Chapter 28:

Sylina completely avoided Alistair for the next few days. He wanted to talk to her, but every time he came close to her, or was even in the same room, she bolted. He shook his head as this happened when he walked into the library. He saw her talking with Leliana and when she saw him she blushed and practically ran from the room. Leliana looked up at Alistair and he saw a small nug tucked next to her.

"What did you do?" she asked, an amused smile on her face.

Alistair blushed and shook his head again. "Um...new pet, or dinner?"

"Schmooples is not dinner!" Leliana said quickly.

Alistair just blinked. "Right then..." He turned and walked out of the library. He wasn't sure how he felt about what had happened. He felt embarrassed, that was for sure. No woman had ever seen him...naked before. He only wished he could talk to her about it. He didn't want what had happened to scare her away. She was his fellow Grey Warden after all.

Alistair sighed. He knew that reason was not the only for him wanting to talk to her. Or even be in the same room with her. After the incident he had realized that he had come to care for her, and every passing day made him want to be closer to her, to know more about her. When she was near him he felt happier, calmer, more confident. He also wouldn't deny that the night the incident had occurred Sylina had played a prominent role in his dreams. Almost all of them were her trying to 'make up' for what she saw. He blushed just thinking about it. Maker if she knew she would likely turn him into a toad, and he wouldn't deny that he deserved it.

The next day the royal armorer came and Alistair was measured and told his armor would be ready within a week. He was happy to get something that would fit, as the breastplate he had been wearing from the Warden's armory was a little tight and chafed him. He missed his splintmail. Bhelen was sending supplies over every day. The day before he had sent enchanted water skins that would not run out while they were in the Deep Roads and the day before that he had sent packs enchanted to hold more and still be light weight. Alistair had to admit all of this would come in handy in the Deep Roads and out.

He was walking around the complex when he saw a dark-haired person turn a corner. He smiled despite himself and followed quietly. He saw Sylina enter the pantry and she was going through some of the stores, clearly looking for something to eat. He entered the pantry and walked up behind her and cleared his throat.

Sylina jumped and yelped as she hit her arm on a shelf. She spun and, seeing him, her eyes went wide and she blushed. "A-Alistair!" she gasped and he couldn't keep a grin from spreading over his face at seeing her.

"So...cleaning out the larder are we?" he asked innocently. "And here I thought you told me I ate too much." Sylina blushed deeper and looked down at her hands which had bread and cheese in them. She blinked and then smiled shyly up and held them out to him.

"Here you go...I'll...um just go." She went to move past him, but he blocked her way.

"No you don't." He saw her eyes widen and she took a step back. "Listen. I just want to talk to you before we leave for the Deep Roads. And since you've been avoiding me like the plague..." he shrugged and smiled down at her. Then he moved and took the bread and cheese from her hands. "I love cheese, you know that?" he asked, grinning at her.

"I...did not," she said, looking down at the floor.

He cleared his throat again. "Sylina, I-uh..." She looked up at him and then quickly averted her gaze. "I am hoping we can move on from...what happened...you're well...I care for you Sylina...and I..." He blushed and saw her bite her lip. He closed his eyes and sighed. When he opened them again he took a step away from her. "Perhaps it is best if we put this behind us...we can act like it never happened."

Sylina glanced up at him and nodded. Alistair nodded and sighed. He had hoped...but he saw that she wasn't ready for that. He moved away from her and she slipped past him out of the pantry. He saw her smile slightly as she left and couldn't hide the grin that spread across his face as he took a bite of the cheese.


Everyone was assembled in the courtyard waiting for Sylina. She hurriedly buckled the last clasp and smiled. She grabbed her staff and cloak and walked to the courtyard. As she entered it she saw Alistair turn to her and his mouth drop. She looked curiously at him and then down at her attire. Then she smiled. He walked up to her.

"Um...what are you wearing?" he asked, his eyes scanning down her new leather armor.

She chuckled. "You said I should have armor, so I had that royal armor dwarf make this for me. He made it from light leather so I wouldn't have to worry about getting tired. Do you like it?" She knocked on the stomach of the leather to show him that it was hard. He frowned.

"I-I thought I said you should wear more protection...not less," he said. He seemed to realize he had been gazing intently at her armor and he blushed and looked away.

Sylina looked down. The leathers were tight against her body and she couldn't wear a shift under it. She had to admit they were tighter than most of her robes. She had figured that was part of the protection. The leathers cut off at her knees – the armorer had said it would give her more flexibility, and since the Deep Roads were warm she had decided against wearing leggings. She wore leather arm bands that went to her elbow but no further and the leather armor itself showed off her arms. She hadn't minded and actually liked showing a little of herself. In the tower she was always bundled in robes with long sleeves. She didn't think, other than when she was sleeping, that she had ever worn something so revealing. She blushed but smiled. "Well I like it," she said, looking up at Alistair. "If it doesn't do its job...then you can complain." She chuckled and walked away from him.

They were walking toward the entrance to the Deep Roads when a red haired dwarf stopped them in their path. "I remember you," Leliana said from her place next to Sylina. Sylina turned to her with an eyebrow raised. Leliana blushed. "He was at Tapsters...that night. He is Branka's husband...or was." She whispered the last part. Sylina turned back to the dwarf.

