This is a challenge fic thrown down by my sister. The challenge is posted on my profile if you want to check it out and/or take on the challenge yourself. It's kind of long and no one likes scrolling through that much stuff to get to a fic so I decided to move it and let you decide if you want to read it. Much love. Keva

xx

Cullen stood in front of the Knight Commander's desk waiting for him to give him his orders. Truly he didn't expect to be dispatched so soon after taking his vows but here he was in the circle of Magi the last place he expected to be. Actually he was led to believe he was going to take up being a guard in front of the Chantry for a time before being sent anywhere. Yet here he was in front of the infamous Knight Commander Greagoir waiting for his orders.

"You came highly recommended."

He drew his brows deeply not at all sure what that was suppose to mean. How could he be highly recommended for anything? He hadn't faced down a blood mage, or fought an abomination, or fought anything for that matter. Sure he had done some mock battle scenarios with his fellow Templar trainees but that didn't equate to being recommended and especially not highly recommended.

"Sir?" He questioned as he stared at the elder man who since he walked into the office had yet to look at him.

Greagoir finally looked up at the boy standing before his desk and nodded curtly. "Ah yes I suppose the situation hasn't been explained to you. I can only guess that as soon as my message was received you were dispatched. Seeing as how you and the response arrived together."

"I don't understand." He tilted his head slightly still as unclear as ever as to what was going on that needed the expertise of a skill he didn't know he had. For that matter what did the Knight Commander want that the Chantry seemed to think he was capable of doing? The questions were many and growing by the second and answers weren't coming to him as quickly as he would like.

Greagoir stood up, grabbed a bound stack of papers off his desk, and flipped though them to go over its contents. Though he had read over the contents a hundred times over and damn near had it all memorized he liked to look in hopes that one day the information would change. It was a small disappointment every time because it was always the same. He sighed deeply and looked at the newest recruit to his tower. "You're role here isn't going to be one you would expect in a tower full of mages. A small portion of your duties will consist of just watching the going ons around you." He stopped flipping through the papers and held it out across his desk for him to take. "However the larger part of your duties will be taking Zaniah on as your charge."

Cullen looked at the bound stack of papers in his hand and still with brows drawn by all of this looked up at the Knight Commander. "I'm sorry sir if I seem insubordinate but what is this about?"

Greagoir waved a dismissive hand through the air like it didn't matter one way or the other. "Everything you need to know is in those documents." He nodded at him. "The short of it however is Zaniah is different. She's been here since she was about four or five and we're still not sure if she's a mage or not." He sighed deeply like this puzzle had vexed him to the point of exhaustion and to a point it had.

"Sir?" Hazel eyes widened as he stared at his commander.

He snorted at that being that was the same reaction so many others had had before him. "Like I said Zaniah is different so different in fact that she's been through three Harrowings and two attempts to be made tranquil and still she remains the same. She's immune to both and we want to know why or how or what she is that she's not affected by either." He sighed and jabbed his fingers through his hair quite tired of this enigma and the constant demand by the Chantry to know about the girl. "The one thing we do know for a fact is that she can transfer her memories into someone else. She can touch you and you will relive events that have happened to her though her eyes. You will feel what she felt, hear what she heard, taste, smell, all of it."

Cullen just stood there not sure he understood anything he was saying. This girl was a mage but not a mage? Was something like that even possible? Well clearly it was if what he was saying about this girl was true. Yet still what did any of this have to do with him? "I still don't understand." He shook his head and for some reason was feeling rather stupid for not being able to follow what he was saying. "She's a mage but not?"

"Something like that." Greagoir nodded at him.

He looked down at the papers and drew his brows deeply. "So why not just ask her?"

At that Greagoir snorted. "We have many times." He sighed and plopped down in his chair. "She hardly ever speaks and when she does it's no more than a word or two barely louder than a whisper. When she first arrived here like so many other children she was full of chatter and would never shut up." He shook his head and smiled at the memory of the chittery little girl that was so full of life and light when she arrived she even made him smile on more than one occasion. "She was a little pest that deemed it necessary to latch herself onto me. She would follow me around just chattering away about childish nonsense driving me to the brink of madness trying to seek a moments solitude from her. Eventually she weaved her fingers around my heart and I considered her my own. The daughter I never had and I cared still care for her as such. She is in a sense my child." He smiled then just as quickly frowned. "Then it all changed not but a year later."

Cullen watched the elder man stare at his desk as the memories flashed through heavy tired eyes. Clearly the Knight Commander had been working long hard hours as of late especially based on the stacks of papers on his desk. "What happened?" He questioned really interested in what had happened that caused this girl Zaniah to stop talking.

Greagoir snorted. "She showed us her power." He shook his head and sighed as he looked up at the boy. "It overwhelmed Irving so much he was put in infirmary for a week to deal with the mental anguish it caused him upsetting the girl fearing that she hurt him. Myself on the other hand probably did more to harm her by my reaction."

"What did you do?" He questioned just above a whisper feeling the man's regret rolling off of him in waves.

"I forbade her to ever come around me and even went so far as to have her on a strict restriction of movement throughout the circle." He shook his head feeling the full weight of what he did settle even heavier on his shoulders. "That's when she fell silent and inverted into herself. Her restriction only lasted for two days but the damage was already done." He frowned. "It was the worst feeling I had ever felt in my life."

Cullen didn't know what to say to that. An apology seemed empty and he knew it wasn't wanted by the elder man. Clearly the commander felt the responsibility of what he had done and made no attempt to hide the scars resulting from his actions. The best he could do for the man was to change the subject somewhat. "So what is it you need from me?" He was still unclear as to how any of this would need these supposed skills he came highly recommended for.

"Like I said," Greagoir looked up at him. "she's now your charge. I asked the Chantry to send me someone who hadn't seen the harsh realities of what mages are capable of. Someone who had a kind open heart that wouldn't judge but accept everyone for who and what they are. Someone whose patience outshined even the most devout of men." He nodded at him. "And you came as the most eligible and highest recommended candidate for the job. I've tried many before you to try to get through to her and within weeks sometimes even days they request a new assignment giving up that quickly. Even I can't get through to her but she will at least talk a little bit to me." He snorted. "Or should I say argue with me over details that don't need to be argued over. If I had all the time in the world I might be able to get through to her but I don't have the time. Running a tower of mages and Templars stretched my time very thin."

