𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚌𝚑𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙻𝚢𝚛𝚒𝚞𝚖 [cyrodilicbrandy & Agnes]

[Agnes]

Aria had almost lost control too, if the flames licking at her frame were any indication. They fizzled out as soon as she regained some sense of control, and although Cayden would've loved nothing more to see her unleash her full potential, to get some sort of payback for what she and her friends had gone through, he was thankful she had not gone overboard and actually harmed him. So far, only he had laid his hands on Mercer. The Knight-Commander and the First Enchanter would not be able to implicate Aria no matter how hard they fucking tried, and that was enough. Mercer would be different story though; he would hold grudges, and now that Cayden had calmed down enough to think things through, he was almost certain he had made things worse for the both of them by beating the disgusting bastard within an inch of his life. And although it had been truly and utterly satisfying in those few moments when he was pummeling into his face, all Cayden felt now was horror and apprehension at what exactly he had done, and a fear of the consequences of his actions.

But Aria's shaken words, the absolute desperation in her eyes, the whispered profession of love... they reminded Cayd that he needed to stay strong, at least for a while longer, if only for Aria if nothing else. "I love you too, Ari," he whispered back, meeting her lips in a kiss that, while urgent and rushed, still filled Cayd with the strength and energy to continue to stand for a while longer. And although he would've loved nothing more than to hold her and keep her in his arms, he knew it would not be safe for her if she was with him when the other templars found him. Knight-Commander Greagoir had a talent for twisting things into his view, and First Enchanter Irving was so compliant he might as well bend over backwards for him while fellating him. "Go," he urged a final time, reluctantly drawing back his hands from her waists, watching crestfallen as she bent over to pick up her book and the pages that had flown out of it, scrambling to make it out of the halls before the fast approaching echoes of the sabatons arrived. He watched over her as she ran, wanting to run along with her but knowing he had to take responsibility, and as the last wisp of her crimson locks disappeared around a corner, the squadron of templars arrived from the other, led by none other than Greagoir and Irving.

Cayden closed his eyes and prayed.

Blessed are they who stand before
The corrupt and the wicked and do not falter.
Blessed are the peacekeepers, the champions of the just.
​

Was he one, though?

 

[cyrodilicbrandy]

---

Over the past few weeks and a few days, Aria had tried hard to concentrate on her studies, the date of her exam looming ever and ever closer. At first, the fear of repercussions for herself and or Cayd put a damper over her thinking; her thoughts were disjointed, hands shaking and barely able to write formulae and notes legibly, fading out of conversations to the ire of her companions - of whom only Elena and Rachel had any idea of why, but even they didn't have the specifics. She'd had some of her freedoms removed in the aftermath of Cayd's beating of Mercer, which was surprisingly easy to deal with - she hadn't done anything wrong, or at least she hadn't hurt Mercer herself, and Cayd and Cullen must have attested to that, regardless of whatever Mercer might have claimed. And as an apprentice with an upcoming exam, she wasn't exactly considered a threat, either. No, most of her mental energy was spent on Cayden. In the days, she hadn't seen him, and she went through her tasks covered in fear sweat, thinking of the worst.

Her fears had been allayed by Cullen after the sixth day; Cullen, who seemed to be seeking forgiveness in his actions, approached her surreptitiously one day as she pored over the locations Royal Elfroot could be found, and told her Cayd had been relegated to a constant night shifts and heavy lifting of stock at the docks. Ari had wanted to jump up and down, the fear being immediately stripped from her; instead, she quietly thanked Cullen and returned to the book at hand. Even after that, though, concentrating was hard. Cullen kept up a small amount of communication between the two, for which she was grateful, but instead of fear she now felt herself consumed with a need, a need to see Cayden again. It was the longest she could remember that they'd gone without seeing each other, and the need was both physical and mental one. The sleepless nights were the worst, where she felt the desire that hadn't been released since that night in the library, and it felt like a lifetime.

Until today - on her way to the library for yet another studying session, she'd seen Cayden. Wearing his helmet, faceless, yet she knew it was him - his height was always a giveaway, but there was also something else, almost like a current between the two of them, and she wondered if he felt it too. A gasp left her lips softly as the distance between them got smaller, and smaller, and then he was within her grasp, and under his voice - that voice! It had been so long! - he said, words rapidly spoken: "If you're free at noon, viewpoint overlooking the lake." Heat bloomed through her small body, her cheeks flaming and she muttered her affirmation - and then the moment was over, and they were walking away from each other. Aria felt delirious. Maker's arse, if she would have struggled to concentrate on her word before this, there was no way she could focus now - and noon was two hours away yet. She'd just have to deal with it.

So when the bell rang through the Tower's walls, signalling noon, Ari forced herself to act normal, suppressing the urge to slam her book shut and simply run up to the overlook. But slow and steady she managed it, somehow. Clutching her book to her chest, head down as if demure, not to attraction attention, she made her way higher and higher through the Tower; at noon, a fair amount of people would be thinking of lunch, but not Aria, who was hungry for Cayden. The last few steps up towards the wooden door that lead to the overlook, where you could see the lake in all it's misty, hopeless glory, she couldn't help but run, pushing the door open with a few breathless gasps.

 

[Agnes]

Two weeks. That was how long he was kept separated from Aria, condemned to continuous night shifts without rest and then hard labour moving stocks down at the docks during the day. It was a harsh punishment, one that was more severe than it sounded, but Cayden knew he was certainly lucky it ended there. Greagoir was most certainly not pleased with him beating his golden child into a pulp, and was hell-bent on sentencing him and the mage that sparked the altercation to something that would teach them a lesson. Thankfully, Cullen immediately jumped to Cayden's defense without hesitation, and Irving, for all his shortcomings, aided the two of them in downplaying Aria's involvement, stating she was a bright girl without any history of dissent, and that she was unlikely to be any sort of threat with her final exams coming up soon. It also helped that Mercer's jaw was a bit too busted for him to offer any sort of legible complaint. In the end, it seemed as if Cayden got the brunt of the punishment, with Cullen and Aria each getting slaps on the wrist, which while still ridiculous and unfair, was something the young templar could live with.

And so off he went, cast down to the basement of the tower to work like a common labourer. He didn't have a chance to talk to Aria before he was gone, and the first few days were literal hell for him, worrying what might happen to her if he wasn't there to protect her. It was only after he got to speak to Cullen after a few days that he learned her punishment was simply having some of her freedoms revoked, and that she was faring well in spite of things, Mercer still locked up in the infirmary to try anything. It came as a huge relief to Cayden, who was at least able to shed his mental burdens to focus on his physical ones. Cayden was not unfit; he was a soldier and a fighter after all, but he was not built for intense labour. A few days of continuous work would be draining enough, but a whole fourteen days? It was a high miracle he didn't break his back. By the end of the first week, he looked like a ragged corpse, the boy too tired to even shave or take care of himself properly during those precious moments to himself. Instead he spent them resting and dreaming of Aria, the taste of her sweet lips and spicy undertone to her scent, patiently waiting for him to return to her again. It was the anticipation, the assurance that she would be bounding up and down to see him again, that kept him going despite the almost overwhelming desire to just collapse to the ground.

But, some times the will beat the body, and as Cayden endured through the initial hurdles, his body adapted to the harsh demands. It wasn't too noticeable at first, but by the end of those two weeks he had visibly grown in muscle mass— his once-average arms now sporting visible biceps, and his flat abdomen now having a somewhat sculpted look. Cayden would hardly consider his punishment to he a blessing, but there were still some silver linings to it, and when he came back to the tower after he had done serving, he looked quite the different man. He already stood out before for his height, and now he had the bulk to back it up. He wanted to run to Aria the moment he came back, but knowing that the other templars would be observing him closely now, he had to temper his urges, and spent the first two days back regaining his strength so he wouldn't have to slouch everywhere, literally sleeping like a baby.

And one day, after he was back to wearing his armour and helmet and serving as another faceless guard, he happened upon Aria, or rather she happened upon him, and seizing his chance, he reached out for her and told her to meet him that noon. It was a bit risky perhaps, but after being starved of her love for so long, not having been close to her since that sweet, intimate night in the library, Cayden was desperate to feel Aria again. And so, as noon approached, Cayden excused himself from his post under the pretence of going for lunch in the barracks, and instead made his way up to the intended meeting spot, a secluded hideout on top of the tower with a window offering a breathtaking view of the misty lake Calenhad beneath. He arrived a little early and took the chance to undo his gauntlets and his armour, wanting to feel every single touch he could. This time, he wore a nice white sleeveless shirt, perhaps cheekily thinking that Ari would appreciate his newfound ruggedness. And after that, he simply leaned against the window and looked out upon the mesmerizing view beaneath, waiting, wondering how such a serene place could hold such misery.

Until the door flew open and Aria came in panting and gasping. He immediately snapped to her, and overcome with emotions after seeing her again for so long, the last time having been the urgent, desperate kiss just before she had to leave the scene of crime, he crossed the room with ungodly speed and took the redhead's waist in his arms. "Aria," he called out desperately, wrapping his arms around her back and pulling her into a tight embrace, holding her as if he was a prisoner seeing a long lost lover for the first time in decades. Andraste's holy tits, she smelled so wonderful— like her usual perfume, but mixed in with scents of fresh parchment and ink, as if she'd come to him straight from a class. "I missed you so much," he whispered into her ear, only pulling back after he'd gotten his share of hugging. He'd grown a small beard over the past two weeks, and had decided not to shave it off, at least, not before getting his lover's opinion. He gave her a dazzling smile, as if he hadn't spent the last few days sleeping like a dead man, and asked laughingly, "Like the beard, love? I was fancying myself some kind of rugged sailor."

