And in those first years, they were happy. Her daughters were born a few months after arriving in Kirkwall, and they were married soon after. They lived just outside the city, Cullen going in to work in the City guard and coming back to them when he could.

It was in the third year when she saw Morrigan again. Noam was in her garden, the young girls playing in the dirt alongside their mother at the edge of the woods. There was a small child bundled to her and she let the boy down, letting him approach the girls with caution.

Noam embraced Morrigan, covering her with dirt. The Witch smiled, holding her friend tightly against her.

"Will you stay?" Noam asked.

"Not forever," Morrigan said softly, watching her son meet his sisters, "But for awhile at least. I could use a sister. Will your husband…"

"He is often gone and he is no longer a Templar. You will always be safe here. Let the children play and let me get you some of the stew on the fire."

Morrigan smiled, "Then I will stay…for awhile."

As the sun fell and the moon rose, the two mages lay in Noam's bed as the children slept in the bed in the other room.

As they drifted off to sleep, Morrigan laid her head on her shoulder. As the two women held each other, Noam let go of her breath. Sighing, she curled deep into the sheets, hearing her children breathe in the next room.

Yes, now, now she could rest. Now, she was safe.