Hello readers! I hope you enjoyed the first chapter! Cullen and Nadia finally confessed their feelings for each other, but where will it lead now? I hope you enjoy the chapter as we see how their relationship takes a new turn, but will it be for better or for worse? Keep reading to find out! ~ladyinquisitor93

The next four days were filled with nothing but rain. The roads were flooded from the onslaught of rain and unsafe to travel, so Nadia and Cullen were forced to wait out the storm. Stuck in their room, there wasn't much to do. Nadia had brought a few books with her, so she read through them to pass the time by. Cullen had gone to see if he could find something, so Nadia was alone in the room for a bit. When he returned, Cullen smiled and presented a small board and a box.

"Would you care to play a game, Nadia?" he asked, setting the board on the table in front of the fireplace.

"Sure. I haven't played in a long time, so you would need to take it easy with me." she replied, setting her book aside.

Cullen sat across from her and smiled. "I won't make any promises."

Nadia pulled her legs up onto the chair and watched as Cullen set the chess pieces. When he finished, they began their game.

"As a child, I played this with my sister." Cullen said. "She would get this stuck-up grin whenever she won- which was all the time. My brother and I practiced together for weeks. The look on her face the day I finally won…" Cullen sighed. "Between serving the Templars and the Inquisition, I haven't seen them in years. I wonder if she still plays."

"You have siblings?" Nadia asked. "You never talked about them before."

"Two sisters and a brother." Cullen said, leaning forward as they began to play.

"Where are they now?" Nadia asked.

"They moved to South Reach after the Blight. I do not write to them as often as I should." Cullen replied, then moved his piece. "Ah, it's my turn."

Nadia smiled. "Alright, let's see what you've got."

Cullen smiled at that and they began to play their game. They played for a while in silence as they each concentrated on their next moves and how they wanted the game to play out.

"This may be the longest we've spent time together." Cullen noted. "To be honest, I appreciate the time I get to spend with you."

Nadia giggled. "We should spend more time together like, even after we return to Skyhold. I'm rather enjoying this."

Cullen, surprised, looked at her. "I would like that."

Nadia blushed and smiled as she made her next move. "Me, too." She said, tucking her hair behind her ear.

Cullen noticed that she had on a pair of pearl dangle earrings. He smiled and looked at the board. "You said that. We should… finish our game. Right. My turn?"

They continued to play their game until Cullen sat back in defeat. "I believe this one is yours. Well played, Nadia."

Nadia smiled. "I rather enjoyed the challenge of defeating you." She said coyly.

Cullen smiled at that. "Perhaps we can go another round? The rain hasn't let up yet, so we have the time."

Nadia smiled. "If you would like, then prepare the board."

Cullen smiled back. "Of course." he said, then reset the board and readied the pieces.

Nadia watched as he set the pieces. "So, did you want to travel to South Reach to see your family?"

Cullen looked up at her. "What?"

"You know, after we reach Highever?" Nadia said. "We'll be traveling sixteen days from Rainesfere before we reach Highever and it'll take about thirteen days to get to South Reach from there. You offered to come with me to see my family, so let me offer the same."

Cullen gestured for her to make the first move. As she made her move and he made his, he thought about what she offered. "I'd like that. It's been years since I've seen them. I'd appreciate it if we took time to go and see them."

Nadia looked up and smiled. "Of course. You and I are in the same boat, Cullen. We haven't seen our families in a long time, though you forced me to go home after Kirkwall fell."

Cullen looked up at her. Her smile had faded and he was surprised that still bothered her. "Nadia, I told you before I sent you home to protect you."

Nadia sighed. "I know, but I could have helped rebuild the Circle, help those who got caught up in the fighting. I could have stayed with you."

Cullen looked down and moved his next piece. "I know, Nadia, but I was worried the reinforcements would punish you because you were a mage. I didn't want you to get hurt."

Nadia looked at him. "Cullen, let me ask you something."

Cullen looked up at her. "What is it?"

"If you remember at all, I wanted to ask you about what happened at the Circle, before I went to Starkhaven." Nadia said, looking down at the board and making her next move.

"What? When we kissed?"

Nadia nodded. "I really cared for you and you seemed to care for me too, but then I was told you had informed the First Enchanter and Gregoire about our kiss. What was it to you? Did it really mean so little to you that you had to expose it to those in charge? Were you that afraid of being reprimanded?"

Cullen looked at her in disbelief. "No, not at all. That kiss meant everything to me. For once in my life, I found a true moment of happiness."