He got up and walked around his desk to stand in front of him. "What I'm asking of you isn't going to be an easy task or even one that will be accomplished within a month. I'm asking you to break into her shelter and bring her back. Find out anything and everything you can about her, her powers, her fears, her wants, everything. Do whatever necessary within reason," he eyed him seriously. "and I mean within reason. The last to take her as his charge decided to try and beat everything he wanted to know out of her and I will not have a repeat performance. Unless you wish to be stripped of your position and returned to the Chantry as a disgrace to be dealt with properly."

"I would never." He defended aghast that someone would actually do that to a helpless innocent.

"I certainly hope so." He crossed his arms over his chest. "I will take it VERY personally if any harm should come to her." He nodded curtly. "Now take those papers and read over them so you can get a good understanding of who you will be dealing with." He nodded at the papers in his hand. "Her entire history is in there perhaps you'll find something that will give you open grounds to get through to her."

"I will." He gave a small bow of his head. "And when do I officially take charge of the young lady?"

Greagoir shrugged dismissively. "Now if you so desire but no later than tomorrow morning. If you wish to meet her and see what you'll be dealing with you can find her in the common room, far back left corner, behind the statue, wearing a black hooded cloak. If not there check the small window in the library." He snorted. "Much to one of our elder mage's and several of the guard's dismay she sits on the highest window seal in the library staring out the window. How she gets up there has yet to be discovered since no one has ever seen her get up there or down. We assume it's one of her powers that we don't know about. Or if not in either of those places she's usually in that corner right there," he nodded to the empty corner by his door. "drawing. She draws a lot and that's the only thing we can get a clear grasp on when dealing with her."

Cullen stared at the empty corner full of even more questions. "Her drawings give no insight to her powers?"

"Look around." He waved his hand at all the framed pictures adorning his office. "Can you tell me what she thinks or feels based on these drawings? What does a forest scene say or a portrait of me or one of the mages?" He shook his head. "Nearly every drawing and painting decorating this tower were made by her hand. If you can see a message in them please tell me what it is."

Looking at the many pictures on the wall and knowing the Knight Commander let the girl sit in his office he easily figured what the man was trying to do. Allowing her these things was his way of apologizing for what he had done to her so many years ago. Which made him wonder what was the vision of that traumatized both men so much they all but turned their backs on her.

He looked back over at him. "Sir if you don't mind me asking but what was in the memory she... " He trailed off and drew his brows deeply. "Shared with you?"

Greagoir sighed deeply at that and shook his head. "Zaniah though considered part of the Amell family isn't their child. She was found in the woods near their home in Lothering alone and scared. It was those feelings she shared the overwhelming fear of a child in the woods in the middle of the night cold, hungry, and alone." He sighed again. "It was the overwhelming sense of fear and despair that brought Irving to his knees and kept her away from me. I never felt anything like that in my life."

Cullen cringed at that. "Who would leave a child in the middle of the woods by herself?" He questioned shocked and disgusted.

"That's where things get weird." He leaned back against his desk. "According to Ser Bryant out of Lothering the family brought him the child after about a year of caring for her. They said they saw a flash of light just outside in the forest and a loud crashing noise. They waited until morning unsure of what happened or what it was that caused such a commotion before venturing out to see what it was." He shook his head. "That's when they found a little girl they guessed to be about three or four sitting in the middle of a burned out area of the forest. They searched for her parents but could find no one around so they took her home hoping to eventually find whoever she belonged to."

"So they put the word out they found a lost child and no one claimed her." Cullen nodded at him. "Nor were there any burned bodies found within the woods."

"Exactly, so they kept her until about a year later when her powers first appeared." He shrugged. "They guessed her to be a mage and to avoid any problems with having a mage child they turned her over to Ser Bryant who in turn brought her here. She does have a cousin so to speak here but even he can't get through to her." He nodded curtly at him. "You can speak with him if you wish but I doubt he'll be able to give you any new information. His name is Dylan and you can find him wherever the majority of the female mages congregate trying to show off for them. A major thorn in my side." He grumbled. "Now if there isn't anything else I have a lot to do and no time to get it done."

"Sir." Cullen gave a small bow with a fist to his heart. "I will let you know of anything I discover."

"Good lad." He nodded back then went back to the other side of his desk, plopped down in his chair, and took on the impossible task of getting his paperwork done.

Cullen turned and left the office deciding that the first order of business was to get a look at this charge of his. Part of him was expecting her to look like some sort of monster, taller than any man, and broader than a horse. Yet his more rational side told him she most likely looked like any other girl within the circle tower. Just a mage (maybe) like any other female mage.

His first stop was the common room since it was down the hall from Greagoir's office. The room was filled with the resident mages just chatting away about whatever they talked about with his Templar brethren watching from their posts around the room. He worked his way to the back corner of the room containing the only statue and looked behind it. There was nothing but some papers and a few drawing utensils.

Clearly she was either there recently or she just kept her stuff there for when she would decided to hide there. This led him to figure that she could only be in the library unless she went to eat or to relieve herself.

He headed out of the common room heading for the library to check there before heading to his quarters to read over her information. His first real given task since becoming a Templar straight from the Knight Commander himself. He was going to do his best and prove his worth even if the task seemed menial and rather odd for a Templar to take on. Truly this seemed more like a job for a fellow mage or even a sister from the Chantry.

Then again he didn't know what they have or haven't tried as of yet and he was sure he would soon find out once he read her file. However he first wanted to see who this creature or human or elf or whatever she was was all about.

As he walked through the doorway into the library he came chin to face with an elderly mage. "Oh sorry." He apologized as he grabbed the old man by the arm to keep him from falling down when he stumbled backwards.

The old mage all but ignored him and with a barely a glance at the Templar went back to his fretting about in front of the book case.

Cullen watched the man for a moment debating on whether he was mad or not when another mage entered right behind him.

"Alright old man what crawled up your backside this time?"

The old mage spun around and glared at the man standing next to the Templar. "How many times have I told you not to disrespect your elders!"

Cullen watched as the young mage next to him rolled his eyes and sighed deeply.

"Yea yea so what do you want?"

The elderly mage glowered at him for a moment then pointed to the highest window in the library. "You will tell her to come down from there. What she's doing is against the rules and dangerous."

The younger man and Cullen both looked up to see someone sitting on the edge of the window seal. Cullen instantly knew exactly who was up there being she was who he was looking for.

"Everyday," the young man looked back down at the elder. "we go through this and everyday ends the same as the day before. Why do you even bother? You know she's not gong to come down no matter what I say or anyone else says. So why don't you go get yourself a cup of tea, find a corner, and mutter to yourself about us disrespectful kids and how much better life was in your day."

Cullen bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing at that. "Um excuse me," he interrupted when the old man who was now red in the face opened his mouth to respond to that. "but is that Zaniah up there?" He questioned knowing full well that it was and was only asking to diffuse the situation between the two men.

