Disclaimer: I do not own Bioware or Marvel Cinematic Universe.


Marian laid on Steve's chest as he fondled her hair, while they were in her bedroom, only the silk blanket covering them as the candle was slowly burning out and about to leave them in the dark.

"Look, Steve, as much as I have enjoyed these past few days…" Marian trailed off. "You and your friends are going to leave us one day, aren't you?" Steve nodded. "Look, you have your life and family in your world and I have my life in mine. We both know this wouldn't work out."

Steve considered. "Wanda is willing to try with Fenris to see how things can work out. And she's learned how to use Eldritch magic, just like Strange. Maybe I could come to visit from time to time. Marian, look, nothing is set in the stone and neither of us knows where are we going to end up. But we can try, don't you think?"

Marian considered as they stared. "Last time I was in a relationship was when I was seventeen. Feels like a lifetime ago."

"I know the feeling." Steve nodded, remembering Peggy. "Maybe it's time you stopped being the Champion of Kirkwall and be just Marian Hawke again. A friend of mine told me I should stop being Captain America and be Steve Rogers again."

"I'm not sure I know how to do that." Marian said. "Too many people depend on me."

Before Steve could say anything else, the door opened slightly and Marian immediately pulled the sheet to cover herself and Steve. Luckily, it seemed that the uninvited guest did not seem to notice that Marian had someone else in her bed as well.

"Marian?" Wanda asked as Steve tried to hold his breath, hoping that she wouldn't notice him.

"What is it, Wanda?" Marian asked.

"A messenger just arrived. The King of Ferelden himself is requesting an audience with you this afternoon." Wanda said.

"King Alistair?" Marian asked, surprised as Steve widened his eyes.

"Yes. And with us… I mean the Avengers, too. I'll let them…"

"I'll handle it, don't worry, Wanda, thank you." Marian interrupted her as Wanda closed the door, none the wiser about Steve being with Marian in her bed. "She didn't notice you." Marian whispered.

"Wanda isn't stupid." Steve whispered too. "I think she didn't know it was me."

"Most likely she thought I just wanted to spend the night with some drunk or a fan of the Champion. Things like that happen sometimes, I turn most of them down. Some are…" Marian smiled. "…charming." Steve frowned. "But none are like you." She kissed him again before they got up, putting on their clothes.


Later, Marian met up with Isabela, who, despite having her own ship, did not left to sail the seas as she had intended. She was at the Hanged Man having a drink before the pirate looked quite surprised and seeing her. "You… you're here. Good. I… wanted to talk to you."

Marian sat across her. "Ah, you're still here. At least some things are consistent in this ever-changing world."

Isabela blinked. "What? If you call your rock or foundation, I'm going to hit you." Both women chuckled. "Anyway, I'm glad you're here. Saves me the trouble of having to go look for you." Isabela leaned towards the table uneasily. "I wanted to thank you for everything you've done for me. I'm glad you walked in here all those years ago."

"You've been a good friend and constant source of excitement." Marian noted. True, Isabela did bring her into a lot of trouble but she had proven that she was more than a seemingly selfish pirate, proving herself to be a loyal good friend, when it mattered.

Isabela chuckled. "Oh, you do know how to flatter a girl. It's funny. Now that I think about it, getting a ship doesn't seem that important. I just hate to have to say goodbye. You're the best friend I've had in… in a very long time. And for what it's worth, I'm happy to have met Wanda and these… Avengers." Marian chuckled as they raised their tankards. "A toast, to friendships and us."

"Don't you mean to you and my brother?" Marian asked.

"Oh, you know about that." Isabela blushed.

"You two weren't exactly silent in your quarters, when we sailed back into Kirkwall." Marian reminded as Isabela chuckled in embarrassment and Marian tried to erase the moment from her memory.

"Sometimes I forget that I'm not with my old crew, they're quite used to the noises. Though I have to say your brother need to bit more practice, and I'm happy to provide…"

Marian quickly started to drink her pint. Too much information again from the pirate. Better to drown it out in the rum.


The other letter was from none other than Alistair Theirin, the King of Ferelden and former Grey Warden himself, who requested an audience with her. They arrived in the Viscount's Keep to find Meredith in a heated argument with the King. Wanda raised her brows. He looked a bit older and had come a long way since that young Grey Warden she had met in Lothering.