 

[cyrodilicbrandy]

Any thoughts of herbs and balms and poultices, the Fade and spirits and demons, Primal and Creation and Force magic - gone. Gone the second she saw Cayden's familiar figure in front of her, his armour in a heap on the floor. Her heart leapt to her throat, the book now useless as she dropped it carelessly to the floor with a crack. Her legs wouldn't move as fast as she wanted to, and it was lucky that Cayd was also closing the distance between them, for within a foot of him, her feet tangled themselves together and she fell forwards, into his waiting arms, circling around her dainty waist and pulling her close. Ari leaned her head back, face covered in tears which left lines across her skin, smile radiant.

"Cayd!" she cried, her voice jubilant and cracking with emotion. "Cayden," Ari's voice trembled away into elated giggles, her mind full of nothing but him, his face, his stance, his smell. He'd changed a bit since she'd last seen him, she noted, not in the least with him now sporting a beard, as curly and as dark as the hair atop his head. It was very.... she liked it a lot, and she felt her stomach coil with a deep hunger, exacerbated by the length of time they'd spent apart, and as an answer her hands came up to rest each side of his face, where her small fingers ran over and played with the newly-grown beard covering his jaw, before pulling his face down towards hers with a strength she reserved for moments like this, where she needed to show her desire. Ari's lips met Cayd's, the kiss deep and needy, her tongue slipping from between her moist lips and pushing its away past his; demanding, not asking, to be let in, to curl and dance with his. As the two lovers kissed, her hands slowly dropped from the sides of his face, trailing over his skin, the touch and pace almost exploratory as if learning the feel of him and his muscles all over again.

And it did seem as if she did have to - she'd known he'd spent so much of the last two weeks doing near constant heavy labour during the days, though she'd been more concerned in missing the whole of him that he hadn't spared a thought about how that much labour would have changed his body. As her fingers smoothed over his biceps, exposed, she could feel the definite thickness of his muscles, and her fingers dug into his arm as a soft, pleased moan escaped from the pit of her mouth into his. Ari had always loved Cayd's body - had be stayed a skinny twig like he had been as a child, she would have still love it, because it belonged to him. But she couldn't deny how much she appreciated this change, and the thought that he would be able to lift her up from the floor with even more ease than before caused a tremble throughout her body. When they had the chance, she would take her sweet, sweet time exploring Cayd all over again.

Eventually, Ari reluctantly pulled away from the kiss, her lips wet as soft pants filled the space between their faces. She could tell her face was red, feeling the burn across her freckled cheeks, the galaxies in her eyes half hidden by lidded eyes. "Cayd..." she whispered again, lips curving into a dazed smile "I approve, love." She gave his muscles a gentle squeeze, nipping her lower lip with her teeth. "These, too. I like 'em."

 

[Agnes]

Perhaps books were bound to fall whenever they were in uncontrollable moments of passion. Bang went the book, clattering to the floor, just as in that library weeks ago, though it was hardly registered in Cayd's mind. All he thought of was her, Aria, Aria, Aria, and that his feet couldn't go fast enough to meet her midway. It was fortunate he was near enough as he was, able to catch her by the waist as she tripped and fell right into his arms, or as he liked to imagine it, swooning. She was a tiny little thing, so frail in his hands that Cayden feared she would shatter in half if he squeezed too hard. Her voice was so tiny, so familiar yet sounding like a distant memory, and as she fell into giggles and jubilant laughter against him, the templar couldn't help but laugh along elatedly as well. Despite what most people said, Cayden believed that love did triumph over all, case in point when the fatigue and worry of the past fortnight faded into the air as soon as he heard Aria's laugh and saw her galaxy grey eyes, streaked with joyful tears.

He found her answer in the way her hands trailed so lovingly over his jawline, where new, curled strands of hair now formed his beard, and the way her eyes almost drank him in with a hunger. In truth, it was quite itchy and he wouldn't be opposed to shaving it off and go back to the stubble he so loved to teasingly rub on her skin, but it filled him with a sense of pride and satisfaction, knowing he still looked attractive to Ari even when he'd changed. As for her, she looked much the same as before, and he was so, so glad to see her unharmed and unscathed. Still with those crimson tresses he loved to bury his nose in, still with those lush pink lips and button nose and playful smile, still the petite little thing with a big personality. He thanked the Maker for protecting her from the consequences of his moment of madness, and in seeing that beautiful face teem with happiness upon seeing him, Cayden felt as if he might very well melt into a puddle beneath her.

Ever the hungry little vixen, Ari pulled his face down for a kiss, and ever the gentleman, Cayden obliged. It was hungry, needy, powerful, charged with emotions pent up over the last few weeks, amplified by the fear and worry for each other. She tasted so damn good, Cayden would not be satisfied if he was able to kiss her for a thousand years. Her tongue demanded entry and his own charged out to meet it, dancing, twriling, furiously wrestling in a kiss that consumed Cayden, mind and body. He savoured every second of it, refamiliarising himself with her, letting his hands drop and explore just as hers dragged along his biceps. Her shoulders, her back, her stomach, her ass, they were all cherished and worshipped with such reverence he only ever showed her, though the last got some extra attention with some cheeky squeezes and a soft slap. A man had his urges after all.

When they broke apart, both their faces were flushed, a bridge of saliva connecting their moist lips and snapping a moment later. Cayden gave a grin and a wink as she stated her approval, giving her a kiss on her nose and nuzzling his own into the freckles on her cheeks. "Mhm, I thought you might. Did Cullen tell you? I had to spend two weeks hauling potatoes. Fitting punishment for turning someone's face into one," he snickered darkly, the subject somewhat out of place in their usual jovial tone. "I'm so happy to see you safe, Ari. I heard you had some of your freedoms taken away. Nothing happened while I was gone, right? No one bothered you?" he inquired, giving her shoulders a little shake, the vestiges of worry still apparent in his lidded, but alert eyes.

Gently threading his fingers through her hair, he squeezed her cheek with the other hand, and sighed wistfully as he gazed into those beautiful, expressive greys. "We might not have too much time, but I wanted to see you, if only for a moment. I uh, I wanted to come up with a more eloquent surprise, but urgent meetings are kind of our thing, wouldn't you say?" he laughed with a wiggle of his eyebrows and a click of his tongue.

 

[cyrodilicbrandy]

Aria wanted nothing more for this moment to never end; for the joy in their reunion, the need with which they kissed and pressed against each other - Cayd, the menace, had even removed his armour so that they could be as close as possible to the other, and to no doubt show off his recently changed physique. The moment would have to end, they always did, and though that made her feel a pang of melancholy, it was overshadowed by her joy. And now that their respective punishments were practically over - though she found herself a little more scrutinised than she had been before - they could go back to normal. Or at least, what passed for their normal, anyway.

She felt a sick sense of satisfaction, as she had upon seeing Cayd decimate Mercer's face that day, at his darkly murmured remark. Ari hadn't seen the bastard since, as he was practically hiding away in the infirmary, tail firmly between his legs. Over the time she and Cayd were apart, she would often feel a stab of fear about him; he was going to leave his bed eventually, whether his face was healed or not, and she couldn't help but worry a target was on her back now. Cayd had clearly proven himself more than capable of taking him out; but Aria had no such chance should he approach her. She wouldn't be able to use her magic to defend herself, not without dire consequences, and she was tiny, to boot. Trying to punch him, even she good even land a blow on his face, would likely break her own hand. But he hadn't made his appearance, and as the days went on, she almost forgot about Mercer entirely. Elena had only seen part of the carnage, but Aria noticed she gave her smiles a little more freely than she had hitherto done before, since Mercer had hurt her. It made Aria feel that at least some good had come out of the situation.

"I'm well," she confirmed, her smile still so wide it felt like her cheeks were fit to burst. "With my exams coming up, they couldn't lock me up completely. Maybe a few people are giving me lingering, curious looks; they must have heard something." As his calloused yet gentle hand caressed her cheek, Ari tilted her head a little to lean into the gesture, nuzzling him as if she were a small, fuzzy animal. "Elena seems to be doing better, too. She's less... skittish. She has you to thank for that, my hero," she ended the word with a little sigh. Her grey eyes, still lightly bleary from the tears, rolled up in mock exasperation at his cheeky remark and the waggled eyebrows, though of course she would agree. Their whole relationship revolved around secret meetings and quickly hurried intimacies, rushed kisses and needy fumblings. But even though they hadn't long together today, here, in the room overlooking the misty, melancholy lake, Aria knew she wanted to make the most of the time they had; a sly smile covered her lips, one familiar to Cayd after so many years, and her hands drifted from his arms to his chest. They stopped there, fingers deftly running over the fabric of his shirt and feeling the newly defined lines to his muscles; Ari felt her throat go dry, teeth once more capturing her lower lip softly. Her hands didn't linger on his chest for very long though, as they continued further down his body towards their eventual destination. Again, they stopped for a moment at the hem of his breeches - but unlike their love-making in the library, Ari didn't tease him this time, her fingers instead making quick work of his fastenings.

The rough fabric dropped to the floor in a heap, much like his armour and her book, and his underwear soon followed, his cock exposed and stiffening; slowly, leaving Cayd with no doubt as to her intentions, her pink tongue slipped from her mouth to moisten her plump lips. Her need to please him made her hands shake, the desire coiling and burning in her stomach. Her face was little more than a whisper when she spoke, breaking in places, husky even: "I missed you. I missed you so much. I love you." It was almost like a mantra, as she gracefully dropped to her knees, the concrete pressing against them nothing of consequence. One of her dainty hands took him within her grasp, her head dipping forwards so that her tongue pressed against him and running across the underside from root to tip, where she briefly took him into her mouth, her tongue now swirling over the sensitive slit there. She then pulled back, her eyes once again trained upon him, her voice unevenly muttered. "I fucking love you, Cayden Amberstern." And then she resumed her mouth's purpose, mouth closing softly around his cock, gently suckling him, her head titled backwards enough that she could stare up at him, watching his every reaction.

