Hawke met up with Isabela, who, despite having our own ship, had left to sail the seas. She was at the Hanged Man having a drink.
Isabela looked quite surprised and seeing him. "You… you're here. Good. I… wanted to talk to you."
Hawke sat down in the chair opposite her. "Ah, you're still here. At least some things are consistent in this ever-changing world."
Isabela blinked. "What? If you call your rock or foundation, I'm going to hit you. Anyway, I'm glad you're here. Save me the trouble of having to go look for you." She looked slightly uneasy and leaned towards him. "I wanted to thank you for everything you've done for me. I'm glad you walked in here all those years ago."
"You've been a good friend and constant source of excitement," Hawke smiled as he placed his tankard to his lips.
He could have sworn Isabela brushed. "Oh, you do know how to flatter a girl. It's funny. Now that I think about it, getting a ship doesn't seem that important. I just hate to have to say goodbye. You're the best phone I've had in… in a very long time."
She laughed and raised her tankard. "A toast, to friendships and us."
"Don't you mean to you and my brother?" Hawke smirked.
Isabela blinked. "Oh, you know about that."
"We could hear the noises coming from your cavern while we sailed back," Hawke shrugged.
"Sometimes I forget that I'm not with my old crew, they're quite used to the noises. Though I have to say your brother need to bit more practice, and I'm happy to provide."
Hawke shook his head and you re-entered into the territories of too much information.
When he return to this state he discovered a note from the Knight-Commander on his desk. He was surprised after the spectacle outside the Keep that she contacted him. One seemed polite, even warm. It had apparently come with a gift, a templar style suit of armour. She was asking him to meet her at the templar hall at his earliest convenience.
Knight-Captain Cullen's smile was slightly cold when Hawke entered templar hall the next morning. Hawke walked over to the man and offered greetings. "Champion. It seemed you've become less friendly to the templars in the years since your ascension." Cullen tilted his head. "But surely you're the only mage in Kirkwall who can approach the knight-commander directly if you wished. What would you have of me?"
He might not agree with Cullen on everything, but he did like and respect the man. "Everyone says the knight-commander's gone crazy. Are you still behind her?"
"The people ask too much of her. She needs a spine of iron to survive her position. I have seen madness before. I saw Uldred's eyes when there was nothing human left in them. The knight-commander…" Cullen sighed. "She is not there yet. But I do not have to ask where the rumours come from."
"I just wanted to see how an old friend is doing in this difficult time."
"After what happened in Ferelden, I told myself I would never again question the purpose of the Order." Cullen moved as if a great weight was sitting on his shoulders. "But it grows harder each day to tell whether I am serving the templars or only the knight-commander. It may be that they are no longer one and the same."
Meredith gave a cold smile when she saw him. "Champion. Welcome."
"What is this urgent matter you spoke of?" Hawke asked.
He gave her a bow. "Always a pleasure, and may I say that outfit was a wise choice?"
"I do not wear this armor for the way it looks, Champion."
"No? That's far too flattering to be an accident."
She gestured for him to walk with her. "There was an incident within the Gallows. A number of phylacteries were destroyed and several mages took the opportunity to escape. We've recovered most of the fugitives. However, I require your assistance in tracking down the last three."
He blinked. "How did the phylacteries get destroyed?"
Her fists clenched. "An insurrection. Several of my own templars orchestrated the escape, presumably out of sympathy for the mages. They turned their backs on their duty and endangered their charges, as well as the city. Thankfully most who escaped fled to their families and offered no resistance. The last three are proving more…" Her head shake revealed frustration. "Difficult."
"I'm surprised you would turn to me," said Hawke crossing his arms. "We haven't always seen eye to eye."
"I have asked you to track these fugitives so you might save yourself what we templars deal with every day. If you still think them worth our mercy, tell me then."
If they were dangerous, he'd take care of it. If they weren't, well, he's still take care of it. "I'll see what I can do."
"I am relieved. I was expecting resistance, after that debacle at the market. Talk to these mages' families, learn where they are hiding and find them before they do harm." She nodded to him. "I know you, of all people, understand the danger such apostates pose. Speak to my assistant, Elsa. She can tell you what you need to know about the fugitives. I bid you good day, Champion."
After she left he went to speak with Elsa. It was somewhat disturbing, talking to a Tranquil, but he got the information he needed. He bid her farewell, and then went to go get some backup.