"Another Templar." The younger mage glowered at him. "Let me guess you're the newest recruit that that bastard Greagoir brought in to break down Zaniah's wall." He eyed him condescendingly. "So what are you going to try and beat it out of her too?"

It suddenly struck Cullen who this mage was. "You must be Dylan." He nodded at him.

"Ah so you know the story." He crossed his arms over his chest. "She may not be my cousin by blood but I still consider her family. My aunt and her husband cared enough to take her as his own so I could do no less and just know I will take it personally if you do to her what the last bastard did." He narrowed his eyes to thin little slits. "I swear if they would have let me I would have turned him inside out for doing what he did. Though from what I heard Greagoir knocked the bastard's teeth out. That's the only good thing he's ever done."

"I can assure you I have no intentions of hurting anyone least of all her." Cullen defended with a scowl and logging away the information about his commander for further analysis later.

"Yea we'll see if you hold true to those words." Dylan glared at him then looked up at the girl sitting in the window. "I don't know why they just won't let her go," he scowled even harder. "she's not a mage and has no reason to be here. The Chantry keeps her locked here out of their own fear and narrow mindedness."

"You don't think she's a mage?" Cullen arched a brow though he too was staring up at the being in the window.

"Mages are about magic and the fade." He nodded. "She can't enter the fade or perform any spells therefore she can't be a mage and she should not be here."

"But she can't be turned tranquil either." He countered.

"Even better; who wants to be a tranquil anyway?" He growled. "All tranquil are are mindless servants of the Chantry. Floating through the rest of their lives as a nothing just simply obeying because they don't know anything else. I'd rather be dead."

Cullen wasn't going to argue that because he knew that a lot of mages felt the same way about being turned tranquil. Hell he to a point felt the same but also understood the reason for the necessity of the procedure. "So if she's not a mage what do you think she is?" He changed the subject.

"Does it matter?" He questioned back. "if she's not threat to anyone who cares what she is or isn't. She does not belong here and what has happened to her since arriving here would have never happened in the first place. They knew a long time ago she wasn't a mage but yet here she still is trapped in this prison."

"What do you mean?" He looked over at him. "What happened?" He questioned wondering if there was something more to this story than what the Knight Commander told.

Dylan snorted and glared at him. "You have her information so figure it out yourself." He growled then spun on his heel and left.

Cullen watched him go and once out of sight turned back to the old mage who was now glaring at him. "Yes?" He questioned with an arched brow.

The man glared even harder and crossed his arms over his chest in a huff. "Are you just going to stand there or are you going to get her down from there?"

"And what would you propose I do?"

"Order her down." He ground out.

"Alright." He nodded and looked up at the girl. "Zaniah would you be so kind as to come down from there before our elderly mage here dies from a heart attack."

"I am not amused!" The old man huffed then stormed out of the room.

Cullen watched him go and snorted then looked up at the girl only to find she was gone and now standing in front of him. As he stared down at the cloaked figure before him he quickly decided on how to handle her. "Thank you my lady." He placed a fist to his heart and bowed to her. She was a tiny little thing he noticed noting the top of her head was barely level with the top of his chest.

"My name is Cullen and you must be Zaniah." He paused like she was responding to him. "It's a pleasure to meet you as well." That's how he was going to handle this act like everything was normal. Even if it meant having lengthy conversations with someone who didn't talk back and looking like a fool. Sometimes sacrifices needed to be made for the greater good or to get what you wanted to achieve a goal.

He stared at her for a silent moment wondering what she looked liked but quickly dismissed it and moved on. "I was just heading to the dining room to see if I could get lunch in a little early. Would you care to join me? I mean you don't have to if you don't want to." He smiled lightly kind of glad he couldn't see her face. He had a serious stuttering problem when it came to the opposite sex and he certainly didn't want to have her label him as the weird Templar that stuttered.

When she made no move to show she had decided anything he nodded at her. "Well if you wish my company you'll know where to find me." He bowed to her again then turned and exited the library. He didn't know if she was following him or not and he wasn't going to look and see. He was going to take this slow and treat her like he would treat any other shy person.

He wasn't all that surprised to find she didn't follow him when he arrived in the dining hall. He didn't really care since he wanted to go over her file without her near so he could absorb it without trying to hide what he was reading.

xx

The lunch crowd came and went barely drawing any attention from him. Zaniah's file wasn't anything interesting mostly all complaints about what she would or wouldn't do. Most of the complaints came from the same mage which he assumed was the old man complaining about her in the library.

When he finally pulled himself out of her file the dining room was practically empty save for the few cleaning up, him, and a silent guest sitting across from him. His eyes widened slightly at seeing her cloaked figure just sitting there. He quickly pulled himself together and smiled at her though he wasn't even sure if she could see him or not. The hood of her cloak hung down past her eyes or maybe it was she was just looking down. Either way he assumed she was looking at him and made the conversation as if she was in fact looking at him.

"How was your lunch?" He questioned and paused for a moment acting like she was answering him. "Yes it was a little noisy but with this many people living here it's to be expected." He nodded. "Anyway I can only guess that you were told who I am and why I'm here." He tapped the papers in front of him with his finger and sighed. "I know you don't trust me and that's okay. After all you've been through I wouldn't trust anyone either. So I think the best way for us to deal with what we'll be to each other is to lay out some rules." He arched a brow and waited for the answer she wouldn't give but the one he figured she would give if she talked.

"No nothing like that." He shook his head and cringed. "I'm not a monster like your previous guards." He nodded determinedly at her and fell silent as he had her half of the conversation in his head.

"The others said that same thing."

He nodded. "Yes but I'm not the others and the only way I can prove to you I'm not is with time."

"We'll see. So what are these rules of yours?"

"Ah yes let's see." He rubbed his knuckles to this chin thoughtfully. "Rule number one neither of us can invade the other's personal space. Rule number two instead of being latched together all day everyday we spend short amounts of time together throughout the day."

"That's not what my other guards did and they said Greagoir said they had to stay by my side constantly."

"And that's probably why things didn't work out so well." He pointed out and noted that the cleaning staff were all giving him weird looks like he was crazy. He ignored them knowing he was going to get those kinds of looks a lot with this crazy plan of his. "Everyone needs their own space and if you don't get it you hate the person not giving it to you."

"That's fair I suppose."

"Good." He smiled at her. "Now the last rule is we should at least spend every meal time together. This way we don't have to necessarily talk but we're not stuck in some awkward silent situation with nothing to do." He arched a brow at her. "Do you think those rules are fair?"

