A/N:Just a quick note: after the break, Hawke is telling her side of what happened while she was trapped for nearly four weeks in the fade, so it switches to first person. Also lines in italics are interruptions in the story via conversations happening with those listening.

Sorry this took longer than I thought it would, my little girl went through a "you have to hold me all the time" phase, which makes writing a bit difficult. Then I had a little writer's block for Hawke's tale, but thankfully my husband helped me through it by being a sounding board (he's my unofficial beta for blocked ideas).

Without warning, Hawke's body erupted in blue and black cracks of energy as power from the fade poured from her body. Anders leaped away, uncertainty overtaking grief in his caramel gaze, as he watched Mari's body arch off the bed. Marianna became the center of attention but only Fenris moved towards the bed-ridden mage. The warrior held his weapon at the ready, waiting for what he thought would be an abomination to finish its transformation. Anders wasn't aware of the ivory-haired warrior's movements, his eyes only able to concentrate on the glowing form of the woman on the bed. As the light slowly began to fade, the blonde mage watched as the pale azure light faded into her warm cerulean depths.

"Thank you Justice," Anders heard her voice whisper into the pervading silence before her eyes finally focused on his face. "Hello love."

"This is a trick," Fenris growled, pushing the healer aside and raising the greatsword above his head. Carver, understanding what the elven warrior intended, launched himself over the bed, tackling the lithe figure before the sword could be brought down on his sister's head. "It is no longer Hawke," Fenris growled, trying to free his sword arm from Junior's grasp so he could kill the bed-ridden mage in front of him. "She will kill us all. She is an abomination."

Fenris' words broke through the silence, suddenly everyone had something to say on the matter of Hawke's possible possession. Anders ignored the cacophony that surrounded him and gazed down at the raven-haired beauty, unable to believe it possible but not able to understand how she knew the name of his fade bound friend. She had heard him tell a few tales about his time served under Elissa Cousland, but to hear her say his name made him nervous. Especially considering the offer he had once denied Justice. Anders found himself wondering if the spirit had brokered a new deal with his lover, or if he had merely been the catalyst to bring her back. As he watched Hawke struggle to sit upright in order to address her friends, he knew she was not possessed by a demon or a spirit. If she had been taken over, she would have changed physically: becoming both stronger and in the case of demon possession looking completely different, she wouldn't be struggling to do something so simple as sit up in bed, even after being bed-ridden for close to a month. Anders hurried to her side, assisting her to sit up in bed and settling himself behind her so he could enfold her in his arms. He took a long moment to breathe in her scent as she burrowed into his embrace with a grateful smile.

Both two-handed warriors continued to wrestle for dominance: one to end a possible threat, the other to save the last of his family. Fenris was the quicker of the two warriors while Carver the stronger, they would have continued to fight if not for Aveline stepping forward and taking them both by the ear as she hoped against all logic her long-time friend wasn't possessed.

"I'm not possessed," Hawke finally managed to quietly explain to the room once the warriors separated.

"Why should we believe you?" the elven warrior sneered, turning away from Aveline and Carver to stand near the exit.

"Believe what you will Fenris," Mari sighed, sorrow shining from her eyes as she watched the elf glare at her. "I don't know of any way to prove to you I'm not possessed that you will believe, other than time and giving you a chance to observe me."

"What about Anders," Carver broke in. "You believed him when he cast that spell at Keran."

"I did not," Fenris insisted, folding his arms over his chest as he leaned against the wall, trying to appear nonchalant but everyone noticed the way he kept tense and ready like a great cat ready to pounce.

"You say you have seen abominations in Danarius' service," Hawke began, waiting for the elf to nod before continuing. "Have you ever seen them keep their physical form?"

"No," he replied curtly, a slight grimace playing across his features as he began to understand Marianna's meaning. "Though you could be a desire demon pleased with the form this mortal gave you."

"I'm sure Anders would agree I am a desire demon," Mari chuckled lightly in agreement before laying a gentle kiss on the blonde's check. "But until I convince Sebastian to dance naked in the moonlight in the chantry courtyard while drunk, I believe you are all safe."

"I'm convinced," Varric chuckled, as he watched an agitated archer blush a brilliant shade of red. "Only Hawke would try to embarrass Choir Boy with talk of moonlit drunken debauchery."

