It's tough to make the leap from the circle tower to after the Blight, however, it's not possible to write a story properly with Cullen as a centric part and a character you might still like. Therefore, Cullen and Aerowena's story must be told after the Blight.

Perhaps many people choose to eradicate the mages and side with the Templars, so they are unaware of Cullen's fate. I, however, couldn't bring myself to do that. Your "Cullen" will differ greatly depending on whom you choose to support.

-Spoilers possible-

After siding with the Circle, Cullen goes mad and kills 3 innocent apprentice mages.

For this story, Aerowena has faced a lot of hardship and is a very different person.

IF you haven't played a mage, I encourage you to do so to understand the lore behind this story (especially a female mage). Cullen is not always mentioned at the end of the credits, but this is how I understood him, the one time he was mentioned in my endings.

Cullen and Aerowena – Chapter 5 After the Blight

Death and destruction had marred her life for too long now. Duty had held her for so long she wasn't sure how to make decisions in her life without considering how it would affect it. Duty to the Grey Wardens, duty to the king, duty to Ferelden and her friends; it was constant and unforgiving. Today though, today is about her. Today she wasn't a warrior or a mage, she wasn't a Grey Warden. She was simply Aerowena, a woman come to claim what was hers – what she wanted.

She'd spent the morning like a lovesick schoolchild picking out the perfect robe, then dress, then robe again. She'd settled on white with silver threads sewn through the silk. She stared at her reflection, regretfully. She wasn't quite as beautiful as she once was. Scars marked her face in obvious places; across her right cheek and along her jaw. Her white hair was chopped short and she'd lost her little finger to an Ogre's belly. Her pale grey eyes no longer twinkled, and though she tried several times to blink it away, she could see the sorrow that lurked in them. Her skin was battle worn and it took weeks before coming here to get it close to soft again. She was still beautiful, but as she stared at herself, she saw a bit of Morrigan in the hardness of her eyes. Was that so terrible, she wondered?

She practiced a sexy, come-hither smile and realized it was brittle, if not a tad desperate. That once coy, sexy woman she was before the Blight seemed a million years away and unreachable. She'd lost herself somewhere.

Taking a deep breath she turned from the mirror and smoothed down her hair. She was off to find at least one piece of herself from so long ago.

The new Circle was as confusing as the old tower, even more so because Templars weren't posted everywhere. She wanted to take comfort in the fact that she gave these few mages their freedom. It wasn't only her sacrifice, many others contributed to give them the autonomy they deserved. She wanted to shake them and tell them to be worthy of their gift, but she could feel nothing but apprehension at the moment. Her stomach was doing so many flip flops she thought she might throw up on the first apprentice she saw.

Although she'd practiced what she would say to the High Commander, she still went over it again and again on her way. Her footsteps slowed outside his office and she found herself trying to catch a breath. She pressed her forehead against the wall and stared at its white and gold filigreed surface.

Change came so easily for her now, a wind blew and she could float one way, it blew again and she followed. But transformation, she realized, didn't come so easily to others. The Templars were already in a state of turmoil and now she would ask for another change…

He had wanted to kill every mage in the tower. His rage was so keen she could feel it pushing and straining against the makeshift prison. That is how she last saw the man she came to the tower to get. The man she knew to love too late. And now she, a mage, a Grey Warden, would demand him like so much livestock. But he must have some love left for her, some remnant of that man who stared at her so longingly night after night, day after day. After these years, if she could love…

She pounded her hand against the wall hard enough to bruise. These abilities had taken everything from her; her family, her right to a normal life, her life entirely was given up as Grey Warden. It couldn't take this from her! It wouldn't! She would make him see, make him love her again, make him forgive himself – forgive her.

Marching into the High Commander's office she stood defiantly with her chin high, eyes challenging "I wish Cullen brought to me".

He looked confused and a little wary and then cocked his head to the left. "Cullen?"

"If he is not here, has he been sent somewhere? I wish to know where, please."

"But, surely you don't mean who I think you mean?"

"Was there so many Templars named Cullen you cannot keep track?" Her voice was rose. How could they not have him here? She'd spent so much time to get here; she'd left the rebuilding to come. She'd left a very angry bunch of Wardens to come. And he wasn't here?

"No, but you must know…" he shook his head and then she saw understanding and apprehension in his eyes. "Cullen is a fugitive, Aerowena. There is a price on his head. He killed three mages before escaping the Tower. He hasn't been seen for at least a year"

Something twisted in her belly, sharp and painful. "But…" She shook her head. "How could you let that happen?" She demanded.

He moved back, stunned by her accusation. "I was not there! And even if I were, no one could have prevented this. From what I gather he was sure they were possessed."

" I meant the bounty!" she snapped. "How could you put a bounty on his head?!" She was furious and her heart was gripped. She knew she was being unreasonable but once again this damnable blight had taken from her. "Remove it, Commander! I will find him."

"Remove it?" He looked at her as if she was mad.

"Yes remove it, damn you to the blight! You cursed lot threw him to the wolves after all he survived." She was panicked, screaming at the top of her voice. She was panicked. "You dope him with Lyrium, drill into him about blood mages and abominations! You train him to kill mages with no remorse - to see us as subhuman." She couldn't stop herself now, she was banging his desk. His eyes were kind and full of pity which only served to inflame her more. "Did you help him at all? So locked in your hatred…" she choked off a sob.

"What have you done, Commander? What have you done?" She dropped to the floor in a heap, sobbing. She lay there beaten and more damaged than any fight with darkspawn had left her.

Her sobs grew quiet, the Commander hadn't moved or spoken in so many minutes. "Oh Maker, I didn't understand either, Commander." Her voice was quiet, far away. "I left him in the tower after Uldred because I didn't know. I didn't know, Maker help me. How could anyone imagine such evil" She was looking at him now, imploring him to understand.

"In Orzammar, I finally knew what they were capable of and what happened in the Circle with Uldred. What Cullen fought and survived. The things they do – what evil does - Commander, they will drive anyone mad. And he was locked up with them. You locked him up with them! And he fought off all of them – every sick twisted thing they could do. He was the only one left that didn't break. And when it was over, I betrayed him and you…you disregarded him." She had stopped sobbing now. He looked resigned and apologetic.

"So you will rescind that order, Commander!" She didn't ask, she demanded "I will find Cullen."