Cullen walked the halls, the methodical thump and slight ring of his armour somewhat helped him feel at ease, he knew he would not be sleeping well tonight, like he hadn't since the incident. To be somewhere other than inside those walls, in that same room that his comrades had lost their lives, the same that that mage he had so stupidly fawned over had also lost her life, was a blessing from the Maker himself. His own room for staying in was right next door to Sunny's own room and the Wardens were just across the hall, those rooms were still empty, the doors open and the beds pulled back. They had either already left or hadn't retired yet.
He carried on down the hall trying to think of Sunny rather than his overwhelming fatigue and to stop his mind wandering back to the demons. She was an enigma. Something so different and so mismatched, she was like no other he had come across, she didn't seem to fit in. She was a mage and an elf and didn't seem to want to associate herself with either group. He had also heard her contained anger at being referred to as a Warden. So she fitted into no known affiliation, well not that he knew of.
He wasn't really interested in her, he told himself, it was just something to keep his mind busy as his hands threatened to rub the pommel of his sword to naught. Before he knew it he heard voices in the library, one he recognised as Elissa, the warden whom had saved the tower. She was with Alistair and it appeared they seemed to be discussing what their next move was. Alistair kept pressing that he thought it best to have an elf with them when they go to meet with the Dalish, and Elissa was saying they still had Zevran, to which Alistair didn't seem very impressed with.
"ah, Templar Cullen" Elissa smiled broadly, nudging Alistair to also acknowledge the man, who did with a small nod.
"Wardens. I was wondering if I could have a moment of your time?" his palm assaulted his pommel furiously, he really needed a rest, to just sleep even for a few hours but he didn't dare close his eyes for more than a few minutes. "I was wondering if I could talk with you about Sunny."
"Of course" Elissa replied. Cullen turned to Elissa, his brow furrowed, though his expression was barely anything bar a scowl these days.
"As she is not travelling with you to meet the Dalish, is it possible she could travel back with us to Kinloch and help us investigate whether there are any Blood Mages left in the circle" Cullen asked Alistair only to be met with a look that resembled a rabbit caught in the glare of a snake. His mouth opened but nothing came out, he almost started babbling nonsense when Elissa rolled her eyes.
"She only listens to you Alistair" she sighed. Cullen distinctly remembered Sunny saying to ask for Alistair's permission, well no, she said she would ask for Alistair's permission. Alistair was an ex-templar and a Warden, so if Sunny was a Warden then Alistair would most definitely be their leader, but Elissa was unquestionably their leader. So maybe her relationship with him was that of a templar and mage. Or maybe she was a servant. Albeit a well trained servant.
"Well I know, but I still-"
"Alistair. This is the first time, in the very short time that we have known her, that she has out and out defied you." Elissa touched Alistair's arm gently, "Besides I don't know about you, but we saw how many ways she can kill someone in this castle alone, we really need the Dalish's help and she really doesn't seem to like them." She added a weak laugh.
"Well, only if she wants to do it," Alistair said as he walked out.
"My apologies, I didn't mean to cause any trouble." Cullen inclined his head. "I had already spoken with Sunny myself." Elissa assured him it was fine and that they would talk more in the morning. He was left alone in the library, he was beyond tired and would need to rest before the journey back. He rubbed his eyes, he was not looking forward to sleeping.
He woke oddly refreshed, he felt as if he had only just closed his eyes, but no thoughts or dreams of demons hampered him that night. With a renewed bounce in his step he made his way to the dining room.
Sunny awoke slowly, she was unsure of where she was at first, she remembered talking to the templar but nothing much after that, she felt her magic in the air, she had fallen into that deep of a sleep she had leaked magic into her surroundings in small calming bursts, as she does to keep the fade and demons away from her when she is asleep in places where the veil is thin. She put on her armour and walked down the empty halls to the bustling dining room.
Chatter was alive in this room everyone was talking about the journey ahead, bar Alistair and the Templar Cullen, the latter sitting quietly contemplating something and the former looking at the latter with questioning glances. The heads turned as Sunny entered the room a call and look of relief as Alistair called her to join him, the last remaining seat in front of him and beside Cullen.
"I am glad to see you well, I mean it is good to see you well, we didn't expect you to be up this early" Cullen spoke quietly with his eyes firmly on his bread as he picked it apart, as if not to draw attention to them.
"I am fine Knight Templar Cullen, your concern is not necessary, I have fought in longer battles and endured many sleepless nights. You look well." She did not smile or elaborate what she meant by his looking well, sure the bags around his eyes had gone and colour was back in his cheeks and he didn't look as ill as he did a few hours earlier. She merely scowled at the table, there was nothing but meat, bread and cheese. "I will never understand a Fereldans need to have meat for every meal in the day", this made Alistair laugh and a small chuckle from the rest of the table. She declared she would go to the kitchens to get fruit, upon standing Cullen pushed his plate away from himself wiping his mouth with a napkin and asked Alistair whether he had made a decision regarding Sunny following their discussion the night before.