"Oh. Greetings, messere. My mistress is away, seeing to a customer, but she will be back shortly. Is there anything I can do to help you?"
Hawke gave her a friendly smile. "You could tell me about your husband, Huon. That would be helpful."
Nyssa sighed, and leaned against one of the pillars in the market stand. "When the templars came, I told them the truth—I hadn't seen Huon in ten years. But after they left, he… he came to me. He wanted me to hide him. I used to dream of him returning. But not like this. He's changed, and I don't know him anymore. I sent him away." Her voice was melancholy.
"So you hadn't seen him since he left you."
"Huon didn't leave me." Her eyes narrowed. "He was taken away. When the templars found out he was a mage, they chained him and dragged him from the alienage. In front of everyone. Now I'm trapped in this…" She shook her head. "This sham. Married, but with no husband, and no future."
"Did he hurt you?"
"Only broke my heart."
"How has Huon changed?"
"He was obsessed with showing everyone true elven power. He frightened me. If he had been himself."
"Do you know where Huon went after you send him away?" Hawke asked.
Nyssa shook her head. "I don't know. He… disappeared. B-but Huon said he would return to take me away from this forever."
"A user. Just looking for another handout," said Aveline.
"I know what he means, and I'm afraid of him, messere."
"Would it help if I returned? I'll make sure you're safe."
"I…" She hesitated, then glanced at Merrill, and then finally nodded. "Would be grateful. Huon said he would come to the alienage soon, at nightfall. Are you… are you going to arrest him? I think he needs help. Maybe the Circle will be able to heal whatever troubles him."
"Thoughts?" Hawke glanced at his friends.
Merrill frowned. "She knew him best. If she's scared…"
"It may be with good reason," Aveline Fenris said.
He sighed, and nodded.
A guard greeted them as they re-entered the Alienage. There was something vaguely familiar about the elven woman. Her eyes widened as she saw them. "Champion. It's Lia. Do you remember me? You saved me from that murderer when I was a kid." She blinked when she saw Aveline. "Sorry, Captain. I don't mean to—"
Aveline gave her a nod, but there was a fondness in her eyes. "Not at all. Go on."
"I wanted to say thank you. I wasn't thinking straight the day you saved me. That monster deserved what he got." She gave Aveline a nod. "Captain."
"Dismissed." Aveline watched the young woman returned to her duties, then smiled at Hawke. "She joined the guard a couple months back. She's got a good understanding of what we're up against."
Hawke watched the elves of the alienage give the young guardswoman friendly nods as she passed. "Good to know she's doing well."
Aveline nodded. "Lia is shaping up well. I've had two more elves apply to join since taking in Lia."
They were attacked. By the time they'd dealt with the attackers, Nyssa was nearly to Huon. Her walk was slow, almost stiff-legged. She whimpered her husband's name.
"Hush, love. Don't be afraid." Huon drove the dagger up under her ribcage. "Your blood will bring new life to our people." He laid her down almost tenderly. "She was so beautiful."
Hawke had said he'd protect her. He'd failed. "You're going to pay for what you did."
"I am a visionary. I've seen our destiny." Huon's eyes glowed strangely. "I know what fate holds for the elves. The humans keep us down because they're afraid of the magic within us." Nyssa's blood began to swirl in the air around him. "Look at the magic Nyssa held inside her. She was just afraid to use it."
"It's always the same." Fenris drew his blade. "Always."
Hawke was really beginning to wish Fenris didn't have a point. He called his magic to him as the demons came.
They went back to where he remembered Evelina being. There were two boys now on the spot. One was an older lad, probably sixteen, while the other looked closer to ten. The older boy glared defensively as they approached. "We got nothing here you'd want. Get back to Hightown and leave us alone."
"Does Evelina live here? Why are you here?" Hawke asked.
"This is our home as much as it is hers. Evelina shared everything she had with us." His voice became angry and sad. "She was our mother. Evelina found us when the darkspawn came, when our parents died. She made sure we got to Kirkwall safely."
The younger boy peeked out from behind the older one. "I miss her."
"But when she went to join the Circle here, they called her apostate for leaving the tower in Ferelden. They locked her up." Walter shook his head.
"Don't you have any other family?" There were still many refugees in Kirkwall.