"As am I," Anders whispered, giving his Mari a quick squeeze he buried his face in the crook of her neck as tears of relief sprang into his tawny eyes. The healer felt a small hand glide through his hair trying to reassure him but the warden mage dared not raise his head until he got the moisture threatening to fall until control. He was sure his fellow mage could feel his unsteady breath enveloped as she was in his embrace but she was kind enough to not react.

"Where's Bela?" Hawke queried, curiosity coloring her voice as she looked at each of the misfits. "I would have thought she would be here with everyone else."

The companion's looked around at each other before Varric stepped forward, nervously rubbing the back on his neck. "Well it's a funny story really but I'll keep it quick for you," the dwarf began, sitting in the chair near the bed. "After Meredith crowned you champion, you passed out. It caused quite an uproar from the nobles, who thought Meredith had done something to you. Good old Broody swept you up and carried you here. We weren't entirely sure what we were going to do without Blondie here, so I went to find Daisy since she has knowledge of poultices and potions and some minor healing abilities. Sadly because of the chaos the city was in, it took hours for me to get back. Fenris and Rivaini weren't here when I arrived back with Daisy in tow. After our girl checked you over, we knew we had to get a message to Blondie somehow. I went around to all the messenger services in the city before I found one that would try to track him down. When I got back, Junior and your man were already here. Seems you are a better messenger than the one I paid.

"Word spread that the city's champion was unconscious. You know how secrets are: the bigger and better the secret, the faster they spread. The First Enchanter showed up one day with an idea for a potion he had seen used during his childhood and once we had the complete list of ingredients, Rivaini and I used our contacts to track them down unfortunately we weren't able to find one of the components with our sources, so Rivaini used a couple of Castillon's. Earlier today when the ship was set to arrive, we went to meet the boat and it turned out to be a set-up. Castillon had men waiting for our girl, Bela managed to get the ingredient to me but then took off. Bianca and I distracted the men while Rivaini split. I don't think she's in town anymore, probably smuggled herself on some ship before it left the docks."

"It's all my fault," Marianna whispered.

"Why would you say that?" Merrill trilled from Carver's side. "It's not like you asked the Arishok to knock you into a wall. At least I don't think you did. I can't imagine why anyone would want to be knocked into a wall. You didn't, did you?"

"No Merrill," Hawke giggled lightly, thankful for Merrill's perspective but still sorrowful that her coma had caused her best friend to resort to using contacts that she knew would probably get her caught.

"She knew the risk," Varric informed the bed-ridden mage. "And for you, she was willing to take the risk of Castillon tracking her here, especially when you wouldn't let the horn-heads just take her when she came back to return that tome."

Silence descended over the group as they allowed Hawke to digest all that had occurred with their dual-wielding rogue while she was in her coma. The first rays of sunlight could just be seen peaking through the heavy curtains heralding the approaching dawn, prompting Aveline to break the quiet atmosphere.

"It's good to see you awake Hawke," the guard captain nodded. "But I need some rest before I get back to work. The nobles are all clamoring for a new viscount and each person believes they should be placed in the position and Meredith refuses to let anyone whom she doesn't consider worthy take the seat. You know where to find me."

Aveline's departure seemed to spur the rest of the group into leaving as well. Soon only Carver, Anders and Hawke remained in the room and Carver seemed as immovable as stone until he had more of an explanation about the strange incident that just happened with his sister. He had heard a couple of stories about Justice from Oghren but knew his sister had never interacted with the fade spirit.

"I suppose you both want to know what happened?" Mari asked, looking between the two men in her life waiting for their confirmations before launching into her tale.

When I first woke up in the fade, I wasn't completely sure what had happened. I could vaguely remember the battle with the Arishok but after he charged into me and knocked me into the wall the rest of the fight got a little fuzzy. I'm honestly surprised I made it through the fight given how sluggish I was. I remember even less of what I'm sure was a lovely confrontation with the Knight-Commander, given how upset she was when she discovered I was truly a mage.

"She muttered something about you lying to her Anders when she discovered I was truly a mage. It was the warning you had Donnic deliver, isn't it?"

"I'm afraid so."

"Well isn't that dandy, she was rather peeved. I think if it wasn't for the qunari attacking, she would have carted me off to the circle right then and there but I digress."

