A/N UPDATE: I forgot about time elapse, so I changed a word or two and fix the conversation with the First Enchanter...

Enjoy

Thank you Xaiael, here is a little something to keep you sane... *works on O.Y.L... quickly.*


Cullen left the elves a short time later to his room, he held the new chain he wore and looked at it with newfound interest.

He reached his room and started to pack his things for the journey, they would be going to Denerim, and he was to be their guide. Then the thought dawned on him, he had not asked permission from the Knight Commander nor did he know anything about the City.

The shy templar groaned inwardly and ceased his packing he went over to his bed sitting on the edge falling back slightly disappointed.

"I will have to let the Lady Deedo… know in the morning, as well as ask the Knight Commander." He pulled his boots off as well as his trousers, crawled under the covers and looked at the fine dragon the elder Deedo made, before slipping into a peaceful slumber.

In the Elven chamber, all was quiet – except Lili'Enyel's soft snoring, Deedo lay in the strange bed of the Circle thinking of the day to come,

"I will finally get to see you, the young woman that you are, and it seems that Cullen is enamored with you, truly." The high elf whispered closing her aqua eyes for the night.

~O~O~O~O~

"Cullen, if, and I know this is going to sound strange but, if we were not here in the tower and out in the world, do you think that we would see each other?" Deedo looked up from the book she was reading, to look at the back of Cullen's rust colored hair.

He shifted from his position near the door and turned to look at her, with a puzzled expression on his face.

"Why do you ask?"

Propping her chin on her hand she thought about it and then waved the book she was reading so he could see the cover.

'Fate.'

"Ah." Was all he could say, "Well that's tricky, I believe that people are meant to cross paths in life eventually, so I would have to say yes, IF we were out there... then it would be possible to meet." He leaned in a little closer as so no one could here, she smelled of Honeysuckle in the summer.

Deedo blinked and smiled, "Ser I always find something new about you every time we talk, and here I did not think that you believed in this, Oh mighty Andrastian, it goes against your teachings." She rose from her seat to get a snack from the kitchens. He followed her to face the door once more.

She stopped before him titled her head, with a smirk on her face, "I do believe you a blushing." She then pressed the book into his breastplate and left for her snack.

His face burned red as he watched her disappear down the hall. "Well, well someone has it bad." A voice sang-song from behind him, a tall blonde mage smirked as he watched the templar turn four shades of crimson inn three seconds.

The mage trotted off after the young elven woman leaving Cullen fiercely trying to regain composure.

~O~O~O~O~

Deedo was reading near the window in the grand library, where Cullen found her, she looked so peaceful and perfect, he did not want to disturb her reading.

"Deedolett?" Cullen tentatively called a few feet away from her.

She looked up placing her finger in the spot she last read, "Oh, hello." She had not heard him approach the book was too fascinating to put down.

"The First Enchanter asked if you could go to the nursery to see to the new twins that arrived." He looked at the book in her hand, then to her face.

"Twins?" She hopped down from the sill and handed him the book as she made her way to the door, "Oh, that book I will need back later, if you do not finish it first." She then hurried to the nursery

He turned the book over looking at the title, 'Lucid Fade'

Opening the book were she left off, 'Fade-walking' Cullen stood for a moment reading just a small paragraph.

'Fade-walking is a way to communicate to others by either being conscious or unconscious- close and vast distances. One must first master the conscious state before trying to communicate to those you wish to see. Be it a simple desire to see them, or they are in need of help.

It is a meditative process varying person to person, but once mastered, you can enter the dreams of others, and it will be as though you are standing there with them.

Every touch, taste, smell is more intense than the living world, it is also said that one can lose themselves to the feelings that they create or are provided.'

"Every touch, taste, and smell." Cullen's mind started to wonder.

"Oh Maker!" He blushed as he promptly marked the place for Deedo and returned to his duties.

~O~O~O~O~

Cullen awoke he slowly opened his amber eyes to the partly darkened ceiling, *Fade-walking, why would I dream about that?*

Seeing that he was not going to be going back to sleep, the sun was creeping casting colors of deep pinks and blues. He went to his dresser and pulled the books from their spot under his tunics, lighting a candle he sat back onto his bed and started to read.

