Author's Disclaimer: I don't own a thing belonging to "Dragon Age 2." Nada!
Author's notes: Here we are, getting to the end. I named Hawke's mabari after my old dog which is why he has a female's name. Just go with it.
I used dialogue from the game for Ander's little move, but I did put some original lines in there somewhere. For those not in the know, cause I never mentioned him before, Sebastian is a noble who served with the Chantry until his family was killed. His weapon of choice is the bow and arrow. He is close friends with the Head Cleric of said Chantry.
A huge thanks to CharlieBarrow for a lot of help on character lines and motivation. Many lines were suggested and written by her.
QueenTyzula: I hope you still keep up with this one :P We're getting to pirate territory soon!
Guests: Thanks for the short messages. Just know I have more in this story and even if the updates take awhile, there will be stuff to show. So stay tuned.
Moewe93: Thanks for the kind words, hoping you stick for what's coming next ^_^
"Catching the Wind"
Chapter twenty-one "Kirkwall Falls"
Hawke murmured with appreciation. She was where she liked to be best, between Isabela's breasts. Isabela was on her back on the pillows of their huge bed, legs around her hips. Her fingers were in Hawke's hair, tousling the short hairs at the base of her neck. Hawke purred with happiness, wrapping her lips around a nipple. Isabela arched, her face contorted. It took Hawke a moment to realize she looked uncomfortable.
"Ow," Isabela admitted. She stroked Hawke's head to take the sting from her word.
Hawke raised her face, gazing up at her mate. "What's wrong? You're so sensitive…" her hand was cupping her mate's left breast, and she eased up at the look on Isabela's face. Isabela shrugged and gently pushed at her mate's shoulders to get her off and to the side. Hawke rolled to the side but cuddled up close. Her hand ran over the pirate's side, tickling her ribs.
Isabela covered her eyes with her wrist, but she was smiling. "What'd you do to me, sweet thing? You must have worn me out."
"You are really tired these days," Hawke said, worry in her gaze. The master door opened, and Merrill eased in with a tray. There wasn't any whiskey or rum on it, but cups of tea. There was a cup of brandy for Hawke and the Champion accepted the chipped tea mug and drank deeply.
Isabela watched her with obvious envy. But she thanked Merrill all the same. "Thank you, kitten."
"You should have some tea, Bela. I made it for you," Merrill chirped. Hawke wrapped an arm around her slim waist and leaned to kiss her cheek.
"What's with you? You never skip out on whiskey, Bela," Hawke wondered. She didn't notice the subtle look between both women. Merrill shrugged out of her robe and raised her eyebrows at the pirate. Isabela raised one shoulder in a subtle shrug.
Before Hawke could gather the look between her mates, her mabari charged in and bounded up onto the bed. Angela looked positively pleased to see them, tongue lolling as he pounced onto the mattress. Her sons had asked once why a male mabari had gotten a girl's name and Hawke had blushed, recounting when she was a small child. She had been asked to name him by her father, and had settled on Angela, deciding he must be an angel sent to protect her parents. So Angela he remained.
All of the women protested, and Isabela heaved a sigh as the hound settled half on her leg, resting his snout on her belly.
"Down, boy, down!" Hawke commanded. Her mabari uttered a growl at her and Hawke gaped at the beast.
"What's gotten into you, boy?" she demanded. Angela settled his head down against Isabela again, making the pirate wince.
"Get this beast off me, Hawke," she pleaded. Hawke sat up and pulled her robe around her shoulders and made to grab Angela's collar. The dog growled full out and settled between her and Isabela. Isabela flashed her mate a surprised look.
Hawke settled into the mattress, very put-out. "He's never done that to me before. Are you okay, Bela?"
"I'd rather have you, sweet thing. But he is warm," Isabela sighed. Hawke took her hand up near the pillows. Angela still growled at the movement but allowed their fingers to intertwine. Hawke grumbled into the pillow, trying to settle her head near Isabela's without jarring the riled up mabari any further. She untensed slightly when Merrill curled along her back. She sighed.
"I'll train him or something. Sorry, my love," Hawke lamented. Isabela gave her a wink. But she gave an annoyed sigh as Angela shifted, big paws flailing, to settle along her side and hip. Once he was rooted in, he fell asleep, loud snores filling the air.
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"This is getting really annoying, boy!" Hawke growled. Angela growled back. She got hold of his collar and managed to drag him off the bed. But by the time she'd gotten her mabari onto the floor, the boys had knocked and then crashed in to spend time with them. Her mates barely had time to pull their shifts on and one was tossed at Hawke, kneeling on the floor by the foot of the bed.
"Good morning, da'len," Merrill murmured, giving both boys a hug. Isabela propped up on the pillows, her shift barely covering her breasts and stopping at mid-thigh. Hawke's eyes traveled hungrily up her body, but she willed her lust low. She pulled her shift on and glowered at Angela as she sat on the edge of the bed.
