Cullen had dumped his Templar brethren off at the Tower then informed Greagoir he was retiring from the order. To say he was disappointed would have been an understatement. However he let him go with a commendation saying there was always a place in the tower for him if he ever wanted to return. Granted he had to lie to and tell him he was leaving because he just couldn't handle ripping families apart anymore to justify leaving.

Although at this point in his life he didn't care. What was one more sin in his overly thick book of sinning anyway? No what mattered the most to him now was Solona and getting her back before she died. He just regretted that this was what it took for him to see what was truly important to him. That duty was never an equal to the love he felt for her and he should have quit denying it a long long time ago.

"Is that her staff?"

He nodded his head. "Yes it's all I have left of her right now." He ran his fingers lovingly over the red stone.

Morrigan stood hovering over the man sitting on the log and stared at the stone. "That stone is it a blood stone, her blood stone?" She questioned and narrowed her eyes slightly.

He shook his head. "No, it's just a red stone. It came off my father's sword and I gave it to her to finish her staff." He looked up at her and narrowed his eyes. "If you intend on mocking me mage I suggest you take it somewhere else I am in no mood."

"Testy." Morrigan taunted though didn't press too much. This Templar was one of the most powerful she had crossed paths with and she didn't want to see the full scope of his abilities. "I was going to offer a way to find her but if you're going to act like a…"

"What?!" He shot to his feet and stared hard at her cutting her off. "Are you saying you can figure out where she is using this stone?"

She stepped back to put some distance between her and his towering over her. She always thought she was rather tall for a woman being just as tall if not taller than most men. However this former Templar was half a head taller and when he would tower over her she felt small, not intimidated by any stretch just short. Though she could easily see how being that tall he probably towered over and terrified people into bending to his will every chance he got.

"Yes that's exactly what I was going to say." She crossed her arms over her chest. "However I find myself no longer desiring to help you."

His eyes narrowed to deadly little slits. The minute he met the woman he should have run her through. The only reason he didn't was because she was with child and he wasn't about to kill a pregnant woman, mage or no. So instead he opted to allow her to travel with him being they were headed in the same direction. Plus there was no way he could let a pregnant woman travel alone even if she was an apostate.

"However I find myself no longer desiring not to smite you into submission." He growled.

She met the challenge head on and upon seeing he wasn't joking and feeling his power began to trickle over her skin she relented. "Very well," she sighed like she was being put out. "I will assist you." If he sapped her of all her magic she would be rendered as weak as a new born babe a feeling she never wanted to feel again. May that bastard son of a king have his eyes pecked out by vultures.

"Thank you." He nodded curtly at her and handed her the staff.

Morrigan took the staff, gently ran her fingers over the stone, and called upon her mother's old magic. The stone began to glow lightly releasing the energy of the two who held the stone as high importance in their lives. "There she is." She looked up at him. "She is just where you suspected her to be and," she drew her brows deeply. "it appears to be she's with a group of dwarves. If I remember correctly they called themselves the legion of the dead."

"The legion of the dead?" He drew his brows deeply. "What does that mean?"

She pulled her hand away from the stone and looked up at him. "From what I remember from meeting them they said they die in each other's eyes so they can fight the darkspawn threat without fear." She shook her head. "T'was a strange group of men that I'm quite certain are mad in the head. See for yourself." She held staff out for him to take.

He took the staff from her hand and with one more glance at her looked down at the stone and touched it. The second his fingers came into contact with the red stone he could see her like he was staring at her though the stone just overhead.

Her eyes were tired and dead just as were the eyes of the men with her. She had lost weight and across her brow was a smear of dried blood from the cut just above her left eye. She was wearing the armor of the Dalish and he wondered how it was possible for her to still be alive. The Dalish armor was nothing more than over decorated smalls as far as he was concerned. How she expected it to protect her from anything was beyond him. Then again she wasn't there to be safe she was there to die.

"I have to get to her." He looked back at the witch. "Before she dies."

"I don't see why you want to save her when she has clearly chosen her path." She snorted.

"Because she's making the wrong decision." He growled. "Dying because I wouldn't leave the order for her isn't an honorable reason to die."

Morrigan snorted at that. "Then let her die." She waved a hand through the air. "If that's her reason for dying then the world will be better off."

"Along with another mage I'm sure." He glared at her before taking the staff and retiring to his tent again thinking that killing the woman upon first sight would have been the better choice.

xx

Cullen sat down on a fallen boulder and took a deep drink from his water skin. Damn the dwarves and their tunnels and damn them for being so long and confusing. Then again it was a good thing he didn't take on this expedition alone. Actually the only way he was able to get into the deep roads was to hire on as a guard for an expedition. Apparently they were on the hunt for something called the anvil of the void.

Now the issue was if this thing was called the anvil of the void then clearly it didn't exist. For why would something of a void be anywhere where someone could find it. Didn't void mean useless or empty or bad meaning it was something that definitely wasn't for the good of man or in this case dwarves.

He didn't care, let them hunt for their voided anvil at least what he was looking for was alive and real… for the moment anyway. He pulled her staff off his back to check and make sure she was in fact still alive and when his fingers touched the stone his breath caught in his throat.

She was in the middle of a battle with the darkspawn and based on the numbers there was no way she and the five dwarves would survive. "Please Maker don't let her die." He prayed and as the last word left his lips she was hit in the back of the head by a hurlock and knocked unconscious. He watched in horror as the hurlock picked her up, slung her over its shoulder, and took off running down one of the tunnels.

He got to his feet and looked at the leader of the expedition. "How far are we from where the legion of the dead fight?"

Lord Dace looked at the human and eyed him carefully. "Why would a human care about the legion of the dead?"

"When someone joined that had no business joining." He answered honestly. "She's dying because the life she chose isn't the life she wanted." He hated saying it that way but it was partly true. She was killing herself because she didn't want to be on the run anymore; partly.

"She?" Silver brows rose highly at that. "They don't usually allow women to join the legion."

"All the more reason she shouldn't be there." He growled. "Now how far are we?"

"You intend to go get her that's why you're here." Lord Dace nodded mostly to himself.

"If she dies then so do I." He narrowed his eyes deeply. "Now where do I need to go and how long will it take?"

The elder dwarf stared at him for a long silent moment as if trying to see through him before nodding. "About a days travel due south." He nodded towards the tunnel left of where they were resting.

Cullen looked at the tunnel and nodded determinedly. "Then that's the way I'm headed."

"As are we all." Dace grunted. "According to the Wardens the anvil was a day's travel past the leigon's hold. I suggest you stick with us son for safety and supplies."

He stared at the dwarf and nodded though what he really wanted was to run after her and save her from a fate worse than death. He had heard the stories of what the darkspawn do to women they capture and by the Maker he had to save her because of it. He'd be damned if he was going to let them turn her into a broodmother to produce more of those creatures.

He gave a nod to the dwarf and not but a moment after he nodded back they were on the move again.

xx

Cullen slumped exhausted beyond belief while using the staff for support. His sword was some feet away knocked out of his hands by one of the many darkspawn he had killed. It seemed for every one he killed two more appeared in it's place.

As he tried to catch his breath another group of the beasts were running right for him. "Where in blazes do they come from?!" He growled as he tried to pull the last of his strength together to fight this newest group.

Just as he pushed himself up a large ball of electricity shot past him and easily annihilated the group. He turned around hoping that whoever that was they weren't after him, he just didn't have the strength to fight a mage.

"Cullen what are you doing down here by yourself?"

"Neria." He sighed and slid down the staff to his knees in exhaustion.

Neria ran over to him. "Are you okay?" She kneeled down to check and make sure he wasn't injured.

"I'm fine." He nodded. "Just need a break."

"What are you doing?" She demanded. "Only fools come this far down into the deeproads, even retiring Wardens don't come this deep to find glory."

"Then what are you doing here?" He looked up at her.

"We're looking for a broodmother." Alistair answered as he picked up the sword by his feet. "What are you doing here?"

"They took Solona and I'm going to get her back." He took a drink from the water skin Neria handed him. "They're holding her down in the next trench in a small cavern."

"They're going to turn her." Alistair pointed out with a grim nod. "How long have they had her; do you know?"

"Two days," Cullen sighed. "and they're not trying to turn her."

Neria drew her brows deeply at that. "How do you know that? That's the only reason they take women."

"I can see her through this stone." He showed her Solona's staff. "An old companion," he cast a glare at Alistair. "of yours used an old magic for me to see her."

"Morrigan." Neria nodded knowing that she was the only person besides Flemeth that would know such magic.

Alistair shifted nervously under Cullen's hard stare. "So I take it she told you."

Cullen snorted. "Any man that would touch her would have to be mad."

"It was under special circumstances that I… uh…"

"Now is not the time for this." Neria growled. "Now you said they're not trying to turn her; how can you be so certain?"

He looked back at the elf kneeling before him and nodded. "Because they're bringing her food from the surface, normal food, and they're treating her like she's a queen." He drew his brows deeply. "I get the sense they need her to remain as a human for some reason."

"The new archdemon." Neria looked over at Alistair worriedly.

"I knew there was something going on with the lack of sightings top side." Alistair shook his head. "They're preparing her." He nodded at Cullen.

"For what?" He growled as he looked at him.

"She's been chosen to birth the next archdemon." He shook his head.

"How is that possible?" Cullen stared wide eyed at him. "A human can't give birth to a dragon."

