Cullen's saved;
Epilogue!

The loving couple left the palace the following day. Cullen knew he wouldn't simply be welcomed back to the tower no matter what he said and so he decided to stay with Synara – he wouldn't have it any other way either. They left Denerim and began their journey to Soldier's Peek. Being such a beautiful day, they decided to travel on foot. The couple had been walking and joking for nearly two hours before they were suddenly surrounded by several men. Synara held out her hands in a defensive position, ready to send off spell in every direction the second she was provoked. Although that would have been completely meaningless. The men were all wearing Templar uniforms. One of the younger men even openly laughed at her causing her to relax her stance in embarrassment, twisting her face into that of great anger instead.

"Have some respect," another man hissed under his breath, "That's the Grey Warden."

"What is it you want?" Synara questioned crossing her arms over her chest, but by the look on Cullen's face, he already knew.

"We've just come for the Templar – our quarrel isn't with you!" Cullen's body stiffened, he even discreetly moved closer to his mage. "He needs to answer for his sins."

"He already has." Synara stated backing up slightly as they all moved closer. The man who appeared to be their leader narrowed his eyes at the mage; inspecting her very closely. He clearly didn't believe her.

"We'll just take him with us to be safe." His tone was that of fake friendliness. They persisted to move closer again. Synara instantly moved in front of Cullen in a protective manner. Though there was nothing she could do against so many Templars, she wouldn't merely stand aside and let them take her lover away from her.

"It's okay, I'll accept my punishment." Cullen whispered clasping her shoulder.

"No!" She snarled ignored the men and turned to face her love instead. "Your punishment will be death; you don't honestly believe you deserve that, do you?" Cullen looked away; he didn't want her to look at him right now. His eyes clouded over with regret. Mouse didn't kill those mages in the tower - Mouse didn't brutally attack Synara... okay that he did do, but Cullen never wanted to hurt her. He believed himself responsible for his actions and not a demon, no matter how powerful it claimed to be.

"Well I don't." She hissed turning back to the other men. He felt such pride in his heart - that she believed he should be spared – that she honestly believed Cullen was worth saving.

"And what are you going to do about it mage?" The younger man smirked overly confident.

"Yes, I am a mage, but I have no intent of fighting you, I am no fool," Synara snarled at the complete lack of disrespect and stupidity this man was showing her. "But I do here by invoke the Right of Conscription." The leaders smirk twisted into that of bitter failure.

"Let's go men!" He snarled angrily.

"Just like that?"

"We no longer have authority over this." And with that, the men backed away slowly until they were completely out of sight.

Synara sighed in relief; she had never had to say those words before. Cullen grasped his love in a tight embrace.

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me Cullen." Her words were stern as she pushed him from her. "Believe in yourself more will you, you really are too hard on yourself!" Her words were softer now and she melted further as he gave her a half hearth smile. "Oh come here." She pulled him toward her this time, wrapping her arms around his neck; she stretched up kissing him on the lips and upon pulling away she spoke once more, "I guess it's just a good thing I believe in you enough for the both of us then!"

"I love you Synara…I always will."

Cullen helped to train the new Grey Warden's although he never actually went through the joining ritual himself – Synara wouldn't allow it. He stayed by her side always however and everyday they spent together their bond grew stronger, their love intensified. When the time came to take the battle to the Darkspawn, she insisted Cullen stayed behind. He refused. If it hadn't have been for him, Synara would have found her death down there in the darkness of the Deep Roads and her army would have crumbled, but the sad truth the Wardens learned down in the shadows was that the Darkspawn will never truly be defeated.

Synara and Cullen's love however, became a thing of legend and together, they truly did become a force to be reckoned with.