Chapter 50

To the Rescue

Reks truly hated the structure and the layout of this city as he made a sharp turn around the corner. Why did everything look so damn similar?

He was absolutely positive he passed the same distract three times.

The elf ran on ahead of the remaining members of the group after they delivered the templar and mage back to the Gallows, worrying for his sister. To say he was terrified when he found the estate not only emptied but found signs of a break in, was a massive understatement. He ran through the city desperately looking for Hawke or the others, trying to put an idea on who would be foolish enough to risk Hawke's wrath to kidnap Merrill.

As he turned to climb a flight of stairs, a blur dashed past him, almost knocking him off his feet. 'Mythal's knickers!', he cried, looking at that blur that sped off into the direction of the Wounded Coast. He turned back forward to see a rather heavy breathing Anders and Isabela, both looking as though they ran from Orlais to Ferelden and back to Kirkwall. 'Andraste's panties, how is he able to run that fast!?', Isabela gasped.

'The sod was that?', Reks asked as the two humans regained their breath. 'Ah never mind! Merrill's gone!'. 'We're aware trust us, that faction of mage and templar kidnapped her as leverage to use against Hawke', Anders explained. 'Shit, where are they now?'. 'Wounded Coast but we've got another problem'. Reks looked at the two as Anders scratched his neck sheepishly. 'Well, no time like the present, but congrats Reks, you're going to be an uncle'.

Reks blinked as the words slowly sink in…

*WHOOSH*

And off he ran, speed matching Hawke's own.

'…HOW!?', Isabela whined, as she and Anders resumed chase.

Wounded Coast

Merrill could see nothing but darkness and all around her were many voices, each speaking out against one another and several she could hear in tone regret. Her body was bound by blood magic, a familiar sensation she recalled from her uses before.

She heard Thrask's voice, the leader she guessed addressing all the mages and templars in his authoritative tone to rally them and prepare for what she guessed was Meredith's arrival or worse. 'This is foolish! If the Champion hasn't been caught he'll come here!', one voice said fearfully. She wasn't alone in this carriage of thought as several others begun to voice their fears as well. If she could Merrill would smirk, knowing the full extent of Isaac's fury.

'Let him come! We have the numbers and the power over him!', one voice spoke with sheer confidence. 'Grace's is right! We have the elf, he wouldn't risk harming her!'. More were slowly beginning to agree with their odds, before Thrask's own voice echoed. 'NO one has to die! We need the Champion's aid if we are to remove Meredith from Kirkwall!', he spoke. By kidnapping his lover, Merrill was beginning to wonder if the stupid ones were the people in charge…

'We've received word from one our men in the city, the Champion is on his way here', a male voiced said. 'Then prepare our defences, and ready yourselves…', Thrask ordered. Merrill felt herself being lifted up and then placed back down again, she assumed she was moved somewhere back in the camp site as many feet shuffled in the sand, she came to the conclusion she was at the Wounded Coast if the ocean smells were any indication.

Yet despite all this, the elf could feel something else. A tiny feeling in her that tugged at her heart, something so small and precious to her, it made her wish she could move her hands to place on her stomach and assure the tiny feeling they'd be fine.

She prayed for Hawke…

Panic grabbed him at the worst times he noticed, and now for the first time since he arrived in this chaotic city Hawke was truly and absolutely afraid. He ran so fast he was positive he may have left trails of fire behind him in his pace, he was out of he city in less than half an hour.

He didn't care though, all he wanted was to see Merrill safe in his arms again, along with…their child. As if he didn't had enough to worry for, now his son/daughter would be caught in the storm of mage and templar idiocy. "How could I not see this!? The signs, the morning sickness, the sex filled nights!?", berated the mage as he quickened the pace, running even faster to rescue Merrill.

