Mattox furrowed his brow. Was this just another dream or was she really there standing before him. He quickly assessed the situation, comparing it to his previous visions of her. He rocked back onto his heels and trailed his gaze down the length of her body then back to her eyes.

Unlike in his dreams, she wore leather armor–the kind most favored by the female archers of the Dalish tribes. Her leather top was cut low to reveal her ample cleavage and ended just below her bosom to expose her midriff. Because of her height, the armor's skirt was much shorter than it would have been on an elf to give a liberal view of her muscular thighs. She had lost weight since she left Kinloch, trading soft, supple skin for more lean muscle. It all seemed real enough, but he still wasn't sure.

"Sabrina?"

Her gentle smile put him more at ease as she reached out and placed her hand on his cheek. Mattox closed his eyes for just a moment to revel in the warm sensation of her touch. In his dreams, her hands always felt like ice. Now, they were exactly the way he remembered them on the day she left. His lips curved into a smile as he opened his eyes to gaze into hers again.

Her eyes shimmered against the torchlight. Was she about to cry? Her voice cracked when she finally spoke. "Mattox, you're alive. I was so worried."

Mattox opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by the sound of another voice behind Sabrina. "The boy is exhausted. And this cage…I've never seen anything like it."

The templar tore his gaze away from Sabrina to peer around her to see others standing in front of Cullen's magical cage. Sabrina had always been alone when she visited him in his dreams. This time, she was accompanied by three people that Mattox recognized. The companion whose voice he heard was Senior Enchanter Wynne. Another was a Chantry sister whom Mattox had seen in Lothering's Chantry when he accompanied a senior officer to find two female apostates rumored to live in the village. Although nothing came of that search and they didn't find any illegal mages, Mattox remember the Orlesian Sister with flaming red hair who stood out among the rest.

Sabrina's third escort was a man whom Mattox knew very well. As a matter of fact, the man was his best friend between the ages of ten and sixteen. They hadn't laid eyes on each other in years, but Mattox would recognize Alistair anywhere. Why would Alistair be there if it were just a dream? Besides, everything within Mattox told him it was real. There was no twisting of warning in his gut nor odd buzzing in his head like he experienced in many of his dreams. And even if it was all a vision, he was going to die soon anyway. Dream or not, at least this way he could die happy, with her there with him.

Before he could return his attention to Sabrina, he watched Cullen scoot on his knees to the edge of his cage and cry, "Please, I beg you…enough of these visions. If there is anything in you that has an ounce of humanity, please just kill me and stop these games. You broke the others, but I cannot allow myself to be taken. I will not give in…for the sake of my soul, for the sake of those whose lives you ended. "

Mattox wasn't sure what he could do for his fellow templar. The last few times he tried to talk to Cullen, to ease his mind, the blond man screamed at him and wouldn't stop. Fearing the sound would attract the attention of the maleficarum or worse, Mattox finally gave up and stopped going near the cage. Now, his own emotions and nerves were worn raw. It had been hours since he took the last of his found potions. Now, his brow was soaked with sweat and his limbs shook from his own lyrium withdrawal. He couldn't help Cullen. He couldn't even help himself.

Cullen continued to plead. "You have already taken everything from me. You have taken my pride by sifting into my thoughts and tempting me with the one thing I always wanted but could never have. You have used my ill-advised infatuation with her, a mage of all people, to break my heart, allow me to live out my darkest desires and make me realize my deepest fears. There is nothing left of me to take."

Then, the blond templar began to sob in earnest. "I am so tired of these cruel jokes…these tricks…these…"

Mattox rose to his feet to rush to the outside of the magical prison. Perhaps with the others there, his fellow templar would finally listen. He spoke to the blond man in a gentle, soothing tone. "Cullen, please calm down. I know what you've suffered, but we can help..."

