She will not stop till he is dead, but before that...there are surprises again. It's good, having most of the gang back together, but they unite for a bittersweet purpose. Hawke fights to get to Solas, and Aveline fights for her city, but is it enough?


Chapter 28

Merrill had taken her role in the city much more seriously in recent years. The elves here looked to her as their Keeper now, and she did what she could for them. This clan that they had created was unlike any clan before them, a ragtag group of souls, but they were family. Since Sebastian had begun attacking the city, she'd taken to protecting the elves with primal magic, things she learned from other mages in the Fade, and it kept her people safe.

Knock, knock, knock. So impatient, Merrill thought. Sometimes the children would do that, knock repeatedly, thinking she would get there faster to play with them. It had never worked before, and it certainly wasn't going to work now, so Merrill set about slowly cleaning up. The knocking sound came more urgently this time, followed by a voice she had not heard in a long time.

"Merrill, so help me, if you don't open this door!" Merrill quickly ran to the door, and pulled the woman into a hug before she could object.

"Hawke!" Merrill squealed, happily. "I can't believe it's you! Where you have been? We have so much to catch up on!"

"Merrill, I…I need your help, and you aren't going to believe me; Fuck! I wouldn't believe me, and I've been living it the past several months, and…" Hawke stated, looking utterly frazzled.

"He found you then, didn't he?" Merrill asked, surprising her friend. She closed the door behind her friend, and gently pushed her into her living space. "Fen'Harel? He found you?"

Merrill knew her living space wasn't much to boast about. She'd never needed a whole lot, having a knack for finding what she needed when she needed it. Her walls were bare, save for a few paintings she'd rather liked. Hawke had never once made her feel less for her obvious lack of money, because Hawke had never placed importance on it. Even when she moved to HighTown, Merrill knew she could always count on Hawke's friendship.

They had been through too much to place importance on material things. It was why she knew Hawke needed to pace as she was now. The woman had all this pent up energy, her magic coming alive around her, singing through her aura. The others would notice it too if she couldn't get her friend to calm down, what with Hawke practically broadcasting her magic as she was now. However, Merrill's question had caught Hawke by surprise…and then she went back to pacing again.

"Cursed. You said I was cursed, Merrill." Hawke stated, sounding very annoyed.

"Well, that's what the stories said about the mark." Merrill said, a bit flummoxed. "How was I suppose to know that the word for chosen got misconstrued into cursed over the years? I had to do a lot of research to figure that out after you had to leave. The only reason I even thought to do that was because Varric had sent me what he'd heard about it, probably from a more reliable source now that I think about it, and that was ages ago."

"Then you…then you…wait…you know?" Hawke asked, in shock, sitting down in one of the empty chairs.

"I know now." Merrill said, confirming what Hawke asked, sitting in the chair closest to her. "I didn't know then. It is an honour, to know that I can count Sulahn'ean as my friend, but you will always be Hawke to me."

"I would ask how you figured all that out, but right now I need your help." Hawke stated, unable to keep still any longer, and set off to pacing around the living space again. "Vael has Solas. He's using him to lure me in, because he knows I'll go. I know what he wants, a trade, but he wouldn't honour it even if it was something I would agree to. Vael will kill him the second I agreed to something like that."

"Solas?" Merrill asked, trying to follow her friend's train of thought.

"Fen'Harel. Vael has Fen'Harel, and he will kill him to get to me." Hawke insisted, still pacing. "I need your help, Merrill."

"Oh!" Merrill exclaimed, understanding dawning on her that of course Fen'Harel would not use that name now. In all honesty, she had not thought to ask. "What do you have in mind?"

" I need you to use whatever primal magic you can, blood magic only if you're sure you can control it, anything that you think would help us. You've always trusted your instincts, and I need that now." Hawke stated, having stopped her pacing, looking to her with wide frantic filled eyes. "Can you do that for me? Trust your instincts? Use whatever magic you think fits the moment?"

