The next morning, Cullen first visited Anders in the infirmary. "Can you help me with Dorian?"

"Why? What's wrong?" Anders asked.

"He's pushing me away," Cullen sighed. "I don't understand why."

Anders nodded. "He's still suffering from the trauma. I remember doing much of the same whenever I experienced a beating that bad."

Cullen looked at Anders, shocked. "When were you beaten like that?!"

"At Kinloch," Anders shrugged. "Weren't you aware of the routine beatings some of us got?"

Cullen paled at the thought. "No. I was still a new Templar, on my first assignment. They never told me much."

"Some of us were singled out as troublemakers," Anders explained. "For me it began about two years after I arrived. It's why I escaped the first time."

"How severely were you beaten?" Cullen hesitated to ask.

"Let me show you," Anders said, as he began untying his robes, letting them fall as he presented his back to Cullen. Anders' back was criss-crossed with old scars. Most clearly had come from being either whipped or caned. Repeatedly.

"Oh Anders," Cullen exclaimed. "I am so sorry."

"In Kirkwall," Anders continued. "Karras and Alrick were doing this, and worse, to mages in the Gallows."

Cullen took several deep breaths. He had never liked those men, but they had been Meredith's favorites, so he had always hesitated to investigate the charges against them.

"I was…in a very dark place when I was in Kirkwall," Cullen sighed. "After what happened at Kinloch, I feared mages…hated them. It took Hawke…and you…to open my eyes. By then, of course, it was all too late."

"Is that why you joined the Inquisition?" Anders asked.

Cullen nodded. "When Cassandra approached me, I jumped at the chance to at least try and atone for everything I had let happen under my watch."

"Well, I forgive you," Anders said quietly. "You were the kindest of the Templars at Kinloch, so I know at heart you are a good man."

Cullen let a couple of tears fall, taking a deep, shuddering breath. "Thank you. That actually means more to me than you can possibly know."

"Now, let's see if we can't figure out what's wrong with Dorian," Anders suggested. "I think perhaps it's time we go talk to his father and see if he'll tell us exactly what he did to his son."

Cullen nodded and the two of them made their way down into the Skyhold dungeons.

...

As Cullen and Anders approached Halward's cell, they noticed the Magister was sitting cross-legged and chanting. Cullen wasn't sure what the mage hoped to accomplish, considering he was bound with magic suppressing manacles, and as an added measure his food and water was being dosed with low amounts of magebane as well.

"Halward!" Cullen called out, startling the mage out of his seeming trance.

"Ah, Commander," Halward sneered. "What can I do for you?"

"You will tell me everything you did to Dorian," Cullen growled.

"Or what? You'll have me executed?" Halward prompted. "That is already to be my fate, isn't it?"

Anders came forward. "I can make sure your last days are excruciating."

"The Elder One made sure I am immune to torture," Halward shrugged. "But you are welcome to try."

Cullen pulled Anders aside. "Are you sure you want to do that? As a Spirit Healer isn't it against your nature to harm others?"

"You forget that I am no simple Spirit Healer," Anders said in a hushed tone as he allowed Justice to come to the fore. "WE WILL HELP YOU SEEK JUSTICE FOR DORIAN."

Cullen had forgotten about Anders' spirit. Cullen nodded.

Justice approached the cell and Halward tried to school his features into a neutral mask, but Cullen saw the fear for a moment.

"WHAT YOU DID TO YOUR SON IS UNJUST," Justice proclaimed. "YOU WILL SUFFER IF YOU WILL NOT TELL THE COMMANDER HOW TO HELP HIM!"

Justice glowed more brightly and let out a controlled burst of pure fade energy at Halward, who screamed in agony.

After the magister was able to catch his breath he looked over at Cullen. "Alright, alright, I'll tell you everything. Just keep that…abomination…away from me!"

Cullen smirked as Justice retreated and Anders looked over at him and winked.

"Just tell me everything you did to Dorian while you had him captive," Cullen instructed.

Halward sighed and began to relate everything. How Dorian was stripped of his clothing and chained. The chant and meaning of the chant they performed. The ritual bleeding and the runes on the ritual dagger used, and then the punishment that Cullen interrupted.