The blond templar kept his eyes closed as he stood and straightened his spine. "Silence! I'll not listen to anything you say. Now Begone!" he boomed. He opened his eyes with a triumphant expression that quickly changed to one of shock and horror.

He backed up a few steps. "You're still here? But how? Why? That's always worked before. I close my eyes and the visions go away. They always go away. What kind of game are you playing now, demon?"

The templar tried the same trick before on Mattox, but his lyrium addled brain must have forgotten the incident. Mattox heaved a sigh and tried again. That's because we are real, all of us. We want to help you Cullen. Please, what can I do to make you see the truth of my words?"

"But how did you survive?" Cullen asked. His gaze darted to Sabrina. "And why have you returned?"

Instead of Sabrina answering, Alistair stepped forward. "We came to the Tower to ask the First Enchanter for his help with something. When we arrived, we found out what was going on. The four of us managed to defeat all of the abominations and blood mages on our way up here. Now that we have Uldred and the rest of the maleficarum in one place, it will hopefully make it easier to finish them off."

Alistair then regarded Mattox with an animated grimace. "I'm not sure about this jackass. He was already in the room when we got here. At least I think he was." He turned to Sabrina. "He wasn't with us the entire time, and I didn't notice until now, right? You know how I tend to miss things."

Sabrina rolled her eyes before shoving Alistair's arm. "Stop it," she hissed.

Mattox stifled a chuckle in spite of himself. It was just like Alistair to make a joke to lighten the mood in an overly serious situation. The templar was grateful for the respite. It put to rest any lingering doubts he had about the reality of it all. He returned his attention to Cullen who met his gaze. The blond man's eyes were filled with righteous indignation as his lips curled into a sneer.

"Then there is only one thing left to do." His voice sounded like the growl of angry beast. "You must kill Uldred. Kill them all for what they've done. They murdered our brothers in arms. Some they turned into monsters and then used the corpses of the rest to hunt down others on the lower floors. We both did our best to take the mages responsible down, but they overtook us. I don't know how you managed to stay alive, but they caged me like an animal and used every means imaginable to break me."

Mattox hung his head. The gnaw of guilt in his stomach wouldn't allow him to look in his fellow templar's eyes anymore. "I know they did. I forged for scraps from the corpses while you suffered then played dead when anyone entered. I'm sorry, Cullen. I guess I was a coward."

"I'm sorry too, Cullen," Sabrina whispered. "I can't believe any mage would be capable of such atrocities."

Cullen spat and released a bitter chuckle. "Yes, I felt that way too. Before all of this, part of me thought that we were too hard on your kind. I thought that you should be allowed more freedoms, that you weren't any more dangerous than anyone else." He shook his head. "How wrong I was."

"Cullen," Sabrina pleaded. "Please don't say that. Not all mages are evil or do evil things. We're just like everyone else. Some of us are good and some of us are bad. It's human nature that you fear, not the nature of magic."

The blond templar's contemptuous sneer deepened. "No!" He waved his hand in a chopping motion. "We are not the same. Only mages have that much power at their fingertips. Only mages are that susceptible to the infernal whispering of demons."

A blood-curdling scream coming from above interrupted Cullen's rantings. After a brief glance up the stairs, Wynne waved her hand through the air to let both he and Sabrina know that she wanted them to be silent.

""This is a discussion for another time and place," she demanded. Her voice softened as she addressed Mattox. "Irving and the other mages who fought Uldred, where are they?"

Mattox turned his head toward the door at the top of the stairs. "They're up there. The sounds that have been coming from the Chamber…" His body shook at the memory.

"We must hurry, Sabrina." Wynne said. "They are in grave danger. I'm sure of it."

"Please," Mattox said. "Allow me to lend my sword. I'm afraid I have a lot to make up for, and I would like to start by helping take out those who did all this."

Wynne's face altered to a sad frown. "I'm sorry, but I don't think that would be wise. Not just because I'm unsure I can trust you to stay your hand if needed, but because it's obvious you're in the throws of lyrium withdrawal." She tossed him a potion that he nearly dropped. "See, you're in no shape to fight. Drink that and we will return shortly."

