A/N OMG I'm sooooo sorry. Life is crazy huh? Well mine is. And for those of you so kind to wait for me, I reallllllllly appericeate it. Honestly. Consider this an internet hug of sorts. Anyways, from here on out brings up the idea of what DA3 could possibly be about. If you know, it was cracked out, I mean leryium overdosed.

The trip back to the Peak was nice and quiet. Since only six of them were walking, it made for a nice trip. Jowan walked beside his commander, holding her hand, 'protecting it from the cold.' They would occasionally smile at one another and Theresa could feel Anders heated gaze at the back of her head.

They were walking around the final hill when Jowan pulled her to a stop. "here." He passed her a small, golden ring. "I want you to have this. I bought this in Amerithine."

Theresa looked at his hand then his eyes. "Is this… Is this a proposal?"

"Wha?" He looked at the ring and realized what this must look like. His eyes grew wide. "No no no, it's not like that. Not that I don't want to. Not that I am. Not that-" Jowan hid his face in his hands. "I am so bad at this." Jowan took a few deep breaths.

Theresa smiled. "Its cute. Endearing even."

He looked at her through the slits of his fingers. "You're kind, conceding words do you much justice." He said dead pan with a smile. He sighed. "Okay, I bought this for you because it has many properties' that will help you in battle."

Theresa perked up. "Oh, really. Let me see." She took it from his grip and inspected it. Three stones edged the band. One blue, one black, and one orange.

"The merchant said that it increased health and stamina as well as replenishes it. And help reduce scarring." Theresa looked up at him then back at the ring with a smile. "You like it?"

She put it on her thumb. "It's a bit big, but a bit of twine will fix that." She smiled and put it in a pocket. "Thank you." She leaned forward and kissed the scruff on his cheek.

"I'm glad you like it." He paused and looked at her. "You need to leave Ferelden." Theresa gave a confused look but was smiling. "I'm serious." As was his face. "You need to leave. Now."

"Are you having me on right now?"

"No. For your safety, the wardens, and Ferelden, you have to run."

Theresa scoffed and walked past him only to be stopped by Nathaniel. Theresa looked at both men. "What are you doing?"

Nathaniel looked at his commander. "The Chantry will look for Anders. He will lead them to you. They will search this keep with a fine tooth comb. If he is found here, or any of them," Seth and Fenris, apparently, "They will flog us all. Alistair will have you hung for disobeying orders. And in worse case, they remove the wardens here again. You have seen what has happens when Ferleden is left at her weakest."

Theresa looked between the two men. "Nothing will happen. We'll be fine."

Nathaniel's eyes got wide, "You don't get it. They will torture everyone until they find the information they need. You know they will. How strong is the pirate? The dalish you brought here and showed them the only escape route we had. You brought them here, everyone has seen them. We need deniably now. To protect the wardens, Hawke, everyone, you need to run."

Theresa smiled. "You worry too much."

"Thess, you are not listening." His voice was becoming louder. "You will be harboring four fugitives from the Chantry. If they come, they will find what they are looking for, and they will kill you."

"Nathaniel…" Theresa tried to plead.

"How long do you think the wardens will protect you?" Nathaniel watched her. Theresa looked away. She wasn't on the best terms with Oghren right now. "You have saved Ferelden more than once, do not expect that gratitude to be returned. It is time to save yourself." Theresa was thinking it over. "I ask you as a friend, please, run."

Theresa looked behind her at the other three that were watching the show. She returned her gaze to the dark rouge. Through gritted teeth she said "I have exhausted all other allies. I have nowhere else to go."

"I cannot let you enter our fortress."

Theresa arched a brow. "Excuse me?"

"As second, I hereby relinquish you of your command."

Theresa looked at Nathaniel with hate in her eyes. "How dare you do this? To me. I saved both of you. If it wasn't for me, both of you would be rotting in a cell right now. How dare you betray me?"

"You betrayed everything when you gave all up for some abomination." Jowan spat. "We are doing this to protect you."

"Protect?" Theresa questioned. "Protect! I don't need anyone's protection."

Nathaniel took a step forward. "I will not see my country fall because of one woman's stubborn pride and arrogance. You need to run."