"Then why, Cullen?" Nadia said, moving her final piece into place and winning the round again. "Why would you tell them?"

"You have to understand that being a Templar meant everything to me." Cullen started. "I enjoyed the moment we shared, but you are a mage and I couldn't risk everything I believed in to pursue anything with you. There were rules and I have always done what was asked of me, always followed the rules set out."

Nadia stood, not sure how to react. "Being a Templar was more important than your own happiness?"

Cullen stood and came to her side. "At the time, yes, it was. I always wanted to be a Templar, since I was a boy. I used to beg the Templars in Honnleath to train me, to teach me what they knew. When I showed promise, they recruited me and sent me for proper training."

Nadia ignored him and looked outside. The rain was still a down pour.

"Nadia, look at me please?" Cullen said, touching her shoulder.

Nadia turned and looked at him. "Fine. Tell me this then: what am I to you? I won't be toyed with like you did at the Circle."

Cullen was taken aback and racked his brain for a good answer that wouldn't sound like an excuse. "Nadia, I regret ever making a mess of things between us. I only tried to do my duty and I have regretted it for years. You were all I could think of, even when I was trapped in that barrier erected by the blood mages when Ferelden's Circle nearly fell to demons. You were all that kept me going, kept me from losing myself. You still are, Nadia. I care for you more than I ever thought possible."

Nadia sighed. "Cullen, I want whatever this is between us to work."

"What do you think it is?" Cullen asked.

"I don't know, Cullen! I am confounded by you! I don't know how to talk to you, act around you, be anywhere near you without getting flushed or my body becoming hot and just aching to be near you. I truly don't know what we have together." Nadia, said looking desperately to him for answers.

A knock came at the door and Nadia went to go answer. Marilee greeted her when she opened the door and handed her a letter. "This came for you, miss. They said it was urgent."

"Oh, thank you, Marilee." Nadia replied, taking the letter.

Nadia closed the door and opened the letter, going to sit on the bed as she read. Cullen came to her side and waited as she finished reading the letter.

"Is everything alright?" he asked, putting a hand on hers.

Nadia nodded and stood and began packing her things. "Mother and Father have started to take a turn for the worse. Fergus says they don't have much time. I need to get to Highever quickly."

"Let's leave in the morning, Nadia. Maybe the rain will clear up by then." Cullen replied, standing.

Nadia shook her head. "I need to go now, Cullen. I have to get there before it's too late."

Cullen grabbed her hand and stopped her for a moment. "We should wait, Nadia."

Nadia looked up at him with tears in her eyes. "I can't, Cullen... I haven't seen them in ages and I have to be there to say goodbye when they die. I have to go now..."

Cullen hugged her and sighed. "Alright, then let me go pay for our room and let the innkeeper know. I'll be right back, OK?"

Nadia looked up at him and nodded. "OK."

Cullen smiled and wiped the tears from her eyes and kissed her forehead. "Just wait here and I'll be back in a few minutes."

Nadia nodded and watched as Cullen left the room and hurried down the hall. She quickly got their things packed and made the bed, glancing outside. It was still raining hard, but Nadia didn't care. She had to see her parents one last time.

Cullen had paid for the room, informed the innkeeper of their departure, and asked the stable boy to ready their horses before returning to the room. Nadia had finished packing and had put her cloak on and had put out the fire and was ready to go. Helping her carry their bags downstairs, Cullen followed Nadia to the front desk where they bid farewell to the innkeeper and his family, thanking them for the accommodations and service. They wished Cullen and Nadia luck and told them to be careful in the rain as they set out on their travels. But that was hours ago.

Cullen and Nadia urged their horses as far and fast as they could go before they wore them and themselves out. Nadia had erected a barrier around them to try and shield them from the rain, but it took a lot of energy out of her to maintain it. They had cut three days travel time off their journey, but were still over a week away. As they slowed the horses down and looked for a dry spot they could make camp, Nadia spotted a cave nearby. They hurried over and Cullen dismounted to take a look inside. Nadia lit a torch for him and he took it into the cave and found that it was a shallow, empty cave big enough for a small platoon. Nadia dismounted and led the horses inside, then turned and used her magik to create a wall of rock to close them inside the cave, hidden away from the rain and potential darkspawn or bandits that may be in the area.

As Cullen started a fire, Nadia set their bags near him, then set about taking the saddles and other gear off of the horses. Setting them next to their bags to dry by the fire, Nadia took out a couple apples and gave them to the horses before she healed the small abrasions and blisters on their hides.

