Wave after wave of Templars came into room only to be taken down quickly. The floor of the Gallows was slick with blood from both sides, but the Templars faired much worse than the mages. Leigh kept her promise to Aveline and did not jump into the thick of the fight. She only used her blades when one of the aggressors got through the front line. Bethany and Anders stood in the very back casting healing spells to keep the warriors on their feet. Varric was the covering fire stopping many of the Templars before they even got to far in the room. The battle went on like this for what seemed like hours. Some of the mages let their fear get the better of them and they ran right into the Templars. They did not last long. Once the fighting stopped the the death toll was taken.
"They should just drown us as infants. It is much better than this. Why give us a false hope?"
"This is not the end Orsino. We will not let them kill all of you."
'What does it matter, if we live through this they will just hunt us down and kill us later."
"Not if I have anything to say about it." The elven mage gave Leigh a disbelieving look and turned away. "Please don't give up."
"I will not sit here and let them kill me in cold blood Champion. I told Quentin his research was too dangerous, but maybe he had the right idea."
"What? You can't mean that. That man killed my mother, blood magic is wrong. You are justifying their fear if you use it."
"And what would you have me do Champion? I have never been free like you have. You have no right to judge me!"
"I would have you fight, survive, spread the word to the other Circles. Let them know what happened here, that the Templars can be defeated if we rise up and take the fight to them. Meredith will be stopped Orsino, you can't give up hope now, not when your mages need you."
"I...there is no hope left." Leigh tried to open her mouth when he took out his dagger,but her voice got lost in the sight of his blood. She could feel the evil pouring into the spell. It wreaked of hopelessness and hate. Pash recoiled in her head right before the bodies of the fallen mages started moving. What happened next would haunt the minds of all that witnessed it for years to come. The call of the blood magic pulled the bodies onto Orsino. His form twisted into a freakish creature.
"Maker have mercy." Leigh backed away from the monster her hands glowing with flame. She looked over her shoulder and saw Templars storming into the room. "Shit, Varric slow them down!"
'Got it." A hail of arrows made the Templars stop their charge enough for Leigh to put up a barrier. The abomination snarled at her and lunged forward.
"Leigh, move!" Anders jumped in front of her and let loose a ice storm to slow the monster down. Fenris and Carver charged forward to cut the creature down. Aveline put herself in front of Leigh to deflect any attack made on her. Skeletons started to rise from the ground under their feet. Merrill screamed as one grabbed her ankle and pulled her down to the ground. Varric rushed to her side and slammed the butt of Bianca into it's head.
"Stay close Daisy."
"Hawke, behind you!" Leigh rolled to the left and lashed out with her daggers shattering the skeleton that was trying to sneak up on her. Raven jumped up onto Orsino and dug her blades into his back. Fenris attacked his lower body trying to take out his legs. The monster stumbled a bit and Leigh took her opening. She ran as fast as she could and launched herself at the abomination. She grabbed the sides of it's head and pulled. Her teeth were gritted as she pulled til she heard a wet crunch. She threw the shriveled, twisted body to the ground and jumped down after it. It hissed and snapped at her. Leigh growled and stomped her foot on it's head. The sickening wet sound echoed off the walls of the room.
"Love are you alright?" Anders looked her over to make sure she had no injuries. His hands lastly fell to her abdomen to check on the twins.
"Just really pissed off. It is such a waste."
"He was afraid."
"I know...it just..."
"Not everyone has your courage. His fear of death and the unknown drove him to use blood magic. No one is to blame for this least of all you."
"The unknown?"
"Most mages have never lived outside of the Circle Leigh. They can't function out in the world. I was lucky, I had you all those years ago. I would have died out on my own in the Wilds. I could survive better now, but that is because of years of training and learning."
"Then that is what we need to teach them. To survive, to thrive. It is the only way this will change."
"First let's survive this then we can plan on helping mages around Thedas. We still have Meredith to deal with." Leigh sighed and leaned her head against Anders' shoulder. "We will be alright Leigh."
"I hope so. I love you."