~O~O~O~O~

~A week later~

Deedo still hadn't awaken from her slumber, The cleanup of Denerim started one week prior, Alistair had been busy early that morning, he found time to come to Deedolett's chambers, Zevran looked tired when he told the King that no changes in her condition have taken place.

Alistair took watch to relieve him and Leliana to watch her for a while.

She lay in the middle of the large bed, her fawn colored hair fanned on the pillows, curled near the tips, her full lips pink, her think black lashes shielding her warm aqua eyes, her color was no longer the pale ashen but back to the soft bronze he adored. Her hands clasped on her stomach.

Tears stung his eyes as he watched her, *She is so beautiful, even when she sleeps.*

Alistair pulled one of the chairs close to the bed to sit, watching her for any movement. The only thing that kept him sane to the fact that she was alive was the soft rise and fall of her breast.

*Please wake, you mean the world to me. Maker can you hear me, what can I do to bring her back from her sleep?* Alistair prayed by her side, he will give up the crown if it meant she would wake and forgive him.

During his prayer, he remembered that she said twice that she cared, once after she had him sleep with the witch, and right before she went into the state she is in now.

*Maybe she has forgiven me.* He looked up to see that she still hadn't moved, sadly he continued to pray for her to rouse from her slumber.

~O~O~O~O~

The tower was awake for those who had shift changes, and for the twins a kitchen needed to finding.

"Excuse me, could you summon Cullen in a half hour?" the younger of the two asked.

The templar nodded, "Making breakfast again, you girls are always up early."

"We enjoy it, see you later." The girls thanked him and soon found themselves in the kitchen.

The two of them asked if they could fix breakfast again for their companions and themselves, the cooks agreed as long as they cleaned up after themselves.

The twin wood elves worked quickly and quietly, the cooks watching in amazement at how fast the young girls worked. Quickly they made breakfast and enough for everyone else, the first floor of the tower smelled of bacon, eggs, fresh sweet bread, and porridge.

When they finished they cleaned and set a table for their selves and the others. Tenkou ran to the garden – after asking if there was one, and picked flowers for each table, Ruoni ran to get Deedo, Xellexes, and Lili'Enyel.

Cullen was summoned by one of his brothers to head to the kitchen, cleaning himself quickly and dressing he hurried to the dining hall and was greeted by a place at the table with the strangers.


The girls were serving the older elves food and dished some for Cullen as well - once they saw him nearing the table, "Thank you and good morning." He greeted when he sat.

"Do you mind if we grace our food, Cullen?" Deedo asked pouring a drink for herself.

"No, not at all." He bowed his head, clasping his hands in front of him.

The elves chanted in unison in their native language, 'Tunare our Blessed Mother, protect our steps, guide us with you loving spirit, we children who are apart of you.'

It was so moving that the others in the dining area looked on, the sounds that came from them was like soft music, or a tender embrace.

Cullen said his praise to the Maker and waited until they began. Deedo looked over at the man that joined them and smiled,

"Elvish a language as ancient as we are whom we pray to, our Mother- Tunare, she created us. What I has said was, 'Tunare our Blessed Mother, protect our steps, guide us with you loving spirit, we children who are apart of you." She finished explaining hen popped a honey roll into her mouth.

Cullen found that their language was beautiful, and felt saddened when he thought of how the other elves must feel. The dining area consisted of mostly young apprentices, who happened to be elven.

"You know our Lady speaks several other languages as well." Tenkou spoke up before serving Xellexes another couple of strips of bacon.

"Really, what languages are those?" The Knight Commander sat next to Lady Deedo and the twins served him food, not sure how to react he grunted slightly.

Noticing his discomfort Deedo quickly eased his mind, "I apologize, the young ones love to be helpful. As for the languages I speak two forms of Elvish, Ogre, Troll, Halfling, Erudite, Dragon, Gnomish, and Dwarven…" she continued to list the one that she knew and corrected Xellexes on the ones she was still learning.

Ruoni spoke up shortly after, "And she taught us. But our Ancient Elven – what we just spoke, is mainly used for prayer and to talk to the Gods and Goddess."

"Ah, I have a bit of news." Greagoir interrupted, "I had just received word that the First Enchanter will be here mid-day, I ask that you wait until his arrival to depart."

