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RussianBear27

Chapter 2

Denerim hadn't changed much during Kaliana'a years in the Circle. At least as far as she could tell, many of her memories of the city were fuzzy and faded. After all, the last time she had been here she was only six years old. The Templars who collected her were kind enough, but that was little comfort for a confused little girl who did not want to leave her mother and sister.

Her mother had told her to be brave as she wiped away her own tears. Kaliana had begged to stay, promising to always be a good girl as long as she could stay. It was impossible to explain to one so young how the world worked, but her mother did her best. Somehow with one last hug and a kiss goodbye Kaliana went with the waiting Templars to start her new life.

"Are you alright my dear?" Cullen asked, snapping Kaliana back to reality.

"Yes, yes. I'm sorry, I was lost in thought." Kaliana pushed the memories to the back of her mind.

"Alright," Cullen eyed her suspiciously. Kaliana seemed very uncomfortable here. "Well, the Chantry is not far. We should go check in, then we can go see your family."

Kaliana didn't like the Chantry much. The sisters outside the chapel reciting the famous portion of Chant of Light didn't do much to ease her mind. "Magic exists to serve man, and never to rule over him," the Chant of Transfiguration could be heard down the street. "Foul and corrupt are they, Who take His gift, And turn it against His children."

Must she always be reminded of the Chantry's distrust of the mages? Though Kaliana believed in the Maker, she felt the Chant was sometimes used to manipulate and control people more than Andraste intended.

Thankfully the interior was quiet, a welcome change from the bustle of the city. Cullen bid her to wait for him in the sanctuary while he sought out the senior Templar on duty.

The pew creaked softly when she sat down, and Kaliana looked around anxiously hoping no one heard. Settling herself, she smoothed her skirts over her lap and reflected on the crazy events had occurred in the last twenty-four hours. Cullen had been special to her since the day they met in the Circle Chapel. Now, it seemed that impossible dream she held close to her heart had become a reality.

Silently, she prayed to the Maker for forgiveness. Personally she felt that in the Maker's eyes love became before all else, but officially the Chantry would condemn them both for their actions.

A few moments later Cullen returned, having accomplished his task. The young Templar was all smiles as he collected her from the Chapel. Kaliana loved his lopsided grin. It always made his eyes light up. Once again she was reminded how lucky she was to know him.

"Are you ready to see your family?" Cullen asked once they left the Chantry.

"I believe so," Kaliana replied, "Mother knows I'm coming, but Helena has no idea."

"Then she's in for a great surprise."

Leaving the Market District the houses gradually began degrading, and this pattern continued, as they got closer to the Alienage. Although Cullen had heard about the elven Alienages, he had never seen one. He was taken aback by the conditions of the Alienage. Dirty children play in rags on the streets, and there seemed to be a beggar on every street corner. Some of the homes looked to be on the verge of collapse, and the smell was unpleasant to say the least.

People stared and whispered as they passed, but none approached them. Cullen's Templar armor was enough to keep most everyone at bay. Luckily, finding Kaliana's family home wasn't too difficult. Originally it had been a single home, but at some point the single story house had been divided into two small apartments. Outside, an elven woman with greying hair was hanging laundry to dry.

"Mother!" Kaliana called to her.

The woman turned and smiled when she saw them. "Kali!" She opened her arms and rushed over her daughter. Kaliana caught her mother in a warm embrace.

"It's so great to see you Mother," Kaliana beamed.

The older woman noticed the looming Templar, "and who is this?" She asked cautiously.

"Oh, this is Ser Cullen of the Templars, Mother. He is my escort and guardsman," she quickly explained. "Ser Cullen, this is my Mother, Naenia."

Naenia eyed him suspiciously, but extended her hand in greeting.

"I hope to not be of any trouble to you. Ideally, you will not even know I'm here." Cullen assured her.

"Well, make yourself at home," Naenia invited. "It's not much, but it has served us well. Helena is inside making supper." Though she was still wary of the young Templar, Naenia smiled warmly as she brought them inside.

Helena was busy cooking in the smallest kitchen Cullen had ever seen. The young elven woman nearly dropped her mixing bowl when she noticed her sister, squealing in surprise. Putting her mixing bowl aside, Helena nearly tackled her younger sister, still shrieking.

Seeing Kaliana with her family was a new experience for Cullen. In the Circle it was so easy to see the mages as individuals. Many of the older Templars described the mages as "walking-bombs" since corruption could happen to any mage at any time. Here, she was so much more, a sister and daughter. She was part of a family, something which the Chantry had seen fit to take apart. Cullen didn't always understand the Chantry's methods, but he trusted it was for the best. He was glad that Kaliana did get the opportunity to see her family again.