"Sorry for pushing you two so hard. You did good, though. Now take it easy and get some sleep." she said stroking the horses noses. They huffed and nuzzled her, grateful for the treat and the healing.

Nadia went to join Cullen by the fire as he laid out their bedrolls. She shivered in her cold, wet clothes.

"We should, uh, get out of these wet clothes." Cullen suggested, blushing.

Nadia nodded. "Are the blankets at least dry?"

Cullen nodded. "Yes, and so are the bed rolls, thank the Maker, and our other clothes."

Nadia shivered again. "Let's hurry and get out of these clothes, then. We can't afford to catch a cold."

Cullen nodded and turned his back as Nadia turned hers and began to strip off his armor and clothes. Nadia stripped out of her clothes and boots and set them next to the fire to dry. She caught a glimpse behind her as she pulled her dress over her head and blushed when she saw Cullen standing- back still to her- naked. She never realized how toned his muscles were. She grabbed her clothes and quickly dressed before she began grabbing Cullen's clothes. Blushing, she laid the underclothes, pants, and tunic over his shoulder and looked away as he turned to thank her. When Cullen looked behind him, blushing a bit himself, he saw Nadia bright as a cherry as she sat down and busied herself with the bedrolls and blankets. He quickly got into the dry clothes and went to join Nadia by the fire.

As they sat there in silence for a moment, enjoying the warmth of the fire, Nadia lay back and pulled the blanket over her shoulders. She turned to face away from Cullen, trying to think things over. She wanted to tell him how she felt, how much he meant to her, but she didn't want to be toyed with, not again.

"Nadia?"

She pretended to be asleep, not wanting to really discuss things with Cullen until they figured things out. Behind her, Cullen sighed and lay back, sensing she simply didn't want to talk. He settled in to sleep and stared up at the stone ceiling of the cave. He hoped the weather picked up in the morning, and that perhaps Nadia would be more willing to talk to him.

The rain had finally cleared up and the sky was beginning to go from dark gray to blue gray. Nadia had made them breakfast and packed their things while Cullen fed and readied the horses for travel. Once they were ready, they mounted up and headed out as Nadia dissipated the stone wall she had created. They rode hard until they reached Redcliffe Village where they fed the horses, rested them for a bit, restocked their supplies, and readied to head out again. When they rounded the south eastern part of Lake Calenhad and passed through Lothering, they were a little taken back when they saw the ruins and the decay from when the village had been overtaken by darkspawn during the last Blight over ten years ago. The people who once lived there could have come back and rebuilt, but from the state of what was left of the village it was best that they didn't. Quickly passing through the small village, they started making their up along the West Road and were glad to have shaved off another three days from their travels. Thank the Maker for their horses.

"Cullen, since we're traveling along the West Road, why don't we stop by South Reach first?" Nadia asked, looking at her map and realizing how close they were.

Cullen looked at her. "Are you sure?"

Nadia nodded. "It'll be just another day's ride or two from here and we can rest the horses before we press on. Thanks to this breed of horses, we've been able to nearly cut our travel time in half. If we stop in South Reach, it'll be two weeks normally to reach Highever, however at our current rate of travel, we should be able to reach there within eight to ten days."

Cullen smiled. "If you're sure, then let's stop there. We can stop by my sister's home while we're there."

Nadia folded the map and put it away. "Then it's settled. Once we reach South Reach, we'll rest there for a few days and let the horses recuperate. Sound good?"

Cullen nodded. "Always."

They pressed onward, hoping to reach South Reach soon.

Children laughed and ran around the yard as their parents watched nearby. One of the children looked up and pointed just down the road. "Mama, look!"

Rosalie Rutherford stood and went to the gate, looking out at the road. "Branson, we have travelers!" She called to her brother. She stepped out onto the road and stared in disbelief. "Branson, Mia! Come look who it is!

Her brother and sister came down to meet her and stared in surprise as Cullen and Nadia rode up to the house on horses. Cullen waved to his siblings and jumped out of his saddle when the horses slowed.

"Cullen?" Rosalie asked.

"Hello, sister." Cullen replied with a smile. "It has been far too long."

Rosalie ran to her brother and threw her arms around him. "Oh, Cullen, it's so good to see you!"

Cullen embraced his sister and smiled. "It's good to see you, too."

"Now, now, Rosalie, save some of our dear brother for us." Mia said, smiling.

Rosalie stepped back and smiled. "Sorry."

"We're all excited to see our ever elusive brother back home after so many years." Branson said, chuckling.

Mia hugged her brother and stepped back as Branson took his turn. "It has been too long, Cullen."

