Alim Surana shut the book in front of him with a weary sigh. He'd been studying nonstop for the past week and he thought that, at this point, his mind was going to break. Any day now, he was expecting the news that it was time for his Harrowing. It was nerve wracking, always waiting but never sure when it would happen. Alim thought that the Templars probably did it on purpose; just waiting to see if the novices would crack.

He left the library, and headed back toward his room. Normally he didn't linger there during the day, but he was so exhausted he wanted a chance to rest. He pulled the tie off his shoulder-length brown hair, he preferred leaving his hair down, but it was easier to have it back while studying. Moving down the hallway, Alim ran his hands over the stones, fondly touching each one.

Alim had been in the Circle Tower as long as he could remember. He'd been born in the alienage in Amaranthine, but he couldn't remember anything about his life there. At age five, he'd been removed from his family and placed in the Circle. All his life belonged to the Tower. Though he'd had no choice in moving to the Circle, Alim loved it here. Of course, there were problems but it was still a lovely home.

"Have you been studying all this time, Surana?" Simeon waved Alim over to a table where he was working. Simeon had been a longtime friend of Alim and passed his Harrowing the year before.

"I want to be ready when the time comes." Alim sat at Simeon's table where several other apprentices were busy practicing runes.

"You'll be fine." Simeon gave Alim a smile.

Alim's attention wandered when he saw a group of Templars walking through the room. The sight of the Templars was not uncommon, they watched over the Circle at all times, keeping an eye on the mages. It was not the older two Templars walking through the room that caught Alim's eye, but the younger man behind them. Cullen.

He hurried behind his superiors, seeming to be getting instruction in something, his expression was focused and thoughtful as always. Unlike the older Templars who looked at the mages coldly though, Cullen's gaze seemed to be filled with a sort of kindness that Alim loved.

Cullen had only been transferred to the Circle Tower a year ago as a full fledged Templar. Shortly after he'd arrived, a completely wonderful and unexpected friendship had bloomed between him and Alim. It was unusual for Templars and mages to get along well, and almost unheard of for them to become friends. After all, Templars were supposed to watch over the mages, and if they got too close to one they may not be able to carry out their duties. However, despite having been warned about friendship, the two of them had formed a close bond. Alim, listening to Cullen's woes and helping him deal with his homesickness, Cullen, helping keep Alim out of trouble.

It wasn't long before the budding friendship blossomed into something even more amazing. Alim smiled to himself, feeling warm down to his toes when he thought of their secret. They were lovers. For almost nine months now they'd promised their love to one another, keeping their relationship secret at all costs. While a friendship might be tolerated, a deeper relationship was forbidden.

The group of Templars made their rounds over to Simeon's table, looking over the shoulders of all the mages who were working. Everyone turned their eyes down some and focused on their books; the Templars subdued the atmosphere a great deal.

Alim couldn't keep his focus on the books, he looked up to see a pair of gentle amber eyes watching him. When their eyes locked, Alim felt warm right down to his toes and the world slowed. They tried not to even acknowledge one another around others, it was too risky. However, their feelings were so strong, that they couldn't avoid the occasional glance.

Breaking eye contact for a moment, Alim picked up a quill and drew the design for a rune on a paper, glancing back up at the blonde. The amber eyes flicked from Alim's face to the paper and a light blush formed on his cheeks. He didn't look back at Alim but left the table, following the other Templars away. Alim smiled a little, scribbling out the rune he'd drawn.

Simeon leveled a glare at Alim, "So 'valiance'? Why'd you draw that rune?"

Alim shrugged, "It's a good one to learn. And I like the meaning, 'a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear'."

Simeon shook his head. "Be careful. Nothing good can come of drawing their attention," he whispered.

Alim stood up, "I'm not sure I know what you mean." He left in a huff, ignoring Simeon's gentle warning.

It was the next day when Alim saw the Cullen again. The handsome Templar was walking through the hallway with his fellow Templars, talking with them. Alim waited against the wall for them to pass. Most mages would lower their eyes, not willing to risk drawing the attention of Templars, but Alim's followed them. They walked past Alim without even looking at him.

As they went down the hall Alim could still hear them talking, "So what's that new kid's name? Something like Valiance?" Cullen asked the Templar at his elbow.

"It's Vincent." The other Templar replied.

Alim smiled and hugged his arms to his chest and grinned before hurrying down the hallway in the opposite direction of the Templars.

Another three days went by and Alim was still busy working on his studies for his impending Harrowing. He moved quickly down the hallways, stepping aside whenever a Templar went past. It was best to stay away from them, trouble could only follow if their eyes lingered. He'd lived long enough to know the abuses that came with their position. However, not all Templars were bad. Alim's lips turned upward as he thought about a certain curly headed blonde.

Distracted, Alim bumped into the very people he was avoiding. Two huge Templars turned around, their plate mail creaking.

"What do we have here?" The Templars asked each other.

Instantly Alim recognized the bloodshot eyes and twitchy facial muscles. Both of them had been illegally dosing themselves with lyrium. It was completely against the rules but many mages in the Circle traded lyrium for extra privileges; the addicted Templars were usually very happy to accept such a trade. However, it was when Templars were high on lyrium that they usually committed their worst abuses of power.

