered, her voice taking on an unpleasant tone, "all because you healed the templar?"
"Val, you're the only person I know that would complain about having someone save their life, just because it was a mage that healed you." Anders sighed dramatically, using the nickname he had given her all those years ago. He stepped into the dim room, an orange tabby at his heels.
"Don't speak to me so casually," Valera frowned at the name.
The tabby, ignoring them both, trotted past Anders and nuzzled Valera's leg, purring loudly. She dropped her hand down and scratched his head affectionately; the movement causing her more then a little pain. "Hey there little one."
The tabby nuzzled her hand and lavished his attentions on her leg. Her bare leg.
Valera paused petting the tabby and slightly lifted the sheet that covered her waist. She was dressed simply in her small clothes, her top covered and her stomach wrapped tightly in bandages.
Her eyes narrowed onto the apostate that was currently mixing some kind of herb in a mortar and pedestal. He must of undressed her to tend to her wounds, that those damn blood mages had inflicted on her.
Bending over to pick up the tabby that continued to love on her leg, she sucked in a breath, suddenly clutching her stomach, trying to force the pain back. A small whimper escaped her.
"Stubborn woman!" Anders snarled, sudden anger written across his normally jovial and caring features. He was at her side in an instant, forcing her gently to lay back on the bed. Much to her chagrin.
There was no struggled to be had, as much as she wished there was.
His hands danced quickly and professionally over her bandages. "Wonderful, you opened it back up." He quipped as he started to remove the white gauze that was quickly becoming red. "I need to remove these to check the skin underneath. And also because healing magic works much better when I'm actually touching your skin. But you knew that."
Valera bit her lip to stop from screaming as the cloth was pulled away from the tender wound.
Once the wrappings were removed, Anders laid his hands gently over the bloody mass of her stomach. They glowed a faint greenish color and the pain begin to ebb as the light intensified.
"Oh Anders." Valera moaned in relief as the pain faded back into a dull throb.
"Hah… hah…" Anders panted, obviously staining himself in attempts to keep her insides from coming out of her body. The green light intensified and the throb continued on. "I would prefer if you were moaning my name in a different setting Val."
Valera was too relaxed after having the killing pain ebb to even comment back. Instead she lay still, as the glow on his hands subsided. She peered at him with half lidded eyes.
Anders slumped over her small cot, exhausted from expelling so much energy at once. "Stop giving me that sexy look." He moaned, sinking to rest on his knees next to the makeshift bed. "If you weren't bleeding to death just a few moments ago, I would have to take advantage of you right now."
In her post induced, magic rush haze she merely watched him. Planting her hand on his head, she softly stroked the golden red locks, pulling the tie out his hair letting it fall down to frame his face. Anders cradled his head in his arms, facing her as his eyes closed. He sighed in pleasure as she continued to pet his hair, running her fingernails lightly over his scalp. The golden red strands felt like silk beneath her fingers.
"You wouldn't do that." Whispering, she continued her menstruations on his scalp, her limbs beginning to feel heavy. "Not unless it was mutual between us, but I wouldn't mind too much…"
Val could feel her eyes growing heavy as her hand began to slow. Anders was resting peacefully, his breaths already deep and slow. Not wanting to lose contact with her savior, she grabbed his hand before she felt the darkness claim her, and it gripped hers back.
BREAK
~Twin Memories Part 2
Swords drawn Val stepped forward. "Lower your weapons and surrender, and everyone will be taken back to the Circle without any harm coming to anyone." Val ordered the four apostates that were currently cornered against the side of a small shack.
"Please. We don't want to hurt anyone." Sanya confirmed, holding her own staff casually at her side to seem unimposing.
"I don't want to go back to the Circle!" One of the apostates yelled in defense.
"The Circle keeps us safe." Sanya explained, approaching the group slowly. "It teaches us to control our powers, so we don't hurt anyone, or ourselves. Before I went to the Circle, I had no control over the power of flames that so loved to torment me. I hurt my family with my powers," Val softly touched the long thin scar on her forearm, "and I'm very thankful to the Circle for teaching me control."
"The Circle is nothing but a fancy prison!" Another apostate spoke loudly. Val recognized it as Anders, her actual target. "It wants to keep mages from the real world, hidden away safe. But what from!?"
"Anders." Sanya smiled softly at him approaching the group further, she had always had a fondness for the mage that had the gall to escape so many times. A feat she herself could never perform. "Have we ever hurt you?"
Anders paused, "No I suppose not," he admitted, "nothing beyond chaffed wrists."
Valera tensed her legs, ready to leap if they dared to hurt her twin. Sanya always had a way with the apostates. The plan was to lure the apostates into an agreeable mood and convince them to come quietly. They always preferred to capture without a fight.
Suddenly one of the apostates grabbed Sanya, swiftly holding a dagger to her throat. She was muttering under her breath. A spell!
"What are you doing!?" Anders demanded horrified, moving to assist her twin.
No longer waiting, Valera leapt at the apostate, swords ready to injure or worst.
"Die templar scum!" The mage holding her sister screamed as she slit the blonde mages throat with one quick swipe.
Valera screamed in rage and pain as she swung her swords at the apostate and was greeted with a surge of some power. It hit her sharply in the stomach, and her vision turned black.
"Sanya!" Valera screamed, her eyes flying open. The tears were already rolling down her cheeks. "Sanya!" She thrashed, attempting to help the sister she knew was lost. A strong pressure held her down, while she kicked and screamed for her lost sister. "They KILLED her! I'll kill them! I'll kill them!" She screeched, swinging her fists at the object holding her down.
"Val, calm down." The voice commanded softly.
Blinking the tears away, she looked up into Anders soft golden eyes. He was leaning over her, hazel eyes were filled with pity as he continued to hold her down, afraid that she would begin to thrash again and injure herself further.
"They killed her!" She sobbed, the tears flowing down her face like an unending waterfall. "Maker NO! Why her?" She cursed the creator for not stopping the murder of her beloved sister.
"Shhhh, Val, you need to rest." Anders soothed her, as he wiped away the tears on her cheeks. "Please rest, you need to heal, Andrastes flaming ass woman you almost died!"
Val sniffled and watched the apostate that had saved her life. "Anders… will you stay with me, till I fall back to sleep?"
~END