"That's him?" Bucky asked as Wanda nodded.

"Let me guess: that's your final answer?" Alistair asked Meredith, folding his arms.

"You declare your Circle of Magi free, as if it's your right to do so, and thus stir up every mage outside your kingdom." Meredith glared. "What other answer did you expect, your Majesty?"

"A "maybe" might have been nice." Alistair said humorlessly.

"I do not deal in "maybes". I deal in cold, hard facts—as should you." Meredith sneered, clenching her fists. "Perhaps when Ferelden next chooses a king, it will be one that takes his duty to the Maker seriously." She stormed off.

"Well. That was awkward." Alistair muttered.

"How do you do, your Majesty?" Marian asked as she and the rest bowed respectfully.

"I've been better. Manlier too, come to think of it."

It was then that they noticed two familiar faces standing next to the King, Banns Teagan and Kallian.

"This is the Champion of Kirkwall." Teagan introduced her. "And these… Avengers."

The King held out a hand. "Right. I'm Alistair, uh… King of Ferelden." Marian shook her hand with him.

"Very professional." Kallian muttered.

"Bann Kallian. Bann Teagan." Marian nodded.

"I see you've met." Alistair turned to Kallian and Teagan. "Teagan is my uncle, sort of."

"I'm actually Teagan. I'm only sort of his uncle." Teagan smiled.

"You've come a long way, Your Majesty." Wanda bowed respectfully alongside the Avengers.

"Wanda, right?" Alistair asked as she nodded. "Glad to see you made it alright."

"Same to you." Wanda nodded.

"Your Majesty. May I say what an honor it is to meet you?" Aveline bowed.

"You could, but you'd be the first today." Alistair deadpanned.

"I fought at Ostagar. What happened there was…" She shook her head. "A great tragedy."

"Ah. Yes, it was." Alistair looked grimly. "Thankfully the man responsible has paid for that."

"Say… weren't you and Bann Kallian Grey Wardens once?" Anders asked.

"That's the rumor." Alistair then realized he had met Anders before. "Wait, weren't you…?"

"That's the rumor." Anders replied.

"Huh. I guess we get around." Alistair turned to the Avengers. "The heroes from elsewhere that I have heard of. Have you pierced the Veil to travel here? I've heard some rumors about you. How do you…"

"It's… complicated and too long story to explain." Sam said and Alistair nodded before turning to Marian.

"I was hoping we could talk. Would have been better timing before being emasculated by Meredith, but I'm not picky." Alistair joked.

"Things are looking up. It's not often I get called on to meet with foreign leaders." Marian said.

"I know you came here from Lothering. A Fereldan refugee that did well for himself, against all odds. I have to admit, I was hoping your influence in Kirkwall might be of use. Things…" Alistair sighed. "Haven't been going well with Orlais. Without a viscount here, however, there's only the knight-commander to deal with."

"You were having an argument about mages?" Marian inquired. That part had intrigued her. They had known the Ferelden Circle was considered something of a refuge, but not that the King himself was apparently involved on some level.

"Yes, well, apparently I don't feel the same way about mages as the Chantry does." Alistair shrugged. "So we're in disagreement. That means they get nasty. They're like that."

"The Circle in Ferelden sounds better than the one here in Kirkwall." Strange noted.

"You'd think so, wouldn't you?" Alistair shrugged. "Sadly, I don't control the Circle. I can only deal with mages outside the Circle… of which there aren't many."

"I've heard that a lot of your people took refuge here." Hunter said.

"I know. I wish I could have helped them." Alistair said remorsefully. "The Blight devastated the kingdom, and afterwards…" He shook his head. "Well, it hasn't exactly been peaceful. They're welcome back, of course. As are you. But after so many years away, would you still consider it home?"

"Ferelden will always be my home." Marian said as the Avengers shared her sentiment. Their world would always be their home… but the people here needed them. For now.

"I hope to see you back there someday. We could use someone like you, Champion." Alistair said.

"Why? Is there a war coming?" Bobbi asked.

Alistair sighed. "I hope not."

Teagan shook his head. "You're more optimistic than I am."

