#talira

Warden au! Talira 817 words

Avira opened her eyes to find herself standing in a small meadow spotted with wildflowers of nearly every color she could imagine, enclosed in a forest. At the edge of the meadow stood a modest cottage with smoke blowing out the chimney, curled by a gentle breeze. The sun was high and bright in the sky, but she didn’t feel hot like she would expect, but instead a pleasant warmth, a wonderful contrast from the coldness she felt before.

She wasn’t sure where she was or how she got there. The last thing she could remember was darkness, coldness, and a bitter taste on her tongue. I can’t wait so see him again. Her breath caught in her throat and she flushed with a memory she couldn’t quite a place. Her eyes focused on the cottage again and her thrumming heart only made her curiouser, like her body knew something that her mind did not.

Before she could knock on the door, it opened and stood before her was a young man with white hair and bright blue eyes and a smile that knocked the breath out of her. Another flush in her chest left her wanting to remember who this man was. He was so achingly familiar.

“I missed you, Avira.”

ICONS POWER COUPLE - icons talira

Original character from an original WIP!

I went with “In awe, the first time you realized,” though not in those exact words.

“You wanted to see me, sir?”

Talim looked up from the latest report in his hand and leaned back in his chair. He couldn’t hide his smug self-satisfied smile at the formality. And neither could the woman standing before him, though Avira was more successful, only a slight curl around her lips. A private inside joke that only they shared even though she was ranked higher than him… Though more often in bed than not.

“Yes, Constable.” He dropped the report on his desk and stood up to circle around her as he spoke, hands clasped behind his back. “You’ve been with us for over a year now to undergo through more rigorous training than what Fereldan can offer.” He paused momentarily behind her, allowing himself the liberty to give her a once over.

Avira lifted her chin, surely feeling his eyes on her. “I wasn’t expecting an inspection, sir. I feel overdressed.”

That solicited a laugh and she soon joined in, relaxing her posture. Talim faced her again and cupped her cheeks to kiss her before she had time to recover. “I can schedule one for later, if you’d like?”

“Abusing your power for me. How naughty.” She winked, pulling his hands down and held them in her own. “Is there something you really need from me, though?”

“Ah, right, yes.” He moved to lean back against his desk. “No, I just wanted to say that you’ve made a lot of progress since you’ve been here, not to say you weren’t formidable to begin with, of course. You are a force to be reckoned with, and you should be very proud of that. I’ve been a Warden for more than twenty years, fought the darkspawn with more men than I can remember, but I’ve never met someone who was so adaptable, so cunning, so willing to finish the job no matter the stakes.”

Her smile made his heart flutter. “What are you saying?”

“I am saying you have the makings of a Warden-Commander. Even higher, if that’s what you wish.” He reached out for her and pulled her into his arms. “You are more than capable of leading and I would follow you without question.”

“That’s a bold declaration for someone who doesn’t hold the title of Warden-Commander.”

He chuckled. “Yes, but Clarel only holds the title because she’s ancient for a Warden.”

“So are you.”

“Hah! Then I take back everything I said. You’re an awful warden, and you need to stay here for the rest of your life to train. I’ll send the letter at once to Elyon!”

Her eyes trained on his, a soft green that brightened up the dreary cloudy day. Her fingertips ghosted over the scars on his face, slow and reverent. “Is that a way of saying you don’t want me to leave?”

“Maybe,” he whispered.

“Hmm,” was her only response as she pressed her lips against his. “Moving up in rank is why I’m here to begin with.”

His mouth moved to her jaw and neck, peppering her skin with kisses. “I could convince you to stay.”

“Hmm, really? How so?”

“With more inspections.”

She snorted and pushed his face away. “What every woman wants to hear, I’m sure!”

He pushed himself off the desk and settled his hands on her waist. “Then how about this?” He kissed, soft and slow, savoring the feel and taste of her plump lips, the way she flicked her tongue when she wanted more, deeper, harder. He pulled her hips flush against his, soliciting a pleased gasp from her.

Breathless, he pulled back first, and rested his forehead against hers. “I love you,” he confessed, feeling a huge weight lift of his heart he didn’t know he had. He pulled back to beam at her as he cupped her face. “I love you! Isn’t that a miracle, for a Warden to love another?”