TWO

Melisande Hawke had never felt so alone. The deep roads quest was over, and she was the only Hawke sibling that had come back from the expedition. Bethany was gone, taken by the Grey wardens after being infected with the taint. And Hawke believed it was her fault, despite what the others kept on trying to tell her. She should have protected her sister, shouldn't have taken her on that blasted expedition. Maybe that way, Bethany wouldn't have been taken away. Maybe that way, Bethany could have been kept safe. She kept thinking though, what if Anders hadn't been there? What would have happened to Bethany if Anders hadn't been there? The answer was simple, but not one that Hawke even really wanted to contemplate. But contemplate she did. She could still see the taint as it wove its way through Bethany's blood, the black seeming to radiate from her skin as it wound its way through her blood stream. Had Anders not been there, Bethany would be dead. The only reason Bethany was still alive was because they had a Grey Warden with them, who knew exactly what to do.

That apostate had saved Bethany's life.

But Hawke felt guilty. It was her fault. She shouldn't have taken Bethany into the deep roads.

Since returning, she had spent as little time with the others as possible. Ok, so she had a new estate, and tons of money now but that meant nothing without her sister there to share it with her and her mother. She spent the majority of her time sat in her library, refusing to see her friends, or sat in the a secluded area of the chantry. There was just one person who had been able to comfort her these past few weeks.

Sebastian Vael.

He was one of the first people that she had gone to after returning from the deep roads, wanting to seek solace in the chantry, to beg forgiveness of Andraste for failing her sister. He had proven to be a good friend, so good at listening, comforting, being there as she wept and embittered her own existence.

"The Maker had this planned Hawke, this was meant for Bethany…"

"But if I had told her to stay…"

"What's to say she wouldn't have been killed? Or taken to the circle?"

Now Melisande Hawke was stood outside of the chantry, today's warm wind whipping her long dark hair across her face. She was dressed once again in her armour, sword strapped to her back and her face a portrait of determination. She had grieved enough, and it was time for her to get back to doing what she did best. Helping people. It was time for her to remember that her sister still lived, albeit in the service to the Grey Warden's. It was a dangerous life, but she still lived. And she would be doing good there. A small smile crossed Melisande's lips as she remembered their childhood together in Lothering, playing together in the sand by the river, the mischief they made by taunting the Templars. But Bethany had always been so strong, Melisande had no doubt that Bethany would be fine.

She still thought it was her own fault. Had Bethany not come with her…

But no, it was not the time for that.

She didn't even know why she was back at the chantry. She was supposed to be heading to Dark Town to see Anders about something, but for some reason she had found herself drawn back here. She knew why of course, and it had everything to do with that handsome prince of Starkhaven who had sworn himself to the Maker. She kicked herself every time she bumped into him.

Why do you always fall for the unobtainable ones Hawke? She berated herself as she turned away from the imposing figure of the chantry why not go for someone sensible like Anders or Fenris?

She almost laughed out loud then. Both men had been giving her the eye recently, Isabela had pointed it out one evening in the hanged man, had Hawke turn around and notice that Fenris' eyes had glazed over as he stood at the bar gazing at her. She was embarrassed of course, no man had ever paid her too much attention, and well, if they had then she never noticed. Why should she? Right now she only had eyes for one man, no matter how out of reach he was.

But as she turned and began to walk away from the chantry towards Dark Town, a familiar lilting voice greeted her from the top of the chantry steps.

"Hawke!"

She stopped, knowing the voice and trying not to blush she turned around, "Hello Sebastian"

The young man in the shining white armour seemed to skip his way down the steps, his face painted with a smile, his blue eyes shining, "I wasn't expecting to see you here today. I thought you were spending some time with your mother?"

She shrugged, gestured at her armour, "I was. Until I got a message from Anders. Something has come up down in Dark Town that I need to keep an eye on."

The prince of Starkhaven rolled his eyes, "Let me guess, Templars chasing down aspostates again?"