"Everyone died in the Blight. Evelina kept picking us up, new children every day, every one she could save."
"Do the templars know you're here?"
"They don't care. They only want Evelina."
They likely never gave the boys a thought. He'd have a word with a few of them. "Didn't she want to stay free, with you?"
"She didn't want us to be stuck in Darktown." Walter's shoulders drooped. "She wanted to give us a real life. She thought the Circle would help her. But they just locked her away."
"If you tell me where Evelina is, I'll try my best to help her. You can trust me." He could get them all on a ship back to Ferelden. From what he'd heard, the Circle there was Evelina's best bet.
"No one can help her." Walter's voice was quiet.
"The templars made Evelina angry. They made her change…" The younger boy flared. "It wasn't her fault. When it was over, she was ashamed. She ran into the tunnels and hid."
"Shut up, Cricket. Don't tell them that."
Hawke closed his eyes for a moment. She'd changed. Abomination. As much as he wanted to help, it was too late.
"She is in the sewers, child?" Aveline asked.
"You can't go there. She'll know we told you and she'll be angry at us."
"Angry?" Panic showed on Cricket's face. "I didn't like when she got angry. We-we have to hide."
Walter ran after him. "Cricket."
They caught up with the boys in the sewer tunnel. Hawke strode towards them worriedly. "What are you doing here?"
"I…" Walter squared his shoulders. "I thought if we warned her about you, she wouldn't be angry. But then she—"
A woman's voice floated towards them. "Walter…"
"She's coming. Run." The boys only made it a few steps before sliding to a stop.
The woman stepped out of the shadows. It was the beggar woman. She gestured at the boys. "There you are. Don't run from me, Walter. You know those are the rules."
"I won't let you touch these children," said Hawke unlimbered his staff, and gestured for his companions to spread out.
"You play the hero well, but I see through it. You're Fereldan, like us, but you feast on sweetmeats while your people starve in the Undercity. I spit on you, traitor, and on the pathetic templars that sent you." Her form began to change as she spoke. "Kirkwall should be mine. Then my children will have a whole city to play in."
He put up a barrier around the boys as the demons started to appear, and noted that Aveline moved in to place herself between the children and danger, with Merrill only a step behind her. He focused his spells on the demons and the abomination, as Fenris, Sebastian and Varric backed him up.
There were tears in the eyes of both boys. Walter was shaking his head. Aveline moved to block their view of the dead woman. "I don't understand. Evelina loved us. She saved us. Why would she try to hurt us now?"
"Evelina would never hurt you, child." Hawke kept his voice gentle. "That was a demon. Remember her as she was—a brave, kind, loving woman."
"Pray for her soul, child," said Sebastian. "The Maker may have mercy even now."
"I…" Walter scrubbed at his face with a hand. "I'll try. I just don't know what we'll do now."
"Take this," Hawke pressed five sovereigns into his hand. "And use it wisely."
"Thank you, messere." Walter glanced at Cricket. "I should go buy some food for the others. They've been hungry for a long time."
Hawke blinked, and then looked up at Aveline and Sebastian before looking back at the boys. "How many others?"
There were eighteen children in his living room, ranging in age from Walter down to a girl no older than seven. She must have been an infant in arms when they left Ferelden. And the scary part was Orana clearly looked as if she wanted to keep all of them. She was passing around cookies and making sure bellies were appropriately stuffed. Anders was tending to various small hurts and sniffles, as Merrill sat cross legged next to the fire, telling a story about mabari hounds and the Dread Wolf to several attentive children and one attentive Runt. Varric and Isabela were teaching another group of kids how to play… he really hoped that wasn't Wicked Grace.
Hawke looked to Sebastian. "Is there anything you can do?"
"I'll talk to Elthina and see what we can do for them," Sebastian assured. He then looked at the children with a sympathetic look. "I can't believe the templars ignored them. Apostate or not Evelina clearly treated them as her own children."
Hawke nodded. "I'll talk to Cullen, maybe he can do something."
Merrill followed him out of the house. A moment later, Varric and Isabela did as well, though those two were more accurately chased out by Aveline. He shrugged, and headed to the de Launcet estate. A butler let him in, and the lady of the house herself came to meet them a few moments later.
"Good evening, Comtesse," Hawke bowed.
