Things after that had progressed quickly, the day soaring by. They had a quick breakfast and then made their way to the docks, hoping there would be room aboard the Seawing for Solona. It took some pushing from Cullen, mentioning his status as Templar and convincing the Captain that this would earn him points with the Chantry, for her to get on. Everybody, apparently, was hoping to get to Kirkwall because of the Blight. It was terrifying to think about. It hadn't been that long since it had started- honestly Fereldan was fairly easy to travel across and it wasn't like it had taken them a few more than a couple of weeks to get at the docks.

The news of a Grey Warden traversing about didn't slow the flocks though. Not that Cullen blamed them. With Loghain and the political drama, Lothering decimated, and the news of one (maybe two- the rumors were sketchy) running around doing anything after Ostagar left Fereldan as probably low on the list of Places to Live. Still, it had been a scare having to fight to get Solona on the boat with him.

He wasn't sure what they would have done had there been no room and the Captain firm on that.

Which was probably why Gregior always said there needed to be a back up plan and such. Cullen could hear his voice lecturing still in the back of his head. Gregior had been a good man if not strict. For good reason, as Cullen saw now. He had thought they too strict on the mages, but now-

Now he wasn't so sure.

Looking at Solona and some of the mages it was easy to think that maybe they were. And then suddenly the masses were Bloodmages and the Tower was getting eaten by abominations. Cullen shivered as he walked beside Solona- who was skimming the stalls and windows. They had little to no money and she couldn't actually shop but she loved to look. And the bustle made it easy to distract himself from these thoughts usually. Not that day, though, it seemed.

She glanced up with him, worry subtly etched into her features, and Cullen smiled down at her. They were using the facade and so he couldn't hold her hand or wrap his arm around her waist. Something he wanted to do. But- even after last night- it was easy to fall back into the distance he had once set for himself. At least for now. Cullen wasn't sure it would stay that way.

He hoped it wouldn't stay that way.

They ended up back at the inn to eat and Solona packed their bags for them. Because Cullen had no organizational skills whatsoever. Being a Templar he never had enough possessions to learn about organization. It all just always fit no matter how he put them in the chest or bag and that was all fine. Solona however could pack a room into a bag it seemed. It sort of left him sitting around and watching her work, but honestly Cullen didn't mind watching her. She got an adorable pout when the puzzle didn't fit just right.

It took some convincing but he got her to stay with him for the night. She was worried about being caught and he just really wanted to cuddle with her. He was quite the romantic, he was realizing. Not just in the sense of love, but the grand adventures and epic tasks. Perhaps that was why this running and what happened at the Circle affected him so much. When Solona seemed fine. She was far more grounded than him. It didn't stop her from giving him a kiss goodnight and snuggling in his arms, however.

It took another day for the Seawing to depart. She and him were shoved into the hold with everybody else that could pay for passage and the long journey began. Solona slept or read through most of it, ignoring the jeering of the sailors and making small talk with the other- mostly terrified- womanfolk. Cullen ended up with a few of the other Templars and talking with them. They all took notice of Solona, of course. Because he did. Because he kept glancing at her. He shouldn't have been surprised- or upset- that they looked and ogled her.

But he sort of was.

Especially their teasings. "Looks like Cullen's sweet on a girl." Or the "That is some mighty fine ass, Cullen. Good eyes, friend." Either of the two types were horrible because Cullen had no idea how to respond to either. Yes he was sweet on Solona. In fact, she was his woman. They should respect her because she was his and he loved her. But he couldn't say that. Even if they hadn't hid their relationship- or what little of it there had been before they had reached here- he wasn't very good with admitting things like that. Especially not to the guys. The other type make him bristle and frown, their laughing and teasing grating his more possessive nerves.

Still, there were moments that he could shuffle to go sit with her. That was okay. They were friends. Even if the others realized that wasn't what he wanted. And no matter how much they teased him about it, he wasn't going to stop sitting with her and quietly talking. Most of the time it was about nothing. A book she was reading- she traded with some of the other folks on the ship and a few were quite naughty from the way she stumbled and skipped parts when talking to him- or how particularly bad the meal was that day.

When they reached Kirkwall he tried to ignore the way Solona seemed to shut into herself more. Instead he focused on the horribly scenery because there was nothing he could do about that. Not right then anyway. Still, he gave her his arm and they walked together off the boat. She quietly murmured about being happy about being back on land. Even if it was cold grey stone again. And that a bath would be lovely now. Cullen tried not to think about her in a bath tub, water trailing down between her generous breasts as she dragged a sponge- he wasn't thinking about that.