Naeria began setting the rickety table in the corner. Kaliana chatted with her sister while helping her prepare the rest of the meal. Cullen took in the small apartment that had only one adjacent room. The home was small, in disrepair, but it was neat and clean. A couple worn armchairs were placed in another corner with a small table between them. Cullen eyed the frayed rug awkwardly as he waited for the women to finish preparing dinner.

Luckily he didn't have to wait long for it to be served. Now he just had to get through the meal without completely embarrassing himself.

The pair returned to the Denerim Chantry that evening. Kaliana was required to spend her evenings within the Chantry's walls as part of the conditions for her leave. Even in the comfort of her room, Kaliana couldn't help but feel a bit lost. It was strange to be home in Denerim, when a small part of her missed the security of the Circle tower. The Circle had been her home for the last thirteen years, and it had become her world.

Kaliana flopped back on her bed. This whole trip had been a whirlwind and trying to process it was making her head hurt. Rolling over, Kaliana watched what was left of the candle burn down. It was late and the sisters of the Chantry had long since gone to sleep. The wedding was tomorrow, but Kaliana couldn't sleep.

Suddenly there was a soft knock at the door. Placing her bare feet on the cold stone floor sent shivers through her. Quietly she walked over to the door and opened it just enough to see who was outside.

"Cullen!" she whispered harshly. "What are you doing here? We'll get in trouble!"

"I couldn't sleep," he smiled that goofy smile. "I see you couldn't either. Let me in before someone sees me."

Kaliana opened the door for him, and she quickly glanced around the hallway to make sure no one had seen him enter. Slowly and quietly she shut the heavy door. She turned around, and leaned against the door. It was then she noticed Cullen was staring and she remembered she was wearing nothing but her nightclothes. Which in her case consisted of little more than a thin pull over that barely reached her thighs, and her under clothes.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize," Kaliana sputtered. "You must think I'm some sort of… I don't know." She grabbed a blanket off the bed to cover herself.

Cullen closed his mouth realizing it had been open this entire time. "No, I think…" he breathed, "I think you're beautiful."

Kaliana blushed as she sat down on the bed. He always said the nicest things to her, even if she couldn't quite shake off her embarrassment. "Well, I think you're very handsome," she admitted pulling the blanket around her shoulders.

Her long auburn hair tumbled down in gentle curls resting on her shoulders, and Cullen caught himself staring again. She bid him to sit next to her on the bed and he obliged.

"Are you not afraid they will find us in here," Kaliana worried.

Cullen smiled again, "This is a Chantry, not the Circle. There are maybe six Templar guards here and only one of them is on duty at night. Once an hour he'll make his rounds, but he won't come by here."

After thinking for a moment Kaliana decided to trust Cullen. She leaned against him and he put his arm around her. "Do you think we are just fooling ourselves, Cullen?" Kaliana whispered.

"What do you mean?"

"We both know that we shouldn't be together, that we can't be together," she nearly choked on the words. "Why are we doing this, when we know is can only end in heart break?"

"Are you saying we should just stop now, and walk away? If that's what you want then…"

"No," she interrupted before he got the wrong idea. "I just don't know why."

Cullen was quiet, and for a moment she thought he would just get up and leave having finally come to his senses. Then he finally spoke, "I don't know why Kali," she noted he picked up the nickname her mother used, "but what I do know is that when I'm around you I feel something I've never experienced before. It's like the world is brighter when you're around and I feel like I'm really alive. Every moment with you is a haven from all the confusion in life. You're the only thing that makes sense."

Kaliana lay down on the bed and stared up at the ceiling and soon Cullen followed suit. She turned and rested her head on his chest. He went rigid at the physical contact, unsure of what to do. He relaxed after a few moments and stroked her hair as he pulled her closer.

"I was taken to the Circle when I was six years old," Kaliana began. "It was a long time before I was comfortable there. I love the Circle, it's the only home I've really known, but I guess I've always thought of Denerim as my home. Now that I'm here, I just feel out of place. I thought it would be different. When I'm with you, it all disappears. When I'm with you, I'm home."

Before she knew it Cullen's lips were on hers. Her eyes widened in surprise, but she surrendered to his kiss wrapping her arms around him. He pulled back, and Kaliana smiled at him.

"I love you," he blurted surprising himself. It took all of her strength to keep from giggling at his horrified face. He had been holding in those three words for over a year. He had been smitten with her from the start, but as he got to know her over the previous three years in the Circle he had fallen in love.

"I love you too," Kaliana smiled finally being able to admit it. Cullen immediately relaxed hearing her say those words.

She snuggled up close to him, and he just held her in the dim candlelight. At some point she fell asleep in his arms, and when she woke up the following morning, he was gone.