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Chapter 13: The Rematch pt.2

Hawke and Isabela stood back-to-back facing their foes. The Champion, armed with the legendary Hawke Key stared down the Hero of Ferelden, brandishing the weapon of the stars, Starfang. Isabela did not have to wait long for her two opponents to reveal themselves. Nathaniel emerged from the shadows of the forest and Velanna showed herself atop the trees.

"Tch, more Grey Wardens?" Isabela asked.

"Three times zero is still zero," Hawke responded.

"That's tough talk coming from someone who can barely stand," Nathaniel quipped.

"Hmm? I know you…," Hawke said.

"We met in the Deep Roads. Before you killed Anders."

"There must be something in that darkspawn blood you've all been drinking. Crazy runs in the Grey Warden veins."

"Enough!" the Hero of Ferelden yelled. "Where is she? Where is Merrill?"

"I'm not giving up my friend so that you can kill her!" Hawke spat back.

"This is pointless, Commander. Let's just kill them and her ourselves." Velanna insisted.

"So be it," said Vaela before she and Hawke charged at each other , leaving Isabela to fight Nathaniel and Velanna.

While engaged, Vaela began taunting Hawke. "You don't honestly think she stands a chance?"

Hawke only smiled. "That's funny… I was going to ask you the same thing!"

"Velanna," Nathaniel called out. "Back me up." He charged at Isabela, who threw a flask on the ground. Before he could react Nathaniel was caught in a fatiguing fog that sapped his stamina and speed.

"Nathaniel!" Velanna cried out before she summoned a gust of wind to blow away the fog. Nathaniel was alright, albeit brought to his knees.

"You'll have to be faster than that!" Isabela playfully yelled from behind Velanna before shoving her off the tree branch. Velanna was able to soften the fall by manipulating the earth beneath her.

"How did she…?" Velanna asked, mystified by Isabela's speed.

"Look," Nathaniel pointed out Isabela's daggers. "If I were to guess, I'd say her daggers are enchanted with some powerful magic. Her armor too, by the looks of it. The same thing happened when she fought the Warden: disappearing and reappearing next to her weapons whenever they were thrown. She'd travel extreme differences in the blink of an eye," he concluded.

"So what do we do?" Velanna asked.

"We separate her from her weapons. When she throws her daggers, send them flying away from us. She won't be able to sneak up on us again."

"I only have so much mana…"

"I never said it would be easy…"

The battle between the Warden and Hawke raged on. Hawke seemed stronger and faster than before, which itself wasn't a problem but there was something else going on. The Hawke's Key was stronger than Starfang and it showed.

"Damn it!" Vaela thought, "Starfang isn't strong enough!" With every passing moment, both warriors knew this would end quicker than either anticipate if something was done soon. Vaela had been on the run from the beginning, and eventually Starfang would crumble away.

"I have to act fast!" the Warden thought before seemingly disappearing.

"Damn! I know what comes next!" Hawke braced himself for the Warden's next attack.

"Flicker!" "Whirlwind!"

The chestpiece of the Champion's armor was destroyed and the shoulders had been damaged greatly. "She's just too fast…" Hawke thought before falling to a knee. The Hero of Ferelden was behind him, gasping for air... and wielding a different sword.

The Champion couldn't believe his eyes when a crack appeared in the Hawke's Key. "However fast she is… there's no way Starfang broke through…"

"In peace, Vigilance," the Warden whispered.

Hawke turned his head and saw the Warden wield a completely differernt sword from before. "What…how?!" Hawke asked.

"Vigilance, this sword, chose me," she answered. "And that's why… I won't lose here."

Hawke picked himself up but, his Key disappeared. "That sword would rip through any weapon I have," he thought. "I'll finish this in one blow!" he said, defiantly confident as focused his remaining energy into his hand for one last Holy Smite.

"Hmph," Vaela smirked, satisfied with this admission of her superiority. "Let's finish this!"

Hawke and Vaela charged at each other but before their attacks clashed, Vaela hit the ground in pain. Her blood began to stir and the taint had begun to take over her body. This usually happened when she needed the power, but happened with increasing frequency in recent weeks. "Ugh! Damn, not now!"

Hawke stopped his charge when he saw her collapse to the ground. "Warden?! What happened?!"

"My blood! Something's happening!" Images of Highever flooded the Warden's mind. Highever… and something else. "Merrill?" she asked herself. Vaela felt splitting pain in her head while these images flooded her mind.

When the pain subsided, the Warden's demeanor changed. She looked at Hawke and laughed. "Merrill just saved your life, you know?"

Hawke was dumbfounded. "What are you talking about?"

Vaela rose up from the snow-covered ground. "She used her blood magic to show me her thoughts… where she was, what she's doing. If you wanted to protect her, she ensured your failure."

Hawke knew that he was going to lose if their attacks clashed and Vaela wouldn't faked that episode just to spare his life. Merrill had to have interfered.

The Hero of Ferelden offered her hand to Hawke. "Truce?"

"Are you serious?"

"Look, I've only ever wanted to find Merrill. I know the part you played, but I think I've done a good job of letting you and Isabela know that Merrill was my only target. I have what I want, now, and our business is done. So, truce?"

"You're going to kill her."

"Or she'll kill me me. Either way, Champion, we're done here. It's out of your control, now. Just shake my hand already."

Hawke took some time to think about the Warden's offer. "Fine. We'll call it a truce."

The Champion of Kirkwall and the Hero of Ferelden shook hands and put an end to their battles.

"Now then, let's stop our friends from killing each other, shall we?" The Warden asked, smiling.

"Wait, what?!" Isabela asked in disbelief.

"We're done here, Isabela." Hawke reiterated.

"Merill's going to die! You know that!" she protested

"It's out of our hands, now. Merrill wants to be found, there's nothing we can do."

Meanwhile, the three Wardens huddled together having their own conversation. "All right, you two, listen up," Vaela began, "I appreciated the back here, but I'm going alone the rest of the way."

Velanna frowned. "Commander, she's a blood mage. She could kill you in an instant."

Vaela shrugged. "Our blood isn't so easily manipulated. I'll be fine. But, if I don't come back I want the both of you take my place."

"Commander…" "Understood, Commander Vaela."

Hawke and Isabela walked over to the three Wardens. Everyone exchanged proper introductions and greetings. As Hawke and the other Wardens began to walk in separate directions, Isabela and Vaela remained in their own private conversation.

"You looked good out there, stealing all my moves," Isabela joked.

"I learned from the best!" Vaela acknowledged.

"Listen," Isabela began in a serious tone, "I wasn't there when Merrill fought your clan but she's a good person, Vaela. Please, don't kill her."

Vaela shook her head. "I'm sorry, Isabela, but betrayal of one's clan is a capital offense. This ends when one of is dead."

"I'll never understand you Dalish," the Pirate Queen sighed. "Merrill's like a sister to me and even though I think you're an alright sort, if she dies… I'll find you."

"Because she's family, right? That's exactly how I feel."

Isabela rejoined Hawke, while the Hero of Ferelden began the long trek toward Highever.

A/N: Longer chapter than usual, but worth it I hope. Our heroine is so close to her goal! I know there are a lot of Merrill fans out there so, these next few chapters are right up your alley!