Meredith would send him on errands, so the citizens of Kirkwall know the templars protect them, and are ever watchful. Looking through the books in the market and see if he can find anything related on illegal magic. It'd been a year since Greagoir sent him here. The old man telling him to do what he can to let go the atrocities of Ferelden's circle. The Kirwall's knight-captain was retiring, he figured he'd get promoted. Surviving equals merit, if is surviving requires shameful means.

Thumbing through a book about animals, it might hint at shapeshifting. He heard her laugh, not almost perfect like the demons'. It was her laugh. Dropping the book, looking he found the source. She looked like her around the eyes, only older, this woman was old enough to be her mother. Chest tightening at the thought. A young lady, tugged at the old woman and gestured at him. He had been staring, mustering the stern stature of a templar, he strode over.

Clearing his throat, "Do you happen to be an Amell?"

Behind him a "She happens to be a Hawke."

Cullen knew the young man, he'd work for a smuggler, or does. Hand on his dagger, Cullen knew he'd be attacked if Hawke thought he was a threat, templar or no. "Excuse me, she just has a resemblance to someone I know."

The older woman smiled, "I was about to be flattered for a young man's attention. I'm Leandra, I was born an Amell. I'm guessing you are thinking of Solona?" The templar nodded, "I've never met the girl, she is the daughter of my dear cousin. Does she look like me?"

"Around the eyes, I recognized your laugh. I had hoped for some news."

Leandra shook her head, "I heard she and the King defeated the Archdemon. She is an Arlessa of Amaranthine. I doubt I'll ever see her."

Over the next 5 years Cullen did well as Knight Captain, if he saw Leandra he'd stop and talk to her. And was relieved when Bethany became a Grey Warden. He had been having a hard time keeping the other templars from sniffing her out. Standing out in the Gallows giving some instructions to his templars, he thought he heard Leandra laugh. He stopped mid sentence, to the discomfort of his subordinates. There was Solona her bright red hair was covered, she was wearing a dress, and she was on the arm of a man. It seemed surreal then a templar poked him. Cullen went back to duties.

It was late and he was finally back in his room. To change, and go the hangman to find anyone who could him forget her if only for a bit. Lyrium in his blood fluttered, someone was using mana in the dark of the room, without thought he striked to drain the source. It didn't grasp, and his room was lit with tiny floating balls of light. There she was wearing robes, her red mane curled over her shoulders, swallowing "Mage Amell."

She chuckled and pulled up his desk chair, "Always a templar. Feel an inch of magic being used and drain it."

"Feel it being used in my room, in the dark, I'll strike." Her lights weren't bright enough, but he memorized her eye rolls. "Why are you here Amell?"

"Oh, I was in town. Saying hello, trade a few stories, I got some new scars since the last time you saw me." She knew he didn't buy it, "I need some help."

He crossed his arms, "And what can a lowly templar do for a Hero?"

Her easy smile fell, she fidgeted. "I can't tell you much here, I trust you but not these walls. Perhaps meet me at the Hangman tomorrow night. Just you?"

He straightened at she trusts him, he hopes she didn't see his chest swell with pride. "I can go tonight, if its urgent."

"No I have to take care of something with Nathaniel. We have an old friend, or friends depending on your perception." She laughed nervously and took his hand, "You don't have to help, of course you know that. I just want you to at least hear me out."

He nodded and reached for his door to let her out. She snickered, with a glow of mana she disappeared but he saw a mouse scurry out of a hole in his wall. She left a scarf behind on his bed.

Finding Nathaniel leaning against the wall near darktown. Seeing her, twitching whiskers and all, He told her no one would spot them. Transforming back, he grabbed her elbow as she wavered. "I honestly don't know how Morrigan did this with such ease."

"Commander, did your Templar agree to meet you?"

"He isn't mine. Its Cullen, he'll hear the word blood mage and then all I have to do is point. Then boom silent thunder mana cleansed"

"I'd prefer you'd let me go with you."

"You'll be gone with the others already. Let's go find that ass."

"Its plural. I hope your templar can help us get her."

"He isn't mine." she crossed her arms.

"I saw you fussing. You didn't even wear kohl for Sigrun."

The knight captain was distracted, playing over in his mind how she was unchanged. Almost, her smile lines were deeper, it seemed as though a blight and a darkspawn siege was good for her. He tucked her scarf into his gauntlet which Meredith pulled out. "Finally, this sowing your wild oats has been unseemly. She's ferelden?" Cullen blushed, noticing the mabaris embroidered into Solona's scarf. The Knight Commander folded it neatly, handing it to him.

"She forgot it, I'll be returning it to her." he tucked it back into his glove. His commander just shook her head and asked him to organize a search in a particular mages room.

Walking into the hangmans she was easy to see, her hair encapsulated in a plain blue scarf. Sitting on a bench with Isabella leaning over her. He really didn't want the Grey Warden to know how he knew the pirate. She saw them though and waved smiling his stomach flipped at her genuine excitement to see him. She did have a mug, and flushed, perhaps the lady was drunk?

The pirate smiled, "Warden my dear, you said you were meeting a man. You are in for a long night, he has quite the stamina. He does like-"

Cullen cut her off, "Isabella."

"If you do pick something up from him. I know a healer, I can give you his name."

The mage laughed, "I am a healer." she gave him a hungry look and he felt giddy like that holiday she danced around with other apprentices with little magic butterflies in her braid. Taking his hand she led him on. He couldn't pull his gaze from her hips. Closing her door behind him, he was going to throw her against it. Pulling off her scarf, scratching her scalp, "You are excellent at playing the fool. I wasn't sure we could get away without being seriously noticed." He returned her scarf, not trusting himself to speak, reminding himself she was truly here not the demon.

Unaware of his internal dialogue, she took her scarf back, "Thanks I hate wearing these things, but my hair color makes me too noticeable. Who knew redhead heads are a rarity."

Remaining silent she pulled out a vial, of blood. It wasn't the same type of container Templars use, but he knew a phylactery when he saw one. "I took it from blood she spilled, years ago, I hoped I would never need it. She is a blood mage."

"Why not come to Meredith. You are a Hero, if you needed to track down a blood mage in the Free Marches, the Knight Commander would be happy to help."

He watched her facial muscles school into a calm, "I do not know Meredith. I need a someone who will not show mercy, if I cannot. I trust that you would not use my friendship with her against me." She looked older and tired, and met his gaze directly, he suspected is was from the force of her will she wasn't crying.

He nodded, "I'm owed a sabbatical I can leave the day after tomorrow."

Meredith didn't like it, it was so sudden. All Cullen would say was that an old friend needed help, without delay. He reminded her that in the 5 years he was Knight Captain he add taken 2 days off, 1 because of illness and the 2nd because of injury in the line of duty. She trusted him as a Templar he was just the right amount of vigilance and tolerance with the mages. It is a pity the Kirkwall mages do not have the will to resist the power of illegal magic.