Hello again readers,

Here is some lovely Cullen fluff stuff. It might be the last of the fluff for a while, I think. Anyway, I hope you're enjoying the story! Leave me a review!

RussianBear27

Chapter 5

A Chantry sister jarred Kaliana from her sleep before the sun had completely risen. The order from the Circle had arrived only moments before, but as soon as the head Templar had read the missive the sister was dispatched for Kaliana's rude awakening. Kaliana was to leave immediately with Cullen and return to the Circle.

Inwardly, Kaliana was panicking. It was impossible for anyone to have discovered her relationship with Cullen. At least she hoped. She gathered her few belongings in a silent terror. Thankfully, upon meeting Cullen in the Chantry sanctuary he explained that their abrupt departure was due to unrelated influences. Namely their exodus was due to a call to arms by King Cailan. Many circle mages and Templars were heading to battle, and all others were being called back to the circle.

As soon as they were able, Cullen and Kaliana were escorted from the city. This rushed exit meant Kaliana would not have the chance to say goodbye to her family. She took comfort in the Revered Mother's promise to pass on her goodbyes. As the rays of dawn finally broke the horizon, Kaliana whispered a private goodbye outside the city gates.

Kaliana and Cullen said little during their journey, both of them knowing their time alone together would soon been at an end. Cullen finally broke their restrained silence at the campfire that night.

"I have something for you," he said sitting beside her.

Kaliana merely turned her gaze from the flames to him.

"I know it's not much," he began reaching into a pocket, "but I thought you could at least have something to remind you of our time together." He held a small leather pouch in his hand and placed it gently in Kaliana's open palm.

She smiled as she opened the drawstring mouth, and turned the pouch upside down gently into her free hand. A silver necklace tumbled out into her awaiting fingers. The long delicate silver chain supported a crescent moon and star pendant. The silver moon seemed to glow a faint blue, and the star had similar white glow to it.

"I was told it was enchanted," Cullen explained, "I believe it helps improve barriers, but I also just thought you'd like it."

"I love it, Cullen," Kaliana smiled wide. "Will you help me put it on?" She lifted her mangled curls for Cullen to fasten the clasp.

"I will always be with you Kali, as long as you wear it. Though, I will always be here… even if you don't…" he began overthinking his statement, as he so often did.

Kaliana silenced him with a kiss, "I love you," she said softly pulling away.

"And I love you," Cullen sighed. "Always."

They sat together near the fire till they had burned through their gathered supply of firewood, and little more than embers burned in the pit. Neither wanted their last night to be over, so neither made the move towards the tent that would consequently end the evening.

Neither of them spoke, Kaliana stood up and gently took Cullen's hand in hers. He looked up at her, eyes bright and her long hair gleaming in the moonlight. He feared he would never look upon like this again, but he silently reminded himself that Andraste would provide the way for them, if it was meant to be.

Getting to his feet, Cullen followed Kaliana to the tent. They stood outside for a moment, and Kaliana looked up at him. She caressed his jaw and admired his handsome features. For so many years she had hidden away in books, but he made her look up and look at the world around her. At the center of her world was Cullen. He was an anchor to reality that she hadn't thought she needed, but found he was the tether to the only happiness she had left.

Tonight was their last night together and they would make it count. There was tension in the air neither could quite place. It wasn't uncomfortable, but it seemed as if the air around them had become electrified.

Cullen pulled her into kiss that deepened with each passing second. They did not break apart as they stumbled into the tent, their arms wrapped around each other as if they would lose each other if they let go. It wasn't until Kaliana lay beneath him on the bedroll did he come to his senses.

"Wait," Cullen breathed trying to catch his breath.

"What's the matter?" Kaliana asked sitting up, her robes slightly skewed on her small frame.

"Is this what you want?" Cullen asked softly. "I mean by Chantry standards we should burst into flame at any moment," he was only half joking.