"Empress Celene is doing her best." Alistair shrugged. "Orlais isn't the most stable place right now."

"Orlais? Is something wrong there?" Wanda asked.

"Oh, the usual." Alistair shrugged. "Attempted assassinations, uprisings, fancy parties with stinky cheeses. Apparently, some Orlesians think it would be grand to get their lost province back."

"They make it sound as if we're going to lay down and let them." Kallian noted.

"Indeed, we won't let them swoop down on us, will we?" Teagan asked.

"That's right. Swooping is bad." Alistair chuckled.

"Do you really think there's something we can do?" Marian asked.

"Sadly, it may be too late. Meredith got wind of my arrival sooner than I'd hoped." Alistair rubbed his forehead tiredly. "What you can do is protect Kirkwall. It will take someone like you to keep it from falling apart."

"Just us standing between the city and disaster, huh?" Marian shrugged.

"That's not as much fun as it sounds." Hunter said as the Avengers nodded in agreement.

"I've been there." Alistair shrugged sympathetically. "Trust me, it isn't pretty." He glanced at Teagan and Kallian. "Well, I suppose we should be getting back."

"I'm sure you have a lot to look forward to." Kallian teased.

"Indeed. You-know-who has already returned from her mission." Teagan said.

Alistair smirked. "Is she? Well, let's not tell the queen, then."

Teagan and Kallian laughed. "Wouldn't dream of it, Your Majesty."

"Not, if we don't want Anora to kill us." Kallian snickered.

Wanda chuckled and those from Kirkwall snickered as the Avengers turned to her, confused. "King Alistair's marriage to Queen Anora is political." She reminded. "Chancellor Elissa is one of the two last surviving descendants of Couslands, a noble family, alongside her brother. She was also a Grey Warden and Alistair's lover before Alistair married Queen Anora, since he was the King's bastard son."

"Oh." The Avengers said awkwardly, remembering Wanda's book.


Marian found Merrill in her house near the fireplace. "I've got you something." She showed her a wooden ring.

"Is this from me?" Merrill asked as she examined the ring. "It's beautiful! Do you know what it is?"

"I only know that it was made by the Dalish." Marian said.

"It's sylvanwood." Merrill slipped it onto her finger and admired it. "Rare as diamonds. You only find it in very old, very wild places. The carvings tell the story of the Betrayal. The Dread Wolf tricking all the gods away from the world."

"Start at the beginning. What happened to the gods?"

"Long ago, there were two clans of gods. The Creators looked after the People. The Forgotten Ones preyed upon us. And one god who was neither. Fen'Harel, the Dread Wolf. He was kin to the Creators, and in the old days, often helped them in their endless war against the Forgotten Ones."

"Why were they fighting?"

"No one knows. We barely even remember all their names, let alone who struck the first blow, who was wrong… Fen'Harel was clever. He could walk among both clans of gods without fear, and both believed he was one of them. He went to each side, and told them the other had forged a terrible weapon, a blade that would end the war. He told the Creators it was forged in the heavens, and the Forgotten Ones, that it was hidden in the abyss." Merrill lowered her voice dramatically. "And when the gods went seeking it, he sealed them both in their realms forever. Now he alone is left in the world."

"I imagine the Dalish don't depict the doom with their gods just for decoration." Marian assumed.

"Not… exactly, no." Merrill said uncertainly. "This was made for a Keeper, you see. Guarding a clan from the Dread Wolf…" She turned the ring around on her finger. "Is a Keeper's place. It's a… very sweet memento, thank you."


Aveline was laughing hard enough she had to use her desk to hold herself up. "And then he says…" Isabela gestured. "He says, "I swear I had two when I came in here." You know those stains never came out."

"You are horrible. Every inch." Aveline muttered.

"You love it, big girl. And you owe me for the bottle." Isabela brushed her hand over Marian's shoulder as she left the office. "Marian."

"She's not so bad." Aveline smiled fondly. "Except when she is." She came around and sat on the edge of her desk. "Did you know I've been dead for seven years? I got word last week. They only just sorted the casualties of Ostagar. The king has offered to reinstate the commission of any surviving officers who will return to Ferelden."

"And?" Marian questioned.

