So, I decided that I will give you hints at who is in first place in the poll. Have fun finding them! Also, Madi apparently disapproves of my choice of music when I write. Also, let's try page breaks once more.

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING, BUT ORIGINAL CHARACTERS. BIOWARE OWNS EVERYTHING ELSE.

I honestly thought the three years after the Deep Roads expedition would drag on forever, but they didn't. In fact, they zipped by as I became a Kirkwall elite (Hawke's words, not mine) and I somehow became good friends with a certain apostate mage. It wasn't anything serious, despite what Hawke thought. Anders was head over heels for the blonde rogue, and I considered the male nothing more then a friend.

I tried to help Anders and subtly pushed Hawke in his direction, by dropping small hints. Like, "Doesn't Anders look nice in all those feathers?" or, "Hawke, don't you just love Anders' stubble? It's, like, manly without being too unclean."

None of this helped; actually, it made Hawke think I was in love with him. Those thoughts led to her trying to hook him up with me. That just made things awkward, but we still somehow managed to laugh at every one of Hawke's attempts.

To be honest, despite my new status, I wasn't doing so good in the romance department. I hadn't even gotten laid since that time I slept with Corff, the cute bartender. I almost didn't care though- I was starting to see that sleeping around was not going to get me a nice husband and kids.

In the last three years, I have accepted that I will never go back to Earth. I don't even think of it as home anymore. Home is Kirkwall with Hawke, Anders, Fenris, and the rest of them.

Fenris was also, surprisingly, a big part of my life here. I had somehow formed a tentative friendship with him. In fact, when I wasn't with Anders or Hawke, I was with the elf. We never talk about anything important, or even talk at all sometimes. It's nice to just sit with him and think, or have a drink. One time, he even brought a bottle of his favorite wine up and let me drink some.

Another thing that surprised me was that I turned 22, before I even knew it. I had somehow aged so much without realizing it. I remember when I thought 21 was so far off, and that I would never be old enough to drink or party: I mean, legally, at least.

For a while there, I thought that the events of the game would never come, and I would just continue life in Kirkwall until I was old.

Like it was the universe's job, it proved me wrong once again.


"Rhea, I am telling you, the conditions of the mages are getting worse. I would rather go to jail than go to the Circle. At least, they treat you better there!" Anders complained as he leaned against his desk with his arms folded. The wrinkles that had formed lately deepened as he frowned.

I looked up from Varric's latest book and focused on Anders. He wasn't even looking at me; his eyes were locked on the crappy view we had of Darktown.

"I'm sure it hasn't changed in the last three seconds, since you've mentioned it." I deadpanned, before returning to the passionate love scene I had been reading. I was at some cheesy love scene, and every line that they said made me laugh harder then the one before.

Anders apparently noticed that I had tuned him out once more, because a piece of fruit bounced off my shoulder.

I snorted and chucked it back at him, watching as the fruit smashed against Anders' face. This made me crack up, and I found myself laughing so hard that I was crying.

I looked up at Anders to find a serious expression on his face, and I gave a sigh. For a second there, I thought Justice would let up for a moment and let Anders have some fun.

"Rhea, I have to do something. I can't stand by and let them suffer like this." he continued, wiping the fruit's juice off his face as though this kind of thing happened to him everyday. Actually, it did happen more often then not, but I always threw it first and it was never thrown back.

"Hawke wants to meet us at the Hanged Man by sunset. She has something to talk to us about. Also, I think I might go visit Bethany at the Gallows tomorrow." I told him and sat the book down. The only that told me Anders had heard was the fact that he nodded.

I frowned and studied the back of his head as he gathered his supplies. Anders was one of my best friends, but sometimes I wished that I had met him before Justice. I wanted to know the carefree Anders too.

"You ready? Let's go get this done and over with." Anders asked, as he blew out the lamp to show that the clinic was closed.

"Yeah, I'm hungry anyways." I answered, as I walked past him and towards Lowtown.


The Hanged Man hadn't changed one bit, and that pleased me: I needed something constant in my ever-changing life. I actually spent more nights in the tavern and at the clinic than I did in my own mansion.

Tonight, the place was too quiet, and it made me nervous. I didn't feel alone though; it was as if I was sharing the place with someone else. I had a feeling that it was whoever had saved me three years ago in the Deep Roads.

Hawke was sitting at our usual table with Varric. When I called her name, she looked up and gave me a cheeky grin.

"There you are! Ah, you were with Anders. No wonder you took so long." she said, as she studied us with a now devious look. I groaned in response and sat beside the laughing blonde.

I glanced towards Anders, who looked somewhere between exasperated and amused, as he sat down on my other side.

"For the last time, Hawke, I am not with Rhea. I don't have time for romance at the moment, and, if I did, Rhea wouldn't be my first choice." he replied.

I gave a fake gasp and clutched at my chest before jokingly saying, "How could you say that when you know how I feel about you?"

Hawke chuckled and shook her head. She glanced at both of us, replying, "You guys keep joking, but I see right through it."

"Anyways, onto serious matters. Bethany was attacked at the circle," she said. She must of saw my worried and shocked expression, because she added, "She is fine: a bit shaken up, but fine."

"I have arranged for Bethany to come with us to deal with the attackers. Varric used his contacts to find out about who did it, so we are going to go hunt them down and find out their motive. So, let's go get my little sister and go deal with this mess!" Hawke explained. She stood up and marched towards the front door. I noticed that Varric hadn't come with us.

Shrugging, I followed Anders and Hawke.


When we got to the Gallows, Bethany was ready for us. The templar who was waiting with her gave us a list of strict instructions, not that Hawke would follow them. Hawke didn't care much for rules, if the destruction she causes is any indication.

For some reason, Hawke had decided to stop by the Hanged Man, however, I realized it was to pick up Varric, who would show us where we were to go. As we walked towards the exit of Lowtown, I heard a low whistle of something traveling through the air quickly, and then I heard a thud.

When I looked back, the scene before me caused bile to rise up in my throat. I dimly heard Hawke scream at what had happened.

We were looking at the dead body of Bethany with an arrow stuck in her forehead.