 

[Agnes]

Her hero. The word stuck in his head and echoed over and over, like the morning gong reverberating off the walls of the tower. Her hero. Cayden wouldn't consider himself a hero by any stretch of the word, but now that he thought about it, he did protect her from a despicable bastard, regardless of how crass and needlessly violent he was. One thing that his brothers often forget was that templars were meant to protect the mages, not subjugate and abuse them. It was so ingrained in the templar mindset that mages were dangerous and meant to be kept on leashes that even he often slipped into thinking they were the enemy. They were not. The demons of the fade trying to control the mages were. For the first time in his twenty years of service to the order, Cayden felt as if he had truly performed his duty as intended. Granted, it came in the form of an emotional outburst, and he was only thinking of Aria as he pummeled into Mercer, but if he somehow helped Elena come to terms and cope, then he would take the gratitude. "Tell her she's welcome then," he said, grinning to mirror the mirth in her beautiful eyes. "And that I wouldn't mind doing it over again if it didn't mean I'd be condemned to labour for two weeks." Feeling her nuzzling into his hand, he rubbed and squeezed her rosy cheeks a little more, petting her as if she was a particularly cuddly kitten. "I think they were more concerned with the fact that there was in-fighting rather than a scuffle between a mage and a templar. Thankfully."

As her hands went down his body, his own trailed up hers, rubbing the small of her back and playing with the strings that held her robe together, feeling every inch of her body. The way she bit her lip, the way she looked over him hungrily, it filled him with a sense of power and control, mirroring her as he too glazed greedily over the curve of her breasts and the exposed skin of her neck, just begging to be kissed. But unlike him, Ari did not stop at simply looking; she went to touch, and as she went lower and lower to reach his breeches, Cayden raised his brows ever so slightly, an inkling of an idea already forming in his (admittedly sexually inclined) mind. "Ari...?" he asked, though he knew full well what her intentions were. It was more the fact that they did not have too much time to themselves, and Cayd had intended on simply kissing and talking, maybe some heavy petting, but he wasn't about to refuse what was to come. He was stiff as a rock as she made her move, paralysed, stupefied by the sheer beauty of her taking control, and as his breeches and underwear dropped and his already erect cock came springing out, Cayden let out a bashful laugh, stomach twisting with both need and a bit of shame.

Yet, with Aria, he knew there was no need for such thoughts. "I missed you too, Ari. So, so much..." he whispered, running his fingers along her lips and chin, mesmerised as she licked her lips and sank to her knees, as graceful as a dove. A twitch as she grasped his hot length, and a gasp and fluttered eyes as she leaned forward to press her tongue against the base, running up to the tip where she took it into her mouth. It was heavenly; he was no stranger to this, of course, but after being deprived of her touch for so long, just feeling her tongue swirl around the tip was a pleasure of inexplicable magnitude for him. She paused to tell him just how much she loved him, and Cayden damn near had to call upon all his strength not to buckle into a heap right there and then. "I... and I love you so fucking much, Aria Siward," he uttered through uneven breaths, feeling his breath hitch again as she closed her mouth around him again, suckling it, worshipping it, lavishing it in attention that he so desperately desired, all the while staring up at him with those big, beautiful grey eyes. "Just like that," he breathed in that drawled accent of his, his voice tinged with need.

Concentrating on just keeping himself upright, Cayden closed his eyes and gently rolled his hips, moving along with Ari's rhythm to feel every single space of her warm mouth and tongue. She was rather talented at this, and knew his body like the back of her hand, such was their bond, and Cayden feared he would lose himself right there and then just from feeling her tongue upon his cock. Forcing his eyes back open, he gazed down to meet her eyes, grinning lopsidedly as he watched her perform for him, lacing his fingers in her hair and moving her head up and down upon him, though never so forceful as to take away her agency. "Ah, you feel amazing, Aria... you... you're really good at this," he chuckled with a hitched laugh. Quite tame and amusing as far as fellatio-related dirty talk goes, but Cayd could be excused for not being suave when he was half out of it with pleasure and need. "Mhm, a little more tongue, love?" he asked cheekily, running her hair back so he could see her face fully as her lips wrapped around his member.

 

[cyrodilicbrandy]

Each of the little ways his face and body reacted to her hands, her words, her mouth, was exactly what Aria wanted, the validation and confirmation of her power she had over him made her breath and fingers tremble; after so long apart, she still knew him so well - her grey eyes sparkled up at him with the promise that this moment together would be interesting, very interesting indeed, the smile evident in the corners of her eyes. It wasn't just that they were finally together, where she could touch and taste and feel him, but almost like a prayer, or a celebration. Cayd worshipped Ari's body, her face, sometimes it even seemed the ground she walked upon was holy, the way he treated her. Under his hands, lips pressing against her skin, she felt free, a lady, a queen. And as she put her mouth to work, here in the overlook, the midday light flooding the room with a warmth that had no chance at rivalling the warmth the two lovers felt flooding their bodies, it was her turn to worship him.

With a wry amusement, she could feel his legs tremble for a moment, as if they would buckle and Cayd would collapse to the ground, a pile of need. And so she only increased her efforts; as their eyes continued to meet, staring into the very depths of each other - his hand gently guiding the movements of her head, yet still allowing her full autonomy - she rolled her tongue along the full length of his cock, slowly, lingering. The taste of him, warm and musky, his natural scent the strongest here, she moved her head forward with a sudden eagerness as her mouth continued to suckle the sides of his member. Teasing him and watching his eyelids flutter, the way his fingers curled into her hair would tighten for just a moment... well, that was all well and good, but her own need was increasing now. Preoccupied as she was, even as she felt herself become wet, her hands came up to rest upon his hips, where her tiny fingers dug into the skin there with a force that might just leave a few faint red lines when she was done.

Gulping, her nostrils flaring as she brought in all the air she needed through them, she couldn't help but roll her eyes upwards as Cayd's cheeky remark; had they had more time, she would have pulled back somewhat and paused, letting him stew under the consequences of his words. But she wanted to please him, to feel all of him in her mouth, to relish in the physical cues of his body and the way his cock twitched in pleasure as her tongue swirled and coiling around it, and then to bring him to his release, to taste and to swallow; around his cock, a soft, drawn out moan vibrated from deep within the pit of her throat. Ari's grey eyes closed, breaking the gaze momentarily, her eyebrows pulling together, fingers and nails digging into his skin. When her eyes opened again, they were half-lidded, a blush creeping along her cheeks as she pushed forward, more and more of him in her mouth to be suckled and licked and lapped up.

 

[Agnes]

Cayden was more of a giver than a taker when it came to sex, and so it was somewhat hard for him to fill into the role of standing still and doing absolutely nothing as Aria did all the work. Still, he perceived it as a testament of the love she had for him, putting his pleasure above her need to breathe even, and as her lips rose up and down along his length, Cayd felt his self-control slipping further and further away from his slippery grasp, devolving into a mindless groans and hums. So he considered it a big achievement then, that he managed to make her roll her eyes amidst all this, despite his impaired ability to form legible words. A small, endearing laugh escaped him, and as a sign of peace, he gently rubbed her scalp and winked at her, feeling deservedly smug.

It could be said that Aria was the submissive one, on her knees and worshipping his cock with veneration, but it felt quite the opposite to Cayden's addled mind. He felt completely under her control, subject to every whim and every little movement she did with her mouth. He had enough trouble keeping himself still so he wouldn't thrust forward and fuck her face raw, but by Andraste's tits, this woman was incredible— eyes fluttering close and blushing like an innocent maiden, she pushed further and further until she was sucking him deep enough near the base that he feared she would gag and choke. But she didn't, and what was more, she actually complied to his off-hand request and used more of her tongue on him, licking and swirling all around his length, suckling him with such force it could make him explode.

The grip in her hair tightened, his inhibition all but gone now, his voice hoarse; moaning with uncontained lust through pursed lips that did a terrible job of keeping him quiet. "Ari, Ari..." he moaned out, eyes fluttered closed as he gritted his teeth, the way she was working him over making his impending release an inevitability. And it would happen quite soon, at this rate; pressure built inside of the depths of him, coiling, twisting, working up his nerves and setting them on fire, helped along by Ari's skillful, relentless worship of his cock. He felt her nails dig into his sides, but the pain was inconsequential— it served as a mere reminder of her presence below him, looming over and overtaking the whole room, blocking out everything until he could think of was her, and her alone.

And as if to foreshadow his incoming climax, a gentle breeze blew through the lone window, rustling the aged curtains and kissing his exposed skin, though it would not hold anything to what Aria was putting him through. At last it became too much to bear, and even though he would not be able to warn her verbally, his tongue tied with pleasure, the twitch in his length on her tongue and the way his body shuddered and shifted would be indicative enough for his lover. It came crashing down on his whole self, each constriction of his cock a blissful wave of pleasure as he let loose his seed inside her awaiting mouth, his hands holding her head there so she would take all of it in and swallow it, though it seemed Aria didn't need any incentive to do just that. It went on for a good while, the templar having been repressed sexually for a good while, ever since that night in the library, and only after he had quite literally emptied his balls did he release his hold on her hair, staggering back a bit and laughing dazedly as he tried to make sense of everything around him. "By the Maker... I... I didn't realise how much I needed this," he chuckled tiredly, his half lidded eyes now gazing down to meet hers, filled with nothing but love and joy and fulfillment. "I love you so much, Aria," be crooned, his hands going to his hips to clasp hers gently, squeezing them affectionately as he took the moment to appreciate Aria in all her beautiful, on her knees and looking like the majestic queen that she is. "Thank you..."