"You're right." He sighed deeply. "However that's not how it works." He walked over to him, kneeled down, and laid his sword next to him. "From the old texts that we've found it says that archdemons are born from human, elf, or qunari. In order to awaken the soul of an old God and bring forth the next archdemon they need a mage or someone that can wield magic and…" He trailed off and looked at Neria.

"And what?" Cullen demanded as he glared at him.

"Cullen," Neria drew his attention to her. "is there any possibility that Solona could be pregnant?"

His eyes widened hugely and all the color drained from his face.

"She has to be." Alistair answered.

"But doesn't she have to be less than a month in order to have the God… planted," she cringed. "in her?"

"Oh Maker." Cullen whispered. "They're going to kill my baby." He gasped and tried to get to his feet. "I have to save her! I will not lose another child!"

Alistair helped him up and nodded. "Well I wouldn't say kill as much…"

"Don't even say it." Neria glared at him as she too rose to her feet.

"What?" He questioned innocently.

She glared at him for a second longer then looked at Cullen. "How far along in the pregnancy do you think she is?"

"Well it has to be less than a month." Alistair nodded.

"She's anywhere between twelve days to three weeks. "Cullen whispered feeling really really sick.

"Perfect time frame."

"Would you just shut up!" Neria glared at him. "You're not helping."

"I'm just telling the truth here." He argued.

She narrowed her eyes even further. "Be that as it may I don't think Cullen wants to hear about it."

He looked at the Templar and nodded. "Sorry man." He scratched the back of his neck nervously.

Cullen waved it off. "I don't care I just want Solona back." He growled at the duo. "I have to save her."

"Agreed." Neria nodded. "We can't let them bring forth the next archdemon this soon."

"Alright so how do we get her out of there?" Alistair arched a brow at her. "A head on with just the three of us isn't going to get us anything but killed."

"How long until we meet up with Anders and Leliana and Zevran and Oghren?"

Alistair drew his brows deeply in thought. "I don't know how long ago did we part ways?"

"Last night?" Neria drew her brows as well. "Not that I can tell from being this deep underground."

"I hate the deeproads." Alistair grumbled. "Let's see we ate breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, and I'm starting to feel like eating dinner or am I just hungry from all this walking?"

Cullen was quickly losing his patience with the two and was seriously considering just running off to save Solona on his own. Yet it would be stupid to do a head on assault all by himself being if he wasn't making any leeway towards getting to her now how would he get any further than this?

"I'd have to say the soonest would be any minute the latest a few hours." He sighed.

"So we're just suppose to sit around and wait while they could be…" He trailed off not even wanting to say it out loud.

"You need to rest." Neria pointed. "Running in there and getting yourself killed won't do her any good."

"But they could…"

"But they could have already." Neria nodded sadly. "Or they could be preparing her if they don't think her body is strong enough to accept the… transfer."

"Well she's really under weight and she's barely eating so…" He trailed off hopefully and touched the red stone to check and make sure she was still okay.

"What do you see?" Neria questioned when the red stone on the staff began to glow lightly.

"She's sleeping." He nodded. "And the food they gave her earlier is still sitting there with maybe three bites taken out of it."

"We're going to have to get to her soon." Alistair pointed out. "If she refuses to eat they may just turn her into a broodmother and get a healthier mage to birth another archdemon."

"It's possible but it depends on how long they've had her."

"Like I said two days." Cullen nodded. "I was checking in on her when they took her."

"Well that's one for our side." Alistair nodded in relief. "So we have at least some time before it becomes a problem."

"Good." Neria looked at Cullen. "This will give you a chance to rest and eat but we need to get somewhere else before they come back here."

"Agreed." Alistair nodded feeling a group heading their way.

"But." Cullen argued not wanting to leave when his love was so close.

Neria grabbed him by the arm as Alistair again picked up his sword. "No you need to rest otherwise you won't do her any good. You need to be strong and ready for the fight it's going to take to get to her and as tired as you are now you won't get anywhere."

He didn't want to but had to agree. He was exhausted and hungry and resting did sound nice. "Fine." He agreed though somewhat reluctantly. He just wanted Solona back and that's all he really cared about right now.

xx

"Here." Neia held a bottle filled with a purplish liquid out to the sweating Templar.

Cullen eyed the bottle suspiciously. "What is it?"

"It cures lyrium addiction." She sat down next to him when he didn't take the bottle from her. "Look you only have a four bottles left," she sighed. "it's only enough to get you through two maybe three days if you drink them sparingly." She held the bottle out to him again. "And you're over a week deep down here so there's no way you can make it out of here without going mad."

He couldn't argue with that but wasn't about to take some strange potion. "I didn't think it would take this long to get down here." He sighed and stared at the bottle she was still holding out to him. "Where did you get it and how do I know it won't kill me?"

"It's a potion made just for the Grey Wardens when we recruit Templars into the order." She nodded at him. "It does us no good to have a Warden going mad from lyrium withdrawals in the middle of a darkspawn battle."

"So why do you have it now when you're not recruiting any Wardens?" He drew his brows still suspicious.

"Funny thing." She smiled at him. "Leliana our companion and a sister of the Chantry said she had a feeling we would want to bring a bottle with us." She shook her head. "I thought she was nuts but she's always been kind of foresighted in things like this. So after insisting for the fifth time I bring it with me I took it just to shut her up." She smiled at him. "And I guess it's a good thing I did because this is your only hope to prevent from going mad in the next few days or so."

He couldn't argue with that and it was his only option, yet he still had doubts.

"Alright if the threat of madness isn't enough to convince you to take it take it for Solona." She nodded at him. "You're going to be a father and I'm sure you want to have your mind about you when you hold your baby for the first time."

That was all the convincing he needed to take the potion. He downed the foul substance and instantly felt its effects. He stopped sweating and he could no longer feel the magic of the mage sitting next to him. Which made it official his Templar days were over. He didn't care though all that mattered was getting Solona back so they could find a quiet place to settle and live a real life.

Neria watched Alistair on the other side of the fire and shook her head when he started playing with it. She had a hunch she was going to be healing his burnt fingers AGAIN. "So," she snorted when Alistair jerked his hand back and stuck a finger into his mouth. "I thought you hated mages after… well…" She trailed off and looked over at him apologetically.

He snorted at that. "I didn't exactly hate them it was more like distrust and a lot of it." He nodded.

"So what changed?" She narrowed her eyes when Alistair started waving a burning stick around, writing his name in the air with it. He was going to burn the hair off his head one of these days she was sure of it.

"Honestly," he frowned. "finding out our daughter died."

Neria looked over at him. "I'm so sorry." She whispered sadly.

He shook his head. "Don't be it's not your fault she died it's mine."

At that her eyes widened. "What do you mean your fault? You didn't kill her because she was a mage did you?" Her eyes narrowed slightly remembering his anger and hatred for mages the last time she saw him.

"Maker no!" He glared at her. "I didn't even know she was dead until a year after she died." He bit out.

"Oh… oh sorry." She slumped in the shoulders. "I didn't think you would but after the last time I saw you…" She trailed off and looked at him. "I mean you weren't exactly secretive about how you felt and what you thought should happen to my kind."

"I wasn't thinking clearly." He sighed and looked to the fire. "After so many days of being tortured I couldn't help but blame all mages for what happened to me. Even if I knew realistically that not all of them responsible." He whispered. "Then I found out about my baby and what happened and how Solona had to suffer the loss alone…" He trailed off and shook his head. "After she told me what happened my nightmare became just a bad dream that took a few days to awaken from. Hers was a nightmare that was real and not made up by some lying demon."

"I'm so sorry for your loss." She placed her hand on his arm and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"Thank you." He frowned. "I just wish I would have gotten to see her. Solona said she looked like me." He whispered.

"So is that why she's down here?" She questioned timidly. "I don't mean to insinuate or anything."

He shook his head. "No, she's down here because she said she was tired of running and never living. She was tired of having to share me between her and my duty. I should have quit the order, I should have left when she did, I should have been with her. If I was Aurora would still be alive." A thick knot lodged in the back of his throat and before he could stop it tears began to spill over. "I lost my child, I'm losing the love of my life, and now I'm losing another child."

She didn't know what to say. Any words of comfort sounded empty in her own head so how would they make him feel better? So she did the best she could with what she had to work with which wasn't much but a comforting hug.

When she turned to face him and wrapped her arms around him she nearly fell over when he wrapped his arms around her waist, buried his face against her chest, and cried against her. "Let it go." She whispered when she finally got her senses back from the shock of his actions.

She gently stoked his head like she would if he were a child and just let him let it all out. Apparently he had been holding all his pain in suppressing it until he couldn't keep it down for another day longer. She couldn't imagine what he was feeling but understood enough to know he was suffering deep down. For everything that was wrong he was taking personal blame for it even if it was beyond his control. "We'll save her; I swear it." She promised knowing full well that making a promise like that was risky but she wanted to make him feel better just like she wanted to make Alistair feel better over his loss.

She couldn't believe that this was the second time in her life she had a heartbroken Templar crying in her arms. Yet that's what endeared her to Alistair in the first place; he wasn't afraid to show his pain. She looked over at said ex-Templar who was frowning at his burnt fingers then looked pathetically over at her. She glared at him for his stupidity causing him to pout all the more then shook her head and smiled at him causing him to smile in return.

Cullen suddenly pulled away from the elf and apologized for his uncouth behavior as he looked away.

"It's okay." She patted his arm. "Sometimes you just have to let it all out before you go mad from the pain."

He nodded though he said nothing in response to that.