Alim's eyes darted around the hallway, unfortunately, it was empty at the moment. No one was coming to rescue him. He'd been in a few sticky spots like this in the past but usually someone came along to rescue him.

"Excuse me, Sirrah." Alim ducked his head, trying to sneak away.

"Not so fast." A giant metal-clawed hand grabbed Alim's shoulder.

"We were just saying a little distraction was what we needed." The second Templar smirked.

"Let's take him to the training area."

The older mages had warned him about this sort of thing happening. Alim closed his eyes, there wasn't a thing he could do to defend himself, if he used magic that would be enough grounds to make him Tranquil. On the other hand, if he tried to run away and report it, no doubt the Templars would make up a story and get Alim in trouble somehow. He began to panic, praying to the Maker that someone would help him.

"There you are." A booming voice echoed down the corridor.

Alim opened his eyes and saw a familiar amber-eyed man rushing toward them. It seemed the Maker also supported Cullen and Alim together, he seemed to have bless Cullen for a gift of knowing when Alim would be in trouble.

"Capitan wanted to see you both." Cullen didn't acknowledge Alim and spoke to the other Templars.

"The Captain?" The man gripping Alim's shoulder licked his lips nervously, his bloodshot eyes twitching.

"I knew it was our day to watch the training grounds. Now Capitan is going to be pissed." The other Templar cursed. "Let's go quickly."

The two of them hurried off.

Alim's rescuer turned on him, his brown eyes were dark with displeasure, "Now as for you mage..." Cullen grabbed the sleeve of Alim's robe and pulled him down the corridor.

He roughly pushed Alim inside a linen closet and then followed, shutting the door behind him.

"Now, Cullen-" Alim started to explain himself.

Abruptly Cullen pulled him into a rough hug. After a moment, Alim returned the embrace, wrapping his arms around Cullen's neck. It was pitch black in the closet so it was impossible to see how badly Alim blushed when Cullen kissed his forehead.

"What were you thinking?" Cullen pulled back a little, his voice was full of frustration.

"Well I was distracted and…"

"What if I hadn't been there, Alim? How many times have I told you to be careful?" Cullen sounded angry but he gently petted Alim's head while he spoke.

Alim didn't even want to think about it. Thus far in life he'd been lucky, aside from a couple beatings, he'd avoided any real trouble with the Templars.

Alim smiled as he clung to Cullen, "Thank you for saving me." From his position against Cullen, Alim could feel Cullen's chest positively swell with pride.

"I'll always save you." Cullen promised.

Alim smiled, he touched Cullen's face blindly in the dark, "I love you, Cullen." He whispered, even here in private those words were still so fresh and new, though he'd said them dozens of times, the novelty of loving and being loved hadn't worn off.

Cullen also put a gentle hand on Alim's face, tracing Alim's lips with the pad of his thumb. "I love you so much, Alim," he promised solemnly before he claimed Alim's lips in a kiss.

Alim responded with a happy hum in his throat, kissing back his Templar. He slid his fingers through Cullen's soft curls, loving the feel of them under his hands. When Cullen licked the seam of Alim's lips with a tentative tongue, Alim's toes curled in his shoes. He opened his mouth for Cullen, moaning softly when Cullen put a hand on the back of his head to pull him into a deeper kiss.

They pulled apart panting, here in the dark they were in their own world. Alim wished that they could be together longer, but they were already at great risk, every moment that passed they could be discovered and the consequences of a mage and Templar together like this didn't bear thinking about. A few stolen kisses and few words of promise were all they could risk.

"Be good," Cullen teased, kissing Alim one last time.

"And you be careful." Alim reluctantly let go of Cullen.

"Valiance." Cullen said softly. It was their code word, a private term for them both. A way to always say 'I love you, though we can't be together now'. Someday, maybe things would change and they would be able to have more than these moments together. Until then, they always had that word at least.

"Valiance." Alim agreed.

Cullen sighed and opened the door first, slipping out of the closet and checking for signs of anyone in the hall before letting Alim come out.

They parted ways without a word or look, it was the hardest part for Alim. His face was red and his lips felt tingly, he thought it must be written all over his face that he'd been with his lover.

Alim tried to tone down his blush as he walked through the training room where Wynne was working. She was a surrogate mother to many of the young mages and she'd always been kind to Alim. However, if she caught any wind of what was happening with Cullen she would probably go straight to the First Enchanter.

He snuck through the workroom and almost made it to his sleeping quarters before he heard a familiar woman call his name.

"Alim." A stern voice repeated herself.

"Really not my day." Alim muttered with a sigh as he turned around, "Well hello, Wynne. How are you today?"

She gave Alim a stern look from head to toe, "I'm doing well, what about you? I heard you've been studying hard lately."

Oh right, studying. "Well I keep hoping that it will help me when the time comes."

Wynne smiled and put a comforting hand on Alim's shoulder. "You'll be fine dear. You are a very talented mage."

Alim smiled at the praise, it was very nice to be recognized by an enchanter like Wynne.

In the middle of the night a week later they came for him. Alim's superiors and a few Templars took him up to the Harrowing room. Alim's hands shook with nervousness, he couldn't afford to not pass his Harrowing. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Cullen in the Harrowing Chamber and Alim's heart began to pound. Seeing Cullen there, though Cullen could make no special notice of him, made Alim have the confidence to succeed that night.