Sunny looked between the pair, she had told Cullen she would ask Alistair, but he sought to take it upon himself to ask, she could see something in Alistairs eyes akin to panic.
"Your high-Alistair," Sunny spoke softly and drew the young man's attention to her. "The circle will fall into disarray, when you take your rightful place you will need to sort out the circle sooner or later and I, I can restore order now." He was truly clueless on how a country was run, his reign would be difficult. "we cannot risk a mage rebellion whilst we have a blight to deal with. Not only that but we cannot risk a civil war if we are to defeat this blight and stand up to Orlais."
"Orlais? What do you mean? Aren't they fighting with us, the letter they sent to Cailan said that they would stand with us against the blight." Alistair scoffed.
"The king is dead, Alistair." Sunny said with a deadly seriousness on her face, no one here had even thought about the implications of Orlais and what their not being here to aid Ferelden now meant. "Should Orlais ever had any intention to help Ferelden now that she is defenceless, their Chevaliers would already be crossing our borders. They are not. Even if they were, Loghain would see it as an attack on Fereldan's independence and turn our armies to Orlais rather than the blight. Besides, Empress Celene is an excellent player of the game, Duke Gaspard beleives he is rightful heir and she will do all she can to keep her title as he does have the stronger claim." Seeing Alistair's blank face she elaborated quietly. "Anora is reaching her thirtieth year and had still to produce an heir, Celene is much younger and her marriage to Cailan would have solidified a permanent alliance between Ferelden and Orlais. So unless you have any intentions of marrying the empress?" Alistair shook his head quickly. "Good, I wouldn't have let you"
"how could you possibly know that?" Alistair said.
"Cailan sent me as negotiator for their aid. Believe me, I know. King Maric got Ferelden back from those orlesian dogs and I will not watch it fall back in their hands." Sunny spoke firmly.
"Not keen on Orlais then?" Elissa jested
"The only thing Loghain and I could agree on" Sunny retorted bluntly. Her distaste for Loghain palpable.
"Why would Loghain turn his forces to Orlais?" Elissa asked.
"Loghain does not believe there is a blight"
"But there is, an archdemon and everything, the whole kaboodle." Alistair squeaked.
"I know there is" Sunny sighed, "but Loghain will not believe you because you are a Warden and before you ask why, it is because he trusts your order as much as he trusts the Orlesians. Much the same as I."
"You don't trust us," Alistair and Elissa said in sync, drawing a groan from the elf.
"No, not you, but your Order. You were exiled from Ferelden, with good reason, and against Marics better judgement he lifted that exile, even after they almost had him killed." The disbelief on Alistairs face angered Sunny. "Duncan was part of that group back then, what do you think is more important, the king of the Country that exiled you or the secrets of your order that half of you will never know. Because to Duncan and his Commander Genevieve it was the orders secrets."
"I won't believe that." Alistair really scowled, he wouldn't have anyone talk about Duncan like that, he was a great man.
"Then it appears we are at an impasse and are best to drop the subject." She dropped her gaze the bowl of fresh fruits a servant had brought in whilst they chatted. Plucking a few for her pack and popping grapes into her mouth as she saw the brewing question developing on Alistairs lips.
"Well we were going to see the Dalish next, we were hoping you would come along as to have better understanding and relations with them." This was an answer plucked straight from Elissa's well educated and noble mind.
"If you want help with relations with the Dalish then you better ask Zevran." Her gaze was that of stone and her voice cold. "I ... I cannot help." A confused look washed over most of the table that was listening in. "Just because I am and Elf doesn't mean I am the same as the meek elves of your cities or the pretenders that roam your hills." She snarled.
"I guess you don't want to come with us then" Alistair laughed weakly.
Sunny sighed, rubbing her eyes.
"I would, if that is what you really want of me. But it is only fair to let you know I am more of a hindrance than a help when it comes to elves, especially Keepers. I will be able to find them though, so I can find you easily after I am done." She offered. "they are in the Brecilian wood, no? On the way to Gwaren? I know the area well." She said cutting of any and all attempts for him to cut across. Alistair could not argue and so inevitably he let her go, he could no more make her do something she didn't want to do than she could convince him to take his place as the King.
He conceded, upon thinking about it her journey would be a lot shorter than his and would most likely meet them whilst they were still with the elves, no doubt the elves would ask them for a favour and Elissa would comply, she was compassionate and cared about others above all else, he loved that about her, whilst he was moping over his loss of the Grey Wardens, he had not seen her once break down about her own family's murder.