**I am going somewhere with this, I promise! I'm just enjoying putting Anders and Cullen in the same room. These characters just seem to be begging for confrontation right now!**

DIVIDED

Cullen was heading to his post, when Zalena came hurrying down the hallway from Irving's office and nearly slammed into his heavy metal breastplate. She jumped when she noticed him and muttered an apology before casting her gaze to the floor. Her face looked red and puffy, as if she'd been crying, but she flew past him so quickly that he was unable to gather his thoughts to inquire as to her distress. He watched her scurry into her room and push the door closed.

Shortly afterwards, the King of Ferelden stepped out of the office. He fastened his doublet and looked about the hall. When he spotted Cullen, he gave him a nod and retreated back into the room and closed the door. The templar simply stared after him, confusion plain on his features. He was still standing there, looking rather helpless as Anders came upon him.

"That's a new look for you." The mage chuckled. "I'm used to the more angry, broody sort of look."

Cullen glared at him.

"Yep. That's the one."

"What do you want?"

Anders looked around. "Um…you're the one standing in the middle of the hallway looking like you lost your favorite mage torturing device."

Cullen clenched his jaw. His eyes flicked from Zalena's closed door to the Master Enchanter's office.

"Ahh…" Anders crossed his arms over his chest. "I see."

"See what?"

"You keep trying to rescue her from other men." He nodded his head at Zalena's door.

"I-" Cullen shook his head. "That's ridiculous."

Anders just smiled in response. "She used to talk about you, you know?"

Cullen looked stricken.

"Nothing too dirty, don't worry." Anders winked at him. "But she worried about you. It was adorable, in a really sad sort of way."

"What are you getting at, mage?"

Anders shook his head. "It always comes back around to that, doesn't it? Mage versus templar. I guess that's what makes her so dreadfully adorable. A mage in love with two templars. It's almost tragic."

Cullen flexed his jaw.

Anders made a low whistle and stepped around Cullen, leaving him to ponder his words.

Zalena made sure the door to her room was securely locked before sinking to the floor and burying her face in her hands. She let the tears flow freely. She knew what she had done when she first left Alistair in Denerim, but it hadn't taken form in her heart until now. It was harder than she thought to sever the bond between them, but it was for the best. She was free to move on and he was free to marry someone suitable for the throne. It was the right thing. She told herself over and over as she bowed her head to her knees and settled into her aching heart.

Mazrath came over to lay by her side. He pushed his muzzle into her leg and whimpered, concern clear in his whine. She reached down and slid her hand over the mabari's head. As she cried, he howled, the sound ringing through the tower – a mournful noise that all could hear.