Thank you to all those who reviewed chapter 2, you really make my day. Neferit heh I think I made myself sound bitchie without even meaning too! So I apologize for that! I thank you for the Connor thing though I really do. Majin I can't believe I did that, it's like an unconscious thing I do when it comes to then and than! I know the meaning of each but I stuff it. Same with your and you're I know the difference but sometimes I blank and it's frustrating! I apologize. Thanks for all you're tips though, I'mma let sir slip one more time then no more I promise! I didn't realize I did so many black hair lines so there is none in this chapter! Promise. Country brown is like a really earth brown… and I only had xbox not computer and wiki looked brown but also didn't say, so thanks for telling me his eye colour.

Thanks to Sophia Liso66 hdonald LadyElle00Prologue jen4306 Mandalore18 and Goddess Of Metal You all make my heart happy oh and also thank you to all those who alerted this/fav

Chapter 3

Alyiria's breathing started to fade as her eye lids slowly began to close, she was praying to the maker to help her out of this. "Cullen…" She tried one more time feeling everything drain out of her body.

"Ally?" Cullen's voice panicked as he raced over to her, she was gray in color as her body was slouched into the wall and floor without any control; he quickly lifted her up into his arms. "Ally, please wake up!" Her body was limp in his arms, he attempted to shake her but she didn't reply or open her eyes, he thought for a moment as he glanced down at her. "Irving…" He spoke to himself before quickly making his way down towards his office holding her tightly in his arms.

He pushed passed a few mages as he ran as fast as he could in his heavy plated armor, it clanged loudly in protest but he continued to run. He reached Irving's office and kicked in the door causing a loud bang to ring through the tower; Irving jumped in surprise and frowned at Cullen until he saw Alyiria. "Maker what happen?" He asked quickly making his way over to them.

"I don't know I found her in the hallway like this." Cullen huffed out taking in deep breaths. "We were on our way to the library."

Irving looked at Alyiria with a puzzled expression on his face. "It is magic at work here, but I don't know this magic." He explained. "She is unconscious Cullen, quick take her to her room and I shall go get Wynne."

Cullen nodded as he quickly backed out of Irving's office and took her towards her room as Irving went the opposite way in search of Wynne.

Alyiria ran down the bustling corridor towards Hawke's usual post swerving between the other mages who wondered them, suddenly she felt herself crash to the floor with a clank. "Owe…" She moaned as she slowly sat up and shook her head. "What in the maker did I run into?"

"Me…" A voice groaned from in front of her causing her to let out a surprised squeak.

"Oh maker! Cullen? I am so sorry." She let out a captivating giggle as he slowly sat up and stared at her with a frown. "I really am sorry, Cullen I was not expecting to see you here at the tower again; it has only been a week after all."

Cullen was surprised that she had known how long it had been since he had been here last. "Father said it would be the best way to learn…"

"Is he a Templar?" She mused looking at him intently from her sitting position they were the same height. "Is he at another tower?"

To say Cullen was confused by this girl was an understatement. "You really want to know?" He eyed her as she let out another charming giggled and nodded her head. "No he isn't a Templar but he is in the royal kings' army, second in command…"

"Second in command? Wow!" Her eyes shimmered as she looked impressed. "Why are you becoming a Templar then?"

He thought for a moment. "I was told too." He replied simply.

"Told too?"

"Yes… My mother died when I was six and so my father placed me in the Chantry while he was in the army. He told me I'd become a Templar…"

"Oh I am sorry about you're mother sir Cullen."

"Just Cullen…What about you're parents?"

"Ally what are you doing here?" Hawke's deep voice interrupted their conversation causing both the younger children to look up at the handsome man. "Cullen too?"

Alyiria grinned cheekily up at him. "I was looking for you Ser, and then I ran into Cullen accidentally."

Hawke looked down at her and let out a light chuckle. "And why were you looking for me?" He asked bending down slightly to lift her up onto her feet.

