Yay! New chapter!

I'm really enjoying this story so far. I hope you are as well. On a side note, if you guys haven't played the Trespasser DLC for Inquisition, you should because it's awesome. It was almost as good as the Citadel DLC for ME3... or maybe just as good. I haven't decided. Anyway, there's my plug. Enjoy, and leave me a review! I haven't gotten any yet.

RussianBear27

Chapter 7

The days seemed to blur together with each hour indistinguishable from the next. How long she had been in her cell, Kaliana did not know. Days? Weeks? Months? The passing of time seemed insignificant in her cold cell. Every so often a Templar would bring her food and water, of which she ate little. Sometimes she would be taken for more questioning. Hearing the key turn in her cell door filled her with dread.

Fernald was becoming increasingly more brutal with each interrogation. Her arms were covered in bruises, and her left eye had swollen almost completely shut. Everything seemed to hurt and ache.

Since the night Cullen carried her back to her cell, her Templar had been absent. Kaliana couldn't bring herself to blame him, however. She knew she had crossed a line and there was no going back to how things were. It would be a miracle if she somehow avoided tranquility or Aeonar. Cullen probably thought she was some sort of blood mage like the rest of the Templars did.

There were times she would wake up on her straw mat and wish that she hadn't. That she would not wake up again. Her dreams as of late had been muddled somehow. The nightly trips to the fade she had once enjoyed and escaped to, were now little more than swirls of color and horrid faces. Somehow, someone had distorted her connection to her dreams and the fade. Which also left her completely drained of mana.

Why had Andraste abandoned her? Kaliana couldn't help but ponder that while she waited for Fernald to send for her again. Was it because of her sins? Was she to be forever damned because of her love for Cullen? It seemed Lily was suffering the same fate as Kaliana. Lily's sobs were audible from down the hall. Though, Kaliana was sure the chantry sister's interrogations were not as harsh.

Sometimes Kaliana could hear the hushed prayers of the poor girl. She still turned to the Maker for deliverance and forgiveness for her part in this mess. Kaliana couldn't find the strength to humble herself before a Maker that punished those who sought to do what was right; to beg forgiveness for loving someone unconditionally. She could not, and would not, apologize for being who she was, and let herself be condemned for the sin of compassion.

They had taken Lily away the previous day. Though Kaliana could only guess where. She doubted Greagoir would make good on his threats of Aeonar with her. With Lily gone, that left the young elven mage alone in the dungeon. It was only a matter of time before they came for her as well.

Heavy footsteps on stone floors approached her and Kaliana was wrenched from her thoughts. They stopped outside her cell, but she wouldn't look at them. Instead she breathed deep and braced herself for another interrogation.

The key clinked in the lock and the door swung open with a loud creak. A Templar kneeled down and brushed knotted hair away from her bruised face. Kaliana just stared at his boots.

"Get up, girl." The Templar demanded.

Kaliana didn't move, she couldn't find the will to comply.

"Now!" he demanded again.

Kaliana forced her hands underneath herself and pushed. She successfully got herself into a sitting position, but nothing more. Finally looking at the Templars in her cell she realized it was Knight-Commander Greagoir kneeling before her and Cullen behind him.

Greagoir grabbed her chin, and Kaliana winced at the touch. He moved her head side to side, examining her injuries.

"Fernald definitely didn't hold back with her," Greagoir grumbled.

"He went too far," Cullen tried to hide the anger in his voice.

"She may not survive the Rite of Tranquility in this state," Greagoir sighed, speaking as if Kaliana couldn't hear him.

Cullen came to her defense, "is it really necessary? Hasn't she suffered enough for her role in this?"

Greagoir stood and left the cell, "a blood mage is loose, Rutherford. You are young and have not seen what horrible things these mages are capable of. Trust me when I say I am doing what is best for everyone involved. I will send a healer to her, but she will become tranquil tomorrow." Greagoir locked the cell and left Cullen to his thoughts.

"Cullen," Kaliana called to him, her voice little more than whisper.

"Yes, Kali," Cullen breathed.

"Do you… forgive me?" a single tear rolled down her cheek.

He didn't reply, instead he reached through the bars of her cell towards her. Kaliana took his hand and leaned up against the bars. Cullen gently wiped away the tears from her cheek.

"Tell me what happened," Cullen needed to hear it from her. He needed to know her side of the story.

Taking a deep rickety breath Kaliana began her story. "Jowan came to me after we returned from Denerim, and asked me to help him and Lily escape the tower. They said Jowan was going to be made tranquil because the Templars had found out about their relationship. I swear I didn't know he was practicing blood magic, and I don't believe Lily did either.

