Chapter 93 – No peace

'Meredith.'

'You cannot be serious,' Meredith says simply.

'I am deadly serious.' Makatza replies. It had been six months since the day she discovered the letter from the Keep, requesting her as Viscountess. She had taken the position with a lot of bickering around the subject. She had refused to live at the Keep and instead continued to live at her estate, she also refused to do as Meredith asked. They butted heads more than Makatza cared to admit, even the simplest things they seemed to step on each other's toes.

'You are being unreasonable on purpose,' Meredith mutters. Fenris raises a brow and holds in his scoff. They were in Makatza's office, he was her bodyguard. He refused to let anyone else to the job. This way he knew she was being looked after. She didn't like the idea of him working for her, but he was just as stubborn, if not more so on the subject and she gave in. Makatza was sitting at her desk, looking at the Knight-Commander with restrained respect. Ser Cullen made up Meredith's entourage and he simply shared an amused look with the elf.

Makatza stood up and shook her head, leaning on the desk she looked Meredith straight in the eye. 'I know nothing about running a city. I told you this when you demanded that I take the job. Now, you know as well as I do, it's you who is keeping me here. You could take me to the Gallows whenever you wished, but you also know as well as I do, that it's easier to keep an eye on me this way and the other Lords and Ladies of court won't get their overpriced knickers in a twist if I'm left here. They wanted me here as well, fuck knows why. But here I am. You're saying I'm being difficult. I say you're the one being difficult. The City Guard are overworked. They need help. I have assigned your men on a rotation basis to work with the guard for a week, during that week the Templars assigned are simply guards. It helps the city and also means that you'll get Templar eyes where you hadn't before. I'm not taking no for an answer.'

'My knights are for me to command!' Meredith snaps getting angry at Makatza's tone.

'You serve the city do you not?' Makatza says simply. 'Therefore you serve me, and I am telling you what is happening. Do not test me Knight-Commander. You may have had the last Viscount in your pocket but I will do what is necessary for this city,' she says as she sits down.

'Impudent girl! I serve the Maker-'

'And the Maker thanks you I'm sure. Now, while he is unable to relay his exact wishes to you at this moment in time, I will ask you to help the city instead,' she replies with a half smile. Fenris had to hold his face straight, he could tell that Makatza was getting annoyed and that Meredith was furious. 'I have already had your men notified, it'll not put a strain on the Gallows. They're already so well guarded, you've not had an escape in many months, so this will not do any harm.'

'Now listen here-' Meredith shouted.

'No! Knight-Commander Meredith, you are dismissed. Thank you for your time and I look forward to either seeing you at my door with chains or reading your letter of complaint. The choice is entirely yours of course, but I will wait with baited breath to see which arrives first. In the mean time, I have a city to run.' Makatza says standing up sharply, but her voice doesn't raise, it simply becomes more stern. Meredith's eyes narrow and Ser Cullen simply opens the door for her as she turns around sharply and leaves the room. Makatza doesn't sit back down until the door shuts with a click. Fenris chuckles and shakes his head, he doesn't like Meredith, but she wouldn't risk taking Makatza to the Gallows and having the Nobility of the city rebel against her for doing so. Makatza lets out a sigh, heavily and flumps forward onto her desk. 'Ugh. Damn woman,' she mumbles into the varnished wood of her her writing slab. Fenris moves over to her and places a hand on each shoulder, brushing her hair from her face.

'You do try to irritate the woman it seems,' he says softly. Makatza sits upright and leans against him.

'I do not! I simply, well, she doesn't get her own way all the time,' she retorts taking the circlet from her head. She hated the damn thing, now she knew how the Queen of Ferelden felt when she wore hers. 'Aveline needs the men and I don't know why she's so pissed off about it. It means that she'll have Templars undercover in places that she didn't before. I'm practically giving her Templars a wider and more secure roaming ground of the city.'

'Aye, my Katza. The Knight-Commander does not like the lack of control. If she had come to that decision herself, there would be no complaint,' Fenris points out. Makatza pouts and begins to braid her hair absent mindedly.

