Note from author: I admittedly was left a bit empty after the lack of genuine emotional reactions, most likely a victim of creative restraints, in the confrontation with Anders and company towards the end of Dragon Age 2. My character, Hawke, only seems slightly inconvenienced by the betrayal of a loved one and by the finale seemed to have forgotten about it all together. I was inspired to re-create this scene and if encouraged, carry on the story of Hawke after Kirkwall. At least to satiate myself and hopefully others until the inevitable DLC. Hawke, aside from being a mage and female, will otherwise remain ambiguous. I understand everyone has their own idea of what Hawke would look like and what she would be called so I decided to keep it that way so readers can use their imaginations. Enjoy my musings.

Prologue

The ground trembles. A column of light pierces the sky. Mortar and stone are pulled up into a swirling vortex then thrown across the rooftops. The crowd that had gathered at the Chantry steps recovers their bearings to have their eyes fall upon a pile of rubble. Brow furrowed, Hawke turns her gaze to her fellow mage, "Anders…. What have you done?"

Anders turns to a look of scorn he never wished to see upon her face. He lowers his eyes to his toes.

"There can be no compromise."

The Knight Commander, mouth agape turns towards Hawke and her party, "The Grand Cleric, murdered by magic!" They can hear her metal gauntlet strain as it's pulled into a fist. Her words escape in a hiss. "As Knight Commander I invoke the Rite of Annulment. I hereby order every mage in the Circle executed!"

The Grand Enchanter's green eyes widen in horror. "No! You can't do this! We had no part in this atrocity!" He turns towards Hawke, pleading, "You have to convince her. She'll listen to you."

"She will stand with us! She can't possibly defend mages after this! The Chantry! Her mother!" Meredith's eyes fall on Hawke. "You must make your choice Champion of Kirkwall." The title is used as a way to promote guilt rather than a formality.

Hawke stands, mind reeling, her eyes fixed on the hole in the block where the Chantry once stood. "You're asking me to commit to slaughter….", her words directed more at the smoldering remains of the building rather than Meredith.

"I'm demanding that you aid me in eliminating a black mark on this city. Despite being a mage yourself surely you can see that they are a danger to everyone!"

Hawke turns to meet Meredith's icy stare, "No. I cannot agree to this."

The Knight Commander frowns. "Pity…I may have shown you leniency." Meredith motions with her arm, her voice carried into the air, "Come! We will gather the rest of the order and return to see these mages burn for their crimes!"

Orsino and Hawke watch as the Knight Commander and her guard trudge away, the sound of their heavy armor lingering long after they disappeared into the streets. Orsino looks up at the darkened sky and closes his eyes. He shakes his head, "I don't think we can win this war." Lifting the somber expression from his brows he turns to Hawke, "I need to thank you for not abandoning us in our time of need. Maker knows aside from your talent we've given you little reason to stand with us." He lets out a sigh, "For now I'll take my leave and gather my Circle to build a defense against Meredith. Try not to linger." He nods towards Anders, "I'll leave your friend to you."

Orsino heads for the Gallows as Hawke turns towards the decision she'd been avoiding. Anders eyes rise to meet hers. There's a chain reaction. A closed fist connects with a soft cheek. A surprised scream escapes Merrill. Isabella reaches to draw her dagger but is stopped by a firm hand from Aveline and a headshake. Sebastian's eagerness to see the mage beaten translates into a grin across his face. Anders falls to the dirt, blood rushing to the damaged tissue.

"You, you son of a Mabari bitch…you…" Hawke's clenched hand trembles. An outpour of emotion she couldn't express with Orsino or Meredith looking on. They only knew the Champion of Kirkwall. Strip away the title and all that was left was a woman who's heart is as fragile as the next.

Hawke lunges in Ander's direction, but is caught by a set of hefty arms around her waist. Varric's dwarven stature giving him the leverage he needs to left her slightly off her feet. "Calm yourself my lady. Save your fight for the city."

"Let go of Varric or so help me…"

"Yes!" Sebastian exclaims, "Release her and let her tear the mage apart! It's better than he deserves!"

Varric's eyes narrow, "You let your thirst for vengeance get away with you choir boy."

"The Grand Cleric did nothing to deserve her fate!"

"So let the Maker have his divine retribution another time." Varric feels Hawke's muscles relent; his fingers loosen from their grip as she sinks to her knees. "Hawke?" Varric's hand reaches out towards her only to recoil abruptly when she speaks.

"Anders…how could you?" Hawke's head leans back, eyes blurred by tears turning the harsh flames surrounding them into blots of orange. They trace trails down the contours of her cheeks joining the point of her chin before taking their final resting place upon the Hightown stones. "How could you…?" the rest of her words lost in the din of the surrounding chaos.

"I'm sorry it…I told you….".

"Leave…".

Anders eyes peek from beneath a tangle of blonde hair, "What?"

"I said leave.", Hawke swallows the emotions threatening to overwhelm her. "Put as much distance between you and Kirkwall. I'll pick up the pieces. I always do. I have to….".

"Thank you. In light… of our history …I never expected you to show me mercy."

"Save your gratitude. You overestimate me. My decision is not based on my feelings for you. Those evaporated with the Chantry."

Sebastian ears burn; his Chantry teachings overwhelmed by his a sense of justified vengeance. "No! Regardless of your standings with this man I cannot let him walk free as long as I am still able to draw a bow. I will return to Starkhaven and bring back with me such an army…"

"I will not make a martyr out of him."

"Perhaps you misunderstood me Champion. I will come back and find you and your precious Anders. I will not allow either of you live until Elthina's death is avenged."

"Do as you wish. If reprisal is what you seek go, bolster your ranks. I'll try to fit your personal vendetta in between this crisis and the next."

Faced with Hawke's stubbornness only seems to encourage Sebastian's resolve. He takes a step forward but finds his path blocked suddenly by the former Tervinter slave, Fenris. "Walk away priest, you do not have the numbers to approach her this day."

Sebastian glares at Fenris only to be challenged by a show of the elf's glowing lyrium tattoos. He turns his attention past Fenris's shoulder to Hawke determined to have the final say, "You'll eat those words Hawke. I will make you choke on them." Sebastian turns on his heel and marches off, the smoke from Kirkwall's fires eventually obscuring the prince from view.

"Hawke…" Anders pushes himself off his knees to his feet.

"Don't…. You no longer have the right to speak my name as if you know me. Run. If you are unfortunate enough to cross my path again I not hesitate to end your miserable existence."

Anders hesitates….

"GO!", her clenched fists erupt into flames before quickly going out. Anders barely hears the following whisper as he begins a slow backwards retreat. "Go…" Hawke listens as his pace quickening to a jog and the sounds of the footfalls disappearing into the distance. She doesn't know how much time passes as she listens to the flames consume the city around her. Only when she feels a hand on her shoulder does she get pulled back to reality.

"Come on now Champion. We have a city to save."

"Varric's right." says Aveline, biting back her own emotions, "We should try to help Kirkwall as much as we can."

"We're here to aid you Hawke. We'll stay by your side until the end." Merrill chips in, pushing visible uncertainty aside for a small smile.

"Just make sure we're all on the boat after we save this ungrateful city's ass." Isabella says with a grin.

Hawke's eyes close as she takes a deep breath, opening them as she exhales. "Thank you but really there's no need to fuss. I'll be alright." Varric's hand weighs heavily on her shoulder; she reaches her own up to give the back of his a reassuring squeeze. As she turns her face up to meet the surly dwarfs' the corner of her mouth forms a weak smile, "Varric, when did you get so tall?"

"That's my girl."