A Templar's Promise Story By Rogue626 Characters and Places and Origanal Storyline Belong to Bioware and EA . Author's Note This story is from the end of DA2 and hopefully I will be able to place it into DA III. I have created a character of my own to fit into this story and world. I'm not a professional writter. I'm just a fan girl with a idea. I want to thank David Gaider and DA devs for the rich story and world also Kashmir7771 for being my proof reader/editor.

Chapter II

Cullen was standing watch outside of the dining hall. He watched Gabriella and Bethany walking across the courtyard laughing and giggling. He let out a sigh, not realizing another Knight was standing by him.

"She's grown into a beautiful woman."

Cullen replied, "Huh?"

"It's okay Knight-Captain, we're all allowed to be human. I saw the way you were looking at Gabriella. She is quite lovely, all the Templars have noticed."

"Sir Knight, you know we are not allowed to engage in activities with the mages, and if I ever hear so much as anyone flirt with Gabriella or touch her, so help me. They will not only have to answer to the Maker, but to my blade as well. Is that understood?", Cullen exclaimed.

"Y-yes, Sir Knight-Captain!"

"Good, make sure as everyone knows this. This goes for Bethany as well."

Cullen was attracted to Gabriella, very much so. He knew being a Templar and her being a Mage, nothing could ever become of it. Thinking to himself, "I promise instead of all I can do, I will watch over her. The only thing I can do is to try to protect her and to keep her from harms way. Why is it that when I'm attracted to a woman why is she a mage? Why Maker? Why?!" . Still thinking to himself, "She is very beautiful. Her long golden brown hair tied up in a pony tail, with long wavy pieces hanging. The sun danced upon her hair. Making it shimmer like gold. Her skin looks as soft as the petals of Andraste's Grace, her scent as sweet. Her eyes the color of the finest emralds. Lips the color of a soft red rose. And her figure..Oh, By the Maker!"

Yes, he knew he had it bad and he could do nothing. Oh how his heart ached. A messenger comes up.

"Sir Knight-Commander needs to see you right away Sir!"

Gabriella and Bethany entered the training hall. Orsino adresses everyone,

"As you know, we are having trouble with the Templars. With all that's gone on, with some of the mages rebelling and using Blood Magic. I fear what may happen to us. The Knight-Commander has turned into a Tyrant and is going mad. I've been called to a meeting with her. Bethany, I have sent word to your brother in hopes that he will aid us, if need be. I need you all to stay here and stay safe. We will return."

Orsino called out to Bethany, "Bethany, would you come with me?"

"Sir, may I come too?", Gabriella asked.

"No child. I need you here to protect the others.", Orsino replied.

"Bethany, stay safe my friend."

"You too Gabby."

Gabriella gave her a big hug goodbye,

"You're like the big sister I never had."

" Gabby, keep everyone safe."

Gabriella watched them leave

Gabriella couldn't stand waiting around for them to return. She paced and paced for what seemed like hours, and no word yet. She decided to go outside. It was now dark. Night had fallen. All of a sudden the ground trembled. And a huge explosion rocked the city. A Bright light flashed across the sky. Everyone began to panic, Hearing screams from all directions, as the Templars ran out the gates to see what has happened. Someone had yelled that the Chantry had been blown up. Was she even hearing correctly? She head another mage yell, "THE MAKER CANNOT HELP US NOW!"

Not knowing what to do exactly until they had heard some sort of comfirmation as to what was going on. She tried to keep everyone calm. Then she had realized the Templars had shut the main gates. Letting no one in OR out. Something then had started to happen, the Templars entered and began to attack. She tried to save many, but watched many perish to the Templar's blades. The Templars then turned their focus behind them. It has seemed as though someone had come to help us. It was the Champion accompanied by Orsino and the others; Bethany among them. Gabriella thinks to herself, "Thank the Maker you have not forsaken us."

Gabriella ran up to Bethany, "What's going on? What has happened? Is it true?..That the Chantry has been..blown up?"

"Yes, the Chantry has been blown up, and by a mage. Merrideth intends on killing us all!", Bethany exclaimed.

"And what of your Brother?"

"He is on our side and will help in any way he can. Gabriella, I want you to stay out of the fighting. Go hide. Please!"

"But, I want to help!"

"No. Go hide! Now!"

Gabriella wasn't going to hide. She slipped into the shadows. More Templars appeared. The fighting was fierce. So any chance Gabriella had she would defend her defenders. Gabriella's expertise in Destruction magic and Healing was paying off. If she noticed anyone beginning to fall she would cast a healing spell their way between the blasting of flames. The group made their way to the inner courtyard. Merrideth was sending her forces in. Gabriella watched Hawke and his friends take out the first wave of Templars. There was a pause and a time to take a breath for a minute. Still in the shadows out of sight. Gabriella could hear Orsino, she could see that any hope he had, had been chisled away. She could see he was going mad.

"IF MERRIDETH WANTS BLOOD MAGIC, I'LL GIVE HER BLOOD MAGIC!"

He put a knife to his hand, drawing blood and casting a powerful blood ritual upon himself. His body engulfing the bodies of the dead surrounding him on the floor that was before him. He had turned into a monster of a creature. You couldn't tell it was Orsino any longer. He began to attack everyone he was supposed to be protecting. They all began to fight this monstrosity, which was still capable of strong magic. Gabriella again helped from afar, again not getting into the fray. They defeated Orsinio. Not knowing which way to go, or where to hide at this point. She decided to follow the Champion and his companions in order to stay alive. They cut through the Circle like butter. Gabriella still helping from a distance. Hawke and his companions didn't even notice her following. They made it through the Circle exiting to the Gallows main courtyard. She was still pretty far behing Hawke and Bethany. Hawke confronted Merrideth. Gabriella couldn't hear the words being spoken, but she could see their faces. She saw Cullen and what looked like he was threatening Merrideth. Gabriella couldn't believe her eyes. Merrideth pulled out a huge sword appearing to be made out of some sort of Lyrium, while glowing a blood red. Merrideth looked crazed. She was weilding some sort of powerful magic that she had never seen before. She even appeared to be Superhuman. The battle had begun, And it looked as though Cullen and the other Templars were fighting with us. Not realizing she had gotten so close to the battle when she had sent a healing spell Cullen's way. There were giant statues which Merrideth had seemed to bring to life, attacking everyone in sight. Gabriella didn't notice the statue behind her coming to life. The statue was going to attack her. Cullen caught a glimpse of this out of the corner of his eye. Cullen yelled, "GABRIELLA! NO!". As he hurled his body into hers knocking her out of the way. Then he attacked the statue along with the others, taking it down; but many more came. And Merrideth was relentless. The battle raged on, they finally broke Merrideth. The last blow seemed to be from the Champion. Merrideth tried regaining strength and prayed to the Maker. A blast came from the sky. She started to glow red, bursting into a ball of glowing red flames. She began to melt. Turning into a statue of Maker knows what. Everyone was horrified and in shock. No one seemed to know what to do, the fighting had stopped. Hawke and his companions; including Bethany, knew they were to be blamed for all this, so they left the city and Cullen let them leave.

Cullen watched them leave, still in shock himself after what had happened. He remembered Gabriella being tossed aside, that was the last he had seen of her. He ordered the rest of the Templars to be dismissed to return to the barracks. He went to where he thought he last saw her. He couldn't find her. He didn't realize she had continued to fight alongside him, and had maintained his health. She had taken a hard blow from Merrideth's blade. He started to get frantic. He needed to find her before an unforgiving Templar did.

Authors Notes
There are more chapters to the story. They just need editing and uploaded. I will have more up very soon.

Thanks for Reading.