A/N: Hi guys. I am sooo sorry that I havent uploaded in a while. My life has been going a mile a minute and Ive barely had time to sit down, let alone write. I get married soon so if I disappear for a while in July I apologise again. Im also trying to set a buisness up and going back to college to retake some exams so... yeah busy. As of now my other fanfictions are on haiatus as I can only focus on one at a time. Im sorry if this diapoints some but I need balance. To everyone asking where the second chapter of Fenris's regret is, I do have an idea how its gonna go, like I said I am just swamped right now. Hope you can all understand. Thanks again guys for all the nice things youve all said. S x

First Meeting

- When Cullen first layed eyes on her his natural Templar training had kicked in. But little did he know the affect she would have on his life-

Cullen was exaushted, to say the least. Hours of fighting demons was starting to take its toll on him. He was slick with sweat, his face covered in grime and blood, and his arms ached from defending himself with sword and shield.
He'd seen many a man fall that day, some no more than their eighteenth year, and he knew it wasnt over.
He squinted at the huge hole in the sky, its illuminate green making his eyes hurt. The smaller rift overhead, the one he'd cursed about fifty times today, was oddly quiet, which he didnt know whether it was a blessing or a curse.
His men sat at a makeshift camp about fifty feet away from him, some sharpening blades, some tending to wounds, others replenishing their energy with food or drink. Cullen himself was too nervous to eat. He simply drank from the water skin that he had been given, eyeing the rift constantly for any signs of trouble.

Suddenly the rift began to crackle and began the process of spewing up more demons.
"Men," he yelled. "To arms!" The screech of a demon made his men scramble, all tasks abandoned in favour for bows and swords.
Wave after wave of demons hit, each as unrelenting as the first. Cullen panted as he struck down another Shade, before instantly spinning to block an attack from a Wisp. Even with all his Templar training, he didnt think he would last much longer. Exaushtion would hit long before the flow of demons ebbed.
Thats when he saw them, out of the corner of his eyes. Four people, one Dwarf, and Elf and two women. As they drew closer he recongised them as Lady Cassandra, Varric and that apostate mage Solas, with someone who he could only assume was this prisoner he'd heard so much about. The one with the strange mark. He didnt have time to wonder why they had brought her along, as the demons readied a second attack.
Cullen did however catch a glimpse of her fighting style. Instantly he clicked she was a mage and he wasnt ashamed to admit that put him on edge. Yet her magic seemed different to most mages that he had known. More reserved, like she herself was worried of what she might do. This comforted him a little. Compared to Solas, whos magic was all confidence and self assurance, borderline arrogance at times, this girl seemed terrified to set a foot wrong.
She definatly grew up in a circle, he told himself as he shield bashed a Terror demon. He knew the type straight away. He also noticed when she wasnt casting spells, she was glancing at him nervously.
Once the demons were dead, Solas yelled to the girl, and in one swift motion her hand glowed and the rift stictched closed. Cullen was in awe, he'd never seen magc like that before. He summised that it had something to do with the mark. He shook his head, his composure back in place in an instant, and whilst Solas praised the girl, he headed over to the seeker.
"Lady Cassandra, you managed to close the rift. Well done." He sheathed his sword and put his shield back into its place on his back. He felt more relaxed now than he had done in days. "Do not congratulate me Commander," the seekers heavy Nevarran accent declared, almost proudly. "This was the prisoners doing." She gestured to the girl, no... now that she was closer he realised she was a woman, her small body and scared features had only made her seem younger, as she sidled up to Cassandra. She was using her sleeve to wipe grime and sweat off of her face so it was hidden from view, utill she realied she was being spoken of. Cullen saw her stiffen as she removed her arm and looked up at him.
This close to her he couldnt deny that she was beautiful. Her skin was ivory, marred only by tiny freckles across her nose and cheeks, the latter of which was flushed red with the cold. A smudge of dirt she'd missed remained on her right cheek. Her lips were small, with the tiniest overbites, her hair a dark mahogany colour, pulled into a ponytail, although some had fallen loose, soft curls that fell to her shoulders.
But her most stunning feature, one that almost made Cullen gawp like a damn fool teenager, was her eyes. Maker he had never seen eyes as stunningly unique as hers. Irises the coulor of silver ore, with a pale blue swirl, mesmerising even when hidden behind thick dark lashes.
He gulped and tried to keep his voice as stoic as possible when he addressed her. "I hope their right about you, we've lost a lot of good people to get you here."
"I... I'll ty not to disapoint anyone..." she stuttered, her voice timid, he eyes looking anywhere but him. He knew what she was thinking of course. Him being a Templar was as obvious as her being a mage.
He smirked. She was nervous of him. Good, she should be. No matter how proficient she was, or how much care she took with her magic, or her ability to seal the rifts or Maker, even her beauty, he had always been cautious around mages. She must have noticed his demeanour change as she moved back from him, more towards Varric and Solas.

Few words were exchanged between him and Cassandra before she gestured to her three companions that it was time to make the final push towards the temple. Solas and Varric instantly joined her, but Cullen noticed the woman sidle up to him again. He looked down at her, only now realising how short she was, frowning, not unfriendly, just cautiously at her. She flinched at his gaze, gulped then spoke so quietly it could have been a whisper.
"Maker go with you Commander," she said. Cullens eyes widened, mouth hung open like an idiot, and for once words elluded him. She offered him a small smile, which was of equal beauty to her face, he noted later, before walking away to join the others, looking back at him once with curiousity.
"Maker go with you," he whispered back, unsure if she had heard him. All to late, as he turned and helped more of the wounded, he realised he hadnt inqured after her name.

Little did he relaise that Evelyn had heard his whispered words. Despite her obvious trepidation over his clear and apparent Templar training and demeanour, the man had all the classic rigidity of one trained for years and the fighting style of one seasoned at fighting demons, she couldnt help but smile. As she lost sight of him she sighed. Maker he was beautiful. Golden hair, so soft she'd wanted to run her hands through it, eyes the colour of honeyed caramel, which she hoped were warmer when he wasnt frowning. She had no idea how he'd gotten the scar across his top lip but she'd wanted to find out, to run her finger along it. And with all the physical training he had endured she just knew his body was muscular under all that armour.
She shook her head. Keep it together, she told herself as she trudged after Solas. Stop acting like an infatuated youngster. You dont even know if your getting out of here alive yet. Despite all that was happening however she still smiled. She glanced at the sky, a sky everyone expected to her to fix, one she didnt know if she even could, then back to where she'd met the dashing Commander.
Dont worry your beautiful face Commander, she thought as she pulled up behind Solas, her objective before her. You'll warm up to me eventually.