"I know Dove, I love you always." Anders turned to the others, staring into each ones eyes. They were tired, but determined. He knew their loyalty was mostly for Leigh, but he didn't care. He did not need them to fight for him or even like him. As long as they protected Leigh he was happy.
"Hawke we are ready." Leigh turned her self to face her friends, but stayed leaning against Anders. The feeling of his arms around her gave her strength.
"It stops here. Meredith and those like her will know that their reign is at an end. This is not just for mages, but for anyone who has been treated like they have no worth. Everyone of us is the same in the eyes of the Maker."
"I don't know about the Maker Hawke, but you have always treated us like equals. We are with you to the end and beyond."
"You are my equal Fenris. You all are. I never would have made it this far without all of you. Whatever happens please know that you are all my family. I love you all."
"Then what are we waiting for let's show that bitch what happens when you mess with our family." Leigh could not help but laugh at sweet soft spoken Merrill saying such a thing. She stepped forward and hugged the Dalish elf.
"Your right Merrill let us show her that our family will not let this stand." All of the companions nodded and followed her to the main gate of the Gallows. They met some groups of Templars, but none gave them much trouble. Once they got closer to the main gate Leigh could heard Meredith barking orders. She growled wanting nothing more than to tear the older woman apart for what she had done here. It would not be long now.
OoO
"Knight Commander most of our men have been..."
"Defeated." Meredith wheeled around and saw Leigh with dagger drawn and her companions at her back. "It is over Meredith, surrender."
"No, Champion it is you who will surrender. You willingly aided a murderer and killed countless Templars. I will have your head next to his on a pike."
"I don't think so. This is your doing. You pushed the mages til there no way out for them, but to fight back. Every death here is on your hands not mine. I tried to keep the peace and you would have none of it."
"You are no mage, why fight for them?" Leigh gave Meredith a wicked smile and called a fireball to her out stretched hand.
"I am a mage. You had an apostate under your nose the entire time and you never knew. Some Templar you are."
"Malificar!"
"You wouldn't know a real blood mage if it came up and bit you on the ass Meredith. I am no malifcar. Just a mage who wants freedom and peace." The Knight Commander took a step back and drew her sword.
"That sword, it is made of corrupted lyrium." "It is glowing like the idol from the Deep Roads" "I think it is the idol from the Deep Roads."
"You recognize it don't you. I paid that dwarf a fortune for it, but it was worth it. This will be the weapon that ends this."
"It drove Bartrand mad, Meredith. It is effecting you as well. That idol was pure evil."
"It is a gift from the Maker. It has given me strength enough to cull this mage uprising." Leigh heard the clank of armor marching up behind Meredith. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Cullen and at least a dozen other Templars behind him. With him was young Keran the boy she had saved years ago and knew these Templars were against the Knight Commander.
"Enough Commander, step away from the Champion. I am taking you into custody for the deaths of the innocent."
"You know as well as I do Ser Cullen that mages are not innocent."
"Some of them were Knight Commander. I am here about the innocent people that died because of your poor choice. The people of Kirkwall were yours to protect and you unleashed both Templars and desperate mages out into the streets. Most of the bodies I have seen were killed by swords not magic. Your fear and inability to lead killed those people, their blood is on your hands. No stand down or I will have no choice, but to use force."
"You dare threaten me boy. I knew when I saw you that you were a bleeding heart. I even knew about you taking that whore as your lover and I turned a blind eye, hoping you would come to your senses when you were done with her." Leigh, Carver and Cullen growled in unison when Meredith pointed to Bethany. "You have fallen under a blood mage's spell, my own Knight Captain. If you will not help me quell this insurrection then I wil have no choice but to kill you. This woman and her murdering companion will die by my hand."
"Then you will have to go through me to do it." Cullen placed himself between Meredith and Leigh, sword drawn and shield ready. "You will not harm another mage Meredith."
"Foolish boy, you are throwing your life away for what, that?" Again she pointed to Bethany who was now glaring at the woman.
"Bethany is a warm, wonderful woman, something you know nothing about you frigid fucking bitch! Now surrender you are out numbered and out classed. You have no idea what you are dealing with."