"Forgive me, but I have been busy." Cullen said, chuckling.

Branson stepped back and chuckled. "Yes, as a Templar and as the Commander of the Inquisition. You have been busy indeed, saving the world."

Cullen clapped his brother on the shoulder and smiled. "Well saving world would keep anyone busy."

Branson smiled, then looked behind Cullen as Nadia slid out of her saddle. "And it would seem you have a companion with you?"

Cullen looked at Nadia and smiled. "This is Nadia Cousland. She's a good friend of mine."

Nadia bowed her head. "Hello, it is a pleasure to meet you. Cullen has told me much about you."

"Wait, you're a Cousland? Does that mean you know Queen Elissa?" Rosalie asked.

"Aye, Queen Elissa is my cousin." Nadia said.

"Well, now, there's something you don't get to hear every day." Branson said. "What ended you up with this poor sod?" He jested, smirking at his brother.

"Cullen and I first met at the Circle of Fereldan, but we've been working with the Inquisition for several years now." Nadia said.

"How'd you end up in the Inquisition?" Mia asked.

Nadia looked at her. "That's a long story."

"Perhaps one better suited for over dinner?" Rosalie suggested.

Cullen nodded. "We'd love to stay for dinner."

"Perhaps Nadia can help me?"

"If you'd have me, then of course. It would be my pleasure to assist you."

Mia and Rosalie gathered the children and led Nadia inside while Cullen and Branson took care of the horses. Mia sat with her husband and Branson's wife as they watched the children, Cullen and Branson with chopping wood for the fire, and Nadia helped Rosalie in the kitchen as they prepared a roast, potatoes and carrots, bread, and several other delicious dishes- enough to serve an army.

As they worked, Branson looked up at Cullen. "So, brother, what's the story with you and Nadia?"

Cullen looked at him, blushing a bit. "We've known each other a long time."

Branson chuckled. "You're blushing." he teased. "I think it's great you found someone to make you blush like that. Does she know how you feel?"

Cullen shook his head. "I told her when we were stranded in Rainesfere. We're heading towards Highever to see her parents. They're very ill and don't have much time left, but Nadia needs to see them before they go. I offered to go with her, but as far as me telling her how I feel about her, there are things she still is upset about that have happened over the years."

Branson nodded. "My condolences then. You should make things right with her, though, before you return to Skyhold. She seems like such a nice girl and it's easy to see how much you care for her."

"I want to, but her parents are more important right now."

"I understand. What even happened between you two?"

Cullen sighed and began to tell him all about Nadia and what happened between them. Inside Nadia helped Rosalie and Mia with dinner.

"So, you and Cullen...?" Mia asked.

Nadia blushed and shook her head. "No, we're not."

"I know that look." Mia said. "It's the same look Rosalie had when she met her husband the first time. You love Cullen."

Nadia blushed even deeper. She didn't know what to say.

"What even happened between you two?" Rosalie asked.

Cullen was still outside with his brother, so Nadia told the two women everything that happened from the night she first kissed Cullen to the day she saw him again at the Temple of Sacred Ashes.

"Cullen, I wanted to talk to you about something." a young Nadia said, blushing as she walked into a secluded part of the library.

"What is it, Nadia?"

"I really like you..." She started. "You're one of the nicest templars here and you've always looked out for me. We spend a lot of time together and I can't help but feel a bit attached to you."

Cullen blushed and looked at her. "R-Really? I, uh, feel the same way."

Nadia smiled. "I know our roles keep us apart, but you mean a lot to me. More than a friend would. I just wanted to tell you that."

Cullen smiled and pulled her in closer. "Nadia, you're all I think about sometimes. I can't get you out of my head."

"Cullen..."

"I don't want to ever let you go."

"Then don't."

Cullen leaned down and kissed Nadia, his lips gently brushing against hers. It was a soft kiss and it seemed right. He smiled down at the young mage girl and tucked her hair behind her ear. "I should go before anyone starts to get suspicious."

Nadia nodded and smiled to herself as Cullen disappeared around the shelves and headed out of the library. She hummed happily to herself as she searched through the shelves to find the book she was looking for.

The hours went by and it was quickly the next morning. Nadia was called into the First Enchanter's office and felt her stomach knot when she saw the Knight-Commander there as well.

"You asked to see me, First Enchanter?" Nadia asked, her hand clasped behind her.

"Yes, thank you for coming, my dear. There is an issue that must be addressed." Irving said, looking at her from his desk.

"What might that be, sir?" Nadia asked, hoping it wouldn't be about her and Cullen kissing.