"Hawke, even when I don't trust my own instincts, I trust yours." Merrill stated, gesturing for her friend to sit down again. "If you think that I can control the blood magic without getting possessed, then I can, though let's not jump to that first. Now, let's start planning something. You still like really epic, and possibly extremely stupid, crazy ideas, right?"

Hawke's responding watery and yet wolfish grin was answer enough. It was filled with her frazzled nerves, her relief, and now her joy. It was only a moment more, before the two were laughing together. It had been some time since the last time they had schemed together like this, though Merrill much preferred what Hawke termed as playful pranks. This certainly would be one for the history books, which made her wonder if maybe Varric was already working on that.


Hawke wasn't even sure this plan would work, but it was one that she'd worked on with the help of the entire clan Merrill had pulled together. That was something she never would have thought, Merrill in charge of a clan, but it suited her. It seemed that through dreams, Solas had actually managed to reach Merrill, teach things the Dalish had taken for granted or false, and in turn she had relayed what she learned to the elves in the alienage. She'd thought he'd stopped trying to find someone who would believe him when he spoke of ancient Arlathan, but it seemed he had not, and she wondered if maybe he had realized that this was a friend of hers. These people knew, and many looked forward to the day they no longer had to wear vallas'lin.

She couldn't risk their lives, but Merrill refused to leave her side, and they followed her example. It seemed she would have to do this with a lot more help than she thought she would have. The alienage had been set up as a kind of base, while some of the others had gone to her estate to do the same to it. The place was certainly big enough, and she wasn't going to be there for a while. She'd happily let them use the place if they needed an escape, and the cellar more than provided one.

"Flint, do you mind telling me what you're doing with an army of elves?" Varric asked, startling her. She'd been so preoccupied going over charts with Merrill and a few of the others, that all of her other senses had been dulled.

"I'm going after Solas." Hawke answered, with finality. "Where are the others?"

"Aveline is still at the Keep, going over Vael's troop movements. Anders is with the wounded; You know him, healing, and whatnot. The Kid is…doing whatever it is he does, probably trying to help Aveline. Iron Bull is actually still there too, probably thinks he can help her figure out Vael's tactics, and as you can see, Dorian and Fenris are with me." Varric said, with his usual flair. The entire alienage had tensed the moment they saw him, and it only got worse when he asked. "Now, what are we doing?"

"They know." Hawke stated, and everyone seemed to relax at that, but she didn't look up from the maps of the city. "Dorian, how's your levitation magic? There's an el'u'vian in Merrill's place. If you can, I'll need you to float that thing to the Hawke estate. The demon's not in it anymore, and Solas may be able to fix it. Are there other mages here? (She looked up when she asked this, and a few hesitantly raised their hands) Good. Merrill, if it's alright with you, they could help Dorian? While Dorian is an accomplished mage, objects like these tend to respond better to elvhen magic."

"You're tavhen, and you're still willing to help us?" One of the elven mages asked, looking to Dorian.

"Shocking, I know." Dorian said, with a sly grin. "Don't let it go to your head though. I expect I'll do something that annoys someone soon enough."

"If you'll agree to it?" Merrill asked, leaving the decision up to them. The elven mages looked to each other, back to Merrill, and nodded. "Oh, good. I love it when a plan comes together."

"Fenris, will you go with them?" Hawke asked, looking to Fenris now. "They might need defending, and they can't move that thing and fight with their magic at the same time."

"Absolutely not." Fenris growled, and before anyone could react, he continued. "You think you can divert everyone away from the battlefield while you face Vael's men alone? Hawke, you must be out of your Maker be damned mind if you think for one instant that I would agree to that."

"Well, then what do you suggest?" Hawke huffed, indignantly. She had actually thought she could do that, but she had underestimated Fenris's ability to read her.

"Can any of you fight?" Fenris asked, looking to the elves that had gathered.

"We defended the alienage against the qunari." One of the elves stated, gesturing between him and some of the others. "It didn't involve a lot of fighting, but barriers and such."