He gave a longer silent pause like she was debating her answer before acting like she nodded at him. "Perfect," he grinned. "glad we got that out of the way. Now if you'll excuse me I have to go get settled." He stood, gathered up his papers, and gave a small bow with fist to heart. "My lady." He smiled and took a few steps away from her then stopped and turned back to her. "If I don't see you before dinner I'll meet you here at that time." He gave a small nod of his head before turning and exiting the room leaving her sitting there.

xx

Cullen found himself back in the Knight Commander's office after leaving the dining hall. He mostly returned to give Greagoir back Zaniah's file but also to inform him of his crazy but plausible plan.

"I see." Greagoir nodded at the boy. "How soon do you think you'll see any results of this?"

"I can't say sir." He gave a curt shake of his head. "She joined me after lunch but I assumed she only did because you or Dylan told her who I was. Or she overheard my conversation with her cousin earlier today when I found her sitting in the window."

"So I heard." Greagoir snorted and held up the newest piece of paper to take up residence on his desk. "Another complaint from old man Sweeney. I do believe half the papers on my desk are his complaints ranging from a speck of unauthorized dust in a corner to the number of floors within this tower to the lack of hair on his head." He dropped the paper back to his desk and shook his head. "You're plan sounds fine and we'll see how it goes. If nothing comes from it no harm done and you can try something else. Dismissed." He waved a hand towards the door.

"Thank you sir." He gave a small bow of his head and left his office.

As he exited the office he once again came chest to face with a little cloaked figure carrying her paper and pencils. "Zaniah." He bowed his head slightly at her, stepped around her, and headed down the hall. He had to get to his quarters at some point today and finally get unpacked.

As he walked down the hall he could have sworn he heard the light shuffling of footsteps behind him. When he made it to the stairs leading up to the next floor he stopped, turned, and drew his brows at the cloaked figure standing there.

"What can I do for you?" He questioned as he stared at her knowing full well she wasn't going to answer but kind of wished she would. If she would answer he would at least know what it was she wanted.

When she made no movement to indicate she did or didn't want anything from him he sighed lightly. "Well if there's nothing else." He nodded at her and waited a moment for a response of any kind before turning and heading up the steps.

As he hiked the stairs he heard her fall into step behind him and began wracking his brain trying to figure out what she was doing. He continued on with the little shadow behind him deciding that if she wanted anything from him she was just going to have to ask or do something to let him know what it was.

All the way up to the fourth floor containing the Templar quarters she followed until he came to the door leading to his shared room. He turned to look down at her and nodded. "You'll have to stay out here. These are the private Templar quarters."

He watched with brows drawn as she sat down against the wall next to his door, took our her papers, and began to draw. He didn't know what this was all about but he was going to take it as a good sign. "I'll be out shortly." He nodded though she didn't look up at him she just kept on drawing.

It didn't take him very long to put his stuff away and get organized putting him back outside his room in less than a half hour. When he did exit he came face to face with a fellow Templar hovering ominously over the girl sitting on the floor. Instantly he did not like the man and he certainly did not like how he was eyeing Zaniah.

"Can I help you?" He questioned with a slight edge to his voice.

The Templar looked at him and smiled. "No, I'm just having a conversation here with our resident shadow." He smiled almost condescendingly. "The name's Malick and you must be the newest addition to our order."

Oh yes he definitely did not like this guy. "Cullen." He introduced and kept the edge in his voice.

"Well Cullen I hope you find yourself at home here." Malick stepped back from them with a grin.

Cullen waved his fingers at the girl on the floor in a gesture that said she needed to get up and nodded curtly when she obeyed. "Just fine." He narrowed his eyes just a fraction at his fellow Templar. "Now if you'll excuse us." He bowed his head curtly and began walking down the hall with Zaniah in tow.

"Stay away from him." He ordered once he was sure they were out of ear shot. "If he comes anywhere near you you leave." He stopped and turned to face her. "Understood?"

She didn't answer nor did he really expect her to but he was sure she got the message loud and clear. He sighed deeply and looked down at her. "Alright so what do you plan on doing for the rest of the afternoon?" He saw her clench a little tighter to her drawing stuffs and nodded. "Where would you like to go? You lead I'll follow."

They stood there in silence for several long moments before she finally began walking down the hall. He followed her to the common room, back to the corner, to the statue where she settled herself down in her corner. Once settled she sorted out her things and began drawing.

"A good hiding place," he pointed out and leaned against the wall crossing his arms over his chest. "but no escape route." He noticed from the corner of his eye she stopped what she was doing frozen with pencil to paper. "Well I wouldn't worry about it too much since I doubt anyone is going to bother you with me right here." He then looked down at her with brows drawn. "You did want me here with you; didn't you?"

She didn't answer but the fact that she went back to drawing made him figure that she did in fact either want him there or didn't mind him being there.

He roved his eyes around the room watching the few mages that were in the room talking between each other. None of them looked like they were doing anything suspicious and the two other guards in the room didn't look too concerned either. So he just settled into his post trying to think of something to say to his silent companion and something that didn't require a lot of responses from her.

Eventually he decided on not trying to think of something good but just opening his mouth and hoping for the best. Although that tactic usually failed him terribly and tended to backfire in his face. "You know I was an orphan too."

As soon as the words were out there he wanted to kick himself square in the rear. What in Maker's name would cause him to say something like that? People without parents never liked to talk about it and here he was just throwing it out there like he was asking her how her afternoon was going.

He sighed deeply after mentally berating himself for his bad choice of topic and looked down at her. "Sorry," he nodded noting she was looking up at him and he was glad her hood covered her face even when looking up. "that's probably not something you want to talk about."

He was shocked when she gave a small nod up at him. Then again why be shocked she had to communicate somehow it couldn't all be silence and shadows. "Well if you really want to know." He nodded then looked away from her and eyed the room noting a few more mages had entered. "Well like you I can't say who my parents were nor can I say how I ended up in the orphanage in Denerim. As far as I knew until I was old enough to understand anyway I was born there." He shrugged with a glance down at her and found she was still looking up at him. "Nothing spectacular happened during my life there just acted like any other kid who lived there. I did all the usual little boy stuff, scraping my knees, getting dirty, picking on the girls," he laughed lightly. "getting into trouble every other day."

He paused trying to think of what question she would ask or opinion she would input to that and shook his head. He couldn't think of anything anyone would ask with that little information so he just continued.

"I was about six when I first understood what a Templar really was." He nodded and looked around the room at the few other Templars on guard. Part of him wondered what caused them to join the order, if it was some life changing event. Or maybe they just strongly believed in what the order stood for. "I don't know why but I decided then that when I grew up I was going to join the order."

