A/N: -drumroll- Thanks for everyone reviewing and for all the alerts in my inbox! Reviews are love. I hope you guys enjoy the chapter. Thank ye Saga Svanhildr for all your beta awesomeness. :D

"Blank Shell"

Where to go from here? What road to travel on?
I spent my whole life choosing, and I always chose wrong.
Will I try to have the will to be alive?
Will I try because I've never seen the light?

-"Hear Me Now" by Hollywood Undead

They were shadows. They were ghosts. They were fate. Carver knew what they were doing and understood even though he disagreed. It was also something he wanted no part of. The courts wouldn't give justice, at least not in the way that they really deserved. Raina had just wanted to walk away but it had been Isabela that had convinced her otherwise, as she reminded her of everything that they had done in Kirkwall. The Templars would have gone on to follow another mindless junkie like Kerras and what happened to her would have happened to someone else. Raina looked down at the pitiful lot as they crept into their chambers. She reached for her staff but forgot that during her kidnapping, she had lost it. No matter, she didn't need it. She cast several ice spells to keep the men in place. Her face stayed stoic as they each of them slowly woke from their sleep.

"What's going on?" One of them demanded.

"Now, now boys," Isabela started, "I would not think that men of your…stature would think you could get away with helping that monster." Raina bit her lower lip as each of the Raiders positioned themselves over a Templar, even though she told Carver and Knight Commander Harrith she was sending them back to the mainland, well, it was in Isabela's nature to lie. Fenris moved to her side.

"Which one of you poisoned her?" He asked.

Silence had fallen to the group. No one wanted to speak. Well, when their lives were at stake, Raina had a feeling that one would betray the others in hopes that he would be spared. "I'll tell you," and there it was. Isabela sauntered her way over to the one that spoke up. The way she swayed her hips showed the she was a woman with a purpose. It was something that Raina had always been able to admire and it was something she wished she could have the courage to be like in that moment.

"Yes, kitten?" She asked, "Have something to say do you?" Raina watched as the Templar tried to move. No, with the poison out of her system, she had a better grip on her magic. They would not run away from their fate. They all would be cast into the Void when they were done with them.

"If I tell you, will you let me go?" He asked. Isabelas' eyes flicked over to the oldest Hawke and Fenris. The elf next to her held her steady. The decision was hers, she knew. She gave her friend a nod and Isabela grinned.

"Of course," she purred as she ran her fingers through his hair, "Who was it?"

"Davis," he replied.

"You treacherous bastard!" Well, Davis gave himself away. Isabela leaned down and kissed the man's forehead. As she walked away, she snapped her fingers and one of the Raiders ran their cold knife blade against the skin of the Templar's throat. Raina buried her face in Fenris' shoulder. She didn't want to see it. She looked up and watched the elf nod to the other Raiders and they all committed the same act. He wrapped a protective arm around her as the gurgles of dying men had taken an echo around the room. She had promised that she was going to kill all of them, at least she could keep that promise in a sense.

"Well," Isabela started and smiled sweetly at Davis. "It looks like you're alone, big boy."

"I only did what he told me to!"

"And I bet you didn't think twice about it," she said. The pirate cocked her hip to the side. "What do you think?"

"I think he knew what he was doing," Raina replied.

Fenris kissed the top of her head. "Allow me to do it," he offered and she let him. He detached himself from her and readied his greatsword. He raised it above his head and tilted it towards Davis's frozen body. He brought it bearing down and the metal seared through his body causing the ice holding him to shatter. Fenris pulled his sword out of the Templar and backed away. Raina knew he wasn't dead yet. Isabela made a motion to tell her men to leave before she returned to stand by her friend.

"You don't have to do it you know," she started, "He'll die from the wound if it doesn't heal."

"I'll gladly rip out his heart," Fenris growled.

"No," Raina told them, "I'll do it." Davis was holding his wound and his mouth moved to speak but no words came out. Carver got retribution for her against Kerras, but this was something that she needed to do. The elf gravitated to her other side and held her hand. He had been the strength that she needed. If it were any other time, she would have gladly let the man rot in a jail cell but times had changed. Thanks to Anders and everything she had allowed him to do, whether she knew about it or not. She brought up her free hand and cast a fire spell. He burned alive and Raina didn't take her eyes away until the bastard stopped twitching and the fire faded.

"Well," Isabela spoke up, "I think we should go to the Spoiled Princess. Our time at the Tower will surely be urged to end."


With every day that passed, it got harder and harder to identify what exactly was a victory. Carver and Isabela shared a dark corner in the pub. He had resigned from the Templars. Raina didn't even know that you could, but in these times, it seemed like you could do anything. He had said that he didn't know what he was going to do and she offered for her brother to come with them. Isabela agreed immediately and he didn't refuse. It was going to be good to have her brother around again. Without him, she didn't know what she would have done in the Tower. Thoughts of the possibilities of what could happen there sent a shiver down Raina's spine. The men drank. They played grab ass with the bar wenches and it seemed like they had all forgotten what happened. Raina leaned against the wall as she watched her brother smile for the first time in what it seemed like forever. She had a room upstairs and was tempted to retire for the night until she saw the gleam of lyrium tattoos hitting the light.

Their eyes met and it was the silver haired elf that cast the first smile. It was a small one, albeit, but it was better than nothing. He made his way through the crowd and picked up a bottle of the taverns finest on the way from one of the tables. He stopped in front of her and took a drink. Raina stared at him and he offered her some. Her long fingers wrapped around the neck of the bottle and she took a long gulp. Why not? It wasn't like there was a baby growing inside of her anymore.