"The runes on that ritual dagger," Anders "What exactly did you say they were for?"

"They were to begin the process of breaking his bond with you, Commander," Halward admitted. "We never got to the second part of that ritual however."

Anders frowned. "What exactly did the second part entail?"

Halward swallowed visibly at that question. "To break a bond between an Omega and his Alpha requires one to deposit the sperm of ten other Alphas or Betas into the Omega's system. It would also effectively terminate his pregnancy."

Cullen blanched, grateful he had arrived when he did.

"You bastard, you would allow your own son to be…raped?!" Cullen said, shocked.

"Yes, if it meant finally having an obedient and dutiful son," Halward smiled contemptuously.

"Anders, do you think there is a way to reverse what the dagger did to Dorian?" Cullen asked.

"Do we have the dagger? Perhaps I could work with Dagna on a solution?" Anders suggested.

Cullen nodded. "Yes we confiscated all weapons that we found before burning the bodies of the Venatori."

They turned and left Halward in his cell and Cullen led them to where they stored all confiscated weapons and other such items. Cullen quickly found the dagger and they both made their way down into the Undercroft to find Dagna.

...

Dagna studied the runed dagger carefully, humming to herself. She used a variety of instruments on it, occasionally making the rules glow.

After what felt like hours, Dagna finally looked up at Cullen and Anders. "I think I know what to do, but it may take me a couple of days. I'll send for you both when I'm done."

Nodding, the two men went off.

"Let me go with you to check on Dorian," Anders said. "At the very least I want to closely monitor the twins until we've solved this problem."

They were about to head up to Cullen and Dorian's quarters when they heard a commotion coming from the training grounds. Cullen ran towards the sound of a crowd as Anders followed.

Cullen stopped short when he saw Dorian, wielding his staff in hand-to-hand combat with the Iron Bull, taunting the large qunari. "Come on, you beast. Is that the best you've got?"

Bull roared and came at Dorian with his full strength, while Dorian skillfully countered every move and spun out of the way.

"Dorian!" Cullen shouted. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Just getting a little exercise, Commander," Dorian said plainly. "You can't keep me locked away forever you know."

Anders frowned. "I ordered you to bed rest, and you know perfectly well why."

"I highly doubt bed rest will actually do much for this belly of mine," Dorian groused. "Exercise is what I require my dear man!"

Dorian spun back around, taunting the Iron Bull again.

"ENOUGH!" Cullen roared. "Everyone clear out. Bull, you are ordered to avoid sparring with Dorian until further notice. Dorian you will come back to our quarters or so help me I will drag you there myself!"

Dorian looked shocked. "Do you honestly plan to keep me your prisoner?"

Cullen shook his head. This wasn't his Dorian. His sweet, loving Omega. It broke his heart how changed Dorian was. Cullen strode over to where the mage stood, casting a weak smite on him before throwing him over his shoulder and carrying him back to their quarters.

Anders followed, worrying about the health of the twins even more.

Cullen sent one of his soldiers to retrieve restraints for Dorian and Cullen tried to lay the mage down into their bed as gently as possible. As soon as he let go Dorian immediately tried to bolt for the door and Cullen had to hold him down.

Soon the restraints were brought, and with the help of Anders and one of the soldiers, Dorian was restrained to the bed. The cuffs were made of soft leather, but were magically locked by Anders. They were infused with magic to suppress the wearer's magic. They didn't want to risk giving Dorian magebane as they didn't know what effect it would have on the children.

"Now keep still," Anders ordered. "I need to check on the health of the twins."

Dorian roared, trying to break loose from the bonds. "No! What are you doing to me? Let me go!"

Cullen and the soldier had to help hold Dorian down, despite the restraints so Anders could do his examination. Blue light glowed from his hands as he passed them over Dorian's belly.

Anders frowned deeper. "They aren't doing well at all. I think they can sense the disconnect between you two. They are both very weak. We need to fix Dorian, and fast."

Cullen nodded. "Will you inform Dagna on the urgency? Is there anything else you can do while we wait?"

Anders nodded. "I have a potion I can make that may help. I'll go talk to Dagna and get started on it right away."