"We went beyond the perimeter to dissuade them from attacking the alienage." Another stated, gesturing to which ones had helped him.

"Alright then. You two." Fenris stated, pointing to a couple of the fighters. "And you two." He continued, pointing to a couple of the defenders. "Go with them. The fighters can act as active defense while in route, while the engineers can focus on building defenses when they get there."

They seemed to be pleased with that.

"You know, the estate might actually be closer than the alienage." Varric said, looking over the map as well. "There's only so many places Starkhaven's troops can attack from, even fewer they can defend."

"You're sure?" Hawke asked, hopeful now. "You were here much longer than me."

"Born and raised, and yeah." Varric stated, more certain. "I'm sure."

"Mothers and children should go to the Hawke estate. Anyone that can fight should stay and help Aveline defend the city, while Hawke, Fenris, Varric, and I go get Solas." Merrill stated, looking to the others to see if they had any objections. They had none. "Gather everything you can that's easy to carry. We may need more fighters and engineers to come with us for a bit."


Varric wasn't sure what they were all doing, even after going over the plan with them. Daisy and Flint seemed to be on a whole other plane of existence when it came to what they were doing. She was moving the alienage into her estate? Granted, Hawke didn't live there really right now, and it wasn't like the place wasn't big enough, but what about when all this was over? Didn't she want to move back into her place?

He could see her fiddling with the leather string that was tied around the wolf's jaw bone. She'd taken to wearing the thing like Solas did, but she nervously played with it, like she was trying to keep her hands busy. Her eyes kept darting around, as if she expected Vael to show up at any moment. But when it finally happened, when the messenger returned with Vael's demands, Flint was once again in an eerie calm. She was crossing the open space before anyone had even thought to stop her.

Daisy followed quickly after her, as if she already knew what was going on. Fenris and Varric just looked at each other before scrambling off after them. They came upon Tiny discussing tactical maneuvers with some of the guardsmen, just shy of the barricade. There was no Flint or Daisy in sight, and Varric groaned, knowing they had gone beyond the barricade without them. Finding Tiny quickly, he walked over and cracked him in the knee cap with Bianca.

"Vashedan!" Iron Bull curses, before growling at him. "What was that for?"

"How could you let her go off into that alone?" Varric demanded, crossing his arms after re holstering Bianca.

"Have you ever tried to stop that woman from doing anything?" Iron Bull asked in return, arching an eyebrow at him, knowing the answer to that. "Besides, she's not out there, not yet anyway. She's getting changed. Apparently, the Guard Captain kept all Hawke's old armour. So she's getting outfitted now, and they'll make the adjustments needed. Speaking of, why did no one think to tell me the Guard Captain was a red head?"

"Probably because said red head is married." Aveline stated, with a smirk, shaking her head as she walked out to them. "Happily, I might add."

"See, this is one of the disadvantages of the Qun." Iron Bull grossed. "You all have first dibs on the red heads."

"I'm sure Flint could turn Dorian's hair red for you." Varric teased.

The joking stopped with Flint stepped into view. The look on her face spoke of a determined air, and only for the briefest of moments did Varric allow himself to feel sorry for Vael. Flint walked towards them with the confidence she'd built up over having to fight for as long as she had, in full Champion armour. The wolf skull mask rested on top of her head, as it had even then. For Varric, it was like being hit with the past all over again, like the fight for the mages again.

Solas's wolf jaw bone necklace hung around her neck, and the metal plating rested over her very obviously elvhen shoes. Flint looked very much the warrior she had always been to him, her eyes steeled and otherworldly. Noise from the other side of the clearing put them on alert, and a strangled sound came from Flint's throat. Varric knew without looking, what he would find, but he still looked out beyond the clearing.

Vael had Solas strung up by his arms to a structure usually used for hangings, and if it wasn't for his bald head, Varric didn't think he would have recognized the elf. When Cole had described what was happening to Chuckles, Varric hadn't thought it was this bad. He should have realized what the Kid had been trying to tell him, that this is what he'd meant when he sait that Solas was keeping the pain of it from her, that blood was caked all over him. Someone from the other side of the field was headed their way, and he realized that Flint was already on her way to meet them. She took one look at the missive they handed her, before looking back to the messenger.