"Don't play dumb, girl." Gregoire said, his tone harsh. "We know about you and Cullen."

Nadia's face flushed and went pale at the same time.

"Your silence is our confirmation, girl. This is fraternization and will not be tolereated." Gregoire said.

"You are to be transferred to the Circle of Starkhaven, effective immediately." Irving said.

Nadia was at a loss for words. It was one little confession of affection, one little kiss. "I understand. If I may, First Enchanter, who told you?"

"Cullen."

"Cullen did what?" Mia asked, dumbfounded. "How could he do that to you?"

"Being a templar and following the rules was more important to him." Nadia said.

"What happened when you went to Starkhaven?" Rosalie asked.

"Well, they transferred me to the Circle of Starkhaven, then after the Blight ended and the refugees began to pile in, they transferred some of my students and I to the Circle of Kirkwall. That's when I saw Cullen next."

"Knight-Captain, the first group of new transfers from Starkhaven have just arrived." one of the templars informed his superior.

"Very good, thank you." The Knight-Captain rubbed his neck and went to greet the new transfer mages. They were to be getting a lot more transfers to the Kirkwall Circle Tower from Starkhaven- too many refugees apparently. He saw at least six mages in this first group and they all seemed to be clinging to one mage in particular. The mage looked up at him as he approached and her eyes widened.

"Cullen?"

Cullen stopped in his tracks when he realized who the mage was. "Nadia?"

Nadia managed a smile and made to hug the templar, but she stopped herself before she could and a sudden flashback of their kiss and his betrayal popped into her head. "What are you doing in Kirkwall?" she asked, her smile fading.

"I'm the Knight-Captain here. After what happened at the Circle of Ferelden, I needed to get away and make a fresh start, so I came to Kirkwall." Cullen explained. "Come, I will show you to the Circle Tower. You are to meet with First Enchanter Orsino."

Nadia led the other mages as she followed Cullen to the office of the First Enchanter. The Gallows, the name given to the courtyard that separated the mages' Circle Tower from the Templars' headquarters, was eerie and frightened the younger mages that clustered around Nadia. They were just children that she had taken under her wing, children from Ferelden who had lost their parents during the Blight and fled to Starkhaven. She was their teacher and when they were to be transferred to Kirkwall, Nadia asked to go with them to ensure that they made it their safely and were looked after. She had heard the rumors about Knight-Commander Meredith.

"Excuse me, First Enchanter, but the new transfers are here. I've brought them to you as requested." Cullen said, knocking on Orsino's office door.

"Very good, thank you Cullen." The elf said.

Cullen looked at Nadia as the children entered the office. "It's good to see you again after all these years, Nadia."

Nadia managed a smile at that, despite everything that had happened. "It's good to see you, too, Cullen." She went into the office and closed the door behind her, leaving the Knight-Captain alone in the hallway.

Six years had passed since then and Nadia had begun to grow closer to Cullen. When they Qunari invaded and attacked Kirkwall, Nadia had gone with some of the senior mages to aid the Templars and the City Guards in stopping the Qunari. She ended up saving Cullen from one of them and started to heal his wounds as the Knight-Commander came over to them.

"What is your name, girl?" she asked, a coldness to her voice.

"Nadia, Nadia Cousland, ma'am."

"You fought well today, Nadia. Not many mages here have done enough to earn my respect and gratitude, but you have tonight. I am in your debt for what you have done for the city tonight. Please take care of the Knight-Captain and when this is all done with, come see me in my office." Meredith said.

Nadia was dumbfounded, but agreed and went back to treating Cullen as the Knight-Commander went with someone named Hawke to retake the Viscounts' Keep.

Cullen winced and groaned at the pain in his shoulder as Nadia tried to remove the armor to get to the wound.

"By the Maker, Cullen Stanton Rutherford, I swear that if you don't sit still and let me heal you I will turn you to stone and throw you into the harbor!" Nadia said, snapping at him.

Cullen stopped fidgeting and looked up at her as the anger dissipated and was replaced with caring worry. "Nadia..."

"After all these years, I still have to patch you up. I'd have thought you'd learned by now." Nadia said, using her magik to her the gaping wound on his shoulder.

Cullen sat there, looking at her as she healed him. She had grown a lot in the years since she left the Circle of Ferelden. Her hair was longer, her cheeks were more defined and not as chubby as they were when they were younger, her figure was more well defined and curvy than before- especially her chest, he noted. She went from being this adorable and cute young little teenager to the gorgeous woman before him. He blushed when he thought back to the night they had kissed, but his stomach knotted as he recalled telling Gregoire and Irving about it, fearing that Nadia would be severely punished or he expelled from the Templar order for kissing her. When she looked up at him with her forest green eyes, he blushed and looked away.