He shrugged. "So I grew up, went through the training, took my vows, and here I am." He smiled down at her. "Personal guard to a lovely lady who may or may not be a mage." He suddenly blushed at his odd choice of words and looked away. "S… sorry." He muttered through a shy smile.

He didn't know if she was lovely or not but the image he conjured up in his head of what she might look like was lovely. He didn't want to draw up an image of her in his head but he just couldn't help it. The first thing he imagined was her eye color bright blue or dark brown to midnight they changed from one to the other constantly. Maybe she had one of each a rarity he'd only seen in dogs but rumors said there were people to have such a trait. Once that came the rest filled in around her big wide innocent eyes.

Long thick midnight hair that was as soft to the touch as it looked. The hair was something one of the sisters in the Chantry had. He would admire it from afar always wanting to touch it to see if it felt as silky as it looked.

Then there was her skin which he could see covering her hands and occasionally her wrists. He couldn't help but think it was the color of the finest of cream and looked as soft as silk. He had never seen anyone with such pale skin and it contrasted perfectly with the image of midnight hair.

He looked back down at her and found she was again looking up at him. "I'm… I'm sorry if I offended." He gave a bow of his head and blushed again. "I can only assume at your loveliness." Now that sounded more like an insult to his ears causing him to blush at his own stupidness. "I… I… mean that… uh is to say…" He trailed off now realizing he was sounding like a fool. What in Maker's name was wrong with him? "Forget I said anything." He looked away and fell silent trying to pull his head back together.

He looked about the room as the stupid finally cleared from his head and found himself suddenly locked into a staring contest with Malick. His hazels narrowed slightly at the condescending smirk on the man's face. He had never wanted to punch someone as much as he wanted to him. Actually something about the man made him want to beat him to a bloody pulp, set him on fire, and let the hounds piss on his remains.

He was startled slightly by the dark thoughts that danced through his head and he decided he needed to leave the room lest he acted out his desires. "I'm going for a walk," he nodded though kept his stare locked with the man on the other side of the room. "and I want you to go somewhere out of reach. Either go sit in the window or in Greagoir's office or follow me around." He broke the stare and looked down at her. "Whatever you do I do not want you in this corner trapped and at that bastard's mercy." He jerked his head in Malick's direction.

Somehow he got the distinct feeling that Malick didn't exactly play nice with the mages in the circle nor did he think he especially played nice with Zaniah. He was going to have to do some investigating and watching of his fellow Templar and see if his gut was right.

He watched as she straightened her things and set them nicely on the floor before standing up. He gave her a curt nod then headed out of the room with her right behind him.

xx

It was near dinner time when he decided he had walked and prayed away his evil thoughts on his fellow Templar. It also wasn't until he came back around to himself that he realized that Zaniah had been following him the whole time. He was sure she had to be exhausted for he certainly was and especially walking that long in his armor.

He came to a stop and turned to face her. "You didn't have to follow me the whole time you know." He pointed out. "You should have gone to Greagoir's office and waited for me to come get you or met me at dinner."

"You're right about him."

His eyes widened hugely at the soft spoken voice that came from within the hood. "Pardon?" He questioned shocked that she had spoken to him and had said so many words. He was sure he was imagining her speaking hoping for a miracle in his quest to bring her out of her world and back to the normal world.

"Malick."

Her voice was barely louder than a whisper causing him to lean down and turn an ear closer to her. "What about him?" He questioned. "Tell me. Did he do something to you or to someone?"

"Everyone." She answered quietly like Malick was within hearing distance.

He watched her fingers twitch nervously at her sides and suspected she feared her confession was going to be heard. "I will do everything in my power to protect you." He rose up to his full height. "I swear it." He stared down at her. "Like I said just stay away from him and if he comes near you leave or more importantly run. Run to me, run to Greagoir, run and hide, just get as far away from him as possible." He nodded curtly.

She gave a small nod up at him causing him to smile. "Good. Now lets go see about dinner." He nodded again and began walking towards the stairs.

xx

Zaniah watched the Templar sitting across from her and found him to be a rather strange man. He wasn't anything like the other Templars Greagoir had ordered to guard her and he definitely wasn't anything like anyone else she had met in her life.

The thing she found the strangest about him was his need to talk even if she didn't answer he would just keep on talking. She easily figured he was having her half of the conversation in his head based on the way he would just answer his own questions after a short pause. It was endearing that he was putting so much effort into trying to break through to her. Then again this was only the first day and she seriously doubted that he could keep this up. None of the other guards really put forth much effort to know her only enough to make Greagoir think they tried.

Except for Malick.

That man was evil through and through and if he was a mage she was sure he'd be a possessed mage. Maybe he was a possessed Templar though she never heard of such a thing happening but anything was possible. All she knew for certain was that Malick needed to either be dismissed or killed and she had a sneaking hunch that her new guard might just be the one to do the job. Or Greagoir would put a sword through the man but she didn't want to cause him any trouble. So she kept her silence about her and locked the pain into a room in the darkest corner of her mind.

She was shocked that this Cullen spotted the threat Malick posed so quickly. The others never did, probably because they would never suspect one of their own. They probably all looked at each other like the righteous Templars they were supposed to be and doubted any of them could be evil.

But they were evil she had experienced it enough times to know how evil they could be deep in their hearts. All her guards hurt her in one form or another physical, emotional, verbally, every way possible. Yet the ones that hurt the most were the ones that wouldn't eve try to get to know her. The way they looked at her like she was a burden they were forced to carry even if being her guard was something they signed up for.

"…beautiful…"

She was pulled out of her thoughts, back to his one sided conversations, and watched him suddenly blush and stutter out an apology. Every time he complimented her he would behave this way and she found it to be very cute and true. No one could act that well no matter what they were trying to accomplish.

Maybe this Cullen was different, maybe he really did care, maybe just maybe Greagoir found someone she could trust. Only time would tell for certain but at the moment it seemed this young Templar just out of his training was true to himself in his actions. Plus he didn't seem thus far the sorts to have sneaky ulterior motives to his actions. He seemed sincere in wanting to know her and to do what Greagoir brought him here to do. So she would give him a chance not that she had much of a choice but with this Cullen she wasn't going to hide up on the window seals away from him as often.

"You don't eat much; do you."

She looked up at his question then back down at her food which she had only taken a few bites of.

"That's not healthy you know."

She looked from her plate, to his, then up to his face. She wasn't hungry late in the day she rarely ever was so she pushed her plate across the table to him.