 

[cyrodilicbrandy]

With his quietly moaned words, and the tongue-tied silence that followed them, not to mention the way his body trembled and tightened due to her tongue and mouth's delicious combo, Ari knew very well that he was enjoying it, enjoying the way she put all of her energy into pleasing him. For weeks, they hadn't even been able to see each other, and the apprentice's quarters were not exactly conducive to getting yourself off, and the way both Cullen and Cayd had explained the heavy duties the latter had been put under, she knew he'd likely had to time to indulge in any release - hells, if the way his legs buckled, the way his hands urgently, yet as carefully as ever, guided her forwards in her task of worshipping him, said anything, it was that he was just as urgent, if not more so, to reach orgasm, to swell and twitch in her warm mouth.

Ari's own hips rocked somewhat, her own desire rocketing through her veins; but Cayd was the priority, and even as another soft moan caressed his length, she felt the telltale signs of his impending orgasm. It would be, if she had to put it in words similar to those stupid smutty novels she hated, 'earth-shattering', almost, and Aria was desperate, cheeks blazing so red they clashed spectacularly with her flaming red locks. And then, she could feel him stiffen within her mouth, where before his cock would twitch in reaction to her tongue, and she knew he was close, on the brink of release. Cayd's hands tightened their hold in her hair, though she had no desire to go anywhere, no desire to move backwards; inhaling deeply through her nose she braced herself for the moment of his release, and she could feel the waves of climax rocket through him through there proximity, as wave after wave of his seed shot forth from the tip of his cock. The first hit near the back of her throat, but the only sound she made was a soft, muffle cough, before she suckled it down, greedily, almost. Ari didn't let up her mouth's pace, her tongue exploring the inside of her mouth to lap up any pools of his seed she might have missed, the saltiness nearly addictive to her.

Cayd's release lasted a good while, and Ari's grey eyes, lightly watering, twinkled much like the stars in the sky with a satisfied expression. A chuckle erupted from her throat, slowly, ever so slowly, beginning to pull back her lips from around his member with barely hidden reluctance. Upon pulling back entirely, her mouth dropped open to softly pant, her lips wet and curved into a smile that was very much like the cat that had caught the canary. Ari caught her breath, thought couldn't help but giving Cayd's member another long lick; she'd brought him to his climax, and both seemed well satisfied with it, so now she could tease him again.

"You definitely needed this," she agreed, her voice light and playful. "You were very pent up, my love. Glad to have been of service," and with that one of her sparkling eyes slipped into a wink.

 

[Agnes]

If her going down on him was the main course, then the little lick and wink at the end were the dessert that elevated the meal from good to spectacular. Cayden had a hard time not laughing surprisedly after that, though it was of the endearing, affectionate sort, still not having had enough of her. It was quite the view, seeing Aria kneeling there with her mouth slightly parted, cheeks flushed red from exertion, made better by the fact that he'd literally felt her lap up and swallow every drop of his seed earlier. He felt loved, truly loved, by the extent to which she went to please him, and now that he had released weeks' worth of pent up frustration, he felt like he was now obligated to worship her in a similar fashion. He might've been the more obviously needy, having been worked to the bone with absolutely no time to spare, but he reckoned the apprentice quarters were not a good place to flick her bud either.

And so, with a satisfied sigh reminiscent of a 50-year old man sitting down after a trot around the woods, Cayden deftly slid back up his underwear and breeches, and sank to his knees so he would be level with his lover, cupping her cheeks and bringing her in for a quick, sweet kiss. He could still taste himself upon her, but he couldn't have cared less about it— what mattered was showing her just how much he appreciated her, just how much he cared. "Now it's my turn," he whispered, his voice somehow lazy and content and excited at the same time. With a mirthful wink to mirror hers earlier, he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, and gestured for her to get up with a tilt of his chin. "Up. Let me make you feel good, Ari," he crooned, practically buzzing with anticipation even though he had emptied his load in her mouth moments earlier. Cayden might not be a mage, he might not be clairvoyant or telepathic, but he did know how to read Aria like a book, and knowing her, he was willing to bet she was all excited and ready to go beneath those robes of hers, if her demeanor and flushed cheeks were anything to go by.

Once she was on her feet, he gently pushed her back until she was backed against a table, wanting her to have something to hold onto for the next event in their urgent little show. They shared many mannerisms and habits, one of which was keeping their eyes locked when they pleasured each other with their mouths. Twin sets of galaxy grey eyes staring into each other, Cayden gave a smug smirk and deftly hiked up her skirt and pressed it into her hands, having her hold it for him while he got to work lapping her up. Sure enough, he could see that her panties were visibly wet, the scent of her arousal, sweet with a spicy undertone, pervading the air around them, even through the fabric. "Looks like I'm not the only one being all pent up, love," he teased, peeling the undergarment down to her ankles, letting her step out of it before tossing it onto the table, completely forgotten for now.

Then his eyes flicked to her glistening sex - and a grin crept across his face. He had always found her most intimate parts pleasing to look at, and to touch and lick and nuzzle into, of course, and he took his liberty this time to feast his eyes upon her (even though it might embarrass her), the orbs alight with a burning desire. Licking his lips like a lion before a meal, he grabbed her thighs and spread her legs apart, making her bare all of herself before him. Looking up to watch every little reaction she gave, to hear every little sound she made, Cayden leaned in... and placed a loving, warm kiss on the tip of her lower lips. From there, his tongue darted out to give a long singular lick along her pussy from bottom to top, ending at her little clit where he swirled his tongue to tease at her most sensitive part. He angled his face so that his chin would rub against her soft, creamy thighs, rubbing against her skin with the soft, raven black hairs of his new beard. Got to put it to good use before he got rid of it, he mused. Cracking a chesire grin that said he knew exactly the effect he was having on her, the templar began to lap up and down her lips, nuzzling into her crimson bush every now and then, his index finger coming up to tease her entrance.

 

[cyrodilicbrandy]

Ari's grey eyes watched Cayd, watched his face as he chuckled, the sound breathless yet satisfied. And if Cayd was satisfied, then she was, too. Though that wasn't quite true, if the wetness between her thighs and the heat coursing through her lower belly was anything to go by. She continued to watch him, catching her breath, breasts heaving, as he pulled up his dropped breeches and underwear, before sinking to the floor in front of her. Their kiss was quick, and Ari actually gave a soft, disappointed mewl as Cayd's lips left hers. However, any disappointed she might have felt after that kiss immediately vanished, replaced with a fiery hot ball of need and anticipation as he told her to raise. Her mouth went dry as her teeth captured her lower lip, immediately complying.

Standing above him, feeling just as tall and powerful as she ever did, her lidded eyes watched his next moves, the hunger and need evident within the shining orbs. "You always make me feel good, Cayden," she said, the words coming out whispered and shaky. For a young man who had spent his whole time cooped up within these walls, with very little chance to experiment sexually, Cayd was... incredibly proficient. On more than one occasion, she had teased him for having several lovers, as only that could explain why he was so good with his hands, with his mouth - barring their endearingly fumbled first attempts at intimacy. But it was clear it was the strength of the bond between them that was the reason they were so in tune which each other, able to read each other's deepest needs - outside of intimacy, as well as within. So as Cayd gently urged her backwards, bumping up against the table, she smiled, the expression knowing. Taking the bunched up robes in her hands, exposing her creamy thighs, Ari's cheeks blazed as Cayd remarked upon her apparent arousal, her voice slightly huffy as if annoyed; though the sparkle in her eyes gave away the whole ruse, the exhalation shaky as he pulled down her underwear. "Would you like to pull out a canvas, get some pencils, take a sketch?" He always made it a point to feast his eyes upon that secret part of her, and always she felt vaguely embarrassed, like a shy, chaste maiden.

And when he was done feasting his eyes, he simply began feasting, his hands gently pulling apart her thighs; slowly, lingering, his lips and tongue lovingly exploring her outer lips. Ari whimpered, mouth dropping open, a soft mewl slipping past her moist pink lips. "Maker..." Though her prayer wasn't directed towards any holy power at all, but to the man on his knees between her thighs, putting his mouth to work in worshipping her. She could feel the new beard scratching softly against the soft, pale skin of her thighs, and chuckled, Cayd clearly putting it to use - it tickled softly, but it was pleasant, and the the tremble the tickling caused only compounded the way his tongue causes every nerve within her body to ignite. It was a good thing she was against the table, as her legs felt weak already, and though she tried to keep the gaze of their twin greys, her own lidded until the gaze was almost broken. She felt one of his fingers press against the entrance to her pussy, and her head dropped forwards, onto her chest, words playfully reproaching. "Cayd, please... don't tease. I didn't tease you..."

 

[Agnes]

The little huff of annoyance brought Cayden's eyes back up, mirthful as ever, though he saw from the twinkle in her greys that everything was smooth sailing. He always loved it when he was able see this side of her— shy, vulnerable, exposed. So often she put up the face of the joyous, smiling maiden, and Cayd appreciated that he was able to see all sides of her. Lips twitching in amusement and curling up, he raised his eyebrows as if he was seriously considering her proposal. Her pussy was quite the pretty thing after all, worthy of praise. The smutty novels would be proud of his overdramatic antics. "Hmm, I wouldn't be opposed to it. I'm more worried you'd die of embarassment if you had to pose for me with your legs spread for hours on end. Do let me know if you're ever interested." A small wink to seal the deal, cheeky as ever, internally crossing his proverbial fingers that she would indeed agree to something of a similar vein later down the line. Perhaps this was his cue to start considering life as an artist. Surely they get paid better than templars.