"I helped him get to the phylactery storage and destroy his phylactery. He asked me to go with him, but I refused… I just wanted to help my friend. I swear I didn't know about the blood magic." Kaliana couldn't hold in her tears that now flowed freely. "How could I not help my friend who I thought was only guilty of something I have done myself?"

Cullen looked at her, tears streaming down her dirty face her forehead resting on the bars of the cell. Her lip was torn and scabbed over, a long cut traced the curve of her face near her swollen eye. Her once vibrant auburn curls were now matted and limp. Those bright eyes that had once captured his heart were dull, as if completely devoid of life.

Seeing her in such a state was almost too much for Cullen. She was broken and tossed aside by those who were supposed to have cared for her.

"I-I'm sorry," she whispered.

"It is not your fault," Cullen soothed.

Kaliana gained control over her tears. "They're going to make me tranquil tomorrow," she stated simply.

Cullen hesitated, but decided there was no point in lying to her. "They are, yes. The forces from Ostegar returned yesterday."

"Will you be there?" she looked into his eyes.

"I-I don't know."

"I understand if you don't want to be, but I would like it if you were."

"I…" he paused, "will try."

"I'm scared."

"I know."

They were interrupted by the healer's arrival. Greagoir had sent Wynne, one the circle's most respected healers. Kaliana had only met her a few times, but she remembered her as a kind woman.

"Excuse me good Ser knight," she said kindly, "but Knight Commander Greagoir desires your assistance upstairs."

"O-of course," Cullen stuttered like a guilty child. He got up briskly and left Wynne to her work. He glanced behind sadly catching Kaliana's gaze before returning to the Knight-Commander.

Wynne got to work healing Kaliana's wounds. It seamed like she lay on that mat for hours, but when Wynne had finished her work Kaliana felt the difference. Her swollen eye had receded; the only evidence it had happened was a purple bruise. The pain in her arms and abdomen was now little more than a distant ache. The cut on her temple had healed, but a scar would remain to remind her of the ordeal.

"Can you stand?" the old healer asked her.

"I think so," and for the first time in days Kaliana stood on her own.

"Wynne!" A young woman was sprinting down the hall towards them. "Wynne! Please come quickly," she panted upon reaching them. "Uldred! Blood magic!" she sputtered unable to find words.

"Calm down, my dear," Wynne urged. "Take a deep breath and tell me what happened."

The girl breathed deeply bracing herself. "Uldred and some of the other mages are attacking templars with blood magic. The tower is flooded with abominations and demons. I watched them attack another mage who wouldn't join them."

"Has he gone mad?" Wynne exclaimed. "He will get everyone killed!" She turned to Kaliana unsure of what to do.

"Please don't leave me here," Kaliana knew her chances were slim to none if anyone found her down here.

Wynne nodded, "come with us, child."

"But she is supposed to stay locked up!" the other mage pointed out.

"Yes, but if what you're saying in true then she is now a defenseless target for both blood mage and Templar. We can't leave her here."

The girl didn't like the idea, but she trusted her elder's judgment.

Above them the tower was in complete chaos. Blood mages attacked Templars left and right. The Templars were outnumbered ten to one and many of them fell to the revolt within the first hour of the attack. Their remaining forces retreated to the main hall near the entrance, leaving everyone else at the mercy of the blood mages.

Wynne led Kaliana and the other mage girl, who Kaliana now knew as Jennah, to search for survivors. As they the first floor corridor they were met by several abominations. Had Kaliana been at full strength perhaps they could have save more, but they were quickly overwhelmed. They were forced to retreat to outside the main hall. Wynne constructed a powerful barrier to keep out the horde, but they were now essentially trapped in that room.

Fortunately, they were successful in rounding up most of the younger apprentices before putting up the barrier. Several other mages had joined them in their small sanctuary. All in all, there were probably twenty survivors, with a majority under the age of fifteen.

After seeing to everyone and assessing the situation did Wynne finally rest. Kaliana watched her as she finally sat down, then slump over.

"Wynne!" Kaliana rushed over to her. Helping her lay down, Kaliana examined the old mage's condition. Her right side had been badly maimed, most likely by an abomination. The wound wasn't large, but it was deep. Kaliana was surprised the woman had been able to keep going as she had.

Jennah and the older mages took charge of Wynne's care, all but shoving Kaliana aside. They didn't trust her and it was obvious.

"Miss Kali," a young apprentice boy tugged on her skirt, "is she going to be okay?"

"Yes, Thomas," she assured him, "everything will be fine." Deep down Kaliana wasn't sure. Behind the locked doors were Templars planning to take back the tower by any means necessary and beyond the barrier were demons and mages who would sooner see the tower burn than surrender. They were caught between them, in limbo, waiting to see who struck the first match.