Chapter 80: After All These Years

Hawke Estate-9:37 Dragon

It was early morning at the Hawke household, the sun shined through the windows and hit Ericks' face. The rogue stirred awake, wiping his eyes and then he turned over and smiled. "Well, hello there beautiful" He wrapped his arms around the waist of Merrill and kissed the elf on the neck. She giggled and turned to Ericks.

"I bet you say that to all the girls."

"Never, you're my one and only" The two lovers embraced in a loving kiss. It's been three years now since Ericks asked Merrill to stay at the estate in Hightown with him…not as a servant, but as the love of his life, much to the horror of the neighbors. A noble having an elf lover was not unheard of except most kept their little dalliances private, but Ericks was not like most nobles. He has been seen walking around Hightown hand in hand with his elven lover which caused quite the scandal not to mention his association with the riffraff of Lowtown and Darktown has not done him any favors. Merrill has further scandalized the neighborhood by wandering around with no shoes on, picking the flowers out of other people's gardens, and cooing cheerfully at their attack dogs. Several angry letters were sent to the Champion and the seneschal, but the situation remains unchanged.

Merrill looked out the window, she still couldn't believe she was in Hightown. The elf kept thinking this was all a dream and she would wake up under the leaky roof of her old shack in the Alienage. "Hightown is such a strange place. It feels like it's miles away from everywhere else" she said. "The alienage, Sundermount, Ferelden…those could be from a dream."

"I think I will take a visit to the alienage. Do you want anything from Lowtown?"

Ericks chuckled. "I almost miss Lowtown. I haven't had my pocket picked in ages".

"It's such a friendly gesture, sticking your hand in someone else's pocket. The Dalish are never that familiar" Merrill's smile then dropped. "I'm…stopping by my house for a bit, that's all" she said. "I've left some things undone there, I'll be back later" Ericks knew what she was talking about, even after moving in with him, Merrill continues to return to ramshackle house in the alienage, spending a great deal of time working on her mirror. Lately Ericks has been noticing Merrill crying in her sleep, she would always say the names of her two lost friends, Tamlen and Theron begging them to come back to her. Whenever Ericks tries to get Merrill to talk to him, she would just give him a fake smile and reassure him that everything was fine.

"If you'd just move in all your stuff, you wouldn't have to keep going there."

"It's better if…some things stay far away from this house." Merrill said. "Back before dark, I promise" And just like that, Merrill was gone. Bodahn came in and bowed.

"Messere, a representative to Grand Cleric Elthina is here to see you."

Ericks sighed. "Tell her to wait in the study, I'll be there soon."


Hightown

Ericks was at the courtyard of the Keep where a large crowd had formed. Orsino was on the stairway talking to the gathering with Meredith close by shooting daggers at the First Enchanter. Aveline was there with her guards trying to keep things from getting out of hand. The ruckus outside lured Fenris outside to see what all the commotion was about while Sebastian was with a number sister and brothers from the Chantry to keep things cooled. Ericks was called upon to try and keep the peace as the Champion of Kirkwall. Grand Cleric Elthina had a lot on her plate since the qunari attack on Kirkwall three years ago, more dead bodies continued to be found and she had to give rites of those that were lost. Not only that she was in talks with the qunari about reparations to the city for the damage caused as well as trying to de radicalize the remaining followers of the late Mother Petrice.

All of this could have been done with a Viscount in the Keep but Meredith was preventing the election of the new Viscount in the name of keeping order. Other people saw what Meredith was doing as a naked power grab. "I know you fear us" Orsino said. "Knight-Commander Meredith uses that fear to take control of your city!"

"She opposes every effort to replace Viscount Dumar, and you have seen the chaos of her reign! Will you allow it?" When the people started muttering amongst each other, Meredith saw enough and walked through the crowds.

"Return to your homes. This farce is over."

"Wait! Perhaps there some who might disagree with you, Knight-Commander." The crowds looked Ericks, the rogue groaned at this, since becoming Champion people now recognized him for better or worse. Never would he thought, he would miss being an absolute no one in Kirkwall.

Meredith frowned. "Do not hide behind the Champion. He has no role in this".

Ericks crossed his arms. "I don't remember needing anyone speaking for me, Knight-Commander."

"Is that so?" The Knight-Commander and First Enchanter walked towards one another and glared at each other. The people could feel the mutual disdain they had for one another.

"I think the Champion's views would be appreciated, or do you fear what he has to say?"

Meredith scoffed. "I fear nothing. My only interest here is keeping order and protecting the innocent" The Knight-Commander had a point, attacks from maleficarum had been on the rise and Kirkwall was seeing more and more abominations. Meredith's templars have been very alert and this gave room for Aveline and her guards to go after regular crime in the city. Still, some have said Meredith has been going too far. "Would you have us do nothing in response?"

Orsino frowned. "I would have you not paint all of us with the same brush! Not all mages are waiting for the opportunity to wreak havoc!"

