Sorry about the incredibly crappy upload time. I have had so many problems concerning the damn internet in the last two months. But things are looking up. I don't know about you but 2014 has really, really sucked. Here's hoping it gets better xD

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Only five chapters left. Mwahahwhahahaa

Chapter 95 – Insanity or Clarity?

Makatza ran into the courtyard, bloodied, sweaty and incredibly tired. She had managed to get changed into some leathers, throwing her dress away. She'd had to resort to her magic most the time, until she found a suitable pair of daggers she could use. Fenris had spent a few minutes trying to dissuade her from continuing and asked her to return to the house and join Orana. But, he got a simple glare in reply. He wasn't happy about the choice but he didn't push the issue. Enough had happened that day. The blade she had used to kill Anders she had given to Sebastian, as proof almost. He was still determined to return to Starkhaven, nothing she said could dissuade him. The bloodshed had been worse than she thought, Garrett had only been able to pull a few Templars from the mages and Makatza, she was too late in most cases. The mages' fear had turned most of them to a demon's sweet, deadly promise. She was more annoyed at Orsino. Trapped in the Circle, he had resorted to dark arts. She had found out he had been helping the man that killed Leandra. Before he turned into the abomination she had punched him in the jaw, scolding his thoughts about becoming an blood mage. She screamed at his bloody stupidity, but he had pushed her away from him and began the ritual. Nobody was able to stop him. So they resorted to killing what he had become. Makatza was exhausted and so were the rest of her party. Fenris was lagging, he had taken the brunt of most the battles, Merrill and Sebastian both being long range. Fenris insisted on fighting most the creatures that swarmed towards Makatza as well.

They paused in the main courtyard, thankful that they could catch their breath. It was where Garrett and the other companions were standing with the Templars. Makatza looked for Carver and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that he was standing next to his brother, relatively unharmed. Meredith was talking to Ser Cullen when they made their way over. Makatza smiled weakly at Isabela and the others but her smile was soon taken from her features as she was grabbed roughly the Templars swarming around her. Fenris went to lunge at the Templars that had taken Makatza hostage almost, but he was held back. Sebastian gripped his arm and Garrett took hold of the other. He struggled and cursed death upon the men that had a hold of her. Sebastian looked at Garrett, it was clear he was having trouble restricting himself as well as the furious elf.

'Meredith!' Garrett demanded. 'Release my sister immediately!' He commanded. Fenris had dropped his sword and was glaring at those who held her. His tattoos shimmered in his anger. Makatza tried to break their grip, but she was too tired. A Templar each held her by an arm and she began to sag slightly. Fenris could have shaken Sebastian off but he had the thought that it would be the worst thing to do.

'The Viscountess has been exposed to blood magic and she is tainted. As are you Champion, Ser Cullen, arrest Lord Hawke also,' she says simply. Cullen tilts his head, he didn't agree with Meredith about capturing Makatza, but he did so because he believed she was the weaker of the mages in the Hawke family. But Garrett Hawke, he had shown resistance to the demon's call many time.

'Let her go!' Fenris demanded, unable to keep quiet any longer. 'I swear down, you will regret taking her from me-'

'Enough! Hold your tongue elf. You are lucky I don't execute her where she stands,' Meredith snapped. Fenris' mouth tightened in rage and he went limp slightly, Garrett and Sebastian loosening in their grip on him. Their biggest mistake. Fenris pulled himself from their hold and instead of going for Meredith who threatened her, he went for the Templars that had her. He ignored his sword and punched the first Templar in the face, denting the man's helmet, the sound of his cheekbone snapping with the force. Makatza shouted at Fenris to stop as a group of Templars went for her enraged lover. Makatza struggled with fresh force as they fought him, they didn't draw their swords and resorted to simply beating him until they were able to restrain him. On a normal day, Fenris would have gone down fighting and unless they had a particularly few lucky shots they would succeeded in stopping him. Otherwise they would have needed more than four men. But he was drained and already in pain and so it didn't take long before he was on his knees, arms behind his back as they restrained him. He still struggled and cursed heavily in arcanum, his markings glowing brightly. Makatza couldn't stop the tears running down her cheeks as she looked at the fresh bruises on his skin. She wanted nothing more than to help him but she couldn't risk using her magic. It would be an instant death sentence.

'Meredith!' Garrett added. 'Let him go, you threaten her with death and you expect us to just do nothing? You have no proof. She's being trying to stop this, she tried to stop Orsino, not join him!' He said in a panic, he was expecting Fenris to go for the Knight-Commander, but he was surprised. And, annoyed that he'd been distracted enough to let the elf go. He stepped forward, Carver on his heels and went to pull Makatza out of the Templars' grip. Meredith pointed her blade at him and shook her head.

