A/N Sorry that this took so long, but I has been a strange time and I have my cheerleaders cheering me on, thanks guys. So here is the newest chapter, just finished today!

Enjoy!


Morning came to the small camp days away from Denerim, the Twins were up warming the food they packed the day before, Xellexes was checking on the wound Deedo gotten during the skirmish. The women left a short while later to clean themselves by the River Dane before heading out towards the main road.

By the river, the women sat gathering water for the rest of the trip also to smoother any remaining embers of the fires from the night before.

"I will head back to camp we need to get moving Deeds." Lili'Enyel called as she carried a make shift pail to douse the smoky ash mound.

Deedo tied the end of her long braid to keep it from coming undone, "We are all packed as it is, we will be closer before nightfall." Calling to the Ranger as she stood, dusting her travel cloth off she heard rustling coming from towards her.

"Ruroni, Tenkou… girls?" She hesitantly called, knowing they like to pull pranks every so often.

"We are right here, do you hear something?" the twins came on either side of the tall High Elf.

"Yes. Stay here." As Deedo stepped forwards, she shifted into a short raven-head human. The rustling grew louder as she continued to walk further into the wood.

Scanning the forest she saw curled under the trunk of an old hollowed out tree a small figure.

"Hello, are you well, injured, where are your parents?" Deedo approached the huddled form of the figure.

The figure turned its head to the sound of Deedo's comforting voice, "They are after me. Please help me." It was a young boy no more than nine seasons, Deedo had gauged when she held out a hand to the boy helping him to his feet.

"Who is after you, have you committed a crime?" Deedo brushed some dirt from the cloth the child wore and pulled bits of twig from his reddish brown hair.

"I was hungry and I took a bit to eat from the town that way," he pointed behind him showing the direction he came from,

"Some of the farmers got upset and are after me, I'm sorry….." the boy trembled as tears trailed down his dirty cheeks, she took his hand and gave him a good look, she could see minor cuts on his small hands.

'The boy welds a blade.' Deedo thought to herself.

The boy was thin and dirty, he looked to have been running for days, "Have you eaten or had a good night rest?" Shaking his head, Deedo led him to the water. "What is your name, mine is Deedo." As she led him to the water to clean his grubby fingers and face.

"Vy'el Mahariel." The boy answered, shortly after they approached the campsite the others stood with their horses awaiting Deedo.

With the child in hand the two of them talked along the way, she learned that he was traveling with his parents and monsters attacked their wagon several days prior, his parents did not survive.

~O~O~O~O~

Walking to the broken down campsite Deedo – still in human form- walked up to the others,

"Deedo?" Xellexes raised a curious eyebrow at the child she held onto tightly, the others turned and look as well, the twins smiled at the little boy as Deedo presented him to the others.

"Vy'el, this is Xellexes, Ruroni and Tenkou, Cullen and Lili'Enyel, they are my family and everyone this is Vy'el he lost his parents to monsters and was seeking refuge within a hollowed tree. I hope we do not have any objections to him coming with us. Maybe he has a family member where we are headed."

It did not matter either way what the others thought, he was a child who needed help, and they all silently agreed to have the boy come with them.

Cullen looked at the boy then to Deedo, Vy'el studied each of them then when his hazel eyes settled on the armor slung on the back of the horse and hid in Deedo's cloak.

"Vy'el what is the matter there is no one here to harm you." Deedo soothing voice calmed the child enough to look from the folds of the cloth and shyly came from behind her.

He smiled shyly at Deedo, "Daddy always hiding us because mummy cast magic. He would show me the men that could take her away from us." The boy pointed to the flaming sword pressed into the metal of Cullen's breastplate.

Deedo went to explain that Cullen is a different Templar, she then went to take a bit of food and drink from her pack, handing it Vy'el she watched as he gobbled it up with a full belch from the boy she smile and summoned her horse as well.

Deedo situated her packs shrinking them to fit on the inside of her cloak, she shrunk Cullen's armor as well, "It will be easier to travel, are you well Cullen?" Deedo walked over to man placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Was it something I said?"

The look on Cullen's face told it all, he swallowed and shook his head slightly, "I hated her that day, I wished her and those like her dead." He hung his head ashamed for the evil that came out of his mouth, from his months of tortures within the Kinloch Hold tower.

"Cullen we need to talk, Lili, my sweet the child is a blade wieldier maybe you can teach him a few things, you as well Ruroni." Squeezing his shoulder she made sure he would later speak with her.

"Vy'el I just have to let you know, that I do not look like this," The dark haired Deedo said with a smile, her figure shimmered and there stood once more the tall High Elf.

Vy'el's eyes went wide as she shimmered into her natural form, "Your like mommy!" the boy smiled as he held on to the horn of the saddle, With a pleasant smile she then took the reins and all of them took off once more towards Denerim.

~O~O~O~O~

After making his rounds for the day and seeing that all business within the Blighted lands tended to Alistair was finally able to visit with the elven mage still slumbering in the castle.

Sten and Ruoni kept silent watch over the woman as she slept, when the door opened Ruoni turned and growled slightly.