"If you need to talk anymore I'm here." She assured with a smile at him before she stood up to go take care of her own Templar on the other side of the fire.

"Thank you." He whispered to her before she walked away barely catching her telling him he was welcome over the sound of the crackling fire.

xx

Solona startled when a loud explosion echoed though the cavern she was being held in. Her hands went to her ears as she curled up into fetal position on the bed. What was going on now? She wondered to herself as she cracked an eye open to look towards the entrance of her little prison. The creatures screeching and waving their swords around like they were trying to threaten or get attention or something.

She sat up and drew her brows when one of the creatures was suddenly relived of the burden of its head followed by the other one being run through. Did they turn on each other? She watched confused then realized that that wasn't it at all when a blonde man with a sword and shield suddenly ran into the room.

"Solona?"

"Yes." She nodded still confused by all this.

"Good." He grinned then turned and easily dispatched the genlock that suddenly appeared from behind. "Can you run?" He questioned when he turned back to face her.

"I… I don't know." She whispered.

Alistair stared at her for a long moment trying to decide what to do. "This is why I'm not a leader." He huffed then hung his shield on his sword arm shoulder, grabbed her with his free arm, put her over his shoulder, and ran out of the cavern. "Pray to the Maker we don't fall." He held her tight slashing at darkspawn that got to close as he ran by.

Solona groaned and wrapped her arms around his waist to hold on. "Oh Maker." If she wasn't so weak from lack of food she would really insist that she run on her own.

"We're almost there." He called out to her panting. "Cullen should be just up the way."

"Cul… Cullen?" She would have cried if she was in a better position but being upside down on someone's shoulder while they were running made it difficult to do much more than hold on. "He's down here?"

"Yes," he answered and slashed at the hurlock in front of him. "we found him down here looking for you." He stabbed the creature and took off running again. "Why couldn't this be down hill." He puffed feeling his legs growing weak from the extra burden of the girl over his shoulder; even if she didn't really weigh all that much.

"Solona!"

She tried to lift up at the familiar voice calling her name but found she just didn't have the strength. "Cullen." She smiled against the man's back as her eyes filled with tears. It was awkward to cry while upside down but her emotions were just too overwhelming.

Before she knew what was happening she was being pulled off the man's shoulder and placed in arms she knew all too well. When his face came into view she used what strength she had to wrap her arms around his neck and cried against him.

Alistair looked at the duo and smiled. "As happy as I am we got her out of there and you two back together I really think we should keep running."

"Agreed." Cullen nodded gripped Solona tightly to his chest and took off with Alistair right behind him.

"Anders; NOW!" Alistair yelled to the man standing on the cliff right above them taking out the few darkspawn that were following behind the trio.

Anders nodded and began forming a fireball in his hands.

They ducked behind a rock just as the giant ball of fire filled the canyon they just left. "I hope the others got out of the way." Alistair panted.

"They should have if Leliana was watching like she was suppose to." Cullen nodded then looked down at the woman in his arms staring up at him with wide tear filled eyes. "I'm real." He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead causing her to reach up with a trembling hand and touch his face.

"I've dreamed this." She whispered as more tears fell from her eyes.

"It's not a dream this time." Alistair pointed out. "And we need to get going before they regroup." He stood up when he heard Anders coming towards them.

"We better get moving." Cullen ordered then adjusted his hold on Solona, stood up and took off down the tunnel.

xx

Solona toyed with her food feeling Cullen's eyes on her from his position next to her.

"Please eat." He said worriedly causing her to look at him.

She had a million questions and wanted to ask them all but above all that her nerves were on edge making her feel sick. She knew he was angry with her for running like she did and attempting to end her life so why wasn't he being angry? She sighed deeply then looked over at him. "You're angry with me." She nodded.

"Of course I am but," he sighed deeply and toyed with his own food. "what good will it do to say anything about it now? It won't change that you left or that I came down here to save you or anything else." He looked over at her. "Besides it's my fault you did what you did and to be mad solely at you wouldn't be fair."

"It's not your…"

"It is." He cut her off, his voice carrying a slight edge to it. "I kept you and duty in the same hand at the same level. I wanted to have both but deep down I knew I never could. I forced you to choose for me and I didn't even realize it until you were long gone. I realized that you were more important than duty and that without you I had nothing." He reached up and palmed her cheek. "I love you Solona more than anything and I will give up whatever you want as long as we can be together."

She smiled at him and turned her head to kiss his palm. "I don't want you to give up anything. I only ever wanted to be with you and not have to hide it. I didn't want to be alone just wandering until our paths crossed. I just wanted you, all of you."

"Well I'm yours; all yours now," he nodded at her. "I left the order."

She widened her eyes at that. "Really?" She whispered. "But I thought… thought you loved being a Templar."

"I love you more." He easily countered then leaned in and placed a loving kiss upon her lips. "So please eat and get healthy again," he pulled back and stared into her eyes. "you're not only eating for yourself."

She nodded at him. "For you."

He smiled and shook his head. "No Solona for our baby."

"Baby?" She drew her brows deeply. "What baby?"

"You're pregnant," he nodded and smiled at her. "that's why they took you. They need a pregnant mage that's less than a month pregnant to birth the next archdemon."

Her eyes widened as her hand went to her stomach. "I'm pregnant?" She whispered as she stared at him causing him to nod. "Is… is… I mean did they?" Her eyes glassed over in fear and worry.

"We don't think so." He shook his head. "I think you weren't healthy enough. That's why they were trying to feed you all the time."

"Oh." She nodded and looked down at her very underweight body. "I guess I better eat." She looked up at him then drew her brows. "Wait; how do you know they were trying to feed me and where I was?"

He picked up her staff leaning against the boulder they were sitting on and ran his fingers over the stone. It started to glow a light red and he could see her sitting next to him just as they were. "A mage or actually a witch cast a spell on this so I could see you."

"Really?" She whispered and took the staff from his hand and touched the stone. It lit up under her fingers just as it had under his and she could see him the same as if she looked over at him. "But how?" She pulled her fingers away and stared at him with wide curious eyes.

"The stone linked us." He nodded at her. "Something of mine that became something of yours which became something of ours." He shrugged. "Or so she led me to believe."

"Oh," she looked back at the stone. "I can't believe you sought out a witch to do that for you."

"I didn't." He snorted not really wanting to talk about Morrigan. "I just kind of ran into her and since we were traveling in the same direction we traveled together. I guess she used to be friends with them." He nodded towards Neria and Alistair who were arguing over him playing in the fire again. "I told her I was looking for you, she activated the stone or what ever it was she did, we saw you with the legion, and I came straight here to get you back." He sighed deeply. "If it wasn't for her I don't know that I would have ever found you."

"I'm glad you did." She reached over and took his hand. "I shouldn't have done what I did but I just felt so alone." She frowned and looked down at her lap. "You're all I have and not having you all the time hurt."

He stared into her eyes before he leaned over and placed a light kiss on her lips. "Well now you'll have me for the rest of your life if that's what you want."

She smiled at him. "My dear Templar are you asking me to marry you?"

His cheeks tinged pink at that. "If you'll have me."

"I will." She leaned in and kissed him. "It's all I ever wanted."

xx

Alistair sat on a boulder watching Neria ready their bed then moved his eyes from watching her to Cullen and Solona on the other side of their camp talking to each other. He watched through the flames of the fire as Cullen placed his hand flat against Solona's stomach then leaned in and kissed her. Jealousy swelled deep in his gut; not for Solona but for what they were having.

He moved his eyes to Neria and for the hundredth time he could remember he wished they weren't tainted. What he would give to be able to have a family with her, a little girl that looked just like her. Or a boy with her eyes, his sharp features, and her hair color being he never much liked the color of his own hair. He could never decide if it was blonde, copperish, light brown, a tacky mix of the three? Whatever it was he didn't like it and never wanted to curse an offspring of his own with it.

It wouldn't matter however; being that the odds of he and Neria ever having a child were below slim and none.

"A copper for your thoughts?"

He smiled and looked over at the woman that suddenly sat down next to him. "Shouldn't you be resting? We still have a long journey ahead of us to get out of here."

Solona snorted. "I've been resting for days and if Cullen has it his way he's going to carry me out of here. He's barely let me walk the last two days." She smiled back at him. "So I figured I better move about while I can."

"I guess I can see it from his point of view." He nodded then frowned and looked over at Neria. "Not that I'll ever know what it's like." He whispered sadly.

She drew her brows as she stared at him. "What what's like?"

He gave a curt shake of his head and waved a dismissive hand through the air. "Nothing."

Solona wasn't a woman to be daunted unless she wanted to be and she was the master of reading people. After so many years of reading mister stone faced himself Greagoir she had learned what to look past to see what people were really thinking. "Let me guess it has something to do with you and Neria?"

He sighed deeply sensing she wasn't going to let it go. "Yes, we can't have a family," he looked down at his hands turning them over in his lap. "ever."

She drew her brows deeply at that. "Why not? I mean elves and humans have had kids together many a times."

"Not because of that." He looked over at her. "Because we're Wardens, we're tainted, and two people with the taint can't have kids; well they can but it's extremely rare."

"Oh." Her eyes widened then just as quickly her features drew down into a thoughtful scowl. "Well that's not entirely true." She nodded causing him to look over at her.

"What's not true?" He drew his own brows.

"Here's some food for thought." She nodded seriously at him. "Broodmothers are the ultimate in tainted humans, elves, and so forth; right?"

"Yes." He nodded. "How did you know that?"