And as Ari would've aptly put it, he simply started feasting after he was done feasting his eyes. It wasn't long before his beloved was moaning and mewling softly, the sounds a melody to his ears and a sign of her ardent approval. He kept his eyes trained on her, subtly observing the way her eyes fluttered, the way her lips fell open, the way her breasts heaved with every heavy breath. It was a mesmerising dance between the two of them, his tongue bringing out every little reaction she would give, though when she looked down at him and berated him in a manner that would've put Wynne's 'tsk-tsks' to shame, Cayd temporarily stopped to give a charged protest. "But I'm not!" he whisper-shouted laughingly, shaking his head in mock disappointment, as if she had spurned him away from doing what he intended.

In reality though, this only incited Cayd's need to please her further. If she was asking him not to hold back, oh so desperately waiting for him to just dive in... who was he to disobey? He leaned in again, and this time there were no distractions to his tasks. A strong hand grabbed her thighs and lifted her leg, slinging it over his shoulder so he could properly eat out what was rightfully his. One last gaze into those lidded, lustful eyes, one last warning, and then he got to work. Cayden often liked to boast that he was a proficient lover; in truth, he only meant that he was perfectly attuned to Ari's body and her wants. As such, he flattened his tongue and gave her long, lingering licks along her pussy, one hand resting over her bush to gently thumb her sensitive little clit, all the while sliding in two digits into her, all of him, tongue and fingers and all, working in tandem to pleasure her everywhere she could feel it. Eyes closed; focused on the task of getting her off and lapping up every single drop she would squirt out for him.

Aria tasted good; no buts and ifs about it. He loved it, the natural saltiness of her arousal mixed in with the slightest flavour of sweat, his nostrils all but taking in her arousal and filling his mind with a desire to please her. Tirelessly and relentlessly her worked, lapping up and down in long, firm strokes, occasionally swirling his tongue on her clit and pressing into her pussy even as he fingered her, though he made sure to keep up a steady pace and rhythm for her, not wanting to ruin her release by trying to hard.

 

[cyrodilicbrandy]

Cayden put Aria to shame with his teasing remarks and winks, and she made a mental note to keep them in mind to use back at him in playful retaliation. She was glad, though she always was and not just in this moment, that he was hers. Hers to love and worship and crave - and, in turn, she was his in all aspects; mind and body and soul. The two had fallen in love, as far as she could remember, back in their early teens, old enough to know there was something between them than simply a companionship between two lonely children. And since then, inseparable - metaphorically speaking. Cayd was the only man she'd slept with, and if she had any say in the matter, there would be no one else. He'd given her no reason to assume that it was anything different for him.

Realistically, the couple had no need for words between them during such intimate moments; they knew each other's bodies and faces like the backs of their own hands, and yet the banter made it all the more special. When Cayden protested his innocence after she accused him of teasing her, Ari rolled her eyes upward, her expression amused despite the tone of her words. "You know you were..." Her last word jumped in her throat as Cayd, having clearly taken her accusation to heart and pulling up her leg to rest up on his shoulder, made good with the use of his mouth. It drawled up from the depths of her throat, and her entire body shivered delightfully as Cayd's careful and knowing tongue slid so delicately over her soaking lips. Despite the breeze from the open windows, the breeze bringing with it the scent of the lake, kissing her exposed skin and cooling it somewhat, Ari still felt, internally, a heat coiling and rushing and spreading from her loins, around her heart where the organ beat haphazardly within her chest, to her limbs, her fingers and toes curling and tightening as the heat seemed to threaten to combust within her.

And then Cayden brought his thumb and fingers into the mix, and although Ari - mindful as always of the need for quiet during their trysts - tried her best to keep her lips pressed together, she could not help the short, sharp cry that escaped from them, Cayd's fingers coiling and exploring her depths, the lovingly purposeful way his thumb pressed against that sensitive little mound, hips bucking forward once. The breeze, though cooling her skin a little, could not stop her body from accumulating a thin sheen of sweat across her brow, between her thighs. "Cayd," Ari whispered, the way his tongue and hand moved in a pleasurable combination together being wholly responsible for the way her breaths turned into harsh pants. His fingers, moving with a purpose, brushed against that sweet spot inside of her, and Ari almost lost all of her control right then and there. Her leg, slung across his shoulder, reflexively tightened, determined that Cayd wouldn't pull away until she was a shivering mess. Head thrown back, her red locks in all sorts of disarray, Aria muttered words under her breath, her lilting accent trailing off into little mews and whimpers. The heat within her burned relentlessly, and she knew that her climax would be amazing, only augmented by their absence from one another.

I'm going to scream, Maker, I'm going to, I won't be able to help it, were Ari's thoughts, over and over, not realising that she then started whispering them out loud. The words were disjointed and husky, and her hands tightened around the bunched up fabric, eyes squeezed shut. She could feel the rapidly approaching release coursing through her veins, and every part of her stiffened in anticipation.

 

[Agnes]

Cayden reopened his eyes and glanced up (not unamusedly) when Aria's legs tightened around him, bringing him close as if there was any fear that he would stop mid-cunnilingus and leave. It was quite obvious he had no intention of doing so, so consumed in the act of consuming her pussy, but it also told him he had done something terribly right - like finding that little sweet spot in her pussy. His fingers moved of their own accord, making sure to massage her there and lavish her in all the attention she deserved and he so desperately wanted to give her, wanting her to scream out in pleasure that he had put upon her. Aria was always the more vocal, either in sex or in every day life, but she always had a mind to keep her lips sealed when they weren't afforded complete privacy, such as this instant. It would only take one wayward ecstatic scream to alert the others they were there, but Cayden would be lying if he did not want to hear moan her approval. Then again... it was quite fun to see the way she tries so hard to keep quiet, only to inevitably fail and let out needy little mewls.

And lucky for him, the fruits of his effort were already quite visible. Aria's eyes were now clamped shut, her head thrown back, her crimson tresses in disarray, her mouth letting slip a string of whispered words of prayer and warning that she was close that soon devolved to be nothing more than whimpers and moans. Cayden loved it. He loved the control he had over her, the way he was able to wring out all these sounds and make her debase herself before him. It was only natural, after all, that he would have such a hold over her body and mind. They had loved each other since their early teens, and had been good friends long before that, when he was (to quote Aria verbatim) a skinny twig and she was a sprightly little girl. They were each other's first love, first sexual partners... and the only ones, if he had anything to do about it. The thing about meeting one's soulmate from a young age is that it tends to distort one's views on romance. For Cayden, it meant he became a one-woman type of man, where he simply couldn't look at a woman and desire her if she were not Aria. And right now, looking up at the redhead on the verge of losing herself in pleasure, the templar knew he would be foolish, no absolutely idiotic, to want anything else.

Soon, the telltale signs of her impending orgasm began to show; her hips stiffening in place when she bucked eagerly against him before, her legs locked him between her thighs in a vice grip, her voice rose until it disappeared, and her walls tightened more and more around his fingers. He could feel it, she was so close now, and breaking from the usual routine to say it, he lifted head a bit and said in a husky tone, "Cum for me, Ari." When she would eventually let loose, Cayd would keep his mouth firmly planted on her lips to keep lapping at her, intent on not letting any of her juices go to waste. His own member was hardening again amidst all this, but he ignored it for now, putting Aria's need to the forefront of things. He would keep going as she rode out her high, fingering and licking her oversensitive clit and folds to force as much pleasure as he could upon her, until she would have no choice but to squeal out and buckle against the table.

 

[cyrodilicbrandy]

The sounds coming from her mouth now were little more than animalistic mutterings, and her hair flew about her face, mussing it up, as she shook her head from side to side. The knuckles of her fingers bone-white, gripping the fabric so tightly that it was in danger of tearing; the way her leg kept Cayd's face exactly where it was, where she needed it; the pause in his actions as he muttered those provocative between her thighs. All of this she felt in her heightened emotions, the moment before her climax hit. Her mouth dropped open, pink lips moist, and she thought that maybe she was able to say something, maybe his name, but she wasn't sure - even in the afterglow later, she wouldn't be sure of exactly what she was going to say.

And then, it felt as if every one of her nerve ending combusted, the pleasure bursting in her lower belly, and rushed to her head. At first, she pressed her lips so tightly together that they almost disappeared, and the sheer force of keeping the moan, the scream, that wanted to erupt from her throat made her hands lift and with it, pulling the fabric in opposite directions. Threads snapped and frayed, and it was for nothing, as Ari simply couldn't hold it in anymore. So many times, ever since they'd first made love, they had to be silent, conscious of the fact that getting caught would very likely spell the end of their relationship entirely. On several occasions Ari, being the louder of the two, let forth moans and cries that led to the sound of someone's approach - quickly they had to gather up their clothes and fix their appearances, making mad dashes to hide or leave before someone found them in flagrante delicto. They'd mastered the art of reaching their climaxes with minimal volume; but this time, Ari could not hold back, it was simply impossible.

As the waves of her orgasm hit her, body twitching and trembling and bucking, her cry of pure ecstasy spilled forth from the depths of her throat, filling the room around them and echoing off the stone walls. Only a few ragged, thread-bare tapestries hung from the ceiling, doing very little to dampen the sound. It lasted several seconds, each wave of her climax causing the moan to almost hiccup out of her, and as it trailed off, it ended in a whimper, the whimper being Cayden's name. Were it not for the way her leg was curled over his shoulder, and the table at her back, Aria would have crumpled into a sweat-sheened, messy, pile of satisfaction.