"Well," Kaliana began realizing what he meant, "my answer is yes, I do want this Cullen." She smiled at him, "as for the chantry, we've already broken enough rules to give the Divine herself a heart attack." He smiled at that, the goofy half smile that always made her heart melt. "But is this what you want, Cullen?"

"I… um. Yes, it is. I just don't want to hurt you… And I have never been with a woman in this way before," he finally admitted.

"Nor have I ever been with a man," she looked at him, as he wrestled with himself internally.

"Maker, forgive me," he kissed her again. Softly this time, and they descended together into the unknown.

Returning the tower was much more difficult than Kaliana had originally thought it would be. The familiar walls that once promised safety and comfort now felt like the bars of a cage. Shortly after returning, Cullen had returned to his duties and was forced to leave Kaliana wondering when she would see him again.

However, she was looking forward to moving out of the apprentice hall and into the mage's quarters. She had not gotten the opportunity to do so before leaving.

The apprentices' hall was thankfully empty as she gathered the last of her belongings from her bunk. Many of the senior mages were gone to Ostagar to help the king fight the darkspawn horde, or so she was told. The apprentices were off to their studies in the classrooms. Which left Kaliana to gather her things in blessed silence. She neatly piled her robes and books on the folded quilt of her bed. As she did, she heard the creak of the door open and Jowan appeared.

"Kali!" he exclaimed, "I've missed you so much! I haven't seen you since before your Harrowing." Loud and animated, Jowan was the polar opposite of Kaliana, but somehow their personalities complemented each other and they had formed a friendship early on. Jowan was like the brother Kaliana never had. He looked out for her, studied with her. He had always been there for her.

"I'm sorry for not saying goodbye," Kaliana apologized, "but there wasn't much time to."

"It's alright, Kali," Jowan was always quick to forgive her. "However," he became more serious, "I need your help with something."

"What is it?" Kaliana was worried by his grave tone.

He sat down on the bed opposite of her, took a deep breath, and just laid it out, "they're going to make me tranquil," he confessed.

"What?" Kaliana was shocked, "Why? How can they do that, you haven't even been given the chance to go through your Harrowing. There must be some mistake."

"There is no mistake, my source is sure and trustworthy," he sighed. "There's more."

Kaliana just stared at him. How could he even know this information? How could they get away with making him tranquil without giving him the option of a Harrowing first? A million other questions raced through her head.

Jowan went to the door and bid someone to enter. A girl, in Chantry robes, followed him over to the still shocked Kaliana. The robes she wore marked her as an initiate of the Chantry, she had yet to take her vows. Which explained how Jowan knew about his potential fate to made tranquil.

The girl's brown eyes matched her short hair, which had been neatly tied back out of her eyes. The girl did not show any sign of fear or caution, her eyes seemed to burn with a determination that Kaliana felt she personally lacked.

"This is Lily," Jowan introduced the young woman. "We have… Well, we have been involved with each other for quite some time now."

Kaliana eyed them suspiciously, still unsure why they needed to involve her in this.

"I have confirmed that they wish to make Jowan tranquil and deny him his Harrowing," Lily spoke up, "I fear they have found us out and will come for us if we do not leave soon."

"Before we can leave, we need to destroy my phylactery," Jowan explained. "Then Lily and I will be free to go wherever we choose, but we need your help. Getting into the phylactery storage requires a full mage who has passed their Harrowing."

"Jowan," Kaliana couldn't believe what they were asking of her, "even if we do somehow destroy the phylactery and you two somehow manage to escape the tower, they will still come after you. They will still hunt you."

"I know, but it's a risk I'm willing to take," Jowan took Lily's hand in his. "I would rather die free, than be made an emotionless husk for the rest of my life. Everything I care about would become meaningless. My love for Lily would be gone. That is not a life worth living."

She knew that he was right, in a way. If their roles were reversed, and he had come to him with Cullen, Jowan would help her without a second thought.

"Please," Lily begged, eyes wide and lined with unshed tears. The look of fearlessness Kaliana had observed earlier was gone now.

"Okay," Kaliana relented, "what do you need me to do?"