She laughed and placed a hand behind her head, nervous somewhat, "Well, you know Anders, it'll be something to do with mages being persecuted as it always is. Or blood mages running rampant. Either way I have to go and have a look at what's going on…"

Sebastian raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure it's worth his friendship Hawke? He doesn't seem very…stable…"

She frowned, this wasn't an argument she was prepared to get into again. She liked Anders, despite his constant going on about mages and their much needed freedom. And were circumstances different then she may have returned the apostates affections, "Whether he is stable or not Sebastian, he needs my help. I have to make sure he doesn't go off the deep end."

Sebastian just nodded. It was all he could do for him to keep his mouth shut. But the fact was that this woman intrigued him, and awoke desires that he had not experienced for a long time. She was stood there clad in that huge heavy armour, the massive two handed sword strapped to her back. She was a woman who would slaughter hundreds without a second thought, yet she stood by her friends through thick and thin, regretted actions that were not her fault and placed her trust in the Maker. In some ways, Sebastian felt an affinity for this girl. He had been there for her when she had sought solace in the chantry after her sister had been forced to join the Grey Wardens and in the same way, she had become a close friend and confidant to himself. After all, she had proved to be the undoing of those who had murdered his family, had slaughtered every last one of them and he had agreed to join her cause.

"I can accompany you if you wish?"

She smiled at him then, a wide smile that made her eyes sparkle, "I would like that Sebastian."

He nodded then, bowed to her gracefully, "Then my lady, lead on"

Sebastian crossed his arms as he listened to the apostate talk of how Templars were yet again making mages Tranquil for no reason, pushing other mages to blood magic for no reason other than their survival. He could hear the vengeance in the mages voice, and wondered what he was like before he had become an abomination. Had he been normal? Had he been less prone to fits of brooding? Less prone to immediately jumping down the necks of his friends if they even mentioned they preferred the views of the Templars?

Only the Hero of Ferelden would know that, the girl who had slain the Archdemon and become Queen. They all knew of her of course, and Melisande had mentioned that she had once seen the Hero travelling through Lothering just before the darkspawn had come. Melisande had described Elissa Cousland as beautiful, slight, deft and deadly; with long blonde hair that she had swept messily back into a ponytail. According to Anders, Elissa Cousland had rescued him from the dawkspawn in vigils keep and recruited him to the Grey Wardens; and Sebastian knew that made Melisande trust the abomination all the more these days. It gave them a sort of kinship.

"There are children in the circle Hawke, young mages being taught to control their magic. According to some inside information, the Templars are taking these children and turning them into Tranquil…" the blonde mage sighed, wringing his hands, "It is inhuman…"

Even Sebastian was shocked at this. He shook his head, "This can't be true. The Templars work for the chantry, they would never take children and do something like that…"

Anders' eyes flashed blue as the spirit of Justice fought to emerge, "Wouldn't they? You have never lived in the chantry Sebastian, under the jurisdiction of the Templars, of those who would lock you away in a cell forever until you rot. There are more tranquil being made every day, and now it is being done to children…it makes me feel sick. I may have hated the place but the circle in Ferelden never did this, not to children…only to those suspected of blood magic and those who did not want to undergo the Harrowing."

Hawke shook her head, "Anders, I need proof of this before I can do anything. I can't just go storming into the office of the Knight Commander and demand that she does something when this may all be based on rumour."

Anders just shook his head, "I can give you proof. My contact is smuggling one of the children out tonight, to take to safety…to a place not far from the wounded coast. They are going to the circle in ferelden…it's one of the only circles that will not put up with this. First Enchanter Irving will take the child in and look after it."

Hawke just looked at Sebastian, her own eyes seeking answers from him. All he could do was shrug. This was not his decision after all. All he would do was accompany her, no matter what her decision was.

They had agreed to go that afternoon to a small port part way along the wounded coast, hidden away from the prying eyes of Kirkwall and somewhere only pirates docked mostly. Now the four of them; Hawke, Sebastian, Anders and Fenris were stood in the darkness watching as the moonlight rippled over the dark water. Fenris obviously didn't want to be there, he kept shooting Anders incredibly dirty looks from the crate he was sat on and Hawke had to fight to stop herself from laughing. Instead she sat in silence, looking at her booted feet. It was better than engaging in small talk.

