Chapter 2

Shaye escaped the house just as Bethany slammed the bedroom door hard enough to cause Gamlen's favourite vase to come crashing to the floor. Bethany and her mother were fighting about the Deep Roads again. Mother did not want Bethany to go, but Bethany was bound and determined.

"I clearly failed at being a peace-maker today." Shaye thought as she rounded the corner heading into the merchant's district of Lowtown. It was a cool, but sunny day. The streets were busy, and as loud and noisy as ever. As she walked past the last of the stalls, she turned down a small side street, an alley really, vaguely recalling that it led to out to the secondary market. As she walked down the alley she noticed a boarded up passageway. The boards were broken on the side, leaving space enough for a person to enter. There appeared to be stairs leading up somewhere. She didn't know why she hadn't noticed this before, not that she found herself on this little side street often. As she examined the area, she observed markings on the dusty street and realized that the entrance was usually partially hidden by a rather large empty water barrel that had recently been moved to the side. Curiosity getting the better of her she easily slipped though the gap, and cautiously climbed the stairs.

Surprisingly, as she reached the top, she discovered she was standing in an old, abandoned parapet. The rough stones marked it be hundreds of years old. From the wall, the most beautiful view of the city, the ocean, and the mountains beyond could be seen. And clearly someone had taken care of this little out of the way spot, because there was a beautifully crafted oak bench, and two large clay pots, filled with the last of the summer's flowers. Shaye had the uncomfortable feeling that she had somehow intruded upon someone's deeply personal space, and yet she could not force herself to leave quite yet. For this was a place of beauty and care in the midst of the din and the chaos in the streets below.

She stood with her back to the stairs, gazing out at the city before her. So different from the small towns she had grown up in. She missed her father and Carver. She hated the fact that Bethany and her mother were arguing. And as her thoughts drifted, she didn't hear the sound of soft boots climbing the stairs.

Cullen stopped in his tracks as he reached the top of the stairs to his sanctuary as he called it. His heart skipped a beat as he saw the back of a woman he immediately recognized as Hawke. Her long thick shiny hair, the colour of rich dark chocolate, was streaming in the wind. She was tall and lithe, and oh so shapely. He recalled the first time he set eyes in her, a wild-eyed, beautiful woman running towards him with weapon drawn, ready to defend young Wilmod. He had marvelled at her quickness, her deadly accuracy with her bow and her toughness on that day, and later, her gracefulness and her graciousness. She had saved his life.

And he remembered when he saw her again, with Keran in tow, how he had admired her fierce determination to see neither that Keran nor his family suffer further because of his enslavement and torture by a blood mage. Her ardent defense touched him more than she could know.

"Ah, um, Shaye? I mean Hawke?" Cullen called out tentatively.

Shaye whirled around, and Cullen could not help but smile at her look of shock and embarrassment. They had met several times since the incident at Wilmod's camp, but the meetings had been formal and business-like, with Cullen in full Order regalia. Here he was, dressed as a typical Ferelden, in soft leather deer skin boots, his black leather breeches, and brushed cloth peasant shirt, which showed off his chiselled chest.

"Ser Cullen? Oh, is this your space? I, I, am sorry. I seem to have intruded. I'll go now." She said, faced flushed and eyes averted. She moved towards him and started to leave but Cullen lightly touched her arm and laughed.

"My space? Hardly. It is owned by the city. I just come up here to enjoy the view. Feel free to leave if you want. But I have some warm bread, some Ferelden cheese, and just enough wine for two." He said holding up a cloth bundle. "I'd be honoured if you joined me. You saved my life and Keran's too. I owe you a debt." Cullen bowed and moved aside.

"Ferelden cheese? Where ever did you find that?" Shaye replied.

She watched as the Templar walked over to the bench and motioned her to sit. Between the Ferelden cheese and the warmth of his smile, Shaye could hardly refuse the offer. Since meeting Cullen, she had to admit that she had developed a little crush. There was strength and a certainty about him that Shaye had been immediately attracted to, not to mention his good looks. He was tall and muscular. His hair was the colour of honey, his lips were full and inviting, his eyes were of the most unusual shade of grey and he had the most disarming dimples when he smiled. She had found herself fantasizing about him from time to time, but he was a Templar after all, and so she would chase away her foolish thoughts and shake her head. It worried her that he knew about Bethany, and hadn't yet made a move to take her. But here he was again, and her attraction to him was undeniable.

"We Templars have our ways. We hunt both mages and Ferelden delicacies." He said as he tore off a piece of bread and handed it to Shaye.

Shaye giggled. "Well, it is good to know that Templars are good for something!"

Cullen gave a mock frown. "Ah, what a surprise! Another Templar hater!"

