Three days had passed since word had gone out that Knight Commander Tous of Starkhaven would be performing the Rite of Tranquility on Hawke, the Champion of Kirkwall. Tous had pushed for an immediate Rite but Sebastian knew that such an event would require witnesses that couldn't be produced that quickly.
The prince paced his quarters grimly. He had been entertaining nobles and hearing petitions since the announcement had been made and he worried that no word of Isabela or Fenris' activities had been noted by any of his guard. The Rite was only a few scarce hours away. Patrols around the Tower had been tripled in response to the growing number of raids by various groups, rumor even had the abomination himself sighted near the city.
Hawke hadn't been left alone since the announcement and they moved her constantly, never giving her clever friends a chance to plan her rescue. He had long sent away his servants and advisors along with their constant help and suggestions. He paced around the room again, anxious for the waiting to be over, and began the process of armoring himself in more than just metal.
"Blessed are they who stand before, The corrupt and the wicked and do not falter. Blessed are the peacekeepers, the champions of the just." Sebastian's mouth turned down at the mention of justice, the bitter tie to the abomination that had began all of this as he slid his silvered chain mail over his head.
"Blessed are the righteous, the lights in the shadow." The prince slowly began to buckle on the layers of white enameled metal that had been his last gift from his father.
"In their blood the Maker's will is written." He pulled on the heavy layers that comprised his own armored boots.
"The one who repents, who has faith." Sebastian pulled on one of the long leather gauntlet that covered his pull hand.
"Unshaken by the darkness of the world," He placed his left hand down into the other open and waiting gauntlet and began the processes of buckling it into place.
"Shall know true peace."
The heavy rapping on his door interrupted his prayers. Sebastian crossed the room in quick strides and opened the door himself to find a group of Templars escorting Hawke.
"Pardon.. your highness." The startled templar began, "You wanted to see the maleficar before the rite?" The poor man let the question dangle, even began to tug Hawke away.
"No, you're right. Bring her in and leave us."
"But highness.. is that wise?"
"I want to talk to her before the Rite."
The templar brought in a roughly cleaned up Hawke. The bruises had diminished down to a pale purple and yellow and there was no evident blood on her. Even the worst of the filth had been slicked off and her hair was knotted with dampness. Her brilliant eyes locked onto the prince, smoldering with barely checked anger. A swift kick to the back of her legs brought her to her knees before him and while she remained on the floor, her anger pushed through the façade of meekness.
"Anything else then Sire?"
"No. Leave us please." The prince didn't even notice their exit, the door shutting with barely a sound. Sebastian was regretting this decision already. He had thought that one of the traitors brought to their knees before him would bring a sense of fulfillment; a sign that his duty to the Maker was finally progressing. However he felt no pride in seeing his former friend bound and kneeling at his feet, her eyes snapping in anger directed at him.
"So, this is it then." Her voice cracked into the silence.
"You aren't being executed Hawke.."
"I may as well be. Nothing will be left of what I was once you and your Templars are finished." She sat down on her heels, awkward with her hands bound behind her and tossed her head to clear the hair from her eyes.
"Help me then, please, you can still stop—"
"No, Sebastian. You will not push this off on me. This is your decision and I will not alleviate you of your guilt. "
"My guilt? Mine! I am not the one who allowed Elthina's murderer to walk free! I am not the one turned my back on the faithful that died that day! I am not the one harboring the mage-" Sebastian yanked Hawke to her feet and shook her a few times in his anger.
"I don't know where Anders is you stupid, thick skulled—"
"Why will you not aid me? Why is his life more important to you than the innocents that died that day, than our friendship, after what he did? Why, Hawke? I would have done anything for you. I would have followed you anywhere. If it had been you in that Chantry no force here or in the Void would have kept me from my revenge. I trusted you to do the right thing, to defend the Faith. You even agree that a Circle is necessary. Why won't you help me?" He pleaded with her, his hands loosening from their bruising grip, frustration and anger bleeding through his voice and his eyes searching her face for his answers.
"Sebastian… I—" Her voice breathed out, tears forming in her eyes, and she was suddenly ripped from his grasp. Coughing, he stumbled back, trying to move away from the shape he barely saw whispering through the smoke. Sebastian was clipped in the shoulder by a blow that was meant for his neck, the force still enough to send him crashing into a set of chairs.
"Ei vento nai mordoi deid," The harsh words were growled out of the smoke that filled the room. The room was eerily dark through his tear stained vision as he blinked the acrid smoke out of his eyes.
"Fenris?" Sebastian coughed out the name of the white haired elf.
"I do not want to kill you, Sebastian," Fenris repeated, "but if you ever touch her again, I will." As the smoke began to filter out of the room the prince made out the hazy form of Fenris bending to pick up Hawke, of her arms wrapping around his neck. He staggered back as a leather clad knee connected with his head.
"That's for acting like a little shit," Isabela backhanded him and he felt the leather of her gloves embed into his check, "And that's because I might just feel bad about killing you in the morning."
"Don't…" Hawke's voice cut through her tirade. "Don't kill him, Isabela."
"What? Why not?" Isabela's pout was obvious even in the still murky room. "Andraste's balls, she's passed out! Come on, let's get out of here."
"Yes, we dare not linger." Fenris disappeared on silent bare feet out of the destroyed door, Isabela on his heels.
Sebastian pulled himself to his feet, out of breath and with blood dripping from both his nose and split lip. He tried to pursue after them but was nearly knocked down again by the arrival of the templars and his personal guard. He swore and recovered himself, snarling at the closest guard.
"Highness, are you alright?"
"What happened?" Tous demanded, pushing his way through the crowd.
"You're bleeding!" A noblewoman squeaked and promptly pushed a scented and heavily embroidered cloth against his face. Sebastian ripped it off and tossed it to the ground accompanied by the distraught squeak of the lady.
"Maker damn them all! Seize Isabela's ship in the harbor, do it now!" Sebastian slammed the remnants of his door in and grabbed his bow and the ever ready quiver of arrows next to it. "We move, now!"