Being that I woke in the fade, my body was as I perceived it so I didn't have any of the injuries from my fight with the Arishok. Usually Faith is there to greet me, but this time I found myself with a spirit wearing full-plate and helmet. When I noticed him he was surprised, apparently most of the magi don't perceive him if he doesn't want them to notice.

"You surprise me mage," the armored spirit said by way of a greeting. "I see why he is fascinated with you."

"Who is he?" I asked, looking around me at the unfamiliar fade scenery.

"I believe you call him your betrothed."

"Anders? You know Anders?"

"Yes, we served in Amaranthine together, for a time. I am Justice, I am unsure if he has ever made mention of me."

"He has told me a few stories," I confirmed, finally taking note of the fade spirit. "Why are you here?"

"I have been assisting Anders seek justice for the mages of Kirkwall. I initially offered to bind my essence to him but he denied me."

"You wanted to possess him? I thought spirits have no interest in the lives of man."

"We do not," the spirit before me agreed. "But I made a promise before he was kidnapped by templars at Vigil's Keep."

"What promise?"

"To help mages achieve freedom like that of their fellow man. But as I said, he denied me. I believe it was because of you."

"Me? I highly doubt that," I tried to laugh away his words.

"I thought you a distraction, and then when your mother was killed he could not honor our agreement. In part because of you and I believe in part because those atrocities were committed by one of your own. I believe he began to see the evil that resides in all men, not just templars."

"If I am a distraction, why are you here?"

"If I do not help you, you will die."

"And?"

"You are a mage, are you not?" I didn't even bother to respond to the spirit, since the answer was obvious to us both. "If you die, you will never achieve the freedom I promised to help Anders win for all mages. I will help you remember your injuries, and help you find Anders."

As he began to walk me through the fight, it didn't take long for me to remember all the injuries I suffered while fighting the Arishok. The hard part was the waiting. While I was basically trapped in the fade, time seemed to pass slowly even with Justice's reassurances that you would eventually appear. Once he was certain you were in the fade, he helped me connect with you to ask for help. What neither of us realized was the injury to my skull was what was really preventing me from waking. So it wasn't until we realized a week had passed and I was still stuck that something more dangerous had occurred.

"I thought I taught you about brain swelling," Anders interrupted.

"You did, but I just didn't think that my head injury had caused so much damage," Hawke agreed. "It was only after Justice read your thoughts in the fade that we knew about the swelling."

"Can we get on with this?" Carver scowled, a little frustrated by the magic aspect of the conversation.

"Still upset you don't have magic?" Anders quipped, a smirk playing across his handsome features.

"Shut it," Carver growled, shooting his fellow warden a death glare.

"Okay, okay," Hawke shook her head, fighting the smile that threatened to bloom across her wasted features as the two men in her life quarreled.

As the weeks wore on without my recovery, it became more apparent to Justice that if I shouldn't survive, Anders would lose his purpose. He visited your infrequent trips to the fade and watched as your dreams once so haunted by darkspawn became increasingly about my death. He even showed me one such dream and we realized that you were slowly going crazy without me around. He saw that you were losing your purpose, no longer certain in your actions or what to do with your time. I think this is when Justice realized you would never have made a good host, and you would probably have ceased to exist with his overwhelming moral code eventually taking over completely.

As time passed, I became more substantial in the fade. I was able to do more in the fade, and I was even able to connect with some of Carver's dreams and was visited by some of our family. I knew that time was short and you would either bring-

"Wait a minute, you saw my dreams?" Carver interrupted, shaking his head at the startling realization.

"Near the end, yes," Hawke answered, looking contrite as she met her brother's shocked gaze.

"We'll talk about that later," Carver muttered, his fist clenching as he tried to recall his dreams lately.

"I'm sure," Hawke murmured back, a subtle smile uplifting the corners of her full lips.

As I was saying, I knew time was short and you would either bring me back or I would die. However Justice developed a plan that would help me come back if the worst should happen. He was able to track down my spirit healer teacher, Faith, and with her help we would get me back. We were all aware as soon as my body died that it was time to implement Justice's plan. Pouring healing into my own body, Faith became a bridge for my essence to travel back to my body. Since she had such a close connection being my teacher, she had a greater knowledge of my character and was more able to form that bridge while Justice could really only form a bridge to Anders.