"You will be the first to die Cullen." Meredith backed herself away from the group and Cullen ordered his men to back up as well. "Maker grant your humble servant the strength to defeat these foes!" The lyrium sword began to glow as the power from it seeped into Meredith. She ran full bore at Cullen hitting the cursed sword of his shield. The clang of metal meeting the blade rand out through the courtyard. Cullen staggered back from the force of the blow and nearly fell to his knees.
Cullen!" Bethany tried to run to the man she loves, but Carver held her back. "Let go!"
"She'll kill you. Stay back!"
"I have to help him! Carver let go!" Leigh took her opening and stabbed at the woman from behind. The Knight Commander yelped and spun to attack Leigh. In a flash the rogue was gone and back next to her lover.
"Not nice when a mage fights back is it?"
"You will not defeat me!" A surge of power for the sword washed over the crowd and Leigh felt sick from it. Anders, Merrill and Bethany all grabbed their heads and whimpered. The corrupted lyrium called to them.
"Don't listen to it!" Leigh felt Pash push forward and put up a barrier around the other mages. Shocked gasps from the Templars and the companions who had never seen Leigh with her red cracked skin and glowing eyes. "You use the power of a demon Templar."
"Abomination! I knew there was blood magic here." Pash drew her flaming sword from her palm and stood ready. "I am one of the faithful, the Maker will protect me!"
"No he will not." With a angry cry Meredith ran forward and made a arching swipe only to be parried by Pash. "You are no match for all of us Meredith. Let go of that cursed sword. I can help heal you from it's corruption. It is not too late."
"I will not let you put your filthy hands on me mage."
"Do not be a fool, that sword will be your end." Pash's pleas fell on deaf ears and the Templar charged again. This time the blade met a staff instead of the flaming sword. Anders or more correctly Justice placed himself between the two women. He sneered at the Templar as he whipped the staff around and cracked her in the head.
"You will not hurt them Templar. I will not allow it." This time Meredith jumped back and landed on the stairs heading up to the Gallows.
"How in Andraste's great flaming ass did she do that?" Pash tilted her head toward Varric and sighed.
"The lyrium and the demon bound in it are fueling her strength. There is no hope of saving her now. She has made her choice."
"Why save her? She's a Templar."
"No one is beyond saving Bethany if they truly want it. Forgiveness is a divine gift, but it comes with a price."
"A price."
"The price is the willingness to admit you were wrong and try to apologize the those you have wronged. It is not something people like to do. Meredith thinks she is beyond redemption, beyond help and forgiveness."
"I hate to break this up, but she is doing something up there and I know it is not anything nice." Varric pointed up to where Meredith stood, she plunged the sword into the ground. A pulse of magic went out from the sword and hit the large metal and stone statues that adorned the courtyard. The sound of creaking metal overpowered the shouts of the group as the scattered. Justice kept himself close to Pash guarding her with his own body.
"I will not fail you again Mercy."
"You remember?" Her voice shook and tears sprung to her eyes.
"Yes, I will not let them hurt you again or Leigh. You both must carry on and stop all this."
"We don't want to do that without you and Anders. Please, I can't watch you die again."
"If we die, it will be protecting what we hold dear. Those children are what is important." He leaned forward and kissed her deeply. "Stay out of the fight." Before she could stop him Justice ran out into the fray. Pash receded back into Leigh's mind leaving her host in shock. She looked out from the shadows and saw the chaos that was ensuing. Carver and Aveline were working on one of the moving statues. While Fenris and Cullen fought the other one.
"Maker please help us through this." Leigh saw Anders fighting toe to toe with Meredith. Powered by Justice he was winning if only just barely. She hated hiding while her friends and the love of her life fought for dear life. "I can't stay here while they fight." "Justice and Anders both told us to stay hidden." "I will not let them fight this alone. This is what I was made for Pash you said so yourself." "You have to protect your children. This fight is not yours." "We'll just see about that." "Leigh don't!" "Sorry Pash, I will not stand by and watch this any longer."
OoO
"Red duck!" Varric sent a exploding bolt into the large construct over the warriors head. "These damned things just won't die."
"Varric watch out!" A smaller statue swung it's arm at the dwarf only to be met by a flaming long sword. Leigh growled and cut the metal beast in half. "Gather the others I am finishing this now."
