Cullen's gone mad;
Chapter Seven: The Daring Rescue
Cullen looked on in horror at his love. She was so weak, so beaten and bleeding. He wasn't actually sure whether she was even still alive or not by now. Overcome with rage, he blindly charged at the demon causing it to instantly stop draining the mage of her life force. It turned to face Cullen and as it did so, it cackled manically. The sound echoed out in every direction.
"You're to late fool – she's mine." A demonic voice rang. Cullen's anger was rising rapidly. He imagined a sword and shield in his hands and without delay, they appeared – clearly he had some knowledge of how to bend the fade to will. He charged for a second time, thrusting his sword into the creatures arm, and blocking its attack with his shield. The creature roared up, its force throwing Cullen to the floor a few feet away.
Synara now regaining slight conciseness; she moaned in pain. Mouse had beaten her pretty badly. She couldn't feel her legs and her arms weren't responding with much enthusiasm either.
"Cullen…" She tried to speak, but her words escaped like the wind – unheard. She could do nothing but watch as her love and her enemy fought – almost as if she were still seeing Cullen's dream. As skilled as Cullen was however, he was completely on the defense now – barely able to block every attack made against him, as the demon blindly threw its oversized arms at him repeatedly. Synara tried with all her strength to get to her feet and help Cullen, but her body had betrayed her.
"It's not your body that's betraying you, it's your mind." Synara's eyes quickly flickered to the voice – even this mere movement strained her. Beside her sat a young overly cheerful girl, long light brown hair, deep blue eyes, a cute button nose and long spiked ears.
"I know you..." Synara whispered while squinting her eyes. She vaguely remembered this girl from her childhood. A friendly spirit of the fade, they use to play together. This elven girl had taught Synara how to manipulate the fade to her desire, and when the girl disappeared when she turned 13, so did Synara's belief that she could master this forsaken land. The girl watched Cullen with great interest; amusement wrapped tightly into her features.
"Help him." Synara chocked. The girl looked down at her friend with a cheesy smile.
"I think you should help him." With that, she took Synara's hand. The mage could feel her strength returning, her wounds healing. "This world is yours Synara – remember that!" The mage quickly got to her feet with great determination. Her body no longer harboring any pain as she rushed to Cullen's side just in time; Mouse had attacked Cullen with such force causing his shield to slip from his grasp as it flew out into the open areas of the fade – disappearing from sight. Panicked, Cullen wrapped his arms around himself for protections – though he knew that would do very little against such a creature. Synara drew forth her magic, commanding it to cover both of them in a strong protective shield just in time.
"I'm with you." Synara assured smiling at Cullen. Unable to speak with his heart now in his throat – He nodded in response – grateful his love was now back on her feet, and very much alive indeed. Together they could defeat this foul creature; he knew this to be true.
Cullen hacked and slashed at the oozing discolored flesh without mercy, as Synara tried to block its blows with her magic – a tiring task indeed, but by the end of it, the couple stood victorious. Cullen was out of breath and Synara weak in the arms. She let lose a relieved laugh, hardly able to believe they actually did it. Cullen looked towards his love, placing his hand on her cheek before pulling her in for a firm welcomed kiss. Light softly engulfed him before he disappeared.
"Thank you." Synara whispered to your elven friend with much appreciation who smiled in response before she too, awoke.
"Synara!" Alistair gasped with relief upon seeing her eyes flicker open. "Are you okay?" She coughed painfully; her eyes were heavy and her mind groggy. All she could do was nod in her weakened state. Her eyes moved over Cullen; inspecting him - his skin was black, as if covered in a thick layer of soot. As Synara's lips parted in an attempt to ask Alistair what happened, the colour faded to that of his normal tan before he too, finally awoke fully. He didn't seem to be as effected as his lover was. Cullen rose to his feet without effort before extending his hand out for Synara.
"Thank you for letting us do this Alistair, mouse wont be bothering us any longer." She said, laughing half heartedly at how silly that sounded. She reached up placing her hand securely in Cullen's palm, but as soon as she got up, she lost her balance. Cullen instantly caught her in his arms. She was so weak now that she couldn't even force her eyes to stay open as she fell asleep right there.
"Take her to the guest chamber." Alistair whispered motioning for Cullen to follow.
Synara didn't wake until morning had come and gone again – not even a stir. Finally she shifted in the bed, moaning softly to herself at how comfortable it was; the sheets were soft and smooth against her skin bare; she hadn't felt anything this rich in her life.
"I take it you're feeling better?" Startled, Synara's eyes flickered open and she smiled at the sight. Cullen was sat in the chair next to the bed she was in; apparently he hadn't left her side since she had collapsed. A playful smirk crept onto her lips as she crawled seductively on the bed towards him. "Yeah, you're feeling better." She reached out towards her love, securely wrapping her arms around his neck before jumping on his lap. She hovered her lips over his while looking into his eyes.
"I really love you." She whispered passionately before kissing him. "And thank you for saving me."
"I only did it so I could see you next to naked again." She giggled – how very uncharacteristic of him to say such a thing, but she did indeed liked it. Synara was aware she was only in her panties, but she didn't care – it's not like Cullen hadn't seen it before. Synara rolled her head towards the bed before looking back at Cullen – a devilish glint lingered in her eyes. "You really think this is a good idea?" Synara shrugged, giggling playfully before climbing back onto the bed. She sat there waiting for Cullen but he seemed a little reluctant to join her in such a place for such a sin.
"No?" She whispered putting on a fake pout. How could be possibly resist? She leaned forward pulling him from his chair and towards her. He released himself of her hands before moving away from her. She grabbed the sheets from the bed wrapping them around her as she followed him.
"What's wrong?" Synara confronted him, her tone gentle. Cullen didn't look at her; in fact he kept his back to her as he stopped in front of the door.
"I saw the way Alistair was looking at you."
"And?"
"And I didn't like it." He confessed. Synara bit her lip smirking to herself. He was jealous, it was so cute. She jumped on his back catching him off guard; he stumbled back to the bed where she pinned him down. He could have easily just rolled over and got back up again as his strength was beyond hers but he did not – he just lay there.
"If you were looking at me instead of him you'd have noticed the utterly adoring look I was giving you, wouldn't you!" She teased. Cullen suddenly felt silly for his outburst. He loved her, he trusted her and yet he suggested something like that to her and the worst thing was - she was taking it so lightly – joking about it even as to not start an argument. He felt as though she should have shouted at him or something of the sort, but his punishment was something worse… She began to tickle him instead. He wriggled frantically trying to escape her evil fingers – he wasn't aware that Synara knew he was ticklish. He managed to roll around to face her but she was still on top of him with much control. He laughed uncontrollably as he tried to grasp her hands.
"I-I-I'm sorry." He chuckled finally catching her.
"Well don't be so silly next time." She poked her tongue out at him before climbing off the templar.
"Where are you going?" He asked grabbing her wrist gently, "Get back over here." He demanded in a teasing tone. She slipped back on top of him without question, smirking wickedly.
"Yes my wild stallion?" She raised an eyebrow questionly, giggling at the sight of Cullen blushing again.
"I really am sorry, I-I shouldn't have – "
"Oh just shut up and kiss me already!" Synara teased leaning in. She began to wiggle her hips from side to side in a teasing manner.
"You are insufferable my dear." He chuckled before pulling the covers over them.
The two lay on the bed in each others arms. As always Synara was smuggled into Cullen and his arms wrapped about her protectively. She really felt safe with him; he dived willingly into certain danger for her even without any real hope of surviving, and as he stroked her hair, their lips met. This was the man she'd gladly spend the rest of her days with.