"What are you looking at mage?" Fenris growled through the darkness

Anders said nothing. Instead his face was etched with worry. He wasn't sure if his contact was even going to show with the child, or whether if they did they would have been betrayed and he would be turned over to the chantry. It wasn't often that he kept his mouth shut when it came to bantering with Fenris.

Sebastian often wondered if there was more to the two of them than met the eye. But it was unfounded, as Hawke could testify, both men had deep seated feelings for herself. Both chased her like a bitch on heat, and whilst she was flattered, it was something she didn't really want to think about. In all honesty, she was fed up with the two of them vying for her attention. She preferred to give all of her friends the same amount of time and energy.

She bit her lip then.

Except for Sebastian of course. Despite the fact that she barely knew the man, she enjoyed spending her time with him. They seemed to have so much in common, and she enjoyed spending time with him whether it be in the constricted confines of the chantry or sat in her library sipping wine and pouring over various books. Despite the fact they had become good friends over the past few months, offered each other advice, she still wondered whether he could be something more. Pure wishes there of course.

What she did not know of course was that her very existence was throwing Sebastian into a tumultuous sea of regret and worry. He worried whether he had made the wrong decision by choosing to join the chantry, wondered whether he should venture to take back Starkhaven and take a wife; to take her as a wife and have his children by her. Maker's breath she was beautiful, and it had been a very long time since he had felt this way about a woman. His youth had been spent drinking and whoring and when he had joined the chantry he had regretted doing so. After all, he was missing out was he not? There was so many women to deflower after all. But after a while those feelings had numbed, and he had vowed himself to the Maker. Now he was wondering if that had been a mistake. Hawke seemed to be so wise for her years, always ready to lend an ear to his problems and always ready to assist him in anything. And there had been times when he had seen her dressed in clothing other than her armour, in figure hugging dresses, in that simple yet alluring tunic that she wore around her own estate and he imagined what it would be like to spend a night in her arms. He quickly thrust the thoughts away, praying to the maker for forgiveness. It did not do to think these impure thoughts after all.

Especially when from a short way away he heard the footsteps approaching.

"They're here" Anders' voice wobbled with nervousness.

After a moment Hawke looked up at the path and saw a retinue approaching. In front was a man dressed in plain robes, leading a small child by the hand. And as they stepped into the dim moonlight Hawke's mouth opened in shock as she saw the child.

His eyes were blank. And branded onto the forehead was that horrific sun symbol used by the chantry.

She wanted to be sick. How could anyone do this to an innocent child? How could the Warden Commander allow her Templars to do this? Surely she wasn't such a tyrant? But at that moment Hawke wanted to believe that Meredith was a tyrant, wanted to believe that she wanted each and every mage in Kirkwall either dead or Tranquil. In that moment she wanted to believe that every word Anders was saying was true.

Biting her lip she walked up to the child, nodding at the mage holding the child's hand, and knelt before him. She could barely look into his blank eyes as she took his hand, "I promise, I will avenge you…"

The child looked blank, "I was made tranquil to serve the warden commander."

She fought back tears, "But you are just a child. You should be out playing, enjoying the sun with other children of your age"

The tranquil child gazed at her blankly, "I was a mage, and I was dangerous. The warden commander had me made Tranquil to save me from myself. I am here to serve her."

The sob caught in her throat then and she stood up abruptly, biting her own hand to stop the tears from coming. She let Anders take over then, let him have his discussion with the mage who had brought the child here. All she caught was snatched conversation.

He will go to Ferelden, be taught by the Tranquil there

Is there no way we can save him?

Once Tranquil, it canot be reversed as you well know Anders. He must study amongst his own, he will soon forget what the Commander has done to him, Irving will make sure of it… It's a damned shame, poor tyke.

Meredith will die for this, I swear it

Do not be too hasty in your words Anders, she has ears everywhere…

Hawke's knuckles were white as she listened to the conversation. After a moment she turned to Fenris, his Lyrium brands glowing blue in the moonlight. She recognised the look of utter anger on his face. After a moment she moved over to him "Is everything ok Fenris?"

He growled. His lip curling with hatred, "Magic ruins everything Hawke. You have seen what it did to me…" he gestured at his Lyrium markings, "now look at what it has done to that poor child. This was not his fault…"

She shook her head, "For the first time in a very long time I feel for Anders…" she sighed, "That poor child could not help being born into magic, and now he has been forced into tranquillity. It makes me feel sick."

