Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in the Dragon Age universe. The world the story takes place in as, well as the characters are owned by Bioware.

An end

As their eyes meet, she began to realize the intense beating of her heart. Everything was quiet and the pounding became almost unbearable. Thinking over and over "Don't make me kill you. Don't make me kill you. Please...". As these thoughts began to coincide with the rhythm of her heart, she struggled to breathe. It seemed like hours had past when the pounding pain was replaced with relief as Cullen lowered his sword. She turned around looking at Bethany, with a small smile of comfort, as they went down to the Gallows Harbour.

As the ship left the harbour she grabbed the railing and took a deep breath.

"So where to now, Hawke? " Varric asked while checking Bianca for scratches. She turned around to face her companions.

" We have to get out of Kirkwall and fast. Cullen has given us some time, but it won't be long before they will have to pursuit us. Isabela, will you allow us to escape on your ship? You don't have too. I will not force any of you to participate in anything that will further endanger your lives and freedom."

"Of course you can, Hawke. I need a crew anyway. If you can live with a ship low on liquor and covered in mustard coloured satin, that is?" Isabela responded with a smile.

"Thank you… Now if anyone doesn't want to come I need to know now. I will not blame any of you if you do not wish to come."

Aveline looked at Donnic unsure about how to respond. "We can't stay here, love." Donnic responded as he rapped his arm around his wife and she nodded in responds. " Serah Hawke, we would like to join you."

"I will remain at your side as well." Fenris responded as Hawke looked at him with anticipation.

"You are going nowhere without me, sis." Bethany smiled.

" Bianca would be heartbroken if we where to leave you. Besides I would have to find another inspiration for my stories." Varric laughed.

Hawke looked at Merill, who looked concerned. "Merill, it's alright if you want to come. I will not be angry at you."

"I… I want to come. Unless you don't want me to. It's just… I don't know how to be a swashbuckler."

All of her companions began to laugh. Not that it was very funny or uninspected, coming from Merill, but they needed to laugh. The only one not to respond was Anders, who thought it best if he remained in the background and made his presence known as little as possible.

"Don't worry, Kitten. I will make a decent swashbuckler out of you." Isabela laughed.

"Thank you everyone. Your loyalty and trust is more than I could ever have expected." Hawke said relieved.

Anders felt his stomach turn. Every one of them trusted her with their lives as well as her judgment. He had not and he should have done so more of the rest of them. Marian had given him hope, support, trust and her love. She had shared the first real home she had ever had with him. His first home. Every night for three years, he had looked into her green eyes before kissing her goodnight. Held her close, while taking in the scent of her mahogany coloured hair. And yet he had been unable to show the trust and loyalty of the others. " How could I be so stupid?"

Hawke continued: " We will have to get supplies as quick as possible. I suggest that we divide into pairs and get our important belongings as well as food or anything else that might be useful. No one will go on their own, who knows how long it will take for someone to come after us. You will have one hour from when we get to the harbour till we meet up at the warehouse where Isabelas ship is docked. Agreed?"

Her companions nodded and she continued: " Bethany, you will come with Anders and I. There might be something of mothers you would want."

As the ship docked they quickly ran towards their homes to get whatever they could. Hawke, Anders and Bethany ran towards the Amell estate. And while passing through lowtown, Anders felt a chill run down his spine as they passed the crate he had sat on only hours before, expecting every breath to be his last. He looked at Marian who also starred at it. Her eyes glistening with tears she was only just holding back.

"I-I hope we don't meet Sebastian." She whispered desperately trying to keep herself under control.

As they approached the estate they could hear cries and screams of desperation coming from the Chantry courtyard. Anders felt himself unable to breathe as he felt a wave of guilt wash over him.
"It was justice! It was in the name of the greater good! This will ensure mages freedom!... This means that someone like Marian will never have to run again. They will never feel the pain of losing their siblings to the Circle. They will never be threatened with death for loving a mage... for loving us." Justice argued.

"She didn't have to run anymore. If it wasn't for us, she would never have to do this again." Anders replied as he felt his heart break a little.

"Her children will likely be mages and she would have been on the run just the same. This means that one day she will be able to stop running... for good." Anders looked at Marian as she opened the door. "I hope your right."

"Messere, you are safe. Sandal and I were beginning to worry. What is going on?" Bodahn asked as they entered the estate.

"The Mages and Templars are at war. You and Sandal will have to pack quickly and get out of Kirkwall. Can I persuade you to take Orana with you?" Hawke responded while running up the stairs.

"Of course, but what about you and Master Anders?"

"The less you know Bodahn, the better." Anders replied patting him once on his shoulder as he went into the library to get the most important books of magic and those he knew were important to Marian.

Bethany followed her sister upstairs.

Hawke was already throwing clothes into a bag as Bethany came in.

"Here," Hawke said as she gave some clothes to Bethany. " you might look a little suspicious in that robe." Bethany quickly changed.

"Now go to that dresser you should find a small brown bag at the bottom."

Bethany took out the bag and heard the sound of glass. She looked inside to find a variety of strange potions, salves as well as a lot of rations and bandages.

"What are these?" She asked looking at her sister.

"They are potions I required from The Black Emporium almost a month ago. Some can make your hair grow faster and alter your appearance in other ways. Useful when on the run, don't you agree?"

"You have been planning an escape?"

"As Meredith became more vigilant in hunting apostates, I knew I would only be able to protect Anders for so long. Then about a month ago he started to become even more paranoid and talking to me as if he was going to die. I decided I had to make some kind of plan."

Bethany hesitated to ask.

"Did... I'm sorry, but... did..."

"Did I know what Anders was planning? No... I probably should have, but I will have to wait to ponder on that when we are out of Kirkwall. Bethany will you go to the pantry and get what food you can find? We will have to be out of here in ten minutes. We will leave through the basement."