"At least he's off me," Isabela sighed. Lark rolled over Merrill's leg and scrambled to lay his head on his mama's breast. Isabela winced, but stroked his dark hair. "Careful, Larkie." That too should have set Hawke's mind. Her mate was being a bit too careful. And no whiskey? Her mate would rather die than skip out on a drink.
But Angela was acting up and being a pain in her rear. All through breakfast, he kept trying to get on the bed as the family lounged. The twins giggled down at the whining hound, but Hawke and Isabela were not so amused.
As the day wound on and everyone dressed, Hawke resolved to stay and solve the mystery. She sat cross-legged on the carpet in the main room and got her mabari's attention.
"What's gotten into you boy? You gotta stop annoying Isabela. She doesn't like your grubby paws as much as I do. Are you mad at me?" One of her hands was on top of Angela's head, stroking his ears. He cocked his head to the side, panting. But the good spell was broken when Isabela dared to exit the estate study. He barked loudly and bounded over to rub against Isabela's bare knees. She sighed raggedly.
"Down, boy, or I'll skin you."
Hawke knew she was kidding, mostly. She knew the boys loved her mabari as much as she did. Isabela patted his head idly, giving her a strange look. But a memory overlaid her mate. Hawke recalled many years ago when she was a scabby-kneed five-year-old, her mother being besieged by the hound's attention when she was newly pregnant with Bethany and Carver. The similarities riled within Hawke's mind and she neared her mate, inhaling her scent obviously.
Isabela stiffened, and Hawke was pleased to see her nipples hardening against her tunic. Hawke gave her wolfish grin and settled a hand on her waist.
"Should you be wearing that?" Hawke asked, gesturing to her corset. Isabela turned her chin up regally.
"Why?" she asked. Hawke could hear a tremor in her voice. She stepped closer, ignoring her mabari's growl. She turned her head and growled back. Angela dropped his snout to the floor, posturing to her alpha aura.
Hawke ran a hand lightly over the lower part of the corset, over her middle. She grinned longingly. "Are you pregnant?"
Isabela smiled when her mate began sniffing at her, trying to see. Isabela slung an arm around Hawke's neck, smiling when she steadied her with her arms around her waist.
"Okay, I was going to tell you soon, but I did go to a midwife with kitten….."
Hawke yelped excitedly, and Orana looked over with alarm from a task. Her sons looked up from their wooden toys with wide eyes.
"You are, aren't you? Yes! Bela, that's great!"
"Calm down, sweet thing!" But Isabela laughed when Hawke hugged her, lifting her feet from the floor in her enthusiasm. "Or don't…"
"It's gonna be a girl and I'm gonna be here for every step. I promise," Hawke vowed, eyes alight with adoration. Isabela's heart melted.
"I know you will, sweet thing…in fact, I demand you do."
"I will. Anything you need, I'll get it. Anything you want, I'll do."
"Hawke…."
"You shoulda told me, Merrill!" Hawke exclaimed happily to her second mate. The elf gave her a rueful but shy smile. Both women drew her in and Merrill laid her head on Hawke's strong shoulder.
"Bela wanted to tell you! We weren't counting on your mabari letting the cat out of the bag," she admitted.
"Who says it's a girl?" Isabela wondered. Hawke grinned over at her. She kissed her lips, short pecks of affection.
"I do. Bet it's a girl. We have two boys already."
"A girl would be great," Merrill chirped. Hawke laid her hand over the elf's ass and squeezed.
"It could be a boy!" Isabela interjected.
"What could be a boy?" Falcon asked. He and Lark sidled up and wrapped their arms around Isabela's legs. Isabela moved her hip, and the small family all sat on the ground, hugging onto the boys.
"The new baby," Merrill chirped. The boys looked from her to Isabela, and the gesture touched and saddened the elf. If only she could take her mate's knot….she could also….
But the happiness that excited the twins revitalized Merrill's mood when Hawke explained their mother was pregnant again. Isabela's heart went out to the elf. Before Hawke could embrace her and cheer her, Isabela kissed both of her cheeks and a jaunty smile was on her lips.
Merrill smiled her thanks to the pirate.
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"I'm sorry, Champion, so sorry…." Orsino was sweating and perplexed. He looked no where near put together as he usually did in his office and Hawke was beginning to panic.
"What's happened, Orsino? I thought that business with the mages gathering at night was concluded," Hawke said. Orsino's eyes were wide with fearful tears as he handed her a scroll. Hawke broke the seal and read the scroll and her panic became a full fury within her.
"Isabela! They have her….who are THEY…." Hawke reached to draw her sword, despite no body near that deserved a stroke. Orsino raised his pale hands.