"Well when you spend all your time living in a tower you have few options in what to do to keep the boredom away." She grinned wickedly at him. "When I wasn't defiling the tower with a certain Templar I was reading and since I wasn't practicing magic I read up on everything else in the world."

"Such as darkspawn." He nodded at her as a blush crept up on his cheeks at her admission of defiling the tower.

"Well no." She shook her head. "I found them to be utterly boring but the taint now that was interesting. I mean how could a Grey Warden live and not someone affected while fighting the darkspawn?"

He looked over at her. "That's a Warden's secret."

"Actually its not," she smirked at him. "in the circle anyway. Mages are needed to prepare Wardens for joinings so…" She trailed off and waved a dismissive hand through the air. "Anyway only mages who seek out the information on the joining ritual know about it and most of them never do."

"Because it'll never affect them." Alistair nodded.

"Exactly." She nodded back. "But anyway back to my original point here." She smiled at him. "Broodmothers are the ultimate in being tainted to create new darkspawn. They don't exactly remain as they were but they live and reproduce."

Alistair cringed as the vision of a broodmother passed his mind's eye. "Well I don't think they mate to create more… babies." He wrinkled his nose.

"That's not the point." She shook her head. "The point here is that they are tainted and they reproduce. You and Neria are tainted so it only seems logical that you two can reproduce as well. I mean the first test in that theory is how often are you trying?"

"Well we haven't tried at all." He drew his brows deeply.

"So you haven't tried which means you haven't sought out potion makers who have potions that help people trying to have babies." She nodded. "I suggest you start with actually trying before giving up so easily because you were told you can't have kids." She nodded seriously at him. "Then once you're certain that that isn't working there's a rumor of an old mage up on Soldier's Peak who's been running experiments on the taint. Maybe he could help you." She nodded at him.

"I've met that mage and I'm pretty certain he's mad." He shook his head.

She smiled at him. "And if I were you I'd go straight to him first." She nodded. "It's been my experience that the crazy ideas are always the best ideas. Take me for example."

"What that you escaped the circle?"

"No." She shook her head. "I escaped becoming a Grey Warden by defeating the Warden Commander. It was a crazy idea when I thought of it but it worked."

"That's right!" His eyes widened as he stared at her. "You're the one that fought Duncan in a duel."

"I wouldn't say fought as much as I would say swung my staff around until he stumbled and I got lucky." She nodded at him then frowned. "I don't know if it means much coming from me but I'm sorry for what went down in Ostegar and for his death. He was a good man and didn't deserve what happened to him."

"Thank you." He smiled lightly at her. "And the man responsible for his death has been dealt with." His eyes narrowed slightly.

"Well I hope he suffered."

"He did."

"Good." She nodded determinedly then looked over at Cullen comfortably curled up in their bedroll. "Well I just came over here to say thanks for saving me once again."

"No need." He smiled at her. "It's what I do."

"A knight in shining armor huh?" She arched a brow at him.

He thumped himself in the chest proudly. "That's me."

"Funny thing that," she grinned and looked over at Cullen. "I used to call him that all the time when we were in the tower." She looked back over at him and smirked. "He absolutely hated it." She gave him a friendly pat on the cheek. "Good to know that there's someone out there who's proud of it."

"Well what kind of knight would I be if I didn't go around saving damsels in distress?" He questioned wide eyed.

"Not a very good one." She smiled and stood up. "Good night or afternoon or whatever time of day it is down her."

He placed his fist to his chest and gave a small bow. "My lady."

She started to walk away then suddenly stopped and looked over her shoulder at him. "Oh and don't forget what I said about trying." She jerked her head towards Neria. "No time like the present to get started." She winked at him causing him to blush deeply before heading across camp to crawl into bed with Cullen.

Alistair watched her go before looking over at Neria sleeping comfortably and if possible flushed a deeper shade of red. "I could never with so many people around." He muttered to himself then looked back at Solona who looked to suddenly be in a heated discussion with Anders. "She would do it though whether Cullen wanted to or not if she were me." He suddenly cringed thinking about how that sounded. "I mean if I were Cullen and she was me." He corrected himself though somehow that sounded wrong too. "Forget it." He muttered, stood up, and decided that just going to bed would be the better idea.

xx

Solona stopped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. "What do you want Anders?" She had been effectively avoiding the mage for the last two days but apparently he wasn't going to take the hint.

"Why are you ashamed of what you are?" He questioned forcing her to turn and face him.

"We've had this discussion before and I'm in no mood to have it with you again." She glared at him.

"You're a mage."

If she wasn't so weak right now she'd punch him. "Really?" She questioned sarcastically. "I had no idea."

He crossed his arms over his chest and scowled at her. "You know what I mean."

"Yes and again for the hundredth time whether I use my magic or not is none of your damn business." She narrowed her eyes even further. "If you're so proud of your abilities why don't you go to the Grand Cleric yourself and demand freedom or whatever it is you want."

"I would if I could." He huffed.

"Or weren't a coward." She challenged. "I am sick of having this conversation with you so I'm not. I'm going to go crawl into that bed with my future TEMPLAR husband and you can go straight to the fade and rot if it so pleases you."

"That's another thing." He growled. "How can you keep on with him knowing what he is?"

"The same way you keep on knowing what you are." She countered.

"I'm not anything but a mage that thinks all mages should be free." He nodded.

"No that is where you are wrong," she nodded curtly at him. "you're an arse that has been too far up in my business for years and what you think is what you think. Stop trying to push your thoughts and beliefs off on to me and anyone else who doesn't think your ideas are the just the greatest thing ever. Maybe mages are meant to be free but vigilantism is not the way to go, all that ever does is get people killed."

"Well what do you propose I do then?" He snorted at her. "Ask to have a nice sit down with the Grand Cleric and ask her to let us go?"

"Actually yes I do." She nodded at him. "You go straight to war as the solution to your problems. You think no one will ever listen to you but you never try to talk to anyone except for trying to push your beliefs onto people who don't think the way you do. Until you try to have a conversation with someone that can make a difference I don't want to hear it." She glared at him one more time then turned and headed straight to her bed and the man in it.

xx

Cullen cracked his eyes open against the feel of fingers gently caressing his cheek. When he looked up and met the beautiful eyes staring back at him he smiled lightly. "Why aren't you sleeping?"

She completely ignored his question though she did smile back at him. "I love you. I think I've loved you my whole life even before I knew I did." She traced her fingers across his ear then though his hair. "That first time under the stars in the garden only confirmed what I always knew."

"Which was?" He stared up at her.

"That I could only ever love you." She smiled at him.

He smiled wider at that and lifted the blankets up. "Come to bed."

"Well I'm not really tired but okay." She laid down next to him and curled up against his chest when he covered them with the blanket, curled his arm over her, and pulled her tight against him.

He found the hem of his shirt she was wearing, slipped his hand underneath, and trailed it up her spine. "Were you walking around in nothing but this again?"

She shrugged at that. "No one's going to bother me especially after you threatened to castrate that elf if he so much as looked at me crooked." She shook her head. "I had no idea you could aim and throw a dagger so precisely." She pulled back and smiled proudly up at him.

"Well it's a good thing he didn't move." He smirked at her. "One inch and he would have been castrated."

"So where did you learn to throw a dagger like that?"

He shrugged. "Practice over the years." He nodded seriously at her. "You of all people know that you need more than one weapon and skill to fight."

"True." She nodded. "If you have more skills than your opponent you can keep them confused leaving them easily defeated."

"Where did you learn that?" He rose his brows at her.

"Who do you think?" She smiled. "My one great teacher ser Bryant." She then frowned. "May the Maker watch over him."

He drew his brows at that. "Did something happen to Bryant?"

"I don't know." She shook her head. "I saw him just before the darkspawn took Lothering but I can't find out what happened to him after." She frowned. "I've been looking and asking around but as an apostate," she bit the word out disgustedly. "I'm having a hard time gathering information about him." She sighed deeply. "The Chantry isn't exactly free with their information unless you have reasonable cause to be asking about one of their own."

"Well I'll ask around and see if I can't find out for you."

"I would like that." She lifted up and placed a loving kiss upon his lips.

"Also," he rolled them over so he was atop her falling between her legs. "your phylactery."

She narrowed her eyes. "What about it?"

"Well," he reached up and gently caressed her cheek. "it's back at the circle but I don't think it will ever activate even if you do use your magic."

She drew her brows deeply. "What do you mean? Did you do something to it?"

"Maybe." He smirked at her.

"Oh I see." She grinned then reached down between them, grabbed the ties on his pants, and pulled them loose. "So what did you do?" She slipped her hand into his pants, pulled him free, and began gently stroking him.

He groaned and buried his face into her neck. "Well I might have mixed in the blood of a mage that died from the taint with yours."

She used her free hand, pulled her shirt up, grabbed his hand, and moved it down between her legs. "Well aren't you a naughty little Templar." She whispered against his ear breathlessly when he pressed against her with his thumb and began rubbing little circles. "Cullen make love to me." She panted as she wrapped her arms around him trailing them up and down his broad back. "It feels like it's been forever since I felt you inside me."

"Is that why you're not wearing anything but my shirt while wandering around a camp full of men?" He glared at her.

"If I say yes will you…" She trailed off and gasped when he plunged a finger deep into her heat.

"Maybe I'll just punish you tonight and make you wait." He growled. "Especially after running off like you did."

"I'm sorry." She moaned when he curled his finger in her and hit her secret magical spot. "I'll apologize until the Maker comes back if that's what it takes."