"I WILL NOT RUN." Theresa clinched her jaw and scowled at them. "I will not run. I would sooner fight-"

"I will not see you hurt again." Nathaniel hissed.

Jowan sighed and shook his head. "Theresa," he said calmly. "There's nothing left for you here. Your family has abandoned you. You have no land, no power, all you have are the wardens, and if you stay, you endanger us all. Please, Thess, run. Besides, your happier on the road anyways. And Hawke could use you."

Theresa's anger was not subsiding, "I have built everything you know with my own hands, and you threaten to take it away from me."

"Shut up." Nathaniel demanded. "Relinquish your command or I will take it."

Theresa gave a defiant look. "Then take it Howe. Take what's yours, like your father."

Nathaniel cut his hand across the air. "Do not compare me to him. I do this as your friend."

"Friend?" Theresa scoffed. "Do friends stab each other in the back."

Seth coughed into his hand. "So it would appear."

Theresa growled at him. "I will not run."

Jowan sighed. "Theresa, be reasonable."

"NO. Everything I have done, everything I have built, you threaten to take. I saved Ferelden, I killed the Archdemon, I killed Veneran, I…"

Jowan used his thumb ring to puncture a wound in his hand. Theresa shut up and had a thousand yard stare.

Nathaniel rubbed his eyes. "Thank you," he said to the blood mage, "I was heading toward the wrong way of a migraine."

Anders took a step forward. "What did you do to her?" He inspected her and found that she was trapped under a curse.

Jowan waved it off. "She's fine."

Nathaniel looked at Seth. "I hope you are more reasonable."

Seth smirked. "I like to think so."

"Then you know you need to run."

Seth nodded. "I was wondering how long I was going to hold off on that."

Nathaniel nodded at the man then at Jowan. The blood mage released Theresa who gave a gruff, and quickly side stepped Anders angry punch to the face. Jowan smirked. "You're testosterone is showing."

Anders gave him an evil eye before turning to Theresa. Anders hands glowed blue as he tried to heal her. Theresa knocked his hands away from her and she punched him in the neck. "Get away from me." Anders recovered and looked her over. She was taking her fury out of him. Anders looked away. After all, he deserved it. He hurt her, twice, and now because of him, she was forced to leave everything behind. Anders did as she asked and stood next to the two men who hated him the most and wanted nothing more than to rip out heart.

Theresa looked at Nathaniel. Her anger cooling. "Give me Sebastain, Starfang, and fifty sovereigns, and I'll go."

Nathaniel shook his head. "No. he knows too much, he stays."

"But you just…" Nathaniel arched a brow. "That's treason."

"It's the only way."

Theresa clinched her jaw and looked at Jowan who was ready to petrify her again. "Honor me with a final promise as the commander."

Nathaniel looked at her, then Anders. "You better be able to control him." Theresa nodded at him. The rouge reached into his breast pocket and retrieved a piece of valume. Opening it, he passed it to her. "Stamp it."

Theresa took the valluume and read it. It was her resignation letter, saying the inspector has deemed her as a threat to herself and the order, stationing her to the Anderfelds. Also, naming Nathaniel as the new Warden Commander and Jowan his second. She looked up at him. "I don't suppose you have any wax?" She said with pursed lips.

Nathaniel bent over and scooped up some mud, slapping it against the paper. He nodded at it and she stamped it with the seal of the warden commander. Nathaniel took the letter and held his hand out for her signet ring. She gave it to him with a force of vengeance. She crossed her arms and stared him down. Nathaniel only left his hand there.

"You're belt."

Theresa looked down at the warden commander crest belt buckle. Slowly, she pulled the buckle out and removed the belt from her hip. She looked at the blade that was attached to the belt. She lifted the hilt enough to see the Coulsand crest on the blade. Theresa licked her lips. This is the third time she'll be betraying her family. Theresa clinched her jaw. "Give this to Fergus." It was more of a plea, but her demanding ways made it so.

Nathaniel took a step toward her and held the sword in his hand. "Of course, Thess."

"And tell Zev…" she clinched her jaw. "Tell Zev I'm sorry." Nathaniel nodded. Theresa released everything and took a step back. "Go get me Sebastian and my money."