"I heard talk of some of the dissenters wanting to subdue you, Champion! I had no part in this, you must believe me!" Orsino seemed genuine, so Hawke lowered her blade. She re-sheathed but was on her way down the streets in a hurry.
"They'll pay for this!"
The strikes between mages and templars were spiking in strange sporadic fits of crime. This new injustice directly upon her enraged Hawke. Renegade templars with mages had teamed up outside the spectrum to directly involve her. Well, consider her involved.
Worry for her unborn child also coursed through her blood. Her mate was pregnant! How dare they touch her? Knowing Isabela, Hawke knew she would have put up a fight. She wouldn't have been taken easily. Meaning she would have had to be incapacitated.
Hawke seethed. She didn't care they were mages, they put their hands on her mate. They were going to pay! The note said to meet up outside Kirkwall's gates, on the nearby beaches. Hawke's boots turned up sand as she stomped down the surrounding bay, hurrying down the pathways.
A group of mismatched mages waited down the shallow trail ahead and Hawke drew her blade, charging to a run to meet them.
"Just wait, Champion! Wait...!" one of the men was yelling when her blade met his neck. Hawke moved through the screaming mages like a whirlwind, killing or maiming as she went. The remaining templars began to crawl away, pleading for their lives. Hawke made out the downed body of her mate, on her back and eyes closed. She was alive, her mind insisted. She was alive, Isabela was alright….
As she dropped her blade and lifted her mate's body into her arms, she was still warm, and Hawke was relieved to see her breasts rising and falling with each breath. She lowered her face to her lover's breast and wailed as the fear she had been fighting overwhelmed her.
Isabela came to slowly and she slowly lifted her hands, lethargy exhausting her limbs. "Hawke?" she croaked. Hawke raised her face, tears lining her cheeks.
"Bela, are you alright?!" she demanded. Isabela touched her brow, wincing.
"What did they DO to me?" she made out. Hawke rained kisses on her face, a fierce smile on her face.
"I took care of 'em. You never have to worry about them," Hawke vowed. Isabela held onto her mate as Hawke brought her slowly to her feet, taking her weight easily.
"Mages?" Isabela made out the robes of the fallen bodies. Hawke nodded.
"If they want us to side with them, they should stop messing with my family."
"But kitten should be protected," Isabela insisted. Hawke nodded.
"She will be. She's not touched blood magic in a long while. I hope she's left it all behind."
"She has us, Hawke, of course she will," Isabela said. Her legs were feeling less rubbery, but she liked Hawke's arm around her waist. The two made their way down the blood-speckled beach toward the walls of the city.
"I just have a bad feeling, Bells. Like the whole city is going to go up in flames. The mages and templars won't let there be peace. It's going to end in more fighting," Hawke said, worry in her tone. Isabela squeezed her waist, hand over the heavy fabric of her tunic.
"My crew is manning my ship. We have a way out if everything goes tits up," she said. The worry wouldn't leave Hawke's face.
"This was my mother's home. It's my home now too, and our son's home. I just hope both sides will cease and see reason."
"I wouldn't count on it, Hawke." To dispel the look of dismay on her mate's face, Isabela stroked the back of her hair. "Even if they can't see reason, we'll bludgeon sense into their heads. You know I'll help you."
A rueful smile crossed Hawke's lips. "Not while you're carrying our child."
Isabela frowned. "Now see here, Hawke, I'm not going to be laid up like some prissy matron just cause you knocked me up. I can fight."
Hawke paused to kiss her cheek. "I know you can, but I want our baby, AND YOU, to be safe. Please, Bela, for me. Be reasonable!"
"I'll start being reasonable when you stop making love to me like a precious queen. It's your damn loving that got me this way," Isabela half complained. She leaned to kiss her mate's cheek. "It WAS good loving…"
"Cause I was all slow and made you wait a few times…." Hawke's grin was insufferable. Isabela lifted her tunic and pinched the flesh around her waist. "Ow!"
"Oh, hush up, I'll take it easy. Somewhat. Unless something big is happening…."
"Cause something big is always happening to us," Hawke agreed. "But please…."
"We'll discuss that when the time comes," Isabela said. Hawke sighed. She took her mate's hand.
"If the time comes," Hawke fretted. The two made their way back into the city. Hawke insisted on carrying her and Isabela finally stopped complaining. She nuzzled her mate's neck, turning down the collar of her tunic, kissing and nipping her. Hawke's hand moved up to caress the swell of her ass. She didn't let her down until Orana opened the front door of their home.
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Late one night, Hawke rolled out from under her mate's arms. She carefully crawled to the foot of the bed and climbed off. She shrugged into her robe and quietly padded to the hallway. Taking a moment to peer in at her sons, Hawke made her way slowly to her mother's chambers.
