A/N: Amell time! I am sad to reach this point because it means I'll need to take a break from Cullen for a while, but as always, it is a pleasure to write about everyone's favorite Circle Mage. A lot of chaotic things happen at the conclusion of this origin, so I hope I didn't miss anything important! Once again, thanks for all the support (especially for Dulcia, she seems to be a fan favorite based on the number of people reading her sections) and I hope you continue to enjoy!

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Nine. Alixire: Taking Wing.

"How could you?"

The words resound in Alixire's ears the moment Jowan says them in his cold and wounded voice which reflects how shocked he is that she of all people was responsible for the presence of the First Enchanter and Knight Commander at the tail end of their escape. She knows she is supposed to feel something at his disappointment in her, something like a pang of guilt at his accusatory words, a bittersweet nostalgia for the day she first met him when they were both young apprentices and first became friends. She should hate herself for what she did to him, or at least admit to a sense of shame that she betrayed him, her dearest friend, for the sake of an establishment that means nothing to her. But all she can feel in her heart is numbness. The only memory of Jowan that she can think of out of all their years of friendship is the one she just witnessed. The terrible confirmation of all her fears and suspicions of him marked by the sight of blood spurting from his chest and turning against his accusers, throwing them with a demonic force helplessly onto their backs.

"How could I?" she echoes, her entire body shaking in anger. "How could you? We made a promise to each other, remember? Did you really think I would possibly let you escape when all this time you've been hiding what you really are, and doing these unforgivable things to yourself? Don't you understand what blood magic is? Don't you know that it's the reason the Chantry has made the entire world fear and hate us? Does the fact that you're bringing pain and suffering down upon all of us not mean anything to you?"

Jowan's face pales, and he takes two steps back from her, accidentally brushing into Lily. The initiate screams and jumps away from him, staring with wild eyes at the vivid red stain on the front of his robes. "You tricked me!" she screams, covering her face in horror. "Get away from me, you monster!"

"Lily!" He tries to take her hand, but she flees from his touch, seeking sanctuary in the fallen body of the Knight-Commander. Even the imprisonment that awaits her when he awakens is less terrifying to her than the newfound thought of what Jowan is capable of, what sick and twisted powers now lie in his wounded body.

"Alixire," he tries again, his voice increasing in desperation. "You know I'm not like you. I'm not strong or powerful, and there's no way I would have ever been able to pass my Harrowing. I needed to find a way to become a real mage. I needed a way to protect Lily!"

"And you think this is protecting her? Just look at her face! That's the look of fear that all of us must suffer because of people like you."

"I... Alixire, I-"

Jowan is cut off by the sound of thundering footsteps heading in their direction. His eyes widen and turn toward the thick Tower doors, the only things standing in the way of his freedom. With one last pained expression directed first at Alixire and then at Lily, he dashes away from the Tower, the deep red drops of his blood marking the path of his flight. There are no other words between them. All of their years of playful camaraderie have ended with this.

Alixire sinks to her knees just as the band of Templars headed by the Grey Warden and Cullen bursts into the room. The men survey the scene with confusion, staring at the weeping Lily crouching over the bodies of the First Enchanter and Knight-Commander, and then upon the newly blood spattered walls. As the Templars help the two older men to their feet, Duncan stops by to assist Alixire, offering her an arm to help her find her balance. When she lifts her gaze, she finds Cullen staring at her, his eyes fervently searching hers for the answers to what had happened and what would become of her now that she is in the midst of this grisly incident. But she has nothing to give him to soothe his fears. She has no inclination of what to do now that she has witnessed such atrocities from someone she had always thought of as her friend, someone whose fate is linked too closely with hers in the minds of everyone in the Tower.

"Irminric, Rylock, we have an escaped blood mage on our hands," Greagoir barks once he has regained his bearings. "Gather your troops and go after him while you still can. This one doesn't have a phylactery, so be vigilant. Carroll, take the initiate Lily and keep her in seclusion until we can arrange for her transportation to the Aeonar." His eyes fall on Alixire, narrowing slightly. "For that matter, take Miss Amell along with her. Both will need to submit to questioning before they are imprisoned."

"Greagoir, I believe I told you that Alixire warned me about this plan and participated in it under my orders," Irving says, stepping in front of Templar Carroll. "If you desire to punish her, you may as well have me join them. I was equally aware of the situation as she was."

"Irving, do not pretend to ignore the fact that Miss Amell has been under suspicion for some time now, and has been marked as a potential escape risk by our order. How am I to know she wasn't brewing her own plan to escape during the confusion?"

"If I had, I would have run off with Jowan, wouldn't I?" Alixire snaps. "I wouldn't have just stood here like a lamb waiting for slaughter."