"He, good to see the red-head'll be coming. Heh heh," The dwarf smelled like a brewery. "Names Oghren. And I hear you're going to look for the only living Paragon. Good to see those nug-humpers finally figured out what's what." He shook his head and looked up at Sylina. "Looks like you're the boss. Got it. Well I know where Branka was headed, and you'll need that information to find her."

Sylina nodded. "Good enough. You coming then?" She heard Alistair shift beside her but he said nothing. If this dwarf had any information that would help her get through this faster she would take him along. Plus it would never hurt to have another warrior along.

"Ha ha, I've been waiting two sodding years for someone to say that!" Oghren exclaimed and shouldered his great axe. Sylina nodded and headed towards the entrance to the Deep Roads.


"Did you hear about the Grey Wardens?" Cullen stopped in his tracks and turned to listen. He heard two apprentices whispering behind the shelves of the library. He silently approached.

"What do you mean?" one of the apprentices whispered cautiously. Cullen leaned in closer to the bookshelf. Sylina had left with the Grey Wardens. Sylina, he thought and his heart started beating faster. The woman he had loved from afar for so many years. He had berated himself for his feelings, because he knew nothing could ever happen. Nothing should ever happen. And yet something had...the kiss before she left. He felt a blush creep across his cheeks when he thought of the kiss. How he had wanted more, how he had dreamt for weeks after of what he had wanted to do. But no. He had stopped it. As he should never have allowed it to happen. He was a templar, and she a mage, and now a Grey Warden.

"I heard that enchanter Uldred talking. Seems the Grey Wardens betrayed the king and they all died in battle at Ostagar. Teryn Loghain was only just able to save his men from the Grey Warden treachery, but the king died." Cullen felt faint and grabbed the bookshelf to steady himself. Maker. The Grey Wardens betrayed the king. They all died. He felt sick and his mind was reeling from this knowledge. He somehow managed to stumble out of the library. He forgot what he was supposed to be doing, or where he was going. The only thing he could think of was Sylina, and the fact that she became a Grey Warden. She would never have betrayed the king, he knew that. But now...he tried to stop the thoughts, but he was picturing her. Broken and bleeding on a battle field. He felt his eyes water. No, he thought. No, she can't be dead. He tried again to push it down, to not let his feelings overwhelm him. He was a templar. She was a mage, and now she was dead. Maker no. He felt himself stumble into the chapel and he fell to his knees in front of a statue of Andraste. He looked up at the Maker's bride feeling helpless.

He sat there on the cold stone ground for what felt a lifetime, praying to the Maker and Andraste. He heard a small voice behind him and turned. A mage was kneeling in one of the pyres, her hands clasped as she recited some of the Chant of Light.

"The Light shall lead her safely through the paths of this world, and into the next. For she who..." Cullen got up and intended to leave, knowing that he needed to get back to his duty. That he would be reprimanded for dallying. He was about to leave when he glanced at the mage. She had white hair and on second look he realized he recognized this mage. She was one of the senior enchanters who had gone to Ostagar. His heart stopped as he stared at her. "The Veil holds no uncertainty for her, and she will know no fear of death, for the Maker shall be her beacon and her shield, her foundation and her sword." Wynne stood up and gave the templar a curious glance. "Can I help you young man?" She asked and he realized he had been staring open mouthed at the senior mage.

He shook his head and walked closer, he had to know. "Um...D-did you go to Ostagar?" he asked nervously wringing his hands as he approached her.

She gave him a look over and then sighed. "I did." She looked toward the statue of the prophet, "I only wish I could have done more." She closed her eyes and Cullen had a feeling she was seeing the horrors of the battle again.

"D-did you...uh happen to see...I mean while you were there...a mage...she was recruited to the Grey W-Wardens," Cullen blushed and looked at the ground. Why was he torturing himself like this?

The mage looked at him with a bemused expression and then she shrugged. "I did. I assume you are speaking of Sylina? Yes, I saw her. Helped her clean up after her trip down to Ostagar with Duncan." After a pause the woman added, "Why does she interest you?" A small amused smile on her lips.

"Ah...um. N-no reason. I mean...well I knew her...and I just wanted to see...I mean I guess it doesn't matter now..." He blinked back the emotions threatening to spill out. He wanted to know if she was alright. But this mage wouldn't know. And it was too much to hope that she had somehow escaped...not when all the other Grey Wardens were dead with the king.

Wynne eyed him and her mouth thinned. Finally, when Cullen was about to turn and leave she spoke: "I believe Sylina and another young Grey Warden were to light the signal fire in the Tower of Ishal. The light was lit, so I suppose she was alive then. But that is when the Teyrn quit the field...I do not know what happened to her after that."

Cullen stared at the mage. "S-she wasn't in the battle?" he asked, breathless.

"No. Not that I was aware of." The corners of the old mage's lips curved up slightly. "So I suppose there is hope yet." She then nodded to the templar and left the chapel. Cullen stayed there stunned for several minutes before realizing he would be in deeper trouble if he did not report for his next guard station and dashed out of the chapel thanking the Maker and asking him to watch over her wherever she may be.