She hadn't been inside since her mother's brutal murder but had asked Orana to dust and clean up occasionally. Lighting a candle, Hawke carried it inside and watched the shadows dance across her mother's canopied bed. She swallowed and made her way to the dresser. She found her mother's necklaces on top of the wood surface. Knowing her mother's habits, Hawke knelt by the bed and pulled a box out from underneath the mattress. Inside was a stash of gold and currency. There was a small fortune stashed in that box. Hawke smiled ruefully.
After the life her mother had had, leaving a rich family, and forced to flee Ferelden years later, where she'd married Father and had lost that life, of course she would stash a sizeable fortune under her bed. Hawke took up the box and took it with her. Of course her mother had the right idea. A good amount of money at easy access.
Just in case. Hawke took the box back to the master bedchamber.
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"Hawke, you must come with me. Grand Cleric Elthina wants to speak to us. All of us," Orsino said. He meant the heads of power in the city. With the Viscount dead, he, Knight Commander Meredith and the Champion of Kirkwall were the highest titles in the city.
Hawke walked with him in the streets rapidly. Her long sword clanged along her back. "Of course. Whatever it is I can do to help…"
Fire exploded from the nearby Chantry building, booming and echoing with unnatural light and cadence. Several townsfolk threw themselves to the ground or gawked and pointed. Hawke grabbed Orsino's thin arm and pulled him to the ground. When the initial worst of the tremors had passed, both rose to their feet. Hawke stared, jaw dropping. The beautiful Chantry building was decimated, gutted by fire that licked the remains of the walls.
Suddenly, what they had been going to do flashed through the battle-scarred areas of her mind. Hawke swallowed. "Did Elthina…." Her forehead felt warm all of a sudden and Hawke was startled to feel something wet seep along her brow. Her gloves came away bloody at a brief inspection.
"She's dead! Everyone inside is dead!" A townswoman screeched. Nobles and elves tried to enter the flaming ruins to search for survivors but the fire beat back their attempts. Hawke coughed. Clanking footsteps filled the air and a troop of templars charged up, halting in unison. At their head was a familiar face.
Knight Commander Meredith didn't look too surprised. In fact, she looked more than resigned to her task. "And so it begins. I must gather my forces at the Gallows. Meet me there as soon as you can, champion. I'll leave this….murderer for you to deal with. He's your companion. Do as you see fit."
Anders waited nearby, shoulders shaking. The apparent righteous guilt making him bristle with quivering energy told Hawke who the culprit had been.
The templars didn't bother him but followed their commander. Sparks from the out-of-control fire fell down onto their armor as they moved past the flaming building.
Orsino looked beyond dismayed. He looked decimated. "So it's come to this. I don't know if we can win this war, Champion….but thank you. I will leave your….friend for you to deal with. I must return to the Gallows. Meredith cannot be left to rule alone there!"
Hawke watched, dumbfounded, as the head mage took off towards the Gallows. She felt like she'd been punched in the head a few times and dunked underwater, things just had happened so quickly. Soon, her companions all found her, standing over a slouched Anders. Hawke was relieved to see her mates in one piece, as well as Varric, Aveline, Donnic and Sebastian.
Anders had her jaw in his hands, gently healing the gash in her forehead. There was such a loving look on his face that Hawke was startled to notice it and his true feelings for her. She swallowed as the mage smiled sadly to her, eyes wrinkling with understanding. Then the weight of what he'd done crushed the small moment. He sank down onto a nearby crate, despondent and empty of emotion.
"There's nothing you can say that I haven't already said to myself. Vengeance took me over. I couldn't stop him. Justice once told me that demons are just spirits perverted by their desires. I made my friend a demon and he did this."
Sebastian cut him off. "Do not hide behind your 'spirit.' It was YOUR hand that did this!"
Anders held his head high, eyes looking anywhere but at Hawke. "Kill me now before there is nothing left of me."
Fury filled Hawke's being, but sadness weighed her heart. He was her friend and he USED her. Used her to hurt others! "I know ….you would have changed it if you could."
'Wouldn't you?!' her mind screamed.
Anders shuddered. "But I've proven I cannot. If I couldn't control Vengeance now, I never will. I need to die."
Sebastian snorted, hand going for his bow. "I can help him with that…"
"I might have understood if you'd only told me!" Hawke bit out.
"You condone this?" Sebastian looked flabbergasted." The brutal death of an innocent woman of faith? Someone you knew! Who TRUSTED you!"
Hawke winced. Again, she could see Elthina's kind smile, the way the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes pulled with each word and soft look. She truly had been almost a living saint.
"I wanted to tell you!" Anders went on. "But what if you stopped me? Or worse, what if you wanted to help? I couldn't let you do that."
