The closer they got to the village the more uncomfortable Tempest got. Something was definitely wrong there. "What is it Tempest?" Cullen looked down at her and she frowned as she met his gaze.

"Something feels very wrong here. I just don't know what yet."
"Sure it's not those wild mushrooms you ate?" Tannin said snidely only to receive a cold glare from Cullen.

He quieted down and grumbled to himself. At the outskirts of the village they heard nothing. No sounds of people or animals, it was silent. "Well this doesn't scream creepy in anyway." Cullen said.

Tempest snickered and his lip flickered as he gazed around. "Come on move slowly." Both Templars had removed their sword and shield and were making their way towards the center. When Tempest froze "Blood magic…" she hissed. The two Templars froze and looked back at her.

"Are you sure?" Tannin asked.

"Yes I'm sure give me a second." Time she didn't have because the mage appeared his black robes were torn and red paint or maybe blood was painted across his face. A crazed look in his eye as he summoned shades to his aid. Tannin began to caste smite and Tempest ran and dove over a short fence to get away from the blast.

"Stupid Templar." She growled and gathered a ball of flame and tossed it at the mage who put a shield up. While the Templars fought the shades she focused on the mage. Taking her staff Tempest took a breath and hopped over the fence running forward and knelt slamming her staff down. Blade shot out and swirled around her.

"What magic is this!" The mage snarled as she sent the blades to him they came from everywhere cutting into his shield and when the last one penetrated she clenched her fist and pulled back. The blades exploded destroying his shield.

"No that's not possible!" He growled and cut his wrists and from the ground rose a desire demon.

"Oh you have got to be kidding me." She groaned.

"Kill her!" he cried shrilly. She watched as the demon turned and killed the mage instead.

Tannin and Cullen had finished the shades and turned their attention to the demon in front of them.

"Well now let's not act to hastily." Her voice was soothing and enticing as she spoke to the three of them. "I am free now, I can give you anything you want for instance you." She pointed to Tempest.

"A mage whose mother is Divine but refuses to recognize I could ensure that all know who you are, force her to face the child she abandoned." Tempest stared at the demon. It was true she wanted all those things desperately but she would not attain them by means of a demon.

"I will not fall for your tricks demon." Her jaw clenched tightly.

"What about this Templar over here so strong and courageous. Other Templars fear your strength yet you have only one desire the embrace of a lovely mage."

"Enough demon I will not listen to you." Cullen growled angrily.

The Desire demon then turned to Tannin. "What of you? You wish to be the strongest, to lead the Templars to become Knight Vigilant I can do that for you." She purred at him and before either of them could stop him he asked. "What do I need to do?"

She laughed wickedly "Kill them."

Tannin spun around slammed his shield into Tempest knocking her back and out for the time being. Cullen fought Tannin trying to snap the man out of his state but it wasn't working. Doing the only thing he could do, he killed him.

Tempest struggled to get up coughing just in time to see Cullen land the fatal blow. She saw the demon about to strike Cullen. "CULLEN LOOK OUT!" she screamed sending a bolt of magic straight at the demon that hissed and turned around. "

"Stupid mage." She flung a wall of ice at her and Tempest rolled out of the way and shot another bolt at her and then.

"Cullen I need a minute to prepare! " She looked over at him. He nodded and was ready he attacked the demon and her hand lashed out and tore through his armor into his chest. He grunted and stumbled back, taking a breath he charged again and this time he was able to land a blow but it was getting more difficult. Her nails lashed out again tearing into his arm.

"Any time would be good Tempest!" He yelled slamming his shield into the demon sending it flying back.

He would have cast smite but Tempest was far to close and he didn't want to risk draining her. When he glanced to see her she was sweating profusely and in her hand was a ring of blue flames, it was just like the symbol of the maker.

With a guttural scream she tossed the ring and flew above the demon and enlarged and then fell around it and enclosed the demon and as the ring got smaller the flames began to burn the demon up unable to move all it could do was scream as it burned and then in seconds turned to ash the ring of flames along with it.

Tempest stumbled to the ground all the magic drained from her. Cullen rushed over to her "Tempest are you all right?" she was breathing heavily and shaking. "I'll be right back." He got up and rushed over to his pack ignoring his wounds. He grabbed a bottle of lyrium and reached in her bag for a cookie.

He returned and her breathing was still labored. Propping her up in his lap he used his teeth to pull the cork out and put the bottle to her mouth. "Come on you need to drink this." He poured a little in her mouth and her eyes fluttered open. She continued drinking and Cullen sighed in relief. He handed her the cookie when she was done "I got this out of your bag." Her eyes lit up. "You are turning into Mason Cullen, he always had cookies for me to." She smiled and ate but it was short lived when she saw him wounded.

"Maker Cullen you're bleeding." Her eyes were huge and brimmed with tears.

"It's all…" he didn't get the next words out because she was on him tearing off his chest piece and gauntlets. "Tempest I can undress myself." He said when she went to grab his tunic. She turned several shades of red and sat back on her heels as he took his shirt off.

Her finger gently touched around the wound. "I will need to clean this out." She looked up at him and for a moment he said nothing.

"We can do that back at camp. Let's just get out of here for now." He got up and grabbed his armor and weapons. As he passed Tannins body he frowned, he had succumbed so quickly, they always said mages were the easiest to succumb. It was then he remembered what the demon had said about her. He spun around looking for her when he spotted her grabbing hers and Tannin's bag. She was the daughter of the Divine, no wonder a Knight Vigilant was with her. Such a secret and now he knew as well.

