Hello!

I don't think I've ever finished a chapter so soon after posting the previous one. I did say I was almost done with this one.

We get to see Cullen and Kali in action together! Hurray! I hope you enjoy it and like where I took this one.

Also thanks Flaminea for your review, I always love hearing from you!

Off we go!

RussianBear27

Chapter 20

Kali didn't wait around for the Viscount to arrive. She didn't want to see what should surely be a private moment of a man grieving for his son. Garrett check to see if she was okay. She assured him she was feeling better, her strength and power returning after being Silenced by the Templar.

"Just be careful, alright?" Garrett implored.

"It's fine. I'm just going home," she pushed a hand through her hair, trying to keep it out of her face. She was exhausted, and just wanted to sleep.

He relented and Kali stepped out into the darkened streets. High Town was clear of any trouble, but as soon as she crossed into Low town she could feel someone was tailing her. Their footsteps consistently behind her, but every time she turned, there was just an empty street. She was being paranoid, but she quickened her pace towards the Alienage.

Turning her head once more to glance over her shoulder, she saw nothing. It was when she turned back that hooded figure stepped out in front of her. Kali jumped back in surprise, whipping out her staff ready for another fight.

"Kali, it's me," came the familiar voice. He pulled off the hood of his cloak revealing his face.

"Andraste's tits, Cullen," she swore. "You scared me."

"I'm sorry," he said sincerely. "I just needed to see you."

Kali lowered her staff, and sighed. She didn't want to deal with this right now. Sleep was the only thing on her mind at the moment. Then she looked at him. Cullen's eyes were bloodshot. It looked like he hadn't slept in weeks. There was tremble in his hands that he couldn't quite hide behind the folds of his cloak.

"Are you alright?" Kali asked concerned.

Cullen looked embarrassed, "we need to speak somewhere private."

"Sure we can…" before Kali could finish her sentence a woman's scream interrupted them. She looked to Cullen who seemed to be thinking the same. Without a word they headed off towards the origins of the scream.

A few streets over they found a small pool of blood. It was fresh. They searched the scene looking for more evidence.

"Over here," Cullen called to her. He pointed to another small blood spatter. A trail.

Silently they followed the trail. They couldn't be far behind, and they didn't want to alert any possible threats that may be just ahead. The trail of blood began running smaller and sparser as they reached the docks. Whoever was bleeding, it was surely slowing down. Fortunately their destination wasn't far. An old run down warehouse sported a small blood pool outside its door.

Kali looked over to Cullen, he was steadying his shaky hands on the hilt of his sword. "Are you up for this," she asked as they prepared to enter.

"I'm fine," he said a little too quickly. Eying him wearily she slowly pushed open the door.

They could hear the incantations of spell being cast deeper in the warehouse. Slowly they made their way through the vast maze of abandoned boxes and junk. Creeping down an old stone staircase, the perpetrator came into view. A robed mage with greying hair stood over a woman on a stone table, a dagger poised to strike. His back was facing them, so they still had the element of surprise. The mumbled words of his spell tipped off that it was powerful magic that required ritual and concentration.

"Necromancer," Kali mouthed to Cullen as the crouched behind some crates. The woman on the table struggled weakly against her bindings, with no success. This was more than necromancy, it was blood magic and Cullen caught on immediately. He closed his eyes for a moment, steadying his hand on the hilt of his blade.

Kali worried he wasn't up for this, but they had to make their move now if they were going to save this woman. She placed a hand on his shoulder. He looked at her with tired eyes, nodding to indicate he was ready.

Their attack caught the mage off guard. Cullen knocked the mage back before he brought down the knife, but the mage threw up a barrier, sending Cullen sprawling. Kali rushed to Cullen to help him up, he was definitely not on top of his game tonight. Before he could stand up the mage slit his hand with the knife, blood flowing freely.

Kali stood back to back with Cullen. A slew of demons rose up from seemingly nowhere, surrounding them.

"Ready?" Cullen asked.

"Always," Kali slung an ice bolt at the nearest rage demon and all hell broke loose.