"You know what this says?" She asked, her voice having a dangerous edge to it. The messenger shook his head no.

"I don't ask what's in the missives, but I'd be foolish to refuse hand them out." He replied, keeping his voice quiet. "If you're the one he's been raging about, leave while you can. This place is a death trap."

"I'm rather good at escaping those, if you didn't know." She stated, keeping her eyes on the paper. "This is your only warning, leave here now. The arrows won't be able to touch you. Go to The Hawke estate, and tell them that Sulahn'ean requests you be kept safe. One of the others can go with you if you like, but if you stay…you will share the fate of everyone on this battlefield."

"Thank you…" The messenger said, making his way towards Aveline, who directed him to the Hawke estate.


Her eyes stay on Solas for only a moment. There has been very little signs of life from him, but she is happy to know that he is alive. She can feel it through the bond, knows he does not expect anyone to come for him. In fact, it is something that he hopes for, that no one comes for him, as if that will keep her safe. Hawke put her hand to her throat, activating the spell that would allow her voice to be heard across the battlefield, and began.

"Listen, and listen well, soldiers of Starkhaven. Go home. This is not your fight, and I have no wish to kill you. If you stay, however, I will not hesitate to end your lives. Your would be King has taken one that is mine, and if I have to go through you all to get to him, I will do it." Hawke stated, her voice cold and authoritative.

Not one of them moved, but she didn't think they would. At the sound of her voice though, Solas raises his head enough to see her across the battlefield, and though his eyes are nearly swollen shut, she knows he can see her. His eyes do not hold relief that she is there, instead they were pained, holding dread and sadness that he could not keep this from her, a plea for her to escape while she could. Vael noticed the exchange, and ordered his men to attack. If he could not have her, he would not let anyone have her.

There was a split second, a moment when she and Vael shared a glance. She looked at him with that wolfish grin, her trademark for when something or someone was about to die, and his eyes widened at the sight of it. Then the moment was gone, and she lowered the wolf skull mask, leaping into the fray. If she had her way, Vael wouldn't live to see the morning. She knew that he was dead, in her mind his body only had to catch up to that fact.

She darted through the battle, killing those that got in her way. Fire rained down from the sky, and explosions rocked the battlefield, while lightning struck at their enemies. Merrill followed her closely, using stone fists to keep people at pay, crushing many with thorn covered vines when they did not take the hint. Hawke knew her friend followed her, but at the moment her single minded focus was to get to Solas, and to crush Vael if she got the chance. She ran through them all, reacting on instinct and fury.

It occurred to her, in some back corner of her mind, that she could have just turned them to stone and been done with it, but thought better of it. In her anger, she may very well turn everyone into stone, and she didn't know how to undo that, or if it was even possible. So she sliced, and diced, and set things on fire, and ran without stopping. Runic circle lights split off, and burned, even as they cut those they passed. If anyone shouted for her, she did not hear them, and even if she had, she was not stopping.


Merrill stuck close by her, keeping away anyone who thought they could attack her from behind. This was a race, a fight, a rescue mission, and Hawke was not stopping. They'd made it through half the field before they were surrounded, but Hawke just struck them all with lightning without stopping, and ran them through. Merrill followed after her, sending a force wave to anyone who thought to try to get back up. Despite what she said, Merrill knew that Hawke didn't want to kill any more people than was warranted, and there was only one she really wanted dead.

As Merrill sent a stone fist at someone that had gotten a little too close, she took a moment to look around her. There was blood everywhere, and it didn't look like the ground would ever see green again. She was so exhausted, and she realized this is what Hawke meant. That woman was running on adrenaline and fury, and knew that Merrill wouldn't be able to do the same. She knew that Merrill would have exhausted herself magically at some point, and unless she got some blood to use for her spells, she'd have to cut herself again to do it.