"I never would have helped you," Hawke finally ground out. "Elthina was an innocent pawn in your struggles. You cast her aside as if she meant nothing to anyone."
"The world needs to see this!" Anders argued. "Then we can all stop pretending the Circle is a solution."
Anger lined Hawke's words. "So it's up to YOU to decide how things should be?!"
"It's obvious how things shouldn't be!" Anders protested.
"You really think this is the answer?!"
"Hawke, let me end him. If you won't, I will. He doesn't deserve to live after….this!" Sebastian notched an arrow to his bow. Anders stared at him dully, neither moving to flee or defend himself. Hawke held up a hand toward Sebastian. The nobleman waited, arrow lowering.
"Things can't stay as they are….."
"So you start a massacre to prove a point?" Merrill looked ill.
"I'm not proving a point! I'm changing a world!" Anders insisted. "You've never been part of the Circle; I have. The people fear what we can do, but to use that fear to bludgeon us into submission is wrong! And they do it with our blessing…. If I pay for that with my life, then I pay. Perhaps then Justice would at last be free."
Hawke covered her face with her gloved hand, despair on her face. "Anyone?" This she addressed to her companions.
Sebastian snorted. "If I'd been in that Chantry today, would you be waffling? You know what must be done!"
"Bold plan," Isabela put out. Everyone turned to look at her. "Well, I thought so."
"He wants to die." Fenris was to the point and as blunt as a sword. "Kill him and be done with it."
Aveline had her own say. "Belief is no excuse. Sincerity does not justify…..this."
"He should be made to pay for his actions." Donnic was ever the just soldier and his words reflected that.
Merrill frowned. "He should come with us. Do what he can to put things right."
Varric groaned. "I think I'm sick of mages and templars!"
Anders lowered his head. "Whatever you do, just do it."
Hawke faltered then looked to her mates, her friends. "Just go. GO."
Sebastian was outraged. "No, you can't let this abomination walk free. He dies, or I am returning to Starkhaven. And I will bring such an army with me on my return that there'll be nothing left of Kirkwall for these maleficarum to rule!"
Hawke dragged Anders to his feet and gave him a push to get going. The thin mage stumbled. "Don't interfere, Sebastian!"
Sebastian held up his hands. "I will not fight you, Hawke. My death now would serve nothing. I will return to Starkhaven, but I swear to you I will come back and find your precious Anders. I'll teach him what true Justice is!"
As the nobleman stalked off in the fray, the remaining party members fidgeted.
"One less to help us, brilliant," Isabela mumbled.
Anders sighed. "Thank you for my life. I'll try not to make such a mess of it this time."
Hawke smiled sadly at him. "I could never kill someone I called a friend."
Anders smiled back. His eyes held a haunted light, but he would live. He clutched Hawke's hand, squeezed.
And then he turned the corner and was gone. Truly gone from them forever.
"We'd all best get to the Gallows, and quick; it's going to be quite a show," Varric lamented.
"Before we go, you have to head back," Hawke said. Isabela suddenly knew what she meant when the Champion took her hand.
"You have to stay safe. Take what you need from the house, but you have to get going."
Isabela frowned. "Oh no, you're not telling me what to do! I'm with you to the end, Hawke."
Hawke clasped both her hands in hers. Her face held a pleading look. "PLEASE. PLEASE. Listen to me, Bela. You have to stay safe…."
"I have to be at your side!" Isabela insisted.
Hawke's eyes darted between them to her mate's middle. "For the baby. Please go."
Isabela sighed, biting her lip. "Already this pup is giving you reasons to molly coddle me….."
Varric stirred. "You're pregnant again? Congratulations!"
"This is beside the point," Aveline complained. Her husband gave her a rueful look.
Isabela turned back to her mate. "And besides, I'm not going."
Hawke didn't care the city was going to pieces. She cupped her mate's face in her palms and sweetly kissed her. "Please. For me. For our boys."
"I can fight… " Isabela protested. Hawke leaned to kiss her again. Her argument stopped.
"I know you can. But the boys cannot. They need you to protect them while I go help." Hawke's eyes were filled with love, fear and anguish. So much fear, as much as when her sister had lain ill in the Deep Roads….. Isabela's heart turned. The least she could do was alleviate a portion of that fear.
"I…I'll keep them safe…"
Hawke sighed with relief. They kissed again until Aveline cleared her throat.
"We really should be going, Hawke," she retorted. Isabela couldn't find it in herself to tease her. Hawke's hand settled between them, over her flat belly. She rubbed there, such love in her gaze that Isabela couldn't fathom going against what she asked.
"You better not die, or I'll kick your ass." Isabela ran her fingers lovingly over Hawke's cheek to take the sting from her words. Hawke nodded, love in her gaze.
"I will come back to you. Just get to the ship…."
