~~~I have finished it! I won't lie i had to go back and forth trying to find a way to finish this chapter lol I did get giddy while I was writing. But here is Pt.2 I do hope you enjoy it.~~~
~Xarga12~
Cullen recoiled from the force of the blow, his hand instinctively rising to touch the reddening mark on his cheek. Shock and remorse washed over him as he met Nereida's gaze, the weight of his words and their repercussions sinking in. Nereida's voice wavered with emotion as she confronted Cullen, her eyes filled with hurt and confusion. "How could you say such a thing to me?" she demanded, her voice trembling with suppressed tears. "You have no right to judge me, Cullen." Cullen's heart sank as he watched the pain etched across Nereida's face, her words piercing through him like a dagger. He struggled to find the right words to respond, guilt weighing heavily on his conscience.
"I... I'm sorry," Cullen finally managed to stammer out, his voice laced with remorse. Nereida's tears fell freely now, her emotions spilling over as she struggled to articulate her feelings. "I just... I thought we were friends, Cullen," she confessed, her voice trembling with raw vulnerability. "I would have understood if you didn't feel the same way about me, but I never expected you to just... disappear like that." "Nereida, I..." he began, his voice catching in his throat as he searched for the right words. But before he could continue, a familiar voice cut through the silence, drawing his attention away from Nereida.
"Alright, who is thirsty." As Alden approached with a tray of refreshments, his cheerful demeanor quickly faded as he noticed Nereida's distressed expression. The clatter of the dropped refreshments echoed in the sudden silence as he hurried to her side, concern etched on his features. "Nereida, what's wrong? Are you alright?" Alden's voice was filled with genuine worry as he gently placed a hand on her shoulder, his eyes searching hers for answers. Alden turned to Cullen, his expression hardened with concern and a hint of agitation. "What happened?" he demanded, his gaze flicking to the red mark on the side of Cullen's face.
Cullen hesitated, unsure of how to respond, but before he could gather his thoughts, Nereida intervened. She placed a calming hand on Alden's arm, "Some guy started harassing us, and Cullen stepped in to protect me. The man ran off before he could apprehend him." His eyes softened as he looked at her, concern evident in his gaze. Then, turning to Cullen, Alden's expression shifted to one of mild amusement, "Who said chivalry is dead?" Alden quipped, a playful glint in his eyes as he observed Cullen's reddened cheek. Cullen did his best to play along, not wanting to escalate the situation further. With a forced smile, he replied, "It's my duty to protect those in need." His gaze lingered on Nereida for a moment, and she could sense the intensity in his eyes as she looked away.
Alden nodded, seemingly satisfied with Cullen's response. "Well said," he remarked, a hint of approval in his tone. "But let's not dwell on unpleasant matters. How about we enjoy the festivities." Nereida nodded in agreement. "Yes, let's," she chimed in, her voice soft but hopeful. The festive atmosphere around them seemed to shift. The music grew upbeat, and the sound of laughter and chatter filled the air as people around them began to dance. Alden's face lit up with excitement as he turned to Nereida, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Would you honor me with a dance?" he asked, extending his hand to her.
Nereida hesitated, her gaze flickering to Cullen, who looked at her with pleading eyes. She felt a pang of guilt, knowing that her decision would only add to his discomfort. Quickly averting her gaze from him, she forced a smile and accepted Alden's proposal with a curt nod. "I would be delighted," she replied, her voice tinged with forced cheerfulness. Taking her hand in his, Alden led Nereida to the center of the makeshift dance floor, where other couples twirled and swayed to the lively music. As they began to dance, Nereida couldn't shake the feeling of Cullen's eyes on her, his silent plea echoing in her mind.
Meanwhile, Cullen stood alone amidst the bustling crowd, his thoughts consumed by the sight of Nereida in Alden's arms. He watched them dance, a sense of longing and regret gnawing at his heart as he grappled with his emotions. Lost in his thoughts, Cullen was unaware of his surroundings until he felt a pair of arms wrap around his neck. Startled, he jolted for a second before turning his head to see Isabela standing inches away from him, a mischievous smirk playing on her lips. "What are you doing?" Cullen demanded, his voice tinged with annoyance as he took a step back, trying to create some distance between them.