"I had finished that book you had so kindly given me for my birthday, Sir." She replied sweetly as she watched him help Cullen to his feet.

"Finished already?" His laugh filled the hallways with a joy as Alyiria's grin grew wider. "Did you enjoy it?"

"I did indeed Ser."

"That's good my girl I am glad you enjoyed it, come Cullen we have training to do, I will see you later Ally." Hawke smiled at the promising mage before taking his leave.

"Goodbye Ser, bye Cullen." She smiled at Cullen as he shyly waved at her then quickly followed Hawke out of the hallways.

"Look at the Templar lover." A boy's voice filled her eyes as she turned to see a group of boys coming towards her.

She looked away from them nervously and attempted to walk away but they quickly surrounded her. "Where are you going? Too one of the Templars?" The leader of the group of boys asked stepping in front of her.

"No." Alyiria answered shyly pulling on her fingers. "I was…"

The boy pushed her roughly into the wall causing her to slam into it. "If you love the Templars so much why don't you marry one?"

Alyiria stayed quiet as the tears welled up in her eyes, her eye site was planted on the ground, the back of her body hurt from the pressure of the wall. "I think she's ignoring you, John." One of the other boys spoke up as John smirked at her.

"I think she is too." He replied pushing her again forcefully but this time to the side so she fell heavily onto the ground, laugher filled her ears as they pointed and laughed at her.

Alyiria's balled her hands into little fists as the group of five boys teased her, she looked up to see John standing over her with a smirk on his face, she wanted to burn that smirk off his face but the Templars made it very clear magic was not to be used by apprentices or children mages without supervision. "You know, I really hate Templars and since you want so much to be one, I'll show you what I will do to a Templar as soon I escape from this place and they send them after me." He raised his foot before forcefully swinging it forward and kicking Alyiria in the stomach with so much anger and force behind it she felt winded letting out a loud uncontrollable scream. They all laughed at her.

"What are you five doing?" Hawke voice hissed as he looked at the group who quickly tried to stand in front of Alyiria. "Speak!" He bellowed terrifying them to their very core. Alyiria was curled up in a ball as tears silently steam down her cheeks she held her stomach tightly as Hawke pushed passed the boys to see her on the floor. "Ally? What happened, my girl?"

She attempted to open her mouth but the pain rippled through her with every move. "It wasn't me." One of the boys said quickly, swallowing hard.

Hawke turned to face the group. "Which one of you did this?" He scowled at the group causing them all to look away nervously. "Which one!"

"John!" Another one of the boys called quickly not wanting to have anything to do with this anymore. "He pushed her into the wall then onto the floor and kicked her!"

"Shut up!" John yelled to his supposed friend. "You wanted it done just as much!"

Hawke growled at the group of boys. "Jack!" He called out to his friend; Jack was one of the roughest and meanest Templars when it came to mages and their discipline and all mages feared getting sent to Jack even more then Greagoir himself.

Jack walked out to Hawke to see what he wanted, but as soon as he saw Hawke's face he knew it was bad, he looked to the group of boys with a slight puzzled look, then he saw Alyiria. "What did they do?" He asked looking at the girl he had disciplined when she had turned two Templars into frogs when she was six.

"John beat up Ally, take him away." He growled as carefully picked Alyiria up in his arms, hearing her groan at every movement.

Jack looked at Alyiria as she groaned and looked back at him. "You right there Ally?" She gave a small nodded, he pat her head gently before grabbing John's arm and dragging him off.

"You four get out of my site." Hawke barked at them, he didn't need to ask twice, they quickly ran off without a word.

Cullen watched the whole thing from the doorway of the room he had been training in, Hawke walked toward him with Alyiria in his arms. "Why'd they do that for?" He asked as Hawke entered the room with her.

"They don't like me." Alyiria groaned out feeling sharp pains all over her body. "I don't really… have any friends." Her voice was small as she looked away from him.

"Nonsense Ally, you have me and the rest of us." Hawke replied placed her down onto one of the seats in the room. "And I'm sure Cullen too."