"Oh! The Champion of Kirkwall! This is marvellous. You honour this household," she smiled and led him inside. "I will call for refreshments. Talia!" She let out a long suffering sigh. "She is so slow, this girl. Come, let us chat while we wait."
"Thank you for your hospitality, Comtesse," said Hawke as he sat down. "I need to speak to about Emile."
She looked insulted. "Hospitality? This? Oh, it is a disgrace. If you had just sent a message to say you are coming!" She then sat down and calmed herself. "I haven't seen Emile since he was taken to the Circle. He was just six." Her eyes danced all over nervously. "You can tell the templars not to worry. I'm sure Emile will turn himself in soon. He's a good boy."
He was about to ask her a few more questions when a man entered the room. "Dulci. What have you done? You should have told the boy to throw himself at the mercy of the templars."
"Guillaume, darling…" She tried to cut him off, but he interrupted her again.
"Don't 'darling' me, Dulci. He's been telling people he's our son, that you gave him gold."
"Guilluame, darling…" She swallowed, and flicked her eyes towards Gabriel. "We have guests."
Hawke sighed. "I am your son's best chance for mercy from the templars."
"Mercy? They wouldn't really hurt him, would they?" the Comtesse stared. "Oh, you should've seen his face—it just broke my heart! I gave him some money. Not too much. He said he wanted to start a new life."
"New life?" Comte de Launcet shook his head. "His new life is spent in Lowtown taverns, getting drunk on cheap wine. It's a wonder the templars haven't found him yet." He gave Hawke a beseeching look. "Help us, please, Champion. Emile is not a blood mage, just a foolish boy. Don't let the templars kill him."
"Blood mage? Oh, Guillaume, don't say that." She swayed on her feet.
"Please, save my son's life."
He held up a calming hand. "If there is a way to help Emile, I will find it."
"Thank you, Champion. An acquaintance spied Emile in the Hanged Man not long ago. He should still be there."
"The Hanged Man?" She laid the back of her hand on her forehead and swayed some more. "Oh, but that place is filthy."
"Come, Dulci. Perhaps you should lie down." He ushered his wife out of the room, leaving Hawke standing there with his companions.
"Oh. But the Hanged Man is so filthy." Varric did a fair imitation of the comtesse before chuckling.
Isabela just shook her head. "They are so Orlesian."
They met Anders on the way to the Hanged Man. Since Hawke's position gave his friends some level of protection, it wasn't all that unusual for Anders to actually walk through Hightown openly. Privately, Hawke thought Anders rather enjoyed scandalising the neighbors. It was something they had in common.
He looked around the Hanged Man as they entered. There was the usual crowd. And a man in rather outlandish clothing passed out on one of the tables. He sighed, and walked over. "Emile de Launcet?"
The man looked up at him with bleary eyes. "Hey. How'd you know my name? Did Nella tell you?" Emile glanced at a woman at the bar before looking back at him. "I gave her my Launcet signet ring in exchange for a kiss, and tonight, she's going to make me a man."
Isabela elbowed Hawke. "This is what lack of sex does to a person. I can only watch in horror."
Anders sighed. "He's lived in the Circle all his life. He can't function in the real world."
Varric pinched the bridge of his nose. "The comte was right. How did the templars miss him?" Hawke sighed. Probably because they were looking for a dangerous apostate.
Emile gestured at the bartender, who ignored him. "Round of drinks on me? I'm Emile, as you know. And you are…?"
It was possible smuggling this man out of Kirkwall was also a bad idea. Especially if this was his idea of 'laying low'. "They call me the Champion of Kirkwall. I been looking for you Emile."
"Oh, buggery." Emile stood up, nearly tripping on his chair in the process. "I know what this is about. I…" He shook his head frantically. "I'm not a blood mage, all right? I, uh, started that rumour because…" He shrugged helplessly. "Because I thought it would make me sound dangerous and…" The man gave what he clearly thought was a smooth smile. It made Isabela actually snort the drink she'd just swiped out of her nose. "Suave."
"Do you have a death wish?" Anders stared at the man in disbelief. "You grew up in the Circle, you know what the templars do to blood mages."
"I've only told people in the tavern. And only women." Emile gestured. "You don't understand. I've been in the Circle since I was six. Six. For twenty years I was locked up. Never had a real drink, or… or cooked something for myself." He spread his hands, and his voice became dreamy. "Never stood in the rain, or kissed a girl…"
Anders shrugged. "The Ferelden Circle's more fun. Everyone was kissing everyone." He considered a moment, and then continued thoughtfully. "Though that was before the abominations."