There were six demons and blood mage and only two of them. Yet, somehow those odds didn't seem to phase Kali. She quickly dropped three demons while maintaining a protective barrier around herself and Cullen. One got a little too close for comfort slashing at her back with horrendous claws. The disfigured demon missed its mark and Kali froze it where it stood, a mere few inches from her. Bringing down staff the demon shattered into thousands of pieces. Her Templar was just as successful with his own demons, making short work of them with his long sword.

The blood mage moved towards the woman on the table, but Kali blocked his path. Lunging at him, staff poised for a storm of ice, Kali was met with mage's own attack. She was was stopped dead in her tracks, trying to resist the maleficar's magic. She was trapped in a blood wound. Kali screamed out in pain, as her blood began to boil beneath her skin.

"Kali!" Cullen cried out to her. She sank to her knees, gritting her teeth against the pain. Black spots appeared in her vision and she felt herself lose her grip on reality. Her ears were ringing loudly, her whole body felt as if it was on fire. It felt as if her head was gradually being torn apart as every other nerve in her body cried out in pain. At this rate the mage would kill her, and she would welcome an end the pain.

"Leave her alone!" Cullen raised his sword high and charged the mage. Bringing his blade down in a righteous strike, the mage's power was immediately cut off. The man staggered back, but before he could regain his footing, Cullen drove his blade into the man's gut. The mage stared at him wide-eyed for a moment, coughing up blood. Cullen roughly pulled back his sword and let the maleficar crumple. He was dead before he hit the floor.

Breathing heavily, Cullen approached her winded by battle. "Are you alright," his voice heavy with fear and concern he crouched down beside her.

"I-I'm alright. J-just give me… a moment." She pulled a vial out of a pocket on her belt. She drank it down, grimacing at the bitter taste. Slowly her breathing returned to normal and the ringing in her ears subsided.

"Let's not do that again," Kali breathed deep and Cullen helped her get to her feet, the healing potion having done its job.

"Agreed," Cullen said. "We should get you to a healer."

"No, I'll be fine," she insisted. Already she could feel her strength returning at the urge of her own healing magic.

Seeing that she would be okay, the pair turned her attention to the woman they had come to save. To her surprise it was Leandra Hawke lying on the table. She was tied up and had a nasty gash on the top of her head, but otherwise fine.

"Leandra," Kali removed the dirty rag from her mouth.

"Thank the Maker. I thought he was going to kill me," the older woman sighed. Kali helped her sit up and unbound her hands and feet. "Are you two going to be alright?"

"We'll be alright my lady," Cullen was still a bit winded. "We've been through far worse." Leandra only nodded in reply.

"Can you walk?" Kali asked.

"I believe so, I am a little dizzy, but I should make it," Leandra slid down off the table steadying herself on its surface.

"This is Garrett's mother," Kali clarified before motioning to Cullen, "this is…"

"Knight-Captain Cullen Rutherford," Cullen held out his hand.

"Ah, yes I remember you. You came for my Bethany nearly four years ago now," her tone was matter of fact as she shook Cullen's hand gently.

"Yes. I am, um, well I'm sorry about that." Cullen turned a shade of red.

"Don't be. I owe my life to you, and you are not the first Templar to come to my aid. I respect your Order, even if I don't always agree with its practices. Though, something tells me you feel the same way," she looked at Kali and back to Cullen.

"Erm, yes, well, I trust Kali and sometimes the Order isn't so… trusting," Cullen said.

Leandra nodded curtly, deciding not to push the issue further. "It's good to know there are still good people in the Order, but I believe it best if we leave here. I'd like to go home if you don't mind."

"Of course," Kali said offering her arm to the older woman. Cullen looked around at the mess one last time before following them up. Stepping out into the night air, they all breathed a collective sigh of relief. Looking up the street, Kali caught sight of Garrett approaching them.

"Mother!" Garrett called out as he got close enough to recognize them. "You're alright. You had Gamlen and I worried sick."

"I'm fine thanks to your friends here," she pulled her oldest son into a hug.