Isabela let Hawke slide from her embrace and her arms felt heavy, languid without her mate in them. Templars rushed the group from down the street and Hawke jerked her head to the side.
"Go!" she yelled. Isabela could only manage one more anguished look and her eyes met Merrill's wild gaze momentarily. What about kitten?
Before she could think, Isabela was running. Running to protect the babe in her belly, rushing full out for the Hawke estate to collect the rest of their family. She had promised to keep them safe.
And anyone who stood in the way of that safety deserved her blades.
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The boat swayed in the water as Donnic and Aveline rowed. Hawke sat at the prow and Merrill pressed into her side. The Gallows grew larger and larger and they could hear commotion and fighting already from within the fortress. Hawke laid her gloved hand over Merrill's. Worry for her second mate suddenly made her feel sick to her stomach. Why had she let her come? She was the worst mate ever….
The boat touched shore and the party climbed out. Before they could investigate and join the fray, Fenris spoke up. His deep voice grated like dropping rocks with the words that Hawke couldn't believe she was hearing.
"Hawke, wait a minute. You can't fight the templars like this."
"The hell I can't. We need to take a side and I'll help Orsino and the mages. It's the right thing to do," Hawke said. Fenris glowered from beneath his white bangs.
"Stop letting your feelings for your family rule you," he snapped. His eyes flashed from Merrill back to the confused Champion. "You know what mages are capable of. And I'll be damned if I'll let them walk free to do as they want."
The moonlight glinted off the tattoos lyrium had traced into his face, neck, arms, and really all over his body, Hawke imagined. She shuddered. The mage's work on the elf was never a pretty sight and Hawke had to imagine the pain had been unimaginable when the lyrium had been put into his skin. But still….
"You're leaving us? To help Meredith?!" When Fenris nodded, Hawke sighed with exasperation. "I never thought our friendship meant so little to you. Stand down, Fenris!"
"No!" there were trace amounts of fear with the rage in his eyes. "I would rather die than side with the mages any day! I thought you knew that, Hawke."
"I stood up for you where it counted! You're stabbing me in the back!" Hawke yelled. Merrill clutched her arm.
"Fenris, maybe we could…. " Aveline began.
Fenris shook his head. "I've made up my mind. Good luck, Champion."
Hawke watched, flabbergasted, as her friend strode off to join the templars. "I can't believe this!"
"I thought he would side with you no matter what," Donnic said softly. Hawke sighed. Her heart shredded even further.
"Let's just….find Orsino. Before he's taken out."
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Further inside the fortress, the party dispatched random templars until they found the head mage in a far-flung corner of the stone building. A thin stone bridge connected the platform to the maze of hallways. The head mage was forlorn, staring off the edge of the platform to the ground far below.
"Why don't they just drown us as infants…" he muttered to himself. Hawke's eyebrow raised. She hurried to the elf's side.
"Orsino?"
"Why wait?" Orsino's wild eyes met hers. "Why give us the illusion of hope?!" Rage lined his vision. "I refuse to keep running. I won't wait for her to kill me!"
Hawke paused then spoke. "I hope you're not giving up before taking a shot at Meredith…."
"I'm not giving up…." Orsino glowered at her. "I'm giving in!"
"Stop!" Hawke said, noting the dagger he pulled from his sash.
"Meredith expects blood magic? Then I'll give it to her!" The head mage didn't try to attack her but drew up the sleeve of his robe to slice a gash down his exposed forearm. "Maker help us all…."
"No!" Hawke yelled. Her companions were shouting behind her but Orsino let the blood pour over him in waves of red magic and he let it happen. The nearby fallen bodies of the mages and templars that had been slain were pulled into him and Orsino was transformed into a gelatinous mix of pale limbs and monstrous intention.
Hawke charged at what was Orsino, blade drawn. The battle was intense, drawn out and harrowing. Hawke was surprised how exhausted she was as she took a second to breathe on the far side of the platform. Aveline and Donnic were side by side, weapons rising and falling in tandem. Varric was on the far side of the platform, keeping his distance to lob volleys of arrows from his crossbow into the creature's broad pale side. Hawke noted her mate was beside him, keeping her distance to fire blasts of magic from her staff.
Hawke's heart was in her throat when the Orsino monster turned toward the pair furthest away, and inflicting damage from a distance. She was running and leaping before she could think, and Hawke leaped, landing on the creatures' shoulder. She slammed her blade straight down into the larger skull that looked most like the Head mage and twisted as hard as she could. The creature roared, its many arms flailing. One thin arm tugged at her waist, but Hawke kicked it off her, digging the sword in deeper. The creature thumped to the ground and Hawke hopped off, wrenching her blade free.