Understanding dawned on her, as she looked around. Hawke had known this too, had not wanted Merrill to have to harm herself in order to help her, and so had given her a seemingly never ending supply to use for her magic. For the first time ever, Merrill had her own wolfish grin, instantly understanding why Hawke had them so much. When you faced death, and knew you could win, there was no reason not to smile back. Hawke trusted her; to not give in to a demon's offer, to know her limits, to have her back, and as the blood began to swirl around her, she knew she'd never fail Hawke again.

She kept things simple, blood blades, spikes as thin as needles that whizzed through the air and pierced the enemy. Blood bombs were for when they got surrounded again, because she knew that Hawke couldn't do that lightning trick too many more times without becoming magically exhausted. It happened so quickly that she didn't even notice it at first, but they had gotten too far ahead of the others. None of the other Kirkwall guards, or even those of her clan, had made it this far ahead; so they were on their own. Hawke was too far into her rage, too focused on Sebastian, to realized how alone they were now.


Moments before…

He looked over the battlefield, searching for her, impatient for this to be over. Being Prince came with certain privileges, after all, and getting what he wanted quickly was one of those things. Hawke, however, had always gone against that rule, something that had grated on his nerves to no end. The longer she had denied him, the longer he had wanted her. It wasn't about love, he was too pragmatic a man for that, this was about possession.

He wanted to possess Hawke in every way, and that blasted elf had gotten to the prize that should have been his. Just listening to the man talk grated on Sebastian's nerves, how he acted better than him, even though Fen'Harel was the one in chains. It was enough to make him want to hit something. Sebastian had asked questions, but he'd not been prepared for the answers. That his Hawke was the soul mate of this…this abomination to the Maker, was too much to take.

Flashback…

"The mark on her ankle…I'm told you created it." Sebastian stated, angrily.

"I did." Fen'Harel admitted.

"How? Tell me!" Vael demanded.

"It will not work for you." Fen'Harel said, shaking his head. "I called for my nas'falon…listed impossible traits…secret wishes…a last hope…It will not work or you."

"Why won't it work for me?" Sebastian demanded, losing his patience. "Aren't you forcing her to love you? Isn't that what the spell does?"

"You can not force her to love you." Fen'Harel stated, as if it were the most obvious answer in the world. "No magic can give you that…The spell I cast…took into consideration…everything I am…everything she is…She is…my match…in every way…It will not work for you."

"Why would you tell me this?" Sebastian demanded.

"Because you wanted to know." Fen'Harel replied, as if he were talking to an unruly student. "And because…at the end of this…you will be dead."

Without hesitation, Sebastian reached over, and undid the chains that held Fen'Harel hanging by the ceiling. It brought a small bit of joy to him that the fallen elven god fell in an unceremonious heap. Besides, shouldn't he enjoy the torture of abominations against the Maker such as this one? That pipe over there looked like it would do well for this, and Sebastian took it without a second thought. The cracking sound it made as it hit Fen'Harel's skull was like music, and he watched as the elf bounced off of the floor with the force of it.

This time, he did not stop, as he normally would have done. Something in him had snapped. This foul loathsome creature had been keeping his Hawke from him, had been responding to her advances. The thought that she had advanced on this abomination and not him sent another course of anger through him, and he began beating the elf, aiming for the ribs. After a while, a strangled plea caught his attention, and he actually stopped at the sound of it.

"Dian…Dian, Sathan…Tel'el." Fen'Harel pleaded, his voice hoarse, shaking from the pain, tears streaming down his face. "Please stop…I can't…I can't keep this from her…It's too much…please…If you truly love her…please stop…"

"What do you mean…you can't keep this from her?" Sebastian asked, having a feeling that he wasn't going to like the answer.

"If you love her…" Fen'Harel continued.

"ANSWER ME!" Sebastian shouted, angrily, and Fen'Harel winced.

