As the midnight bells echoed through the solemn halls of the Chantry, Cullen Stanton Rutherford paced nervously in his cell, a prisoner of his own thoughts and eager anticipation. He's been confined to this tiny space for three long, lonely days. His only companions in the dim, musty cellar were the faint flicker of a single candle and the sound of his restless footsteps. His vigil was coming to a close, and with the dawn's arrival, a new chapter in Cullen's life was about to begin. Tomorrow, he would finally join the Templar Order, after years of grueling training and unwavering dedication.
He repeated the sacred canticle over and over in his mind, steeling himself for the moment when he would recite it before the watchful eyes of the Knight-Lieutenant. It seemed almost surreal to the now eighteen year old Cullen, that the dream of a farmer boy with a wooden sword, was about to become a reality. The young man saw himself striding forth, a beacon of hope and justice, vanquishing demons and protecting the innocent from harm. He envisioned himself as a defender of the mages, shielding them from the judgments of the ignorant and fearful. Ready to step forward and embrace his destiny, he longed for the dawn.
The silence of the night was abruptly interrupted by the high-pitched creak of a door. Startled, Cullen jumped to his feet and turned towards the entrance. Framed by the doorway stood Knight-Corporal Thomas, husband of his beloved older sister Mia, dressed in Templar armor. His thick mop of red hair gleamed in the candlelight. With a warm smile, Thomas strode towards Cullen, his plate armor clanking with each step.
"How's our little Templar recruit doing?" he asked, pulling Cullen into a brotherly embrace.
The young man was taken aback by the unexpected appearance of his brother-in-law. Speaking in hushed tones, he exclaimed, "You are not supposed to interrupt the vigil! If the Knight-Lieutenant finds out, we'll both be in trouble."
Unfazed, Thomas released Cullen and took a few steps back. "All that frowning will put creases on that handsome face, then what will all the young maidens do? Besides," his eyes twinkled with mischief as he added, "only the Maker will know of our little transgression."
"Why are you here? I thought you were stationed at the Redcliffe Chantry?" He asked with concern.
Thomas sighed and patted Cullen's shoulder. "Mia wouldn't let me rest until I promised to keep you safe. So, I convinced my Knight-Captain to allow me to assist with your ceremony and I even managed to secure a transfer to be stationed with you."
Cullen bristled with indignation. "I am not a child anymore Thomas! Tomorrow I will become a Knight –Templar. This is unnecessary. Tell Mia I will not stand for it."
Thomas calmly looked back at Cullen and replied, "You know your sister better than anyone else. Mia can be overbearing and more stubborn than a constipated mule, but Andraste bless her heart, she's doing it out of love."
Deflated, the recruit remained quiet, contemplating his brother-in-law's words.
Meanwhile, Thomas reached into his pocket and took out a coin. It was a common silver coin from Ferelden, the engraving depicting the face of Andraste engulfed in flames. He presented it to Cullen on an outstretched hand, "Branson worked hard to earn it, he said it's a lucky coin, to help you in your Templar duties. Little Rosalie blessed it in the chantry, to make sure that the Maker will watch over you."
Slowly, and with great care, Cullen took the coin into his hand. "Is that why you came here in the middle of the night?"
"I wanted to give you your good luck charm as soon as possible," Thomas brightened with a grin. Then his previous smile faded and he continued in a serious tone, "The life of a Templar is not an easy one, you will need all the luck and help you can get."
"I haven't come this far to change my mind now. I'm ready." Cullen answered firmly. After a pause, he added in a softer tone, "Thank you, truly. We are blessed to have you in the family Thomas."
"Oh, I know." The Templar chuckled. "Now hurry and get dressed for the ceremony while I attempt to sneak back into the barracks unnoticed." He then gave Cullen a playful grin before slipping through the door.
At last, the day had dawned. The sun over the horizon cast a warm glow over the land and painted the sky in brilliant shades of orange, pink, and red. Cullen stood outside the Chantry, feeling a mix of anxiety and excitement. He tried to steady himself, to calm his racing heart and still his trembling hands, but to no avail. He felt as though his nerves would get the better of him at any moment.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, grasping the coin in his pocket for comfort. "I have trained for years for this moment," he whispered to himself. "I am certain in my purpose. I am ready." With those words, he steeled himself, drawing strength from the depths of his conviction. With renewed resolve, he opened his eyes and pushed open the doors of the Chantry.
His comrades-to-be were arranged along the hall as if they were a honor guard - the Knight-Lieutenant waiting to receive him at the end. Cullen was invited to pass among them, with every step being of his own free will. Any reluctance would have signaled that he was not ready. Other men and women slapped hands upon Cullen's shoulders in encouragement, looking spirited and excited for him as he passed.
Upon reaching the Knight-Lieutenant, Cullen was presented with the boxed philter. In a loud voice, the Knight-Lieutenant pronounced, "Blessed are they who stand before the corrupt and the wicked and do not falter." He nodded as if to ask if Cullen was ready.
The recruit gave back an affirmative nod and finished the canticle, "Blessed are the peacekeepers, the champions of the just. Blessed are the righteous, the lights in the shadow. In their blood, the Maker's will is written."
The Knight-Lieutenant's eyes grew solemn as he raised his mailed hand, bathed in the blue glow of lyrium. The palms of his fellows, still on Cullen's shoulders, gradually turned from welcoming to restraining, as the young man's arms were held immobile at his sides. Fear began to rise in him, but when he noticed Thomas's familiar face he managed to beat it down.
The Knight-Lieutenant pressed the glow against Cullen's chest and his reality shattered. The recruit was plunged into an ethereal abyss of enveloping darkness. He found himself suspended in a void, the ceaseless emptiness stretching out before him in a disorienting expanse.
A tune drifted towards him, strange and unfamiliar, like nothing he had ever heard before. The song didn't consist of notes and lyrics, but of raw emotions and unfathomable, alien concepts. This song was beyond his comprehension, but it felt like a beckoning call, stirring within him a longing to connect with something ancient and powerful.
The melody grew louder and louder until its deafening sound forced every rational thought out of Cullen's mind. His body became heavy and unresponsive as if it were locked in place by an invisible force, rendering him unable to move a muscle.
Glowing blue chains began to form around his body, constricting and cold to his skin. A deep groan escaped his lips as the frigid, unyielding chains dug themselves deep into his flesh. They snaked their way around his very essence, coiling tighter and tighter like a merciless python. With each passing second, Cullen felt as though his soul was being squeezed and crushed, leaving him gasping for air amidst waves of searing agony. Overwhelmed by the anguish, he succumbed to unconsciousness.
Cullen's senses slowly returned to him, and as he opened his eyes, he found himself lying on his narrow, uncomfortable bunk in the cramped and dimly lit barracks. His body was drenched in a cold sweat, and he couldn't help but shiver as he struggled to sit up. The young man's vision was still blurry, and a high-pitched ringing in his ears made it difficult for him to focus.
While he tried to get his bearings, he sensed a comforting presence beside him. Cullen turned his head to see his brother-in-law standing by his side, a broad smile on his face. Without hesitation, Thomas wrapped his strong arms around him in a bear hug, offering a sense of comfort and reassurance that he desperately needed at that moment.
"Knight-Templar Cullen, congratulations on your induction into the Templar Order."
Despite the words of congratulation, there was a note of melancholy in Thomas' voice, one that the new Templar was too shaken to notice.
Cullen's dream had come true.