"You can't save them!" Cullen shouted. ""They've been tortured by blood mages whose wicked fingers snake into your mind and corrupt your thoughts, not to mention the horrendous physical pain they can inflict."

Alistair looked at the blond man with pity. "Would you really want the blood of innocents on your hands?"

"He's suffered pain and anguish like few have had to endure." Wynne offered. "That, along with his lust for revenge, have obviously confused the issue."

Mattox drank the potion Wynne gave him in silence. He wanted to defend his fellow templar, but he couldn't. With everything he had seen and heard from Cullen over the preceding days, Mattox feared she was right. He felt guilty enough for his inaction that, instead of adding his voice to the argument, he walked to the stairwell and sat down.

"Do not presume to judge me, mage." Cullen hissed. "I am thinking clearly, perhaps for the first time in my life."

Sabrina appeared exhausted as she heaved a long sigh. "So, what is it that you propose we do, Cullen?"

The blond man lifted his chin. "In order to ensure that this horror is ended, to guarantee that no abominations or blood mages live, you must kill everyone up there."

Sabrina scanned the stone floor to her left. After several moments, she returned her attention to the templar with her brow pleated in sadness. "I'm sorry Cullen, I can't make that decision until I see for myself what's going on."

Cullen's shoulders slumped. "Maker turn his gaze upon you, then. I just hope your compassion hasn't doomed us all."

Without another word, he took a knee and clasped his hands in prayer again. Mattox didn't leave his perch on the steps. Instead, he simply leaned to the side to allow Sabrina and her companions to pass. On her way up, Sabrina passed Mattox another potion and offered him a small smile. He acknowledged her gift with a nod and a weak smile of his own before sliding the vial into a pouch at his waist.

After watching the party ascend the stairs and the door shut behind him, he considered dropping to his own knees but was too tired. Instead, he chose to remain seated as he said his prayers.

He prayed for forgiveness for his cowardice and self-preservation. He prayed for their rescuers' success and protection. He prayed for Cullen to find his way at the end of it all. Most of all, he prayed that his fellow templar was wrong.

Mattox knew the very second that Uldred had perished as he watched the magical prison surrounding Cullen flicker and fade. The other man was finally free of his bonds. At least it was something. His muscles felt stiff, and his bones ached as he rose from his perch to check on Cullen. The blond man had fallen to his haunches, and his eyes had begun to dart around the room like a madman's.

Mattox knelt next to his fellow templar and removed the potion vial from his pouch. "Here. Drink this. It will help."

Cullen began to softly weep. "No, nothing will help now."

"Please," Mattox insisted. "The Maker must have kept us both alive for a reason. I believe mine is to be here to help you. You wouldn't want to disappoint Him, would you?"

Cullen's face screwed up in quiet contemplation before giving Mattox a small nod. Mattox uncorked the vial then handed it to the other man. After a heavy sigh, Cullen drank it down then laid on his back with his forearm over his eyes.

"Thank you," he offered in a shaky voice. "I don't know what the Maker has in store for either of us, but I will stay alive and vigilant until He reveals my fate."

Mattox lowered himself to his bottom. At least Cullen seemed calmer than before. He peered up at the door at the top of the stairwell and wondered what exactly happened in that chamber. His question was answered when Sabrina and her companions emerged from the doorway with the First Enchanter limping behind them. Irving looked older than ever as he descended the stairs, holding his arm across his abdomen. It soon became apparent that out of all the mages were captured, the First Enchanter was the only one who survived the ordeal.

Cullen quickly rose to his feet and waited for the group to pass before falling in close step behind them. He must have decided to keep an eye on Irving. He apparently didn't trust the First Enchanter, and Mattox didn't trust Cullen not to do something rash.