"And what?"

"Does this appeal matter? I thought you were sworn to Cailan."

"King Alistair has apparently become something of a sensation. A champion of hope. Regardless of who has the throne, I served Ferelden. The country survives, even if Cailan didn't."

"You brought it up. What's your decision?"

"It's been a strange time here in Kirkwall. Did Carver ever tell you about that last night at Ostagar? How it happened? I don't mean the betrayal—everyone knows the signal went up and the flanking charge never came. But that moment when the tower lit and then…" For a moment, her eyes were far away. "The fight just kept going. It was the oddest feeling. Hope answered with…" She sighed. "Nothing. I don't like the thought of going out with a whimper, Marian. Not again."

Marian shook his head, Aveline had been leading her on. "You enjoy stringing me along too much."

"I can't keep a straight face for anything." Aveline smiled. "But I wasn't always so sure. Thank you for everything. I have so much because of you." She hugged Marian. "I'm here for you, Marian. And for myself."


Marian got a letter from Orsino asking her to meet in the Gallows. She also wrote that Meredith had restricted the mages, keeping them contained in their cells and forbade her from travelling further from the courtyard.

Marian met up with Orsino, who seemed greatly relieved in seeing her. "Thank you for coming, Champion. Few will associate with me now that I am focus of Meredith's ire." Orsino said and then he looked at her grimly. "Which relieves me in a difficult position. She is not entirely wrong. I know some of my people are using dangerous means to oppose, but I cannot seek the templars' aid without making every mage a target."

"What are they doing?" Marian said, although she suspected she already knew the answer.

"All I know is numerous mages have left the Circle at night, sometimes for days at a time. I'd rather not follow our knight-commander by leaping to the worst possible conclusion, but the idea blood magic had crossed my mind."

"You need some assistance against traitors in your ranks?" Marian asked to be sure.

"Traitors? Perhaps. Rebels? Certainly." Orsino nodded. "I don't know if they seek Congress with demons, or merely walk in the moonlight. All I know is a meeting is happening tonight in Hightown. I would go myself, but should I leave the tower without permission, Meredith would call it proof of my involvement."

"I'll see what they're up to." Marian nodded in agreement. "There is no need involving the templars."

"Thank you." Orsino said graciously. "Your support has been a lifeline for me. Just learn the nature of this meeting. You needn't interrupt unless you find proof of something sinister. I pray not, or Meredith will have what she needs to justify the Right of Annulment."


Marian filled in Aveline and the Avengers on the plan. She offered a few of her guards, and he shook his head. "The way Meredith is jumping at shadows, I don't want her to get the notion the guards are involved in any way." Marian said.

Aveline nodded. "You should bring Sebastian. He is an impartial witness that the Grand Cleric will listen to…"

"I was planning on it." Marian nodded


They went into the Hightown alleys in the middle of the night and what did they stumble upon. Not just mages. Mages and templars. They were surprised to see the two factions working together.

"Someone's coming! The Champion! And the Avengers!"

A templar drew his sword. "We know you're spying for Orsino!"

One of the mages gestured at the others. "Run. We'll handle this." He lifted his staff and started calling up a spell.

But, as usual, before they realized how much in over their heads they were, most of them were taken down by Marian's group. So much for the peaceful solution. Marian found a piece of parchment on one of the templars.

"A secret meeting at the docks." Sebastian said. "The plot thickens. Shall we?"


They entered the docks, when Marian, Wanda and those from Kirkwall noticed a templar with a familiar face talking with one of the mages.

"I told you she was hunting us!" The mage exclaimed upon the sight of Marian.

"Keran?" Wanda demanded, recognizing the templar.

Keran backed off, terrified of Marian. "No… Not her. I can't do this." He ran off as more mages and templars entered.

One of the mages drew his staff. "To arms!"

They did not come looking for a fight but apparently, too late to back out now.

Varric, Sebastian, Clint, Bucky, Sam and Hunter immediately opened fire at the templars as Strange, Anders and Merrill tried to negate the spells the mages casted. Wanda created a barrier to protect the rest from arrows as Marian, Aveline, Fenris and Isabela, alongside Steve and Bobbi attacked.

