AN: I've tried to find a balance in this story, neither demonizing Anders's actions nor making him the patron saint of mage freedoms. I figured despite the destruction that is canon; there would be survivors as human beings are remarkably resilient. Maybe not in the chantry itself, but in the blast zone surrounding it.

I thought the final two boss fights really weakened the story of the game overall. The whole Orsino/harvester battle out of context with the situation, if you side with the mages, attacking the very people there trying to help him. And the over the top 'flying Meredith' blew my immersion all to hell at that point. Plus, Meredith was already whacko enough without throwing the idol in the mix. Thus, my tale glosses over those two fights, focusing on the drama I did enjoy while playing.

As I am a big fan of Cullen, I liked the idea that he got between Meredith and my Hawke, regardless of Hawke's class or affiliations. Perhaps more than any other, Cullen has seen the most character development over the course of the games.


Chapter Four

Aveline was worried there would be aftershocks as she, Donnic, a troop of six of her best guards and Merrill moved through the rubble in the courtyard, looking for survivors. While some of the closest buildings surrounding the chantry and courtyard were damaged in the blast, it seemed that most of the force and debris had been blown up and then out.

A troop of half a dozen templars, obviously just coming on duty that morning, accosted them in the rubble strewn courtyard as Merrill was healing a woman with a head wound.

"Stand back, apostate," said one who appeared to be leading them, an older man with a balding pate. "What has happened here?"

Aveline got between them, Donnic and Harley flanking her, their united front making the frightened church troops back away.

"She wasn't responsible, and she's helping, in case you're too blind or stupid to notice. Would you really kill a healer saving the lives of these people?" Aveline pointed out. "We have too many injured civilians to help and protect for you to bother playing nursemaid to eternity this morning."

Though they didn't look pleased, the templars backed off and began to help the city guard. Merrill looked up at Aveline, gratefully.

"Thank you, Aveline."

"We'll probably encounter more of that later. Sebastian, go with the templars, keep them on task. If they give you any trouble, let me know. Donnic, go check the houses to the west. Harley, go south, Brennan north. Take a man with each of you. We'll all meet at the Vicount's keep with any wounded we can find who can walk. Come here to fetch me or Merrill if you find any that can't. Organize some of the civilians to gather food and water, and see what buildings are safe and can be used as shelters and what needs to be evacuated."

With the additional manpower supplied by the templars, the guard moved through Hightown, finding survivors, setting aside the dead and clearing pathways through the rubble.

They found some early morning market goers pinned under debris, and set to freeing the survivors. A chanter was found dead under a portion of collapsed wall, some papers she had been posting on the chanter's board scattered near her body, but the child under her was alive.

At first, Merrill had been calm and reassuring as she attended the injured, but Aveline was seeing little cracks in that calm beginning to form as they moved along the rubble strewn city streets. She kept looking in the direction of Hawke's estate, growing more and more distracted and short with everyone, and it wasn't hard for Aveline to figure out what was wrong.

"I have to go check on Orana," said Merrill. "Hawke's home isn't far from here."

"I'll come with you," Aveline said.

At the Hawke estate, they saw portion of wall had been smashed in by a large chunk of debris, leaving a huge hole where the fireplace in the main hall used to be, but the main structure itself appeared sound. Sitting on the steps was Orana, Duke at her side. A small bag of groceries was near her feet, knocked over on the ground, food tumbled out into the dust.

"She's a little shocked and bruised," Merrill said. "But she seems mostly unhurt."

"Orana," Aveline tried to get her attention.

"I went out to the market this morning…and…and…there was this light…. What happened?" Orana stammered.

"An…accident, but Hawke is taking care of everything," said Aveline carefully after deciding not to overwhelm the simple elven woman. She had groceries, perhaps a task to attend to would take her mind off the disaster this morning. "You have food, I'd like you to take it to the keep, my guards will distribute it."

"Yes, Mistress. Where…where is the Master?"

"Hawke is fine, Orana, don't worry," said Merrill. "Duke, go with her to the keep. Protect her."

The dog barked and wagged his tail, always excited at the prospect of a walk.

"Hawke is still alive, I just know it," Merrill asserted when she saw Aveline's dubious expression.

Aveline paused, Merrill's confidence bolstering her own faltering faith in their companion, then she nodded. "If anyone can survive this, it's Hawke."


They'd been forced to retreat to a fortified position in the Harrowing chamber, and so far were holding their own, even winning against the waves of templars Meredith sent after them, but Orsino completely lost control when he saw the bodies of their enemies and allies begin to fall around them.

He began rambling about blood magic, panicking. William tried to talk him down but he had never been very good with words. Talking about Quentin and his research, Orsino began casting, absorbing the bodies around him into one monstrous whole.

At that point, William was glad Orsino had turned himself into just another crazed blood mage-abomination to kill. Quentin had murdered his mother, and apparently with Orsino's complicity. William wondered just how much aid Orsino had given him.

In the end it mattered little, since Orsino was dead as well, and it hadn't brought William much satisfaction to kill the First Enchanter.

The aftermath was quiet. The battle seemed to have quieted down now that Orsino was dead. At least no further templars were entering the chamber, and they decided to emerge and see what was happening in the rest of the Gallows. Cautiously, they left the chambers. Stepping over the bodies of shades, abominations, mages and templars, they emerged into the courtyard.