"Well," Shaye started. "I wouldn't go that far."

Before he could stop himself the words tumbled out of his mouth. "How far would you go?" His face turned a deep crimson. What an idiotic thing to say Cullen thought to himself, grimacing.

The double entendre was not lost on Shaye and she stared directly into his eyes.

"I don't know."

Her words hung in the air, and they both stared ahead, gazing at the glorious view.

"So, tell me about this place Cullen." Shaye said, breaking the silence.

"I discovered it quite by accident a few months ago. I was taken by the view. This city is so chaotic, and my work – well, it can be difficult sometimes. This seemed such a quiet little known spot. I couldn't resist coming back." Cullen revealed.

"And the bench, the flowers?" Shaye inquired.

Cullen smiled. "My father was a merchant but carpentry was his passion. When I was young, I would watch him for hours as he crafted furniture. I guess it is in the blood. I enjoy the craft."

"It is a fine piece of work." Shaye said as she let her hands feel the smoothness of finish and as her fingers played with the intricately carved design on the adorning the arm rest.

"Thank-you. I thought it would be nice for anyone who might came up her to be able to sit and reflect. And the flowers? Well, I guess that comes from my mother. She always said fresh flowers make a house a home. We don't have flowers in the Gallows. " He said and Shaye thought she detected some bitterness in his voice. Once again, something in his words touched her deeply. A wound that festered perhaps?

"So you have made this spot into a bit of a home, for all to enjoy, and yet the entrance is usually almost hidden by a barrel." Shaye noted.

"You are very observant." Cullen said.

She let it drop. He wasn't biting. Cullen confused her. He was a Templar, strong, seemingly self-assured. But he was also a man with deep feelings, turmoil perhaps. Nothing she had seen in him so far quite fit with her notions of the straight laced, narrow minded Templars. He intrigued her.

"Well, now that you know something of me. Tell me about yourself." Cullen said as he absently brushed aside the errant strands of hair that were blowing across her lovely face. His motion was tender and gentle, and it made her heart beat just a bit faster.

"Not much to tell really. My family escaped the Blight and we came to Kirkwall as my mother has family here. My brother died on the way. It's just my sister, my mother and me now." Shaye hoped that Cullen wouldn't pry.

"And your father?" Cullen asked.

And there it was. The moment she had been dreading. The reason she chased away her fantasies about Cullen. The reason she should have left immediately when Cullen appeared on the parapet.

"He is dead."

"Your father was Malcolm Hawke yes?"

She stared at Cullen angrily. He knew it all along! Damn him. And I fell for it, she thought.

"Yes." Shaye replied defiantly.

Cullen laughed and Shaye looked at him, bewildered.

"Whew. Then my judgement was correct." Cullen said.

"Your judgement! Your judgement of whom?" Shaye demanded.

Taken aback somewhat by the flash of anger in her beautiful emerald coloured eyes, Cullen replied softly. "Your sister of course."

"So why have you not taken her. It was clear that you knew. And my father – what do you know of him?" Shaye was angry and the bitterness in her voice was strong.

Cullen stood up, brushing the last of the crumbs off his shirt and black leather breeches.

"I was a Templar at the Circle in Ferelden Shaye. But even as a young recruit, even I knew the stories about your father. He was a powerful Mage. The Templars knew where he hid, at least most of the time."

"So if the Templars knew where he was, why did they not take him?" Shaye asked

"He was running from the Gallows and perhaps from something else, but not from the Ferelden Circle." Cullen said gently. He could see the confusion on Shaye's face. "Relations between Mages and Templars are not so black and white." Cullen paused and smiled, remembering his last conversation with Greagoir.

"Knight Commander Greagoir and the First Enchanter knew your father was strong. A demon would not dare to even attempt a possession. There was no need to bring him in. Your father kept his magic hidden wisely. People fear mages. He was protecting your family from ignorance, not the Circle."

Shaye's head was spinning from Cullen's revelations.

"I sensed your sister's strength. She is no threat. She is a well-trained mage. I see no need to have her join the circle here. However, she would be wise to be discrete. I am Knight Captain not Knight Commander."

"I see." Was all Shaye could muster. "I should go." Shaye was clearly unsettled. She had spent her life running from Templars and the Circle. But not because of her Father, as she had always believed, perhaps because of Bethany? But if he Father was so powerful, would the Circle have even taken Bethany? Was there something else?

She stood up and once again started to leave.

"Shaye." He called as she brushed past him. "If I have upset you I am sorry. I hope to see you here again one day. Thank-you for your company." Cullen bowed, and watched the beautiful woman climb down the stairs and probably out of his life. As she reached the bottom, she turned around but Cullen was gone from view.

~XXX~