Later that night, when most of Kirkwall was asleep and the rest were either approaching sleep or were pursuing various late night activities, Varric led Bianca out of the Hanged Man and through the back alleys of Kirkwall. The sun was partially risen when they began approaching the Wounded Coast. They stopped for a rest, looking at each other. Bianca took her hood down and ran her fingers through her hair. Varric looked around them for any potential threats. Bianca watched him. "You should leave now, Varric." Varric looked over at her. "You've already put yourself in danger: there's no need to further risk the anger of the templars."

Varric laughed. "There's much more to worry about out here than templars, Bianca."

Bianca sighed, shaking her head. She stood and looked around. She nodded toward the southern path. "We should go that way."

Varric nodded. "Right. Otherwise its a dead end." He started walking, Bianca falling into step beside him.

It took them the better part of an hour to navigate their way around the Wounded Coast, the sun rising fully. They saw a figure standing by a tree and stopped, but Bianca quickly gasped and ran toward the figure, Varric trailing behind her. Bianca touched the figure's shoulder and a robed man slowly turned to face her. Bianca stepped back quickly, a pained look on her face. Varric looked at the man, recognizing he was a mage, then saw the brand on his forehead. He looked over at Bianca. "Uh, this might come a little late, but I don't think we should be here."

Bianca's lower lip was trembling. "Richten...when?" She looked around and noticed several templars coming out of hiding. She looked at Varric, eyes fearful and sad.

Varric pulled his crossbow out and loaded it, standing close to Bianca. "Friends everywhere, lovely." He shot quickly with deadly aim, combined with spells Bianca was casting even without a staff. He looked around after the templars were dead, smirking. "Nice work."

Bianca looked back at the tranquil. "I'm so sorry, Richten."

Varric stepped back and let her have her moment, but heard a twig snap. "Looks like we missed a few!" He aimed his crossbow but realized too late there was a templar behind him as he felt a heavy force on the back of his head. As he fell forward, he felt his crossbow being yanked from his hands before all went dark.

How long he was out, Varric didn't know. What he did know, was that when he opened his eyes at last he saw what he was sure had to be an angel, surrounding him in a blue glow that seemed to ease every pain he'd ever had. "That could have gone better." The blue light dissipated and he saw that the angel was in fact Bianca, her cloak gone. Varric's eyes widened a bit and he slowly sat up.

Bianca touched his cheek gently. "I'm so sorry, Varric. I should never have brought you into this."

Varric shook his head, gently wiping her tears away. "I've been in worse situations than this, sweetheart." He looked around, his eyes landing on his crossbow, or what was left of it. He sighed, bowing his head. "Gonna need a new one of those."

Bianca stood, but cried out and fell back to her knees. Varric acted instantly, gripping her shoulders and easing her to the ground. Only then did he see she was bleeding. He gently touched her cheek. "You're a mage, right? Just heal yourself."

Bianca shook her head. "It doesn't work like that. We can only use our powers with mana, like you need energy to keep your stamina up." She gritted her teeth. Realization dawned on Varric and he felt sick suddenly, knowing she'd used up her energy to heal him instead of herself. Bianca smiled up at him, her eyes deep wells of sorrow. "Take...the crossbow from that templar. It's infused with lyrium: it can never be broken."

Varric looked around quickly and saw what she was referring to. He grabbed it and returned to her quickly, gently moving her stray hairs into place. "Don't go."

Bianca smiled and closed her eyes. "Everyone must go to the Maker's side eventually, Varric." A pained look crossed her face and she looked at Varric pleadingly. "Promise me. Promise me you won't tell anyone about me."

Varric took a breath. "What's there to tell?"

Bianca nodded and pushed herself up, Varric leaning down. Her lips gently touched his and he held her in his arms as they kissed. She left him with the soothing taste of cloves, and he laid her down gently. He looked at the crossbow, examining it. "Bianca. I swear, no one will ever know who you are, except us."