Isabela raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk playing on her lips. "Oh, you know me, darling," she replied with a playful wink. "I couldn't resist the opportunity to witness a little drama." Cullen sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and embarrassment at Isabela's unexpected intrusion. "This isn't the time for games, Isabela," he said, his tone tinged with exasperation. "I have enough on my plate as it is." Isabela looked in the direction where Nereida was dancing with Alden, she shook her head in disbelief, a knowing smirk playing on her lips. "You're a fool, Cullen," she remarked, her tone tinged with amusement.
Cullen bristled at her words, a mixture of defensiveness and frustration rising within him. "I don't need you to remind me," he replied curtly, his jaw clenched with tension. Before Cullen could protest any further, Isabela took him by surprise as she seductively grabbed his hand and pulled him into a dance. Cullen stumbled slightly, taken aback by her sudden assertiveness. "Isabela, what are you doing?" Cullen demanded, his voice a mixture of confusion and protest.
Isabela silenced him with a finger pressed against his lips, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Shh, darling," she whispered, her voice low and sultry. "Just follow my lead. I'm going to help you." Cullen hesitated, unsure of what Isabela had in mind, but something in her confident demeanor urged him to trust her. Reluctantly, he allowed himself to be swept away by Isabela's movements as they danced to the rhythm of the music. As Cullen danced with Isabela, he gradually realized that she was subtly leading them closer to where Alden and Nereida were dancing. His heart sank as he saw Nereida's reaction when she spotted him with Isabela - she frowned and turned her back to him, a clear sign of her displeasure.
Cullen couldn't help but feel a pang of regret as he realized that Isabela's plan might only serve to worsen Nereida's opinion of him. "Isabela, is this your idea of helping?" he whispered, his voice tinged with frustration. Isabela chuckled softly, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Oh, Cullen, you have so much to learn," she teased, her tone playful as she continued to guide him closer to Alden and Nereida. As they drew near, Isabela suddenly rotated away from Cullen and sauntered over to Alden with a seductive smile. "Alden, darling," she purred, her voice dripping with honeyed tones. "I think it's time for a partner switch, don't you think?"
He was taken aback, surprised by her sudden proposition. "I'm sorry ma'am I appreciate the offer, but I already have a dance partner," Alden began to decline politely. However, Isabela was persistent. With a swift movement, she inserted herself between Nereida and Alden, wrapping her arms around Alden's neck and whispering seductively to him, "Oh, come now, I'm a far better dancer than she is." Isabela began whispering provocative words into Alden's ear, she glanced back at Cullen with a meaningful look, her eyes silently urging him to take action. He understood the message in her gaze and without hesitation, he seized the opportunity.
Cullen took Nereida's hand and began to dance with her, she was caught off guard, her mind racing to make sense of the sudden turn of events. Before she could fully register what was happening, she found herself pressed against Cullen, their bodies swaying to the rhythm of the music. Nereida protested, her expression a mix of surprise and frustration as she tried to resist Cullen's advances. "Cullen, what are you doing?" she demanded, her voice tinged with exasperation as she glanced over her shoulder to see Isabela leading Alden away.
Cullen ignored her protests, his grip firm as he guided her across the dance floor. "I'm sorry, Nereida," he said earnestly, his voice filled with sincerity. "But I couldn't let you dance with him while I stood by and watched." Nereida's resistance began to soften as she looked into Cullen's eyes, seeing the earnestness and vulnerability in his gaze. Despite her initial reluctance, she couldn't deny the longing and affection that flickered within her own heart. Nereida couldn't help but question Cullen's sudden change in behavior. "Why are you doing this, Cullen?" she asked, her voice tinged with confusion as they moved across the dance floor.