"He was an innocent"

It was a shock hearing those words escape the elf's lips, but she understood where he was coming from. She supposed that he felt a sort of affinity for the poor child, being forced into a sort of slavery as he himself had been all those years ago to Denarius. After a moment she nodded, "He was, poor child…"

Fenris had gone quiet, and she guessed why. He had sunk into one of his thoughtful moods. It was best not to talk to him when he was like that, and she imagined he would be more up for talking later on in the comfort of his own home.

Instead she turned her attention to the scene in front of her. Anders was kneeling before the small child, his hands clasping the childs hands. He was speaking, his eyes full of tears. But the child did not seem to notice what Anders was saying, or even what it meant. After a moment, the child was lead up the gangway into the waiting ship on the waterfront and into the darkness.

Anders said nothing. His face was set, his fists clenched as he stalked away into the darkness. Fenris soon followed suit leaving Sebastian and Hawke sat in front of the ship. After a moment, Sebastian spoke, his voice shaking with emotion,

"I had no idea…"

Her own voice shook, "Bethany told me of things like this happening. I should have believed her…"

Sebastian shook his head, "How were we to know? Rumours abound these days…"

She sighed, "But it is true Sebastian. We have seen it with our own eyes…"

"Perhaps Anders speaks the truth…" he was beginning to doubt his conviction to the chantry, she could hear it in his voice.

She shrugged, "Perhaps he does. But I have a feeling that we won't know until the story is nearly done…"

And part of her knew that the ending to the adventure would be full of heartbreak.

Sebastian vael did not sleep that night. Instead he sat awake in his bunk contemplating the previous few hours activities.

Surely the Maker would not allow humanity to do such things to children?

He wanted in that moment to tear those who had commited the atrocity on that child limb from limb.

Andraste forgive me…

The face though that was completely in his thoughts was not that of the child. But Hawke. He could clearly see her face in the darkness as the tears fell down her face. She had been badly affected by the child's fate, and he could see that he wanted revenge on the individual who had committed the atrocious act. Whether it had been the Knight Commander or not, Sebastian knew that she would tear the throat of that heartless bastard who had done that awful act to that poor, innocent child.

Maker, look after the soul of the innocent child who was taken from you today

Despite praying, he still could not sleep. His mind kept wandering back to Hawke, wondering if she was lying awake too.

And Hawke was. She sat in front of the fire in her library with Isabela, a bottle of aged Antivan Brandy open between them and half drank, and the two had spent hours talking. Isabela had known better than to ask what had happened earlier on until Hawke had volunteered the information. Instead they had talked about other goings on, shopping and booze had been the two main conversation pieces, although they had briefly ventured onto other topics,

"So, Fenris…" offered Isabela as she poured out yet another glass of brandy.

"what about him?" asked hawke as she stretched her bare feet in front of the fire

"Nothing…" muttered Isabela quickly, "It's just…don't you think he's kind of…broody?"

Hawke laughed, "You don't need to hide it from me Isabela, you like him don't you…2

The pirate lady faltered then before nodding, "OK, so maybe a little. But I like everyone Hawke, not just him. What about you and chantry boy? You two seem to have been getting pretty close…"

Hawke shrugged, "Friends, that's all. He has been a great friend, someone to talk to following Bethany…"

Isabela nodded, "I understand. The feelings are still there though."

"They are," Hawke sounded bored, "I get the feeling though that it will never work, that it's a hopeless crush and I'm better off agreeing with mother to one of her arranged marriages…"

Isabela raised an eyebrow, "oh no no no! Don't do that! You know…" she said with a grin, "Chantry boy isn't half as innocent as he makes out, I'll bet you three sovereigns on that. Give it time Hawke, he'll realise what he's missing out on."

Hawke only hoped that Isabela was right.

And Hawke had no idea that Isabela was right. That night, as he finally drifted off to sleep, Sebastian Vael Prince of Starkhaven dreamt of the enigmatic Melisande Hawke, dreamt of peeling her clothes from her both and having her writhing under him.

And somewhere deep inside himself, he was beginning to realise what it meant.