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Guardian 9:33 Dragon- The Gallows

Adrianne gazed wearily across the healer's room one night. The dim glow from her dying candle created an eerie atmosphere, ghostly almost. The air was thick and still; every sound can be heard, every breath, every step echoed in the night time halls. The templar's ever present watch, their ever so watchful eyes, intensified during the dark light. Their gaze ever more blood curdling, and scrutinizing. It was as if these walls held the essence of what the templars were.

It was Adrianne's third week in Kirkwall. Tonight was the fourth night in row she was without Guinevere by her side. Her dear friend lay in her cot sick. Kirkwall was making Guinevere sick. That much Adrianne was sure of.

Guinevere had told her once that not every bad thing that happened was Adrianne's fault. Now, Adrianne couldn't help but think that. Guinevere wouldn't be here if not for her. In a way, it was Adrianne's fault that her friend was suffering.

If something were to happen to Guinevere, Adrianne would never forgive herself. No one should suffer because of her. If Adrianne couldn't help her, then she had no right to be having Guinevere in pain because of her.

Of course, none of that mattered now that they were here. Things...were different in Kirkwall. Even the mages were a curious sight. Always on edge at the sight of templar. Some even jumped at the sight of one their own.

Trust no one was the motto here. The second was to never be alone, which led to where Adrianne now sat, alone in the healer's room.

There was a reason why many healers refused to work the night hours. And there was a reason they put this burden on the newest member of their inner circle. A sacrificial lamb.

For Adrianne, she was their lamb. The not healer to them. Not that anyone listened to her when she said she wasn't a healer. Rather, they just assumed Adrianne was some untrained newly Harrowed mage who had no business being a healer. Apparently, Adrianne's words fell on deaf ears.

If they only knew what she was capable of, of what she did, those assumptions would be put to rest. However, all they saw was a mage with crutches. A nobody.

Adrianne put those thoughts to rest as she remained fixated upon the entrance to the room. No one could enter without her knowledge or take Adrianne by surprise. She was ready. Every fiber and muscle she possessed was tense and awaited to strike or flee. Her staff ready for anyone who would come through to harm her. Anyone.

Time slowed as armored steps lurked towards the door. Adrianne breathing quickened as those steps ventured closer and closer. It felt as if fate was delaying the inevitable. Like it wanted her to die of anxiety or fear. Fear.

Adrianne's mind toyed with her fear of the unknown. It came up with different possibilities of what lay beyond that door. Some less frightening than others. Others terrified her out of her senses. The way the mind worked.

However, what her mind did not plan for was the ghost from her past walking in.

Adrianne gaze hardened when she saw the person who crossed the threshold. Of all times to show up, the Knight Captain choose now to make his appearance. In the dark and alone with her. Perfect. Not suspicious whatsoever.

Adrianne tensed slightly as he made his way into the room. She kept her steel grip on her staff to be ready.

Show no weakness.

The Knight Captain sat himself across from Adrianne, making sure she was in the light where he could see her. They watched each other with narrowed eyes and steady faces. Neither let their guard down. Adrianne stared at the wall behind his head as she felt his eyes fall upon her. The thick air between the two was suffocating and restricting. Adrianne let out the breath she had been holding and forced herself to release the tension her body had built up. Her hands rubbed the weariness out of her tired face and Adrianne rose her head slowly to meet his gaze once more.

Their eyes clashed. Brown vs hazel. A duel of resolve and strength. A test to see who would give in and name their self the more fearful. Both would never do such a thing. They saw themselves as equals in that respect.

With her eyes still holding his, Adrianne spoke firmly, "What are you doing here?"

Knight Captain Cullen replied with the tone, "I could ask you the same thing. Kirkwall. Of all the circles you came to Kirkwall,"

Adrianne laughed bitterly as she rolled her eyes. The way he made it sound, it sounded as if Adrianne WANTED to come. As if she knew he would be here. Because having lost contact over the last three years and the end of their relationship meant absolutely nothing. No, Adrianne was here to torment him. If only he knew how she felt about all this, then it wouldn't seem so suspicious.

"Don't flatter yourself," Adrianne retorted before she turned away from him. She grasped the rings hanging around her neck lightly before continuing, "If given the choice, I would leave now," Adrianne cast him a sideway glance and with a even voice, she said, "I don't have the luxury to get up and leave,"

He scoffed at her answer "Unlike you, I don't have the luxury of knowing when a mage is going to attack or smile as I walk by everyday,"

Adrianne collected herself, and remembered what Enchanter Bryant had said of people:

Man is cruel, and man is vain. They won't feel a bit sorry if one less mage was removed from this world. So long as people such us continue to be oppressed, they don't give a damn what happens to us or who hurts us. You have to understand that.