"We are…kindred souls…True Kindred Souls…" Fen'Harel admitted, wincing at the pain. "Please…Please don't hurt her…"

Flashback end…

He had not stopped, angry that something else had been taken from him. He'd beaten Fen'Harel till the man passed out from the pain of it, till he was sure Hawke felt the pain of it too, wanting her to hurt just as much as he thought he'd been hurt. Sebastian no longer cared that she did not love him, but it irked him that this was one more thing of her he could not possess, one more thing Fen'Harel had taken from him. Now, he watched as the man hung from his new location, what should have been a hangman's platform. There was an odd satisfaction in seeing the man so beaten.

Yet, as he watched Hawke look across the battlefield, that all ended. It wasn't to him she looked, it was to Fen'Harel. Anger welled up within him, seeing the pained look that crossed her face. Damn it, she should be looking at him, not that abomination! So lost was he in his anger, that he had not noticed when she'd begun to walk out onto the field.

"Listen, and listen well, soldiers of Starkhaven. Go home. This is not your fight, and I have no wish to kill you. If you stay, however, I will not hesitate to end your lives. Your would be King has taken one that is mine, and if I have to go through you all to get to him, I will do it." Hawke stated, her voice cold and authoritative.

Not one of them moved, but they were loyal to Starkhaven, and he knew it. At the sound of her voice though, Fen'Harel lifted up his head enough to see her across the battlefield. The same look of pain that Hawke had flits across his face. More than that, there was a plea for her to escape, for her to leave him there and be safe. He was trying to keep her from him, again!

Sebastian looked from Fen'Harel to Hawke, could see the overwhelming love and concern on her face, and was angered by it. It was not for him, something else Fen'Harel had stolen from him. He couldn't believe that Hawke would walk out onto the battlefield alone, that she would agree to his demands, but then he saw the guards of Kirkwall, the elves from the alienage, and…Was that Anders?! Well, this was certainly icing on the cake at least, revenge for Grand Cleric Elthina at last.

"Bring Hawke and Anders to me! Leave no one else alive!" Sebastian shouted, sending the soldiers after them.

He would stay here by her love, and watch. He wanted to see the light go out of Fen'Harel's eyes when he realized Hawke would leave him to save him. Maker's Breath! While the men and women of Kirkwall stayed in loose formation to defend the city, Hawke and a few others charged across the battlefield. It seemed she meant to kill him then. No soldier could get close enough without being roasted alive in a variety of different ways, and even in death his soldiers fueled Merrill's magic to aid Hawke.

"She is quite something…isn't she?" Fen'Harel asked, as he tried to keep his head up to watch her. "Did I ever tell you…she attacked me?…Broke my nose…set me on fire…She is…exquisite…"

"Shut up! Don't talk about her!" Sebastian demanded, turning his eyes back to the battlefield.

"Why?…Worried that…I might be right?" The elven man asked, breathlessly.

"I said. Shut! Up!" Sebastian shouted, angrily, turning to the elf now.

"You wasted…the gift…that was her mercy…, So, you know…You have to know…" Fen'Harel stated, breathlessly, a threatening edge to his voice. "…If she doesn't kill you…I will…"

The elf's eyes flickered across the battlefield, before setting back on him. Instantly, Sebastian turned to see what Fen'Harel had seen, and gasped. Hawke was a lot closer now than she had been moments ago, and Fen'Harel…Fen'Harel had been stalling him in the hopes that Sebastian would not escape her rage. Without warning, Sebastian released the pin holding up the chains, and Fen'Harel dropped like a stone. He did not get up, and Sebastian ran now that Hawke's attentions were called away to Fen'Harel once again.


That rat bastard! Hawke raged, seeing him run. He wasn't what was important now, but damn it if she hadn't wanted to gut him. Before she'd even thought about what she was doing, she'd sent out streaks of light at him acting as needle thin blades, much in the same way Merrill's blood blades had done. They struck the prince at seemingly random locations, and though he slowed, he did not stop running. Cries of victory alerted her that they had won the day, but she was already running towards Solas.