'I didn't ask for this shit. I don't want to be Viscountess. It's too much,' she sighs. Fenris kneels beside her and takes her hands.

'You took this position because you want to help people,' he says softly. 'You have done. The Elves of the city are living in better conditions and have better wages, you are slowly bringing equality, kicking and screaming into Kirkwall.' He chuckles lightly and makes her smile. 'The ones that are less fortunate are being taken care of and you have a secure trade link with Ferelden thanks to the Queen.' He adds. Makatza pulls a face and pokes him on the nose.

'Git.' She says simply.

'You are annoyed because I am right?' He smiles.

'Yup,' she says simply. 'I hate it when you go all Spock on me,' she says knowing that he won't understand the reference but it made her feel a little better. Sometimes it was nice to be reminded that she wasn't from this world, even though she somehow had become a larger part of it than she intended.

'Is that the one with pointed ears and an annoying tone of voice?' Fenris says trying to remember the time she had told him about this, show. He didn't understand half of what she said when she spoke about the television shows of her world but the name rang a bell. Makatza giggled and nodded, patting his arms affectionately.

'Aye, that's the one. Mr Logical Bastard,' she says smiling. 'You do frustrate me at times, you know that don't you,' she teases lightly. He pulls his familiar half smile and takes the circlet from her fingers placing it softly back onto her head.

'I remember how beautiful you looked on that day,' he says softly as he tilts his head at her. 'I am glad that you had already agreed to become mine, I would have been punching possible suitors all day otherwise. I already had to tell a few men to back off,' he adds with an expression of disdain. Makatza rolls her eyes. She remembered that day all too well, especially the stern words that Fenris had with some of the Nobles, and the broken noses. There was always a punch up at these things. Especially if Fenris was attending. Although, she had to admit that the first punch was thrown by Garrett, at a man who made the wrong passing comment.

'You knew I was always going to be yours,' Makatza says simply kissing his forehead before he stands up. She pulls another letter towards her, 'I can't wait for today to be over. Tomorrow I plan on doing absolutely nothing at all-'

'Serrah!' The Vicountess' aid ran in the door, stopped instantly by Fenris who was by his side in moment. Fenris held his shirt as the man breathed heavily with the exertion. 'You-...You must come quickly!' He panted. 'The Knight-Commander, the First Enchanter... they're fighting. You must come quickly!' He repeats in his panic. 'I fear that something may go wrong.' Fenris lets him go and looks at Makatza in worry. Makatza nods and stands up grabbing her skirts as she began to run towards the door. Fenris pats the man on the shoulder in an attempt to calm him before grabbing his sword and running after her.

….

'Meredith! Orsino!' Makatza cried as she ran down the steps. 'What in the Maker's name do you think you're doing?!' She demands as she pauses on the bottom step, dropping her dress as she stopped. Her face was slightly flushed from her running and the crowd quietened as Fenris appeared at her side, his hand on the hilt of his sword, but he kept it sheathed against his back. Garrett was in the crowd, looking very told off and quite frustrated with the situation. It was clear Meredith's vicious tongue had done it's work and emasculated him a little. He was wearing his robes and held his staff, ready for anything.

'There is no need for your input, Viscountess Hawke, or is it Bavent?' Meredith spat with a little acid in her tone. Makatza's eyes narrowed. It had grown into the evening and there was quite a crowd gathered, thanks to the commotion.

'I will respectively disagree and if you speak to me like that again, there will be a problem. I'll decide what is worth my time, thank you Knight-Commander,' she replies quietly. 'Now, tell me what is happening.' She looks at Orsino who was frowning and rubbing his eyes. 'It looks like you've both thrown your favourite toys out of the crib and are now blaming each other for the cause.' She adds crossing her arms.

'This is getting nowhere!' Orsino says simply turning away from both Meredith and Makatza. 'Grand Cleric Elthina will put a stop to this,' he adds as he walks away. The Knight-Commander hisses in anger. She walks after him and takes his arm roughly pulling him back to face her.