Garrett looked at Kali, then Cullen. His gaze stopped on the Templar, a look of surprise on his face. "Thank you," he muttered. "I am in your debt."

"You should take her home. She needs to rest," Kali encouraged him.

"Of course," he said. He lead her away, glancing back only once before disappearing into the night.

"Well that was interesting," Kali said breaking the silence.

"That is was, but can we please go somewhere I can sit down?" Cullen pleaded.

"Right this way," Kali took his shaking hand in hers and lead him through the darkness.

The Alienage was dark and quiet, as it normally was at this hour. Thankfully, there were no more obstacles between them and Kali's home. Cullen immediately sat down in a chair, exhausted. A thin sheen of sweat on his brow.

"When was the last time you had any lyrium?" Kali asked patiently.

"Two days ago," he said quietly.

"Why have you stopped?"

"Knight-Commander Meredith felt it would encourage me to refocus on my efforts on more important matters. Apparently investigating the increasing number of Tranquil in the Circle is above my station," he looked at her.

"So you found something?" Kali asked cautiously a little surprised he had actually looked into the matter.

"Yes, and when I felt I had enough evidence to warrant a wider investigation she denied my motion. I pushed back, and well… she cut my lyrium ration and closed the books," Cullen stared at the ground in front of him.

"She does know she could kill you, right?" Kali's anger was obvious.

"The Knight-Commander is well aware of the risks, and my limits. She wouldn't let it progress that far. It's a show of her power, not a death sentence," Cullen explained.

Kali busied herself searching through her cabinets. Sometimes she would keep extra potions from Harel's shops at home. A sick neighbor would sometimes seek her out for aid if they could not afford a healer or were unwilling to brave Dark Town to seek out Ander's clinic. Her stock and abilities limited her to light ailments and minor wounds, but she helped where she could.

Finding her stock of lyrium, she grabbed a small bottle and crossed the small apartment to Cullen. His eyes were closed, his hands rubbing at his temples trying to stave off what was surely a terrible headache.

"Here," Kali handed him the small bottle of blue liquid. "It's not much, but it should help to keep you out of withdrawal for a while."

Cullen took the vial from her hands, and eyed it wearily as if he was considering taking it at all. After a few moments he pulled the stopper out and drank its contents. "Thank you," Cullen muttered.

Kali sat down beside him, "of course."

"Look, about what I said last time we spoke. I didn't mean what I said about the Tranquil, about the boy, Remon. I do care what happens to them. He was the first case I looked into and Remon is just one of many others who have been sentence to that fate with little or no cause. I just didn't want to believe the Templar Order was capable of such a thing. I didn't want the organization I devoted my life to turn out to be such a monstrosity," Cullen sighed.

"They say ignorance is bliss, right?" Kali said. "This town is going to shit."

"What do you mean?"

"It seems like the Qunari are one bad word away from breaking out of that compound. The Viscount's son is dead, murdered by a zealous Mother of the Chantry. And apparently the Templars and the Circle are not fairing much better," Kali brought Cullen up to speed. "Is there any faction of this town that isn't trying to be rid of the others?"

"There's you," Cullen said quietly, "and as much as it pains me to say it, there's Hawke. If there are any rational voices out there in this city, it's you and your friends. Believe it or not there are also some good people in the Templars. We might be a minority, but we exist," he half joked.

Kali leaned up against him, and Cullen put his arm around her. They were both exhausted. The events of the day had drained them, and the state of the city weighed heavy upon them.

"I love you," Kali said gently, not wanting to talk any more about the crumbling world around them.

"I love you, Kali," he leaned his forehead against hers. "I almost thought I'd lose you today," his voice was hardly above a whisper. "I don't think I could…"

Kali shushed him, "don't talk like that. You saved me, we're here and we're both okay." She pulled him into a kiss. "No matter what happens, I'll always come back to you. I promise."

Cullen wrapped his arm around her, as if trying to shield her from the world that threatened to tear them apart. Soon they drifted off to sleep, too tired to even move to the bedroom. They slept, not knowing the dawn would set into motion the series of events that change their lives and the city forever.