Solona Amell

Cullen nods back at Anders in reply. He still disliked the bastard, but at least they established that level of respect. He looks out the door, making sure the coast is clear. The footsteps and voices fade away and then there's silence again.

Solona was holding her breath. That was too close a call.

"I think it's safe to continue now," Cullen says, opening the door wider for the three of them to exit, looking back and forth the hallways just to make sure.

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Anders nods quietly, looking out of the door, double checking to make sure they're alone. It appears that Irving and Gregoir were the only ones out, and they've already past them...

"Let's move...try to be quick about it, okay? That was too close."

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"Agreed," Cullen says, ushering Nellie out and then Solona.

Solona quickly takes the lead down the hall not wanting to linger any longer. "Come on, Anders! Where is it?"

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"Patience, patience...! Here we are."

The secret exit isn't too far down the hall...in fact, it's hidden behind a bookcase and several loose bricks in the library.

"Here."

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Cullen gazes at Anders skeptically.

"It's a wall, Anders."

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"Yes, it is."

He grins, before releasing some mana on the bricks in the wall...and things change. The loose bricks move away, leaving a very nice opening leading to a tunnel.

"Took me forever to make this."

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Rage boils within Cullen. After all these years searching for those secret escape routes and it's just hidden behind a few bricks and a bookshelf? It takes all his willpower to just avoid hitting the blasted mage.

Solona however looks extremely impressed. "Maker's breath, you came up with that all on your own?"

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It's always in the one place you never think to look, isn't it, Cullen? Nellie sees that look on his face and she takes his hand, squeezing it.

Anders smiles proudly.

"Well, not all on my own. I think somebody started it here and just abandoned it...I finished it up."

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"Well, you finished it up well," Solona grins and stands on her tip toes to kiss Anders' cheek. This was just getting so much more exciting. "What are we waiting for?" she says before entering the tunnel.

Cullen squeezes Nellie's hand back. The only thing keeping him from ripping Anders' head off honestly. He waits for Nellie to climb into the tunnel before climbing in himself.

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Nellie gives Cullen a reassuring look before climbing into the tunnel. After Cullen is in, Anders seals it up again.

"Its awful dark in here, Anders...how do you see in here?"

Anders smirks and conjures a small flame.

"Like this."

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"And how long does this tunnel go exactly?" Solona mutters. She wasn't really an avid fan of the dark. She hovers close to Anders.

Cullen takes Nellie's hand. No one would see them here and his heart was beating so fast that he absolutely needed her at that point.

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"Don't worry, it's not as long as it feels...I promise."

He knows that Solona has issues with the dark, and with his free hand, he takes hers.

Nellie is squeezing tightly on Cullen's hand, grateful that it's dark so nobody can see how nervous she is.

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Solona smirks. "Oh, but Anders, it is."

Cullen rolls his eyes and keeps quiet. He could see that the tunnel was gradually shrinking. Were they anywhere near the exit?

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Anders just laughs at that. "Dare I respond to that?"

Nellie can't help but quietly snicker to herself, either. She and Solona do have the same sense of humor, more or less.

The tunnel is getting narrower, and soon, Anders stops walking.

"Wait here, I need to open the exit."

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"Please," Cullen groans, "don't."

Solona smirks. At least Nellie gets her humor.

But finally the exit was near. Solona lets out a shaky breath and opens up her palm to create a small flame.

"Where exactly is the exit?" Cullen asks.

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Anders smiles and releases a small wave of mana at the end of the tunnel, much like he did on the wall in the library. The wall moves away, revealing the exit to be a tree near Lake Callenhad...right near a bush where a boat is hidden.

"Ta daaah!"

It takes all of Nellie's willpower not to break down in giggles and run around then and there. She hasn't been free of the Circle since she was 4...

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The wave of fresh air that suddenly hits Solona's face makes her grin so much that it almost started to hurt. Wonderful, tree-scented, unstuffy, fresh air! She inhales deeply as she steps out of the tunnel, letting it all sink in. She sees the look on Nellie's face and she grins even wider, feeling a few tears forming in her eyes.

Cullen feels the same. Seeing the look of joy on Nellie's face fills him with warmth all over. Suddenly all the doubt he had of Anders' little escape plan washes away.

Until: "The boat," Cullen realizes. "Templars patrol the lake, Anders. How do we get the boat across without being spotted?"

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Nellie doesn't really hear Cullen's question right away, she's just looking around, eyes wide. Everything is different...well, duh, this isn't Kirkwall, and she's not a little girl anymore, but it's all so wonderful. She'd forgotten what it was like to be out of the Tower...

Anders frowns at the question. Good point.

"Well, we can either risk the boat, or use it as a decoy and walk."

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Cullen frowns as well. "Risky either way. Templars patrol the bridge every now and then and, you forget, the bridge is broken."

Solona smiles at Nellie and as much as she'd like to join her in staring awestruck at her surroundings, Cullen had a point.

"I have an idea," Solona says. "It's actually a pretty stupid idea, but it might work. Why not row the boat underneath the bridge and then just swim towards the forest once we dock?"

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Nellie is listening, and she's actually stopped her awestruck starings to listen, and she nods at her sister's idea. It's actually a pretty good one. Anders seems to agree.

"Solona, that's brilliant! Cullen, you're not exactly in a position to swim with the armor and everything, so you could man the boat. A templar in a boat on the lake? It'd look like you were doing patrols. You could row around and meet us once we get across the water."

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Solona beams, glad she could be of help.

Cullen however gulps. It was a good idea, yes. But then again, ultimately risky as well. Also, it would have to involve Nellie swimming. In the dead of night. In the cold waters of Lake Calenhad.

"I don't want you to swim all the way across the lake," he says turning to Nellie.

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Nellie fights off the urge to pout, but he's probably got a point. She's not the strongest swimmer in the world...Anders's first escape attempt had ended up with swimming lessons being permanently cancelled, and that was ages ago.

She sighs. Cullen is right.

"Okay. So, Sol and Anders will swim on ahead and get to the other side...that's the plan, right?"

Anders nods, frowning slightly. He thought Nellie would be coming with them, but whatever.

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Solona nods. "That sounds like a better idea. I don't exactly like the idea of you swimming across that, Nel." She gestures towards the lake. She's had enough swimming lessons to know the basics, thankfully. And maybe she could do something about the water temperature too.

"That sounds about right," Cullen says triumphantly. He makes his way towards the boat and tugs on it. It lands in the water with a faint splash. "Nellie, I suggest you lay down. I'll cover you with the packs and a few robes just in case."

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"Well, if they stopped dumping potions into the lake, it wouldn't be as intimidating...!"

She shrugs and nods at Cullen, smiling at him and nodding.

"Aye aye, captain!"

She giggles a little bit before getting in the boat, lying down. It's not comfortable, but it'll work.

Anders turns to Solona and nods.

"C'mon, Sol, we'd better get going too."

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