"Be careful making promises like that for I just might hold you to it." He whispered then pressed his lips to hers.

She thrust up against his hand as his tongue dominated her mouth. A deep throated groan rumbled through him when she trailed her fingers down his back, slipped them under his pants, and dug her dull nails into his fleshy cheeks.

When her muscles clenched tightly around his finger he couldn't take it anymore. He pulled his finger out of her, used his hand to guide himself, and slid himself home deep inside her.

"Oh Maker!" She moaned as she pulled back breaking their kiss and arched her back pressing her chest tightly against his.

He dropped his head against her shoulder and moaned when her inner muscles clenched tightly around him. Feeling her pressed against him, panting, writhing, moaning his name reinforced that he made the right decision. She was more important to him than the order could ever be and how he ever kept them both on the same level was a mystery.

xx

Solona held tightly to Cullen's hand as they exited the deeproads into Orzammar. "Finally," she sighed happily. "civilization."

"I agree." Alistair nodded. "Real food, a real bed, and a bath."

She looked up at Cullen her eyes wide and glowing excitedly. "A bath."

He chuckled at that. "Straight away." He nodded. "I believe the inn is just on the other side of the market."

"Well come on then." She gave a tug to his hand to get him moving. "I just don't think I can stand to be stuck wearing this extra layer of," she wrinkled her nose. "sweat and dirt another day longer."

"So what are you two going to do now?" Neria questioned from the opposite side of Alistair.

"Well first were going to wed then…" Cullen trailed off not really sure what to do after that and glanced at Solona who was staring up at him. "I guess we'll find somewhere to settle."

"So no real plans then?" Alistair questioned with a grin.

Neria saw the smile and narrowed her eyes slightly. "What are you thinking?"

"I'm not becoming a Grey Warden." Solona glared at him.

He shook his head. "No not after what happened between you and the last Grey Warden that tried to recruit you." He smirked at her. "I'm not one much for being unconscious."

Solona blushed lightly at that. "Well at least I didn't kill him." She muttered and looked down at her feet.

"Well I have no desire to be one either." Cullen nodded over at him.

"Nothing like that." Alistair waved his hand through the air. "I was thinking that maybe you two would consider coming to Amaranthine with us and take up training the new recruits." He looked over at Cullen. "I mean you're both skilled fighters; well I know you are and from what I heard of your lovely lady here…" He trailed off and shrugged.

"That's a wonderful idea." Neria nodded and looked over at Solona. "Please say you'll do it."

Solona drew her brows thoughtfully then looked up at Cullen. "I'm game," she shrugged. "I mean if you want to I don't have a problem with it."

"It depends." He looked over a Neria. "Is it a good place to raise a child?"

"Oh yes." She nodded. "We have lots of children running around the keep now."

"Yes," Alistair agreed. "not all that are there are Wardens so we have full families." He blushed lightly as he gave a quick glance at Solona remembering their conversation about trying to start a family.

"I see." She smiled at him. "So you would raise a family there."

"Oh absolutely." He nodded and gripped Neria's hand a little tighter.

"And the city," Neria's eyes widened not really paying attention to the conversation between Alistair and Solona. "the shops are better than anything Denerim could ever hope to have." She said dreamily.

"Well what do you think?" She looked back over at Cullen.

"Why not?" He shrugged. "All I really care about is if it will be good for our child."

"It's settled then." Neria grinned hugely at them as the stopped at the doors to the inn. "You two will come to Amaranthine with us. It'll be nice to have a woman there that's not so skittish about me being a mage."

"It's not as bad as she makes it sound." Alistair nodded. "It's just some of the lower class that's been taught their whole life that mages are bad that tend to make things a little difficult and awkward." He nodded wanting to reassure just in case Neria's words made them have second thoughts.

Solona waved a dismissive hand through the air. "They either learn to accept people as they are or they die an early death from being so strung out about it all the time." She then shrugged. "Or I just punch them for being so small minded and really give them something to worry about."

"Can't wait for you to meet Cook then." Neria grinned excitedly.

"The cook?" She tilted her head slightly at her fellow mage.

"Cook is the cook." Neria snorted. "He's the most stubborn, small minded, shallow, horses arse…"

"Alright." Alistair cut her off before she really started getting vulgar about it. "Needless to say Cook and my lady here aren't exactly on friendly terms and I worry that one day he's going to poison her dinner or she's going to set him ablaze."

"I just might do it anyway." Neria hissed.

"So are we going to stand here and chat at the door all day?" Zevran questioned. "I would like to get cleaned up and rested myself since I intend on heading out first thing in the morning."

"As am I." Leliana nodded in agreement.

"Oh you still intend to travel with me?" Zevran leered at her. "A lovely lady at my side and maybe even in my…"

"Don't even say it." Leliana glowered at him. "We're just traveling together for safety not for me to warm your bed." She nodded then stormed past the group into the inn.

"I'll wear her down yet." Zevran grinned wickedly and too headed into the inn.

Neria shook her head. "I'm going to miss them when they're gone." She sighed sadly.

"Well at least you had one more adventure with them." Alistair reassured.

"Yea I guess." She smiled and looked back at Oghren who was looking back and forth between the inn and Tapsters. "At least I still have that one." She grinned. "Though I do miss Sten sometimes."

Alistair rolled his eyes. "I'm sure Solona and Cullen would much rather get cleaned up then stand here listening to you reminisce about our old companions."

"I wouldn't mind hearing about them." Solona nodded. "But not at this moment. There's a bathtub in there screaming my name and I can't ignore the call a second longer."

"Right, sorry." Neria smiled sheepishly. "Lets get settled then maybe we can meet up for dinner or lunch or whatever time it is."

"Still hate being underground." Alistair muttered. "How the dwarves do it their whole lives I'll never know." He snorted and pushed the door open wanting a bath and food just as much as the rest of them. "Ladies."

xx

Solona put her left hand to her the tender spot of her protruding belly when the baby kicked again. "Not now," she growled. "mommy's busy. And stop kicking me there." She ordered when she or more likely he which she was sure was the case being just as stubborn as his father kicked her again.

"I'm not comfortable with this."

Her eyes narrowed as she glared deadly at the man before her. "See and that is why you keep losing." She bit out and twirled her staff in her hand.

Nathaniel gripped his sword and shield tightly really regretting wanting to learn to handle more than just his bow and a dagger. "I could hurt you."

"You would have to make contact to hurt me," she bit out. "and so far you've done nothing but run away every time I get within three steps of you. Now guard." She ordered then moved to attack with her staff.

Nathaniel stumbled backwards as she came towards him until his heel caught on a divot in the ground causing him to fall landing hard on his butt.

"Maker strike him dead for being a coward." She bit out.

"Now there's no need for that." Cullen walked up behind her causing her to turn and face him.

"He needs to learn." She hissed. "For all he knows one day he'll come across someone pretending to be feeble and pregnant. Then before he knows it he's on the ground with his throat cut." She turned back to him. "Stiffen your spine man."

"Nathaniel why don't you go train with the others for a bit I have business with my wife here." He nodded watching him slap the dust off his pant.

"Thank you sir." He sighed in relief and practically broke his neck to get away from them.

"You know I believe the men around here are more afraid of you than any darkspawn or monster their children can dream up." He smirked at her.

She snorted at that. "Bunch of cowards if you ask me."

He just shook his head knowing full well that her attitude towards the men had less to do with their fighting skills and everything to do with being moody. Then again he'd be moody too if he had five pounds of another person in his gut kicking him constantly or making him need the chamber pot every five minutes.

"So what did you need?" She eyed him carefully knowing that he usually tried to force her to bed when the soldiers worried that she was over doing it in her condition. Which was code for please ser Cullen save us from you terror of a wife.

"Well I came to get you." He smiled at her. "You have a guest and he's been waiting for you for some time now."

She drew her brows at that. "I wasn't informed I had company."

"Probably because the messenger was too terrified to interrupt you." He smirked and held his arm out to her.

She slipped her arm through his and snorted. "Can Alistair not find any real men to come here? Everyone of them is just like him; soft. He won't fight me either."

"Solona you're pregnant what do you expect?" He looked over at her. "You think they're just going to come flying at you to attack because you say it's okay?"

She shrugged. "You do."

"That's because I know better but these men are chivalrous, honor bound, and respectable. Fighting a woman is hard enough for them but fighting a pregnant woman…" He trailed off and shook his head. "You're expecting more than what they're comfortable with giving."

"Again…"

"No." He cut her off then glared at her. "Don't make me put my foot down because I will and I will get my way."

She met the challenge head on. "Don't you dare!"

"I mean it Solona." He stopped them at their door. "Ease up or you'll be bed ridden until the baby is born and I can assure you two months is a long time to be stuck in bed."

She could see it in his golden hazels that he wasn't going to relent and she would in fact be bed ridden if he decided that that was for the best. "Alright." She huffed acting like she was really being put out. "I'll let the babies be," she glared at him. "babies."

"Good." He grinned. "Now," he pushed their door open. "you have a guest that has been patiently waiting hours for you and it would be rude to keep him waiting another minute longer."

"Who is this…" She trailed off as her eyes widened when she saw the man standing in front of the fire place touching the figurine on the matle. "Bryant?" She whispered as tears began to fill her eyes.

He turned to face her. "Solona." He smiled. "You look as stubborn as ever."

She practically ran the few paces that separated them, threw her arms around him, and hugged him tight. "Maker you're alive." She cried in relief.

"Of course I'm alive." He snorted as he rubbed her back. "I wouldn't be here if I wasn't."