'I don't need proof, I am the Knight-Commander and my will, it will be done. That is the only proof I need,' she snarls. She looks Cullen. 'Arrest the Champion! Now!' She demands. Makatza sighs and tries to pull her arms from the Templars. It was a fruitless effort and all that happened was the felt their armoured fingers tighten around her skin, almost bruising. Cullen looked at Makatza, her tears dropping from her cheeks as she looks at Fenris. He saw only the burning need in their eyes to be near each other. Looking over at Garrett he sighed. He couldn't do this. The Champion only showed concern for his family and those around him. There was no malice or dark magic there. He made his decision.

'No. I will not. Knight-Commander Meredith, I relieve you of your duties. Clearly the shock of Grand Cleric Elthina's death and the stress of the situation has shaken you.' He says filled with authority. The Templars looked at him, their gratefulness rolled off them in waves. Meredith glared at him, rage filling her features.

'No!' She screamed at him. He nodded at the other Templars and they retreated back a few steps from their Knight-Commander. He made eye contact with the ones holding Makatza and they slowly let her go. She pulled from them and fell forward to her knees to Fenris as he was also let go. She threw her arms around him before checking his injuries. As a unit, the Templars took their injured comrade and backed away. Cullen nodded satisfactorily before meeting Meredith's gaze. 'My own chain of command. Infected by a blood mage's will,' she hissed. Cullen felt like just slapping the crazy out of her. All these years, she had become worse and worse and he had enough.

'Wait!' Varric said getting Garrett's attention. He pointed out that Meredith's sword was incredibly familiar. Garrett looked at the blade that threatened him.

'The idol!' He said finally clicking. 'The one that turned your brother insane,' he added sadly.

Makatza wasn't paying any attention to what was going on behind her. The Templars had let her go and she was too busy making sure that Fenris wasn't going to die. His injuries were great, plated steel against leather means that the bruising was deep and bones fractured. She wanted nothing more than to heal him but she couldn't take the risk. He ignored his injuries on the other hand, and held her close, promising himself that she wouldn't be taken from him again. Makatza asked him questions about his pain and injuries but he replied with non-committal and simple answers so's not to worry her. He was watching Meredith and her deep spiral into insanity. She was screaming at the Champion now and calling for the Maker. He pulled Makatza especially close as she leapt into the air and onto the stairs in front of them. Her pained cries to the spiritual entity pierced his ears as she slammed her sword into the ground, red veins glowing from the blade across to the large statues that decorated the square. He swore under his breath and shakily got to his feet, ignoring the spikes of pain that flooded through his ribs as he did so. He helped Makatza up as he rose, pulling her to the side as he watched in horror as the large statues stepped down from their fixtures and towards them. Makatza stared in fear and held him close as she knew that he would instantly go to the fight. 'Fenris, you can't-'

'I have to. They need me,' he says simply. He could hear Isabela screaming bloody death at one of the things. Makatza shook her head and tried to hold onto him, but he gently pried her fingers from his arms. He hated leaving her but he couldn't protect her if he didn't fight. At least he'd know she would be safe. 'Stay here,' he says softly. Makatza shakes her head desperately but she felt to weak to protest and stop him. She could only watch as he ran over picking up his sword and charging in.

Makatza almost felt time slow as the scenes in front of her commence. She remembered the fact that this was just supposed to be only a game. But, it wasn't. It was her life. These people meant something to her. Her entire life. Yet, there was someone, somewhere, playing the real game. Where there were restarts and life bars. And for only a moment, she was jealous. She wanted to be able to restart and tell them about what was about to happen, or stop one of her friends from getting hurt. Also, she knew that Fenris, in the game, was a love interest. The bare, bland scripting that barely touched the surface of what he was truly like. The animations that couldn't really capture his true handsome features and the people that could only imagine what his smell was like. The noticeable hint of spices that she found lingered on her bedsheets. She realised how lucky she was and at the same time, how that storm was the best thing that could have ever happened to her. The reason she was thinking all of this was because all she could see was pain. Her family and friends getting hurt. She, herself had killed one of them. Anders still lingered on her mind and although she had grown used to killing people. The numb empty feeling of death was always there. It was a fact of her life. But, Anders was a different case. It was the only time she felt truly justified, but it was tainted. He was a friend. A close one. She had tried to ignore the strange conflicted feeling that had been building up inside her, the more she thought about how wrong this all was. The injustice, hate, love, the pain and happiness... her life. Whispering from the fade grew stronger and that just made her angrier. How they prey on the weak. Well, much different to what people thought she wasn't weak. Even Fenris thought she needed to be protected. She got to her feet and began to walk through the fight, ignoring everyone that was around her. The statues ignored her as she was neither a threat nor trying to hack at their knees. Makatza heard Fenris and Garrett shout their concern and worry, begging her to get back to the sidelines. Their fear for her safety was evident but she ignored them, making her way up the stairs. 'Makatza! Stop!' Garrett screamed at her as he parried a blow aimed for his face. She was walking towards Meredith. He knew that she had next to no mana and she wasn't even armed. But there she was, head held high as she made her way through the battle. But then, as she got to the top of the stairs, he caught a glance of something he hadn't seen before. She had this aura around her, light in colour and glittering slightly. He looked over at Fenris who was pinned to the floor, winning the fight but pinned. He watched Makatza, her hair flowed around her working it's way free from the braid. He tilted his head, she was going to try to take on Meredith. He couldn't believe it. Not until he saw her eyes.