He climbed down a hill, stopping only when he saw a templar standing there before him. 'Well, should've known you'd arrive sooner than later', he said. Samson gave the mage a tired smirk. 'Here to save your bonny lass from Thrask?'. Hawke straightened himself up. 'I am, and are you here to stand in my way', he asked, gesturing the fire surging around his hand. Samson raised his hands in surrender, giving the mage a sheepish smile.

'Easy there Champion, I'm not here to stand in your way. Maker I doubt there's many left who would', Samson assured. Hawke huffed and dismissed the fire, walking past the ex-templar. 'But do you see?'. Hawke stopped. 'Isn't ironic? The mages want their freedom, but as soon as you give freedom they turn to whatever methods to keep it, even proving the masses right'. Heavy words that bear worth and ordinarily Hawke would argue this and even defend the mages.

However today was not that day. It was a day where the mages and templars stole his lover and child, put them in intense dangers and all to get him under their thumb. Today was a day Hawke would show them the punishment for their foolish plots.

Hawke walked onwards, leaving the templar there as he awaited for Cullen or Carver to return and capture the mages.

Provided if there were any remaining…

The path ahead showed the encampment of the mages and templars, several tents were uphold and supplies clear in the field. Many archers placed upon the small hills that watched the pathway to the camp, mages by posts with their mana surging for battle. Thrask stood before the Champion, beside him was Grace, an old…well Hawke wasn't sure what he could call her by this point. Tension was in the air as the Champion glared at Thrask, Grace's face unreadable but judging from the clenching of her fists, Hawke can guess he wasn't in her good books.

'I wish it didn't have to come to this Champion', Thrask said regretfully. Hawke just glared. 'Where is Merrill?', he asked. 'She's unharmed, I promise. We don't want any more bloodshed', Thrask assured. He turned to the side to show Merrill was indeed unharmed, her body still. Hawke, through sheer force of will alone, managed to control his temper before he unleashed his rage upon the people who so much as touched the girl.

'Release her Thrask, I really don't want to kill…you', he growled. Hey he didn't lie. Thrask shook his head. 'I can't Champion, not until we have your help against Meredith', he said. Hawke took a step forward before several archers aimed their bows at the Champion, promising to use their tools against him. Hawke glared at them all, fury clear in his blue eyes. 'You know the extent of Meredith's cruelty, but you know this can work!', Thrask stated.

'We managed to get templars and mages to work together for a common goal!', he went on. The more he spoke however, the more agitated the mage become, patience wearing thinner and thinner. If he had a distraction or some help maybe this idiot wouldn't be blathering on about. However, behind the tents, he spotted Isabela silently trailing on the outskirts of the camp with Reks in tow, both of them moving closer to Merrill unnoticed by the mages and templars.

Reks caught Hawke's eyes, mouthing the word "distraction" while gesturing Merrill with his free hand. 'And say I don't care?', he asked. They all looked at the mage. 'You kidnapped my lover, drugged her no doubt, because I know she wouldn't go without a fight, and dragged her all the way here', he went on. He spotted Reks grabbing a templar guarding Merrill by wrapping one arm around his neck and quickly strangled him as Isabela lifted the elf up and begun to drag her away.

'As far as I'M concerned, the very moment you kidnapped her, was the moment you destroyed any chance of earning my assistance', he continued. 'Then she's of no use to us!', Grace declared, grabbing her staff and turning to see Isabela handing Reks the elf just in time to see the furious mage fire a ball of ice at them.

'OH SHIT!', Isabela cried. Reks leapt back with his sister (and potential nephew/niece) leaping backwards to avoid the ball of ice. Before Thrask could stop her, Isabela tossed a dagger at Grace, hitting her in the shoulder. The mage roared with pain but the fury allowed her to resume her attacks on the pirate, firing spikes of ice at the dark skinned woman. The other mages begun to chant but before they could even utter a single spell, bolts and arrows pierced them.