Cullen stared at the nearly full plate now in front of him then looked over at her as he pushed it back across the table. "You need to eat it." He nodded authoritatively. "You look so tiny like you haven't eaten more than a bite of bread all month."

What; did he expect her to be some large beastie that cracked the floor as she walked. She almost argued the point with him but kept her mouth shut. Talking never did her any good only irritated people as they would so often tell her.

The First Enchanter would deliberately avoid her when she was little saying her constant rambling always gave him a headache. The other mages and the Templars were always telling her to shut up and quit talking. Greagoir seemed to be the only one that didn't mind her mindless chatter.

He would let her follow him around telling him everything she knew or learned or whatever was running through her head. Or he would let her sit in his office on his desk asking him endless questions about him and what he did. Sometimes he would answer and explain everything she wanted to know. Other times he just sat there doing his work letting her talk and talk and talk.

Then that one night in which she showed them her power changed everything. They acted like she was a disease that they couldn't cure. She became to them something worse than a blood mage a horrible creature that needed to be put down. They all avoided her, refused to look at her, wouldn't even talk to her and worse. They wanted to turn her tranquil and tried to do so; twice.

She didn't know if the procedure hurt worse or the rejection of the only real father like figure she ever had. Sure she remembered the man who found her in the forest so long ago but she was hardly with him long enough to call him anything other than savior. Even if he kept in touch with her over the years and would send her things she needed. However you just couldn't be a father through letters because letters couldn't hug you, or lecture you, or chase the nightmares away. She was thankful to the man in the letters and to an extent did care for him but he wasn't there for her when she needed him. So she found a new father figure even if he didn't want to take up that role.

Greagoir on the other hand just had that aura about him that drew her to him. A great protector that could be gentle and kind one minute and stern and hard the next. She loved him like the father she never had and will never know. She still loved him even after all he did to her and knew he was sorry for what he did. She could see it in his eyes every time he looked at her. Even though he had apologized to her on many occasions. She forgave him and still loved him to death no matter what.

"Is that a yes or a no?"

Again she was pulled from her thoughts to the Templar staring at her expectantly. She had no idea what he was asking her about and she doubted she would answer if she did. Though he did seem to have this charming little thing about him that made it hard not to acknowledge him at times. Which was odd considering they had barely been around each other for a day.

"If I say please?"

Now she wished she had paid attention to him so she would know what he was pleading for. She could only assume it had something to do with her food since that seemed to be the topic of conversation prior. So she gave a curt shake of her head and pushed the plate back across the table towards him.

Cullen narrowed his eyes slightly. "So you are ignoring me." He nodded curtly at her then sighed deeply. "In that case I shall see you in the morning at breakfast." He stood up, gave her a small bow, gathered his dishes, and walked away.

Zaniah drew her brows as she watched him leave and wondered what he asked her. Maybe it was to go for another walk around the tower since he seemed to enjoy being on the move or so she guessed. Well he could walk himself to exhaustion if he so desired she was tired of walking.

So gathering her dishes up she stood and instantly felt eyes upon her form. It was a common enough feeling that told her that if she didn't escape now she wasn't likely going to. Malick was staring at her from the opposite door Cullen had exited through and right next to where she had to drop her dishes.

Suddenly Cullen's words echoed through her head...

"Like I said just stay away from him and if he comes near you leave or more importantly run. Run to me, run to Greagoir, run and hide, just get as far away from him as possible."

So she did exactly that, she left her dishes and ran out the opposite door. She'd probably get a lecture later about leaving her stuff for someone else to clean up but she didn't care. Cullen said run when Malick was near so run she did and wondered why she never thought of doing that exact thing before.

Probably because running was against the rules.

xx

If he wasn't such a stalwart Templar he might have stumbled several paces against the force that had crashed into him. Though the force that had hit him was barely as hard as a punch. As it was however it did force him to take a step forward making him wonder if he was falling ill. How could such a small bump cause him to stumble one step? Maybe he was just tired after a long long day of doing paperwork and his muscles were lethargic.

Before he could turn to see who had crashed into him from behind he felt the all too familiar feel of something tugging onto his sash. With a sigh he began walking again towing the little figure along behind him. "Zaniah you know running in the tower is against the rules." He said in his authoritive Knight Commander voice many feared, well with the exception of her and a few upstart Templars just out of training. They soon learned not to test him, Zaniah on the other hand generally ignored him and did it anyway.

Of course he didn't get an answer he never did when it came to her breaking the rules. So instead of lecturing her on the rules for the millionth time this month he continued on down the hall pulling her along behind.

"Alright young lady this is the third time this week you haven't eaten your dinner." He growled. "Don't think I haven't been watching because I have." He gave a nod to the Templar guarding the stairs heading to the next floor. "If you keep this up one more day I'll be forced to take drastic measures to make sure you eat."

He stopped at the bottom of the stairs and turned just enough to see her. "Do you understand me?" When she gave a small nod he nodded in return and continued on his way. "Now not that you'll answer me but how is your first day with your new guard?" He huffed irritably through his nose when all he got in response was silence. "For Maker's sake Zaniah how am I suppose to know if your guards are doing right by you if you don't tell me? For all I know they could be beating or raping you when I'm not looking because you won't talk to me." He growled angrily.

He suddenly came to a stop when the tension on his sash pulled tight enough to indicate that she had stopped walking. So someone was doing her wrong; was it a mage, a Templar, her new guard? He'd kill them with his own bare hands and in a most painful and bloody way.

"Who?" He demanded as he turned to face her a deadly scowl gracing his tired features. He watched as she kept her head downcast and tightened her hold on the red fabric in her hand.

He grabbed her by the chin, tilted her head up, and pushed her hood off with his free hand. "Who?" He again demanded as he stared into her wide silver/blue eyes. "If someone is hurting you I need to know who so I can stop it." He nodded curtly at her. "Now for the last time; who is it?"

He sighed deeply when she pulled her head from his grasp and looked off to the side. "Zaniah I can assure you nothing will happen to you if you tell me."

She shook her head. "My word against his. You can't watch over me all the time." She whispered sadly.

"I'll reassign him then." He lied with a nod.

"He'll hurt someone else." She answered, released the sash in her hand, pulled her hood back up, and took off back down the hall.

Greagoir sighed deeply through his nose and worked his jaw furiously. By Andraste's teeth he was going to find out just what the hell was going on and kill someone.

xx

Cullen walked down the hall heading for his room desperately wanting to get his armor off. It was hot, heavy, and the straps were chafing across his back. He was going to have to take it to the smithy and see if he could adjust the leather straps so they didn't rub so much.