"You know as well as I that temptation preys on every mage, no matter how noble their intentions." Meredith said.

"You push us into desperate acts, and then use that as justification to press us even further!"

"And the templars are not making things any easier for non-mages either" Ericks said. "The constant patrols, and inspections not to mention the curfews. I haven't seen such uneasiness since the qunari"

"I will not sacrifice the well-being of innocents for the sake of a few mages! I will not!"

"So, you don't disagree that your measures have become more extreme over the last three years?"

Meredith scoffed. "And you could do better?" she asked. "How well did you guard your own mother? Did she not die at a blood mage's hands?"

"If you know what good for you, Meredith…you will not go there" Ericks said in cold anger. "I will not have you use my Ma as your prop."

"Cold corpses speak louder than abstract freedoms, do they not?" the Knight-Commander asked. "As long as that's true, Kirkwall needs its templars more than it needs a new ruler."

"And when will it end? When will you stop seeing evil in every corner?" Orsino asked.

"When it's no longer there."

"The first enchanter accused you of trying to take control of the city" Ericks said.

"The city!" Meredith derided. "I am trying keep order until there is a ruler capable of succeeding where Dumar failed."

"You mean until you can find another puppet to control" The First Enchanter rebuked. "Or have you decided the templars should rule Kirkwall forever?"

"We will not stand idle while the city burns around us."

"The Templar Order exists to guard the Chantry and Circle. I suggest you let the nobility rule the city."

"I do not need you or anyone to tell me what my duty is, mage" Meredith said with venom.

"The First Enchanter is right. You should not be ruling Kirkwall" Ericks said.

"And yet I shall continue, until such a time as the city is safe."

Orsino growled in frustration. "Do you see, Champion? She is incapable of reason!"

"But you're coming on a bit too strong yourself, Orsino" Ericks said. Since Meredith's call for martial law, Orsino has been more and more outspoken against the Knight-Commander. He had seen his mages beaten so severely for even the simplest complaint. Mages were becoming tranquil at a rapid pace for minor offences. The atmosphere of terror was so great, that mages have been taking their own lives rather than live one more day in fear. All of this just reminded Orsino of the friend he lost to such cruelty and he decided to speak up even at the cost of inviting Meredith's wrath on himself.

"The people of Kirkwall need know what's really happening!"

"And then what? They tear down the Gallows with pitchforks and torches? That would be better?"

"It cannot be worse than living through your horror. Mark my words, Meredith, there will be a day you go too far and leave us with no choice!"

"It would seem that you are ill-fit to your position, Orsino."

"Threatening each other isn't going to help matters" Ericks said.

"And what should I do, instead? Allow this to continue?" Meredith asked.

"What I see here are two idiots that are at fault. I won't be a pawn in your little pissing match."

"You are naïve, Champion" Meredith said.

"You will find that not everyone bows to your will, Knight-Commander." Orsino said. The Knight-Commander and First Enchanter stood at a crossroads. The people watched nervously at what was happening, a start of a calamity, a war between the Templars and mages that would destroy Kirkwall after barely surviving destruction three years ago. Soon there was sounds of commotion coming from behind and the people cleared the way and gasped as Grand Cleric Elthina made her appearance. Meredith and Orsino stopped glaring at each other and watched as Elthina walked towards them.

"My, my, such a terrible commotion!"

"This mage incites rebellion, Your Grace. I am dealing with the matter."

Elthina looked at the First Enchanter. "Ah, Orsino. So, frustrated. Do you think this is truly wise?" Orsino was taken aback but then thought about it, despite him believing he was doing what was best for his fellow mages…all he was inviting was the slaughter of his charges. He yielded.

"I…no, Your Grace"

"Of course not. Young men, would you show the First Enchanter back to the Circle? Gently, if you please" The templars bowed and led Orsino back to the Gallows, Meredith on the other hand was incensed that the First Enchanter was not being punished.

"Your Grace! He should be clapped in irons, made an example…!"

"That's enough, Meredith. This demeans us all, surely you can see that?" Elthina said calmly but sternly. "Go back to the Gallows and calm down, like a good girl" Meredith fumed but ultimately relented, she gave a bow and walked away. Ericks stood there astonished, the Grand Cleric berated Meredith and Orsino like a mother would to her children and ended thing right then and there. Once again, Elthina was not to be underestimated. She then came over. "You have my thanks, Champion. I apologize for pulling you into this quandary."

"Short of putting those two in cells, I doubt anything will keep them from each other"

Elthina sighed. "Sadly true" She then faced the crowd. "Gentle people of Kirkwall…return to your homes, I implore you. This will not be solved today." The people dispersed and went back to their normal lives.

"And I must attend to the Gallows. They will see reason if the Maker wills it. Thank you again, Champion."

Ericks sighed. "I need a fricking drink" He went down to Lowtown to the Hanged Man, the day barely started, and it already felt like a pain. Nothing a few glasses won't fix.

Another storm is brewing in Kirkwall, batten down the hatches…Next Time! Review and Comment!