Nathaniel nodded. He walked ahead but Jowan stayed behind. He looked at Theresa with large, anguished eyes. He ran his hand though his hair. Licking his lips he looked at her. "Theresa I… I want you to know that no matter what I lo-"

"Don't." Theresa looked at the path she would take in a few hours. "You've never lied to me before, don't start now."

Jowan snapped his jaw shut and took a step back. With a nod he smiled at her and blessed her with the makers name. Jowan followed Nathaniel into the keep.

Theresa stayed hidden behind the hill. Her mind blanked and her jaw became slack.

Fenris looked at Seth. "So, now what?"

Theresa fell to her knees, her weight taking over, she fell back onto her rear. Her arms dangled at her sides, her knuckles in the snow. Everything is gone. Nothing remains except the stench of death and the taste of blood. There hasn't been a war for so long, she had a home for even longer. It's gone.

Anders knelt down to her and took a hand. Her eyes automatically adjusted to him and she ripped her hand away from him. "Never touch me again." Anders took a step back and watched. He watched as the greatest hero of his time fell into oblivion.

XxXxXxXx

"Was that a dragon?" Sebastian asked as they passed the ribs of a giant beast.

Theresa looked over and smirked. "Yea. That's Andraste."

Sebastian arched a brow. "Blasphemy."

Theresa chuckled. "That's what I said."

Sebastian grunted. "Why are we even here. Her Holiness said that the ashes don't even exist."

"If you didn't think that, I wouldn't have swayed you so easily and you wouldn't have come." Theresa arched a brow at him. Sebastian looked away in embarrassment as she pushed a door open on the other side of the mountain top.

The walls were lined in barbaric art and statues of Andraste were placed at equal intervals offering light.

Theresa stopped before the door at the end of the hall. A sprit came into apparition. Everyone armed themselves at the ghost but only Theresa looked board.

The spirit looked at her. "You have returned, pilgrim."

"I have. I need the ashes, so lets get this over with."

"You wish to pass though the gauntlet again?" Theresa nodded. "You're heart is still heavy, pilgrim."

"Whatever, hurry up." Theresa motioned for her companions to drop their weapons and step forward.

The guardian looked her over. "You have lost everything, twice."

Theresa held her hand up to pause him. "Is this about regret?" The spirit nodded. "Let me save you some time. Mother, Father, Fergus, Alistair, Oghren, Zevran, Nathaniel, Jowan, Fulken, Sigrun, Velanna, Anders," Theresa rolled her hands looking for new names, "Duncan, Prince Duncan, King Calen, Prince Meric, Logain, De'lanna, Egnano, Amio." Theresa paused after the girls. True sadness ripped at her heart. "And Seth, Fenris, and Sebastian, for good measure."

The Guardian raised a brow at her. "At least you have accepted the weight of your world." The spirit looked at the group before him. "Seth Hawke, you have killed many and many have killed you through the deaths of your family. You feel as though if you had taken their place, that none of the chaos in your life would've happened. However, the true part of your journey has yet to begin, do you still wish for death?"

"Wow." Seth said with a smile. "can you read fortunes too. What's my life going to be like in three years. No wait, if I marry a female human mage, how bonkers will Fenris be?"

A slight blue light emanated behind him. "Try it and find out."

"Ugh." Theresa groaned. "Just answer the question."

"Ooh, alright." Seth sighed and rubbed his neck. His face became serious and his emotions were raw on his face. "If I had at least saved my father, he could've protected my family from…everything."

The ghost looked past his pain and emotion. "Do you wish for your death?"

"Death? No, perhaps a sacrifice like Carver."

The spirit nodded and looked next to the elf. "You're world is painted in black hatred. You have allowed yourself to be blinded and bridled even in your own freedom. But even in servitude, you feared freedom. You feared the idea of change. Do you regret killing your former master?"

Fenris scowled. "You are a fool. Who would ever regret killing an tyrannous bastard?"

"But you fear that your freedom is leading you closer to your death."

Fenris took a step forward and twisted his head in malice. "At least it is a freedom I enjoy." His voice seething in poison as he looked at the ghost.