It took some posturing on his part- the Kirkwall guard were already getting strict on who was allowed in and who was not- but he was able to weasel her in with him again by pushing his Templar status. Some good was coming of it, then. Eased the guilt he sometimes felt over it. It was rare- he knew he was doing good work, the Maker's work- but there was times when he thought about the looks Solona had given him and he wondered if it would be better if he hadn't ever been a Templar.

Even if it meant he'd never have met her.

She waited awkwardly in the Gallows while he spoke to the Knight Commander. Meredith was a stern woman, he could already see. The strain of her position leaving her with a permanent scowl and a hard voice. She had likely been very pretty a long time ago, he thought. But the way she glared at everything, the way she barked orders, he could see the problems. Kirkwall was known for it's danger. The large problem of bloodmages and demons. More so than anywhere. He couldn't blame the Knight Commander for her lack of patience. Still, he was quick to remove Solona- get her as far away as possible from the woman- and rode with her on the first boat out of the Gallows and to the city.

Entering Kirkwall Cullen couldn't help but compare it to Fereldan. It was warmer, he could already tell that. The spray of the water annoying, the salt likely sticking to him and his clothes. Everything was rather ugly looking. The walls bare and tall, the people scowling and huffing as they walked around. It wasn't Fereldan. Where most of the people were at least helpful if not smiling. It wasn't crisp and cool with rolling green hills and dogs barking in the background. There wasn't any mud or laughter. There weren't any trees or flowers. It was just stone. Tall and square, crudely painted in some parts.

It was like being back in the Circle. Except, this cage wasn't even gilded, he realized. He squeezed Solona's arm and led her through the city. He hadn't realized how overfull everything was and he had no idea where to put her. Where she would be safe. It was already easy to see Lowtown was anything but. And yet they had no funds for anywhere. He couldn't leave her in Darktown! His grip on her tightened as they walked. Meredith hadn't been subtle about the fact that he would have very little time to settle in before he would be put to work. And that was fine with him. He wanted to go back to being useful. Being a Templar.

But how could he do anything if he didn't know she was being taken care of?

"Over there," she said, tugging on his arm to pull him towards a door too close to the tavern to be any good he thought. "More Fereldans."

He nodded and she made her way in, the crowd sadly large. To think so many desperate and lost. And Kirkwall unable to do a thing for them, he thought. So many like his Solona. The lady at the front was heavily burden, straight to the point. It was only when Solona offered to help that the lady broke out in a smile. Solona had nothing to give but knowledge and time, but it seemed the lady thought that similar to gold.

This was the best they were going to get at the moment. Cullen had to accept that. She had at least people to watch over her. A roof- the lady was letting her stay there since she would be working with her. He would save coin to get Solona her own home. There would never be enough to Hightown, but at least a home in Lowtown would be good. For now. It wasn't what she deserved, but Solona still smiled as she rolled up her sleeves.

He had to get back. Had to go back to the Gallows and work. This was their life now. Reality had a way of ruining dreams. But he could deal with this. Until he could make it better for her. And when he could give her better and take care of her- because this did not count- he'd maybe work up the nerve to ask her to marry him. Because that dream- of her truly his in the eyes of the Chantry and the Maker- that reality couldn't destroy.

This is the end. I have thoughts on continuing with a Part 2 sort of deal. Perhaps just shorts of him and Solona putting up with all the shit that goes down in Kirkwall after the first five years. Because the first five are pretty mellow actually if you aren't Hawke. Save for the fact that bloodmages are always loose and the gangs are savages at night. As it stands right now though I'm not promising I'll ever get around to it. As much as I love this story and the prompt schools been hell again and I have other stories on my plate that I should get around to finishing before I take up this. Even if they're just shorts. Though, since it would be a continuation of this (and all of you would likely maybe be the readers) any thoughts on Hawke (gender/class) and their LI? Something maybe to make me think. If it sticks and rolls around in my head enough, I'd likely end up writing it (if that is what you want of course- this totally isn't me bribing ya'll for reviews. C: )

Anyway, thank you all so much for reading the story. I have such a hard time ending and letting things go, so that's one reason this chapter took so long. I hope it doesn't disappoint for an ending. Not a big climatic thing- really, nothing surprising at all with the ending I'm sure. But I'm rather okay with it (really, I just hate endings altogether). Thank you to OP from the kinkmeme for the prompt. This Solona is nothing like my Solona, but she was very cute to write and I do love Cullen. It was nice to get around to finally actually writing him. So the prompt was good for me. Again, thank you to everybody (who reviewed, faved, or just read. It means a lot to know people liked the story enough to do any of the three).