Cullen walked up to her and nodded. "I'll be you're friend Ally."

Alyiria grinned at him while she watched him sit next to her. "Promise?"

"I promise."

Cullen paced up and down Alyiria's room waiting for Irving to return with Wynne by his side, he had placed Alyiria into her bed and didn't know what else he could do. He glanced back at her to see if anything had changed, at that moment her eyes flickered open with a groan to go along with it. "Ally?" Cullen asked quickly making his way towards the girl, almost stumbling over his self.

Alyiria looked at him with a confused expression. "Cullen? What… Where… argh." She grabbed onto her head and groaned again, Cullen sat by her side in an instant. "My head hurts." She groaned out to him holding onto it with her eyes shut tightly.

He put his arms around her, pulling her into him and holding onto her tightly, she continued to hold onto her head as she lay against Cullen's armored chest. "Do you remember what happened?"

"I remember… being in the hallway…" She stopped and thought for a moment. "Then I don't remember…"

"Cullen I have brought Wynne…" Irving stopped half way into the room to see Alyiria awake. "What happened?"

"She… she just woke up." Cullen replied shifting uncomfortably as Irving watched him hold her. "Then her head hurt."

"Ally my dear." Wynne rushed over to her side. "I was so worried, how do you feel?"

Alyiria looked at her elder friend who stared back at her with such worry in her eyes. "I feel like my head as been stomped on by an Archdemon." She thought for a moment. "Many, many times."

Wynne smiled humbly at one of the most amazing people she had ever had the pleasure of encountering. "What about what happened, do you remember?"

"She said she didn't remember anything." Cullen answered attempting to avoid eye contact with anyone.

"No wait… I … I remember a voice…" Her eyes glazed for a moment as Wynne took a hold of her hand. "I think it was a demon…"

"Do you remember what it said?" Wynne asked softly giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Any of it?"

Alyiria's face pulled in a frown. "No I don't."

"This is most troubling; you say you heard a voice? Was there a demon visible?" Irving asked.

Alyiria shook her head in reply to Irving; she stayed up against Cullen's chest as his arms stayed strongly around her body making her feel invincible. "I felt… everything leave my body… It was strange… It wasn't like when we encountered the sloth demon, Wynne, but remember the feeling of when he put us into the fade?"

"All too well my dear, there was nothing we could do to stop it."

"Exactly like that, I tried to fight it but I couldn't… Connor is waiting for me." Alyiria said suddenly pulling out of Cullen's grip and pushing off the blankets.

"I don't know if that's wise, Ally." Irving said watching her stumble out of bed. "Maybe you should rest for now."

"Irving, I've had enough rest for now, I need to do something." Alyiria replied trying to stand up properly, her legs felt odd and sore but she pushed herself to just do it. "Please I am fine."

Irving sighed running his index finger through his bushy gray beard. "Alright… Cullen, take her there but do not leave her side. Oh and Alyiria, have Connor ready for dinner, Teagan is coming to see him"

Cullen stood up and bowed his head at Irving before taking a hold of Alyiria's hand and leading her out the door, he could feel his cheeks grow hot so he kept his head straight and didn't look at Alyiria who followed him while he led her by hand.

Wynne looked at Irving with a concerned look. "You know of his feelings for her right?" She asked folding her arms firmly against her chest.

"I have had my suspicions for years." Irving replied. "But I've never been sure."

"He confessed it to her when he thought she was a vision during the take over."

"He is the best thing for her at the moment Wynne, I am too old to be denying them some time together, you can see as well as I can that they both need each other right now."

"It is dangerous; you know they can't actually be together."

"They know that as well, Wynne."

Alyiria dawdled behind Cullen still being led by hand, holding his hand felt nice even with the other mages they passed pointing at them and whispering. "I had a dream about you." She said suddenly while watching him walk ahead of her slightly.

Cullen cleared his throat. "Did you?"

Alyiria bit her bottom lip in thought. "Well it was more a memory… It was when you promised me you would be my friend."

