This loosely follows some of the DA2 story line using the characters, locations and some backstories, but not strictly. I have rated this M for mature for blood, strong language and sexual content. All comments are welcome. Thank you!

TWENTY-FIVE

I left once it was obvious that they wanted only to continue to argue my refusal to take Viscount seat. As I was shutting the door, I could still hear Isabela's voice coming from inside.

"Viscount Hawke…now that is a nice sound to it!"

I took a deep breath and turned away from the door and saw that Anders was standing at the top of stairs.

"You won't even consider becoming the Viscount? I hear the nobles are already nominating you for the title," he said as I leaned against the door to Varric's suite.

"Were you listening all this time?" I asked.

"Most of it but I didn't want to interrupt the debate," he said. "I actually just stopped by to get Remi from Merrill."

"Then answer me this Anders: if I had married you instead Fenris and the nobles called for me to make a more suitable marriage, would you so easily step back and watch as I marry another? All for Kirkwall? Would it lessen the pain if I were to marry Sebastian?" I demanded and he looked away from me.

"Perhaps not. I don't think I could bear it," he admitted.

"And did anyone consider the scrutiny I am already under as "Champion"? Everything I do is criticized by some or emulated by others! How long will Meredith put up with that?" I asked him, crossing my arms. "After rearranging my marriage then they will come to all of you. How long do you think it would be before they "suggest" that it is not proper for me to be seen in the presence of an apostate, Warden or not? Or demand that I place Isabela in chains for her involvement with the relic? Or that being on friendly terms with the Guard-Captain is not something one of my station should continue to be?" I said, shoving away from the door and walking up to him. "Is being Viscount worth all that? Is my being Viscount worth all the sacrifices I would be asked to make? Again, I selfishly say no. I thought at least you would understand, Anders," I said and walked past him down the stairs.

"I do understand. I only wanted to make sure that you were considering the good you could do as Viscount," he said as I continued to walk away.

As I made my way slowly from the Hanged Man to my home in Hightown I thought about what Anders had said.

Consider the good I could do as Viscount? Surly he does not think that I could control Meredith in any way! Dumar once described her as constantly "nipping at his heels." Having seen her fight first hand, having seen her determination in action, I knew that nothing short of removing her from command would stop her. From the little I had spoken about her with Cullen as of late, many of the older Templars blindly followed her, but I could hear doubt creep into his voice when asked his own opinion of her.

Power corrupts, I thought and Meredith was no exception. Her having almost full control of Kirkwall was making life harder on everyone, not just the mages. It was only a matter of time before things spun so far out of control I doubt anyone could piece this city back together again.

A struggling Ferelden was starting to look better and better to me all the time. If only I could just take Bethany and be done with this city, I thought, not for the first time. I admitted that the only reason I stayed was to please my mother, seeing her happy in her childhood home made easier to stay in this once unwelcoming city.

Would I be so different? I thought back to my journey to Kirkwall, on my reception here, having to claw my way out of Lowtown, and finally buying back the mansion that had rightfully belonged to my mother. I have indeed come far, but only with the use of my quick wit and determination never to back down from a fight. What use would that be when stuck listening to the endless prattle of the petty nobility? I would most likely frighten everyone with my refusal to willingly go unarmed throughout the Keep.

No, I thought with my mind made up. I instead wished I had asked Aveline where I could possibly find Donnic so I could join him on his patrols. I needed something to keep my mind occupied or else I would begin to think of…

No! I blinked back the sudden tears in my eyes as I finally made it to the door of my home. I knew that most likely Fenris would be back and I did not want him to see me this way.

Bodahn opened the door as I was about to knock and stepped aside so I could walk past him.

"Good evening, Messere," he said and I looked at him with a little bit of the annoyance I felt on my face. He knew I hated such formalities but I could not seem to break him of the habit.

"Good evening, Bodahn. Have any letters come in while I was out?" I asked as we walked towards the main hall.

"I left them on your desk for your to go through although one did seem rather important," he said. I turned to walk away when he pulled out a set of very odd keys he had stuck to his belt. "Messe…uh…before I forget, here is the new key to the door in the cellar," he said and handed me the strangest key I had ever seen.

"And you're sure no one will able to pick this?" I asked him.

"It was not easy to locate a proper smith here in Kirkwall but I spoke to your friend Varric and he knew of a surface dwarf that came highly recommended," he said and I gave the key back to him.

"Hold onto it, Bodahn. If something happens, I want you to take Orana with you out of Kirkwall. I have set aside some coin for your use just in case," I said and stopped him from protesting. "These are troubling times and it would ease my mind to know that you have something to help you get out when that time comes. This city has always seemed on the verge of imploding in on itself, now so more than ever." I said and folded his fingers around the key once again.