Hawke sighed, and then looked back at Emile.
"I just wanted to live a little…" Emile said. He sighed. "If you're going to kill me, do it. I'd rather die drunk."
Hawke shook his head. "Did you really escape the Circle so you could kiss a girl?"
"Well, not just that. I've read so much about the other things you can do with girls."
Hawke glared at him. "You can't run," he said to Emile. "The templars will find you eventually."
"I…" Emile lowered his voice conspiratorially. Or he tried to. It was possible they couldn't actually hear him in the Gallows. "I'll make you a deal, all right? Give me one night. Just one night." He looked back at the girl by the bar. "One of the tavern girls, Nella, agreed to lie with me. I even paid for a room." He was practically begging. "Please… let me have this. You can take me back in chains after."
He sighed. "I'll wait here till you're ready to go back to the Circle."
"Thank you!"
He walked towards the table as Emile went upstairs with Nella. "Deal the cards," he said to Varric.
At least Emile considered the experience worth potentially being made tranquil or executed. He headed in to report to Meredith. She turned towards him as he entered her office. "I'm led to believe that both Huon and Evelina are dead. Unfortunate but necessary." She folded her arms. "Emile de Launcet, however, turned himself in. Rather happily, I might add. I would have had him executed immediately, but the boy's father made an impassioned appeal on his behalf." She raised an eyebrow at him. "What say you, Champion? Do you believe Emile to be dangerous?"
He sighed, and rubbed a hand across his forehead. "He was never a danger to anyone but himself."
She stared at him for a moment. "Very well, Emile will keep his life, though I will watch him closely."
Hawke shook his head at her. "Look at the way you treat the mages. Is it any wonder they're so desperate?"
Meredith rubbed her forehead as if he had a massive headache. "I have heard this argument often."
"And it's not worth considering?" Aveline asked raising an eyebrow.
Anders narrowed his eyes at Meredith. "Maybe if you never took Huon from his wife, she wouldn't be dead! Evelina could be alive, and with the children she risked everything to save."
Meredith turned her back to them and placed a hand on her desk. "There are maybes enough to fill half the graves in Kirkwall. I will not add to the pile." She then narrowed her eyes to Hawke. "I bid you good day, Champion."
Hawke shook his head, he understood the dangers of magic better than anyone, but oppressing every mages is not the way to maintain peace. Surely there has to be a compromise between the two factions.
Cullen nodded. "Champion, what can I do for you?"
"Actually, this is more something we can do for each other. You mentioned, a few years ago, that the templars are always in need of recruits."
"We are." Cullen smiled. "Though I don't know that you are exactly templar material."
"Evelina was protecting some children," Hawke said.
Immediately, Cullen's face went from smiling to concerned. "Are they alright? Were any of them hurt?"
"No. They are fine. But…" He sighed. "Evelina came to the Circle in order to give them a better life, but instead she was locked up like a criminal and the children were ignored."
Cullen's eyes widened. "I did not know of this, we we're told that she was an apostate fleeing the Circle in Ferelden."
"Who told you this?" Hawke frowned.
Cullen closed his eyes. "Karras."
Hawke nodded, he wasn't surprised that it was him that caused this mess. "I know that templars sometimes take recruits young and I was hoping that you could help with giving them shelter. They know the dangers that mages face, but also know that mages can be good, decent, loving people. Sounds like…"
"Like exactly who we need as templars," Cullen nodded. "Where are they now?"
"Sebastian took them to the Chantry."
"I'll come by this evening and speak with them."
"The Champion was playing both sides." Cassandra folded her arms. "That does make more sense."
"Getting good mages out, while working with the templars to deal with those that trafficked with demons." Leliana nodded. "And ensuring those that truly needed the protection of the Circle were protected. It makes sense. And it appears that he provided some moderating influence on Meredith."
"She certainly does not seem unreasonable as some of the stories claim."
"We already know Cullen's version of the tale, Cassandra."
Cassandra nodded. "We do indeed. I wonder if any of these children were among the templars that followed him from Kirkwall when he joined the Inquisition."
"All things considered, it seems unlikely Cullen would want to leave them, and some of those who accompanied him were on the young side."