Keran approached after the last of the attackers were dead. He held up both hands in a peaceful gesture. "I told them not to do it, I swear! If I knew you were the one they were talking about, I'd have warned you. I don't hold with kidnapping. Not after what I went through."

"Didn't I save your life?" Marian asked, trying to understand.

"You did." Keran nodded. "Believe me, I still dream about those blood mages. I don't know where I'd be without you. I'd never have let them kidnap anyone I knew was one of yours."

"One of ours?" Wanda demanded, none of them liking this.

"They said someone was spying, we needed leverage, someone they cared about. As a hostage." Keran gestured. "We just got word they took some lad from the Grey Wardens."

Marian clenched her fists as Wanda glared, as they all realized who were they talking about, the chill in Marian's blood replaced with white-hot fury. "You bastards kidnapped my brother!"

"We weren't going to hurt him." Keran took a step backwards. "They… they should have just talked to you. I know you're reasonable person. You have to see how dangerous Meredith is Thrask says Meredith will cause open war with the mages if she stays in charge. We have to take down."

"So, this is all to take down Meredith?" Steve asked, none of them quite believing it.

"She needs to go. Don't you see?" Keran gestured. "We need a real viscount, and templars who protect mages, not massacre them. Just look what Thrask accomplished. Mages and templars, working together. Isn't that what we all want?"

"Is Thrask the one running this conspiracy?" Thrask knew Marian. Thrask could have come to her.

Keran nodded. "He's the one who brought us together. For six years, he's been working—on mage, one templar at a time. Teaching us we don't have to hate each other. He showed us Meredith isn't the only way."

"Are we talking about the templar Thrask?" Wanda asked for clarification. The man they had known would not resort to something so low… unless they didn't really know him.

"You've worked with him." Keran reminded. "He's a good man. You should help us, not fight us. All we want is someone sane in Meredith's place. What are you going to do to Thrask? To me?"

"This isn't going to end well. If I were you, I'd say out of range." Marian warned.

"Thank you." Keran sighed in relief. "I'm really sorry you were the one. Our main base is on the Wounded Coast, an old ruin. They should all be there. Your brother too. I promise you, Meredith is the only one we're trying to harm. I-I'll go back to Macha's. Please don't tell Meredith about me. It would kill Macha if I got in trouble."

They were willing to settle this peacefully and reasonably. But if they had to start with the blood magic, there was only one way to stop them.


They headed to the Wounded Coast as they faced apostate mages. Wanda lifted up a barrier to block the spells before templars appeared and Steve threw his shield, knocking them down before Marian and Aveline and Fenris attacked, while Clint and Sebastian and Varric fired. One of the mages summoned undead corpses as Isabela rushed at them with her daggers, decapitating them, while Bobbi used her staves to block as one of the templars attacked and she shocked him in the chest. Sam, Bucky and Hunter used their guns to finish off the rest, when vaguely familiar man came up the path. Wanda raised her hand, ordering the Avengers to stand down.

"Well, here you are. You've been sticking your nose in every problem in Kirkwall since you stumbled off the boat." The man said.

"Who are you, again?" Marian asked.

"Samson." The man reminded. "I'm the one who fouled up your lad Feynriel's escape, some years ago. Further back, I was a templar. But that was before your time."

"Are there blood mages?" Strange asked, looking at the dead corpses.

"It always comes down to that, don't it?" Samson actually looked disappointed. "They claim innocence, demand equality, but back them into a corner and they got options we don't. Haven't found a mage yet who won't take it."

"You're conspiring against Knight-Commander Meredith?" Sam asked.

"You could say so." Samson said. "That bitch threw me out of the templars for carrying letters from a mageling to his sweetheart. She's got a sword so far up her ass, she can cut you with her tongue."

They nodded. Lately, Meredith seemed to be less than reasonable.

"Meredith does seem to have a serious case of the crazies, yes." Marian said

"But is she wrong? I'd hoped with Meredith gone, I could take up the shield again." Samson tapped his sword hilt, then shook his head. "But maybe she was right—give them a hint of freedom, mages go bad."

This was stupid. Surely they had to understand what resorting to blood magic meant for their cause. Marian sighed. "Your friends are right. Without Meredith, Kirkwall can be at peace again."