She pulled back and slapped his arm. "You know what I mean." She smiled up at him and wiped the happy tears from her eyes. "What have you been doing? Where have you been? I looked for you after Lothering was lost but no one seemed to know where you went or if you even survived."

He stepped back from her and placed his hand on her stomach. "I could ask you the same thing."

"Well you know." She beamed and looked at Cullen who was leaning against the doorframe watching them. "He can't seem to keep his hands off of me. Just like in the circle."

"Solona!" He gasped completely scandalized as his cheeks burned from embarrassment.

She shrugged and turned back to her old friend and waved a hand towards the couch. "Please have a seat." She sat down when he insisted she sits first and knew she was going to be stuck there for awhile. Once on the couch without help it wasn't so easy to get up. "So what happened after Lothering?"

"Well when the first darkspawn showed up we cleared the town of as many as we could and ushered them towards Redcliffe." He nodded with a faraway look remembering the nightmare. "Once clear I headed for Denerim and reported in that Lothering was lost."

She drew her brows deeply. "No one in Denerim ever remembered seeing you. I asked who I could and who I dared to ask but they all said the same thing. Then again that was months after you had been there so maybe it was different guards or something."

"Possibly." He nodded. "Well after I reported in word came shortly after about the circle. The Revered Mother sent me to check on what happened and En route we were all but swamped by a horde of darkspawn. Most of us didn't make it," he frowned. "and those of us that did made our way north ending up in West Hill. Once we recuperated and restocked what supplies we could we traveled a day to the northern most part of Calenhad and rowed our way to the tower. We figured it wasn't likely we would get caught by darkspawn out in the middle of a lake."

"Good plan." She nodded.

"We thought so too." He nodded. "Then once we made it to the tower Greagoir informed us of what happened." He looked over at Cullen. "I'm sorry." He nodded.

Cullen waved a dismissive hand through the air. "It was long ago and I've dealt with the demons that haunted me."

"Come in or go out but either way shut the door." Solona glowered at him. "You're letting the bugs in."

He narrowed his eyes slightly but did as he was told and closed the door. "Closed." He nodded and moved to sit in the chair opposite them.

"Thank you." She nodded curtly in return then looked back at Bryant. "So you didn't tell Greagoir you saw me?" She questioned with an arched brow.

"It was of little importance at the time and I knew you weren't a threat to anyone." He shrugged. "Then he told me that you," he looked over at Cullen. "offered to go hunt her down."

Cullen nodded with a frown. "I wasn't in my right mind and even after I found her I still wasn't."

"Still aren't." Solona smirked at him.

"Your humor leaves me speechless." He growled.

Bryant drew his brows deeply. "So if you found her why didn't you capture her?" He looked apologetically over at Solona. "I mean from what I heard..." He trailed off and turned back to his former brother in arms.

Cullen shifted uncomfortably at that as he looked down at his lap.

"Because I kicked his bloody arse." Solona nodded proudly, reached over, and patted Bryant gently on the arm. "You taught me well."

"Too well." Cullen grumbled.

"I see." Bryant smiled at her. "Well clearly that's not where it ends." He eyed her stomach.

"Oh well that's a long story and I'll only tell it if you promise to stay awhile." She arched a brow at him as she rubbed the tender spot on the side or her belly.

"For this story you won't be able to get me to leave." He grinned at her.

"Good." She held her hand out to Cullen to help her up. "I'll go make lunch and Cullen will get you settled."

Bryant rose to his feet when Cullen pulled her to hers. "Thank you for your hospitality."

She waved a dismissive hand though the air. "No need to be so formal we're all friends here." Again her hand went to her belly. "Stop it." She hissed down at herself then sighed and looked back up at her guest. "Little bugger won't stop kicking me." She growled. "Can't wait till he's born and becomes his daddy's problem." She nodded curtly then headed for the kitchen.

"I'm pretty sure it's a girl." Cullen nodded and smiled at her retreating form then looked over at Bryant. "A little copy of herself showing how tough she is and not backing down no matter what anyone has to say about her behavior."

"Now that I can see." Bryant grinned at him and patted his shoulder. "Somehow I knew you two would always end up like this. Neither of you were really ever meant to remain in the tower."

"Really?" He drew his brows deeply as he stared at him.

"With the way you two would carry on?" He shook his head. "My guess was the second she turned up pregnant for the first time you would have taken her and ran."

"Before the tower collapsed I would have had she told me." He sighed sadly.

"That's right," Bryant nodded. "she told me in Lothering that she was pregnant." He looked around and didn't spot anything that looked like they already had a little one running around.

"She lost the baby." He sighed again seeing the man look around the room.

"Oh," he patted him again on the shoulder. "sorry."

"Thank you." He smiled lightly. "She'll always be remembered in our hearts."

"As she should be." Bryant smiled.

"Well let me show you to your room and get you settled." He grinned. "Before she comes out here and accuses us of Maker only knows what."

"Agreed." Bryant nodded. "I've already heard the gossip and don't wish to get on her wrong side."

"Which would be the front side." Cullen laughed.

"I can hear you!"

He smirked at her voice calling out from the kitchen.

"And when I get done in here you're in for it."

"As long as I stand behind you I'm relatively safe." He called back and looked at their guest. "You're room is the second door on the left and if you don't mind I really must go see someone a days ride from here about a hole in the ground."

"That won't be far enough." Bryant chuckled. "But best of luck and I'll see you when you're strung up outside later."

"Later then." Cullen nodded then turned and quickly exited the house.

Bryant shook his head with a laugh and made for his room. He couldn't wait to hear how those two ended up here.

xx

"She's having a baby; A BABY!" Cullen practically bellowed in Alistair's face.

"Yes and she's not the first person in the world to do so." He pointed out calmly. "So pacing the house and kicking every little thing that gets in your way is not going to do you any good." He eyed the broken chair. "Not to mention what she's going to do to you when she sees the state of that chair."

"A baby!" He glowered at him like that was enough of an explanation for his behavior and the state of the chair.

"Yes a baby." He nodded. "Women do tend to have them every now and again."

Cullen narrowed his eyes deeply upon his friend. "Lets see how you take it when Neria's in her room screaming like she's dying and you can't run to her side."

"Well… now…" He trailed off and shifted nervously. "I suppose." He grinned happy that he had taken Solona's advice and tried to get Neria pregnant. That old mage on Soldier's Peak as creepy as he was certainly knew a thing or two about the taint and what potions to take so he and Neria could start a family. "We'll know in seven more months if I'm as uncouth as you."

"Uncouth?" He glowered. "Uncouth as say empting other people's larders?"

"I blame the taint." He grinned sheepishly.

"Yes the taint," he snorted. "that's it."

"Am I late?"

The two men looked at Bryant when he entered the house sweating profusely and red in the face.

"Well your late to save the chair," Alistair smirked at him. "but otherwise no."

"Did you run all the way here from Denerim?" Cullen walked over to the table, poured him a glass of wine, and brought it back to him.

"No I was running from someone's dog." He cast a hard eye over at Alistair and took the cup Cullen was holding out to him.

"Hey that's not my blasted dog." He defended. "Tell it to the wife."

The three jumped suddenly when Solona's screamed and cursed any and all men named Cullen to hell and back.

"Oh Maker." Cullen paled.

"You are a dead man for doing that to her." Alistair teased repeating the mantra Solona had been chanting rather loudly for the last hour.

"Maybe you need this more than I do." Bryant held the cup back out to him.

Cullen took the cup and downed it in one large gulp. He handed the cup back to him then moved to the couch and fell into it heavily. "I'll never see my baby," he looked at Alistair who was sitting next to him. "she's going to kill me first."

"Oh I wouldn't say kill as much as I would say make less of a man out of you when she cuts your man," he emphasized with a smirk. "bits off."

Bryant moved to lean against the table. "Maybe in the mean time you should remove all sharp objects form the house." He nodded. "Preemptive strike against the threat."

"If someone," Cullen glowered at him. "didn't teach her to fight so bloody well I wouldn't have to worry about such things."

Bryant shrugged. "Who was I to deny the one mage in all of Thedas that didn't use her powers. She had to protect herself somehow." He eyed him critically. "And from what I've heard those skills have saved her life a time or two."

"I suppose I can't argue that." Cullen slumped further into the couch. "But some days it makes it hard to pin her down."

"Not so hard." Alistair slapped him on the shoulder. "I mean look at you now. You're married to her and you're waiting for your baby to come screaming into the world."

"Well not screaming, no."

They all looked to Neria wiping her hands on a towel.

She smiled at Cullen. "She came into the world with barely a whimper."

"She?" He slowly stood up.

She nodded and waved her hand to the bedroom. "You can go see her now."

He nodded and before he took his first step towards the door Alistair caused him to stop and glare at him.

"Maybe you should put your armor on to protect your man parts." He chuckled causing Bryant to laugh as well.

"Sod off both of you." He bit out then stormed to the bedroom with their laughter trailing behind him.

xx

Cullen tentatively entered the room. "Solona?" He looked at the bloody rags on the floor being picked up my the midwife and her servant. "Oh Maker." He gasped and paled.

"Come sit." She ordered with a wave of her hand towards the chair next to the bed. She didn't want him collapsing on her before he saw their daughter.

He slowly shuffled to the chair, sat down, looked at the bundle in the crook of her arm, and took her hand. "She's beautiful." He whispered scared to speak louder than that for fear that he might break the tiny thing in his wife's arm.