"Maybe they would trust you more if you give them reason to. We ," herself included, not the Kirkwall templars at least. Her trust lay with Guinevere only, "don't trust you because you don't think of us as living creatures. Lock us away from the world we were born in that's the templar solution," Adrianne replied.

Her words had the punch and impact Adrianne had foreseen. The Knight Captain let out a sarcastic laugh, "Of course you would say that. You're no different than the rest. You mages would have no restrictions at all,"

Excellent...right were we left off.

Adrianne tightened her fist around her staff to hold her anger back. It took every ounce of energy within her to not yell at how ignorant he was of the mage's plight. He may have valid points that some mage's abuse their power, but to sweep the injustices mage's experienced on a daily basis was unacceptable.

Her jaw clenched, and with a voice dripping with fury, Adrianne replied, "Well...," Lorelai's empty eyes stared at her from across the way, from the deepest depths of Adrianne's memories. She still haunted Adrianne's dreams, "this place is perfect for you then. A nice fancy title, ruling mages with iron fist under the command of the righteous Knight Commander Meredith. Life seems to be looking up for you," Adrianne looked him straight in the eye, " I don't expect you to agree with every single thing a mage spews out their mouth because I don't either. You feel very strongly about magic. That it's a curse and we're abominations waiting to happen. However, you are never this room..." Adrianne trembled, but she pushed through regardless, "when a mage mother has her babe torn from her arms shortly after birth. Tell her, Knight Captain in all your rightful templar ways that she deserves her child being taken away from her. That it's her fault. If you can come up with an understandable explanation," Adrianne shrugged, "then maybe you're right about us after all,"

Adrianne watched him as the Knight Captain remained silent. There was no reason. None that were good at least. For some odd reason, Adrianne was glad he had some compassion left in him. Or at least, he couldn't come up with a decent argument against her. Whatever it was, she was hopeful of him.

Were they together much longer in Ferelden, Adrianne could've been Lorelai looking for her child beyond those doors. Neither of them could've done anything to stop it.

Adrianne softened her gaze slightly before speaking again, "That could have been us. In another time that would have been us," she sighed and stared at the ceiling, " I'm glad it wasn't. You would see that child not as your own, but one with magic tainting their blood. That's all you see now. You see me as that. You view all of us as such,"

Silence fell upon the two. Everything that had to be said was said. There was no room for question now. They both laid down the lines on where they stood. From what Adrianne could tell, they were in two different worlds. Opposite ends of the spectrum. They were no where near coming to any common ground.

Different times. Different situations now. There was no turning back.

Knight Captain Cullen finally spoke, "Why didn't you tell Meredith? ," he looked to her with gentle eyes reminiscent of that sweet time, "You were right there. You could've casted doubt in my ability to remain faithful to the Order. Make her question her Knight Captain's resolve. Why didn't you? You had every right to" he asked softly.

For a short moment, he was the Cullen Adrianne grew fond of. The one that young girl in the lake fell with all those years ago. That moment, however, was gone in a flash.

"Because believe it or not, I cared for you once. From the time we were children I cared. Just because we don't agree doesn't mean I have to hate you. To your people, you're a good man who embodies what the templars are: devout, faithful, brave. You believe in what the Order stands for. It's your life...," she paused when a realization dawned upon her. Something that was vital to who he was, "...and even now, you would lay down your life for an innocent. That will always remain...and it will always be something I admire about you. Even as you are at present," Adrianne admitted.

For a single second, their eyes held each other not in suspicion or mistrust, but in genuine care. A slip up on both of their parts. One that they both swept under the rug quickly as they snapped out of whatever daze they were in.

Things were not the same between them.

Knight Captain rose to leave, but gazed at Adrianne's face before walking away without another word and shaking his head.

Adrianne could make out words he was muttering under his breath as he left:

"Get a hold of yourself. Don't be blind as you were before. You exist for a reason"

Reunited, and it's not so good! :D. Cullen in DA 2, as we all know, is EXTREMELY paranoid of magic. For good reason. So hopefully he came across as such.

What else...oh yes! Don't expect Adrianne and Cullen to get back together anytime soon. It's unrealistic for them to get back together so soon.

Also, for anything that might make some readers uncomfortable, I will post a warning at the beginning each of those chapters like I did last chapter. I don't think there will be many of those, but just in case.

So story time: I made Adrianne's mom in Dragon Age: Inquisition today and I literally had to put my controller down for five minutes because I was struck by how beautiful she was! #I'mhopeless!

Once more, thank you to all my beautiful readers. You guys are awesome! Remember you all are wonderful and I'm your biggest fan! :)

See you next time!