In Another World | locked to apostate_amell

[amellsinferno]

Solona had been giving it some thought ever since Anders brought it up. Escape the tower together? Her, Nellie, him and even Cullen? It was crazy but the way Anders explained it, it just might work. Surprisingly, Cullen agreed to do it, with Nellie's powers of persuasion of course.

So now the four of them are off to escape the Tower. Hopefully everything goes according to plan.

Comments

[apostate-amell.livejournal.com]

"No, Cullen, don't...I...I wouldn't mind sleeping with you...I'd sort of like it, honestly..."

She's still blushing, and she looks away, giving him a small smile when she looks back.

[knightcullen.livejournal.com]

Cullen is stunned for a moment but can't help but smile back. "Always so bold, Nellie," he chuckles. He bends down and adds a few final finishing touches to the tent just to make sure it's sturdy.

"You can go in ahead," he tells her. "I'll just take off my armor."

[apostate-amell.livejournal.com]

Nellie nods and gives him a slight smirk.

"Well, I am Solona's sister...If I don't have the Amell boldness, something is wrong with me."

She goes into the tent, snuggling into some of the blankets.

[knightcullen.livejournal.com]

Cullen blushes again. Just the thought of sleeping beside her--! He's going to have to face the other way to avoid unwanted explanations to why something was poking at her back.

He strips of his armor and lays them in a neat pile by the base of the tent. Then he's reminded that someone needs to stay watch over camp. He turns to his tent and thinks of Nellie. She could use some sleep. So that left him. And Anders. Because he planted the idea into everyone's heads and he was responsible for all this. He makes his way to the other tent and whispers so as not to wake Solona.

"Anders. We have to talk."

[apostate-amell.livejournal.com]

Nellie pokes her head out of the tent, after Cullen is done removing his armor, to ask him if he's coming to bed. She just sees him and Anders talking, though, so she shrugs and goes back in.

Anders, having made sure that Solona was set up, looks up from the tent he was about to enter, looking at Cullen.

"Yeah? Okay, what's up?"

[knightcullen.livejournal.com]

"We might have to take shifts for the night, if you're not too tired to do so," he replies simply.

[chantrygoesboom.livejournal.com]

Anders nods. It's not a bad idea, actually...but he's sort of exhausted at the moment...

"You take the first shift, then wake me up and I'll take over."

[knightcullen.livejournal.com]

Cullen nods. "Will around three hours be sufficient?"

[chantrygoesboom.livejournal.com]

Anders nods.

"That'll work. I just need enough sleep to be awake for guard duty, that's all."

[knightcullen.livejournal.com]

"Understood," he says before making his way back towards his tent to tell Nellie that he'd be staying up. He stops mid-walk and turns his head slightly. "And... thank you, Anders."

[chantrygoesboom.livejournal.com]

Anders just nods, smiling slightly.

"No problem."

[knightcullen.livejournal.com]

Cullen nods and makes it back to his tent, peeking in to check in on Nellie. "Are you alright, love?"

[apostate-amell.livejournal.com]

Nellie blinks and nods sleepily.

"I'm okay...are you staying up?"

[knightcullen.livejournal.com]

"I have to stay up," Cullen replies with a weak smile. "I--," Maker, he wanted to stay, "I'm sorry I can't..."

[apostate-amell.livejournal.com]

"It's okay. I'll be waiting here when you get back."

She gives him a sleepy smile and a thumbs up.

"You go do what you have to do, Cullen."

[knightcullen.livejournal.com]

She made his heart melt. She really did. He moves into the tent to kiss her cheek. "I love you, you know that?" He smiles at her, kissing her full on the lips instead before moving out of the tent. "Get some rest, love."

[apostate-amell.livejournal.com]

"Love you too, Cullen. I'll be here when you get back."

She kisses him back, smiling and waving as he moves out of the tent before, exhausted, she falls asleep. She knows he'll do a good job keeping watch.

[knightcullen.livejournal.com]

Cullen yawns and stretches, leaning over to grab a piece of firewood from the pile he'd collected out of boredom. He throws it into the fire and watches it crackle. He's not sure how much time has passed but he's sure that it didn't amount to the amount of time he thought he'd spent sitting there.

Probably less.

Like an hour or so.

Solona however stirs in her sleep, waking up to a completely unfamiliar place. A tent? When did she get inside a tent?

[chantrygoesboom.livejournal.com]

Anders is lying next to her, asleep, snoring slightly. He's got another hour or so before its his turn to go on watch duty, and he's exhausted.

[amellsinferno.livejournal.com]

Solona rolls to her side wondering where the noise was coming from. "Bugger, Anders," she smiles, scooting over next to him. She pulls one of his arms around her shoulders and snuggles against it and goes back to sleep.

[chantrygoesboom.livejournal.com]

Anders doesn't wake up at the movement, but he does wrap his arm around her in his sleep.

[knightcullen.livejournal.com]

Cullen sleepily watches the fire crackle. He didn't even realize how worn out he was but duty called. He looks up at the moon. The placement was quite right. A bit over three hours, in fact.

He groggily stands up and makes his way towards Anders' tent. He peers inside to find him and Solona held tight together. He feels a bit torn waking him up but he has to. Even he needs some sleep.

"Anders," Cullen whispers, tapping Anders' leg. "Your turn."

[chantrygoesboom.livejournal.com]

Anders groans and wakes up, slowly, looking sleepily at Cullen.

"Whasa...oh, right...my turn...go get some sleep, Cullen..."

Rubbing at his eyes and making sure Solona is comfortable, Anders gets up and takes Cullen's spot at watch.

[knightcullen.livejournal.com]

Cullen nods and retreats back to his tent. He finds Nellie asleep, looking extremely at peace. He can't help but smile. He moves in beside her, the sleep deprivation taking away all his apprehension and wraps his arms around her waist, pulling her close. His nose presses against her hair and he breathes in her familiar scent.

Perfect.

With that, he drifts off to sleep.

[chantrygoesboom.livejournal.com]

Anders takes the guard for the rest of the night. The next morning, Nellie is still snuggled against Cullen, sleeping peacefully.