The spirit nodded and moved on. "Prince Sebastain Octivain Malfin Boughbowith Vael," Everyone turned to look at the prince who only gave a sheepish grin and shoulder shrug that said, 'you never asked' "Your country has fallen into the hands of treasonous assassins. And for five years, you have done nothing to change it. You relied on a path or a sign from the Maker to move or to make a decision for you. You know the Maker has left this world, and you still wait. You cowered in fear. You fear that you won't make as a great as a king as your father, nor brothers. You fear your past will keep you from making the decisions that would be necessary for the best of Starkhaven."

"Get to your point, sprit." The prince hissed.

"Sloth has proven to be a down fall of the chantry, will you still wait for a sign to take what is yours or simply ride without an army?"

Sebastian huffed. "I will do as the Maker wills."

The sprit arched a brow and moved to the mage. "Xander Yearling-"

"Be gone spirit, I will not par take in this."

Theresa slapped him in the back of the head. "You will answer."

Anders rolled his eyes and sighed. "Yes, I regret blowing up the chantry."

The spirit paused. "That is wonderful, however, your true regret lies elsewhere." Theresa arched a brow. "Since you were a boy, you have feared templars and your own magic. After years, that fear turned into hatred. A hate that perverted the spirit that overtook your soul. If given a chance, would you be willing to trade your magic for a normal, templar free, demon free, magic free life?"

Anders looked away and swallowed. He contemplated the idea before answering. "I can do great things with my magic."

"But you haven't."

Anders opened his mouth but snapped it shut. He looked away from the spirit. "Sometimes." He whispered.

The sprit nodded at Anders and looked at Theresa. "The way is open, Pilgrim. May you be found worthy again."

The group passed the sprit and entered the hall of spirits.

Theresa looked over her shoulder at the men. "Shut up, let me do the talking."

Six answers down, three more to go. They stopped in front of the elf.

"I am not a stranger, nor a trespasser be. This home that belongs to others also belongs to me. Of what do I speak?"

"Ferelden." Seth said without thinking and with a smile.

Theresa gave him a deathly look when the elf started to glow in a red flame. "That is not of what I speak." The ash wraith appeared and was quickly put down.

Theresa arched a brow. "Ferelden?"

Seth shrugged his shoulders. "What, it sounded good?" She gave a dull 'mum-hum' before moving on the next spirit.

The group stopped in front of the huge gaping hole in the floor.

Fenris rolled his eyes. "Great, now what?"

Theresa dropped her bag and retrieved a piece of valluume and ink. After ten minutes of telling Anders to walk across the chasm of death, him refusing, and having Fenris stand at the end with a weapon drawn at him, smirking, the group was able to cross.

Theresa smiled. "Zevran thought that this was supposed to be a lesson in how friendship and trust in the greatest bridge in life." She smiled at the memory but stopped when a familiar face appeared at the door way.

"My son." Well, this spirit didn't belong to one of the five. With a three day dark beard and hazel eyes, he took a step forward.

Seth swallowed hard. "You're dead."

The spirit smiled. "I'm glad you realize that. I am sorry to have left you so soon, son. But in my absence, you have turned into a fine, strong, good man."

Seth furrowed his brows. "What about Bethany, Carver… what about mother, I let them die."

The spirit smiled sadly and slowly shook his head. "There was nothing you could do. They are with me in the makers kingdom. And while we await your return, do not be so quick to embrace us." The spirit took a step forward and placed a hand on his sons head. "We are proud of everything you have accomplished so far, but you must be brave in your future. Trust in your friends, and go with this." Malcolm handed Seth a necklace that he took with wide eyes. It was his fathers. Seth looked up and the spirit was gone.

Fenris stepped next to his lover with a straight face and a sympatric brow. Seth thumbed the amulet that was on the braided leather chain. "I didn't realize how much I missed him."

Fenris didn't move or speak, what could he say? Instead, he watched and waited for his lover to take his time. Seth turned to Anders. "Was that his real spirit?" The mage gave a single nod. Seth looked down at the amulet in his hands. Malcom was wearing it when they burned him. He smiled at it. "Bless the Maker." He said sarcastically. He gently dropped it into one of his pockets and looked at Theresa. "Now what."

