this first chapter is the beginning and halfway to the end of Cullen's relationship with the Mage Amell. It kind of got a little corny but i enjoyed writing it and I hope you enjoy:)

"Cullen?" Aurora Amell called, walking up to the Templar.

"Hmm?"

"What's it like outside?"

"Dull, I suppose. Not much different than in here."

"I don't thinks thats true." She smiled, leaning against the wall and looked at the floor.

"No?" He folded his arms and he too leaned his left arm on the wall.

"No. In here...its...constant, but out there, People are living, and moving." She glanced at him and added." Loving."

"I thought you didn't mind it here."

"I don't...I just wish life here didn't feel like time had stopped while it passes us by on the outside. It would be amazing to just step outside those big doors and pick some flowers and come right back in or meet new people who decide to visit. Then maybe the others wouldn't feel so chained down to the tower."

Cullen would never admit it aloud, but she had stolen his heart with a single word on the first day he came to the tower and could still remember everything with perfect clarity.

He had been so nervous when he walked around the floors on his first patrol. Most of the mages ignored him and went on with their evening plans while others readied for bedtime. They all had something to do except for one apprentice.

He didn't even notice she was walking beside him at the time until he heard a soft voice say." Hello."

She became much more curious as the years went by and their talks became more frequent.

He knew she craved the outside world and he desperately wanted to show it to her. He wanted to take her shopping and dancing in Orlais, or anywhere her heart desired.

But they could never be. Templars and Mages did not and could not mix.

"I'm worried about my Harrowing." She confessed out of no where.

"You'll do fine." He assured.

"Any day now." She smiled.

He didn't have the heart to tell her it would be that night.

/-/

He watched as his sweet Aurora placed her hand in the Lyrium and began her Harrowing and waited with anticipation for her to return to him unharmed.

She fainted and he quickly picked her up as instructed and carried her back down to the apprentice quarters and went back to his usual post and waited for her to awaken.

/-/

"Hello, Cullen."

"You've finally awakened." He smiled." I told you, you could do it."

She smiled at his praise.

"I...was ordered to be present for it." He sad solemnly." I was to swing the killing blow if you had become possessed...I'm sorry."

"Would you have really gone through with it?" She asked with a half scared half sad look on her face.

Oh why did she have to have such big, sad eyes?! Maker he had to look away.

"I must do as instructed and carry out my orders." He replied.

"I understand." She said and started walking down the hall and entered one of the small empty studies.

A minute later he heard her shout for him to come quickly and he rushed to her aid.

"Aurora? What is it?"

The door shut behind him and he turned to see her leaning back on the door.

"I dropped my quill." She said, pointing to the ground between them. "Could you retrieve it for me?"

How could he refuse?

He slowly knelt down and picked it up, never looking away from her gaze, and stood to walk towards her.

He held it out to her and she accepted it.

"My hero." She said, tossing the quill away and circling his neck with her arms and brought his face down to her's for a light kiss.

The bold act both surprised and aroused him, causing a moment of hesitation before he closed his eyes and lost hisself in the softness of her lips.

/-/

He rushed to her room as fast and inconspicuously as he could to her new quarters. Thankfully she was alone and packing.

"Aurora? Is it true?"

"I'm so sorry, Cullen." She stopped her packing and turned to embrace him." I shouldn't have told the First Enchanter and deceived Jowan. I should have just stayed out of it. I tried to stay but the Grey Warden invoked the right of Conscription, I have to go."

He hugged her as tightly as he could without hurting her. Grey Warden was an honorable title but he could never imagine his Love going to war.

If she was to leave, he had to accept it and let her go. But not without one last kiss.

He backed her into nearby bookshelf and kissed her, quickly picking her up and pushing her skirt up so she he could sit on her bed and let her straddle him.

"Are you sure?" She asked." I don't have much time."

"I would raze all Thedas before I let you walk away without feeling the softness of your skin one more time." He whispered.

Alright so this concludes this part of their relationship next is the end of Cullen/Amell and it leads up to Post-destroyed Chantry. See you next time:)

TheSpazChik