Hawke navigated through the smoke and debris with Aveline, killing as many Qunari as he could, but there were already so many human corpses piling up alongside the grey giants that it made him wonder if he was even doing any good. Claire had warned him, but seeing it... it was worse than he expected, and if this was bad, what would the world plunging into chaos that she spoke of look like? He found he'd rather not find out, not that anyone would have a choice. He sliced the neck of another Qunari in anger, yelling as he did, and Aveline gave him a look.
"You're taking this harder than I expected, Hawke." She said.
"It's not just this." He growled back. "It's everything... the mages, the Templars, the Qunari, my mother, my so called friend... Isabela stabbed me in the back with the very daggers I gave her! And then another friend... I don't want to lose another one, especially not now. I just lost my mother, must I lose everything else?"
"This isn't the time or place, but afterwards, come see me." Aveline said. "It would be good to talk about this with a friend. And yes, I do consider you a friend, even if it seems like I'm yelling at you more than anything these days. We've been through a lot together, and you were there when I needed you most, it's only fair I return the favor."
"Thank you, Aveline, I appreciate it." He wasn't sure how to feel about it, honestly. Aveline was one of the most socially awkward people he knew, outside of Merrill. Merrill... why was he thinking about her? Was she all right in this mess? Why should he even care? She was a blood mage who consorted with demons, and not like how Claire treated them, but dangerously so.
Claire, he was finding, was trustworthy and spoke the honest truth, and he had no doubts anymore about how much she and Anders cared about him, despite everything. He sliced through more Qunari, but his thoughts were straying to the mage couple, and how strange they were. It didn't seem like he could truly turn them against him, even while he supported the Templars, and then the good they were doing for Kirkwall... how could he be against them, when they had proven themselves time and time again to him?
"Hawke!" He heard a voice call out and he saw Varric running towards him, with Fenris behind him. Hawke clenched his teeth as his heart skipped a beat and he tried not to think about it. They had to focus on the battle first and foremost. But still, seeing Fenris there... should he at least be glad his friend came to help, instead of avoiding him?
"What are you two doing here?" Hawke asked.
"Looking for you!" Varric grinned. "We figured you had to be in the middle of this mess, and lo and behold, here you are!"
"Ha ha, very funny." Hawke grumbled.
"I take it the Qunari decided to rise up after all." Fenris said. "It is unsurprising."
"Yeah, well I'm not going to let them have the city." Hawke said. "Come on, we have Qunari to kill." He moved on to the next group and plowed through them, using fewer stealth attacks and more straight forward ones because of how upset he was.
When they'd finally made it to Hightown, they saw Qunari dragging people towards the Keep, and slaughtered those grey giants as well. A sudden burst of magic took Hawke and his team by surprise and they were knocked down, but the Saarebas wound up with a sword through his gut before Hawke could retaliate. The warrior then sliced the qunari mage's head off and shook the blood off her blade.
"I am Knight-Commander Meredith." A woman in imposing armor stood before them, and reached out a hand to help Hawke up. "I know you." She said. "The name 'Hawke' has turned up in my reports many times. Too many. But that doesn't matter now. The Qunari are taking people to the Keep and may already be in control. We will need to deal with them." She looked up at another Qunari hauling people away. It was the first time Hawke had ever seen her, and the stories he'd heard barely did her terrifying nature justice.
"Why would they need hostages?" Hawke asked.
"They're going to take everyone of import and put them in the same place." Fenris said. "Those that agree to convert, live. Those that don't..."
"Charming." Meredith said dryly.
"I'll do whatever it takes to defend my home." Hawke said.
"Good." Meredith nodded, then began walking away. "Your skills will be sorely needed. Head to the Keep and I will see if I can find more of my men. These creatures will pay for this outrage." Hawke wasn't sure what it was, but there was something about her that made him not trust her. Had he been investigating the Templars and Chantry too much, that he was becoming suspicious of everyone?
They continued on, and then Hawke noticed a person shrouded in black, using both dagger and magic to kill Qunari, making him think of Claire, though she commonly used a rune imbued sword instead. He watched as the person disappeared into a shadow, then he continued on his own way. When they got to the Keep, they found First-Enchanter Orsino with a few mages, fighting hard against the Qunari. If it wasn't for the black clad person, Hawke was sure they'd be dead, as the new rogue mage was very quick in taking out the invaders.
Once the enemy was dead, Orsino looked to Hawke. "Many thanks, my friend."
"Are you all right? You seem to be the least injured, though I don't see any dead." Hawke saw the rogue mage healing the fallen Circle mages, and figured it had to be Claire. No one else would be able to do such things, and no one else would think to wear a disguise.
"Thank the Maker no one died..." Orsino said, looking over to their savior as she continued to heal. He was about to say something else when he was interrupted.
"First-Enchanter Orsino." Meredith came walking over with her Templars behind her. "You survived."