"You have to be more careful, Cullen." Nadia said, finished healing his wound and placing the armor back on. "I won't always be around to save your butt."

Cullen chuckled and looked at her. "Too bad, I rather enjoy you coming to my rescue."

"Oh, really? Well don't go throw yourself in front of Qunari or darkspawn any time soon." Nadia said, laughing a bit. She stood and helped Cullen to his feet, looking up at him as the clouds cleared and revealed the moon.

Cullen's eyes widened as he saw how beautiful she was in the moonlight. "Nadia, I-"

"Nadia!"

Nadia turned and looked at the children who had accompanied her to Kirkwall. "What are you doing here? I told you to stay at the tower!"

"It's the First Enchanter! He's hurt bad!" one of them said.

Nadia followed the children as they took off in the direction they came from, leaving Cullen standing there with his words unspoken, his apology unheard, his feelings for her resurfacing and catching him off guard.

'I can't do this to her, not again.'

The Grand Cleric was dead, the Chantry destroyed, by a mage named Anders. Nadia stared at the beam of light shooting up into the sky and she felt terror.

"How could you?" she demanded, turning to the mage responsible. "How could you kill the Grand Cleric? She could have ended this feud between the mages and templars!"

"We were at a stalemate, there was no chance of a truce!" Anders said.

Nadia looked at the Knight-Commander. "Meredith, please, let us punish him! It's one mage's actions, do not let it condemn us all!"

"You are but one mage, Nadia Cousland, that has earned my trust and respect. However, a mage killed the Grand Cleric and it will lead to rebellion among the other mages. I must rectify the situation. I invoke the Rite of Annulment."

"Meredith, please! There are innocent people- children- at risk who follow your orders and your judgment blindly! Do not punish them for one man's insanity!"

"Nadia, enough." Orsino said.

"First Enchanter, this cannot happen!"

"Reason is not our ally right now, Nadia." Orsino said.

Nadia looked to Cullen, who stood by Meredith's side, and saw that he too was shocked that she would invoke the Rite of Annulment.

'No, I can't lose her again.' Cullen thought, the fear and realization that he may lose Nadia forever.

"Champion, you must stand with someone." Meredith said, looking at Hawke.

"Hawke, you must decide!" Orsino said.

Nadia couldn't take it anymore and she turned to run, heading to the Circle Tower to try and find the children. Behind her, Cullen watched her slip away, glad that it was unnoticed by the others who were too engrossed in having Hawke side with one of the other.

Nadia searched the halls and found the children, taking them and the other mages to the secret underground tunnel that led out of the Gallows. "The Grand Cleric is dead and they have invoked the Rite of Annulment. I want you to get out while you can." she told the mages, only stopping one of the mages, a young girl name Lonnie. "Please look after the children, Lonnie. You are the only one I trust them with. Please, go and hurry, try to stay out of sight. Use that spell I taught you to hide your tracks."

Lonnie nodded and took the children. Nadia closed the door behind her and hurried to find any stragglers, but that was when Orsino, Hawke and the other mages returned to the Tower, the templars in hot pursuit.

"First Enchanter, what do we do?" she asked, drawing her staff.

"We fight." he said. "Did you get the others out?"

"As many as I could find within the Tower walls. Lonnie knows a spell to help hide their tracks so that they could escape unseen."

"Very good. Now get ready, because here they come!"

Bodies everywhere, the streets bloody, the air thick with the stench of death and smoke from the explosion at the Chantry. Nadia roamed the streets in horror as she helped the surviving mages and the Templars collect the bodies of those who perished in the battle.

"Maker, how could this happen?" she said to herself.

"Are you Lady Nadia Cousland?" a voice came from behind her.

She turned and looked at the source of the voice, seeing the Champion approach her. "You are the Champion."

"Yes. I am Annabell Hawke. I came to find you and see how you were doing."

"I'm lucky to have survived this... But all these people..." Nadia said, looking around.

"I know... I'm sorry that it was one of my friends that caused all of this..." Annabell said.

"Why...? Why would he cause all of this suffering, all this death...?"

"I don't have that answer..."

"Nadia, there was another reason that I came to find you." Annabell said. "The Knight-Commander wants you to go with the next caravan of civilians- this one mages who survived this ordeal- and go home to Highever. He sent me to fetch you so that you could leave immediately."

"I need to help rebuild the city, Champion. I can still be of use here."

