The cage fell not long after the others went into the Harrowing chamber.
Cullen stared at Amell's prone figure, unwilling to approach her lest she be an abomination. After a moment of indecision about what to do, he searched for his sword and shield. Those found, he decided to stand guard over her body while he waited, not sure if he was aiming to protect her or slay her. Soon the four people emerged from the Harrowing chamber, looking battle weary but alive. The woman Cullen assumed to be their leader didn't look happy.
"You got what you wanted," she told Cullen, watching Wynne kneel to begin healing Amell. "All the mages who were in there are dead." Under her breath, she muttered, "Maker-forsaken Litany needs some damn instructions."
"Thank you. The templars are forever in your debt," Cullen said, feeling an immense rush of relief. Now the only mage left was Amell. Wynne ceased healing her with a heavy sigh.
"We're out of lyrium, but she'll be perfectly fine once I have more," Wynne said, leaning back on her heels tiredly. "For now, though, she certainly isn't well enough to walk. Alistair, would you mind carrying her to the bottom of the tower?"
"Not at all," said the man in the templar armor, sheathing his sword so he could gently lift Amell.
"Poor thing…" Wynne murmured. "The first enchanter was the closest thing she had to a father. I don't look forward to telling her the news."
Cullen frowned as Amell shifted in the other templar's arms. Eyes half opened and looking much like she did after her Harrowing, Amell asked, "Cullen?"
"Ah – no," Alistair said, looking unsure how to deal with the small bundle of mage in his arms. He looked over to Cullen and mouthed 'you?' Cullen nodded. Alistair added, "He's safe, though."
"Thank you," she murmured, settling down. Her breathing was steadier now. Cullen followed the group down the tower in a daze, only half-listening to Wynne's attempt to introduce him to the other three. He was starting to come to terms with the fact that Amell had actually come to try to rescue him. Just the thought that a mage had to rescue a templar from the demons was bizarre enough for him, but that it was the same mage the demon had known was his weakness... He scowled at the thought, almost relieved to think the circle might be annulled and Amell with it. She'd tempted him, but he remained faithful to the Maker. It was all for the best, he realized now. Straying had given him the resolve to stay strong, to realize what the right path was.
Cullen breathed a sigh of relief as they saw Greagoir at the bottom of the tower. The knight commander had survived; he would keep order in what was left of the tower.
"All the mages who were in the Harrowing chamber are dead," Cullen said, and Greagoir frowned at the figure in Alistair's arms.
"All except Amell," he noted, and Cousland crossed her arms.
"Forget her for a minute, we have to talk treaties," the woman said. "Alistair, go find somewhere to put her down."
"Right," he said, wandering over to a bit of carpet a few feet away and lying her down. He hovered for a moment, unsure if he should just leave her there before walking back over to the group. Cullen only half listened to Cousland's request for aid in the blight, his eyes on Amell. She still hadn't woken up, but it didn't mean she was safe. She could easily be possessed.
After Cousland told Greagoir she would keep Wynne, the senior enchanter went back to Amell, to wake her up and tell her what had happened. Cullen was too far away to hear the words, but from the look on Amell's face he could tell the second Wynne told her the mages had all been killed. She began to sob, burying her face in her knees. He looked over to where Cousland was discussing with her other party members and walked over, knowing he needed to say something to her.
"Take Amell," Cullen said, and Cousland frowned at him.
"What?" she asked, and though Cullen had blurted it out in a moment of weakness, he knew it was the only real option for her. It was that or death, and much as he hated the sight of her now, he still didn't want her to die.
"There is nothing for her here," Cullen said, watching Wynne try to comfort the crying mage. "She has no friends or family, the first enchanter is dead –"
"But you appear to harbor some affection for the girl, no?" asked Zevran, and Cullen's face darkened.
"No," he replied, knowing it would tear Amell apart to hear it but that it was the truth. "Not anymore. I look at her, and all I see is a demon."
"Can she do anything?" asked Cousland, clearly calculating the benefit of it. "I'm trying to end a blight, not adopt stray mages out of the goodness of my heart."
"She can heal," Cullen said, recalling how he'd watched her throw herself into her lessons after her Harrowing. The faint memory of how she'd only smiled for Irving or him bubbled up and he pushed it back down, feeling sick. "And she's good with spirit magic. Amell learns quickly, she'll do whatever needs to be done."
Cousland seemed to mull it over for a moment, critically looking over the mage. "A circle trained mage has to be a better fighter than a witch who can't finish shape shifting half the time. And an extra healer couldn't hurt. What do you think, Alistair?"
Alistair nodded, looking seriously at Wynne and Amell. "Maybe she could help save Connor," he said, and Cousland nodded, looking less sure about that than Alistair.
She turned her attention back to Cullen. "Good luck rebuilding," she offered, and Cullen nodded, knowing she didn't particularly care. Cousland led the others back to Greagoir.
"We're taking the girl," Cousland said, and Greagoir looked outraged.
"Absoloutely not," he said. The warden drew herself up to her full height.
"Why?" Cousland asked. "You let us take Wynne."
"Wynne is a senior enchanter who has proven herself capable. Amell is a girl who only recently passed her Harrowing. She could be possessed," Greagoir said, and Cousland shrugged.
"Alistair's a templar. He can take care of her if it comes to that," said the woman, not backing down.
"No," Greagoir said. "Amell isn't leaving this tower."
"Fine. I invoke the right of conscription."
Even Alistair stared at her for a moment in surprise, before clearing his throat and nodding.
"Ah, right. We do need more wardens."
"You can't take her," Greagoir said, and Alistair grinned.
"The Grand Cleric herself had to let me go," he told the Knight Commander, who looked incredibly angry but clearly knew his hands were tied.
"Take her then," Greagoir replied, looking cross.
"Thank you," Cousland said, "And we'll call on you soon for aid."
Cullen watched Alistair and Cousland walked over to Amell. The mage looked up at them, face tear-streaked but calmer now. Whatever they said to her, she nodded, looking determined as she took Cousland's hand to help her up. Cullen felt relieved, and he wasn't certain if it was because Amell would be gone or because she would live.
Amell followed the wardens out, looking very much like she had before her Harrowing: terrified and shaking, but with an air of determination. She looked back at him, obviously wanting to say goodbye but looking unsure of herself. Cullen met her gaze with stoicism, not a trace of affection in his mannerisms. Her face fell, and she turned away from him, not looking back again.