'You will not bring her Grace into this!' She orders simply. Makatza exhales heavily in annoyance. She looks at Fenris who nods and understands her glance. He steps down the stairs to break the pair apart. Makatza follows him, taking her place next to Garrett and smiles falsely at the crowd, subduing them a little. They had began to murmur and mutter while the two were bickering. Both Orsino and Meredith look toward the Champion and Viscountess as the crowd behind them begins to part.

'The Grand Cleric can't help you!' Anders calls as he walks through the people, dressed in black robes, a harrowed look on his face. Makatza frowns and looks at Garrett who shrugs his shoulders. He didn't know what was going on either. Fenris left Orsino and Meredith, returning to Makatza's side within moments. Meredith turns her attention from Orsino and walks towards Anders.

'Explain yourself Mage!' She demands. Makatza nods and frowns at the use of her language. She felt a pit grow deep in her stomach. Something didn't feel right and she had a feeling it was something to do with Anders.

'I will not stand by and watch you treat all Mages like criminals,' he retorts, making a dismissive motion with his hand as he confronts her. He slams his staff butt onto the ground and turns on Orsino who looked shocked. 'While those who would lead us, bow to their Templar jailers.'

Orsino's brow furrowed with anger. 'How dare you speak to-'

Anders slams his staff into the ground again, interrupting him mid sentence. 'The circle has failed us, Orsino! Even you should be able to see that!' Makatza went to intervene but Fenris took her hand and shook his head, Garrett placed a hand on her shoulder, also stopping her. As Anders spoke, Justice broke free and seeped into his words, while his body glowed and his eyes shone.

'This has been coming for a while, sister. Do not get caught in the crossfire.' Garrett says softly looking at Fenris, sharing a concerned glance. If things were to go wrong Makatza would be right in the middle of it. That wasn't a good thing.

'Do not tell me not to try and stop something that could cause a much larger problem. Things are changing, the mages are getting better treatment, it's just taking time that's all!' She protests, but a gentle squeeze to her fingers and Fenris' caring expression made her stay still. She may have been in this world for a while, but it's politics still confused her. She trusted their intuition and stayed quiet.

'The time has come to act,' Anders continues to speak, regaining control over Justice and looking at the floor as he returns to normal. 'There can be no half measures,' he says sadly. He turns from the First Enchanter and Knight-Commander. Makatza couldn't stay quiet any longer.

'Anders... What have you done?' She asks softly, worried and pulling away from her lover and brother. Anders looks at her, regret and pain in his eyes and she holds her hand up to her mouth in complete shock. His expression said it all. It was clear he had no intention of surviving whatever was about to happen.

'There can be no turning back,' he murmurs.

There was a trembling feeling to the earth and Fenris moved over to steady Makatza as the ground itself began to shake. She held onto his arms as she looked at Anders in complete wonder. It only lasted a few seconds before the sky seemed to darken even more and a piercing red light, blinding bright shot into the clouds from the Chantry. Makatza gasped and watched in horror as the towers of the Chantry broke apart and began to weave around the beams of light. The crowd was silent in pure terror and Makatza found that she couldn't take her eyes from the sight. The noise from the destruction was deafening and she could barely hear herself breathing. The rubble seemed to group together in the middle of the light and for a moment there was pure silence, to the point were she could hear her own heartbeat. It lasted a mere few seconds before the building was torn apart, completely, pieces of masonry thrown over the city. Fenris pulls Makatza close, in fear that she may be crushed, hoping that he would provide as a shield. Dust flew over them in a thick sheet, cloying and thick. Fiery remnants fell to the ground around the crowd, people murmuring to the Maker in panic and fear. Makatza coughed and looked through the gap in his arms.

'There can be no peace,' Anders says simply, the madness clear in his eyes. Makatza looked at him in disbelief that her friend was even capable of such an act.

'No, after this... there won't be,' she mumbled.

Please review.