They glowed.

Meredith stood up and faced Makatza, she drew her sword and without ceremony, ran Makatza through the chest. Garrett felt his yell leave his mouth, but he didn't hear it. He ignored the pain that hit him from the physical blows of the enemy. It was clear that Fenris didn't know yet and hadn't seen. Tears felt warm as they fell down his cheeks and dripped from his beard. Makatza felt no pain, because there was no pain. True, she could feel the blade bite deep into her skin and tear her muscles. The warmth from her blood soaking into her leathers. But, still there was no pain. She just felt justified. What she could feel was the burning need to stop all of this before it became worse. To protect those who protected her when she needed them the most. Staring into Meredith's eyes and the insanity that rested there. She wrapped her hands around the cold, metal blade and held it tightly. The lyrium singing under her fingers. It's song was sweet and deadly and it vibrated through her. She had always kept a lid on her emotions and powers, knowing that it would hurt those around her if she didn't. But she made the decision that it didn't matter anymore. And with that, she let everything go. All rational thoughts and actions. And she felt liberated and free. She found a strength that she didn't know existed and she knew that she could stop this. Her eyes glowed brightly, a white light pouring forth. Meredith screamed as she tried to pull the blade from her but Makatza held it in place, ignoring the blood dripping from her mouth.

'Maker help your faithful servant!' Meredith shrieked.

'Nobody can help you now,' Makatza said softly as she moved her hand up and touched Meredith's armour, letting her power unleash.

...*...

Garrett felt the shock wave knock him from his feet, the light was painfully blind and stung his eyes like acid. The statues dropped lifeless to the floor, their noise dampened by the void of the wave that rolled from Makatza and Meredith. He saw nothing but the blinding light and the spots that danced in front of his eyes when he closed them. He hit the ground painfully, the wind from his lungs forced from him. Sound came back with a piercing high note, followed by an agonised scream. What he couldn't see was that Meredith's blade had shattered and she had absorbed the lyrium, it washed over her body; contorting and hardening the skin, blistering her muscles and destroying her bones. Makatza had been thrown away from her with the release of her own power, she lay about fifteen foot away at the base of a pillar that she had hit.

Garrett picked himself up shakily looking around for the others. His head was ringing with pain. He looked around and saw that Isabela was helping Merrill up, and Aveline was taking her sword from Varric where he he had picked it up for her. Sebastian was pulling Cullen from a wreckage, his movements unsteady like everyone else. Garrett looked for Fenris who was also trapped from the blast. He ran over, at a tilt because of the ringing and freed the elf. Templars who had been far enough away were running over to help them and examine the statue that Meredith had become. Fenris got up with a pained wince, holding his ribs. It was going to be a while before he was healed. He looked around, shaking his head lightly because of the blinding light caused spots.

'What happened?' He asked hoarsely. He coughed and winced more of the pain.

'I don't know, but I'm sure Katza had something to do with it,' he said quietly. Fenris' head snapped up and looked over to where he last saw her. His eyes searched the area in panic.

'No...no, no, no,' he mumbled. 'Where is she?' He asked in pure fear. 'She was just there,' he adds as he moves away from Garrett.

