Anders slowly rocked the baby in his arms, taking comfort in the fact that she had finally fallen asleep. There were times, like whenever Marian left him alone with their infant daughter, that he sincerely doubted his abilities. It was a comfort to know that he was able to care for the baby without his wife needing to constantly watch him. Even Justice was getting comfortable with their new role. The spirit had been restless at first, irritated by such a long period of inaction. But after a run-in with a small group of Templars outside of Highever's docks he had come to appreciate the helplessness of the small creature now nestled against his feather coat.

"What greater injustice could there be than to kill something so innocent and defenseless?" The spirit had not offered an answer.

Varric strolled beside the mage, glancing up at him periodically and grinning. "How's the little bean?"

"Little bean?"

"That is what she reminded me of when she was born: a sweet little bean."

"Well Varric since you're the first candidate for Godfather I suppose…" Anders was never able to finish his thought. The sounds of battle echoed down the secluded path, causing the mage's blood to freeze. "Here! Take her!" Anders gently handed the baby to Varric and pulled his staff from his back, racing toward the sound. However he was not prepared for what he found as he broke through the brush.

Hawke stood with her back pressed to a rocky outcropping, her staff lying broken in the grass, as six Templars bore down on her. From where he stood Anders could see that she had felled three already. Justice roared to the surface, leaping to the defense of one unarmed apostate against so many Templars. The battle raged, and from the back of his mind Anders felt anxiety burning within him; never had just the two of them faced so many. Only when a hail of arrows felled the last of their enemies did Justice relinquish control of his mind. Varric stepped from the foliage, Bianca resting on one shoulder and the baby soundly sleeping against the other.

"I'm telling you Hawke, this kid could sleep…" Varric's eyes narrowed as they rose to find Hawke, but could not. "Hawke?"

Anders swept the battlefield quickly, searching for any sign of his wife. As he turned the corner made by the shale wall he felt his heart seize. Hawke lay in a pool of her own blood, struggling to breathe around the two Templar daggers lodged squarely in her chest.

Both mage and rouge dropped to the bloodstained grass, Anders' eyes wide with unbridled panic. He put his hand on the hilt of one dagger to remove it, but a bloody hand stopped him. He looked into Marian's eyes as she shook her head.

"Don't," she choked around the blood filling her lungs. "I-It won't….matter n-now."

"No! Marian let me heal you. I can heal you please…"

A small sad smile graced her pale face as she shook her head. "We both know…" She coughed and blood seeped from the corner of her lips. "…y-you can't…"

He knew. He knew from the moment he saw the position of the broad knives there would never be enough time to heal these wounds. If he removed either blade blood would fill her lungs and she would drown faster than he could repair the damage. But he shook his head anyway, tears flooding down his cheeks.

"Please Love… I…"

Her blood covered hand weakly touched his cheek and he held it there, his tears mingling with the gore on her hand.

"I love you," she whispered, a ghost of a smile touching her lips.

"And I love you."

Hawke's eyes sought out Varric and she smiled at him. "Take…" she coughed again, cringing as her chest heaved around sharp edges. "…t-take care of them."

Varric nodded and smiled bitterly around his own tears. Gently he brought the baby, still asleep in his arms, down to her mother's face. Hawke smiled sadly and kissed her brow, leaving a small bloody smudge on the soft skin. "My Kylee… I will see you… in the fade…"

Anders sobbed bitterly as she coughed again, this time resulting in a strangled cry of agony. She looked to him, pain clouding her pale features. "Anders please…" He felt his heart break as he nodded. Using magic he dulled her pain, putting as much of himself into the casting as he could. When her face relaxed she let out a wet heavy sigh and nodded. Anders put a firm hand on the hilt of each dagger… and ripped them from her chest.

He knew she would feel nothing, but continued to pour the numbing magic into her failing body as the life drained rapidly from her eyes. "Thank you Love…"