With the help of the soldier, Cullen managed to get Dorian changed into his sleeping clothes before dismissing the man. Cullen then stripped down to just his roughspun shirt and breeches and climbed into bed with Dorian.

Cullen wrapped his arms around the mage, pulling him close. Dorian tried to struggle but between Cullen's strength and the restraints he eventually gave up and just let himself be held.

Cullen nuzzled Dorian's neck, breathing in his scent. Dorian even smelled different now. Gone was the delicious Omega scent. Cullen leaned his head against Dorian's shoulder and began to cry. The last week since Dorian's kidnapping had been hard on both of them and Cullen just couldn't hold it back anymore.

Dorian seemed puzzled by this. "Why…why are you crying, Commander?"

"Because my heart is breaking," Cullen whispered. "I love you so much, even now. Even after everything. Maker help me, I still love you."

Dorian's breath hitched. "You do? Why ever for? I thought you hated mages?"

"Don't you remember anything of the past few months?" Cullen asked. "Since you joined the Inquisition?"

"Of course I remember! I joined because I knew your organization was my best way to fight the Venatori," Dorian stated. "That's exactly what we've been doing, along with the Inquisitor."

"What about us? Don't you remember anything about us?" Cullen asked.

"We have a cool acquaintance. I enjoy our occasional chess games together, but we rarely see each other beyond that," Dorian shrugged.

"Oh Dorian, my Love," Cullen sobbed. "Your father, he…changed you. His blood ritual turned you into an Omega and I was…compatible. We mated. I…got you pregnant."

Dorian turned in Cullen's arms, eyes wide with shock. "Are you mad? That's ridiculous. Can you hear how ridiculous you sound?"

Cullen chuckled. "Yes, I know how ridiculous it sounds but…" Cullen reached out and gently rubbed Dorian's belly. "There are two children growing inside you right now. Our children. We named them already…Mia and Felix."

Dorian reached down and placed his hand on his abdomen when just at that moment one of the twins gave a little kick. "Oh my," Dorian breathed. "I'm…pregnant?!"

Cullen nodded.

"Why can't I remember any of that?" Dorian asked.

"Your father," Cullen tried to explain. "He ambushed us on our way back from Honnleath. He kidnapped you, began to perform a ritual. He hadn't completed it but it seems to have affected parts of your memory and has damaged the bond between us."

"So what now?" Dorian asked.

"Dagna, she's working on a way to reverse whatever Halward did to you," Cullen said. "Will you allow it? Please?"

Dorian lay quietly for a long time.

"Yes," Dorian nodded. "I'll allow it."

"Good," Cullen said. "Thank you."

...

The next morning an urgent knocking came to their door. Cullen got up to answer it and outside were Dagna and Anders. "We think it's ready. May we come in?"

Cullen ushered them in, and went to gently wake Dorian. Anders first did another check on the twins and determined they were still alive, but still weak.

Dagna then came forward. She held two rune stones in her hand. "We need both of you to lie next to each other and place these stones over your hearts."

Cullen and Dorian followed the instructions. "Now what?" Cullen asked.

"I need to send a special healing spell through both of you," Anders said. "This will help begin to reform your bond."

Cullen smiled, relieved. "And then?"

Anders blushed. "Um well, then…you sort of have to make love to solidify the bond again. I'm hoping that won't be…too much of a problem?"

Cullen reached over to hold Dorian's hand. "Will that be okay with you, Love?"

Dorian was quiet for a long time. "Yes."

"Alright, then let's begin," Anders said, prepping the spell in his mind and slowly weaving the magic between the two men. The runes glowed brightly as the spell began to take effect.

Dorian cried out as the magic hit him and Cullen just held his hand tightly. Moments later Dorian looked around, first at Anders and Dagna, and then over at Cullen.

"Amatus? What's going on?" Dorian asked with confusion.

Cullen felt a wave of relief upon hearing the endearment. "We're just trying to re-establish our bond, my Love," Cullen said.

Anders reached down and removed the rune stones. "Alright, you know what to do Commander. Dagna and I will give you some privacy."

"Thank you," Cullen said happily, as he wrapped his arms around Dorian, enjoying the return of the sweet Omega smell.

"I'll explain everything later, my Love," Cullen said, pulling Dorian into a long overdue kiss.