~~~Yes we are finally at the turning point in the story. This was a tad hard to write but here it is. I hope I captured the ambiance of the story. Please enjoy and thank you~~~
~Xarga12~
As Cullen led Nereida back to her place, footsteps echoed in the uncomfortable silence that hung between them. The tension between them hung heavy in the air, suffocating any attempt at conversation. Nereida could feel Cullen's silent anger, a palpable force beside her. She glanced at him, wanting to say something to ease the tension, but the words caught in her throat. Once they arrived at her place, Nereida hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. Nereida turned to Cullen, her voice laced with unease. "Cullen, I can take it from here. You don't have to-"
However, Cullen remained distant, his gaze fixed ahead as they reached her door. Without acknowledging her words, he guided her inside and into her room, where he gently settled her onto the bed. Nereida's heart sank at his cold demeanor, her attempts to communicate met with silence. "Cullen, please," Nereida pleaded softly, reaching out to touch his arm. "Talk to me. What's wrong?"
Cullen's response was terse as he focused on gathering medical supplies. "Nothing," he muttered, his tone clipped and distant. She watched him move about the room, his back turned to her, she felt a wave of unease wash over her. "Cullen," she tried again, her voice trembling with apprehension. "Please, look at me." But Cullen remained silent, his frustration palpable as he returned to her side with the necessary supplies. As he began to clean and dress her wounds, Nereida's attempts to engage him went unanswered. Tears welled up in Nereida's eyes as she watched Cullen's distant expression. She felt a pang of hurt at his coldness, but she swallowed back her emotions, allowing him to tend to her injuries in silence.
After what felt like an eternity, Cullen finished treating her sprained ankle. Nereida glanced up at him, her heart heavy with unresolved tension. She wanted to reach out to him, to bridge the gap that had formed between them, but she didn't know how. Cullen rose from his seat and began to walk towards the door. Nereida watched him, her heart pounding with anxiety as he paused at the threshold, his back turned to her. "You need to rest," he stated firmly, his voice void of its usual warmth, before resuming his departure, his eyes avoiding hers.
The weight of his dismissal hit Nereida like a physical blow, her chest tightening with a sense of desperation. "Cullen, wait!" she called out, her voice trembling with emotion as she struggled to stand, but her injured ankle gave way, causing her to stumble forward, tears streaming down her cheeks as she reached out to him. Cullen halted in his tracks, his frustration momentarily faltering as he turned to face her. His gaze softened as he took in her tear-stained face, the weight of her sorrow evident in every line of her expression. Slowly, he made his way back to her side.
Without a word, Cullen gently lifted her in his arms once more, his touch surprisingly gentle as he settled her back onto the bed. "Rest," he murmured softly, his voice tinged with a hint of compassion before he turned to leave once more. Nereida curled into herself, overwhelmed by a flood of emotions as she watched him go, the weight of her remorse heavy in her heart. Silently, she whispered an apology into the empty room, her tears a silent testament to the rift that had formed between them.
Cullen closed the door to her bedroom, the sound echoing in the quiet hallway as he leaned against it, his heart aching at the sound of her cries just beyond the other side. His chest tightened with the urge to burst back into her room, to hold her close and reassure her that everything would be okay. But he knew he couldn't do that, not when he was feeling so torn himself. Taking a deep breath, Cullen fought to compose himself, his hands trembling slightly as he reached for the doorknob. It took every effort for him to turn away and leave her home, each step heavier than the last as he walked away from the woman he cared for, his own emotions in turmoil.
As he stepped outside into the cool night air, Cullen felt a wave of guilt wash over him. He knew he had hurt Nereida deeply, and the thought of leaving her in such distress tore at his soul. But he also knew that he needed time to sort through his own feelings, to come to terms with the tangled mess of emotions that had been building inside him.
Back in his room, Cullen sat down heavily on his bed, his head in his hands as he grappled with the events of the evening. He knew he had hurt her by just leaving her, but a part of him needed to understand where they stood in their relationship. They were still in the early stages of getting to know each other, navigating the delicate dance of building a connection. Cullen knew that rushing into anything official could potentially push Nereida away, especially if she wasn't ready for that level of commitment. He wanted to give her space, to show her that he respected her boundaries and independence, but a nagging doubt lingered in the back of his mind.
Whenever Nereida was around Alden, Cullen couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy and insecurity. It seemed like she was more at ease, more herself when she was with him, and it made Cullen question where he stood in her heart. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was losing her, that perhaps she had never been fully his to begin with. It was a painful realization, one that left him feeling more alone than ever before. Cullen sat at the edge of his bed, trying his best to compose himself before he would talk to Nereida in the morning. He took a deep breath, trying to push aside the whirlwind of emotions swirling within him. Standing up, he began removing his armor, the weight of it feeling heavier than usual. Each piece clattered to the ground as he shed the physical reminder of his duties, but the weight on his mind remained.
