Judy -thank you.

Greagoir was still glaring at me with enough force you would think him a mage summoning a typhon. It was difficult not to look at the floor guilty so when he barked Knight Rutherford's name I was startled and jumped slightly.

"Yes Commander."

"Cullen take the newest Grey Warden up to the stock room and requisition one travel pack and ten silver pieces. She may take any of her belongings that she can gather in ten minutes and fit into the pack. Then escort her back here. They will be leaving as soon as she returns. She is not allowed to speak to anyone. Is that clear? "

"Ten silver, Commander?" Cullen questioned.

Greagoir scoffed. "You heard me, Rutherford. I will not have it said that I let a mage starve. Ten minutes Knight Rutherford."

Cullen crossed his arms over his chest and bowed at the waist. "Yes Ser."

We wasted no time. Neither of us were crass enough to outright run in the Tower but he marched at a quick clip and I double timed it to keep up with him. We stopped in the apprentice quarters not sure if my belongings had been moved already.

They had.

"Do you know which alcove they were giving you?" Cullen asked frowning.

"Yes."

"Good go there, begin to pack your stuff. I have to take care of something in the library and I will get the pack on the way back."

"But."

"Please Ona."

I gasped at his use of my nickname. Only a few people were allowed the right. I had given him permission a year ago, but he had never used it before now.

As quickly as I could I walked to my new quarters and looked at them with a mix of misery and elation. I had finally gotten something that was mine and the Knight Commander was so angry he was throwing me out of the Tower in the middle of the night. And I wasn't going to get the opportunity to use it.

I had truly been looking forward to taking a bath in the privacy of my own rooms. In the apprentice's rooms it was eight girls to a bathing tub which made getting a chance to use it, a chance. I touched the metal surface and sighed. I was wasting time.

The Knight Commander had given me ten minutes and I was sure we'd already used five just getting up to the second floor and my new room. I wasn't as if I had a lot of stuff to pack. I opened the trunk placed alongside the bathing tub and pulled out the contents. Truthfully, nothing belonged to me personally except the small clothes. I neatly folded them and placed on the unmade bed along with the sleep shirt and extra robes.

When Cullen returned my alcove, he was out of breath and sweating. As he gasped for air, he handed me a leather pack with on strap that I assumed was to go across my body. I took the bag and carefully put my clothes.

When I turned back toward the Templar, he was holding a medium rectangular box out to me. I gasped in recognition.

"Did you go all the way to the Templar floor for that?"

"Yes."

I was confused. It was a gift from his family when he was assigned to the Tower. His father and brother had carved the pieces and the case that doubled as a board. His sisters shellacked the bard and pieces. And his mother sewed a velvet bag to put the pieces in as well as one to store the board in. "We don't have time for a game."

"No silly Mage. I wanted to give this to you."

"No. It was a gift from your family. It's important to you."

Cullen took a deep breath. He was never going to have this chance again. And while she was still a mage she was no longer under his care. "I want you to have it. I taught you chess with this set. You are very important to m…" Cullen lost his nerve to say what he wanted. "As a Grey Warden you are especially important to Ferelden... to Thedas. Teach the other Wardens to play it and think of me... I mean us. Here at the Tower."

I grinned he wasn't the most eloquent of men, but his heart was always in the right place. In fact, without him, I would never known there were good Templars out there. And most likely be dead at the hands of Byrnn.

I took the chest from him and put it in the bottom of my bag. "Thank you, Cullen. No one has ever given me anything before… I mean that didn't have a purpose. May I hug you?"

For a moment I could swear I saw terror in the warrior and then he looked right and then left and only nodded.

Cullen stiffly bent down so Rhiannon could wrap her arms around his neck pressing her full body against his. Only his Templar discipline kept his physical manifestation of desire under control. He had anticipated the way she would show her gratitude. And hoped for a repeat performance of this morning. This time he fully intended on participating.

The slightest of snickers under my breath as I put my arms around his neck and felt the pressure of his arms around my back and waist. As he turned his head away to get more comfortable in proximity, I took the opportunity and surprised him by pressing my lips to his.

For a moment he was so startled he stood there like a statue and then all at once one hand was pressed against the small of my back and the other one cupping my head, returning the kiss. I had kissed before, but it had never felt like this. And just as I was starting to enjoy it he pulled away and looked at me horrified.

He disentangled himself and ran out of my alcove. I don't think I had ever seen him run so fast. I am not even sure he enjoyed from the look on his face. Maybe he was just pitying me due to getting kicked out.

My time had to be up. It had to be more than ten minutes. I wondered if the Knight Commander would bring a column of troops to my room to escort us out. With a sigh I picked up the bag containing my clothes and my gift and realized I had nothing to contribute. The next mage would get this room and I would be a forgotten memory.

In the hall I found Cullen standing there in what I assumed was waiting for me. I would need to apologize. Not that it mattered as I was leaving but I didn't want him staying at the Tower beating himself up over the slip. "I am sorry Knight Rutherford. I took advantage of your kindness and replace it with vulgarity."

"No Ona. It wasn'… Don't appol.."

"Knight Rutherford do you not understand how to tell time. I said ten minutes. I am now looking at thirty. You are holding up their leaving." Greagior barked interrupting Cullen.

"But Ser, it's already the dinner hour. They are only leaving because…"

Cullen was silenced by the glare of his commanding officer before being dismissed. With no choice he bowed stiffly and walked away. I watched him leave wondering what he would have said.

Duncan cleared his throat to hide his amusement. "Come Rhiannon, your new life awaits."

He turned and strode away, and his sullen companion glared at me for good measure before turning to follow. I hesitated for a moment to follow him. Irving saw my struggle and gently prodded me into moving falling in step. He would walk me as far as the door and wish me a blessing for a happy life. I promised I would return for a visit when I could.

He told me he understood and not to worry too much about coming back just make sure I wrote regularly. I promised him I would waving I followed Duncan and the man out the large doors. For just a moment I stopped and looked around. This had been the first time I had been outside since I could remember.

Duncan called me for a second time allowing his amusement to show with a soft curling of the lips into a smile. "It's a long trip to Ostagar and more to see than your own front door."