"And your concerns for Alixire are unfounded," Irving says, scowling at Greagoir. "She has been my apprentice over these past few years, and I have always found her perfectly committed to the study of magic. She would make a fine candidate for First Enchanter one day when she has reached the height of her powers, and there is no reason why she should be forbidden to foster her talent."

Greagoir snorts disdainfully. "You would consider the friend of a blood mage for such a role? Irving, you cannot be serious. Prison is the only place that one is suited for, and I won't hear otherwise."

"I'm afraid you will," Duncan interjects, stepping forward. "I came to the Tower with the intention of requesting more assistance from your magi at Ostagar, but I have a counter offer in mind. I have also been looking into recruiting new members into our order, and already have two able candidates who are lodging at the Spoiled Princess as we speak. Miss Amell would be an excellent addition to our ranks, and by your leave, First Enchanter, I would like to avoid her imprisonment by taking her to Ostagar with the other two."

"No!" Cullen cries from the back of the room. All eyes turn to him, including Alixire's. "I... I m-mean, it's dangerous!" he stammers, avoiding her gaze. "M-mages shouldn't be without supervision."

"I can provide that well enough on my own, I think," Duncan says wryly. "First Enchanter?"

"I see nothing wrong with it, as long as you continue to see that she is properly trained. A talent such as hers should not go to waste."

"Agreed. I shall take her the docks to meet the others right away so she will no longer be an offensive presence to you, Knight-Commander. Alixire, if you will?"

Alixire freezes. There's no question that she wants to leave. Now, more than ever, there really is no other choice. Greagoir has decided on the Aeonar for her, and even if she refuses Duncan's offer, she will still be made to leave the Tower, presumably never to return. And this opportunity with the Grey Wardens is the freedom she has been longing for all her life, the freedom to practice her power without the hateful stares and constant rumors of her loyalties. But all the same, she can feel Cullen's gaze on her, a reminder of her promise to stay by his side. She had lashed out at Jowan for breaking a promise, but now it seems as if she will also be breaking hers.

"May I have a moment to retrieve my things from my room?" she says finally. "I won't be long."

"Of course you may," Duncan kindly replies. "I'll wait for you here, and you may find me when you're ready."

"Cullen, go with her," Greagoir orders, still looking annoyed. "I don't want any funny business from her before she leaves."

"Y-yes sir." With a trembling hand, he takes hold of her arm and marches her up to her chambers, his steps slow and somber as if he is escorting her to her execution.

"So," he says in a strangely unemotional voice. "That was your ethical dilemma."

"Yes." She rifles through her belongings and jams things into her pack. "But that wasn't the resolution I had intended. Your Knight-Commander did me no favors by not agreeing to Irving's terms."

"That's it, then. You're leaving."

"Well, there's always the Aeonar. Although I'm afraid I don't do well in small spaces."

"This isn't something you should joke about." Cullen slams his fist into the wall, his chest heaving in anger. "You swore to me this wouldn't happen."

"I know I did. And as I said, I didn't intend for it to. But there's nothing I can do about it now. And at least if I'm released into Ferelden there's a chance we'll be able to see each other again. There's always that to hope for, right?"

"If you leave, you aren't coming back."

"Says who?"

"You've always wanted this freedom! If you get a taste of it, there's no chance you'd ever choose this life again. There's no need to pretend otherwise for my sake. This is who you are, and I've always been... I've always been just a whim for you!"

"Cullen." Alixire sets aside her things and places her hands on his shoulders. "From the beginning, I never held anything back from you. I said I would forgive you anything, even though I knew you couldn't do the same for me. But please. Forgive me this. I'm begging you. If you love me at all, don't give up on me now."

She leans in to kiss him, but he back away from her nervously. "What are you doing?" he asks, blushing with the virgin innocence of a child.

"Don't deny me this anymore. We don't know when we'll see each other again, and I don't want to say goodbye without sharing this with you."

When he instinctively backs away again, she pulls him against her aggressively and presses her lips against his. With a strangled sigh, he gives into her embrace completely, for the first time setting aside the rigid Templar in his head to indulge in a selfish moment that had nothing to do with the Maker or the Chantry or anyone else other than himself.

Alixire pulls away slowly, running a gentle hand across his cheek. "Duncan's waiting for me," she whispers, her heart torn between excitement for her new adventure and agony over what she is leaving behind. "And so should you. I'll find you again, I swear it. I'll make you believe in me even if takes my entire life to do it."

With one last lingering touch, she draws away and gathers up her things, turning her back on the man she loves with no idea of how many years it would be until she could feel him underneath her hands once again.

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Coming Up:Hannon isn't too thrilled to learn he's on the verge of death and is being forced to enter into the world of humans in order to find a cure to save his life. Will Duncan be able to sway this Dalish's opinion with a little incentive? Look forward to a special guest appearance from Alixire Amell!