He gave a shift of his shoulders as he rounded the corner trying to get the straps into more comfortable position. "Should have stayed in the Chantry instead." He grumbled to himself when the leather only seemed to rub worse against the tender spots.

"Excuse me?"

"Knight Commander." His eyes widened as he spun around to the voice coming from behind him.

Greagoir waved a dismissive hand through the air and got straight to the point. "Someone is harassing Zaniah and for reasons that make no sense she's protecting him or them or whoever it is." He nodded curtly. "If you can, see if you can't get her to tell you who it is or at least to point them out."

Cullen drew his brows deeply. "Why would she protect someone that's bothering her?"

"Because if they're bothering," he drawled the word out irritably. "her then it means they're not bothering someone else. And for the record this is more than just being bothered by someone." He growled irritated by this whole situation.

He had enough trouble when it came to Zaniah especially where the Chantry was concerned. He didn't need his own men or the mages making it worse by harassing her or whatever it was he or they were doing. Never mind that the little brat managed to crawl under his skin and weasel her way into his heart; she was the daughter he would never have. Those big innocent eyes would be his greatest undoing as not only a Knight Commander but a man who decided to play the role of father.

"Well sir," he sighed deeply. "I may have someone you might want to check into. I found his behavior towards her today rather suspicious. It bothered me enough that I told her should he come near her that she should run from him."

Greagoir narrowed his steely eyes to deadly little slits. "And who might this man be?"

Cullen shifted partly in nervousness and partly due to the chafing straps. "Well sir I," he looked down at the floor and shifted again. "I want to say and do the right thing but…"

"New to the ranks." Greagoir growled cutting him off and causing his recruit to look up at him. "Alright let me put it to you this way and see if being new is really that important." He glared at him. "If my child is harmed again and you knew but didn't say who it was it's no different than if you hurt her yourself."

His child? He knew Greagoir considered Zaniah to be like a daughter to him but he didn't think it was so much so as to call her his child. Though that explained the rumors about how badly Greagoir had beat he last guard who harmed Zaniah. Everything he heard ranged from a punch to breaking every bone in the man's body to having him still strung up in the basement so he could torture him as he pleased.

He sighed and shifted his eyes around him nervously knowing full well in a place this size with this many people the walls had ears. If he said and it was heard by the wrong people he may as well fling himself off the highest part of the tower right now. He again shifted nervously causing Greagoir to narrow his eyes even further upon him.

"In my office now." He growled knowing full well the boy wasn't going to speak out here in the open where everyone could hear. He turned on his heel and began walking down the hall with Cullen right behind him.

As Cullen followed behind him he watched as a little cloaked figure appeared practically out of nowhere, stepped in front of him, and grabbed a hold of Greagoir's sash.

The Knight Commanded didn't even skip a step against the small tug on the fabric around his waist. "Not now Zaniah I have business to take care of." Greagoir ordered with a curt nod.

Cullen nearly crashed into the girl when she suddenly stopped short pulling Greagoir to a stop with her. "A warning would have been nice." He grumbled once he regained his balance.

Greagoir sighed and turned to face her. "What is it then?" He mentally cursed himself for giving in so easily… again.

She held a small empty pouch up for him to see and nodded curtly.

He narrowed his eyes upon the little pouch then moved the stare down to her. "Firstly why should I allow you more when you don't eat your dinner? Secondly why do you leave them out where he can find them so easily?" He sighed deeply upon the receipt of no answer and took the pouch. "I'll send someone out tomorrow."

"And?" She demanded.

"I'll have a talk with Carroll about stealing your candy," he nodded curtly at her. "again."

She nodded up at him then released his sash, turned on her heel, and disappeared down the hall.

Cullen had to bite his lip to keep from laughing at the little scene between the two. He had just bore witness to how tightly Zaniah had Greagoir wrapped around her little finger.

Greagoir sighed deeply. "In my fall from grace I scarcely think I've reached the bottom."

"Or maybe it's not down you're falling." He supplied trying to sound all knowing.

Steel eyes narrowed slightly. "Boy I know up from down and I can assure you down is the direction I am heading."

"A bottomless pit perhaps?" He had no idea if he was making sense or not but hey it was worth a try anyway.

Greagoir snorted at that. "Perhaps." He nodded then turned and continued on his way.

xx

"Alright out with it."

Cullen shifted nervously and instead of telling him what he wanted to know he grabbed the quill and quickly scribbled a name on his hand.

Greagoir arched a brow at the boy when he showed him his open palm. "I can assure you there are no ears in here."

"No, but you can't say how close they are." He nodded back. "If I speak I'm a traitor to my fellow Templar especially when I have yet to be here for two full days. I quite like my ribs intact."

It had been such a long time ago that he was the new recruit that he forgot about the secret code. Keep your mouth shut and we'll all get along just fine. He hated that code then and he hated it worse now. However there wasn't anything he could do about it because even if he banned the use of the code they'd still use it anyway to keep breaking the rules.

"Alright I'll play along." He nodded at him and began writing a quick note on a piece of paper. "But if I find out who did this and you didn't say but knew you'll both be in trouble. I will not tolerate such behavior under my command towards anyone within this tower." He looked up and handed him the sheet. "Understood?"

Cullen took the paper and quickly read it.

13 mage suicides this year. His fault?

He gave a small grim nod. "I think so."

Steel eyes narrowed. "Find out." He ordered.

"Yes sir." He bowed and handed the paper back.

"Good." Greagoir glared hating all this secrecy stuff. "Now dismissed."

"Thank you sir." He bowed then turned and left the office.

xx

X-One Month Later-X

"Here this is for you," Dylan handed the scroll to Zaniah. "it's from aunt Leandra."

Zaniah took the scroll, opened it, and quickly read the contents. "This King's army?" She whispered and looked up at him.

Dylan nodded. "Yes both of them joined and they already left for Ostagar." He sighed. "There's a rumor that a blight is coming and they think that's where it's going to start." He sighed again. "Bethany is going to stay home with her mother just in case."

Zaniah looked down not really wanting to talk about this. Those people were her family for barely over a year; what did she know of them? That wasn't to say she didn't care but the cut of the truth still hurt. "I know what she is." She was sent away for fear of being a mage but Bethany and Malcolm were mages themselves. Then again she wasn't really his child anyway so why did it matter? Yet it did and it hurt and at least she had Dylan here to share the hurt and rejection with.

Dylan stared at her and pressed this lips together tightly. It was completely unfair that he and Zaniah were stuck in this prison but Malcolm before he died and his cousin were free. "I know you do." He nodded. "And I think it's just as unfair as you do so does mom that's why she adopted you as an Amell so you're not dirty Hawke. " He nodded approvingly.