Deedo nodded, "That will be fine, I would like to speak with him. Before I forget and drag Cullen with me, would it be alright if he accompanied us for a time?"

Greagoir looked at Cullen who sat ramrod straight and continued eating, "I do not see why he shouldn't, he is in love." the older templar ate him meal quietly.

Cullen looked up from his plate, slowly turning a deep pink color. The twins giggled, Lili shushed them, and they ate in comfortable silence the remainder of the meal.

~O~O~O~O~

~Mid Day - Circle~

The sun was high in the sky as the group of five elves and one human lounged outside among the others of the Tower. Cullen was in casual dress, a pair of tan cotton trousers and off white tunic, he sat near Deedo, while he watched the other elves and saw how the Circle inhabitants seemed to get along, some more than others did, but the peace was refreshing.

Deedo had worn a robe from the Tower, the senior magi robe fit like a glove, Lili dressed in doeskin pants and fitted tunic, taking target practice of the nearby tree with several templars.

Tenkou tended to the garden, in a robe of the Harrowed mage, showing the gardeners how to do so properly- using her magic to grow some under developed crops.

Xellexes was sitting meditating in a robe of deep blue and green he left open to flow behind him, he attracted a lot of attention from several other magi – mostly female, who sat in the noon sun, with permission.

Ruoni happily twittered with the birds as she sat amongst the branches, playing her flute treating them all to a merry elven tune- wearing a dyed green doeskin leathers so she would blend into the branches.

Cullen was still continually having the same dream, curious about the dream he had and he felt it odd that the nightmares stopped - relived he was no doubt, as he had peaceful dreams of certain books he had received from Deedolett.

"Lady Deedo, what do you know about Fade-walking?" He started as he looked to the clear blue sky.

Deedo turned her gaze from Tenkou to her new friend, "Well… we do not call it 'Fade', if it means the same as dream then I can say that to dream-walk is a way of communication. Why do you ask?"

Cullen felt comfortable around the Norrathians, "I had these dreams, and, it was when Deedo had given me a few books."

"And one was about dream-walking?" Deedo asked softly, placing a hand on his shoulder, "maybe she is trying to tell you something."

"Deeds look." Lili'Enyel called her leader over.

"There, some people are gathering near the bank across the lake." Lili pointed as she retrieved her arrows from the bark of the old oak.

Deedo looked across the lake shielding her eyes from the sun, "It seems to be a number of people, Cullen, are they magi who left?"

The templar stood dusting himself off to see who they spoke of, looking from the poor vantage point he shook his head slightly "I cannot tell from here, but the number looks to be the same that left."

A sudden gust of wind swept past him as he continued to look on.

When he faced the High Elf woman on his right she was not there, in her place was a transparent mist in the form of a woman, her hair danced about the sky as she stood, he was so startled that he stepped back and fell over the edge of the cliff.

"Cullen!" Deedo called out, she quickly flew down catching his hand, carrying him on the winds that surrounded her to the banks on the other side.

"I'm sorry I should have warned you, I am a shape shifter as well." She explained to the astounded man floating nervously next to her.

Pale and shaken just a bit, he nodded hesitantly and watched as she changed to her solid form once more, soon as they touched ground.


Once on the banks across the tower, the other magi and the First Enchanter looked on in wonder,

Deedo looked directly at the First Enchanter and extended her hand in greeting,

"Hail, I am Deedo Swiftleaf and I had been expecting you. My companions and I have come to find Deedolett." She turned and nodded at Cullen who regained some of his color.

Irving looked at the woman before him, clasping forearms, "I see, we are a little weary from the travel, can we speak inside?"

"Oh, of course… where is the transporter, or stairs?" Deedo looked around, "Can you all levitate, no that will not work, your mana is tapped, how about shape shift… no, that will not do either." Deedo muttered to herself in deep thought.

Cullen patted her shoulder she turned to him and shook his head no.

"Oh! I am sorry. Right explanations later." She stepped back, ready to change again.

"I'm going to change now." Deedo nodded to Cullen, she changed into a red wyvern and flew to the ledge were they had been before.

Flapping her wings in her friend's face she shifted to her natural form, "Xelle, I need a hand, the people are here, and there are no stairs, can you make a set? I'll help." Deedo asked her friend.

"Of course." He stood walking to the ledge and waited for her to change to lift the waters so he could freeze it.