"It is just me Ruoni." He closed the door quietly behind him, walking up to stand at Sten side, he looked at her still face, he prayed every night to the Maker that she wakes, her cheerful laughter and charming personality was sorely miss amongst the men and women who traveled across Ferelden to cull the Blight.

"Has there been no change?" he asked the quiet giant, reaching down he stroked her cheek, noticing her hair is slightly lighter – 'Must be my imagination.' He shook the thought and sighed as he placed his hand over her's.

"Kadan still sleeps the sleep from battle." Sten stood to leave it was obvious he too was concerned, even if it was something he was far from capable of showing, before the door closed Wynne stepped in with Zevran close behind carrying a small tray of broth.

Zevran looked up to the man who became his friend during their travels, and rival for the sleeping Deedolett's affections.

"Mi amigo, you need to rest as well, we will not leave her side until we know she will recover." Zevran placed a hand on Alistair's shoulder, then patted it lightly. Seeing that his eyes had lost their shine and deep blue circles started to form under the man's eye.

They were all tired, the constant vigil over the one that brought them together was exhausting, they took their rest when they could but they also wanted to make sure that incase she woke from her slumber there would be someone there to greet her.

Wynne waved her hands over Deedolett and nodded a short while later that she was just sleeping but still in a deep state of unconscious.

The older woman smiled softly then turned to speak to the two men in the room, "Have you noticed her hair is growing longer and the color is growing lighter?"

"I thought that is was just me, can you let me know if you notice anything else, I think I will take Zev's advice and try to rest." With a nod of the older woman's head Alistair took one more look before he left for a nights rest.

~O~O~O~O~

Walking her horse next to Cullen's she nudged him with her elbow, "Care to talk now?"

Cullen cleared his throat, "It had begun a month after Deedolett was sent from the Circle. Uldred, and Wynne with several other Senior magi and full magi came from Ostagar. They had come back with news of the defeat of King Cailan his armies and… the Grey Wardens."

~O~O~O~O~

Cullen had woke the day after the others had come in, he hurried to his post, overjoyed with the thoughts of seeing the woman who makes his heart skip beats, overheard a few of the mages while he was on duty – near the library.

The Templar - thinking that Deedolett had returned with the rest and anxiously waited to see her smiling face after her forced departure, that all had perished on the fields of Ostagar.

He went numb, stumbling as his heart tightened in his chest 'Deedolett was with them, is she among the bodies at Ostagar?' Cullen's mind repeated over and over, she was gone never to return and he would never again see her face except in the fade.

Knight-Commander Greagoir was summoned to see to Cullen, rushing to see the man in a catatonic state slumped against the wall staring blankly at the wall before him.

"Carry him to the infirmary, and then fetch the First Enchanter. Cullen, can you hear me?" Greagoir then asked the magi who stood about gaping like fish what exactly happened.

"We were talking then he… collapsed." Finding the three magi were speaking of he understood immediately what Cullen's stupor was pertaining, and even the Knight-Commander himself took pause when he heard.

A while later Wynne stood speaking to Irving and Greagoir, "What caused his condition, I have never seen anything like it." She spoke looking over at the – now sleeping- form of Cullen, it had taken them a while to rouse him from his initial shock, he had not said a word, he just quietly cried to himself and went to sleep shortly after.

Irving tugged at his grey beard and sighed, "Deedolett has died with the other Grey Wardens at Ostagar." Wynne stiffened, she saw the young elven girl there the night before she and the others were given word to return home from Loghain himself.

"Cullen was… is in love with her. He has taken it hard, I think he should be reassigned to a different station." Irving finished looking at the Senior Templar.

The Knight – Commander nodded his head, "I will have the others keep an eye on him for any changes." And with that the older Templar left the two magi.

"I cannot believe it, I just saw her, she was so bright…." Wynne folded her arms and hung her head slightly.

Irving agreed and patted her on the shoulder, "Uldred has asked or a meeting in a few days." Wynne nodded her head and walked to check Cullen before she turned in for the night herself.

~O~O~O~O~

"It took me a few weeks to cope with the thought of her no longer living, but then within that time Uldred had slowly turned several of the magi who came back with the others from Ostagar, and several of the apprentice magi into maleficers, Blood Magi."

Cullen paused once more before he continued, "Slowly the whispers started, and then the demons. The magi following Uldred played and toyed with those who did not want to turn to their ways, myself, and several of my brothers tried to get as many of the others to safety but the demons and abominations continued to slay them."

Deedo continued to listen quietly, only stopping for a few to see Vy'el nodding off in the saddle. Climbing behind the boy, she held him so he could nap in her arms. She nodded to Cullen for him to continue.

Cullen took a drink from one of the skins of water, and continued to tell of the nightmare he had endured.

"We had reached the upper floors, and they were covered with blood, bodies and demons, many of my fellow Templar went to the Maker that day, but the few of us who did survive caught the culprit…

~O~O~O~O~

Cullen stood inches from Uldred and could not move a muscle, "I see what you are thinking boy." He held a bloody finger to Cullen's ear, the warm cooling blood dripped onto his skin and Cullen could feel it creeping in the canal and his mind.