"Hawke..." Her red eyes made Varric stop his protest. "Get Blondie out of there."
"That is the plan." She scanned the beleaguered crowd and found Cullen. With a quick sprint she was at his side her hand held out to freeze the statue he and Fenris had been chopping away at. "Cullen I need a shield."
"Leigh, get back and stay out of the fight. You shouldn't be out here."
"I need a bloody shield Cullen now. I am not hiding while the rest of you fight." Her expression told him there was no talking her out of it. He yelled to one of men to hand her their shield.
"I hope you know what you are doing. Meredith will not go down easy."
"Neither do I." Leigh had never used a shield before, but something in her made it feel like second nature. She charged into the battle, slamming the shield into the smaller statues before cutting them down with her sword. The sound of a arrow whizzing past her head made her turn. "Sebastian?" Out of the kicked up dust came Nathaniel Howe followed closely by Zevran. "What are they doing here?" Nathaniel aimed another arrow and struck the creature that had been working it's way to Leigh.
"Get Anders!" Leigh nodded and ran towards the two clashing foes. Meredith was tiring, but so was Anders. His swings were getting slower and ever block seemed to stagger him more. Leigh used the sword she held as a conduit for her magic and sent a bolt of lightning at the Templar.
"Anders get out of there!" He shook his head, but never took his eyes off of Meredith. "Love please..." Meredith gave one more mighty swing and snapped Anders' staff in half. Leigh screamed and threw out her sword hand trying to put a barrier up to protect him, but she was a second too late. The lyrium blade impaled him in the stomach. The howl from Leigh was deafening. The ground shook and Meredith looked up from her kill. An insane smile donned the Templar's face.
"Justice has been done, now it is your turn Champion." Leigh winced as Meredith pulled the sword from Anders' gut and let his body fall to the ground.
"I will rip you apart for that." Meredith laughed at her and waved her on. Leigh sent out a wave of her own magic and stripped the statues of the power that was fueling them. The ones still up fell to the ground in twisted heaps. The rest of the fighters stopped and stared at the woman as the circled each other.
"Mages will never rule over us Champion. I will not allow it."
"You won't be here to stop it. I will see to that." With a feral snarl the Knight Commander rushed at Leigh. Instinct took over and Leigh fought like a warrior who had been fighting for years. She bashed her shield into the older woman's face staggering her back.
"No, I will...not...be...defeated."
"You were defeated when you started this fight. Your pride brought us to this. Now you will see why mages are to be feared." Leigh dropped the shield and let the sword vanish. Her hands pulsed with magic. Fire and ice snaked around her body, while lightning arched out from her striking the walls and ground around Meredith. With a flick of her wrist Leigh sent a stonefist at the Templar shattering the woman's breast plate. She stumbled back and tried to get the breath back that was knocked out of her. A strong dispel came up from the Templar, but Leigh just shrugged it off. "Your pathetic attempts at draining my mana won't help you Templar. I was made to fight the likes of you."
"I will not let it end this way...you are a curse, a mistake. The Maker favors me not you."
"The Maker favors those that place their faith in him and treat all of his people with grace and compassion."
"You are an abomination you know nothing of the Maker! I am his chosen, I am the one who will be victorious." Another spell flew from Leigh's hands and slammed into Meredith. Inside her blood boiled wanting nothing more than to take the Templar and tear her apart with her own bare hands. Images of what she had done to the Templars that had hurt her father flashed in her minds eye. She shook her head to clear it knowing she would never go down that path again. She would not let herself be lost to that base passion again. Her eyes fell on the limp body of Anders and her heart felt like it was gone. She closed her eyes letting the tears slide down her cheeks.
"Then face me Meredith. Show me the might of the Maker and try to slay me." She heard the cries of her companions and siblings as Meredith brought her sword up one more time.
"Maker, I am your most faithful! Give me your strength! I your humble servant beg of you!" As if to answer the Templar the sword began to vibrate violently. In a flash of hellish light the sword shattered sending shards of lyrium flying. Leigh put up a flaming barrier to destroy as many as she could. The rest went into Meredith. The blood curdling scream from the woman chilled Leigh's blood. All she could do was watch the Templar turn to stone. She did not notice the other Templars moving around her or her sister and Merrill trying to heal Anders. Her whole body was numb.
