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!
~ This is just my continued craziness…
FIFTY-THREE
Once Meredith was defeated, we stood stunned at what she had become; exhausted by the sheen effort it had taken us all to stop her. No, we were only a small part of what made her give into the tainted lyrium sword she had, merging with it until she was no longer human. We watched in horror as she solidified before our eyes.
We stood surrounded by the remaining Templars, with the Knight-Captain Cullen all that remained of their chain of command. He looked at us and at Meredith once more before sheathing his sword, allowing us to leave. He had seen what the sword had done to her and he knew that something had changed in me.
I stood still, watching their every move, waiting for the opportunity to strike and be done with all of them but instead felt a hand tugging at my arm. I turned and looked at Bethany, who flinched when she saw my eyes, but did not loosen her grip on my arm, pulling me to the stairs that lead to the dock. Aveline walked beside her husband, who carried the unconscious body of the Chantry archer Sebastian. The rest of our group soon followed and I was impressed that they had all survived, though they were badly hurt and would not have lasted another fight with the Templars.
We briefly returned to the city, staying only long enough to retrieve what we could from the Hanged Man, knowing it was highly doubtful that Hightown would be safe. We made it to the docks where Isabela had her ship ready and was pleasantly surprised to see Bodahn, his son Sandal and Orana waiting for us. The mabari held the kitten Emilia gently by the back of her neck. Her brother Remi now lay at my feet, mourning the loss of his companion.
We cast off as quickly as possible, wanting nothing more than to put distance between ourselves and the city we left in chaos. Everyone stood and looked uneasily at me as I stood watching the fires in Kirkwall. None could bear to look but I felt it was duty to watch until there was little to see.
Later that evening Sebastian finally joined us and seeing Fenris by my side, he walked up to him and tried to pull him back.
"That is no longer your wife, Fenris. Justice is now with her," he said as Fenris shrugged his hand off.
"That would not be the case if you had not killed Anders, Sebastian. I need to believe there is a way to bring her back!" he shouted as Sebastian tried unsuccessfully to move him. "Bethany?" he called in a strained voice.
"I have tried to, Fenris, but all I can feel left of her is her hatred and her sorrow. If she is there, she has retreated so far into herself that even I cannot reach. I don't know how this happened. I'm sorry but only Anders could have known how to deal with this," she said sadly, watching his head fall to his chest. I looked at his defeated face and at the faces surrounding me, seeing the loss he felt along with their own.
"Merrill?" he called softly, holding out his last bit of hope towards her.
"I'm sorry Fenris, but what Bethany says is true. I feel that she's still in there but I don't know how to reverse this," Merrill said, looking away from his grief as he fell to his knees.
"The Hawke you knew is still here," I heard myself say. "And she is not alone. The arrow that pierced him would have killed her as well. With his last bit of magic, the mage chose to save her life instead of his own. In doing so, I was able to complete my joining with her," I said to all who stood before me.
"There was a part if you inside her all this time?" Sebastian asked, and realized what it meant. "It was you she felt!"
"What are you talking about, Sebastian?" Fenris demanded.
"Seelia came to me, fearing that she was losing her mind. She was too ashamed to tell you," he said softly. "It was you who made her go to Anders that night, wasn't it, Justice?" he asked in a louder voice.
"The mage knew that he could not be with her if he were tied to me. Their joining would have given me a vessel to be born into but he saw through my plan and gave the elf something to prevent her being with child. The mage hoped that he could suppress my joining with her with the teas he made the elf give her and it might have worked," I said. "Except she never drank the last one, did she?"
I could see all the emotions flash upon Fenris' face as he took in what I said. Before anyone could stop him he had grabbed his sword and was standing in front of me with the weapon, his face twisted in fury, blade held up to my throat.
"I will kill you for this!" he yelled.
"Fenris stop! You will only kill Seelia as well!" Sebastian yelled.
"Do you wish to kill your wife for something I made her do, elf? Is your rage that great that you would strike her down?" I asked.
"I would rather she die by my hand that live with you pulling her strings, Justice!" he said and I grabbed the blade he held. I could see he was torn as he watched the blood run down it as I moved it back from me. I looked at his face and felt something in me stir; something that caused a tear that fell unbidden down my face. With my free hand I wiped it and brought it up to look at.
"How very curious," I said, looking at the drop in my hand before looking at him once again. "It seems she has not completely given into her hatred after all. There is something in her that calls out to you, elf," I said and removed my hand from the blade as he lowered it. I moved back and looked around me, thinking that perhaps now would be the best time to find out what would truly happen to me. "There may be a way to restore her, but I warn you. I am what sustains her at the moment. If she does not choose to return, she will die. I cannot bring her back after that. Is that what you wish to do?" I asked him.
He dropped his sword and walked towards me. "Even if it meant giving up my life, I would do it to save her," he said and I could see the truth in his words.
"Curious how you both feel that way over this woman," I said and looked to the rest of her companions. "Is that the case for you all?" I asked.
"Yes," said the elf Merrill without hesitation. I looked at the rest and they all agreed.
"And you, Ser Archer? The Prince who almost killed this woman, do you love her still? Would you do anything to bring her back?" I asked Sebastian and he nodded.
"They have nothing to do with her, Justice. If there is a bargain to be made then I will make it. I will have none of them put themselves at risk for her. She is mine to fight for," he demanded, coming closer to me.
"Do not worry, elf. I merely wished to see that she was needed. I do not know what it will take to bring her back but perhaps your love for her will be enough," I said, stepping closer to him. "Now embrace me and search for her. But if she chooses not to come back, her death will mean yours as well. It is as simple as that," I said.
Without hesitation he leaned forward and wrapped his arms around me.