She didn't even mind or care when Aveline and her husband hurried to help her drive the finishing blows to the feebly reaching creature. Finally, what was Orsino lay still. Hawke wrenched her sword from the creature, body lathered in a cold sweat beneath her clothing and armor. Her wild eyes met Merrill's and Hawke took her into her arms, crushing her to her front.
Merrill cried out. She clutched Hawke to her, fingers clutching the back of her armor.
"Merrill…I shouldn't have let you come…" Hawke murmured. Merrill turned her face down to her and kissed her sweetly. Hawke kissed her back. "You must go help Isabela…"
"No…..I can stay, Hawke. I need to….." Merrill insisted. Hawke kissed her gently, holding her chin with one hand. Blood that was on her glove smeared accidentally onto Merrill's pale cheek. Blood that was smeared across her breastplate pressed into the elf's tunic front. Merrill winced.
"My love, you must go find Isabela. Go to the ship with her. Protect her and our pups."
Merrill's heart seized and lifted at 'our pups.' She did consider Isabela's children almost her own.
"Hawke…." Merrill protested. Hawke kissed her again, hands moving to the small of the elf's back. Their bodies pressed closely.
"Please, Merrill. Protect them all. By any means necessary."
At those words, Merrill somehow knew Hawke meant to use blood magic. But she hadn't touched it in months. Its power was amplified to use, but like a drug or substance, to get clean it was best to have a clean break. But if her family were truly in danger….. Merrill knew she would use it.
"They will be safe, my love," Merrill vowed. "I promise." Hawke kissed her tenderly. She bent to her ear and whispered her love. Merrill hugged her around the neck tightly. Merrill knew Hawke was sending her away….. and she herself was heading for more danger. The elf tried not to think it was the last time she was touching her lover.
With one last sad look, the elf turned and ran. Hawke watched her get to the boats at the Gallows dock with a heavy heart.
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When Isabela arrived at the Hawke estate, she was dismayed to see across the city that parts of Lowtown were on fire, as well as Hightown already from the Chantry's explosion. The flames were still a good way off from the street where they lived, but they could easily creep to home and hearth….
Isabela cursed and dodged nobles running to and fro on the street, ducking under the statue by the front door for the brass door key. At her hard jostle, the small statue toppled over and promptly broke as if to mock the pirate even further with the panic roiling through the city.
Isabela cursed, then cursed herself for worrying about the dumb statue, and grabbed up the large key. She unlocked the front door, ran five feet into the foyer, screeched to a halt, and ran back only to latch up the door tight.
The city was going to heck in a handbasket so no need for stupid surprises at this point. Isabela burst into the front room, bellowing for the twins. "FAL! LARK!"
The twins yelled from the kitchen. Orana emerged, holding their hands tight, her pale face even paler with fright. Isabela patted the boys on the head and clutched the elf's elbow with a comforting pat.
"We have to go, Orana. Pack up a bag and help get the boy's things. We need to go. NOW."
The hard level of authority in her voice seemed to snap Orana back to some semblance of help and she ran at a hard pace up the stairs to collect sacks and stuff the boys and her clothing in. Isabela heard the boys follow her and she dashed up to the master bedchamber. She grabbed a sack and rooted under the bed. In went the small box Hawke's mother had stashed gold in. Never knew if they'd need the currency, but Isabela wasn't going to let a small fortune go missing to looters.
Isabela frantically threw in few odds and ends of hers, Hawkes and Merrill's things and clothing. She gave the large bed and familiar chamber a sad look before rushing down the hall. Isabela didn't have time to say a quiet prayer to Hawke's deceased mother as she pushed into her old chamber. The pirate grunted with frustration as she tried to hurry, but at least she found a few necklaces that Hawke's mother had once worn. Into the sack they went. Dumb to think of at a time like this, but if they couldn't come back….. Hawke would be glad she came in here…..
A loud thud from the front foyer made her arms break out in gooseflesh. Isabela darted a harried glance to the back hallway where Orana's and the boy's rooms were. She dropped her sack quietly to the rug and eased down the large stairwell, Heartbreaker in hand.
Intruder…..it had to be….well, Isabela wasn't in the damn mood to put up with looters starting their breaking and entering. They were going to be drawn up by their nutsacks….
As Isabela dashed down the last curve of the large stairwell, she drew her second dagger and prepared to rush the hapless wit. Wide eyes met hers and Merrill squeaked in surprise. Her staff was held at the ready, magic lighting the edge. Both paused and exhaled as one unit.
"Merrill! Are you okay?!" Isabela's frantic eyes made out blood across the elf's tunic and sleeves. She sheathed her weapons and hurried forward. "Is that yours?!"
"What? No!" Merrill gestured at her bloodied state. "Orsino turned and we had to….never mind. Hawke sent me to keep you safe, and that's not here. We need to go."
"Where bloody well IS Hawke?" Isabela growled, but she did agree the going better be getting good. She clutched the elf's arm in hers and hurried up the stairs to collect the sack she had dropped, and her sons. "Orana! We're going now!"