Solona smiled tiredly at him, pulled her hand free of his hold, picked their baby up, and held her out to him. "Here."

"Solona… I…" He trailed off unsure.

"It's okay." She assured. "Just cradle her in your arm against your chest like we practiced."

He nodded and gently took the bundle from her and did as she showed him. "She's the most beautiful perfect thing I've ever seen."

"She has your nose." She smiled at him.

"Your hair and chin." He smiled lovingly as he gently ran his thumb along her chin. "Maker's breath Solona; how did we make something so perfect?" He questioned as he looked over at his wife.

She smiled at that. "Love and lots of it." She reached over and placed her hand on the arm cradling their baby. "Have you decided on a name?"

He looked down and smiled when she yawned. "Is there a name meaning perfection?"

"I'm sure there is but I'm not up on name meanings." She couldn't stop watching Cullen's face as he stared at their daughter. "She's real." She whispered.

He shook his head. "I know but part of me keeps expecting this to all be a dream," he looked over at her. "and I'm scared I'm going to wake up at any second." His hazels showed his fear. "I think I would die if I woke up and found this was all a dream."

"Alright," she nodded at him. "let's make sure this isn't a dream."

He drew his brows as he stared at her. "What? Hey; that hurt." He scowled at her when she pinched him with her fingernails.

"Well see it isn't a dream now is it." She smirked.

He narrowed his eyes upon her then smiled and brought her hand to his lips. "It's definitely a dream." He placed a kiss on her palm.

"Is that what it feels like?" Alistair questioned from the doorway.

Cullen looked over at him. "It's the only word to describe it."

"Come in and see her." Solona ordered with a nod at the two in the doorway.

"So what's her name?" Alistair leaned forward to look at her from the foot of the bed.

"You can't see her from that far away." Bryant slapped him on the shoulder then stepped past him. "Looks just like you." He placed his hand on Cullen's shoulder. "Especially the nose."

"We haven't decided yet." Solona answered Alistair's question.

"Sill?" Neria walked up to Alistair and put her arm through his. "You two have been arguing names for months now. I can't believe you still can't figure one out."

"Oh it's so easy is it?" Solona arched a brow at her. "You have your names picked already do you?"

"Well of course." She smiled. "Duncan for a boy and Rose for a girl."

"Until you're holding that baby and it doesn't look like a Duncan or a Rose." Solona pointed out.

"No," Neria shook her head. "those names have a lot of meaning for both of us. There's no other names we'd even consider."

Alistair patted the hand on his arm as he smiled at her.

"Well I wish it was that easy for us." Solona sighed and looked at Cullen. "I mean Bryant," she smiled at said Templar. "is important to us but Bryant for a girl…" She trailed off and cringed. "No offense." She smiled at up at him.

"I wouldn't want a Goddaughter named Bryant anyway." He smiled back at her.

"So what would you want your Goddaughter to be named?" She arched a brow at him. "I mean since we can't figure one out maybe you can."

"Well," he looked at the little girl sleeping peacefully in her father's arm. "there's Joy, Angel, Elegant, Divine, Snow…"

"Snow?" She drew her brows deeply.

He shrugged. "She's as pale as a winter's snow. It'd be no different than if you called her Pearl for the same reason."

"I suppose." She agreed then looked at Alistair. "You have any ideas?"

"Well," he scratched the back of his head thoughtfully. "I mean if you want to stick with… what I mean to say is…" He trailed off and stared at Solona nervously.

"This is about Aurora isn't it."

He nodded. "If it isn't too…"

"It's okay." She smiled reassuringly at him cutting him off. "We've mourned our loss and now we just remember and love her."

He looked at Cullen to be completely sure it was okay and got a nod out of the man. "Alright," he shifted still a little nervous about it. "I was thinking maybe Auroral though that might be too close to Aurora. Or there's Radiance, or Star, or Luna, or Luminaria but I think that means candle lamp if I remember correctly." He tilted his head and tapped his finger to his chin thoughtfully. "There's Relucent, Lucent, Twinkle, Incandescent but that one might be too much." He smiled at the woman in the bed who was staring wide eyed at him. "I have more if you want."

Solona stared at him for a moment then looked at her husband. "And why didn't we ask him for names months ago?"

Cullen shook his head. "Because; look at him." He waved his free hand at his friend. "Does he look the type to have a list of words that could be possible baby names running through his head?"

"Hey!" Alistair scowled. "I'm not as empty headed as I look."

"Yes he only looks that way." Neria drawled and chuckled. "When you don't know anything you look it and people don't ask questions."

Alistair glared at her. "The funny hurts so bad I can't laugh."

"Oh I'm only teasing." She slapped his arm.

He glared at her for a second longer then looked back at Solona. "So any of those work or do you want more?"

She shook her head and looked to Cullen. "Any of those sticking with you? I was kind of partial to Star and Luna."

"What else do you have?" He questioned more to test him than to find a name.

Alistair rose to the challenge with a smirk. "Alright I have Lambent, Patina, Illumine, Shimmer, Sparkle." He sighed. "I have more but they wouldn't be good for names if you ask me." He smirked at the former Templar.

"Alright." Cullen snorted. "I think we're good."

"Are we?" Solona questioned looking over at him. "You have a name?"

He nodded and smiled down at his daughter. "Radiance."

"It's perfect." Solona smiled and looked over at Alistair. "Thank you."

Alistair smiled back and flushed a little. "Ah you're most welcome; glad I could help."

"My Goddaughter Radiance." Bryant smiled. "Can't wait to get back to Denerim and brag about her."

"As long as you don't bring them here to show her off." Solona narrowed her eyes upon him.

"I wouldn't." He narrowed his eyes right back at her. "Now I might snatch her up and take her to see them."

"And I would hunt you like the dog you are." Cullen glared at him.

Bryant slapped him on the shoulder. "Good luck with that."

"You're getting old I'll catch you." Cullen countered.

He scowled at him. "Not that old."

Solona frowned. "Bryant I really wish you would quit the order before you lose your mind to the addiction." She looked up at him with sad eyes. "I want her to know you her whole life."

"Quit and do what?"

"Come here and train new recruits or old recruits or baby sit while I train them." She insisted. She tapped Cullen on the leg and nodded towards Bryant when he looked at her. "I mean really," she started when Cullen reluctantly handed his daughter over to the elder Templar. "do you ever want to forget her? You'll be sitting in Val Royeaux thinking that there's something really important you're supposed to remember and you can't. That important thing will be her."

Bryant looked down at the tiny baby in his arms sleeping peacefully. "I…" He trailed off and sighed deeply then looked at Solona. "That's underhanded using her to get what you want."

"I don't care." She glared at him. "I want you to be a part of her life and if we have more I want you there for them too. Plus," she narrowed her eyes even further. "too much longer and the antidote won't work for you and you'll have no choice but to forget us, me," she waved her hand and him and her daughter. "her."

He lightly trailed his finger along the baby's cheek and smiled. "I guess I have no choice."

"No you don't." Cullen gave him a comforting squeeze to his shoulder.

"It's settled then." Solona nodded. "You'll go back to Denerim, tell the Revered Mother to sod off, and come back here."

"Well I wouldn't exactly put it that way." Cullen shook his head.

"I would," Alistair nodded. "and I would do with a grin and a bow. Then on my way out I would ask her to bless my backside."

"Alistair!" Neria gasped.

"Well she didn't exactly make my life easy growing up." He grumbled.

"Anyway," Solona snorted and shook her head. "I'll give you three months to get it all sorted out then I come after you and drag you back here willingly or no."

"Alright," he sighed. "point taken."

"Good." She nodded. "Now if you all would be so kind as to get out so I can take a nap I'd appreciate it. It's been a long painful day and I think I've deserve the rest of the day off."

"Of course." Cullen nodded then leaned down and planted a kiss on her brow. "I'll bring you something to eat later."

"Thanks." She smiled at him then looked at Bryant. "You can place her in the bassinet." She nodded towards the other side of the bed. "And I mean it Bryant you have three months or you start running." She nodded curtly.

"Alright alright." He put the baby down in her little bed.

She smiled happily at him.

"You know always getting your way isn't that great." He narrowed his eyes slightly.

She snorted at that. "It is for me. I mean look," she waved her hand around the room. "I always wanted my life to be this way and here I am. So it just goes to show that it's just easier to do what I want than try to fight it." She grinned over at Cullen. "Just ask him he knows."

"It's been the story of my life since I met her." He sighed deeply but gave her a loving grin.

"So see I win you lose." She beamed at the Templar.

"Yes yes." Bryant nodded with a deep sigh. "Go to sleep we get the point."

"Good." She slid down into the bed and pulled the covers up and watched everyone leave her room. "Maker I love my life." She whispered once the door was closed leaving her and Radiance alone in the flickering light of the candle.

xx

"Solona would you hurry up!" Cullen growled from the bottom of the stairs. "We're going to be late!"

"Keep your pants on I'm moving as fast as I can!" She yelled back. "And we're not going to be late!"

"Blast it!" Cullen growled then grabbed the boy by the waistband of his pants to stop him from running into the fire. "Boy!" He growled and held the two year old up in front of him.

"DADDY!" Radiance yelled and crashed into his legs wrapping her arms around them causing him to take a step backwards.

"Duncan where in Maker's name is your father?" He demanded of the little boy he was holding in front of him. He watched as his two brothers went screaming across the living room towards the kitchen knocking the chair over as they flew past it.

"I dunno." He beamed at the man holding him.