"I'm her revenge as you are against Aristide for him making her give you up."

"Yea if grand dad didn't die maybe I'd still be with her." He moved to sit down next to her. "I hate Aristide but it won't do any good to keep complaining about it. Us Amells have to stick together and stand strong." He smiled when she nodded in agreement then changed the subject. "So this new guard of yours; think he's going to turn out to be a bastard like all the others?"

She sat there contemplating for a long moment then shook her head. Cullen was an oddity she couldn't explain or even understand. "He's different." She nodded. "Strange but different."

"So I've heard." He snorted. "Everyone thinks he like myself, Greagoir, and Carroll likes to talk to himself." He sighed deeply. "You have to tell Greagoir." He suddenly changed the subject again.

She shook her head and stared down at her lap. "If it's me…"

"You don't know that!" He cut her off. "As much as I hate Greagoir he would make sure he can never hurt anyone ever again; just like Samuel."

"He saw what Samuel did. It'd be my word against his."

"Even still," he argued. "if you tell him he WILL get the truth out of him and anyone else who knows." He pressed his lips together tightly. "If you don't tell him I will."

She looked over at him. "You promised."

"I don't care." He growled as he stared at her hooded form. "You're the only family I have left and I promised auntie and mother I'd watch over you. Seriously Zaniah how long do you expect me to sit here knowing what that bastard is doing to you and do nothing?"

"It doesn't hurt anymore."

"Oh, well, that makes it alright then." He growled, stood up, and stared down at her. "For the last time if you don't say anything I will." He bit out then stormed off.

She sat there quietly contemplating Dylan's words debating on whether or not she should in fact say something. She knew Greagoir would put a quick stop to it but what if he was only sent somewhere else where he could keep doing what he's doing. Someone else would suffer and it would be all her fault. She couldn't, no wouldn't let that happen.

"I've missed you."

She went stiff in the spine at the feel of two large hands on her shoulders and the deep voice whispered in her ear.

"I really hope you haven't been avoiding me." Malick purred and began to gently massage her shoulders.

'Run Zaniah! Get away!' Her voice screamed in her head but she was frozen to the spot.

"I need you." He nuzzled the side of her head and moved his hands down her arms. "How about tonight I pay you a visit."

Her eyes snapped wide and she gave a curt shake of her head.

Malick snorted at that and squeezed her arms to the point of bruising. "That is not an option." He growled. "Be ready just the way I like you." He ordered deadly then released her and left the room.

She shuddered, wrapped her arms around her, pulled her knees up, and tried to curl in on herself. How could she pass this misery onto someone else? Who was she to make someone else suffer when the pain to her was just a dull ache?

"Are you alright?"

No she wasn't alright but she couldn't tell him that or anyone else for that matter.

Cullen narrowed his eyes upon her curled up form rocking back and forth on the bench. "Did someone bother you?" He demanded. "Did HE bother you again?" After the conversation he just had with Dylan it was clear what had just happened but he had to hear it for himself.

He didn't get an answer and part of him wasn't surprised the other part was hoping she'd finally opened up to him. Then again he had only met her the barely a month ago and made some headway with her but not much. She still didn't talk much to him but would give short answers to his questions or ask short questions of her own.

He had been investigating quietly as possible Malick's behavior towards her and other mages to see if he and the suicides were connected. The information he had collected so far was very little and it all led right back to Zaniah.

He had to get through to her and he didn't feel like he had anymore time to do so. A decision came quickly and one he did not think was a good one but he was willing to take the risk. So with a sigh and a prayer that he was doing the right thing he gathered her up into his arms, sat down on the bench, and just held her.

He was stunned at how light she felt and how small she seemed. If he didn't know better he would have sworn she was no more than a child of eleven or twelve. "Please tell me." He whispered and rocked her lightly. "I can stop it."

''You can't." She whispered. "No one can."

"That's not true." He sighed deeply through his nose. "I know and Greagoir knows he's doing something but we need to know what so we can stop it."

She shook her head and tried to get free of his hold. She had to get away before she did in fact tell him and ended up hurting someone else.

Cullen held her fast refusing to let her go. "I can assure you that you're not the only one in this tower suffering at his hands." He pointed out. "By not telling you may as well be hurting them yourself." It was a cruel thing to say and he didn't believe it for a second but something had to break through to her. "Think about that." He let her go and was surprised when she didn't jump up from his lap to get away.

She had never thought of it that way nor did she think he was hurting anyone else in the tower.

"So you know," he began really going for the throat. "we believe he's hurting some of the younger mages. They won't speak up because they fear they won't be believed. They think that Greagoir will think they're just saying it because they don't like us Templars. Imagine," he was going to hate himself for this knowing what it was going to make her feel once he said it. "one of the younger girls suffering what you suffer. They're too young to understand but are too scared to say. Suffering quietly with no escape but to end their lives." When he found out about the number of mage suicides in the tower he was shocked. Now he knew why there had been so many and there was only one person who could stop it. "Did you not wonder why so many of them have taken their own lives?"

She shook her head. "No." She whispered always believing that they ended it because they hated living here and took the cowards way out. Yet now that she really thought about it all the ones that have killed themselves were younger girls.

"He has to be stopped before someone else dies." He ordered. "And you're the only one that can do that. Save them Zaniah, do the right thing."

She frowned sadly and bit back the sting of tears at the knowledge that her silence may have caused so many deaths. "Tonight." She whispered sadly not wanting to do this but not wanting the death of another innocent on her hands because she didn't say something. "My room."

He gently rubbed her back in an attempt at reassuring her. "You're doing the right thing." He said quietly hoping no one was hearing this conversation and passing it along to Malick.

She sat there in his lap feeling strangely comfortable and safe. It was strange that he was able to make her feel that way and after such a short time. Maybe it was the sense of duty and honor he exuded or maybe it was the way he just treated her like she was just another human being like anyone else. Whatever it was she liked it and the only others that ever made her feel this safe was Greagoir, Dylan, and oddly enough that candy stealing jerk Carroll. It was nice to have someone else care enough about her to want to protect her. Perhaps Cullen was someone she could maybe talk to though her trust was still hard to come by and she wasn't ready to just start handing it out to everyone who treated her kindly. Then again no one else was treating her any other way than they normally treated her.

Maybe she could test the waters with her new guard and see if he was true in his intentions. Maybe just maybe father finally found her a guard that actually cared about others and not just himself. She'd give him a try and see if he showed any signs of being a bastard.