"His orders and they are final." Annabell said. "Please, Nadia, he's right to send you home. When the templar reinforcements come, they won't be kind to any remaining mages and Cullen doesn't want to see anymore people get hurt. I could tell he especially didn't want you here when they come. The templars they are sending are going to be ruthless and will carry out the Rite of Annulment on any surviving and remaining mages within the city. Please, you've helped so much already. Go home to your family."

Nadia sighed and begrudgingly agreed. She followed Annabell to the main gate of the city and joined the next caravan to leave. Cullen wasn't there to see her off and he didn't give any explanation; the Champion did that for him. 'Why, Cullen?'

"So, he sent you back to Highever without even saying goodbye?"

Nadia nodded. "Yes. I wanted to stay, though. He knew I could help rebuild Kirkwall, but he sent me home anyway. I later found out that the templars who came as reinforcements were the same templars who followed the Lord Seeker and agreed to use red lyrium, so it was a good thing he sent me home. They sided with Corypheus and I can't even imagine what that did to Cullen."

"What about when you met at the Temple of Sacred Ashes?" Rosalie asked. "What happened there?"

"Matthew! Where are you?!"

Nadia ran through the rubble of the ruined Temple of Sacred Ashes.

"Matthew!"

A Fade rift opened behind her and she drew her staff. Someone fell out of the rift and landed unconscious on the ground.

"Matthew!"

Nadia ran forward to her friend, but she stopped when she saw a figure glowing white in the rift. It looked like a woman. The rift closed and Nadia hurried to Matthew's side. "Matthew, can you hear me?"

Men began to advance on Nadia and her unconscious friend. Nadia stood, her staff in a defensive position.

"Stay back!" she warned.

"Stand down, mage. That man is to be taken in for questioning." one of the soldiers said.

"No, you will not have him!"

One of the men, previously a templar, stepped forward and glared at her. "Stand down, mage girl, else I bind you!"

Nadia had never been bound before and never wanted to be, but if it meant protecting Matthew Trevelyan, the only person since Kirkwall who looked after her and the other mages who survived, she was willing to risk it. "No."

The ex-templar growled and cast a binding at her, forcing her to her knees.

Nadia gasped and felt her arms slam into her sides, and her knees buckled under her causing her to fall to her knees. She tried to fight it, but this binding was too strong.

"What is the meaning of this?"

Nadia looked up at the voice. "Make him stop... Cullen, please..."

Cullen stared in shock at the bound mage and began enraged, barely containing his anger.."Release her immediately."

"But, Commander, she is interfering with the capture of our target." the ex-templar said.

"That is Nadia Cousland of Highever, cousin to the Teyrn of Highever and the Queen of Ferelden. She is no more a threat than you are. Release her at once or you will be severely punished."

The man looked at his commander and reluctantly released her. Nadia gasped for breath and the Commander glared down his men.

"We are Templars no longer. You cannot just simply bind a mage like that, especially when it is Nadia Cousland! Nadia is not the type of person who would use her magik unless it was to defend herself or those she holds most dear to her heart. What reason did she give you that you thought binding her would be an acceptable course of action?"

"She would not let us near the suspect." the man who bound her said. "I told her to stand aside or I would bind her."

"Did she actually attack you?"

The men shook their heads. "No, ser, she did not."

"Then why in the Maker's name did you bind her? Binding a mage is a last resort if they cannot be reasoned with and their magik must be put under control. It is never used to torture them or get them to simply obey. You are men of the Inquisition now and you best act like it or Maker so help me I will send your asses packing into the next Fade rift that opens and let it swallow you!"

The men looked at each other, then at the Commander. "Understood, ser!"

Cullen went over to Nadia and rubbed her back as she doubled over, retching from the binding. "Being bound- for the first type especially- is never fun on the body. Even for templars learning the technique. Are you alright?"

Nadia nodded, trying to stop her body from shaking. "Why do you need Matthew..?"

"You know that man?"

"His name is Matthew Trevelyan. He and I were at the Conclave, trying to make peace with the templars for the mages' sake. Matthew had asked me to go with him as a mage supporter and voice my opinions and suggestions, but when the explosion happened, I got separated from him and barely made it out alive. Someone name Roderick, a chancellor of the Chantry, helped me to escape."

"Do you know what caused the explosion?"

Nadia shook her head. "No, but I suspect you believe Matthew does and that's why you need to take him in."

"He is the only other one who survived the explosion and since he stepped out of the Fade, he may have seen the cause of it. We need to take him in for questioning, as do we for you."