He hadn't moved from the spot he'd fallen, and Hawke was afraid of what that meant. From the bruises that ran along her rib cage, she knew several of his were broken, but she didn't know just how severe his other injuries were. Could he heal quickly, the way she could, or was that something that was hindered by the large doses of magebane he'd been forced to take? His face looked like someone had used it as a personal punching bag, and was that…had Vael cracked his skull?! She could almost swear she saw his skull peaking out through a bit of flesh now.

Without even thinking about the possible consequences, Hawke sat down on her knees and tried to sit him up. His gasp in pain, and the way his eyes widened instantly, made Hawke panic. Instead of sitting up completely, Solas ended up slumped over, resting his head on one of her shoulders. His breath tickled her neck as she looked him over, only to realize she was right. A piece of Solas's skull was exposed to the air.

"His spine is intact." Merrill said, her voice low, as she concentrated on the diagnostic spells. "Whatever Sebastian did to him, it doesn't seem to have damaged that. Either that, or his innate healing ability protected it."

"Al-Alhasha…" Solas groaned, just barely loud enough for her to hear.

"How is he?" Anders asked, after rushing to them with a full medical kit, and looking him over. "…Shit. There's so many broken bones here, I don't even want to think about it right now, and…Oh…Oh shit…Merrill, do you see it?"

"We'll have to heal it before we can move him." Merrill stated, nodding her head in agreement.

"What's wrong?" Hawke asked, her breath becoming tight, now worried out of her mind.

"Al-Alhasha…Ir a-abel-las…Ar nu-nua n-na…" He rasped.

Alhasha…I'm sorry…I hurt you…

"One of his ribs is broken. Okay, well a lot of his ribs are broken, but one of them is angled a bit to where if he moves wrong it will pierce his lung." Anders stated, his hand hovering over the specific spot, sending healing magic to it. "Given how close it is, I'm amazed it hasn't happened already."

"Sa-sathan…lan-asta'em…" Solas continued, between shallow breaths.

Please…forgive me…

"Are there any other wounds that could kill him if he's moved?" Hawke asked, trying to remain logical as she internally panicked. Solas was trying to say his goodbyes, and she was not prepared for that, so she ignored his words. "Internal bleeding? Poison? Hidden stab wounds?"

"Andraste's ass! How much magebane did he give him?" Anders muttered, as he and Merrill tried to heal Solas. "We'll need lyrium to burn it out of him before we can even think about trying to set that. Merrill has almost no energy left, and I can't say I do either."

"N-na an-ane…ar-ara vhe-vhen'an…bre…nu-nuven-ven'in…" Solas rasped, each breath more difficult than the last. Damn it, it was getting harder to ignore him, and she was so close to tears already.

You are…my hearts…deepest…wish…

Hawke wasn't really focused on them, the man in her arms being her main concern. When she closed her eyes, she could see the broken bones, the bruised organs, the stab wounds, everything. It was too much, it was just too much. There was so much pain, so many wounds. How had he survived this?

"He is trying to say his goodbyes. You don't have to let him. You can heal his hurt." Cole said, suddenly there and crouching in front of her. "Try."

"I don't know how! I can't!" Hawke cried, as pain spreading through her lungs.

"You can." Cole insisted. "You went to him when I could not. You did that. How?"

"I…I just needed him to be safe…I didn't think about it…I don't know how…I just went…" Hawke insisted, searching for whatever connection she knew had to be there.

"There. You said it. That's it." Cole encouraged, and she didn't understand.

"But I don't understand. I just said I needed him to be safe. I didn't do anything, I just…" Hawke whispered, shaking her head. She closed her eyes again, rested her lips against Solas's forehead, unable to hold back the tears any longer. "I just needed him to be safe…I need him to live…to be well…to be whole…I need him to…Vevar'i'em. Sal vun'in. Sal era'vun. Tel'vara'em, sathan, Fen'Harel…"


AN: Cliff hanger! Oh, I hate it when I run into these, but I love to write them.