 

[Agnes]

All the senses blurred in those few seconds when Aria's orgasm came, Cayden trying his utmost to focus on her pleasure despite the many outliers that demanded his attention. The scent of her arousal, overwhelming yet sweetly pleasant, hit his nostrils just as waves of her juices hit his awaiting tongue, salty and pleasant to the taste. The templar worked diligently, lapping up all his lover had to offer, even as some splashed to her thighs and his chin. He heard fabric ripping, tearing with a force that can only come from Aria gripping it tight in her attempts to keep quiet. Yet, even that failed, because soon her moan of ecstasy and pleasure rang out around the secluded little room, rebounding off the thick stone walls and echoing down below, inevitably alerting some templar or mage meandering around. It alerted him to the fact that they probably should clear out soon, but that little bit was lost in the million other thoughts running through his mind.

It all lasted a good while, and when she was finally done, Aria was a right mess, looking like she would slump into a pile if the table and Cayden weren't holding her up. A whimper calling his name slipped through her lips, and Cayden perked up to glance affectionately at her tired, blissful face, feeling utterly smug about having brought her to such a climax. Placing a kiss upon her still sensitive folds, he gently lifted her leg off his shoulder and rose back to his full height, wiping his lips on his wrist. With no words exchanged, he simply leaned forward to capture her lips in a soft kiss, lifting her up by her ass to properly place her on the table, if only to give her legs some rest. "Quite the show. I reckon you have old Wynne down below a bit of a fright," he mumbled laughingly, wrapping his arms around her and embracing her tightly, knowing they would have to part any moment now.

The dance of their tongues was slow and loving, and it seemed as if Cayden was taking his fill of much needed attention for the weeks of separation, and only did he let her go when he'd been satisfied. Foreheads touching, he whispered, "Thank you... for being with me. We both needed this, hm?" His eyes reopened, twinkling with the same affection he held for him since he was a skinny twig of a boy. "But we should probably leave soon. I can explain myself being here, but you're still restricted in where you can go," he reminded her, voice tinged with an audible sadness.

 

[cyrodilicbrandy]

Aria had teased Cayd about his being pent up, and naturally so, for her lover was incredibly virile and it had been, of course, weeks since the two of them had seen each other. But she hadn't really spared a thought for exactly how sexually frustrated she had also been in that time, not until she was able to have him in her arms again - and the orgasm he elicited from her, using his mouth and fingers in tandem, delightfully skilled, was like several waves crashing into her over and over. Once the cry of sheer pleasure had left her mouth she knew their time was limited - the lack of noise insulation from curtains and the like worked against them. Ari, though, was a near mess, and her hands dropped the hem of her robes; the tear in them noticeable but not likely telling of what exactly happened to them.

As Cayd rose to his full height, shifting Ari so that her trembling legs - threatening to give out underneath her with every passing second - could actually rest and she eagerly returned the kiss he pressed against her lips. His arms came up around her, a further pillar of support as her breathing slowed, taking time to become something she could pass for normal, and a soft laugh slipped from her lips into the space between their faces. "Wynne's.. a tough old bird..." Ari mumbled, voice low and catching, and she had to clear her throat a little; clearly the very vocal moan was not something her throat was used to producing.

The lovers kissed again, and even through the exhaustion that lingered through her body, as their tongues danced and whirled with each other's, she could feel the slow rise of need once more; her hands clenched, nails digging into the soft, clear skin of her palm to ward off the desire. "I'll always need you," she said, when their lips parted again, the words a little stronger now. She still felt dog tired, and groaned softly at the thought of having to go straight back to her books; if she thought she had been failing to concentrate on herbs and poultices before, she now had to manage with the lingering traces of her climax. Still, now that Cayd's punishment was over, they would at least, be able to find other times to be alone much like they had now. They would manage - they had done so, so far. "You're right; it was a sort of miracle I could even make it here now. But..." She slipped forwards off the table, still for a moment as if waiting for her legs to betray her, but they seemed strong enough, then began using her fingers to attempt to tidy up her hair and adjust her robes. "...we'll meet again soon, yes? As much as I loved how... strong our climaxes were, I don't want to have to wait three weeks again." Ari supressed a sigh, and after she had finished tidying herself up, her hands took hold of his shoulders and pulled him down for another kiss, this one quick out of sheer necessity. "I love you!" Ari hated this, the leaving, every single time - but after what had happened, it was even more imperative now than before that they were not caught together, and she slipped away from him, her robes flying around her figure, and gathering up her discarded book she turned for one last glance at him, the smile soft and sad, before she pulled open the wooden door and out of view.

---

Aria's red hair was frazzled, her expression tired, bottom lip chewed out of stress, as she looked down at the open tome in front of her with an increasingly annoyed expression. Her eyes were bleary, the poorly lit room not helping her grey eyes to focus one bit. With a short grunt, she snapped the book shut aggressively and leaned back in the creaky chair, arms crossed over her chest. Her exam was merely days away now, and up until a day or two ago, Ari had felt reasonably confident about her skills; specialising as she did with herbs and the like, she could only be thankful that the exam did not require photographic memory of every little thing about every school of magic. Still, she had to learn enough of each to pass, and today she, with the help of her friend Remiel, decided to swot up on Entropy. It seemed that every 'expert' on Entropy was some long-bearded twit from Orlais who liked to show off his use of flowery language and words with more than eleven letters. Aria was smart, or smart enough, she thought; but she was of the opinion that magical tomes should be at least readable.

Remiel, sitting next to her, looked up from his own scribblings with a wry expression. The two had been close friends for a while now, their companionship based primarily on their herbal knowledge. He was a Dalish elf where she had been born in Denerim's alienage, only found and brought to the circle after shemlen - as Remi still called humans - found their aravels and began to harass his clan. Remi, still only a teenager at the time, was still not completely in control, and attacked back. The humans who survived returned with local authorities, and Templars, who ordered Remi to be turned over to the Circle or the rest of the clan would face retribution. And so, Remi was forcibly removed from his life, his family and friends; Ari wondered sometimes if there were any mages in the Tower to volunteered themselves into the 'care' of the Templars, and thought there likely wasn't many. Still, Remi was somewhat cheery, or at least was able to pretend to be very well, and professed that he was aware most shemlen aren't as bad as the ones who had attacked his clan.

"The Entropy stuff not going well, falon?" he asked, though as Ari looked over at him, it was clear he knew the answer, his lips curved into a smirk. Ari swatted a small hand at him, then sighed again as she pushed the offending book away. "No, Remi. Entopy is all bullshit!" Her grey eyes fell on his parchment, her curiosity again renewed. "Are you still working on your thesis for Crystal Grace?" Remi nodded, moving his chair aside a little to allow Ari to move hers forward, so that she could better read his notes - or try to, his handwriting was questionable at best. Still, even trying to read what Remi had scratched was better than reading about Entropy anymore.

As Remi began to talk her through his thesis, about the potential uses for Crystal Grace that hadn't been found yet, and the best way to cultivate it - interspersed with him complaining about how he was hardly ever able to get his hands on samples, and just a little bit of annoyance at the low chances he would ever be allowed to leave the Circle on official gathering business - the two were shoulder to shoulder, and Ari would occasionally look up at Remi and nod at something he'd said, for she was entirely absorbed by his theories; he would make a good teacher someday, with his easiness and eagerness to teach, she thought. A few innuendoes here and there, and Ari was laughing heartily along with her friend, her stress evaporating.

 

[Agnes]

It had been quite the awkward situation when one of the templars came up to find Cayden half naked and shuffling around in that little nook in the tower. Thankfully, he had managed to spin it as taking a breather after a half day of standing still, and the man, knowing all too well about the torturous ache in the hips, wasn't too skeptical about it. How he equated Aria's orgasmic screams to stretching, he had no idea, but Cayd would not question his good fortune. He didn't dwindle around any further and only asked that Cayden come back down and resume his post, which was fortunate; he would've found Aria's bunched up panties and the spot on the table where he pleasured her if he only stepped forward and took a glance. Cayd's nerves had been shot; of all the ways to get caught, this would've been quite a lame to go. But alas, the pair were able to go scot-free once again, and soon after Cayden was back standing at the door to the Hall of Solange, same as before, with only one notable exception - he wore a smile under that helmet of his, and concealed within the shield was Aria's soaked panties. He'd have to give it back, after all.

Strange? Perhaps. Then again, what part of their love was normal?

It would be several days until he and Ari were able to speak freely again. He'd heard from Cullen earlier today that Aria was studying in the Library by herself, presumably a last minute cram before her final exam. Although the young templar knew better than to disturb her very important studies, he still wanted to spend a little more time with her, and tease her about the fact that she'd managed to forget her undergarments as she fled from their little alcove. Besides, she could spare a few moments for a kiss, right? Finally off duty for the day, the brunet was bright eyed and ecstatic as he walked over to the Library, thinking of a myriad of ways he could tease his girlfriend, maybe even extract a sneaky orgasm out of her with his fingers if she would allow it. The last time had been more intense than any of their trysts that came before, and that scream - that moan of utter, uncontrolled pleasure - he longed to hear it again.

One could understand, then, why he became very very disappointed when he finally turned the corner and found Aria... laughing with the most sickeningly beautiful man he had ever seen. Without even noticing, his fists clenched and his anger flared, confused as a million questions ran through his head. Who was he? What was so funny that she was laughing twice as much as she did with him? Why is his hair so freakishly similar to his? Why the fuck was he touching her? Why the fuck was he ruffling her hair? Before he knew it, he was storming towards the two of them, plated sabatons screeching loudly in the quiet, cosy little space. To Aria, it might look like some other templar coming to give them trouble, not her boyfriend who came to see her, with the way he was carrying himself. Being stoic and calm was the pinnacle of a templar's mandate, but anger and hate were so often the norm. And Cayden, for the first time since he pummeled Mercer's face, channeled them into him.