"Your relief overwhelms me, knight-commander." Orsino replied sarcastically.
She shook her head a little and said, "There is no time for talk. We must strike back before it's too late."
"And who will lead us into this battle?" Orsino asked.
"Allow me." The rogue mage said as she stepped forward, and Hawke recognized her voice, though as he saw her face, she looked very different, with no scars, black eyes, and black hair. Could Claire disguise herself so well? She was practically an ancient goddess, so why not? "I will distract the Qunari at the entrance, and Hawke here will sneak in, since he's an expert at such things."
"And who are you?" Meredith demanded.
"A citizen trying to aid the city, to protect my home and my people, knight-commander." Claire bowed. "I have a few tricks up my sleeve, and if the first-enchanter helps, we will make easy work of the Qunari. I have seen the Keep, there is a large group of Qunari at the door, and we must lead them away. Hawke will be able to make it inside then." Meredith looked like she was going to argue, but finally nodded.
"Very well then." She snapped. "We will do as you say."
"Thank you." Hawke said. "Lead the way." The rogue mage grinned and nodded, then bounded up the stairs leading to the Keep with the others behind her. She didn't wait for anyone before addressing the Qunari, yelling insults at them.
Orsino joined in, saying, "You will not take this city so easily!" As he lit up his staff. The chaos Claire and Orsino were able to make, along with the other mages, was amazing, and Hawke had no trouble getting inside.
"You didn't mention you're a mage." Meredith growled once the last Qunari fell. Claire grinned and shrugged.
"It didn't seem important." She said. She knew she was playing with fire, taunting the knight-commander like that, but she didn't care. She was disguised, and while Hawke had seen through her, Varric had seemed more confused and the other two were oblivious, and Meredith had never seen her before. There would be no problem if she just up and vanished, Meredith wouldn't be able to track her down.
"Who are you?" Orsino asked. "I've never seen a mage do such things before."
"She's probably a blood mage, dealing with demons." Meredith said, drawing her sword.
"Hah, like I need demons or blood magic." Claire laughed. If Anders knew she who she was taunting, and what she was saying, he would be extremely upset and she hoped if he found out, he would forgive her. "I'm fine just the way I am."
"Silence, mage!" Meredith yelled, slicing the air where Claire used to be.
"You're not going to be able to make friends very easily that way, my dear knight-commander." Claire said, sitting high on a ledge.
"What the..." Orsino was flustered, and Claire began wondering if she'd made a mistake in showing too much of her powers to them. She dropped back down.
"Shall we try this again?" Claire asked. Meredith yelled out as she tried attacking again, so Claire went back to the ledge. "I am not your enemy, you foolish mortal. Focus on the Qunari before you do something you regret." Claire then made herself invisible to watch the reaction. Meredith merely growled and stormed towards the Keep with her Templars and Orsino and his mages following after, though he glanced back. They would be having talks for a while after that, she was certain. Stretching, Claire teleported to Lowtown to finish off more Qunari, hoping she would be able to sleep for a long time the following day because she needed it.
Hawke walked into the Keep, where all the people were being held, and saw the Arishok standing on the steps, with the viscount's head on the ground, and prepared himself for a fight.
"Shanedan, Hawke. I expected you." The Arishok walked down the stairs towards Hawke. "Maraas toh ebra-shok. You alone are basalit-an." The Arishok looked around at the people he'd herded into the room. "This is what respect looks like, bas! Some of you will never earn it!" He turned back to Hawke. "So tell me, Hawke... You know I am denied Par Vollen until the Tome of Koslun is found. How would you see this conflict resolved without it?"
A loud noise at the door made Hawke turn around, and what he saw shocked him. Isabela had thrown a Qunari to the floor and was walking in, holding the book. He was so conflicted, he wasn't sure how to feel. She had still caused a lot of deaths with her actions, she had still betrayed him, but it seemed she was going to try to make up for it...
"I believe I can answer that." She said as she stepped on the Qunari she'd thrown down. She held out the massive book to the Arishok. "I'm sure you'll find it's mostly undamaged."
"The Tome of Koslun." The Arishok said as he looked it over.
"It took me a while to get back, what with all the fighting everywhere. You know how it is." Isabela looked at Hawke apologetically, surprising him again, but he could still feel the anger, and the confusion over it all.
"I appreciate that you've come back to fix your mess, but I can't just get over you stabbing me in the back like that." He said.
"That's being a bit dramatic." She said, frowning.
"You started a war that has killed people, and now the viscount and his son are dead, because of your actions! I don't think I'm being dramatic at all." She looked hurt and looked down.
"You're right. Normally I wouldn't have cared." She said. "I was halfway to Ostwick before I knew I had to turn around. It's pathetic." Hawke wondered, as he watched the Arishok hand off the Tome, if Aveline was going to lock her up for what the she'd done.
"The relic is reclaimed." The Arishok said. "I am now free to return to Par Vollen – with the thief."