Hawke turned to see Aveline leading the other remaining members of the party along with some the guardsmen. Sebastian and Varric upon a hill with several other archers raining down arrows and bolts upon the enemy while on the ground Fenris lead the armed forces into a skirmish against Thrask and the other warriors. 'Go rescue your girl, we can handle this!', Carver said, piercing a renegade templar's torso. The mage nodded and ran towards Reks, carrying his sister to a safer location by hiding behind a boulder with her.

Kneeling down to him, he could see Merrill was still unconscious. 'She's not waking up, is this normal for pregnant women?', Reks asked. 'Not unless if it's an elf thing', Hawke grunted out. Using his magic, the mage found a dark bound spell surging around her. 'Blood magic, some sort've of binding spell', Hawke muttered. With a chant of his own magic, the bindings were severed and suddenly Merrill shook and waved her arms wildly.

Thankfully Reks caught his sister's arm before she could give her lover a smack, earning her attention as she faced them both, fear in her eyes. 'Easy there sister, you're safe', promised the white haired elf. Merrill relaxed upon spotting her worried lover, who before she could even muster out a word, grabbed her and held her tightly, resting her head upon his shoulder. She heard him intake deep breath of relief before she returned the hug just as fierce.

'I…I was so scared…', she whimpered. 'Its alright, you're safe', he promised…

Estate

A close call but Merrill was saved, the renegade mages and templars were taken in by Cullen and his men and Thrask was arrested. Normally Hawke would've done more to help lessen the sentence but his main concern was getting his lover home and safe.

Anders had given her the all clear, stating that she was in perfect health and assured Hawke whatever traces of blood magic was gone. So now left the true trial of the day…

In their room, sitting upon the edge of the bed the two mages sat in silence as Merrill wordlessly caressed her stomach gently, eyes on her stomach. There were no words between the two, their minds trying to wrap around the situation that lay before them.

A child.

Hawke admitted this to none but himself(and Chewy and Atisha), he actually had never considered a family of his own. Sure he loved Merrill to death and more than once had that statement been shown one way or another and he knew she returned his sentiments equally. Yet a child between them? Maker he hasn't even asked for her hand in marriage nor even thought of it.

Clasping both hands together with his elbows on his knees in deep thought, the human wracked his brain. He could only imagine the amount of danger that would increase, if word got out his lover carried his child, a target. Gently he turned to see her in deep thought as she still caressed her stomach. She glanced at him, her eyes alit with conflict.

Slowly Hawke placed an arm around her until his hand gently gripped her shoulder, allowing her to lay her head against his chest as they sat in silence. Neither had an answer it would seem, their thoughts scattered and their worry grew.

'I'm keeping them', she said. Hawke partially knew she'd say that. The woman was too good for this world sometimes, not that he could fault her for that choice though. He looked down at her stomach where his child grew, a mixture of fear and happiness coiled within the pit of his stomach. 'I can't have them removed Ma Vhenan…not after today', she said. Hawke pressed his forehead against hers in understanding, before he took a deep breath.

'Let's leave'.

She looked at him oddly before he took hold of her hands. 'If we're to have this child, I want to raise them somewhere safe from Kirkwall. I want to leave the Champion behind and start a new life', he said. Merrill could see the absolute certainty in his eyes, not that she'd think otherwise. 'But what about', she attempted in a feeble manner but Hawke placed a gentle finger on her lip.

'I don't care anymore Merrill. Either Orsino will gain the favour of the masses or Meredith will invoke the rite of annulment, it doesn't matter to me anymore. YOU matter to me, they', he started, placing a hand on her stomach, 'Matter to me'. Tears begun to shimmer in her eyes, before she let out a gasp and then hugged him the tightest hug she had ever given him.

A/N:

Short again, and don't expect that to change any time soon. A lot of you can probably tell I'm having trouble to write for this story and that's the truth.

I do intend on finishing it that won't change, but it'll be for the time being the last of the long stories for this series. Thanks for reading, stay safe and awesome!