"Siward," he called, his voice a distorted baritone, a far cry from the usually soft-spoken and sweet young man. He had never called her by her family name ever, only using it in her full name in his many confessions of love to her. There wasn't any love in the way he spoke now, only anger. Why are you with him? Why didn't you come find me? "You're still under probation, so explain to me why the fuck you're here giggling your arse off with another knife-ear?" Maker, he hated himself for doing this. The way he spoke reminded him so much of Mercer and the many others who doled out racism on a regular basis, but anger and jealousy blinds reason so very often. He was in too deep now, and unwilling to take back the words that had slipped his mouth, he doubled down on them with a fury.

"You," he turned to the idiot beside her, voice seething with venom. "Whatever your name is. Don't you know she's only allowed to be here if she's alone and under the supervision of a templar?" Which is what I'm here for, you retard. Nevermind his hypocrisy in enforcing the rules he himself criticised and made light of so often. Most templars didn't even bother with it - what was the harm in two mages studying together? Nothing, but it is hurtful when one of them is your beloved. "Leave. Before I make you."

 

[cyrodilicbrandy]

It seemed almost destined that Aria's emotions were supposed to fluctuate heavily the closer she got to the Harrowing; first, that night in the library with Cayden, crying in his arms as they dreamt of their future life together; when he'd beaten the ever-loving shit out of Mercer and she had let loose her own anger; and then the sweeping joy that caused her to almost run to meet her boyfriend in the overlook, and caused her to orgasm so intensely she completely forgot about retrieving the underwear she'd left behind - she'd allowed herself to hope that she would make it to her exam and pass without any additional emotional stress. Mercer wasn't out of the infirmary yet, so at least she didn't have to worry about that. And, as always, Cayden would be her rock; if she had stress, Cayd would kiss it away, soothing her with his caressing hands, whispering words quietly into the shell of her ears with his accented voice.

And so as the helmeted Templar stormed from the doorway into the library towards Ari and Remi, she didn't immediately clock him as Cayd; other than that incident with Mercer, she'd never seen him angry, at most just annoyed or irritated, and even then when they were together, they practically became new people. Aria couldn't pretend like she thought being a Templar was easier than being a mage, and for the most part, understood that many Templars were simply taught to be stoic and harsh when they might not have needed to be. And they weren't words she would have used to describe Cayd. The elves looked up, their smiles rapidly evaporating; Ari felt a tremor of fear across her skin - typically a Templar approaching you out of nowhere meant nothing good. Still, Ari tried to look unimpressed and unafraid - until the Templar spoke her name.

It was Cayd's voice, but deeper and darker, and Aria frowned, brows knitted together. He never said her name like that, not in that tone of voice, and not just her last name. He always, always called her Aria when he acknowledged her verbally. Something was wrong, that much was clearly obvious. Ari couldn't see Cayd's face beneath the helmet, but she could just imagine his lips curling up in a grimace the way they did when his fists connected with Mercer's face over and over again. She lifted herself up from her seat just as Remi pulled away from her a little, his tall frame leaning back in the wooden chair; but she felt her legs shake underneath her weight at Cayd's next words.

"...another knife-ear..."

Cayden could have punched her in the throat and that would have been less of a painful shock than the racial slur that launched itself from Cayd's lips and into the silence of the library. Remi's eyes narrowed, lips pursing, but Ari wasn't looking at Remiel; instead, her wide grey eyes stared into the slits of Cayden's helmet, vision turning misty from the emergence of tears. Most of the time, being called a knife-ear was just part and parcel of being an elf, and if she went to bed in the apprentices's quarters without hearing it all day, that was quite an achievement. It wasn't like she could anything about it - if the higher-ups did nothing about the kind of things that went on under Mercer's hands, they certainly wouldn't bother with punishing someone for the use of a word that was in every Fereldan's vernacular. Even when Mercer had called her that, it paled in comparison to the disgusting hand upon her backside - but she couldn't lie and say that it didn't bother her at all. She couldn't change who she was. And she'd thought that Cayden had loved her for who she was; kissing the tops of her ears, accepting them and her racial heritage without question.

So when Cayden called her, and Remi, knife-ears, the breath whooshed out from her lungs in a single gasp, a shaking hand resting against the hardwood table, supporting her weight. Cayd turned his attention to Remi, but Aria barely even noticed. She was confused, so confused, and hurt. What could she have possibly done to make Cayden so angry at her? She hadn't done anything wrong, nothing sketchy - Maker forbid that she would ever do anything to risk her relationship with Cayd, or her life, or anything. Blood magic, possession, anything like that - she was resolute in staying away from even reading out it in a book, lest someone think she was interested. Aria had heard of a few mages who were maybe more than a little interested, and she did her best to distance herself from them. That was the only thing she could think of that would make Cayden so immediately angry at her. Maybe someone had made up a rumour about her and told Cayd. Maybe Mercer had said or done something.

Such was the confusion in her mind that she didn't even notice Remi had stood up to leave, the Dalish elf doing his best not to glare at the Templar. He wanted to reach out to Ari before he left the library, give her arm a soft squeeze - but Remi wasn't a fool, no matter what anyone else might say or think. He knew enough from things Aria had said, and things he'd seen out of the corner of his eye that he'd discreetly ignored - the Evanuris knew Aria deserved the world, and if that was in the form of her Templar sweetheart, Remi was not going to do anything about it - to know something of the extent of their relationship. He also knew enough to know that anything he said or did would only make Cayden more angry - because that was how jealously worked. Remi knew that well enough, too. So, he closed up his book and gathered his papers, lips still pursed. The Templar didn't have anything to worry about from Remiel - his tastes in people ran to more masculine varieties - but clearly they would have to work that out for themselves. He kind of wanted to be a fly on the wall to see how Cayd backtracked from calling his girlfriend a racial slur.

The door closed behind Remiel, and that was when Ari realised her friend was gone, and now she was alone with an angry man, an angry Templar, who also happened to be the love of her life. The tears started to fall now, and her lower lip shook with the emotional hurt coursing through her. Aria's voice was the opposite of the raging venom she'd unleased upon Mercer several weeks ago when she spoke.

"What is it, Cayden? ...what did I do? What did I do wrong?"

 

[Agnes]

It was easy for Cayden to forget the power he actually held over Aria. His very existence as a templar was to subjugate the mages and keep them under control, and for that to be achieved, they needed to have absolute power and authority over the magically gifted, in the form of their swords and the lyrium in their veins. In a perfect world, the templars would use that power with perfect restraint, but too often they enjoyed the impunity and often devolved into tyranny. Many of his brothers fell into this label, and being led by example, most young templars followed in such horrible footsteps. Cayden himself had to consciously remind himself to be a protector rather than a jailor, but every so often, even he slipped into the trap of abusing his power, such as now. He did not notice it know, but he knew full well how dangerous it was for a mage to be alone with a templar, an angry templar, no less. Aria had never had to worry about being in such a position because she always had Cayd, but now he was the one standing in front of her fuming like an angry bull, and it was evident in her misty eyes and terrified expression just how frightened it was.

Under normal circumstances, seeing the love of his life scared and helpless like that would've sent him into a frenzy, as when he battered Mercer's face for daring to touch Aria, consequences be damned. In a way, the same was happening now, as in his clouded, jealous mind, the elf beside her was as bad as Mercer, touching those beautiful red tresses with his disgusting hands, and what added insult to injury was the fact that Aria was smiling and laughing and seemed to be enjoying it. He hated that her smile was twice as wide as with him, conveniently glossing over the fact that their little trysts were often rushed and secretive, and when he saw the smiles slowly evaporating from both elves' faces, he felt a sick sense of satisfaction. Nevermind the fact that he had called her a knife-ear, he revelled in the fact that she gasped and backed into her seat as well, scared of him, and Cayden both hated and loved this newfound sense of power he was feeling.

The nameless elf was less frazzled than Aria. While the young woman seemed to be dazed at the explosive moment that shook the quiet peace of the library, the other began to pack his things and surreptitiously leave the two lovebirds to sort things out, but Cayden's angry grey eyes sat trained on him through the slit in his helm. He'd actually seen him around - quite hard not to, when he was as tall as him, maybe even taller, and had a handsome face that was adorned with Dalish tattoos that swirled around his cheeks and forehead. The attractive countenance of the elf added fuel to Cayden's fire, automatically regarding a rival and an enemy - and how could he not? Briefly, the young reckless templar contemplated doling out another verbal lashing in that distorted, accented voice of his for the man dithering around with an utterly punchable expression on his face, but as if sensing his immense distaste for him, the sandy blond-haired elf quickly left the room, the aged wooden doors closing with a creak.

Immediately, Cayden whipped around and removed his helmet, his hair falling in dishevelled strands around his face, eyes alight with an unexplained rage, and tossed it somewhere towards the carpeted floor, where the clanking of metal on stone echoed out through the empty room. The grey gaze met the misty emerald greens, and instantly, Cayden felt some of his anger dissipate, the mere sight of those beautiful eyes filled with tears enough to make him rethink his actions. But, still embroiled in the aftermath of the perceived betrayal and reeling from his hurt ego, he pushed on with a tone that might be best described as seething with venom. "What did you do wrong?" he echoed darkly, as if her crime should be painfully obvious, and slammed his gauntlets down upon the table, sending books and paper and ink bottles crashing down to the carpets and cushions from the impact.

"First off, why were you alone with him?" The accusations fell like daggers from his lips, sharp and piercing, and he edged closer and closer to her, and from her position below him, he would've looked absolutely towering. The tears started to fall, and for some reason, it infuriated him for, mistakenly believing that Aria was somehow weeping for the other man, even though he did not have any reason to even suspect such a thing, knowing the history of their love and loyalty for each other. "If you needed another person for whatever reason, you could've waited for me. You know I'm always bending over backwards to spend time with you. And second," He breathed deeply, hands balling into angry fists as he continued to lay into her, "Why the fuck was he touching your hair, Aria? Why were you laughing like he was the funniest motherfucker you ever met? Why were you sitting so close? Why- I can understand studying together, but by the Maker, you two looked like you were a couple with how close you were. You don't even laugh like that with me!" His voice became louder and angrier the more he spoke, no regard given to her emotions, and anyone standing outside the library would've heard quite clearly every word he was shouting at her.

