Three years have passed. Three years where Amell and Cullen have tried to rebuild another broken circle. Neither of them wished to hold the mantles of First Enchanter or Knight Commander even if they were both acting the parts. The mages looked up to and followed Amell while the templars did the same with Cullen. Together they worked to rebuild Kirkwall.

It was exhausting work and neither of them had anyone to lean on. With Hawke and Alistair gone, she had lost her family. Being stuck at the Circle didn't help. She was no longer allowed to leave for what example would that set? Varric visited on occasion but as he told her the Gallows were creepy.

Cullen simply had no one he considered close enough to confide in. And since she was back as one of his charges, their relationship became strictly professional. And that worked as long as they didn't accidentally touch. As long as they kept their distance they could pretend. But the line between them had been crossed and couldn't always be ignored. And so when one of them accidentally brushed against the other, before they knew it the door was locked, papers were cleared off the desk and lips were mashed together. They would come together for a time and it would be bliss. Everything else disappeared.

Amell felt nothing but guilt after their couplings. She could see how he beat himself up, blaming his weakness and she hated the look he got when they dressed. Like she was a mistake. She knew they couldn't keep on as they were but she didn't have the willpower to stop. She still loved him.

They never talked about it. Never talked about their past. In three years she had gotten to know him better as a person at the expense of a relationship. She found she liked who he was as a person, respected him for his hard work and while they didn't always agree, both of them worked for the betterment of Kirkwall.

So when word came that the Circles were officially rebelling, Cullen came to her with his worries.

"The other circles are rebelling. What are you going to do?"

"We'll have a vote."

"Really? You'd leave this up to them?"

"It's not my decision. Not now."

He sighed. "It will be chaos if the mages try to leave."

"And I'll tell them that. I'll tell them that they'll lose their protection from the templars if they choose to disband. I need to know, will you let them leave peacefully?"

He studied her and took a deep breath. "Fighting will be a blood bath. I don't think the mages or the templars can afford further bloodshed." It wasn't actually an answer.

"The mages aren't the only ones rebelling. What about your templars?"

"They will perform their duty."

She nodded, expecting no less from him. "I'll let you know how they vote."

With that he left her office. Facing the mages as they argued over their fate was heartbreaking. When the arguing finally died down, they turned to her for her advice.

"Freedom is tempting. We've all struggled here. We've nearly lost everything. But we've also built something here. I'm afraid of what will happen if we change directions."

"What do you suggest?"

"I suggest patience. We need not make any rash decisions."

So they voted and the majority voted to wait. She breathed a huge sigh of relief.

With a bounce in her step, she walked to Cullen's office. There would be no war, not yet.

"I have good news," she said as she entered his office. He was frowning and reading something. "I'm sorry to interrupt."

"It's okay Amell, come in. You were saying?"

"The mages voted to stay for now."

"That is good news. I imagine it was you that convinced them."

"I was one voice among many."

He smiled at her softly. "You give yourself too little credit. It is you they follow."

Seeing him smile sent a jolt of wanting through her body. "Is something wrong? You looked upset."

"Just received word that the Divine is sending someone, a Seeker, to ascertain the truth about what happened."

"Now? After all this time?"

"I believe it's because of the mage rebellion. They are searching for a reason or a solution."

"This could be a good thing."

"I doubt it."

He reached out to touch her cheek, breaking their unspoken rule. "I worry for you."

"Why?"

"Maybe you should have left with Hawke. At least with her you'd be safe."

"They who'd have helped you restore order?" she asked with a small smirk.

He sighed. "You're safety is more important."

She was touched by his concern. It wasn't often he spoke of his feelings and she'd began to doubt how he felt for her. She walked around the desk that separated them and kissed his forehead.

"We shouldn't," he said but he didn't pull away.

She sank into his lap and trailed kisses down the side of his face until she reached his lips. She kissed the scar he had gotten during the battle with Meredith, the scar he had gotten protecting her. She lingered, inches from his face, waiting for him to make the next more.

"The door," he said sharply. "It's unlocked."

"Kiss me and I'll lock it."

"Go lock it and I will do more than just kiss you." His voice was low, like a growl.

She slowly stood and walked over to the door and locked it. Then she waited again. She would not make the first move. It had to be him. He got up, went to her and consumed her. His mouth was hot, wanting and his hands smoothed down her sides.

"We can't keep doing this," he murmured against her mouth.

"Just say the word and we stop."

His only response was to kiss her harder. He pressed against her, his armor coming between, a reminder of what was truly between them. He led them back to his chair. He sat down and she straddled him. Without further words, clothes were cast aside, enough where they could press together. When he entered her, he moaned her name. Not Amell, Solona. His name for her, the name he refused to call her except when he'd relinquish control.

When they finished, she put herself back together, not looking at him, not being able to bear his regret.

# # # # #

Cullen shuffled through the paperwork, nerves twisting in his gut. The seeker had arrived but instead of speaking to him, she'd taken over the dungeons and dragged Varric Tethras down into them. There was a lot Varric could spill about him, about Amell. He didn't have the trust in the dwarf that Amell had.

He didn't know what to expect when Seeker Pentaghast requested to speak with him. She was a gruff woman, no nonsense, something he could appreciate. She commanded the room.

"Knight Captain Cullen, I've seen the work you've done since Meredith's death and I'm impressed. The men follow you with no hesitation. You've kept the Circle from rebelling and your men work to clean up the mess of your predecessor."

"I have not done it alone."

"You are too modest. I've heard what the men have said about you. Even the mages speak highly of you."

"Enchanter Amell is just as responsible for ensuring peace with the mages."

"Yes, that's a name I've heard much of. She was a transfer from Ferelden. I've heard of the good work she did there as well. She's loyal which bodes well for her. But I came to speak with you about another matter."

"What's that, Seeker?"

"The Divine is issuing a decree, the formation of the Inquisition to combat the issues of this mage and templar war."

"I see." He didn't though. What did this have to do with him?

"We are need of good men and women to join us. We would like to offer you a position."

"What kind of position?"

"You would have to leave the Order and commit yourself fully to the Inquisition."

He wasn't opposed to that.

"We would make you Commander of the Inquisitions forces."

"Commander?"

"We aren't much yet. The Divine is holding out hope that the conclave she is holding will produce the peace she seeks. However plans are in place should it fail."

"Why me?"

"You've proved yourself. We need men like you."

"What about the templars? The mages?" He thought of Amell.

"They are welcome to join us. We need an army too."

Mages in an army? The thought terrified him.

"I'll need to think about it."

"Of course. Though we'll be heading out soon to be able to make the conclave."

"Thank you for the consideration."

"I mean it when I say you'll make a fine commander."

After she left he sat down to think. Turning his back on the Order, starting fresh appealed to him. Dedicating himself to a just cause, feeling like he was doing something good again. Having something to believe in. His gut told him to take the position.

Getting away from Amell, from the guilt of what he was putting her through. He couldn't give her what she deserved and instead of letting her move on, he kept giving in to temptation. He didn't know how he felt about leaving her. He still loved her, always would. The past three years he had gotten to know the woman she really was and it was everything he could want but she was forever out of his reach. All they would ever have is stolen moments in the dark. It wasn't fair to either of them. A new start. Maker knew he needed it.