"It is never that simple." Fenris shook his head.

Fenris had a point. It didn't help that Meredith was so paranoid she saw a blood mage in every corner but apparently, that was what was forcing mages to resort to the forbidden magic. The real question was, who was going to crack first. Meredith, who would most likely invoke the Right of Annulment and slaughter all mages in the Circle of Magi, or every single mage, Bethany and Orsino included, would succumb to blood magic and summon demons. Someone was bound to break. And it wouldn't be good in either case.

"I'd cheer to see her shipped to Val Royeaux. But I don't have the stomach to turn against all that's right and natural to do it." Samson said as he walked off. They knew they had to act fast or else Thrask and his followers would be killed.


Carver was lying on the ground. A mage they recognized as Alain was standing nearby, his position suggesting he was acting as a guard. It took all of Marian's willpower to refrain herself from pulling out her swords and slicing them all into pieces as Thrask walked towards them.

"I suppose it was too much to hope that you wouldn't have come here. Though I cannot understand why you side with Meredith now." Thrask said. "You showed me we can stand up to her. When I realized you had risked your life lying to protect those mages…" He held up pleading hands. "Please, Champion. I have nothing but respect for you. It's Meredith we must see gone."

Marian relaxed to see that her brother was still breathing and seemed to be unharmed before turning to Thrask. "Your cause is just. But I take issue with your methods."

"We want the same thing but you're doing it differently than us." Steve said.

Thrask gave him a relieved smile. "I should have known you recognize the threat Meredith poses. I am sorry for any distress we caused you or your friends. Let the hostage go."

For a moment, a brief moment, it looked as though it was going to end peacefully. And then she stepped forward. "No. The boy dies. Then the Champion."

"Stand down, Grace!" Thrask turned towards her, a look of surprise on his face.

"Grace?" Wanda blinked, recognizing the mage girl, who was Decimus's follower that they had helped escape six years ago. "You… we saved you from the Circle. Why?" She demanded, confused.

"We will not kill an innocent to achieve our ends." Thrask held up his hands in a placating gesture. "It gains us nothing to become Meredith."

"Meredith!" Grace glared, shaking her head. "What do I care for Meredith? I'm here for the Champion." She whirled on Marian.

No good deed goes unpunished and Marian's patience with rogue templars and mages had come to an end, considering they targeted her family. "You hurt my brother, you die."

"Decimus was right. There is no way for a mage to live by the Chantry's laws." The look she gave him was pure hatred. "You killed the best man I ever met. But I learned all he had to teach." She gestured at the mage guarding Carver. Another one of Decimus's follower, who they had let go. "Alain, kill the hostage."

"I-I don't know, Grace…" Alain started shaking his head.

"I thought you turned your back on blood magic when you saw what happened to Decimus." Marian said, trying to settle this diplomatically.

"This isn't right, Grace. The Champion tried to help us." Alain tried to reason.

Grace stepped forward and slapped Alain across the face. "Don't defy me, boy! Without me, you'd be nothing! If you're too squeamish, I'll do it myself!"

"No! No one has to die here!" Thrask raised his hands.

Grace laughed maniacally as she glowed bloody red. "Oh, but that's where you're wrong!"

"Oh, shit…" Wanda cursed as they all paled.

"Restrain yourself!" Thrask ordered but a blast of light from Grace's hand into his face sent him to the ground as his face burned.

"Forget the hostage." Grace cut open her hand, and the blood started to swirl as she changed. "Kill the Champion!"

Thrask tried, he really did. Grace struck the templar down without a moment's hesitation.

Anders hit Grace with a blast of ice but it barely slowed her down. Strange summoned Tao Mandalas as he neared Carver, shielding him. Wanda, Anders and Merrill deflected the fireballs the mages threw before Bobbi, Clint, Hunter, Bucky, Sebastian and Varric shot them.

Aveline, Fenris, Isabela and the rest engaged the templars, while Marian engaged Grace, who blocked her strikes with her staff before Marian stabbed her but suddenly, Grace turned into an abomination, sending Marian to the ground and scratching her in the abdomen as she screamed. Before Grace could finish her off, Steve used his shield and cut Grace's head off as she fell down.

