Chapter 21: The Last Straw

Things always seemed to fall apart when they were in bed together.

That is what Isabela thought as the ash that had once been the chantry rained down on them; Kirkwall's nighttime sky was still tinged with crimson, left over magic from Anders' master spell, his weapon that had caused so much damage and death. Fires still raged in the distance.

The whole world had gone off kilter, and the one responsible was kneeling at Hawke's feet, refusing to meet the eyes of his friends…his former friends.

He seemed almost…content with his decision.

Hawke looked at apostate with a look of complete and utter horror.

"Is this justice?" he spat, "Do you honestly think you can come back from this?!"

Anders sighed.

"I know I can't, this wasn't about Justice, Hawke. It was about freedom, about ending the risk of compromise, no one can deny the conflict now! Everyone must choose a side."

He glared at the champion.

"Even you," he spat.

Isabela almost struck him, the stupid, stupid bastard!

Did he not realize what he had done!

IOI

They had just retired for the evening, Hawke and she. They had spent the afternoon at the Hanged Man together, just talking…coming up with ideas for their future…

…Their future together.

She had offered Hawke a place on the Siren's Call 2; he would be a welcome addition to their crew, and to her bed. The Champion had bled enough for Kirkwall; he had redeemed the Amell name and ended the threat of the Qunari.

Did he not deserve some rest now? Did they not deserve a chance to find a little happiness?

She had worried that he would not want to come with her, that he would say that he could not leave, not while the matter of the Templars and mages was not settled.

Again, Hawke had surprised her.

He said yes.

The look on her face must have been priceless.

Hawke laughed.

That had annoyed her a bit, but her temper cooled when she gave her lover a chance to explain.

IOI

The fact that she had come to him, asked him to go with her. It was something he had been waiting for.

He had feared that she would leave him again, that she would take her new ship and just disappear back onto the waking sea. He had given her up once, the thought of doing so again, he…he had not wanted to think about it. The fact that she had come to him, asked him to join her…

It was something he had wanted for a long time.

He confessed to her that he feared his time in Kirkwall was coming to an end. He had only stayed this long because of mother, with her and Carver both gone, he…he no longer had any reason to stay. Charade was more than capable of taking up the role of Lady Amell. She was smart enough to keep the family strong and sharp enough to keep the wolves from their door. As a noble she could do far more than he ever could, either as a champion or a mage.

He was living on borrowed time, he recognized that fact.

It was surely only a matter of time until Meredith grew weary of his presence and came up with some kind of scheme to have him locked in the Gallows, to eliminate him, or convince one of his many enemies to do it for her.

Hawke would rather not give her that chance.

Besides, once he was gone…Meredith would lose the main reason to block the election of a new Viscount. The Templar woman would never admit it, but she feared that he might be the one to seize it, and that would never fly with either her or the chantry.

No, Hawke might have been champion, but he was also the main target of Meredith's ire, remove him, and she would have no excuse to keep the nobles of Kirkwall from doing their duty.

They would appoint a new Viscount.

IOI

She found herself grinning like an idiot.

He…he was actually going to do it!

He was going to come away with her!

For many of her old shipmates it would no doubt seem strange, the Queen of the Eastern seas taking a Champion.

After being alone for so long, after sailing the length and Thedas, she had finally found something…someone that she had never imagined existed.

A friend, a lover, and an equal, she would never have to be any more than herself with Hawke. He saw her as she truly was, her strengths and weaknesses, her attributes and flaws, and…he did not care.

He wanted her, as much as she had come to want him. What they had, it went beyond merely sex. It went beyond the promise she made to Leandra Hawke all those years ago.

What they had…it was more…so much more!

Hawke wanted her that was no surprise; men had wanted her for years…

But now…now…she was shocked to discover that she wanted him as well.

They had a chance; the two of them had a chance to have something…together.

She had practically leapt into his arms, almost had him right there on the floor of the Hanged Man.

What a show that would have been for the regulars!

Chuckling Hawke had paid Corff for their drinks and the two of them returned to his estate. The next few days would be…difficult. Hawke would have to convince Charade that it was for the best that she took over House Amell, and the two of them would have to say good bye to the others. Varric, Merrill, and even Aveline, they all deserved to know.

Some would be easier to tell than others, she hated the thought of telling the kitten about this, seeing that kicked puppy look in Merrill's huge green eyes.

It would be more than heartbreaking.

Varric would understand, but would be pissed that he would miss the next part of their story.

Aveline was…well…she was Aveline, the big girl would likely not approve, but she would more than likely understand. Besides she owed Hawke, he had helped her get with her little guard dog after all.

If anyone could understand them going off together it would be her.

They spent the rest of the afternoon together, wallowing in Hawke's bed and in each other. They dozed, woke, and rutted, only to go back and do it all again.

It was actually quite a nice evening.

It was just after sunset when Bodahn had come for him, pounding on the bedroom door. Aveline needed Hawke's help urgently. The First Enchanter and Knight Commander were at each other's throats again. Both had large entourages with them, and if someone did not do something….

Things just might turn violent.

Sighing Hawke rose from his bed, Brazen and Rabbit followed the two of them down in to Lowtown. Varric and the others met them there.

Orsino had had enough; he was on his way to the Grand Cleric. Meredith had passed an edict allowing her to conduct random searches in the Gallows, searches that did not need any evidence or just cause.