"Hawke?" Aveline was afraid to even touch her friend for fear she would shatter or attack her. "Hawke, it's over. We need to leave."
"She doesn't seem to hear us. Is she hurt?"
"No I think she is in shock. We need to get her out of here before the Templars find their courage and try to take her in. Carver carry her out of here."
"Where? Without a ship we are stuck here."
"I can take care of that, the ship is read...y, holy Maker. Is he...?" Isabela ran up and the sight a Leigh, then of Anders made her lose her voice
"No, but is does not look good. Carver get her out of here now the rest of us will see to Anders." Carver swept his sister into his arms and ran for the dock. Her eyes still stared out into nothing as he ran. Asha and Ori met him at the gangplank and helped him get her aboard. Once he knew she was at least physically safe he went back to help the others. Cullen was barking orders at the Templars to find every one of the shards they could and burn them. Bethany and Merrill were still working on Anders and his color was at least coming back. Aveline was with her guards giving them orders.
"I will return as soon as I can. Brennon your in charge til I get back."
'Yes Captain, we will not let you down."
"I know you won't." Varric and Fenris both stood off to the side unable to help with Anders and as a deterrent for any of the Templars to try something. Carver stepped up next to the dwarf and the elf.
"She is safe on the ship. Ori gave her something to make her sleep."
"Good, now we got to get him on the ship too."
"Is he going to make it?"
"I don't know Junior, I just don't know. For her sake I hope so." Raven stood behind the mages working on Anders and she had to bit her lip to keep from crying. Nathaniel put his hand on her shoulder and gave her a somber smile.
"He'll make it, he is to ornery to die."
"He is a insufferable pain in my ass, but I can't imagine this world without him or Justice. I have lost people before, but..."
"He'll make it Ash, have faith." She nodded and continued to watch the two women weave him back together with magic.
OoO
Leigh woke to darkness. A warm body lay next to her and she reached out a hand toward it. The feeling of warm fur made her start to cry. The events that took place flooded back to her and she could not stop the tears. Someone must have heard her sobs because the door to her room opened. She saw Varric standing in the doorway.
"Where is he?"
"Hawke..."
"No, don't you tell me he's gone...don't you dare...!" She broke down then and fell into Varric's arms. She pitiful cries went through the whole ship. Varric smoothed her hair back and let her cry. Once she sobbing slowed he pushed her back a bit to look in his friend's eyes.
"He is still with us, but barely. Merrill, Bethany and Ori have done all they can. His wound is healed, but it is up to him now."
"What do you mean?"
"We thought he would wake when his body was healed, but he has yet to." Leigh tried to get up, but her limbs betrayed her. "You need to rest Leigh. I will have Orana bring you something to eat. We are out to sea so I hope you like fish."
"Are the others...?"
"All well and accounted for. Aveline and Donnic are here too. She refused to leave you til she knew you were alright."
"Always the older sister. You called me by my name, I've never heard you call me that before."
"Did I? Must have been a slip of the tongue." He went to leave the room, but her voice made him stop.
"I guess I have a older brother too."
"Yes you do and I will be damned if I let anyone hurt you Hawke. Get some rest, we have a long journey ahead of us."
"Where are we going?'
"Ferelden, the Warden Commander said she can hide you and Blondie there."
"I'm going home."
"Yes, and most of us are going with you at least for a time." Leigh nodded and closed her eyes again. She wanted sleep to take her so she did not have to think about losing Anders. She could feel Pash, but she was strangely silent. Waves of pain washed over her, both physical and emotional. She sought refuge in the Fade hoping when she woke Anders would be there with her. A final quick prayer to the Maker was all she did before drifting back off the sleep.
I know this chapter is short, but I wanted to leave it on a cliffhanger. I still have a lot more of this story to tell so please stay with me. I promise all will be revealed in time. As always thank you for reading and thank you for the reviews as well. I know I don't have many of them, but those I do have kept me going with this story. You all have my heartfelt thanks.
Raven