Kyra looked puzzled, "That sounds familiar, whats The Harrowing?" she asked. "It's a... test of your abilities, they take you in the middle of the night from your bed to the Harrowing Chamber, If you pass the "Test" you become a true Mage. If not... well..." she trailed off and looked down at the table, her face gone dark.

"If not what? Petra?" Kyra didn't know why she suddenly looked so... worried? "Maybe Irving will rethink this, you couldn't be ready..." She said in a low voice.

Kyra put her hand atop of Petra's, and she looked up from the table. "Petra, what is it?" she looked back down. "Kyra, some people don't survive The Harrowing."

They ate in silence after that, completely dropping the subject for the rest of their meal. Kyra had seconds, as she usually did. Petra walked Kyra back to her the Apprentice Quarters, she was still getting used to where everything was, but she was a fast learner.

They were at the opposite end of the hall to the room when Kyra saw Cullen at the end of the hall near the door. At first she was happy, wanting to talk to him about her day, but then she noticed his facial expression. He was all to serious, and his eyes we're red and puffy, had he been crying?

"Petra? I can make it from here, I'll see you tomorrow morning for breakfast?" "Huh? Oh, yeah sure no problem sweetie, goodnight!" Petra and her exchanged a quick hug and then she walked in the opposite direction.

Once out of sight, Kyra cautiously walked toward Cullen, she knew people could be snappy when they we're upset and didn't want to make him mad, even though she didn't see him as that kind of person.

She was about 5 steps away from him and he peered over at her, once he noticed she was walking towards him he turned. "Oh, Kyra... I uh.." He looked at a loss for words.

"Cullen? You don't look to hot, something wrong?" She hated when people cried, she was the kind of person that would start crying too, and she hated to appear weak. "Everything is uh... oh sod it." he slumped back against the wall and slid down. Once he was sitting put his head in his arms and didn't say anything else.

She looked at him, and then looked around, no one else was in the hall, everyone was still in the Mess Hall, and the only person in the Apprentice Quarters was sleeping. So she knelt down beside him and put her hand on his armored shoulder.

"Want to uh, talk about it? If not I understand, but I know it helps to talk about things that are bothering you..." she was trying to be comforting, but she didn't have a lot of experience in this profession. Well its the thought that counts, she told herself.

He slowly lifted his head to look at her, a few fresh tears had made their way down his cheeks, he sighed and rested his chin on his arm. "This is shameful, I should be stronger than this." he looked at the floor. She shook her head, "You'd be boring if you we're completely emotionless."

He looked up at her, "She's... she's gone Kyra, I'll never see her ever again. And it's all the sodding Blood Mages fault..."

"Who's gone Cullen? What Blood Mage?" "Solona, she's gone..." a tear ran down his cheek and dropped onto his armored chest. "What do you mean gone?" she asked a bit fazed, Can Mages leave the tower?

"GreyWardens, they recruited her. She'll never come back ."

She had read many stories about the GreyWardens, fighting the Darkspawn, and the blight that was once again consuming Ferelden, she also read about the right of Annulment, people of all races having no choice but to take up their swords to the Darkspawn.

Then she found Cullens pain, the girl he loved was being sent off to fight a war. She looked at him, and placed her hand on his head rubbing her thumb thought his golden locks. "Cullen I'm, I'm so sorry..." He looked up and down the hall his chin back on his arm. "She's a strong girl, I should have faith she'll make it..." his lip started to tremble and a few more rouge tears fell to his chin. Oh no, she thought.

Her eyes started to water, "Cullen.. please don't cry."

"I'm s-sorry.." his head fell and he choked up. He lost it and now it was her turn. Tears fell down her face rapidly, Sod it Kyra! Your so damn emotional!

She stood up on her knees and lightly put her head on his and draped her arms over his shoulders, she was still a child in many ways, even if she couldn't admit it to herself, she craved the support and love of a family. And so they both cried, him over a lost love, she because (In her words) is a pussy.

This continued for a while they had calmed down but she could still hear him sniffling, she also didn't want the Apprentice's to walk into seeing this. She backed away a bit and looked at him, "Any better?" she asked bluntly. He sniffed waited a couple seconds then stood up, as followed his lead.

They both wiped the tears from there faces, "Why we're you crying? Did I upset you?" He put his hand on her shoulder. "No of course not, I'm just way to emotional." He gave a small smile, "You'd be boring if you we're completely emotionless."

She looked back up at him from her sleeve and smiled, then she laughed. "Whats so funny?" She looked back down smiling, "It's just that, I've known you for two days, and I've never had a friend before. Who ever knew that the first friend I would ever make would be a Templar of all things." He smiled wider, "The Maker must have."

"Well I should get into my Quarters before the other Apprentice's get out of the mess hall, but I did want to tell you something... Important..." she looked at her feet, Maybe I shouldn't tell him about my test... "Kyra? What is it?" His eyes we're filled to the brim with concern.

Whatever, I can trust him, sod Irving and his secrecy. "I'm taking my Cardinal Test this week." He didn't say a word, after a minute she got the feeling he left so she looked up, and he didn't move a bit.

"Cullen?" she asked, not at all confused by his silence. "You, no. Already? Nonono, your not ready Kyra..." He looked bewildered.

"That's what Greagoir said, I'm taking random practices for the next 2 days and then I have to..." "I should talk with Greagoir about this, It must be a mistake." he said as he shook his head. "Actually, he sort of gave up, he trusted Irving's judgment that I'll be ready."

"I... wow. You must have impressed him a great deal." she smiled at that, but she decided she'd had enough sappiness for one night. "Like I said, I'm sore from toady. I'm looking forward to greeting my bed." He chuckled, "Alright there kiddo, see you tomorrow."

"Nighty-night, and uh, take care. I hear anymore crying and I'll have to get out of bed and smack some sense into you." she grinned as she walked into the Apprentice Quarters. "Haha, alright there tough guy, get to bed you brat."