She sighed and moved past him. "Now we battle ourselves." She unsheathed Starfang and a Velvet Whisper and took a cleansing breath. She put a decoy in the room and hid herself. All five of the ghosts ran to it and started to attack. However, due to Fenris' amazing ability to light an entire cave, her shrouding didn't work as well as it should've. Seth and his boys all attacked the shadows. But without any real training, they just sort of hacked and slashed. Theresa ran to the back of the room and quickly cut down the shadow of Sebatain, then took out Anders, with almost too much of a smile.

She turned to offer her help and found that Anders and Sebatain were unconscious. Great, her shadow was doing exactly what she was doing.

Running full long, she threw Velvet whisper into the shadows back. It filched and tried to reach for it. Theresa used the wall for leverage and was able to jump onto the shoulders of herself, breaking the neck of the shadow. Kneeling on the ground, she looked around. At least Fenris and Seth were useful.

Theresa gently roused Anders into waking while the men roused Sebatain. Theresa was already removing her armor when they entered the final chamber.

Seth and Fernis raised a curious, amused brow while Anders and Sebatain looked away. Down to her skiveys she looked at the men. "What are you waiting for?"

"You to remove your smalls." Seth said with a sarcastic smile.

After Fenris's growl, Theresa responded. "We must cross through the fire to be reborn. Born again as we were physically born…" The men still looked confused. "Nude."

Seth held his arms wide at her. "Where have you been all my life. By the maker, I never should've left Ferelden."

Fenris crossed his arms. "Thin fucking ice, Hawke."

Seth shrugged. "I'm just saying, ritualistic orgies, death and dismemberment in dark damp caves, dragon skeletons, why did I leave?"

Theresa sighed. "Let's move on."

Finally nude, all five of them walked through the fire. All but Theresa jumped as the spirit appeared behind them and spoke his words of congratulatory. After dressing, Theresa took Sebastain's hand and lead him up the dais to Andraste's ashes. The urn it's self was a normal, metal vase, a thin crown, with a lid, but its contents were of the Maker's bride herself.

Theresa leaned into and whispered, "Lift the vase." Sebastain gave her a confused look. "Do it."

"but-"

"Please."

Sebastain looked her over in her earnest and nodded. Slowly, he put his hands around the body of the urn. He took a courageous intake and lifted. It was lighter than it looked. Sebastain thought it would be nailed down but apparently-

"What are you planning to do, Prince?" The Guardian asked from the bottom of the stairs.

Theresa took two steps down the stairs and looked at the sprit. "We must hide the ashes once more, Guardian. They are no longer safe."

"That is my job to decide." He said monotone. "I am the guardian of this mountain pass."

Sebastain set the urn down and placed a hand on her shoulder. "If it is his job, let him do it. He's done an excellent job so far."

Theresa looked over her shoulder at him. "The second her Holiness says that they do exist, people will flock here for a pinch of the ashes. They will destroy this place and take the ashes. We have to protect them."

The guardian drew his shield and sword. "You plan to protect them from thieves like yourselves. I can not allow that."

Quite literally having the upper ground, Theresa patiently waited for the guardian to reach her. He lifted his Sword to strike, she grabbed his arm and she put him in an arm bar, stabbing her dagger into his throat. The Guardian fell into a pool of his own blood on the stairs of the urn. She returned her attentions back to Sebastain. "You must take the ashes and hide them."

Sebastain clicked his teeth. "And where am I supposed to go?"

"I don't care, you can return to Starkhaven if you'd like, but you need to hide them and protect them with your life."

"Why me?" He asked defensively.

Theresa sighed and took a step towards him. "You're a good man, with a good heart. Doubled with your firm belief in the Maker, you will do everything possible to protect these secrete ashes."

Sebastain turned and looked at the urn. "what do I do?" he said to himself.

Theresa took another step and put a hand on his shoulder. "Go south, to Redcliff, ask for a dwarf named Gwinn. Tell him to escort you to Gwaren. Take ship and go anywhere you want. I can take you as far as Honaleoth, but I'm too well known in Redcliff to take you the whole way."

Sebastian gave a dead nod as he put the urn in his pack and walked down the stairs.