'I think she went up to Meredith,' Garrett says, his eyes filling up and hiding the fact that he already knew what had happened. Fenris wouldn't believe him until he saw with his own eyes. Fenris shook his head to try and get rid of the ringing and began to limp up over to the stairs. His pace quickened as he saw Meredith's remains that were being inspected by Templars, Cullen making his way over to them. Fenris got to the top of the stairs and looked around in desperation, he saw a crowd of Templars around a pillar. He heard a few mutterings of the word ''Vicountess,'' his heart clenched and ignoring the pain he ran over and pushed them aside to see her lying on the floor. A massive hole was torn through her leather and he could see the blood. It didn't take a lot to figure out what had happened. Her eyes were open and her head tilted to the side, blood had dripped from her mouth onto the cobbles. Someone tried to bend down and pick her up and he pushed the Templar away from her. The man looked like he was about to say something but another Templar placed his hand on his friend's shoulder and shook his head. He had seen Fenris and the Vicountess together and it was common knowledge that they were engaged. Fenris on the other hand had fallen to his knees and pulled Makatza onto his lap. Cradling her head, he ran his fingers over the bloody cloth expecting to see the gaping wound. Only to smear the blood over her skin. In confusion and blinking tears back, he pulled the torn leather to the side showing her stomach, making a few of the Templars turn their head in respect. There was no wound despite the amount of blood. He looked at her, he couldn't tell if she was breathing, but she wasn't blinking. He leant his head onto her chest and he could hear her heart beating. She was alive. He moved her head to face him and wiped the blood from her mouth, smearing it slightly.

'My Katza?' He said quietly shaking her a little.

A huge rattling breath was pulled into her lungs as she inhaled, she began to blink furiously and cough as she emptied her chest of the blood she had originally breathed in. Fenris wanted to hold her tightly, in relief but let her lean away as she coughed. The Templars began to pass the news on that she was alive. She pulled herself upright a little and blinked the tears that pooled in her eyes. She placed a hand on his shoulder and let a wave healing magic flood over him. It caused him to gasp, it wasn't like normal. The flood of power she released was almost suffocating and he could feel almost all his wounds heal in that moment. 'Oh maker that hurt,' she says simply. Makatza blinked several times and then continued to cough. Fenris winced as his skin tightened and his muscles became stiff. Her magic may heal his wounds, but the general ache and sting that comes with a healing injury, she could do nothing about. He held her hair back from her eyes as she coughed, turned to the side. He heard Garrett's surprise as news travelled that Makatza was alive.

After a few minutes Makatza mentioned that she would be able to stand and see what happened to everyone. Fenris took her hand and pulled her up, catching her in her stumble. The Templars looked at her and placed their hands on the pommels of their swords, she was a mage after all. But, Cullen was now in charge. He strode forward up the stairs. Pausing to look at the jagged statue that Meredith had become he sighed, and walked forward to where Makatza was watching the Templars with wary eyes. He looked at her for a moment, his own hand resting of the handle of his blade. Fenris tensed and narrowed his eyes, ready for another fight. But, it never came. Instead Cullen dropped to one knee with his head bowed. 'Vicountess,' he says softly with his head bowed. The Templars around him, copy his actions.

Makatza relaxed considerably. Okay, so they weren't going to kill her. Thank the maker, she thought privately. Yet, she had made her mind up about a few things. Such as, her position and she really didn't think she was the woman for the job. She looked at Fenris and then smiled brightly. 'Are you okay?' She asks softly as she ignores the Templars.

'Yes, my lady,' he says softly, pressing his head against hers for a moment in affection. 'All the better knowing you are safe,' he whispers quietly. Makatza smiles more and nods in satisfaction. She looks to Cullen.

'Ser Cullen?' She says softly.

'Yes my lady?' He asks standing. Makatza grins cheekily, and tilts her head. He raises a brow, he wasn't quite used to her giggly moments. They had been incredibly rare during her time as viscountess.

'I quit.' She says simply. 'Thanks. But I'm leaving Kirkwall,' she adds. Fenris raises his own brow. Are they? He would go where ever she did. That much was certain.

'My lady, you just...you can't just quit!' He stutters.

'I can and I have. Now if you would excuse me, I have to find my family,' she says even more simply as she walks past them, Fenris following automatically. He watches the Templars who all get up as she passed, looking to Cullen for orders, even though he gave none.

'Where are we moving to?' He asks curiously.

'Oh,' she says going slightly pink. 'I was thinking, Ferelden?' She mumbled shyly. 'But I understand if you don't want to. I mean, I didn't even ask you,' she added apologetically.

'My Katza,' he says stopping her on the stairs. 'Where you go, I will always follow,' he says softly. She smiles brightly and kisses him gently on the cheek.

'Through the fade and back?' She whispered.

'Through the fade and back, and farther. I shall always be by your side,' he replies.

Thank you for reading and if you enjoyed, please leave a review so I can reply in the next chapter.

Hope you're all set to have a brilliant Christmas!