Irving didn't make it back to see Cady that day. Or the following day. Or the day after that. In the end it was Wynne coming to say good bye that clued her into what was going on.

She had been in the infirmary tending to little Thomas again. "You really must start staying out of trouble little man." Thomas had just grinned up at her. Apparently the sweet bread had been worth all the trouble. This time Thomas and Aeron, the little ruffian currently wailing in the background while having his hurts tended by another mage had snuck into the kitchens, climbed on top of a counter and scaled the cabinets above to reach their prize. All may have turned out fine if the boys didn't then decide that the top of said cabinets was the perfect place to enjoy their plunder.

They got half way through an entire loaf before the cabinet came crashing down carrying them with it. Aeron broke his wrist and was covered in scrapes and bruises. Thomas had fared much better with no broken bones at all and only a few scrapes and bruises to his skinny knees and hands.

"What were the two of you think? Climbing up that high? Aren't you afraid of falling?" Cady raised worried eyes to meet those of Cullen's standing just behind the child.

"No way Sir Cullen, Sir." Thomas was all grins in spite of the sting of having his scrapes cleaned. "Well maybe Aeron was… a little bit scared. But he came anyway. Kind of makes him the brave one, huh?"

"What I would like to know is who was supposed to be keeping an eye on the two of you. You could have died from that fall." Cady had finished the cleanup and had started in on wrapping up tiny abused limbs by this point. "Templars and older mages every where in this tower and not one of them thought to stop either of you?"

Cady glared over at Cullen.

"Hey, I was guarding you! Don't look at me like that." Cullen leaned back into the adjacent cot and watch Cady return to fussing over Thomas's bandages. He couldn't help but notice how attractive she was all flushed with ire as she was right now. He had always found the mage Surana to be pretty but there was something about the girl now inhabiting this body that drew on him. 'At least she doesn't seem to feel anything for me other than annoyance.' He sat there grinning to himself thinking about all the times she had huffed past him in agitation over the past few weeks. Truly he couldn't help himself. She was so funny and prickly 'like an overly cute hedgehog.' The thought had him chuckling again and earned him another heated glare. 'Maker help us if she ever turns a real smile my way.' This thought sobered the young templar. He straightened away from the cot and crossed over to stand guard by the door.

"Okay Thomas. I think your good now." Cady stepped back giving her favorite little hellion room to jump down form his perch. "Please try to stay out of trouble this time." The last was said with a smile as Thomas grabbed a quick hug before racing off. She had come to care for the little boy quite a deal more that she probably should in the short time she had been here and hated to see all the trouble he got himself into. She worried that one day it might come to more than some bloody knees and singed robes.

She reached up a hand to rub the back of her neck while closing her eyes feeling suddenly weary. She tried to hide it but the situation was wearing on her. 'I've been here for months it seems and I still don't know what the outside of this tower looks like. My contact with everyone here is limited and watched.' she brought her other hand up to wipe at a sad smile. 'I'm not even allowed to visit that archaic privy of theirs without someone standing outside the door.'

Drawing a deep breath Cady forced herself to stand straighter and turned to Cullen. Give a bright smile and letting him know she was done for the day. As they headed for the door together in walked Wynne.

"Wynne!" Cady couldn't help but feel excited by site of the older woman. It had been days since she had come around for a visit or instruction. "It's so good to see you. What's been keeping my favorite mage so long away?" She felt some of her earlier gloom roll away as Wynne wrapped her in an affectionate hug. She missed her friends, her co workers from before but Wynne was quickly coming to replace the mother who had never wanted her. "Did you stop by for another round at potion making?" Cady gave a teasing smile. Irving and Wynne had been at first horrified by some of her concoctions but later confessed to finding it somewhat amusing that she couldn't seem toss together even a injury kit.

"No dear girl. Would that that was the reason behind my looking for you." Cady was taken aback at Wynne's expression. She had only just notice the sadness lurking behind the fond smile Wynne always wore around her.

"What is it? What's happened? Did word finally come from Denerim? Did they decide what to do with me?" She had been told about the report that had been sent early on right after her arrival asking for guidance on her special "situation". It had been stress to her that not everyone would view her with friendly eyes and so she had worked tirelessly to prove that she meant no harm to anyone.