"You mean when that John kid beat you up?"

"Puh! Of course you'd remember that part." Alyiria interrupted him with a snort, it felt almost like it use to between them. "Yeah then."

"You were eight weren't you?" Cullen glanced back at her too see her grinning at him.

"I was indeed, you were twelve." She gave his hand a squeeze, she had missed being around him and being home… things just moved like they should at home, unlike against the blight when every day had a new challenge or surprise ahead. "I've missed it here…"

"It wasn't full of delight when you left you know, I'm just glad you were out of the tower when it first happened." Cullen realized how that sounded and quickly added. "Because it was so terrible for anyone who was here…"

"I'm sorry I didn't arrive sooner to save some of the others… Jack… Dane… Harrith" A sharp pain ripped through her heart. "…Hawke…" She stopped walking feeling Cullen tug her without realizing she wasn't following anymore, her eyes filled with tears at the thought of Hawke. "I could have saved him…"

Cullen stopped walking as well and looked back at her, she covered her mouth with her right hand and stared at the ground, tears once again found themselves streaming down her face. "I watched them die, Ally." His voice strained and sounded distant.

"I'm so sorry Cullen, I should have…" Before she could finish Cullen pulled her into his chest wrapping his arms around her; he knew how much Hawke had meant to her.

"We can talk about it later… Right now Connor is waiting for you." He took a hold of her shoulders and pulled her back to force her to look at him. "Connor has wanted to spend time with you for three days now."

Alyiria nodded in agreement, she felt like her body just wanted any reason to turn on the water works, the things that happened during the downfall of the Archdemon ate away at her insides like rabid wolfs after their last meal. The maker surely wouldn't turn his gaze on her. "Go on…"

'You didn't try your hardest…' Ally shivered, the voice seemed to speak right into her ear as she felt a cold breeze hit her neck. 'Murderer…'

Cullen stared at the broken girl for a moment. "Come on then." He said quietly taking her hand back into his, she jumped at his touch. "Only me Ally."

Alyiria nodded entangling his fingers in between her own; she liked it when he didn't ware his large plated gloves, she liked feeling his warm hands against her cooler ones. He led her down the large hallway of the tower, they both walked in silence looking away for each other holding each others hand like it was the most valuable possession one could own. Alyiria was so tired of feeling pain that the moments were she could forget everything and be happy, even for just a moment, were the ones she treasured more than anything.

They walked into the large open library to see a certain little boy running towards them. "Ally! You're here!" Connor's voice called out excitedly, Alyiria let go of Cullen's hand and opened her arms for him, and he ran into the hug throwing his arms around her neck. "We have been waiting for ages."

Alyiria gave him a squeeze. "I'm sorry, something came up and there wasn't anything I could do." She glanced up at Marcus as he lent up against the bookshelf with his arms folded, his dark blond shabby hair was almost long enough to cover some of his eye site as his dark blue eyes stood uniquely against his white complexion, he was shorter then most Templars, taller then Alyiria, but only just. "I hope he wasn't too much of a pain, Marcus."

He smiled at her sweetly. "No, he was alright." He pushed himself up off the shelf he used to lean on and made his way towards her. "What took you so long anyway?"

Alyiria thought for a moment, she didn't want to alarm Connor in anyway. "I'll tell you later."

"You weren't avoiding me?" Connor mused staring up at his idol with sad eyes.

"Of course I was." She teased lightly poking out her tongue at the young boy. "But then I thought you were too cute to avoid."

Connor frowned at her as his cheeks changed to a crimson red. "Not in front of the Templars!" He hissed too her in a low voice, getting a giggle in return.

"Nonsense Connor, any man would be lucky to have a woman as wonderful as Ally to call him cute." Marcus spoke up causing all three to turn their gazes on him; Alyiria sent him a small smile.

"Thank you Marcus, that's very sweet." He bowed his head politely which made her smile grow bigger. "Come now Connor, we best start this training."