Cullen sighed, his movements slightly clumsy as he spun Nereida in a simple step. "I'm a fool, Nereida," he admitted, his voice laced with regret. "I let my duty as a Templar come before how I truly feel about you." Nereida listened quietly, her eyes searching his face for any hint of insincerity. Despite her initial skepticism, she couldn't deny the earnestness in Cullen's words. Cullen clumsily led her in another step, Nereida couldn't help but suppress a giggle, the unexpected lightness of the moment catching her off guard.
Cullen's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he realized his mistake, but he quickly tried to save face. "Templars usually don't dance," he stammered, attempting to defend his awkwardness. Nereida couldn't hold back her laughter any longer, the sound bubbling up from within her as she teased him gently. "Evidently," she replied with a playful smile, causing Cullen to join in her laughter. The music transitioned to a slower, more intimate tempo, Cullen instinctively pulled Nereida closer to him, their bodies moving in sync with the gentle rhythm. The distance between them melted away as they swayed together.
Nereida's face flushed with a mixture of surprise and anticipation as she looked into Cullen's eyes, the intensity of his gaze sending a shiver down her spine. She felt a wave of desire wash over her, her heart racing with the unspoken tension between them. But as the moment hung in the air, Cullen hesitated, his own desires warring with his sense of duty and propriety. With a deep breath, he mustered the courage to ask the question that had been weighing on his mind. "Nereida, are you serious about Alden?" Cullen's voice was gentle but filled with an underlying urgency as he sought clarity in the midst of their tangled emotions.
As Nereida looked down shyly, her voice barely above a whisper, she confessed, "I only went out with him because... because everyone thought you weren't interested in me. I thought... I thought maybe if I tried dating someone else, I could... forget about you." Cullen's heart sank at her words, a pang of hurt and regret coursing through him as he realized the pain he had caused her with his indecision and absence. He reached out to gently lift her chin, meeting her gaze with a mixture of remorse and longing.
"I'm so sorry," Cullen apologized, his voice tinged with genuine regret. "I never meant to make you feel like that. I should have been more clear about how I felt, instead of letting my doubts and fears get in the way." Nereida nodded, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears as she listened to Cullen's heartfelt apology. Despite the pain of their past misunderstandings, she couldn't deny the sincerity in his words, and a glimmer of hope flickered within her heart. Cullen took a deep breath, steeling himself to lay bare his true feelings. "I care about you more than I can put into words," he confessed, his voice filled with emotion. "I've been an idiot for letting my insecurities come between us, but I promise you, from now on, I'll do everything in my power to make things right."
Nereida leaned into Cullen's hand, her heart racing with a mixture of hope and apprehension, she whispered softly, "Do you truly feel that way?" Cullen's breath caught in his throat as he felt the warmth of Nereida's breath against his skin, her proximity sending a shiver of anticipation down his spine. Leaning in closer, his lips just inches away from hers, he whispered with all the sincerity inside him, "With all my heart." At that moment, time seemed to stand still as their gazes locked, the unspoken intensity of their emotions bridging the distance between them. With a trembling hand, Nereida reached up to cup Cullen's cheek, her touch gentle yet filled with unspoken longing.
Cullen closed the remaining distance between them, his lips meeting hers in a tender and passionate kiss. It was a kiss filled with the weight of their shared history and the promise of a future filled with hope and redemption. As they slowly pulled away, both catching their breath as they savored the moment. Cullen leaned his forehead against Nereida's, their breath mingling as they shared a moment of quiet intimacy. Nereida sheepishly whispered to him, her voice barely above a whisper, "Was it as you imagined, Cullen?"
Cullen chuckled softly at her question, the sound warm and affectionate. "It was better than I ever imagined," he replied earnestly, his heart overflowing with happiness. Nereida's eyes sparkled with delight as she smiled widely, a teasing glint in her gaze. "Well, I might need one more just to make sure," she teased playfully. Cullen laughed, the sound rich and full of joy. "I'm happy to oblige," he replied with a grin, his eyes alight with love and affection as he leaned in to capture her lips in another tender kiss.