"What, should I be fucking worried?"

 

[cyrodilicbrandy]

Other than when Cayden had beat Mercer's face into a hundred different shades of red, blue and purple, Ari had never seen him so mad. Upset, annoyed, disgruntled, of course. There was plenty that happened within the Tower that could annoy even the most sanguine of its inhabitants, from a tipped over inkwell on important notes, or a blown-out arguments between old friends. Whoever thought it was a good idea to lock up people from so many different backgrounds for their entire lives had clearly never given it much thought. And Templars had so much power over mages within the Tower, both formally and informally, that even though this was Cayd standing in front of her - Cayd, her soulmate - she still couldn't help feeling terrified. Even more so when he furiously removed his helmet, tossing it aside and causing a heavy clank that made her flinch. His expression was worse than the sound, though, and worse still than the slur he'd thrown at her so easily only moments before. With her, Cayd smiled easily, because he knew he could be genuine with her, when the rest of his days he had to be a stoic and faceless watcher. And if he ever had scowled at her, it was because he was recounting some stupid thing that had happened earlier that day, or much more rarely, she'd teased him a little too much, and made him grumpy.

But that wasn't the case now. Aria didn't even know what it was that she was supposed to have done, for starters, and the snarl on his face with the pure anger in his eyes only caused her tears to get more intense. His accented voice, usually soft, was filled with a venom she never would have acquainted with him. He repeated her whimpered question as if she should know exactly what she had done, exactly why he was so mad at her, and Ari shook her head uselessly, mind torn between the shock and desperately trying to think of something, anything, that could have angered him so bad. So when he asked why she had been alone with Remi, her brows furrowed together, even as the tears continued falling. Completely confounded, she listened to the hurled accusations, and there was a moment when it hit her, that she had to fight back a bitter laugh. Cayden was jealous. Jealous of Remi, for some reason - though, Cayd didn't know the elf like she did, didn't know that he was a friend and that was it, that Remi was gay and had no interest in Aria whatsoever. So, she supposed, as her mind was catching up with everything, it was understandable that he would feel something, seeing the two elves so cosy together. And yet...

There was no need to be so angry, so... so... reminiscent of that kind of Templar, the kind of Templar that Cayd had muttered to her so many times that he hoped he would never be. His balled up fists, the venom in his voice, the snarl upon his face - it made something in Aria snap, and she was more than capable of shooting back her own anger at him. 'Cayd, you idiot,' she hissed, her own face now scrunched up, even as the tear tracks remained on her cheeks. 'Remiel is my friend - Maker knows I have few of those in here! We were studying, yes. You know I have my examination soon, you know how I need to study. He also was studying. That is not a crime, Cayden.' The words were coming hard and fast, justifying herself even though she wasn't the one being unreasonable here. She could feel her body jitter with adrenaline under her skin, her voice as loud as his in the empty library as she stalked her way around the side of the table to face him properly.

'If you had taken just a moment to think about this before storming in, you would have remembered that I'm not always privy to when your shifts end, or if you're called away to some other duty. And-' she punctuated this new sentence with a jab at his chest. '-I can't sit alone all day, doing nothing, with my important fucking exam DAYS away, Cayden Amberstern!' The adrenaline was doing more than just jittering under her skin now; in fact, she felt almost alight with her anger. The second part of his accusation was a little less easier to answer, though, but she would have thought that Cayd knew what Ari's feelings for him were, that he wouldn't need to question her so aggressively like this. Had she been giggling with Rachel like this, would he have made the same assumptions?

'He is a friend,' she repeated, her voice hard. 'A friend, and nothing more. We're both elves, and we're both mages, so we clicked, but that! Is! It!' Each of those last three words were emphasised as she brought her little fist down upon his armoured chest. Each blow was more painful for her than it was for him, no doubt, and her hand stung unpleasantly afterwards. 'You idiot. There is absolutely no need for any of this!'

 

[Agnes]

Finally, she seemed to get it, and Cayd felt vindicated in the fact that she too seemed to flare her nose and rear up in anger, thinking that his instigating of this fight was justified. Many factors played their parts in giving way to this reasonless, raging facet of Cayden's usually mild-mannered personality; jealousy of that knife-ear (with a stupid name no less), his anger at being punished for punching Mercer, the fact that he had missed Aria dearly and had not seen her for days, all these frustrations bundled up and boiled over in a spectacularly grotesque fashion. Of course, it did not happen upon Cayd that he was unleashing all his anger on the woman he had been so torn up on wanting to see in the first place. All he saw was that she was now fighting fire with more fire and that, in his mind, inferred that he was siding with him.

Cayd was something of a toothless dog when it came to Aria. All bark and no bite, and even then he barked sparingly. The few times he had been angry with her, he felt his fury quelled instantly the moment the elven girl's beautiful face contorted into a scowl and her cheeks went red from anger. So it was even more of an anomaly then, that he did not back down when she advanced upon him with a fury similar to Andraste's crusade against Tevinter, hurling back spiked, harsh words with equal fervour and banging on the metal plate of his armour as if she might dent it with her little hands. He felt none of the blows but it was obvious she did, and on the last swing he caught her wrist and twisted her hand away, more so for her to stop pointlessly hurting herself than a show of physical dominance men had over women. Their love was strange in this way, but he doubted Aria would care at the moment, and neither did he.

Like a raging bull seeing red, he doubled down on his attacks as if Aria was waving a big red flag in front of eyes. "There is every need for this," he hissed, stepping forward with a menace and backing her up against the table, trapping her small frame between his giant one and the furniture. His tone seemed to grow more and more hysterical with every word, his eyes ablaze. "You could've told me who you were going to be with, you could've told me something, Aria! I don't care he's an elf, or a mage, or your friend, I care about you not prancing around with guys I don't know! What if he's another Mercer, huh? What if something happened while you were alone with him? Thank the Maker's balls I arrived when I did," he laughed bitterly as if he had just prevented something truly unfortunate from taking place. "Or I can't even imagine what would've happened." He didn't like either scenario, whether this Remiel be a friend who made her laugh like he couldn't, or some villain akin to the likes of Mercer.

Obviously slandering someone who couldn't fight back proved most effective in projecting his anger, so Cayden continued with a nasty vendetta as if it would somehow make Aria see his twisted point of view. "And you're calling me the idiot? That knife-ear-" He didn't get to finish his sentence this time around though, as he felt a burning sting in his cheek as her hand reached up and swung across his face. It didn't burn too much, but it left a sting on his cheek that soon became warm, and only after a second, did he come to realise that Ari had slapped him and that he was bleeding. His eyes swivelled to her hand, still hanging in the air - the ring on her finger, the one he had gotten her as a present for her twentieth birthday. He had promised to propose to her with a proper ring later, once they had settled down somewhere away from this place, but had wanted to give her something to signify their connection.

Ironic that the very ring had now made him bleed.

It was as if all anger had been snuffed out of him. Dazedly, he lifted his hand to touch the grazed wound and winced as the cold metal amplified the sting of the cut. The fingers of the gauntlet came back smeared with blood, and he looked at Aria, utterly confounded and looking like a scolded child, a complete reversal of the blind rage he had sported on his face moments before. They had never laid a hand upon each other in anger, not once in their long years of love, ever since they were small teenagers. But then again, he had never called her a knife-ear ever before either. Suddenly, his face burned up with shame at what he had done. "Ari..." he said, reaching for an apology that never came out of his lips.

 

[cyrodilicbrandy]

Underneath her anger, there was still a bristling sense of complete confusion at his words and actions; she had known him for such a long time that she couldn't help but feel faintly outraged and even betrayed, only compounded that he was even still doubling down upon his own insecurities, like a fucking idiot. Of the two, Ari was typically the one to express her emotions much more obviously, both positive and negative, and right now she couldn't hide her shaking anger. His large hand came up to grab hers, stopping her from trying to punch him once more, although she was aware in the back of her mind it was less a method of controlling her, and more an instinctual way of not letting her get hurt. Typically, she would be appreciative of such an action, but not now. The insinuation that Remi, her friend Remiel, the only vicious thing about him being his sassy quips, being anything like Mercer, a notorious abuser and rapist, made her flinch. Cayd had gotten the situation wrong, so wrong, and if he had simply approached them with less aggression, he would have seen there was nothing to worry about. 'He's not like Mercer,' she hissed, and was surprised when a venomous continuation almost threatened to spill out from her hips: Right now you're being more like Mercer than Remiel would ever be. Even though she was angry at him, she wouldn't, couldn't, be that cruel, not even after he had called her a slur.

And then he said it again, and she snapped, seeing red. Her free hand, dainty yet lifting with a solemn purpose, struck against Cayd's exposed cheek, the palm connecting solidly with a ringing slap. The metal of her ring caught his chin, slicing it apart, the blood falling eagerly. Ari's stomach dropped to the floor, her hand still aloft. She had never struck Cayd before, and he had never hurt her, either. But then, he'd never been so angry, so mean to her before. There was something about the fact that she was angry, so angry, at him, that she struck him, that sapped all of it out of her, her small shoulders sagging. It was quickly replaced by fear - after all, Cayden was being so unlike himself, that all she could think of was that she had struck a Templar. If it wasn't so serious, she might have found it amusing that in the last few weeks, both of the lovers had drawn blood from someone wearing the Templar armour.

'Ari...' His voice was devoid of the growling aggressiveness that had filled it prior, but even so Ari started shaking her head. 'C-Cayden. I... I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have... hit you...'