wickedgraceless | darilaros

[ In the ever changing tides of war, Cullen is not one to complain at an assignment. Even when that assignment brings them to a deep, untouched bog, one covered in a thicket in trees that seem nearly impenetrable. He has to wonder why Daenerys was even asked to join him on this particular mission, given that the heavy overhead of thick, damp trees seem impervious even to her dragon's flames.

But here they are, trudging through it all the same, searching for the dark magic that has seemed to be spreading throughout the neighboring countrysides. The entire place gives him an uneasy feeling, and he has not yet been able to shake the idea that they're being watched. Still, he presses on, sword in hand, wading his way through the swamp. ]

I think, if we are able to get to the center of it, we might be able to get some sense of things.

[ Admittedly, that's only a guess, but it seems just as likely a place to find answers as any. Granted, he's not entirely sure they're successfully navigating towards the center- but he sure hopes he's correct.

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[ The simplest answer— ]

Yes.

[ They should definitely run.

Her current outfit is far less practical than the traveling dress and trousers she'd been wearing (not to mention the boots), but Dany hikes up her skirt, turning to take off in the opposite direction.

She highly doubts Cullen needs to be told to follow.

The rotting dragon tilts its head back and roars with fury, wings beating in the air to lift it off the ground.

Oh, Maker damn it.

To Cullen, as she half-runs, half-stumbles down a rocky path, ]

We just— need a way out!

[ Alright, run, he can manage that. It would be easy for him to outpace her, given both his size and his far more practical clothing, but he makes sure to keep even pace without leaving her behind. At one point he reaches for her, clasping his hand over hers to tug her alongside him.

It seems hopeless, fruitless, as though they were running in place, and yet he still continues, the threat still close on their heels. At last, it seems they've found an answer to their desperate escape- a vicious tear through the air, pulling apart the confines of the air. It glimmers and shifts in a way that is almost grotesque, but through it, reality can be seen flickering. ]

Come on!

[ Daenerys is too swept up in her own fear to be truly grateful that Cullen doesn't simply leave her in his dust, while it would be perfectly reasonable for him to prioritize saving himself.

(She's not his Queen or his Empress; he has duties that stretch far beyond Dany's personal march towards her throne.

But still, he pulls her along with him.)

Dany's fingers curl tightly around Cullen's, desperate for an anchor as the sound of the nightmarish representation of her brother beats its wings through the air. She can hear flames roaring behind them, feel the heat, as her lungs scream with every gulped down breath.

And then—

—there.

Dany pushes her legs harder as her brother's twisted howl of rage, a scream of her name, shakes the world around them, makes her ears ache.

With her fingers still clinging to Cullen's, they both finally slam into the shimmering, gnarled rift. Dany feels like her skin is stretched too tight, like she's being ripped to pieces—

The cold swamp air hits her face first. Daenerys gulps down the foul smell of bog as her vision swims, her eyes tearing with the sudden shock to her system. But— no, no, this feels real, and the crackling, snapping sounds of the rift behind them flashes brighter before crashing shut with a thunderous "boom!" ]

[ Emerging on the other side is like being able to breathe for the first time, releasing a breath he hadn't known he was holding. Cullen gasps loudly, reality hitting him like a brick wall. He doesn't even mind that they've gone tumbling into the bog, that they've narrowly escaped death or- possibly something even worse than death- in the moment he only cares about making sure she is safe. ]

Daenerys-! [ He is too frantic to think better of addressing her by her name, and he reaches for her, gripping her by the arms, trying to steady her. ] Are you alright? I- That was-

[ The sound of the right closing momentarily draws his attention, head whipping around just in time to see it close before turning his attention back to her. ]

Maker, that was...

[ He trails off, unable to properly finish the thought. ]

[ Despite herself, Daenerys can't quell the way she trembles, eyes wide and teary. She feels overwhelmed, inundated with emotion she's spent years burying deep, with the horror of even a specter of her pitiful brother.

But Cullen is a sturdy force, firm hands grounding her with touch, pulling her back to reality outside of the Fade. Her eyes focus on his face as he looks away from the newly-shut rift, and that moment of contact seems to jolt her back to her senses.

Shame colors her cheeks, and she reaches up to brush away her tears with the heel of her palm. ]

It's done, whatever it was.

[ She forces her voice steady, taking another deep breath. ]

And now we can leave, yes? Is there anything else the Inquisitor expected of this expedition?

I... think this will be more than enough.

[ It's going to be quite the report for him to make. What gets done with that information is for the Inquisitor to decide, but he will be happy if he doesn't have to think of that place again.

Almost without thinking, Cullen pulls her into his arms, embracing tightly. If it is inappropriate, he will worry about that later, as it is as much for his own benefit as it is for hers. Cullen remains that way for a long moment, holding her, before letting out a long, heaving sigh. ]

Alright then. [ He releases her gently, cheeks flushed. ] Let's get out of here.

[ Relief hits Daenerys like a brick wall, and so much of the tension she'd been clinging to turns to exhausted weight. She nods, preparing to call for Drogon, but before her lips can part, she finds herself swept into Cullen's embrace.

She's too startled to move, at first. There's no immediate sense of alarm or indignant anger that accompanies the action; again, relief and comfort overtakes her so suddenly that she almost can't grasp it for herself. Her eyes eventually close over, for only a brief moment, and her fingers gently clutch his coat.

As quickly as it came, he pulls away from her, and Daenerys feels the loss too keenly. This place, however, is not the ideal for addressing that affection.

Dany's hands fall away from Cullen, and she nods properly. ]

Drogon will carry us, if you still have no objections.

[ While he can't say he's thrilled after the idea, after what they've just experienced, returning on Drogon doesn't seem quite the impossible task it did before. It will certainly be a lot faster than leaving on foot, and he can't begrudge that. ]

Yes... of course. [ He chuckles nervously, but it feels good to laugh in any capacity. ] The sooner we can leave, the better.

darilaros

what a good boy :c

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