She had spotted him watching her and smiled at him. He gave her a small smile back. If she didn't say anything neither would he. They returned to the last place they had camped and Tempest ran to the river and filled up the large kettle with water and carried it back. Cullen had started a fire and she set the pot in the fire and took a bowl and scooped some water out.

Having gathered her supplies earlier she pointed to the bedroll she had set up as her clinic. He sat down with a sigh. Tempest took her strips of cloth and began cleaning out each wound and healing as much of it as she could. Fortunately they were not too deep. Cullen watched as she gently cleaned each scratch healing it and then placing ointment on it. When finished she wrapped his chest up and then his arm.

They had sat in silence and they each seemed fine with that. Pushing him on his back she demanded that he rest. He obeyed and watched her as she cleaned everything up and began making a stew. He noticed early on that she often hummed when she did work it was rather soothing to listen to. His eye lids lowered slowly and soon sleep finally took him.

Tempest glanced over and saw him asleep and smiled. She placed all the ingredients in the pot and let it boil. Sitting back on her bedroll she took out a cookie and began eating when she heard a rustling in the bushes. A little head poked out. "Oh it's you." She grinned and knelt down and tossed him a little piece of a cookie. The small creature rushed forward and ate the piece and looked around for more.

Tempest created a small trail that led to her and the mink followed it right to her. Having left a large piece the mink was occupied when she ran a finger across his head and back. He stiffened for a moment but was so focused on eating he let her stroke his back. She continued feeding him until his little belly was so full he moved slowly back towards the bushes.

She giggled as she watched him go. "What is so funny?" Cullen asked sleepily.

"Nothing just a funny little creature, how are you feeling?" She got up and walked over to him.

"Much better thanks to you." His voice was sincere.

"I am sorry about Tannin." She said cautiously.

He shook his head. "I had always known Tannin was ambitious but to fall so easily…" he shook his head.

"You did what had to be done once the demon had hold there was no breaking him free." She said patting his shoulder for reassurance. They both felt the small zap of energy that seemed snap between the both of them. Not wanting to draw attention to it she quickly changed the subject.

"Play cards with me." She grinned and ran to her pack and grabbed a deck.

Cullen groaned "Maker is there nothing else for you to do?" her eyes widened and she pouted at him.

He looked at her and gave in with a loud sigh "Fine what are you betting."

"My silvers versus your candy." She sat down in front of him.

"What candy." He said and she laughed.

"Don't lie to me Cullen I know you put Candy in your pack."
"How do you know that?"

"Cause I saw it the other night while you were digging through it."

"Nosey little mage aren't you." He said with a smirk on his face. "Fine your silvers versus my candy. Hope you're ready to lose."

"You can't always win." She growled and he just shrugged.

"You will see."

The fire crackled warmly as they began playing. The sky had darkened and the night creatures begun to emerge when a wail echoed through the forest. It was Tempest.

"You can't be serious that is seven games I've lost to you. SEVEN!" she yelled shrilly only making Cullen laugh.

"I told you."

"One more game." She glared at him.

He raised an eyebrow "You sure you don't have much left."

"All or nothing." She shoved the rest of her money in looked at him defiantly.

Cullen held back a laugh and he stroked his chin that had grown stubble on it.

"Fine all or nothing." He shoved the rest of his candy in and shuffled the deck.

"No I'll shuffle the deck I think your cheating." She said eyeing him carefully with a playful smile on her face.

"Whatever you want princess you're still going to lose." He put his hands behind his head and watched her with a smirk as she shuffled the cards.

They eyed each other carefully as they went about passing cards and pulling from the deck. Several turns later Tempest slammed her cards down.

"I won!" she beamed at him.

"What that's impossible!" he said frowning looking at his hand then yours.

"No it isn't just accept it you lost." She leaned forward laughing.

His eyes narrow. "What is that?"

"What?" she says innocently.

He snatches the card that was showing out of the top of her robe. "You little cheat!"

"No well maybe…I'm still taking these." She grabs a handful of the candy he had bet.

"I don't think so." He reaches for them and she pulls away.

"Nope they are mine."

"You are going to give them to me." He grabs her and pulls her towards him.

Tempest is laughing as she tries to keep them away from him. Using her last resort she rolls over onto her stomach shoves her hand underneath her.

With minimal effort Cullen simply flips her over and forces the candy out of her hand. But Tempest not being one to give up lunged up for them grabbed his hand and ended up falling back with Cullen right on top of her. Giggling she wriggled the candy out of his hand and shot her arm out above her head holding tightly to her prize.

"Still mine." She said.

Laughing she struggles to get away from him when he pins her arms down.

"Those are mine you little cheat." He says staring at her playfully.

"I'll trade you for the cookies in your bag."

A flicker of a smile passes over his face. "I don't have any cookies.'

"I know you brought some." She said her eye brow rose at him. Her heart was thundering in her chest and she struggled from breathing too quickly. He lets go of her arms slowly and they trail down to her hands. His hand goes to her hip and she places her hand on his. His jaw was flexing as he stared at her, his nostrils flared torn between wanting her and disobeying.

Cullen sits back up "I'm not giving you my cookies."

"Fine." She sighs then sits up next to him they are hip to hip. Cullen holds out his hand and she slams the candy in his hand.

"Mean Templar."

"Sneaky mage."

The two burst out laughing. Looking up at him her hand raises up for just a moment and she runs it gently down the side of his face and puts her head on his shoulder. Cullen releases his shudder and finally places his arm around her and they sit together watching the fire.