He knew he needed rest for the day ahead, but the thought of sleep felt elusive. He lay down on his bed, staring up at the ceiling in the dim light of his room. The minutes stretched into hours as he tossed and turned, unable to find a comfortable position. His mind raced with different possibilities and outcomes of how he would talk to Nereida in the morning. Despite his efforts to calm his thoughts, sleep remained elusive. He couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty gnawing at him, leaving him restless and anxious as he waited for the dawn to break.
Morning soon came, Cullen groaned and stood up, exhaustion weighed heavily on him, his lack of sleep evident in the dark circles under his eyes. He made his way to the sink and splashed his face with water, the cold shock helping to wake him up slightly. Turning to his drawer, he retrieved his vial of lyrium. Without hesitation, he drank it down, the familiar sensation providing a fleeting sense of stability amidst the turmoil in his mind. He knew he shouldn't rely on it solely for rest, but right now, he didn't care.
Feeling slightly more alert, Cullen readied himself for the day ahead and made his way to Meredith's office. As he entered, he found her sitting behind her desk, engrossed in paperwork. She looked up, surprise flickering across her face at the sight of him. "Knight-Captain, is everything alright?" Meredith inquired, her gaze lingering on the exhaustion etched on Cullen's face. Cullen forced a small smile, trying to appear unaffected. "Everything is fine, Knight-Commander," he replied, though his voice betrayed his weariness. "I just... I request permission to take the day off, if possible."
Cullen stood before Meredith, he could feel her scrutinizing gaze on him, assessing his request for a day off. After a moment of silence, she finally spoke, "Alright, you may have the day, but I expect you to be in my office early tomorrow morning. Understood?" Cullen nodded quickly, relieved to have been granted the time off. "Yes, ma'am. Thank you," he replied earnestly. With a dismissive wave of her hand, Meredith signaled for him to leave, and Cullen wasted no time in making his exit. He knew he needed to address the matter at hand and didn't want any further delays.
Cullen arrived at Nereida's house, his nerves getting the better of him as he hesitated to knock. After what felt like an eternity, he finally mustered the courage to knock on the door. But there was no response. He knocked again, this time a bit harder, but still, there was silence. Growing increasingly worried, Cullen tried the doorknob, surprised to find it unlocked. With a sense of urgency, he pushed the door open and called out, "Nereida, are you home?"
There was still no response. Cullen's heart pounded in his chest as he hurried across the room and swung open Nereida's bedroom door. To his dismay, her bed was empty. Panic rising in his chest, Cullen left her room, scanning the house for any sign of her. But before he could take another step, an arrow whizzed past him, embedding itself in the door frame just beside his face. Startled, Cullen froze in place, his heart racing as he realized the gravity of the situation. Someone was targeting him, and Nereida was nowhere to be found.
Cullen's heart pounded in his chest as he processed the close call. He quickly ducked behind a nearby piece of furniture, his mind racing to make sense of the situation. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Cullen peeked out cautiously, scanning the room for any signs of movement. His eyes landed on a figure standing at the far end of the room, their bow drawn and ready for another shot. Heart racing, Cullen called out, his voice firm with authority, "Who are you, and what are you doing here?"
The figure hesitated for a moment before lowering their bow. A familiar voice echoed through the room, barely above a whisper, "Cullen, is that you?" Cullen's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked up from his hiding spot. There stood Nereida, leaning on a crutch with her bow in hand. Relief flooded through him, but he couldn't shake the worry that gripped his heart. "Thank the Maker." He caught sight of her limping towards him, a wave of relief washed over him. Without a second thought, he scrambled to his feet and ran towards her, his heart pounding with a mix of worry and gratitude. Seeing him coming towards her, began to ask, "Cullen, what are you doing here?" But her words were cut off when Cullen enveloped her in a tight embrace.
Cullen began to apologize to her for how he acted last night, then he began to explain how panicked he became when she didn't answer and when he didn't see her in her room. Nereida was still trying to process what was going on, but she simply held him, telling him it was okay and trying to calm him down. After a moment, Cullen pulled back slightly and looked at Nereida. "What were you doing coming home at this time?" he asked, concern etched on his face.
"I'm actually getting back from seeing Anders. He gave me more healing potions as well as slightly healing my ankle." Cullen looked at Nereida, his expression filled with regret and grief. "I'm sorry," he murmured, his voice heavy with emotion. "I should not have left you by yourself last night." Nereida nodded her head slightly to the side, trying to reassure him. "It's alright," she said softly. But Cullen shook his head, his eyes filled with remorse. "No, it wasn't alright," he insisted. Nereida reached out towards him, trying to stop him and ask him what was wrong. "Cullen?", her voice filled with worry and confusion. He paused, his back still turned towards her, before finally turning around to face her. His expression was pained as he looked at her, struggling to find the right words to explain his feelings.
