"The Rite of Annulment"
Hawke sits in the nest made by Fenris' legs in front of the fire in his room, this is a safe place for her, and she can lean into his chest, feel his strength at her back and bask in his warmth and know that he won't be going anywhere, not now. Fenris finds himself at peace when they are like this, the rage subsides and he finds himself absent-mindedly rubbing her back, kissing her neck or just pulling her into him as if to reassure himself she is still there. The feel of her skin and her scent calms him like nothing else can. From here they can talk, make love or read. He has his arms around her and holds scrolls in his hands as Hawke has a book in hers. They have sat like this many times, creating their own little bit of serenity and shutting themselves off for a while from a world that is slowly going mad, comfortable in the silence whilst they both read. Occasionally, Fenris will check a word he's not sure of with her, sometimes they will read to each other.
But not this time.
Fenris feel the shiver move right through her body and feels that the world outside has suddenly invaded their cocoon.
"What are you reading?" he can't help from keeping the tension in his voice.
"It's 'The Rite of Annulment', First Enchanter Orsino mentioned it. I didn't know what it was and it didn't seem the time to ask him, so I asked Sebastian to get a copy of it for me. It's not good Fenris." Her voice has lost the light tone it usually has, and is filled with deep sadness; he feels a knot creep into the pit of his stomach,
"I remember him mentioning it, but I never thought more, but what do you mean, 'It's not good'? From the way you trembled, I take it is indeed really bad."
Hawke leans heavily into him and closes her eyes, never before has she felt the weight of the title of Champion bear so heavily down on her,
"It is an old rite. One that gives the Templars the permission to purge a circle entirely. All mages within a circle are killed. All of them Fenris. Not just experienced mages or those that have turned to demons, the entire population of the circle is killed, the apprentices, the tranquil, the servants, even the children. It is supposed to be done only when a demon has possessed a mage and there is a threat that it will escape. The Grand Cleric has the power to grant it. I don't think Elthina would unless there was a genuine threat and there has been no sign of anything like that within the circle here, plenty of it outside the circle, but none inside. But I think Orsino fears that Meredith will invoke it anyway.
"I have no love of the circle, it is a miracle I am not there right now, but my father taught me to respect what they do. I think he was trying to find another way of doing things. He and mother could not bear the thought of me leaving them and going into the circle when my talent started to appear, so he taught me himself. He always said he was teaching me the same way had I been taken there, but it can't have been the same. He loved me and was always there to protect me and he made sure I came to no harm. I was able to go and explore the world around me. I was not shut up in a windowless prison. I made friends and grew up like anyone who does not have the skill. All I did differently was avoid Templars!
I know you don't like most mages, but this ...this is an evil act Fenris. I cannot let it happen."
He responds carefully, "You know that the circle here has many problems, are you sure this would not be the answer?"
"Fenris, is your hate of mages still so strong that you would condone this?" She looks round at him, shock clearly written in her face that he does not agree with her instantly.
"Hawke, you have seen what mages have done in this city. Orsino is losing what little control he had over them himself. He has let them escape from the circle time and time again. They are all so quick to use blood magic that they are completely unable to contain, he cannot be teaching them well of the dangers of this and he spends most of his time berating Meredith, shouting in the street, when he should be in the circle watching his charges. Remember also how many times we have fought demons that seem to find it easy to possess people here, not just mages. The circle is letting the people of the city down that these things can occur so often. The mages are supposed to serve, what evidence of serving have we seen here? You are the only one I know that is doing any serving in this city."
"Anders has done a lot." She snaps back at him immediately.
Fenris has to consciously hold back anger just at the mention of the mage's name, and manages to control it enough to keep his voice quiet as he continues,
"That mage may well be healing and serving people in that way, but he is an abomination and so he is dangerous as well. You cannot be sure how much longer he will be able to hold back, it is just a matter of time before he does hurt someone instead. Besides, he is not part of the circle, where are the healing mages in the circle who should be doing this work so that he does not have to? The circle does nothing, but sits and complains about a lack of freedom they have yet to earn."
"Is freedom to be earned Fenris? Surely it is a right; I had thought you might have more understanding of that."
"Freedom is a right, but where mages are concerned they must be able to show they can be trusted. In Tevinter it is treated as a right for mages and look how they abuse their power, denying freedom to everyone else. Meredith may be strict in her application of control over mages, but with Orsino applying so little discipline, what choice does she have?"
Hawke frowns,"You are right to question how the circle operates. In Kirkwall it does seem to do it badly, but all the trouble we have encountered has been outside the circle. The mages we battle with are all outside of it. What good will a Rite of Annulment have in dealing with them? I know there are many mages inside the circle who would leap at the chance of such freedom they have in Tevinter and abuse it just as much, but what of all the ones who wouldn't? These people are innocent and they do not deserve to die. What of the mages I have persuaded to return to the circle, like Emile and Feynriel, have I just given them a death sentence?" Hawke buries her head in her hands and Fenris wraps his arms around her,
"Why are you fretting so much over this anyway? It hasn't happened. Meredith cannot do this without Elthina's permission; Elthina will not do it without consulting the Divine. It is not going to happen."
"I hope you are right, Orsino could have mentioned it solely to try and push my support for him. But please tell me you think this rite is barbaric,"
"I do not think it would be so barbaric if it was done for the reasons it gives in the book you are reading. A rogue demon cannot be allowed to escape into the world, which would kill far more people than carrying out this rite would. I cannot imagine it would be pleasant for the Templars to perform or that it would be done lightly, but it would be less distressing than the death and destruction a demon would wreak and that is the only reason it would be necessary. If it were not done for those reasons, I do think it would be an unusually cruel thing to do."
"Would you still think this if I was in the circle?"
"If you were in the circle, I would perform the rite myself to get you out of there."