Several templars and a few mages threw down their weapons and backed away.


Aveline collected the weapons from the ones that had surrendered. Alain gave Hawke an apologetic look. "I knew she was still alive, but I didn't know Thrask was working with her. When I saw her today, it brought everything back, everything I saw Decimus do. I…" He hesitated. "I'm sorry. Grace used blood magic to hold him. There's no other way to wake ho, up." He then pulled out a knife and slit his hand.

Carver stirred, then stood as the spell holding him vanished. He looked around in dazed confusion. His eyes met Marian's, full of fear and confusion filling him as he coughed. "Get out of my-" He stopped, when he looked around. "What? Where am I?"

Marian held her brother's shoulder. "I promise, I'll never let anything like this happen again."

Carver wasn't very relieved, more like humiliated that he needed her help once again. "Thank you, Sister. It seems I am again in your debt… and shadow."

Marian and Wanda sighed. "It's not always about you, Carver."

Before the argument could continue, Samson entered with a group of templars led by Cullen.

"The meeting here, Ser Cullen—Oh!" Samson stopped and looked around. "I guess you didn't get on so well with these mages as you thought?"

"Champion." Cullen gave Marian a confused look. "Samson never said you were involved in this. I trust you were here to stop the traitors, not join them?"

"The Champion's a good lady, ser." Alain stepped forward. "She tried to solve things peacefully."

Cullen grunted, and then glanced at a templar behind him. "Put the mage to questioning."

Marian held up a hand. This disaster had gone on long enough.

"Don't punish him. When they were about to kill an innocent hostage, he stood up to them." Steve said.

"Hmph." Anger showed on Cullen's face as he looked at the bodies in templar armor. "You mean he was one of them, save for a convenient last-minute change of heart." He took a breath. "I'll encourage Meredith to take it easy on him."

Alain gave Steve a grateful look. "Thank you."

"Everyone else here is under arrest." Cullen gestured. "Take them to the Gallows." He watched for a moment before turning back to Marian. "Is there any recommendation you would have me bring to Meredith, Champion?"

"She should consider reinstating Samson. When it came down to it, he showed where his heart is." Marian suggested.

"True." Cullen turned towards the man on his left. "Samson, you have done us a great service. Do you wish to take up the shield once more?"

Samson's eyes nearly fell out of his head. "M-more than anything, Knight-Captain, sir."

Cullen nodded. "Then I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you, sir. Thank you."


Marian returned to Orsino's office to fill him in. "Your mage-templar group was conspiring to overthrow Meredith."

"I have a sudden deep regret I interfered…" Orsino was shaking his head in irony. "You know, I was half-convinced Meredith had engineered the whole thing, to trick me into to incriminating myself."

"Thrask admitted to leading the group." Marian noted.

"Perhaps I've exaggerated the depths of her madness." Orsino sighed. "But if she's not there yet, she will be soon. The only question is, once it clear she cannot lead, with there be anyone left to oppose her?" He then handed her a pair of Circle robes. "Please accept this as my thanks. It will be of more value to you right now than my friendship."


Wanda found Fenris staring contemplatively out a window. She took the blade she had found earlier and offered it. "Take a look at this."

Fenris's eyes widened. "A blade of mercy? I remember these. You see them in the Imperium: replicas of the sword Archon Hessarian used to kill Andraste. This one looks finely crafted."

"I thought you might use it. Is it valuable?" Wanda said.

"It is. Here, let me show you." Fenris took the blade from Wanda and moved his hand down the blade, activating an enchantment that wreathed the blade in a warm glow. "These are gifts of honor, given to those who have performed a service for the Imperium." He tested the balance. "Danarius coveted them, as I recall."

"I think it could be good for you." Wanda said.

"For me?" Fenris held it up, and looked down the length of the blade. "Yes…" He smiled. "I think I'd like that. I'll think of the irony as I wield it. Thank you, Wanda."


Present

"Why was Meredith so obsessed with the notion that Orsino was behind everything?" Cassandra leaned over the desk.

"That is a very good question." Leliana shook her head. "The Seekers were getting reports, yes?"

"All very conflicting." Cassandra said. "And with all the confirmed reports of blood mages…" She sighed. "We should have been there."


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