Nadia looked from Cullen to Matthew. "He needs healing first. Please, Cullen, if you must question him just see to it that he has a healer watching over him."

"Of course." Cullen said, then ordered his men to take Matthew back to Haven. He turned back to Nadia and helped her to her feet. "Nadia, why did you come?"

Nadia wouldn't look at him and went to retrieve her staff. "I already told you why I came. What are you going to send me away again and not offer an explanation yourself? Or are you going to find someone big and important to send me back to Mummy and Daddy?"

Cullen winced at her tone, realizing that she was upset about him sending her home. "Nadia..."

She glared at him. "Why did you send me home, Cullen? You knew I could help rebuild the city, rebuild what was lost that day. You knew what it meant for me to be able to protect the mages and keep them from you templars. Why send me home, why make me flee the city?"

"I did it to save you!" Cullen retorted, his anger beginning to rise again. "I did it because I couldn't bear the thought of losing you again!"

Nadia was taken aback, not expecting those words to come out of his mouth. "Then why not explain that yourself? Why send the Champion instead?"

Cullen looked down for a moment. "Because I could not bear to say goodbye to you, Nadia. Not after what happened at the Circle when you were transferred to Starkhaven."

"What, you mean when you kissed me, then betrayed me to the First Enchanter and the Knight-Commander, telling them all about it?" Nadia retorted, throwing that back in his face. "How could you do that? How could you tell me you cared about me, kiss me, then ruin everything? Do you know what that did to me?"

Cullen could see the tears threatening to fall from her eyes as she stared him down, searching for answers. "Nadia, I-"

"You know what, forget it. Years of not knowing why has hurt me enough now, I don't need an answer anymore." She said, turning away. Suddenly, a rift opened up just behind them and Nadia drew her staff as demons began to appear. "I suggest you draw your sword and shield, Commander. We have demons to worry about."

"Maker..." Mia said. "Our Cullen is an idiot."

Nadia sighed. "After the day of the Conclave's destruction, we pretty much avoided each other like the plague. I stayed with Matthew most of the time, helping him adjust to Haven- especially since he didn't have any memory of what happened at the Conclave when it exploded. When I wasn't with Matthew, I was healing civilians and soldiers in Haven. Since that day, I've kind of been the resident healer and it only became official when we reached Skyhold and defeated Corypheus. I would train with the soldiers, using my magik to help them learn to better deflect spells or energy type attacks like those a wraith or despair demon would use, and as I trained and healed the soldiers, Cullen and I began to mend things. We started to grow closer and closer as they days went by, but we never told each other anything about how we felt until just last week, while we were stranded in Rainesfere."

"So you two know how the other feels and you haven't acted on it because?"

"I am still upset about everything he has done and I don't know if I can't look passed it. I won't be toyed with, not by him and after everything we have been through together." Nadia said. "I care for him very deeply, but I can't make a move and risk getting hurt all over again."

Mia couldn't help but hug the mage. "Oh, you poor thing. I'm going to have to kick that idiot's ass now. He finally finds a great girl, perfect for him, and he makes a mess out of it."

Rosalie took her turn and hugged Nadia. "Well, I don't think you should give up, Nadia. When things are taken care of in Highever, I think you guys should really talk about where you go from here. You confessed feelings for each other, but now you need to figure out what you want to do."

Nadia nodded and Rosalie clapped her hands as Branson and Cullen came into the room. "Now then, everyone is here and dinner is ready!"

"Let's eat then!" Branson said enthusiastically.

Dinner with Cullen and his family was fun and Nadia really enjoyed herself. She talked with his siblings and told them stories about things he did as a templar, things he did as the Commander of the Inquisition's forces- all embarrassing. Cullen retaliated with stories similar and even told of how she got him away from the Orlesian noblewomen at the Winter Palace. His brother and sisters laughed, then shared their own stories from their childhoods.

After dinner was over and the children had been put to bed, Rosalie and Mia got a room ready for Cullen and Nadia. Rosalie and her husband shared a room, the children shared a room, Mia and her husband shared a room, Branson and his wife shared a room, and that left only one room for Cullen and Nadia to share. After Rainesfere, they didn't mind- especially since they shared a bed together. When everyone went to bed and fell asleep, Nadia waited and when she was certain everyone- Cullen included- was passed out, she stood and got her things together. She wrote a note to Cullen and his family, then went to ready her horse. She packed her bags onto the saddle and mounted up before she turned and urged the horse silently towards Highever.

"Forgive me, Cullen..." Nadia said, looking back at the home.