Bethany gasped at how quickly the world around her changed. One moment she was surrounded by the surreal haze of the Fade, the next she was in a beautiful, low-walled garden. The air was crisp and clean and smelled like elfroot and lavender. In the distance she could see a small wooded area, and when she turned to the left she could see the great stone walls of Denerim. Behind her was a house, a picturesque double storeyed cottage with doors and windows framed by glorious climbing roses. It looked almost exactly like the Hawke's house in Lothering.
She looked down at herself; a simple but well-tailored purple dress covered by an apron. In her hand she carried a basket filled to the brim with medicinal herbs. This... this isn't real, is it? It can't be.
Bethany took a few tentative steps forward and reached a hand out to touch some embrium. I shouldn't be able to grow this here, she thought. The leaves trembled at her touch. They feel real.
She turned around as she heard the sound of boots on the garden path and a gate being opened and closed. A man came into view, but Bethany could not make out his face. All she could tell was that he was tall and fair-haired, and was dressed like a knight in King Alistair's service. At his heels trotted a mabari, who gave a happy bark when he spied Bethany.
Bethany felt her heart start to race as the man came closer. His face... why can't I see his face? The man reached out and drew her into an embrace.
"Hello, my love. How glad I am to be home at last." His voice was so familiar, and it sent a wave of pure longing right through Bethany's heart. He bent down and kissed her cheek before moving his lips to her own. Her eyes closed, her heart a wild animal thrashing in a cage.
They stood together for a long moment and, when the kiss ended, Bethany was smiling. She opened her eyes and the man's face slowly came into focus. She froze, almost forgetting to draw breath.
It was Knight-Captain Cullen.
Bethany took a hasty step backwards. "You aren't real," she whispered, and was surprised by how heartbroken her voice sounded.
"Bethany, sweetheart, what's wrong?" pseudo-Cullen asked, reaching for her. Bethany slapped his hands away.
"You're not real... YOU ARE NOT REAL!" Bethany screamed. Cullen scowled, and then he was gone.
Cullen frowned slightly at Bethany Hawke's sleeping form as it lay in the middle of a magic circle. For the first fifteen minutes she was quiet and still, and it looked like her harrowing would be as quick and clean as the Hero of Fereldan's had been.
And then she smiled.
The templar raised an eyebrow and glanced at the First Enchanter, but Orsino did not seem concerned.
It was not a happy smile; rather it was wistful and full of yearning. Cullen wondered what it was she was being offered, and hoped it wasn't enough to tempt the girl. He had no problem with Bethany as an individual, and also enjoyed being able to call her sister 'friend'. Friends were few and far between for a man like Cullen, and the friendship will have been strained enough by Bethany's removal to the Circle. Somehow, he couldn't see it surviving him killing the mage, even if she had turned into an abomination.
The smile had not lasted long, replaced with a puzzled frown. Bethany's lips moved silently and her whole body tensed. Her hands dug into her robes and became fists. Her body arched slightly then slumped back down as the magic circle glowed silver.
"She's about to wake," Orsino said, and Cullen's hand drifted to his sword. Last minute catastrophes had been known to happen.
Cullen watched in confusion as the girl woke but did not open her eyes. She lay there, breathing heavily for a few minutes, chanting softly, "It's not real, it's not real." Cullen walked over and knelt down next to the girl. He put a hand on her shoulder and shook it firmly.
Bethany's eyes flew open as she felt someone shake her. She came face to face with the Knight-Captain and screamed. "You are not real!" She jumped to her feet.
"Calm yourself, mage," Cullen warned, reaching out to restrain Bethany, but she shrunk back from him. When he tried again, she raised her arm... and punched him in the face.
As he exited the Knight-Commander's office later that evening, First Enchanter Orsino let out a long and very relieved sigh. While he was exceptionally grateful to discover that life still held some surprises for him, he knew just how badly that morning's harrowing could have gone, even though it was successful. Miss Hawke was fortunate indeed that it was Knight-Captain Cullen who had supervised her. Any other templar would have killed her the moment she punched them, or reported her to Meredith. The Knight-Commander was not a woman who took chances and showed mercy; Bethany would have executed or made tranquil. Of that, Orsino was certain.
It had taken Orsino a while to calm Miss Hawke down; her harrowing must have been truly horrifying. After a while she had managed to stammer out a mortified apology to Knight-Captain Cullen, who had accepted it graciously, along with Orsino's offer of healing. More importantly, he had agreed to Orsino's request not to inform Meredith of what had occurred.
The First Enchanter was becoming more and more grateful for the Knight-Captain's quick rise through the templar ranks. While the young man was not exactly a friend to the mages, as Ser Thrask was, nor was he a danger to them like Ser Alrik. He was a man that Orsino could appreciate, even respect, as he was one of the few templars who remembered that their duty also involved protecting the mages, not just the mundane community. He was a man able to rein in the more radical elements of the order, and offset some of Meredith's severity.
Orsino was forced out of his musings when he noticed that his office door was ajar. Taking his distinctive staff in hand, he cautiously entered the room, only to be left disconcerted by the sight before him. Sitting in his favourite chair was a curvaceous, dark-skinned woman wearing thigh-high leather boots, a lot of gold jewellery, and not much else. Her legs were crossed and she was playing idly with one of his athames.
The First Enchanter gave a soft cough. "May I be of assistance?" he asked. The woman looked up at him and gave him a smile that could only be described as shameless.
"You sure can, handsome," she said, more seductive than any desire demon. "Tell me, how did our little Sunshine go?"
A/N - I love Isabela!
Next chapter: Bethany settles into life in life in the Gallows, while Cullen wonders what he did to deserve a punch in the face. Plus, more of Isabela's shenanigans.