AN: Mega thank yous, as per! You guys are swell!

Part I: The Witch

The Warm Knight

If she'd thought her and Leliana had uncomfortable silences it was nothing to the tension between her and Cullen. Years ago she would've teased him for his distress, enjoyed the way his cheeks flushed and he'd stumble over his words with the grace of a bear trying ballet. Now, she couldn't summon the strength to slip back into old Neria's skin. Leliana's words settled heavy on her shoulders now her anger was spent. She sat as close to the fire as she could and still felt the chill.

"So," Cullen said from somewhere behind her. "How've you been?"

She glared into the darkness, fire blind and only able to make out his silhouette. "I'm fine," she barked, a little too harshly. She ran her frozen fingers over her forehead, trying to stop the ache building there. "Trying to keep busy," she said a little softer, staring back into the flame.

"Leliana..." he broke off and cleared his throat. "She said you disappeared from your estate in Denerim..."

She said nothing, there was no need to affirm or deny, he clearly knew the truth. And if Leliana had shared that much then she'd probably spilled a whole lot more.

"Can we talk about something else?" she muttered. "I don't..."

"Of course..." he said. "I didn't mean to..."

"I know," she sighed. Maker...this shouldn't be so hard. "So...er...what about you?" She swivelled around to face him, tugging her sodden robe tighter over her knees. "I never thought I'd see you out of Order armour..."

He stood behind his desk, one hand planted firmly on it as though to steady himself. She could barely make him out in the darkness. "After...everything that happened," he said, hesitantly. "Gregoir sent me away to...recover," he sighed and set to rustling papers on his desk. "After a year or so I was sent to Kirkwall to serve as Knight Captain."

"Maker...were you there when...?"

"Yes," he cut across her, a little sharply. "Sorry...it's just...not a topic I like to dwell on. I'm sure you understand."

"Better than most," she sighed, turning back to face the fire. "I was the one who recruited Anders...seems a lifetime ago now." It stung, her part in Anders' tale...If you'd been at Kirkwall. Leliana's voice, accusation hot on her tongue.

"He was...a troubled man," Cullen sighed.

Neria frowned, thinking she must've heard him wrong."Huh..." she muttered, "rumour calls him an abomination. I didn't expect you of all people to be so polite."

"I am not the same man I was back then," he looked at her for the first time since they'd entered his office. "I never thought I'd get a chance but... I always wanted to apologise for the things I said at the Circle, the way I acted... it was unworthy of me." He said it all at once as though afraid he'd lose his nerve and then quickly went back to shuffling his papers. "So...I'm sorry."

That she hadn't expected. Although he no longer wore the armour she couldn't help but think of Cullen as a Templar...a mage hunter...a man with the chant in his veins where she had nothing but blood. She had expected Kirkwall to sharpen his fear, hone his anger into insanity as it had the other Templars. But though he still looked a man with the world upon his shoulders he did not seem the rabid fanatic she'd expected.

"I understand why you asked what you did of me," she rested her chin on her knees and watched him shuffle nervously under her gaze. "And whilst we're about the business of apologies I suppose I should say sorry for being such a stubborn sow, and thank you for saving me from dying for my pride."

And for the first time that night a smile crept up the side of his cheek. "Apology accepted."