"Right here." Alistair walked out of the kitchen with a little girl tucked under his arm while carrying two boys by the seats of their pants.

"Here; trade you." Cullen shuffled over to him with Radiance still wrapped around his legs.

"Are you sure you don't want to trade one of mine for one of yours?" Alistair questioned hopefully as he tucked Eamon under the arm that had Cailan hanging in his hand and swapped the little girl for Duncan.

"Not on your life." Cullen growled and held the little girl up in front of him. "Naughty the kitchen is bad." He narrowed his eyes upon the one year old.

She stuck her lip out as her big eyes filled with tears. "Dada?"

His shoulders slumped and he pulled her to his chest. "Maker how I've fallen from grace."

"You?" Alistair snorted. "All of us; we're surrounded by a bunch of heathens that can fell us all with a wide eyed pout."

"And where is your wife?" He scowled. "Why isn't she here helping with this little beasties?"

Alistair shook his head. "She said she was going ahead to see if she could help," he narrowed his eyes. "then she literally ran out of the house."

"That's not a half bad idea." Cullen snorted. "Maybe I should try that." He looked down at the little girl beaming up at him.

"Until Solona caught you and skinned you alive." Alistair snorted and readjusted his grip on his three squirming boys.

He opened his mouth to respond to that only to close it when Solona called to him fom the top of the stairs.

"Have you seen Luna?"

"I have her right here." He called back. "And when did she learn to get down the steps anyway?"

Solona started down the steps with her hand to the small mound of her belly. "This morning." She sighed as she made it to the bottom. "She's been up and down all bloody day."

Cullen shook his head and peeled Radiance from his legs after he handed Luna off to her mother. "And you," he lifted her up to eye level. "can you explain to me how the vase in the hall got broke?"

"You did it." She nodded and narrowed her eyes upon him. "Naughty daddy."

"Are you…" He trailed off when there was a knock on the front door. "We'll talk about the vase later." He glowered at her, set her on his hip, and made for the door. "What is it?" He questioned as he jerked the door open.

"Message my lord."

"Again what is it?" He huffed.

"Lady Neria sends word that you're late, it's a boy, and his name is Silas."

"I'm pretty sure this was a set up to keep these monsters out of the way." Alistair snorted.

"Agreed." Cullen nodded. "Thanks tell her we'll be over shortly."

"Yes sir." The messenger bowed then turned and ran off.

"Maker," Solona huffed. "am I the only one around here that knows how to have girls?" She patted her stomach. "You just watch; this is a girl too."

"Apparently." Alistair nodded and set his three down. "So do I need to get the rope out or can we behave?" He glared down at them.

"Get the rope and you can tie in my two." Cullen answered for the boys and held his daughter out to him.

"Oh you two are just hilarious." Solona snorted then looked at Alistair. "Clearly you don't know how to handle these little monsters." She nodded. "Cullen set her down." Once the four were standing in front of her she narrowed her eyes upon them. "Alright who's ready to be punished?" She demanded coldly causing them all to start and begin to whimper. "That's what I thought now lets go." She ordered.

"Dada!" Luna cried as she squirmed and held her arms out to him as Solona walked by.

"Here." She handed her to him with a glare. "If you don't stop spoiling her you've had it."

Cullen took her and cradled her against his chest. "I don't spoil her she's just partial to me." His eyes widened when hers narrowed. "I'm only kidding."

"I bet." She glowered. "Door please. Now move all of you and if just one of you steps out of line all four of you have had it." She ordered the four children waking in front of her.

He opened the door and watched his wife herd the four solemn children out and shook his head. "I say that and they just giggle and run away. She says it and their whole world is falling apart."

Alistair nodded. "Neria's the same way." He followed through the door. "Why does it work for them and not for us?" He grumbled.

Cullen followed him out and closed the door behind him. "I have no damn clue but when I figure it out I'll pass the secret on to you."

"Agreed." Alistair nodded over at him as they followed behind. "You know when I watch them I still can't believe that that mage's potion worked so blasted well. I mean triplets," he looked over at his friend. "three all at once and I don't think Neria would have survived it had she not been a mage."

Cullen shook his head. "Better you than me though you know Neria has been talking to Solona about trying again. She really wants a girl."

"We can try but we're going to try without that mage's potion." Alistair sighed deeply. "I don't think I can handle six."

"I don't know," Cullen smirked. "it's a good way to build a loyal army."

"Riiight," Alistair drawled. "like their mothers would ever let them go off to war."

"Well they can't hang on their mother's apron strings for their whole lives."

Alistair looked over at him with brows raised highly. "Oh and do you dare cut those strings?" He questioned with a glance at the little girl in his arms toying with the necklace around her father's neck.

"Maker no." Cullen gasped. "I may as well feed myself to the darkspawn right now."

"When did we become such cowards?" Alistair scowled. "We've fought deadly battles with darkspawn, demons, undead, and whatever else the Maker can throw at us and we run from our wives." He eyed the man next to him. "Do you not see a problem with that?"

"No and as long as the wife makes my dinner I'll never see a problem with that." He nodded in all seriousness.

"Hmmm… good point." He agreed with a nod. "Everything is just the way it should be; no problems ever."

"Ever." Cullen agreed. "Never a problem ever." He muttered to himself sarcastically.

xx

"Really Bryant; a boy?" Solona sighed deeply.

"What; you think I can control what sex it's going to be born?" He smirked at her. "And besides I'm not the one giving Cullen nothing but girls."

"Oh you're just hilarious." She rolled her eyes at him and looked at Mhairi. "Congratulations I hope he grows up to be strong and healthy like you."

"Hey!" Bryant glowered at her as his wife giggled.

She waved him off. "Just remember what I told you they're all babies no matter how big and tough they act," she eyed Bryant from the corner of her eye. "or how old they are."

"So I've been told." Mhairi smiled over at Neria who was effectively keeping all four of her boys contained in the corner.

"Yes well it's all about picking and choosing your battles." She nodded at Mhairi. "Some you absolutely have to win, others you fight not to necessarily win but to keep them on their toes, and some you just let go."

"And how do you know which battles are which?" She looked up at her wide eyed.

"You don't know until the battle begins." She nodded. "If you want it bad enough fight for it if not just let it go." She looked over at her husband who was holding Radiance on his left hip and a sleeping Luna in his right arm with her head on his shoulder. "I fought hard for what I wanted," she looked back at her. "nearly lost even but my battle became his and I think we both won in the end." She patted her stomach. "So you see whatever battle truly has your heart in it is the battle you really want to win."

"I see." Mhairi smiled as she looked at her husband then back at her. "Well in that case thank you for fighting the battle to get him out of the Templar order."

Solona smiled at that. "You're most welcome and he knew going in he couldn't win. Bryant always knew I was stronger willed than him so he barely put up a fight."

"I'm right here." Bryant scowled.

"Yes I know." She smirked at him then turned back to his wife. "Well you should get some rest I know how tiring having your first child can be and how annoying it is when everyone is hovering around in your bedroom."

"Oh it's not that bad." Mhairi nodded at her. "I don't mind but I am rather tired."

"Get some rest then and we'll see you later we all live in this keep after all can't miss each other." She winked at her.

Mhairi laughed at that. "I suppose not."

Solona nodded at her then turned to everyone in the room. "All right time to go the new mother needs her rest." She moved over to Bryant. "Congratulations." She smiled then planted a kiss on his cheek. "See how much better this is then being stuck guarding some Chantry door?"

"Yes yes." He rolled his eyes but smiled at her. "Thank you for talking me into leaving."

She patted his arm. "No problem now if only I could talk one of you," she looked between him and Alistair trying to peel the two boys off his legs. "into having a girl I'd be set."

"Or you could just have a boy." He smirked.

"Not on your life." She jerked her head towards Alistair and Neria. "I mean look at them who wants that nightmare?"

"Apparently I did." He grinned and looked at his son sleeping next to his mother.

"Well no one ever said you were a smart man." She laughed. "I'll see you later."

He bowed his head after glowering at her then moved to sit on the bed with his wife and son.

"Alright lets head home," she took Radiance from him. "I think someone needs a nap."

"No mommy!" Radiance squirmed.

"Not for you." She patted her back reassuringly to keep her from throwing a fit. "I mean daddy."

"Daddy don't nap." The little girl giggled.

"Says you." Cullen snorted. "You wear daddy out as does someone else." He leered at Solona before he turned and walked out of the bedroom.

"Oh you're a funny funny man." She followed him. "On second thought no nap for you." She whispered suggestively.

"Deal." He grinned then led his perfect little family out the door heading for home. Giving up the order for this was the best decision he ever made. It was a decision he should have made a long long time ago. However making the decision later did lead him to meet his now best friend Alistair and reconnected him with an old Templar brother. He had the joy of his girls, the troublemaking of Alistair and Neria's boys, the introduction of Mhairi and now Silas into his life, and soon another of his own will come screaming into the world. Yet above all that the one thing he had that he was most thankful for was the love of his life.

He stopped and looked over at her causing her to stop as well.

"What?" She drew her brows.

He smiled and caressed her cheek. "I just wanted to tell you I loved you and have so for awhile now."

She grinned remembering saying that same thing to him when she first confessed her love to him. "I love you too." Her eyes sparkled. "Now get home and get to bed."

"You want to join me?" He leered.

"You bet your sweet Templar bum I do." She giggled and starting walking as fast as she could towards home.

He followed after her watching her sweet mage's bum and decided that sinking his fingers into that sweet bum was just where he wanted to start his nap.