10.
Life meandered on, occasionally Bethany would hear of some her brother's exploits and wished that he would come and visit her. She wondered why he never did, she had expected him to at least come and see her after their mother's death. But he had never approached her. She knew the arguments between Meredith and Orsino had become more heated. Templars had taken to scrutinizing their every move. She was no longer allowed to visit the markets and all of them had been confined to their quarters. Whispers of Meredith's madness flew around, making the mages shiver in fear. Cullen could say there should be no abuses, but Meredith outranked him and soon his good work was in tatters. Templars did as they pleased and the mages had to rely on the ones that bore them no ill will to survive.
Cullen had taken to standing back in the Gallows. Hawke stopped and asked him if he still supported Meredith. Cullen had spouted the official line of the order, he did empathise with the Knight Commander her job was not easy. But he had seen the beginnings of madness in her eyes. He came close to confiding this in Hawke, merely saying that he could see where the rumours were coming from. The two men had come to respect each other over the years, and Cullen felt he could speak somewhat freely. "I fear that the purpose of the order is not the same." Cullen was saying sadly. Hawke looked at him, seeing the dark shadows under his eyes, he truly felt sorry for him. A lot of his anger at Cullen had faded, he knew the man had just been doing what he thought was right. He still missed his sister terribly and asked himself why he never went to visit her. He didn't know why, he just couldn't bring himself to do it.
Bethany was busy tidying her room for the daily inspection, when two Templars approached her. She smiled recognising them as being somewhat friendly. "The Knight Commander requests your presence." Bethany was surprised and nervous, what could the Knight Commander possibly want with her. She turned away trying to collect herself, then everything went black.
Cullen was standing in his usual spot, watching the bustle of the marketplace, thoroughly bored when a tranquil came up to him. "I have a message for you Knight Captain Cullen" his voice a creepy monotone. "What is it?" he asked sharply, wanting nothing more than him to go away. They unnerved him, always had. "There have been reports of a rogue Templar/mage group operating out of the Wounded Coast. It seems they have abducted a young mage and taken her there." Cullen stared open mouthed "which mage has been abducted" he demanded. "I am afraid I do not know the name, it was not given in the message" his task completed the tranquil moved calmly away. Cullen groaned, what next he thought. Selecting some Templars to come with him he quickly made his way there.
Bethany groaned, the fog lifted and she awoke, surprised to find herself at the coast, surrounded by dead bodies. She stood up and saw her brother standing there looking relieved. "Brother, the last thing I remember is a couple of Templars coming to my room" she exclaimed. "I am so glad you are alright" Garrett said. "I promise I will never let anything like this happen to you again." She smiled at him, genuinely pleased to see him "it's good to know you are still looking out for me." Before they had any more time to speak Cullen appeared with his men. "I trust you were here to stop these traitors and not join them?" he queried stiffly. He had seen who the kidnapped mage was she was pale and somewhat hunched over. Before he could answer a young man stood forward "The Champion is a good man Ser. He tried to solve this peacefully." Cullen nodded. "Take the blood mage away for questioning" he ordered sharply, trying not to look at Bethany too closely. "Alain stood up to his elders when they would kill an innocent hostage" Hawke protested. "You mean he was one of them until he had a convenient change of heart" Cullen snorted. If they had harmed one hair on her head, he would see them all dead. "Do you have any recommendations for the Knight Commander?" he looked at Hawke. "Be merciful" her always kind hearted brother replied. Bethany moved slowly over to the Templars, she felt utterly terrible. Cullen seeing her pain scooped her up in his arms and carried her back to the Circle. She did not protest enjoying the closeness to him while she could.
As soon as they got back, they had been ordered into the Knight Commander's office. Bethany was questioned until she fell out of the chair in exhaustion. Cullen once again gathered her up in his arms and personally put her to bed. As he looked down on her ashen face, a feeling of intense tenderness welled up. He swore to himself, she may want him to stay away from her, but that wouldn't stop him from protecting her. He sat by her bed until she started to stir, he quickly got up and left, not wanting her to know he had been sitting there with her. Bethany awoke with a start, she could have sworn Cullen was close by but when she looked around he was not. Closing her eyes and drifting back into a fitful sleep she decided that it must have been wishful thinking.
Bethany sat on her bed, completely and utterly bored, being confined to her quarters was proving tiresome. Their freedom had always been minimal but she missed being able to at least wander around the Circle. She had heard the mutinous rumblings, but the other mages not sure of her relationship to the Knight Captain didn't confide any plans. She had never felt so lonely. She thought often of Elthina's words, trying to savour small joys, it was hard when there were only the bars and walls to look at. Trying to cheer herself up she took out the things she had removed from her room, taking pleasure in trying to make it look more cheerful. She looked around satisfied with her efforts. They still reminded her of Cullen but instead of causing her pain she now viewed it as a way of being closer to him. She smiled, happy that she no longer saw him as a cold blooded killer.
Cullen was again in the courtyard deep in thought. He knew the conflict between the mages and the Templars was about to erupt. He wanted more than anything to just run. But he could not leave Bethany to face what was to come alone. He knew that soon he wouldn't be able to keep sitting on the fence. Something he had taken to doing lately. His years of training told him that he needed to help Meredith keep order and quell the rebellion but his heart was demanding that he do what he knew was right. He felt tired, more tired than he could ever remember. Every night he went to sleep hoping that he would not wake up it was a coward's wish. He still had much to atone for.