"So about our conversation," she began.

"Do you wish to continue it?" He asked.

Raina shook her head. "I guess everything that needed to be said was," she replied, "Fenris, I…" Another small smile graced his features.

"I know," he told her, "You don't need to tell me." He leaned in and kissed the tip of her nose. "Just do when you're sure of it."

"You're too good to me."

"After everything," he countered, "I think that it is warranted." She offered him the bottle back and he took it.

"I didn't think you'd come and find me."

"Why wouldn't I?"

"It's not like I haven't been the nicest person around."

Fenris made a 'ah ha' noise. "I knew there was more to be said," he said. He ran a hand down his face and it looked like he was trying to think of the right words to use. "I can't bear to lose you, Raina. I thought that I made that clear inside that room."

"Say it, Fenris," she said, "Why can't you tell me?"

"What?"

"You know what I'm talking about." She knew he did. She wanted to hear it. She wanted to hear those three little words from him. She had waited to hear them for so long. Raina watched as Fenris opened his mouth at her. He still couldn't say it.

"Forget it."

"What's wrong now?" She wanted to hit him, but she didn't want to argue. She brought up a hand to her forehead and rubbed her temples.

"Nothing," she said.

Fenris sighed. "I still don't know how to do this." She watched as he bit his lower lip. She understood. She didn't want to, but she did. Everyone who claimed to love him only ended up hurting him in the end. She had been one of them, though in her defense, he did walk away first.

"I'm just going to go sleep…" She wasn't mad and wanted to make that clear. "Come to my room later?"

His hand touched the side of her face. "Wouldn't miss it."


Raina didn't know when it was that she fell asleep but she knew where she was. She stared at the islands that floated in the putrid green sky. Figures twisted and warped around her. She didn't try to go into the Fade. She didn't even take lyrium to do so. As she looked up to see the being before her, she realized who it was that brought her there. "What do you want, spirit?" She had to admit, she was shocked to see him there, and in his true form too. The occasion should have been marked.

"I thought that you would come out on top in the end," Justice said. That didn't answer her question. She grew tired of his games and she was ready to show him just how much it was so… The spirit raised his hand to stop her. "Please," he started, "I have a proposition for you and I wish for you to listen."

"Why?" She spat at him, "It's not like you've ever done me any favors. You don't need to start now."

"Stubborn as always, mage," he replied calmly. He really had a different persona of his own now that he was detached from Anders. "It's a wonder Anders ever found you tolerating."

"Oh, that is it!"

"Yes. Attack me without your staff," Justice taunted, "You'll just be hitting thin air."

Her shoulders slumped. "What is it then?" She asked. Her eyes narrowed at him. "Be done with it. I wish to not be here longer than need be."

"I understand that you lost your child." Raina felt her body freeze. How did he know? The cold, delicate feeling was almost suffocating. Her chest tightened and her knees buckled. Did he just bring her here to taunt her? Did he want to pour salt into her wounds and laugh at her pain? He was no spirit of justice. She almost thought that instead of vengeance, he could have turned into pride.

"What of it?"

"While the healer told you the child is dead, the body still remains intact for now," Justice continued. She didn't ease her position as he made his way closer to her. "Do you still want to have it?"

She didn't have to think about it. "Yes."

"I can help." An eyebrow rose. He held her intrigue. She wanted to ask why but something deep in her told her that she already knew. "You do not question me as to why?"

"You've only come when I needed you," she replied, "and you avoided me when I didn't." She ran her tongue along her lower lip as her throat tightened. "He made you promise him something, didn't he?"

The spirit nodded. "Even though you weren't put above his goals…our goals," he answered, "he still cared about you. Maker knows why but he made me promise to keep you from danger and this is the last act that I wish to carry out."

"What do you mean?"

"I no longer wish to be a part of this world," Justice replied, "It becomes more tainted by the day and while I cared nothing for your world, I feel more… at home there." Raina placed a hand over her stomach.

"And what is it that you wish of me?" She almost regretted the words. Almost.

"Let me in," Justice replied, "Let your child become my host." She opened her mouth to snap at him but he continued before she could, "She would be born an innocent. The child would have no memory of the Fade, no memory of Anders, and no memory of what happened in the world before her birth."

"How can you be certain?"

"I would just provide the life force needed. She had not yet developed a soul and by the time she is born, my memories will be long lost." Her instincts told her not to trust him. Her instincts said it could have been a trick. "Your child would know nothing more than the fact that she was a miracle." Raina closed her eyes. Was this what Anders wanted? Was this his last gift to her? As if it were a way of him apologizing… she shook her head and opened her eyes to stare at the faceless being.

"What do you get out of this?"

"A chance to make things right, Hawke… We did not always get along and this is a debt that I owe a friend."

Her jaw tightened. "And Anders wanted you to do this?"

"He made me promise to watch over you. To show you how to live again," Justice replied, "and this is my last chance to do just that. I'm sorry I didn't come sooner." She believed him. "I needed time to forget Anders's anger."

"And have you?" She hated herself for thinking about it.

"Yes."

She took a step back. "How do I know that you are no desire demon sent to torment me? To lure me into ideal fantasies?" She was a mage. She knew better. She knew how to handle the situation.

"Do I look like a demon to you?"

"No," she responded. She had known demons. She had felt demons. Then she had felt fear and anxiety. With Justice she felt…peace. "What do I have to do?"

"Just agree."