The Seeker scared Amell. She tried not to show it but truth was she was terrified. This one woman could destroy her and would if she learned the truth. True to his nature as her friend, Varric had kept her and Cullen's involvement with Hawke quiet and the Seeker wasn't there to arrest her.

"The Divine remembers the mission she sent you on."

"And I failed."

"On the contrary, you've done remarkable work rebuilding."

"I didn't do it alone."

"But you did do it. Your loyalty to the Circle and the Chantry has not been forgotten. The Divine has a new task for you, if you're willing. She is holding a conclave, I don't know if you've heard."

"Yes. For peace talks."

"She believes your experience and leadership could prove a powerful example."

"What about the mages here."

The Seeker looked impressed. "You really do care about them."

"Of course I do."

"They are welcome to join with us."

Amell furrowed her brow. "I'll have to see what they say."

"You leave the decisions to the whole?"

"It's not my place to speak for them. I'm not the First Enchanter."

"You are in all but name."

"Titles are important and I have no wish for a title."

"I expected you to be far more ambitious."

"Sorry to disappoint."

"On the contrary, I'm not. However I implore you to consider attending the Conclave."

"I will think on it. Thank you."

Someone knocked on her door and the Seeker opened it. Cullen stood in the doorway.

"If this is a bad time…"

"I was just leaving. Commander," she said as she left them alone.

Cullen shut the door as soon as the Seeker was out of sight.

"Commander?" Amell asked.

"That's what I came here to talk to you about."

"Good I needed to talk to you too. Go ahead."

"I'm leaving the Order and joining this Inquisition as commander of the army."

"So the Chantry loses the templars so they create a new army."

"You don't have to sound so disparaging."

"My apologies. Congratulations."

"That's it?"

"What do you want me to say?"

"I'm leaving Kirkwall."

"And me."

"Not necessarily. She said the mages could join the army. You could join."

"So you'd be commanding me?" She had a smirk on her face.

He chuckled. "Would you mind?"

"Maybe. However I was just asked to attend the conclave."

He brightened. "See? I wouldn't be leaving you."

"But this would stop. It'd have to. We couldn't take the chance."

"I know."

"It's what you want."

"It's what's right."

She sighed. "There is a complication." He looked up from studying his hands. "I'm pregnant."

He stopped breathing and looked like he was going to faint. "Are you sure?"

She nodded.

"Then you can't go. You need to run, to find Hawke."

"I can't just run away."

"You know what they'll do if they find out."

"I was thinking of going to the Conclave, trying to restore peace and then leaving before they find out."

"It's too dangerous."

"And it's my life, not yours."

"I get no say?"

"Don't worry. No one will know it's yours. There is no way it'll come back on you."

"I'm not worried for me."

"I need to do what's best for me. And running away isn't what I'm good at. If I can do some good, I have to at least try."

He went around the desk to hold her. "I'll do what I can to protect you."

"No Cullen, you can't. It's over between us."

"You can't tell me you're pregnant and then end things."

"Things were already over."

"I don't accept that."

"What are you going to do? Admit you've been having relations with a mage and now she's pregnant? Think of what they'll do to you. You have a chance at a fresh start. Take it."

"I feel responsible."

"You'll protect me best by staying away. You know that's the truth."

"It'd be easier if you ran."

"What so they could come after me? I'm safer with the mages, with a group. Perhaps if I'm of service, the Divine will let me go."

"That's not going to happen."

"I'll figure something out. You deserved to know. But I don't want anything from you." He looked hurt and she hated seeing him hurt. She lightly kissed his lips. "Goodbye Cullen."

# # # # #

They weren't speaking. Turned out quite a few of the templars turned from the Order to follow him and all the mages followed her. She walked with them, avoiding him. Her news still rang in his ears. Pregnant. With his child. He should have taken her and escaped. He had no doubt she would have fled with him. But he wasn't a man to run from his commitments. And apparently neither was she. She had wanted him to start over. She wanted him to be happy at her expense. But what did he want? Truly?

So he found himself walking next to Varric, Cassandra's prisoner. A fact that he knew made Amell livid. Her new plan was to make sure Varric stayed safe and escaped with her. That was the last time she had spoken to him. He wasn't used to her being so cold and distant. The least she could do was converse with him about their charges. Instead she sent messengers.

"What's wrong, Curly?" Varric eyed him. "You make it rather obvious the way you keep looking at her."

"I'm not."

"You look like a kicked mabari. You spend too much time with that serious look on your face. It's bad for your health."

"Really? That a fact?"

"Could be worse. Could be in chains like me."

"You aren't in chains."

"Figurative chains. Look on the bright side, she followed you again. At least she's close." They kept their voices low so no one could overhear.

"It's worse. Now all I do is worry for her."

"She's not the kind of girl that's out of sight, out of mind. If she wasn't here you'd be worse off, trust me."

"And what do you know about it?"

"I know that girl loves you like crazy. Literal crazy I think. Most would have bailed long ago."

"Well she wants nothing to do with me."

"Are you kidding me Curly? All she wants is for you to be happy. She believes it's without her. Personally I'm not sure you know how to be happy."

"And what grand advice did you give her?"

"I told her to run. To get as far away from you as she could. I like you Curly. But when it comes to that woman you are a mess."

He sighed and rubbed his neck. "I told her to run too."

"Yeah, I'm sure that made her feel great."

"I can't win."

"It's not about winning. It's about doing the right thing."

"Which is?"

"Hell if I know. I'm just a storyteller. And your story? That's a fucking tragedy."

They arrived at Haven. "We'll march on the Conclave in the morning. Everyone get your rest."

He looked at Amell who was busy getting her people settled in.

"Want my advice?"

"What's that?"

"Let her go. Find someone else. She won't move on until you do."

He didn't say what he thought which was he didn't know if he could move on. If there was someone else out there that made him feel as she did. He went looking for something to do, there was always something. A loud explosion threw him off his feet. When he regained his footing he looked up and saw a giant green hole in the sky. His first though was Amell but he pushed it away. He had a duty.