"Do I get to learn magic?" Connor questioned excitedly bounding to her side as she gracefully walked across the library. "I want to be a bear like you!"

Alyiria smiled at the boys' eagerness to learn. "You have to learn the basics first; you know all that boring stuff?" She watched his face drop instantly. "And yes we have too."

Connor groaned while he plopped himself down next to Alyiria who had sat on the stone floor, using the bookshelf as a leaning post. Cullen and Marcus stood watching from a distance, just as they were instructed. "You have until dinner." Cullen informed her, retrieving a flick of her wrist in reply.

"Do you know what two of the most important things to know as a mage is?" Alyiria questioned glancing down at the Arl of Redcliff's Nephew.

"Control?"

"And?"

"Concentration?"

"Well done, without control of your powers you are doing no one any good same with concentration, if you lack it or loose it even for a moment you can do serious damage to anything and anyone around you."

"Have you ever lost control, Ally?"

"… Once … and I'm not proud of it at all."

"What happened?"

"It happened during the mage take over… I … couldn't control myself and something bad happened, I swore to the maker I'd never let it happen again. Two of my companions had to help me other wise I don't really know if I'd be here right now." Cullen stared at Alyiria as she fiddled with her fingers, she did that when something upset her or made her nervous, he didn't know what really happened to her when she arrived back at the tower.

"What was it?"

"Right now it's not important what I did; I'm here to teach you. Now what magic is forbidden?"

"That's easy, blood magic."

"Why is it forbidden?"

"Um… I don't know…"

"The Chantry believes it leads to corruption, it is taught by demons and in order to use it one must sacrifice ones own life force or the life of another's; any-"

"How do you know it's taught by demons?"

"The one that possessed you offered to teach me in exchange for its life, it said it would disappear and come back later on to take you."

"What did you say?"

"Of course."

"What?" All three boys called out at once causing Alyiria to throw back her head and laugh.

"Kidding, I killed it."

"That wasn't funny Ally." Connor moaned.

"Tis why we don't make deals with demons they make unfair deals and always want what's best for them, just a heads up for the future."

Alyiria continued on her 'theory' lesson for the rest of the afternoon but she kept Connor interested with quizzes and stories of her travels that included what she was trying to teach him; Cullen and Marcus listened with interest as well, learning a thing or two. "I hate to interrupt but its time Connor went for dinner." Marcus interrupted the two mages causing them both too look at him.

"Already?" Alyiria asked looking from Marcus to Connor. "Well you better run off to dinner. I think Teagan is coming to visit tonight."

"Uncle Teagan?" Connor's face lit up as he jumped to his feet. "Come with me Ally I know Uncle wants to see you too!" He grabbed a hold of her hand and tugged on it. "Please?"

"Haven't you had enough of me?" Alyiria laughed at his attempted to get her to her feet but he shook his head in reply. "Alright Connor I will come with you to dinner. But that means Cullen and Marcus have to join as well." She said pointing towards the two Templars standing guard.

Connor looked at the two intimidating men standing tall in their plated Templar armor, then back at Alyiria who was grinning at him. "That's okay."

Alyiria pushed her-self up off the hard ground stretching like a cat who finally decided to wake, the two Templars watched her do it so elegantly, Connor noticed them watching her and frowned, he took a hold of her hand and began pulling her out of the room and once more down the hallway.

Connor led her into the large dinning room where dinner had been served, the room was full of mages of all ages and seven Templars set up at each corner of the room, Teagan stood towards the back of the room waiting for Connor to arrive. "Uncle!" Connor called out releasing Alyiria's hand and running towards him.

Teagan turned around to see his Nephew running at him. "Connor my boy, it is good to see you." He bent down and hugged him tightly. "How has it been?"

"I had my first lesson with Ally, Uncle!" Connor replied letting go of his Uncle to turn around and wave Alyiria over. "She makes boring things fun."

"Ally my dear, how are you?" Teagan asked pulling her into a large hug. "It almost seems strange without you off saving my family."