Uldred stood smirking at the Templar, "My dear, your Templar wishes to see you." Uldred left to the Harrowing chamber.

Before him stood Deedolett, her bright smile lit the room she rushed over to Cullen and laid his head on her breast, "Cullen I have missed you so much." Her voice was warm as she stroked his hair tears trickled from his eyes, as a lump caught in his throat.

"I …thought you… died." He choked out finally raising his arms to wrap them about her waist. He buried his face into her bosom did not care who saw, he missed her, and the Maker answered his prayers, he was able to look at her and hold her.

"I was not, I am here. I do apologize for Uldred he can be a bit dramatic. I hope he has not harmed you?" She took his face in her hands and kissed his cheek.

Cullen slowly opened his eyes and looking back at him was a pair of black eyes with his reflection looking back at him "No…" he gasped, and he tried to pull away, the grip on him was strong.

"My Templar what is the matter, are you not well?" the voice of Deedolett started to shift slightly.

"No…" with every ounce of energy he pulled himself free from the woman in Deedolett's form.

"Why are you acting this way?" She demanded of him, Cullen found a sword laying a finger width away "You are not she, begone!" he held the sword tightly in his shaking hands.

"You are being silly, put the sword down and hold me." She took a step closer, and he saw the eyes no longer black but the aqua color he never gets tired of.

~O~O~O~O~

Puzzled slightly he blinked for just a second and found himself dressed in plain clothing, standing outside of a nicely kept home, there were fields in the back full of wheat shooting up towards the warm sun.

He looked around and Deedolett was standing at a lake a little off to the side of the field, her back turned and the sun causing her sable lock look like melted chocolate.

Cullen smiled and walked over to her, "Deedolett, where are we?" he continued to look around and take in the view, everything was pleasant, the wind swept across the golden field and tussled her hair that brushed her shoulder, and when she turned around his heart stopped.

Her belly was large and round, as she smiled up at him, "Have you forgotten husband, we are home, have you seen your son, that boy has run away from me again." She looked about rubbing her swollen belly.

"S-s-son… I….w-we?" His hand went to her belly as the sound of laughter caught his ear, the boy in question came bouncing from the field and latched onto his father's leg, "DADDY!" the boy squealed,

"There you are you silly boy." Deedolett chastised him playfully.

Cullen looked down in disbelief, he picked the boy up he had his hair color with Deedolett's eye color, he looked human, but his face looked elven. Deedolett smiled at the two of them, "I need you and Elowyn to fetch apples for a pie I plan to bake." Deedo kissed the boy and then Cullen, her lips were cold.

Cullen blinked and her eyes were black again, he turned to look at the boy in his arms and his eyes changed black as well, dropping the child the boy made the horrendous sound imaginable. Deedolett shrilled at Cullen causing the man to cover he ears in pain.

He screamed at her in turn, "You are not her!" He could not take the screaming it was deafening and he wanted it all to stop, looking around he spotted a axe left in the stump he reached for it, and the hacked the child and Deedolett.

~O~O~O~O~

Cullen woke with a start, his heart racing and tears pouring from his eyes, the touch of a gentle hand rubbed the side of his face shushing him and bidding him to slumber once more. The hand was cold against his skin, and he knew if he opened his eyes, 'she' would be there.

Not taking the chance he reached up and pulled her head close to his, and with a sickening twist broke her neck, pushing the body away he looked and saw Deedolett lying there, eyes fogging over with death.

"It's not you…," he whispered repeatedly as he sat up, and then he felt another hand on his shoulder, Cullen sobbed and then he broke…

~O~O~O~O~

Cullen continued on, "When I finally saw her again she pleaded with me that she was no demon and that she came to help save the tower and myself, I refused to listen. I dammed her and all the magi, and told her that she should kill all of them to ensure that no other Blood Magi walk free."

"She defeated Uldred and tended to me even though I shunned her, I had suffered, the Blood magic worked over on me, It gave me what I always wanted but could never have and because the demon who posed as your daughter was not she, I killed her… repeatedly."

"We Templars take lyrium to sustain our abilities to subdue magi, and I had not received the amount I would take, and it had been months that I was kept prisoner, locked in a perpetual nightmare of what I wanted and what wasn't." Cullen hung his head, as the horse stopped he looked up and saw the others stopped as well.

Deedo pulled her horse close to Cullen's and with a warm smile took his hand, "We are here for you, this lyrium you take, do you need any now? We will also find you a cure for it if need be."

He looked around and saw the others agreed as well, the twins were blotting their eyes, Xellexes rode next to him and clasped his shoulder.

Lili'Enyel gave a half smile nodding as she trotted by, "Deedo is right, you are in our care and we will help you anyway we can." Lili and Xell trotted up ahead, pointing out the blackned land on their right.

Deedo gave his hand a squeeze and gestured for them to continue on, the sun was setting slowly and they could see the path clear and the Blighted lands in sight.