Orsino refused; he had decided to go straight to Elthina, Meredith had gathered her men and tried to stop him.

Hawke arrived just as the two were about to come to blows.

The champion had hoped that his presence would diffuse the situation before things got out of control; alas that was not the case.

Anders had made sure of that…

The sky turned red, the ground shook, and the chantry vanished in a flash of red light!

Andraste save them all.

IOI

"You know what you must do Hawke," Sebastian growled hatefully, "This…this creature knew full well what he was doing! What he had done to the chantry, to Elthina must be answered!"

Isabela shook her head, she had known Sebastian Vael for almost four years, and she had never heard such anger in his voice, such rage.

The choir boy clearly had no desire to see Anders survive this.

Not that she blamed him.

Both First Enchanter Orsino and Knight-Commander Meredith were gone; Orsino to prepare his mages for the fight that was coming, and Meredith to gather reinforcements.

The Templar bitch had been almost giddy when she left.

The Grand Cleric murdered by magic, the entire chantry destroyed by magic!

She invoked the rite of annulment, and she had not even hesitated.

Every mage in Kirkwall was going to die tonight and all because Anders had chosen to attack strike not at the Gallows, but at the chantry.

The chantry and the buildings around it were now ash, Hawke could not even hazard a guess how many had perished when Anders had triggered his weapon, at the least hundreds, at the most thousands…

And now the mages were going to join them in death.

If Anders felt any shame about what he had done he did not show it. He sat quietly, a contented look on his face.

He seemed at peace with what he had done.

It was hard to believe that he just committed mass-murder.

He was on his knees awaiting Hawke's final judgment.

The Champion glared at the apostate.

"You have just killed every mage in Kirkwall, you know that right?"

Anders sighed.

"Their deaths are necessary," the apostate replied, "The blood of the mages here will liberate thousands of our people. We will at last be free to act. The sacrifice of the innocent here in Kirkwall will free us all. We…the martyrs of Kirkwall will be remembered forever."

Varric spat in anger.

"You are not a martyr Blondie, you are a murderer! Maker's breath, all those people…there were kids up there…kids Blondie! Did they mean anything to you?"

"They mean everything," Anders said, "With their sacrifice they have…"

"SHUT UP ANDERS!" Hawke snarled drawing his dagger.

Anders smiled serenely.

"I know what you have to do," he said, "and I accept what your judgment. One day, when we are all free, people will look upon this day and know what my sacrifice meant. They will know…"

Hawke had heard enough.

He shoved his dagger through the base of Anders' skull.

IOI

The apostate gasped, his eyes flickered as Justice tried to emerge, tried…and failed.

A single tear fell down Anders' cheek, the apostate slumped forward, his black and gold robes stained with ash, dirt, and blood.

He had not struggled or begged for his life, that was not what he wanted.

He had given his people a chance…now…now they only had to have the strength to take it.

Mages would die, he accepted that, but when the fighting was over, they would either be extinct or free.

He could accept that.

Better to die on their feet than live on their knees.

I tried to hang on to all the good memories he had, his mother, Lyna, and Karl…

One day, he hoped that they would all understand…

It was the last thought that passed through his head…

Then…he thought nothing at all.

At long last peace….he accepted that...

…And was grateful for it.

IOI

Hawke said nothing as he led the others towards the Gallows. There was nothing left to say.

Kirkwall had become a chaotic war zone.

Templar fought mage. Mage fought Templars. Mage turned into abomination and attacked mage. Templars struck down commoners for trying to come to the aid of the mages.

The demons flowed into Kirkwall. The blast that destroyed the chantry had also sundered the veil. Demons poured into Kirkwall.

It was all Hawke and his allies could do to stay together.

In the midst of the violence, Hawke turned the corner, and was shocked to see a most surprising sight.

Carver was back.

His warden brother was here, with Arika and Lin at his side, their weapons flashed as they engaged demon, mage, and Templar…

And they were not alone.

Hawke and the others broke through the Templar lines and managed to reach the docks. A pride demon wailed as it tore into both sides.

The Hawke brothers assaulted the beast.

The creature tried to scoop up the champion to shatter his body against the wall of a warehouse.

It never got the chance…

Werewolves rained from the shadows, attacking both sides and adding to the chaos.

The Templars tried to resist, but more than a few fell to their knees. They cried out in agony as the change took them. Cries that quickly turned to howls.

They joined the pack as even more werewolves.

Carver shook his head.

It seemed that he was not the only one who had decided to return to help Garrett.

The shadows parted.

Bethany stepped out of them; her green eyes sparkled with magic, her impish smile tinged with sadness.

"Well," she said shaking her head, "This is…well…horrible."

Varric glared at the Avatar.

"That is a gross understatement sunshine."

Garrett gave her a surprised look/

"I thought you would be half way back to Nevarra by now sister." The champion exclaimed.

The Avatar smirked at him.

"And leave you to face this mess alone, never."

She placed a hand on each of her brother's shoulders; her demeanor became both cool and serious.

"I was not here to protect mother, I…I could not leave you two alone. I won't."

She straightened her back and smiled.

"I told you I would be here if you needed me, I think this situation counts. I won't turn my back on family."

She bowed deeply before them.

"The Avatar of Fen'Harel stands ready to assist you my brothers, just tell me what we have to do."

Hawke smiled grimly.

It seemed that the children of Malcolm Hawke would fight together…one last time.

"We go to the Gallows," he said coldly.

"It is time to end this."