It seemed to William that there weren't nearly enough bodies to account for the number of mages in the Gallows. He couldn't be certain, but it looked like some had escaped through the underground tunnels where they had confronted Ser Alrik. That incident seemed a lifetime ago.

Not even considering fleeing himself, his companions refused to leave his side either. They had to buy the mages as much time as they could.

"Doubtless Meredith and her templars are waiting," he warned.

"Then, we'll give them a fight they won't soon forget," said Fenris, hefting his blade.

"Hawke, I…" Isabela began.

"After this, we go sailing away on that ship of yours, Isabela. She's too beautiful to waste just sitting in a port."

She smiled. "It'll be an adventure."

Outside a score of templars waited for them, and at their head, Meredith, flanked by Knight-Captain Cullen. Steeling himself, William walked down the steps toward her.

"And here we are, Champion, at long last."

"You'll pay for what you've done here, Meredith," William warned.

"I'll be rewarded for what I've done here, in this world and the next. I've done nothing but my duty. What happens to you now is your own fault."

Madness. It shone in every line of her face. It was familiar. Where had he seen that look before?

"You were never part of this Circle, and I tolerated that, but in defending them you've chosen to share their fate."

Cullen frowned then stepped to the fore. "Knight-Commander, I thought we intended to arrest the Champion?"

"You will do as I command, Cullen."

He shook his head. "No. I defended you when Thrask started whispering you were mad, but this is too far."

"I will not allow insubordination!" Meredith shrieked. "We must stay true to our path!"

She pulled her blade, a long, wicked-looking two handed sword, and brandished it at the knight-captain. Flashes of red fire flowed along its length, sending tiny sparks rushing along the blade.

"Andraste's dimpled butt cheeks!" gasped Varric. "It's the idol, Hawke!"

"You recognize it do you not, dwarf?" Meredith said with a sly grin. Her fingers caressed the blade like a lover. "Pure lyrium, taken from the deep roads. Your brother charged a great deal for his prize."

Yeah, that was it, Bartrand. That's where he'd seen that particular brand of crazy-face before.

Just one more hurdle to overcome before William got to her. It would be dealt with as he dealt with all other obstacles.

"Turning the idol into a fancy sword won't save you!" William challenged.

Turning to her templars, Meredith commanded, "All of you, I want him dead!"

Confused, the men and women surrounding them looked from Meredith to Cullen and back again.

"Enough!" Cullen said, trying to regain control of the situation. "This is not what the Order stands for. Knight-Commander, I order you to step down. You are relieved of command."

Meredith's eyes grew wide in disbelief. "My own knight-captain falls prey to the influence of blood magic!" She spun, the blade coming dangerously close as the templars flanking her stepped back to avoid it. "You all have! You're all weak!" she spat contemptuously, growing more and more out of control. "You've allowed the mages to control your minds, to turn you against me!"

"But I don't need any of you, I'll protect this city myself," she hissed, her blade pointing at William, she glared over it, the fire dancing along its edge reflected in the madness of her eyes.

Drawing his blade, Cullen stepped between them.

"You'll have to go through me first!" he vowed.

"Idiot boy, just like all the others," Meredith hissed. "So be it…."


William stood on the deck of the Siren's Call, Isabela's ship, Duke standing at his side. Merrill was nearby, watching him, while Isabela stood next to her. William was pretending to watch the horizon with great interest, but he was listening to them talk quietly together. Isabela was telling Merrill about the fight at the Gallows.

"So, Kitten, that's what happened."

"She really went crazy and attacked everyone, even the knight-captain?"

"Yep, then in the middle of everything, when we thought it couldn't get any crazier, the idol just shattered. Next thing we knew, she was a giant chunk of lyrium."

"So, if he was going to arrest him, why didn't the Knight-Captain take William?"

"Because he's a smart one, that boy. I'm guessing he figured we were all more trouble than we were worth, especially after Hawke gave him that same crazy, dangerous look of his that always melts my…resolve."

William grinned. How Isabela always managed to make the simplest thing sound remarkably naughty never ceased to amuse him. The grin faded at their next words, his worries returning to mind again, making the almost permanent scowl on his face return.

"Then why is William so sad? He won, didn't he? The mages escaped, Meredith was defeated. I would think that would make him happy."

"Because this victory came at a great price, Kitten. A lot of mages are going to die in the coming battles. We'll go where we're needed to help, but a lot of good people on both sides are going to die. And Hawke had to…kill someone close to him. That changes a person."

"What do I do to help him then?"

Without looking at her, he knew Isabela smiled. Her voice had that tone to it. "Just be yourself, Kitten. That's all Hawke needs."

William put his arm around her when Merrill came to stand beside him. Together they watched the coast slipping away into the horizon.

"Will you miss them? Varric and the others?" she asked.

William nodded. "They were good friends."

"Varric will make sure to spread the tale. He'll make it a good one," she assured him. "Is it all right…? I mean…do you mind if I miss Anders too?" she asked.

He looked into eyes the color of new green leaves and smiled.

"You'll have to miss him for both of us, love. I can't wash away that blood with an ocean between us and Kirkwall. Somehow, I have to forget what happened."

And of all the people he'd failed to protect, Anders was the failure that stung the most. He would have to focus on those he was able to help, and that had to be enough when the doubts would come back to haunt him.

Her gaze encompassed Isabela, who stood near the bow enjoying the sea spray, and Orana nearby twining cord into rope.

"Then I will. After all, it's a Keeper's job to remember, and I have a clan of three to look after now," she said.

The End