Deedo cast a levitation spell, walked off the edge, she stood about mid way from the Tower, black waters started to stir, the others from the bank looked on amazed as they watched the waters swirl.

The small boat rocked as the waters rippled, Deedo shifted once more into a water nymph- much like the wind nymph, and she set to lifting the waters to make a beautiful aqua staircase.

Xellexes stood at the end of the cliff, summoning a glacial spell his fingers emanated a chilled mist as the warm air hit his hands, with out stretched hand he froze the water as Deedo lifted and held the waters in place.

Chuckling slightly she proceeded to conjure the water into a railing and he followed the path she made chilling the water into solid panels. Once near the bank the magi gasped and pointed and tentatively walked up the stairs and into the tower for much needed rest – not looking a gift mabari in the mouth.

Xellexes chatted with a few of the other elemental magi that questioned his power. Cullen followed behind once the last mage ascended the steps.

Deedo stopped Cullen with a hand to his shoulder, "What has you so afraid of magic?" She asked once all the others were out of earshot.

Cullen tensed, "Could we talk about it later?" he did not want to go into it right then, and he definitely did not want to think about it. Last night was the first night he had not had the horrible nightmares.

~O~O~O~O~

~First Enchanter Irving's Study~

"Thank you for the meal and drink young ones." The senior mage wiped his mouth, thanking the twins who served his meal they left the adults to talk and headed back to the kitchens.

"Irving, these people are from a place far from here, but that's not really the subject they wish to speak to you about." Greagoir stood at the edge of the Old Magi desk.

Deedo nodded, "Yes I am here about Deedolett, my daughter."

"Your daughter? She is currently in Denerim, she is the Hero of Ferelden, and presently asleep." He chose his words before he spoke.

"Asleep?" Deedo sat silent for a moment, "You mean she is unconscious?"

"Err...Yes, she passed out after she slain the Archdemon." Irving answered.

"I see through certain traumatic experiences we tend to sleep... Xellexes, Lili, go pack, Cullen gather the twins and your things we are leaving now. The dream you had been for a reason." Sending the others out of the room, she told the tale of her land, coming to this land - and how she lost her only child.

Irving insisted that she stay and explain the use of her powers without a focus staff, He wanted to learn about the world the child he watched for the past several seasons comes from.

He sat and listened as Deedo explained that they come from a land where there is magic existing everywhere, controlled and monitored but nothing like the land they are visiting, she stated that she is proud that her offspring had been able to aid the land and hope that it will bridge a gap for magi and non-magi alike.

Irving felt this woman from a distance place could possible bring about positive changes- with time but changes nonetheless, he give her all the information that he knew, and shown her work like a proud teacher.

Greagoir filling in the mischievous side of the young elf girl they both told Deedo of Deedolett's nature towards others and with Cullen, when none thought they saw, within the Tower.

How quickly she passed her Harrowing and how she defended a friend turned Blood Mage, Deedo absorbing every word and smiled, so much she missed but now she knew what to expect, providing her child wakes.

~O~O~O~O~

A week had past since their arrval and once everyone had packed Deedo gathered the girls from the kitchen- placing the food they cooked for travel in their backpacks exited the Tower with the First Enchanter, Knight Commander and a host of templar and magi to see them off.

The summer night was cool and comfortable, a wonderful night for travel, saying good - bye to the people who kept one of their own safe for years was bittersweet, to know what it had been like for their kind, both elven and magi knew that in some place Deedolett was accpeted in some small way.

Cullen said good-bye to his fellow templars and Irving, "Good luck my boy, I have a feeling these people will keep you safe." Irving gave a tired smile.

"May the Maker watch over you. Say hello to Deedolett for us, will you?" Greagoir clapped him on the back as Culen agreed with a slight blush and smile.

The High Elf woman smiled, and then shimmered into an elegant light blue and white, serpentine dragon, with what sounded like clicks and groans the others translated.

Xellexes nodded as he turned to face the others, "My Lady has said that she thanks you for your hospitality, the care for Deedolett, and accepting us into your home."

Lili'Enyel spoke next, "We will see each other again soon, be safe, and well."

The youngest spoke last, "May our Goddess and your Maker forever guide your steps." They all climbed on her back and headed to the city of Denerim.