"Well?" Fenris asks when he feels the mage finally stop. "She is deep in sleep. I think she will be able to pull through. She's strong and is a fighter. She is going to require more healing, but I believe the worst is over - physically."

"What do you mean, physically?"

"I have treated many women in my clinic, who have been through the trauma Hawke has, but not quite to this extent. For some women it was only one man, for others it was a gang, as in this instance. Also, for some women it was by someone they know. In all cases, it is always psychologicallythe same for the women: they withdraw into themselves and blame themselves for what happened. They push away their loved ones because they do not feel worthy of them - and it is especially true of their lover or husband. They feel ashamed. Elf, I know she chose you over me; I wish it had been different, but I still care for her happiness no matter what. So I need to prepare you: this emotional healing is going to test both of you, not just because of what happened to her, but because you witnessed it happening to her."

"You have given me much to think on, mage. I thank you for your candor. If there is nothing else, I wish to be alone with her now. I bid you good night."

"Of course. You will need your rest as well. We will take shifts in watching her starting tomorrow. Good night," Anders says as he shuts the door.

Fenris leans down and whispers in Hawke's ear, "I know you cannot hear me now, but I swear to you I will do whatever is needed. I will not lose you, not now."


Fenris is awakened by a tentative knock and the door opening slightly, revealing Anders' head. "How is she?"

"She did not stir the night," Fenris replies.

"I am not surprised," Anders says, entering the room, "she will be in a deep sleep for at least a few more days. We need to get some broth down her and then I need to heal her again."

"I am at your disposal," Fenris said.

"That is not necessary," Anders replies. "I have what I need to complete this next phase of her healing. Carver, Aveline, and Varric are downstairs, waiting to talk with you."

"Of course," says Fenris, "I would like to hear how you all knew where to find us," and goes downstairs.

"How is she?" an anxious Carver asks as soon as he sees Fenris.

"She is as well as can be expected. Tell me: how did you know where to find us?" Fenris asks, getting straight to the point.

"Well," Carver starts, "you know how punctual she is. I arrived yesterday morning for our meeting, and was surprised to find she wasn't here. Bodhan indicated that while he expected her home that evening, she never came back. That's when I went over to your place to see if she was there, but both of you were gone. I came back here and asked Bodhan to have a message run to Varric and Aveline. Anders, in the mean time, had come to talk with her as well and hadn't seen her. Varric and Aveline arrived a short time later, and they had not seen nor talked with her since the day before."

Varric piped in with, "And since trouble seems to find you, Ser Broody, we knew something must be up for both of you to be missing."

Carver continued, "It was then I realized it might have something do with why I wanted to talk to my sister in the first place."

"Which was...?" Fenris prompted.

"A few weeks ago Ser Alrik sought me out to get more information on what had happened to Mother. I found nothing unusual in his request, so told him where she had been found and all that had transpired. He seemed satisfied and left. A few days later I started hearing some rumblings from the more fringe part of the Templars - how things weren't moving fast enough to rein in mages and that they were going to be doing something about it. Finally a few days ago I heard from a friend of a friend of a friend that they were going to make an example of someone - to get things moving. I wanted to warn my sister to be careful, to keep her guard up. With her missing things just seemed to click and I suggested we check out that cellar."

"Your timing was most fortuitous," Fenris started to say. He was interrupted by Anders, joining the conversation as he was coming down the stairs, "Indeed it was. I think had we been a few minutes later we would have lost her."

"What now?" Carver asked.

"Now Hawke needs as much rest as possible," Anders replied. "Someone will need to be with her at all times, at least until she awakens in a few days. Bodhan is with her now, but I suggest we take shifts."

"I will be with her; no shifts are necessary," said Fenris.

"Fenris," Aveline gently says, "you cannot watch her all day and all night. You need to recover as well. We all care for her and want to watch out for her. Why don't you take the night shift and the rest of us can split the day? Go back to your place and get refreshed."

"Actually, that sounds perfect, Aveline," Anders says.

"Very well, I will return soon" Fenris warily replies. "As I said, mage, I will do whatever is necessary." Fenris rose and headed out the door.


Hawke tried to get her bearings, as she slowly sits up. "Oh, my head. What…where…?"

"Easy, Hawke," Aveline says as she comes to her friend's side. "Just take it easy."

"Aveline, what happened? How did I get here? Where is Fenris?"

"What do you remember, Hawke?"

"Um, things seem so hazy. I remember walking back to my place with Fenris but I think we were stopped. The rest seems like a nightmare: I was tied up and some men were doing horrible things, and then you all rushed in…"

Aveline lowers her eyes. Hawke turns scarlet and sharply intakes her breath as her hand flies to her mouth. "It wasn't a nightmare was it? It was real. Oh, by the Maker, you all saw…everything? How can you be here, how can you even look at me? Oh, please leave, Aveline."

"I most certainly will not, Hawke. You are the best friend I have ever had and you need me more than ever. There is nothing you can ever say or do that will make me abandon you."

"Oh, Aveline, I…I…" and then Hawke burst into uncontrollable tears. Aveline sits by her friend's side and takes her into her arms. "I'm here, dear one, I'm here."

A short while later, Hawke pulls away. "I don't know how I can do it, Aveline. How can I face him…them. I just can't. I need to leave, I need to slip away and get out of here. Please, just tell them you came up here to check on me, but I was gone."

"I'm sorry, Hawke," replied Aveline. "I can't do that. You are loved by too many, and it would not be fair to them. We can get through this. It will be alright, I promise. Anders should be here any minute to check on you."

"Anders?" asks Hawke. "Not Fenris? I see. I must have hurt him badly, showing such weakness. I can't say I blame him for not wanting to be here. He must be so disgusted. I –"

"Knock, knock," called out Anders as he opens the door. "I heard voices. I'm so pleased you are awake. Please, Aveline, will you excuse us while I check her over?"

"Certainly," Aveline said, as she silently thanked the Maker for Anders' timely arrival. As much as he tried to prepare her for Hawke's state of mind for when she realized what had happened to her, nothing had prepared Aveline for such guilt and despair emanating from her friend.


Anders strolled down the stairs a short while later. "She's asleep," he announced.

"I want to see her…now," Fenris demands.

"No, Fenris. We talked about this. Given what she has been through, the first person that she needed to see in order to get her bearings was her oldest female friend. She has no sister or mother; Aveline needed to play that role for her recovery to begin."

"And has it?" Aveline asks. "Maker, I was nearly overwhelmed by her guilt."

"It will take time, everyone. It will take time. Please, I've had experience with this. Let this play out. Little steps are needed right now," Anders says as Aveline, Carver, Varric, and finally Fenris nod their heads in agreement.