"No, no Cady dear, there has been no word back other than to keep you under observation for now. No, I have come to let you know that I will be leaving the tower for a time."

"What? We can leave? Are you off to visit family or heal someone? Maybe I could help?" Cady was getting hopeful. The thought of leaving the tower for a bit lightning her earlier troubles farther still.

"The King has called of aid from the Circle Tower Cady. I go to answer that call."

Cady stood speechless for a moment. "Your going to fight?" closing confused eyes Cady struggled to organize her thoughts. "I understand that darkspawn are… Well some kind of twisted people that live underground but do we have to fight them? I mean has anyone ever tried diplomacy?" She was rushing over her word struggling to find some logical approach that might keep Wynne here, with her or maybe allow her to accompany the mage she had come to care for. "Maybe it's already over." She ended with a hopeful smile.

Wynne's sad smile returned as she moved to place a calming hand on the elf's shoulder. "Darkspawn have never stop to converse, child. Do not fear. We mages pack quite a wallop ourselves. We will win this battle and drive the beast back to their tunnels."

In a daze Cady followed as the older mage began to lead her back down the hall towards their rooms, Cullen trailing behind. "Come, have a glass of wine with me and a visit. I leave in the morning and want to go assured that my star pupil will continue with her studies despite my absence." Wynne guided Cady through the door and seated her in one of the over stuffed chairs that stood beside her bed. The room was small, like her own but much more comfortable. The bed was coved in a beautiful hand made quilt that was fade with age and use. The floor boasted one of the few carpets that Cady had seen outside of the one the graced the First Enchanters office and the walls were crowed with book selves, each filled to bursting.

Cady accepted the cup that Wynne offered her, took a deep drink while trying to digest this latest change in events. "So, early start tomorrow?" She tried to force a smile but couldn't quite manage. All she could focus on was that someone she had come to depend on and care for in this unfamiliar world was leaving her, going off to fight some sort of monsters on behalf of a King she didn't even know. She knew she was being selfish. Knew too that these thought were small and would serve no one, especially not Wynne.

Wynne seated beside her reached to set down her own cup before beginning. "Early is best. It's a long road from here to Ostagar." Ages blue eyes ran over Cady's face, seeming to see all the worry are fear of parting that rested their in the young lost souls heart. Wynne reach across the distance the separated to two women and took the elf's small hand in her own. "It seems just yesterday that I sat down beside you when you first woke up from the fade." She gave Cady's hade an affectionate squeeze with her own before releasing her to once again pick up her cup. "I will miss you while I'm gone. But these old bones will rest easier knowing that you'll be here to watch of the infirmary, that you'll still be practicing with the silly crossbow more than you ought with you magic still left to master. That you are safe." Wynne gave a wistful sigh took a small sip of wine. She leaned back into her chair closed her eyes, that fond smile returning to her aged feature as she thought about the girl seated beside her.

Cady sat staring at Wynne while Wynne herself seemed to relax farther into the cushions of her seat. Rising from her chair Cady knelt at the older woman's feet and wrapped her arms around her waist in a hug, hoping to convey by action the words that couldn't seem to find form.

Wynne returned the embrace briefly then patted Cady's shoulder, a sign that it was time to let go. "I must rest before my journey child. Off to bed." Eyes bright with suspicious moisture avoided her own. Cady blinked quickly trying to stave off tears. "Stay safe Wynne." She got to her feet and walked out the door and directly into her own sleeping quarters where she finally let her tears fall where they would. But whether she was crying out of fear for her friend or for her own loneliness she couldn't say.

Cullen listed to her sobs from the hallway and for the first time he could ever recall felt utterly helpless in the face of her despair. Frozen with indecision and uncertainty he kept to his post outside her door. 'I'll just give her some more time, a few more minutes. If she hasn't settled by then I'll knock at the door and offer what comfort I can... A few more minutes.' He stood with head leaning back against the door, mail covered fist clenched, eyes shut tight as he listened to Cady cry. He felt as if his own heart were breaking. When he could take no more he took hold to the door handle forgetting to knock entirely.


A/N: Thanks for reading! Happy New Years to all my readers!