Chapter Ten: Shadows
The templars are able to keep back the townsfolk long enough for Hawke's skiff to cross the waters of the bay safely. He can see just a glimpse of her dark head disappearing up into the Docks and Lowtown before the citizens of Kirkwall, those that still wish to fight, get past his men and women.
He doesn't want to hurt anyone else. He tells his people to let them go because honestly, if they kill the citizens there will be nothing left here. Nothing at all. Bethany, held farther back by Solona, cries out in rage at his words but he gives her a sharp stare. "Calm down. Your sister is good at what she does. She'll be fine. We, however, need to attend to our own." He turns and looks back to the water. The citizens are still loading into boats.
"Who knows what'll happen when they don't find Hawke. They might come back for another round with us." He calls his higher-ups to him and starts handing out instructions.
Clear the courtyard of the dead.
Transfer all the wounded to the Recruit Quarter of the barracks.
Assign shifts for sleeping, starting as soon as possible.
Find out if there's anything to eat. His stomach growls at the thought because really, he'd been on his way to eat hours ago when the attack first occurred.
The cousin mages quiet and he can hear them retreat to start healing the wounded.
Cullen gives a mighty sigh and rakes a filthy hand over his face.
News comes much late in the day. The sun is setting when the messenger arrives at his office door. Cullen pushes aside his accounting of the day's events and gives the dwarf his full attention. The dwarf introduces himself as Santo, the Hawke manservant.
"Ser, Viscount Hawke is gone. She stopped at the house on her way and packed a bag. She headed to the keep afterwards, following the Queen's footsteps, but I don't know where she went from there. She may still be in the city or she may have fled. I do not know." The dwarf stands with his hands clasped behind her back.
Cullen has forgotten about the Warden in all of this, but it's reassuring that she'll have Hawke with her at the very least. He does not wish to start a war with Ferelden over a missing Queen and he's sure to have many questions to answer. But not yet. Santo's explanation is startling to him. "You're very forthcoming with information. No loyalty to your employer's secrets?"
The dwarf smiles and rocks back on his heels. "The Viscountess left instructions that should this situation ever arise I was to find you or the First Enchanter and explain what's happened."
"I see." Cullen holds his head in one hand, thinking. This is an absolute mess that Hawke has left in her wake. The city is burning. The people are calling for blood: he's happy none of it has been directed back towards the Gallows, yet. Worst of all the confusion left by the Tevinter invasion calls for swift action and investigation. But he has no men to spare. The knights are still cleaning the blood off the flagstones in the courtyard.
He hasn't heard from the city guard yet and hasn't even attempted to send a dispatch to Hightown to see how things fared in that quarter. There is still too much unrest, too many people carrying swords, ready to attack. At least he thinks so. Cullen feels helpless.
"Was there anything else?"
The dwarf straightens at his question. "The Amell estate has been looted. I've brought what I could save of Miss Bethany and Miss Solona's personal belongings but it's not much." Cullen notices the bags waiting in the hall. They are small and Cullen worries about the two women. He'll have to tell them both what's happened to Hawke. "I have a letter, Ser."
Santo reaches into his vest pocket and withdraws a creased envelope. He hands it to Cullen, wordlessly. The handwriting is elegant and addresses the letter to King Alistair of Ferelden. It must be from the Warden then. Santo dismisses himself and Cullen falls into thought again.
This is how Solona finds him. He has no idea how much time has passed between the dwarf's disappearance and the soft knock on his door. When he glances up at the sound she is leaning in the door and smiling back. It's soft and worried but somehow reassures him. She has cleaned herself up since the battle and the only reminder is the darkening bruise where she had been bleeding earlier.
"Knight-Commander Cullen. It appears we've made it through yet another war."
Cullen is startled, yet again, at the change in her tone. She does not sound like the nervous and indecisive youth that left for Ostagar and came back a shell-shocked veteran. Even as she'd recovered over the years she'd kept that hint of worried confusion in her words. This is all gone now, replaced with an even-paced acceptance.
"It appears that we have First Enchanter Solona." She laughs at this and enters his office fully. She flops into a chair and leans back.
"So. What are we going to do now?"
He looks down at letter in his hands. He hopes that it will direct the husband towards the wife's eventual location. He hopes that this invasion was a one-time thing and that he won't be left dealing with the possible take-over of the Free Marches. He hopes that he can put this Circle back into some semblance of order, with the Chantry present or not. He no longer cares what the Clerics have to say, having been left to deal with this mess on his own.
Solona shifts and he glances up at her. Hope. She's hope, sitting right there. Cullen wonders when, not if, they'll be able to move past everything they've been through and just be. The thought makes him smile.
"Rebuild." He stands and walks around his desk. Kneeling in front of the mage he takes her hand. Her palm is warm; he winds his fingers between her own and he grins now. "One moment at a time."
He can almost imagine the spark of happiness that jumps from skin to skin. The irresistible smile that she returns is unforgettable.
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The letter falls from numb fingers and Alistair bites back the fear that threatens to overwhelm him. There is blood on this paper. Whether it belongs to his wife or not he has no idea. He twists the ring on his finger and prays to the Maker that Elissa is all right.
Come home safe, my love.
Come home
The End
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