Apparently the spirits can bring people back, but only with those they know and only when that soul is deemed worthy, but it's not something they like to use very often. Your friend Justice himself has only done it once, it's why you will hear the occasional tale of people seeing their family and then coming back. However in mages, since we are aware of our time in the fade, it can be a little more apparent.

"A little? Ha, you lit up the whole bloody room," Carver informed her with a wave of his hand gesturing towards the whole bedroom before looking a little thoughtful. "It reminded me a little of when Fenris does his glowing bit."

"Really?" the raven-haired mage let out a soft laugh. "No wonder you all stared at me so much."

"You were filled with energy from the fade too," Anders informed his fellow mage. "I haven't felt anything like that since I was around Justice in Amaranthine."

"And you're not likely to feel anything like it again," Hawke stated, certainty shining from her aquamarine eyes. "Though as strange as it sounds, I'm tired."

"You should try to eat something more substantial than broth before you sleep," Anders replied, sliding out from behind his lover and propping her up with the pillows from their bed. "I'll bring up some food, and then you can sleep."

"I should go to bed too," Carver stated, rising from the foot of the bed. "It's good to see you awake, sister. Don't do that to me again, you hear?"

"You know me, always making a lasting impression. Even if it's against stone walls," Hawke quipped.

The two men groaned at Hawke's bad joke before they headed out of the bedroom. Hawke gave both men a grateful, if tired smile, before letting her eyelids drift closed while she waited for her food. The two men spared one last glance at the petite mage before they left the room heading towards their differing destinations. Before Carver veered off down the hallway towards his room, he grabbed the mage's arm, stopping Anders from his decent down the stairs to the kitchen.

"Will she be okay?" Carver asked, concern present in his eyes so similar in color to Hawke's.

"Only time will tell," the healer replied solemnly, sensing the other man's desire for honesty without the jokes. "I believe she will though."

"Good," the younger Hawke gave his fellow warden a curt nod before moving down the hallway leading to his sleeping chamber.

Anders grinned after the warrior left his side, heading to the kitchen, he felt like capering as he descended the stairs.

"Good morning Mast-" Orana greeted as he entered the kitchen before the blonde cut her off with a raised hand.

"I'm not your master, Orana," Anders admonished gently, heading towards the pot simmering with broth for Hawke.

"Yes of course," the elf lowered her eyes, a slight blush coloring her cheeks as she continued to prepare food for herself and the two dwarves. "Please forgive me."

"There's nothing to forgive," Anders laughed lightly, ladling broth into a bowl before setting the dish on a tray.

"Did the potion work?" the blonde elf finally asked, watching him prepare the tray.

"Yes," Anders flashed Orana a dazzling smile as he cut thick slices of bread. "She'll need plenty of rest and food over the next few weeks but she should make a full recovery."

"That is good news," she intoned, a smile brightening her fair features as she began assisting Anders in preparing the tray of food for her mistress.

With the elf's assistance, Anders soon had a tray ready for the two of them. Orana promised to pass of the good news to Bodahn and Sandal as Anders left the kitchen to return to their bedroom. The warden watched his lover like the bird she was named for as she ate the simple fare he brought. Though unable to finish everything he brought her, Anders was content with Marianna's small appetite before she fell asleep. Setting the tray of dirty dishes outside the door, Anders stripped out of his tunic and breeches, crawled under the covers and pulled his love's slight form against his own before falling into a much-needed restful sleep.

A/N: So I wanted to make a Dragon Age version of a near death experience, I hope my "spirit bridge" is a believable substitute. I tried to explain it as best I could, I hope I did it in a way that's semi-easy to understand and believable.

When I think of the fade, I believe that everyone visits the fade when they sleep (mage or not), it's only the magi that remember and can control their time in the fade while mundanes are left with no control over their dreams. Also people can appear anyway they desire, like how you see yourself in your mind's eye and not always what you see when looking in the mirror, hence why Hawke would have appeared without the injuries she sustained after her battle with the Arishok. She had to make an effort to remember them as she showed them to Anders in his dream.

On another note, I'm so happy I split this up, seeing how this is the longest chapter I've written yet. If it had been one piece, I may have given up on this story. j/k