"What?" Isabela was in shock.
"Oh no no no." Aveline waved her hands in anger. "If anyone kicks her ass, it's me."
"She stole the Tome of Koslun, she must return with us." The Arishok was determined, and Hawke had to think fast. He still cared about Isabela, and she was trying to make things right, but her actions had killed so many people...
"You have your relic, she stays with us." Hawke said before he could even properly think. He was mad. The Arishok had every right to demand her head, but Hawke just couldn't let her go. Perhaps part of him wanted to make her pay, just a little, by his own hand, the same as Aveline.
"I'm sure he'll take that well." Varric muttered. "Rivaini? You might want to move a bit this way."
"Then you leave me no choice." The Arishok said. "I challenge you, Hawke. You and I will battle to the death, with her as the prize."
"No! If you're going to duel anyone, duel me!" Isabela cried.
"You are not basalit-an. You are unworthy."
"All right. Let's dance." Hawke said, feeling like his life had spiraled out of control and this would be the final nail in the coffin.
"Meravas!" The Arishok yelled. "So shall it be!" Hawke began losing himself as he fought, not caring if he got hurt, and wondered if it would be so bad to lose. He knew he couldn't, he was fighting not for Isabela, really, but for the whole of the city. He knew the Qunari would not leave the city in peace, not after all that, so he had to ensure they knew there was someone there who wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty.
Before he knew it, the Arishok was crawling backwards away from him, bleeding profusely, and Hawke knew it was over.
"One day..." The Qunari's breath was coming out ragged, his voice strained. "We shall return." If the Arishok hadn't gasped his last right after that, Hawke would have sliced his head off. The other Qunari left silently, the crowd in the room just as quiet. It was finally finished...
"Is it over?" Meredith came running in with her Templars and Orsino, and Hawke nodded.
"It's over." Hawke replied. That seemed to be what the crowd was waiting for, as they began shouting and crying that the city was saved. Meredith, however, looked like she wanted to kill Hawke, and he wondered why. She slowly walked up to him, sizing him up.
"Well done." She said. "It appears Kirkwall has a new Champion." She didn't sound pleased, but the people were ecstatic. Was Meredith really as bad as the mage stories made her out to be? He found he never wanted to deal with her again. All he wanted was to crawl into his bed and sleep for the rest of eternity.
Somehow, in the midst of all the noise, he managed to slip away, and made sure to lock his door, telling Bodhan not to let anyone in.
Anders jerked awake when someone accidentally bumped into him, and he realized he'd fallen asleep at the desk in the middle of work. From the faint light he could see from the window, it was dawn, and the clinic was still bustling.
"Messere, please, go get some rest." A nice older woman put her hand on his shoulder. "I'll help keep things in order here while you do."
"Thank you." He said, standing up slowly. He looked around, but he couldn't see Claire anywhere, so he went to the back, hoping perhaps she had already fallen asleep in their bed, but when he got there, it was empty. Where was she? She couldn't have gotten taken out by the Qunari, could she? He yawned and stumbled, wishing he was more awake to look for her, but she would have to understand and wait. He fell into the bed, not even undressing first, and started dozing.
When he was woken up next, it was because someone was lying on him, snoring. He smiled softly as he saw Claire's face close to his, smoke and blood still on her. He figured she must have pushed herself too hard again, and closed his eyes. The world would be fine, they could have a small break before the end... before he lost all his control and begged Hawke to kill him.
He knew it was inevitable, that for all he'd believed when Claire had first told him, she couldn't actually change the future, and he was doomed to die at Hawke's hands, and he would welcome it. Claire would have to understand, and live on without him. But as he lay there, watching her sleep, he was overcome with emotions and began crying at the thought of leaving her, and hurting her that deeply.
"Anders, are you all right?" She asked. "What happened?"
"I was worried." He said, holding her tight. He couldn't tell her the truth, he couldn't tell her the pain he was in, the pain she couldn't heal... "You weren't here when I came in, I thought the Qunari had gotten you, and to see you here... I can't bear the thought of losing you." He felt bad about telling her half truths, but she wouldn't understand. Her fear of losing him was just as strong as his of losing her, and if she was in his position, he wouldn't be able to let her go either.
"I'm sorry I worried you." She murmured. "I'm here now, just tired is all. Hawke killed the Arishok in a duel, and the remaining Qunari left without further fighting. Hawke has been named the Champion of Kirkwall now... the viscount is dead, Meredith has taken over... the next few years are going to be... interesting."
"Just so long as you're by my side, we will make it through them." Anders said.
"So long as I have you, nothing in this world will take me." She smiled, and it almost broke his heart. He realized if he died, she would most likely follow in some fashion... he'd seen how distraught she was in her vision. How could he think to do that to her? She wouldn't be able to understand, especially with how hard she was trying to cure him. Perhaps he should let her.