This loosely follows some of BioWare's 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!
THIRTY-SEVEN
It was well before dawn before we finally made it back, exhausted, to Hightown. We had shadowed several patrols and at each had found them engaging one of many new gangs who were fighting to gain control of the different areas of Kirkwall. We stepped in only when necessary but after doing so all night, I was in sore need of my bed and a bath, in whatever order they came first.
Earlier we woke the same ferry captain that Varric recommended not long ago and he took us across to the Gallows and I managed to rest a little before we docked on the other side. Fenris and Varric stayed with the boat captain, while we climbed the steps to the Gallows. Aveline was convinced that if Cullen were anything like her, he would already be at his post at this early hour. I looked at him, fully rested, and was sorely tempted to find some way to wipe a little of the blood from my armor onto his but instead stopped and splashed a little bit of water on my face to look presentable.
He seemed surprised to see us there so early, covered in rust colored stains, reporting that with the increase of criminal activity, there was no way any accusation against Aveline had any merit. Even the presence of Templars at the Keep has doing nothing to discourage the gangs, since it was known that they only fought against mages. I tried hard not to smirk as he listened to my report, seeing that he handled my veiled comments well as he rubbed his forehead with his gauntleted hand.
"I have no doubts that the complaints are not completely valid but the sheer number of them makes Meredith wonder if there is reason for there to even be a city guard," he said and I held onto Aveline's arm as she reacted to his statement.
"If Meredith thinks I'm doing such a piss-poor job then perhaps she would prefer to send some of her Templars out on patrols instead," she challenged. "Then tell me if the guards are not needed!"
"I have little doubt that they are, Guard-Captain. I see the tension that is building around the city with each hour that passes," he said as I moved in front of an irritated Aveline. "Meredith feels that if the Templars and the City-Guard were…united then the people would not feel the need to act out."
"You mean, Meredith wants Aveline to back down," I said and smirked at him. "It makes sense now, Aveline. It's obvious the Guard reported only to the Viscount and now without one, it has left a void that Meredith has desperately been trying to place herself in. And as Guard-Captain, you have not bowed down to support her," I told her. "Tell me, Cullen, how do you feel about Meredith trying to take over Kirkwall? Will she remain the Knight-Commander as well as being Viscount?"
He stood there and glared at me. "It is not my place to question."
"You're not a puppet, Cullen. You have a mind so use it! You see how the city is reacting now; imagine what it will be like when all of Kirkwall is treated like the mages in the Gallows?" I looked at him and he visibly deflated. "There will come a time when you will need to make a decision, Cullen, between what is right and what is forced upon you. I only hope that you will make the right one," I said and proceeded to walk away.
"All I can tell you is that the complaints come from a guard at the docks," he said as we were walking away. I looked at Aveline and she nodded.
"Thank you, Cullen," Aveline told him, bowing her head at him and I walked back to him.
"I do not trust things to get better any time soon and I fear that Bethany will only suffer for my actions in Kirkwall," I said quietly, standing close to him. "My only hope is that there was someone here to look out for her. The way things stand here, I would have requested that she be transferred to a different tower. Even as far away as the Ferelden tower to be safe with Siobhan but I doubt Meredith would agree to it," I looked at him closely.
"She would never allow it," he replied quietly. "I made a promise to you once that I would look out for your sister. I do not break my promises, Hawke."
I smiled at him, feeling relieved. "Thank you, Cullen."
I returned to Aveline and we slowly walked down the steps leading back down to the docks.
"Do you honestly think Bethany is in any danger here?" she asked.
"I hope not but in bringing Emile back to tower has not endeared me to the mages here," I replied, trying unsuccessfully to stifle a yawn. "Thrask informed me that they even caught the Starkhaven mages we helped at the Wounded Coast." She grabbed my arm to stop me.
"Hawke, they tried to convince you to kill Thrask! How Anders convinced you to let them escape…"
"It was my decision, Aveline, not his. I didn't want them to try to fight their way passed the Templars that were looking for them and there was no way I would harm Thrask, not after all he has done. It was the only solution I could think of at the time," I said.
"You could have convinced them to turn themselves in."
"Aveline, you've seen how they are treated here at the Gallows! I know you do not always agree but I will continue to do what I think is right, even if it means helping mages," I said and looked at her.
"You sound just like Anders, Hawke. How is it he still has such a hold on you after all this time?"
"He doesn't. Anders has nothing to do with how I feel about how mages are treated. My father believed that mages should have the same rights as any man or woman. He fought to keep Bethany safe. He raised us not to fear magic and to hope that someday changes would be made. If I can help make those changes, then I will," I said and continued to walk down the stairs.
"Even after what was done to your mother?" she called after me and I turned back to her.
"I can't judge them all solely on the actions of a few, Aveline," I said to her. "Power changes people. It doesn't matter if it is literal power that mages wield or power over the lives of other. You need look no further than this tower to see that even those without magic can try to rule over us all."
"You're right. Meredith will eventually try to turn Kirkwall into a bigger Gallows," she sighed and I continued to walk down the steps. "I'm sorry, Hawke. I shouldn't have used your mother as an example."
"No, it's understandable. But there is something to also consider," I said and looked back up to her. "Normal men, even Kings, have become tyrants even without the use of magic, Aveline."
She nodded to me and we continued down the steps.
"Let's take the day to rest. We'll meet later tonight to meet with the guard down at the dock to determine what is causing unrest," she said and soon we boarded the ferry to return to the Docks.