With more effort than it should have taken someone of his age, Mattox rose and rushed to catch up with the others. He took his place behind Cullen and watched him like a hawk. If the blond man intended to harm anyone, Mattox was close enough to stop him if necessary.

When they arrived at the main hall, Irving related the tale of what happened to Knight Commander Greagoir. Sabrina and her companions corroborated the First Enchanters account, leaving Greagoir no choice but to allow Irving to retain his freedom with the full rights of his position.

Mattox chose to remain silent through the process, but Cullen kept interrupting. The blond templar raged about the danger of allowing Irving to go free and swore he had to be possessed by demons. When the Knight-Commander made his decision, Cullen completely lost his mind. He lunged at the First Enchanter and attempted to choke the old man until Greagoir broke it up. The Knight Commander ordered Cullen to his office and told him to wait.

As Sabrina and her companions were readying to leave the tower, Mattox watched for a moment when he could talk to the mage. He waited next to a stone column while Sabrina and Wynne spoke to the First Enchanter. Would she even want to speak to him? And if she did, what would he say?

Upon finishing her conversation, Sabrina and the Chantry sister Leliana headed to speak to the supply sergeant. Mattox couldn't approach her then–especially not in front of another templar. After her bartering came to an end, Mattox gathered his courage to approach her when the Knight Commander took his arm. Greagoir pulled him to the side and looked past Mattox for a moment before speaking.

"I have a very important job for you, templar," he began in a hushed tone. "I promised the Warden that I would send templars to aid in the battle against the darkspawn, but with everything that has taken place, I can scarcely afford to send a lot of men and leave the Circle vulnerable. So, I came up with a compromise."

A smug smile curled the man's lips. "I will send one templar with her. I told her that it was because I wanted to do something to help stop the Blight. What I really want, however, is to send a templar to keep an eye on her. I thought of sending Cullen, but he's a bit too unstable. You, on the other hand, seem to have kept most of your wits. Besides, with everything that happened up there, some time away from the tower would likely be good for you. I can only imagine the things you saw during your capture."

Mattox's brow furrowed. Alistair mentioned the magical prison after the Knight-Commander cut one of Cullen's rants short. Greagoir must have assumed Mattox was inside it too. Mattox chose not to correct the Knight-Commander. He may have been a coward, but he wasn't a fool.

"With everything that's happened here and to you," Greagoir continued. "I'm sure you've gained a deeper appreciation for our duties as templars and finally realize why mages can't be trusted."

Mattox remained silent but gave a sharp nod in answer. Where was the Knight Commander going with all this?

Greagoir cocked a brow to compliment his smug grin. "Therefore, I believe any newfound suspicion of mages makes you perfect for this job because I know you won't be too soft on any of them."

Mattox's eyes grew wide. Was the Knight Commander seriously considering sending him to accompany the Grey Wardens? Sabrina? His palms began to sweat beneath his steel gauntlets. He had to admit, he did harbor more misgivings about mages after everything he saw, but he didn't possess Cullen's animosity toward those with the gift. If it came down to himself or Cullen, Mattox knew the blond man was no option if there was to be any hope to end the Blight. Cullen would likely kill Sabrina and every other mage accompanying her in their sleep.

"So," the Knight Commander concluded. "I can count on you to perform your duties and watch the Warden and her mage followers as you would in the tower, then?

The muscles of Mattox's throat strained to swallow past a knot in his throat. How would he ever contend with the forbidden feelings he still harbored for Sabrina? Then it dawned him. The Maker chose to allow him to live. He had answered Mattox's prayers for he and Cullen to survive their ordeal. How could Mattox turn his back on his faith and his duty after that?

The short answer was, he couldn't. Any feelings he harbored for the mage would have to be set aside and forgotten. He would remain steadfast in the Maker's site and perform his duty as he was commanded and without question.

With a fist to his heart, he gave a sharp bow to his head to end the conversation with a resounding, "Yes, Knight Commander!"