Chapter 5

"Swing, block, thrust! Repeat those words over and over. Observe your opponent. Anticipate his moves. Be ready. Be wary. Use your gifts as needed – cleanse, silence, smite." Cullen's practice sword was pointed at the heart of one of his young charges. He sheathed his sword and reached out his hand to pull the lad up. "Not bad Hugh. You are improving." He clapped the recruit on the back.

"Any more takers?" Cullen called out to the small group of recruits. "No? Very Well – dismissed!"

Cullen grabbed his shirt and his flask of water and made for the large shady oak at the edge of the practice field. He sat down, back leaning against the tree. He took a long swig of the water and poured the rest over his head, letting the water drip down his neck, shoulders and chest.

When Cullen first arrived at The Gallows, he had been dismayed at the lack of proficiency of the Templars there. Many of them were out of shape and out of practice. Meredith appeared far more concerned about Kirkwall politics and her personal stature, then ensuring that her men were effective in their roles. Her approach was simply to recruit enough men and women to outnumber the Mages by such an overwhelming margin that Mages could never even hope to overcome Templars if it ever came to a battle. Cullen knew first hand it was not a question of numbers. Numbers were not enough against demons and abominations.

Cullen pushed, prodded and begged until he got more practice time and more training gear, and he was beginning to see some results at last. His tenacity and patience in trying to instill some discipline and pride in the men and women of the Order, was finally paying off. The Mages here were weak and poorly trained. The veil was thin. Being vigilant was not enough. Templars here had to be hyper-vigilant. They had to watch and observe. They had to know who was most at risk and most vulnerable to possession. And they had to know how to protect themselves and Mages both.

The Templars at the Gallows had come to respect Cullen. He was firm, but fair, talented, highly skilled and always ready to help when need. And it was well known that it was because of his training that lives had been saved. Kirkwall seemed to have more Mages living outside the circle than within. And as weak as the circle Mages were, most of the apostates had likely succumbed already. Before he arrived, far too many Templars died trying to bring apostates in, and far too many apostates either escaped or perished. Now, most survived. His success did not go unnoticed by Meredith, and although grateful for Cullen's presence she remained leery of him and perhaps a little jealous.

Cullen's thoughts moved to Shaye. There were rumours that Bartrand Tethras had returned from the Deep Roads, but no word on Shaye and her companions. As each day passed with no word, the knot in his stomach got a little bigger. He tried to busy himself during his off duty time with fixing up the workshop he had purchased, trying to make it a bit of a home away from home, but his anxiety remained. At last he heard news. Shaye had returned, safe and sound, and considerably wealthier than when she departed. His relief and joy however, were mitigated by word that her sister Bethany had become tainted. There were whispers that she was with the Warden's now. Cullen's heart ached for the guilt and the pain he knew Shaye must be feeling.

The days since her return passed by in a blur. Varric and Shaye had both lost siblings as a result of the expedition. Varric was furious with Bertrand, and Shaye was grief-stricken about Bethany. Anders had saved Bethany's life, but at what cost? Was the fortune that she brought home to her Mother worth it? She wanted to see Cullen, but, with so much to attend to – the purchasing of the estate, the odd request from the Viscount for a meeting with her, it was more than a week later when she finally had the chance to get away.

Shaye went straight to the sanctuary. She raced up the stairs, hoping Cullen would be there. When she reached the top, she stopped dead in her tracks. Frozen. The sanctuary had been abandoned. Everything was gone. Shaye was stunned and utterly heart broken. Two years of her life to go on this expedition. For what? Bethany was lost to her and apparently, so was Cullen. She felt empty. Suddenly the weight of the world seemed to come crashing down upon her. She sat on the cold stone floor and burst into tears. Spent, she returned to Gamlen's house. Her mother was packing up some of Bethany's things. Shaye was dreading seeing her. She did not have the strength to try to comfort her yet again.

The days passed painfully slowly after that. The only bright spot was that Leandra seemed to be getting over initial shock of losing Bethany to the Wardens, and was beginning to focus on moving into the Amell estate and regaining her past. Shaye's despondency concerned Leandra deeply. She fretted, but did not know what she could do to cheer Shaye up – indeed she did not understand what was upsetting her so, for Shaye would merely shrug off her queries.

"Oh, I almost forgot. Here, this came for you when you were in the Deep Roads and I forgot to give it to you." Leandra handed over a small package to her.

As soon as she was alone, Shaye ripped open the small package. She recognized Cullen's script. Inside was a key and a hastily scribbled note containing an address and the words Return To Me. Nothing more. Shaye felt a sense of panic rise up. What if Cullen had been waiting for her, and she hadn't come?

Dusk had settled into the city. Shaye made her way to the address Cullen had left her as quickly as she could. She arrived at a small warehouse of sorts, near the docks. She unlocked the door, and with what light remained from the day shinning into the room she found a small lantern. She closed and locked the door behind her.

"Cullen?" she called out. Nothing.

With lantern in hand, she began to explore, lighting the room as she come upon more candles. There was Cullen's bench, and her box. The table he had been working on was now complete. Shelves had been put up containing paints and varnishes, hammers and nails, glues and saws. She was grinning from ear to ear. She saw the stairs leading up to a loft.

Cullen had been busy. There was a beautifully carved, but empty poster bed and two night tables in various stages of completion. There was a writing desk and shelves filled with books. The wooden floor was carpeted, and there was a large overstuffed settee facing the hearth. She went to the fireplace, stoked up the coals and managed to get a flame going. She saw that off to the side near the bed frame there was a glass door that led out to a small balcony. She stepped out onto the balcony and she almost burst into tears. The view was virtually the same as that which could be seen from the sanctuary.

Shaye was overwhelmed by what Cullen had done and so happy that he had found a way to pursue his passion. Lost in thought, she did not hear the soft footfalls. She only felt strong arms holding her, warm breath tickling at her ear, and soft shaven skin brushing against her cheek. She held onto the warm, calloused hands that crossed over her chest. Together they stood in silence, watching the last of the sun fade from view and cast purple shadows across the ocean and the mountains beyond. Finally, she turned to face him. She pulled her arms around his neck and they kissed. Soft, gentle kisses, moving deeper, tongues meeting, and hands caressing cheeks and neck. Cullen was sure he could spend the rest of his life kissing Shaye.

"Maker." Cullen said between kisses. "I was so afraid you wouldn't come."

"I just found out today, and I was scared you wouldn't wait." Shaye replied.

Shaye curled up on the settee. Cullen got up to pour them some wine. Shaye began to tell Cullen why it had taken her so long to meet with him. She marvelled at his work and wanted to hear every last detail of how he had come to find this place. She began to tell him about the Deep Roads. With a huge grin, Cullen stood, watching this incredible woman- so full of life and passion and animation – waving her arms and talking a mile a minute.

"What?" Shaye said as she realized Cullen was no longer really listening, but staring at her. "Are you laughing at me?"

"No. I am just drinking in every moment I have with you. How I have missed you." He sat down and handed Shaye her wine. They talked long into the night, and finally, cradled in each other's arms, fell asleep. In the morning when Cullen awoke still holding Shaye in his arms, he thanked the Maker for bringing Shaye to him and wondered at the miracle that for the first time since Uldred, Cullen had slept without interruption. He let the tears of relief and gratitude fall unabashedly.

~XXX~