"Did you hear? Uldred is back."

"So? The man's a horrific son of a bitch, I avoid him."

"Me too, but there are 3 people who went to Ostagar and Uldred's the only one back here."

"I'm not asking questions. I don't want to end up in isolation!"

"Hey, do you think Anders will be out soon? He's been in there for a very long time."

"I don't think that guy is still alive."

While very little news ever permeated the walls of Kinloch Hold, even the Mages held there knew that something strange was going on. For all that the Templars refused to discuss what was going on in the outside world, the rumours of a Blight made them even more tense and disagreeable than usual.

The Mages were still unaware of the Fifth Blight, but when Uldred returned rumours about him started up. The increased violence of certain Templars mixed in with the concern that Uldred had returned before Wynne had a plethora of rumours circling through the quietest of the dusty rooms.

However, there was always someone in the Tower with no idea about what was being said. For once, Dorian was this Mage. Although he had always been tucked away with a book and half an ear listening out, he was now thoroughly distracted.

Rumours no longer really registered with him for one simple reason: Templar Cullen Stanton Rutherford.

Cullen was a frightened man, and in his fear he came to a firm decision: He would not let Dorian know about the threat of a Blight. If Dorian had any objections to Cullen distraction methods, he didn't speak up.

Cullen supposed, as he pressed the man up against a wall, that Dorian may not have enough understanding of life outside the circle to be concerned by the threat of a Blight. Of course, if Cullen had taken a moment to reflect, he may have realised that it was not Dorian he was trying to distract.

"Not that …. Isn't, ohh… quite wonderful, but- Ah! But…" Dorian had one leg wrapped around Cullen's hip and the other one spread as wide as his robes would allow.

"You want to talk now?" Asked Cullen, an incredulous tone decorating his voice.

"Yes, please…" Dorian gave him a slightly hesitant look and Cullen nodded.

"What about?" He moved back.

"Stay close. I like having you near. And… what's the matter?"

"What do you mean?" Cullen pressed up close, wrapping his arms back around his lover.

"You aren't yourself." Dorian ran a hand through the Templar's curls. "What's got you so scared?"

And with those words, Cullen's plans to keep Dorian oblivious to the Blight went down the drain.

"There's a Blight coming." He whispered, his fingers gripping the back of Dorian's robe as he buried his face into the man's neck.

"A Blight? Really?" the interest in Dorian's voice was clear, but Cullen managed to not flinch.

"Y-Yeah." Tears prickled at his eyelids, the stress finally catching up with him. "I didn't want you to worry about it. You guys can't run. Villages in Ferelden are evacuating and you have to stay here."

"Come here." Dorian muttered, wrapping Cullen up as close as he could. "Don't keep these things from me. I want to be here for you."

"I didn't want you to be afraid."

"I'm only afraid of demons. Darkspawn? Death? They don't worry me."

"Not you, but me? I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

They sank to the floor in a tangle of limbs, Cullen finally letting loose all the feelings he had been hiding. It hurt to sob, pain striking through his chest as he curled into Dorian. His thoughts drifted to his family; to his parents and his sisters and his brother. He had no idea if they had evaded the darkspawn, if they were safe in Denerim with his mother's brother or if they were lying dead in a field somewhere.

The fear made him quiver, it kept him awake at night and it filled his head while he stood around on duty during the day. The only moments of reprieve were those spent with Dorian. He relished the times spent pressed against his lover, breathing in that oddly spicy scent that Dorian had when he didn't use his 'home-made' cologne to cover it up.

"Y-You can't tell anyone. Greagoir said we aren't allowed to talk about it."

"I'm good at keeping secrets for you." Dorian gave him a small smile, his hands once again playing with blonde hair.

"Really? What secrets?" Cullen gazed curiously at Dorian. However, the Templar didn't tense up, he trusted Dorian to keep his secrets.

"You said… weeks ago, you said you'd been chosen to deliver the killing blow." The Mage whispered.

"I… I said that?" Cullen gave him a horrified look, realising he had mentioned something of the Harrowing to an apprentice.

"I suspect you were in shock, amatus. Don't worry."

"Amatus?" Cullen pulled Dorian's hand out of his hair and linked their fingers together.

"I… I don't know. I'm not sure what it means, but I know it fits."

"Maybe I should learn another language? Maybe we could work out where you came from?" Cullen grinned weakly at him, tear trails still visible in the flickering candle light.

"We could." Dorian laughed, a smile blossoming on his face; a genuine, if small, smile was echoed on Cullen's. "But I want an element of mystery to myself."

"You want a hidden past?" Cullen chuckled.

"I have read a couple of stories and the one with a dark, secret past is always the most tantalising. Though, I bet I came from somewhere warm."

"You are always cold." But Cullen was openly laughing now too.

He shifted onto his knees to kiss Dorian, a soft and sweet gesture that quickly gathered heat when the Mage pulled him down as he flopped back onto the stone floor. Cullen went willingly, pressing Dorian down as his lips moved down to suckle at the dark, sweaty neck.

"Oh, fuck. Wait, Cullen? Seriously? Awesome!"

"What?" Cullen rolled off his lover to look up at the off-duty Templar who had entered the alcove.

"I'm just grabbing a book. As you were." The man chuckled to himself as Cullen blushed a deep pink. Beside him, Dorian let out a delighted laugh, mirth sparkling in his eyes as he watched the colour flooded his face.

"I… I…" Cullen stuttered.

"Indeed." Dorian pulled Cullen close again, pressing kisses across his face.

Cullen shut his eyes and tried to focus on Dorian, on the feel of his body underneath those robes. When Dorian hiked the skirt of his robes up to better spread his legs, Cullen managed to completely ignore the laughter from the Templar as he left and settled comfortably between them.

"As we were, then." The Mage whispered in a low voice. The Templar grinned and sealed their lips together.