"Is it because I got hurt?" she asked softly, her voice tinged with regret. "I know I was supposed to stay safe, but things didn't go according to plan..." But before she could finish, Cullen cut her off, his expression serious. "It's not just that," he said firmly, his gaze intense. "Yes, I was upset because you got hurt, but that's not the only reason." Surprised, Nereida looked at him, her brows furrowed in confusion. "Then why are you acting like this?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.
Cullen took a deep breath, steeling himself before he blurted out the question that had been weighing on his mind. "Do you have feelings for Alden?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "I know we joked about it, but now I need to know if you care for him." Taken aback by Cullen's question, Nereida stared at him in disbelief. "Why would you even ask me that?" she replied, her voice tinged with a mixture of hurt and frustration. Cullen met her gaze, his expression serious as he repeated his question. "Do you have feelings for Alden?" His voice was firm, unwavering as he awaited her response.
Cullen felt his world crumbling around him, he noticed Nereida's gaze shift to the side, a subtle movement that didn't escape his keen observation. His heart sank even further, the weight of her apparent hesitation adding to his turmoil. His heart felt heavy, and he struggled to hold back the tears welling up in his eyes. With a heavy sigh, he looked at Nereida, his voice barely above a whisper as he spoke, "I will leave you alone then."
As he turned to leave her house, a part of him breaking with each step, Nereida's hand caught his, her touch pleading with him to stay. Tears welled up in her eyes as she tried to explain, her voice filled with emotion. "It's not like that, Cullen. Yes, I care for Alden, but it's the same way I care for all my friends," she confessed, her words a desperate plea for understanding. Cullen's initial instinct was to pull away, to distance himself from the pain of her words. But deep down, he knew Nereida well enough to recognize her sincerity. He had seen her show affection to others, her caring nature extending to everyone around her.
Cullen's voice carried a tinge of hurt as he spoke up. "Then why do you act like I don't exist when Alden is around?" he questioned, his gaze searching Nereida's eyes for an answer. Nereida's eyes widened in surprise at his accusation. "What are you talking about?" she asked, genuinely perplexed. Cullen took a deep breath before continuing. "Whenever you're with Alden, you're overly friendly with him, and you let him flirt with you," he explained, his frustration evident.
Nereida's eyes narrowed at him, a defensive edge creeping into her voice as she countered his words. "And what about you and Isabela?" she shot back, her tone challenging. "I'm just being friends with Alden, but he's never put his hands on me the way you let Isabela do to you." Cullen's brows furrowed as he took in Nereida's response, feeling a pang of guilt and realization wash over him. "Isabela and I are just friends," he started, his voice earnest but tinged with unease. "It's different." She glared at him as her tone remained resolute. "How so?" she challenged. "Alden and I are just friends too," she insisted. "But you don't seem to believe me when I say that."
Cullen's jaw tightened as he struggled to articulate his thoughts. "It's just… difficult to see you with him," he confessed, his voice heavy with emotion. "Especially when it feels like I'm being pushed aside." Nereida's expression softened, a hint of sadness in her eyes as she reached out to gently touch Cullen's arm. "I never meant to make you feel that way," she murmured softly. "But you have to trust me when I say that Alden is just a friend." Cullen regarded her words, his gaze softening as he realized the depth of her sincerity. "I'm sorry for doubting you," he said, his voice filled with remorse. "And I'm sorry for how I've acted around Isabela. I know it's not fair to you."
Nereida nodded in understanding, a flicker of vulnerability crossing her features. "Thank you," she admitted quietly. "I've been feeling... inadequate, especially compared to Isabela. She's so confident and sure of herself, not to mention beautiful. It's hard not to feel a twinge of jealousy." Cullen quickly embraces her, holding her close. "You have nothing to be jealous of, Nereida," he reassures her, his voice gentle. "You're amazing just the way you are."
Feeling his warmth and sincerity, Nereida's eyes begin to tear up even more as she holds him tightly. She didn't know what to say, so they just stood there for a moment, taking comfort in each other's presence. Eventually, Cullen pulls away slightly, his expression nervous but determined. He looks into her eyes, his voice steady as he speaks. "I'm sorry for making you feel that way," he says sincerely. "I don't want anything to come between us." Nereida nods, her heart swelling with emotion.
Cullen takes a deep breath before continuing. "I was wondering... if you'd like to start again in our relationship, but this time as a couple," he says, his words laced with hope and vulnerability. Nereida's eyes widen in surprise, her heart pounding in her chest at his proposal. She searches his eyes for sincerity and finds nothing but honesty and affection. With a shaky but genuine smile, she nods, her voice filled with emotion. "Yes, Cullen," she whispers. "I'd like that." Cullen's smile widens as he whispers to her, "I'm glad to hear that." With a surge of emotion, he leans in and captures her lips in a tender kiss, pouring all his care and affection into it.