The elf emerged, and the twins ran to Merrill, but yelled with shock at her blood-stained appearance. Merrill hurried to soothe them she was fine even as she hurried to grab a few things of her own. She found her spell notes and tossed them in with her spare tunics into her own sack, moving around and trying to find small pieces from the main sitting room that Hawke may want to keep.
Isabela hoisted the sack over one shoulder and barked out to her pups to hurry up and present for the front door.
"Hawke's not going to want that antique tea set. We have to go NOW!" Isabela snapped. Merrill nodded. She wiped the blood from her face with a handkerchief and let it drop to the rug. Angela ran from person to person, riled up. Isabela knew he'd have to go with them. No better protection than a mabari hound, plus Hawke would be pleased they'd saved him.
The twins were pushing and dragging a large sack between them and Isabela growled with impatience. "Sons, now is NOT the time!"
"Mama, we have to bring this!" Tears were in Falcon's eyes. "Papa will want it and we had to…."
A glance inside from the mates told them it was a shield with the Hawke family crest. Hawke had it over the mantle and how they'd gotten it down was beyond them.
"Fine, fine, but we'll have to help. When we get outside, we are running for the docks. But you are NOT to go anywhere without either one of us. Do you understand me?" Isabela asked. She shouldered the sack with the shield as Orana took up the one she'd packed.
Falcon and Lark nodded, small faces serious.
"Let's go," Merrill squeaked. She unlocked the front door and the women and children darted out. Merrill stopped in her tracks and ran back.
"What are you doing?" Isabela demanded.
"I forgot to lock the front door!" Merrill gave back. Isabela flung one hand into the air with frustration. Once Merrill was satisfied the door was locked, they darted down a side street toward the dock area.
"It's all on fire!" Orana said. Tears streamed down her face. "I have to see if my papa will make it out!"
Isabela cursed in her head, but she turned to the elf servant with a sad look on her face. "If you want to search for him, I won't stop you. It could be a dangerous search, and I can't help you. We have to get Hawke's children to my ship. You'll be safe there if you come with us."
Orana looked upset but she came to a decision. "I'll… I'll go with you…. Maker save me!" Merrill clutched her arm as they hurried off. The closer they came to the docks, the more harried the city folk were.
Several men and women pumped water from wells to carry over to the nearest buildings on fire and it was through this melee that Isabela and Merrill led their small party. People were yelling and screaming with panic as the fire stoked higher against their efforts.
Sweat roiled down Isabela's face as she led the way. She almost collided with a few robed individuals and even though Merrill was a mage, she tensed anyways, fearing a confrontation.
Then one of them turned and the pirate recognized the long dark hair and pale features. The way the woman was staring at her, she knew she was recognized too.
"Isabela?" Bethany asked. Isabela gasped. She smiled and reached to embrace the woman in Grey Warden robes.
"Bethany! I didn't think your order would be called in here," Isabela smiled. The way Bethany glanced over her group saddened the pirate's heart. "Hawke isn't with us. We're heading to my ship in the bay. But she was at the Gallows last Merrill saw…."
"Hi, Bethany," Merrill squeaked. Bethany hailed her and moved to hug the sweet elf. She knew Hawke had had her for a close friend, at least to her recollection.
"Was Hawke okay last you saw?" Bethany asked. Merrill nodded seriously.
"She was. And on her way to confront Knight Commander Meredith. Please help her get to us," Merrill pleaded. Bethany nodded then her gaze settled on the boys that clutched at Isabela's legs.
Hawke's sister looked surprised. "Yours?" she asked Isabela. The pirate nodded.
Bethany swallowed. "Hawke's?" She knew how her sister had felt about the pirate before she was taken away. When Isabela said yes, there was a lightness in her chest. Bethany breathed a sigh of relief.
"Well, there is that. Protect these boys. And thanks for making my sister an honest alpha at last," Bethany grinned.
"Bethany, we're taking the fight to the Gallows!" another Grey Warden called out. Bethany nodded and turned to say goodbye to her sister's family.
"Take care of yourselves. I mean it. Look after Hawke's children," Bethany said. Merrill nodded. Isabela gestured to Orana to reach into the sack she'd given her. When Bethany was handed one of her mother's necklaces, tears filled her eyes.
"I never thought I'd see this here, with all this going on. Thank you, Isabela," Bethany said sincerely. Isabela gave her a one-armed hug (that shield WAS heavy after all).
Isabela gave her one final grin. Then she led her children away.
End for now
End notes: The fall was so long, I had to divvy the chapter up into two parts. We're still faaaaallling! Stay tuned and drop a review if you enjoyed. Stay strong, my lovelies.
Sincerely, pen
10/29/18