Alyiria wrapped her arms around him squeezing him tightly. "It is just as weird for me, I must say though it is a nice change not to have someone try and kill me." She placed her forehead onto his shoulder and sighed. "I slept for three straight days."

Teagan chuckled causing them both to move with his laughter. "You need rest my dear; no harm can come from that." He looked over the top of her head to see the two Templars standing and watching them. "Are they yours?"

Alyiria turned her head so it was resting on his chest and too see Cullen and Marcus behind them. "Irving decided I needed two males to look after me because I seem to be hopeless."

Another chuckle rang through Teagan causing her once more to bounce along with his laugher; she gave a smile as his arm rested around her back. "I'm sure he has a good reason."

"Uncle it's time for dinner." He tugged on the bottom Alyiria's tight dress. "Ally come sit with me."

Alyiria grunted at the thought of leaving Teagan's warmth. "Your Nephew is rather demanding." She casually joked slowly releasing her grip on him.

Teagan once more laughed releasing her as well; he followed behind Alyiria and Connor towards the table for dinner. Dinners conversation went on for longer then dinner and soon it was Connor's bed time, he protested a great deal but eventually Marcus took him to bed, then retired for the evening; Alyiria and Teagan stayed later just talking to one another which got on Cullen's nerves as he stood quietly against the wall behind them.

Teagan left not much later as Alyiria walked him to the towers entrance to say goodbye, she watched him leave on the boat as the cold night air surrounded her causing her to shake. "You and Teagan seem to be close." Cullen spoke from the towers' doors looking out at her standing on the docks.

She made her way back inside the castle shaking as she did so. "I suppose so, why did you have to say it like that?" Her teeth chattered loudly as she spoke.

"Like what?" Cullen replied shutting the large wooden door as soon as Alyiria had made her way in. "You should be in bed."

Alyiria shook as she looked at him and rolled her eyes. "Way to ch…ch…change the subject." She shuttered due to how cold she felt.

"I'm not changing the subject, you're cold and you need to get warm." Cullen replied. "I think my armor would just make you colder."

"Strip down then!" She grinned hugging herself tightly in attempts to get warm.

Cullen stared at her as she stood there grinning at him shaking like a wet dog trying to dry itself. "I'm not sixteen again Ally and you can't convince me again."

Alyiria began to giggle uncontrollably. "Oh maker I remember that!"

Cullen scoffed. "Yeah you and half of the Chantry." He sighed as he watched her continue to giggle; she bent over and held onto her stomach in laughter. "Bed. Now." He ordered pointing down the hallway.

Alyiria nodded but couldn't stop her giggling, each time she thought she'd calmed down enough to move she glanced up at him and burst back into laugher. Cullen rolled his eyes before walking up to her and in one swift moved he hoisted her up over his shoulder. "Hey!" She squealed in between her laughing. He carried her over his shoulder down the hallway towards her room and there wasn't anything Alyiria could do to protest, she rested her chin on her palm once she had finally calm down. "Do you hate me for giving the tower to Irving?"

Cullen stayed quiet for a moment as he carried her in silence. "No Ally, I don't think I could ever hate you." He reached her door and pushed it open using one hand while the other stayed strapped around her waist to stop her from falling. "I was mad at first, but I want to hear what happened when you arrived here when it happened." He walked over to her large bed that could fit at least another five of her and dropped her onto it.

"Stay with me and I'll tell you?" She looked up at him from the position she had landed in from her drop which led Cullen's mind a little astray.

"Um… I err… I'll give you a moment to um… g…get into your nightgown… th… then I'll come back." He quickly looked away from her and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Um alright then?" Alyiria replied with a confused look on her face. "What's wrong?"

"N… n… nothing… I'll be back." Cullen answered making his way back towards the door. "I'll give you a minute…"

"Cullen…" Alyiria called out pushing herself into a sitting position before he left the room; he turned to look at her. "I don't want you to hate me once you know…"

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review

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