I'm SO sorry for not having updated sooner, but my health isn't doing so well right now! I also have been experiencing one of the worst writer's blocks I've ever had before. My muse is apparently back, however, so I hope to be able to upload future chapters sooner!

Firstly, I want to thank eboncat, Philliwolf5 and kogouma for taking the time to read all the chapters to catch up! Your reviews were awesome! I also want to thank anesor, Violet Enigma, Pintsizedpsycho (I so love your name!), Eilonwycousland and Apollo Wings! Your feedback means so much to me and I am really thrilled every time I see each review you guys write! I also want to thank my lovely betas: CouslandSpitFire and Eynla for your wonderful help and constant support!

The end of this chapter mentions the Avvar. My wonderful friend Apollo Wings suggested I include them for my sub-plot on the 'Taint' and so I have. She has written The Daughter of the Mountain, which is a fantastic story that includes the Avvar as an Origin for the game. Her fic is strictly AU and AWESOME. I encourage you all to read it as it is one of the most creative fics I have read to date! (Check my favorite stories on my profile for the link!)

I also want to let you know that even though I enjoyed The Mark of the Assassin a lot, the whole DLC has some serious WTF moments, which I really haven't fixed in this chapter. I mean, even if you chose not to help Tallis, you ended up with the same ending? WTF!

If you haven't played Mark of the Assassin yet, I warn you that if you read this chapter you will be severely spoiled!

My disclaimer as usual: Bioware owns everything – I just play with the characters!

Chapter 23

Rhianna was smiling by the time they got back to the crack in the wall that would take them out of the Chateau. There was a spring in her step and a twinkle in her eyes that Anders hadn't seen for a while. As they stepped into the vast system of caves and tunnels called 'The Retreat', she turned and handed him her heavy coin purse.

"In case we need to fight and someone slashes at the purse," she whispered, winking at him playfully.

Anders chuckled and put the purse in his backpack. He had worried they would encounter problems in the treasure vaults, but it turned out they hadn't. The fact that they would soon be heading out of the blasted fortress was also a source of relief.

"This place is huge. Are you sure you know the way out?" Fenris asked the elven assassin as he looked around.

"I'm sure. I have the maps and have studied them," Tallis replied taking the lead. "The path we should take is up ahead. From there, we'll go over a bridge and through more tunnels and caves to the west."

"This was all used during the Fourth Blight, wasn't it?" Varric asked curiously.

"That's the story. The Grey Wardens seemed to have built The Retreat to house and protect thousands of refugees," Tallis promptly replied as she stopped for a few seconds to look at the map. Putting it away, she smiled and pointed to the left. "It's this way…"

They entered a large area, with holes dotting the walls here and there. Hawke frowned when she heard the maniacal giggling that heralded a ghast attack.

"Blast!" she snarled. "Bloody ghasts!"

A great number of the vicious creatures sprang out of the holes and the group immediately responded to the attack. Tallis and Rhianna leapt from ghast to ghast quickly, using smoke bombs to conceal themselves as they slashed through the bulk of the pack. Fenris hit the ones grouped closely together in front of him, managing to kill and stun the vast majority. Varric used his arrows to slow down a second wave of ghasts that had suddenly made an appearance, while Anders froze as many as he could. As soon as they finished killing the creatures, they stopped to rest for a few minutes. Anders checked the group carefully to see if they needed any healing before they resumed their trek deep into the twisted tunnels that would lead them to the surface.

After some time, they arrived at a wooden bridge. Hawke and her party paused as they were crossing it.

"There's a lake here!" Anders exclaimed, his eyes widening slightly with surprise.

"Well, the wardens kept refugees here, remember? You can't do that without water!" Tallis commented.

They crossed the bridge, and as they were walking towards some steps a gate closed shut in front of them, separating Tallis from the rest of the group. Rhianna frowned as Tallis turned and disappeared into one of the tunnels.

"Tallis!" she yelled angrily.

"Trust me!" was the reply that floated down to Rhianna.

At that moment, they all heard a shuffling noise behind them and turned, immediately unsheathing their weapons. Duke Prosper's bodyguard, the Chasind, stood in front of them on the wooden bridge with a large group of men in robes.

"The Circle are not the only ones who know how to break a mage," Cahir said ominously as the men unsheathed their staves.

"If my employer locked me in the dungeons, I'd seriously think about a career change," Rhianna quipped sarcastically.

"I do not fight for him," Cahir replied shaking his head. "The duke is a fool and his enemies are a posturing guileless lot. But you…you are worth testing. Prosper can fight his own battles. I shall choose mine!"

Anders immediately cast an ice spell to freeze as many of the mages as he could, but there were still a few that were out of range. Hawke quickly disappeared using a smoke bomb, targeting the ones that hadn't been frozen. When she reappeared, she stabbed one of the 'unfrozen' mages and moved to the next one quietly. In the meantime, Fenris had shattered one of the frozen ones, cleaving his way to the Chasind and was battling Cahir directly. Varric had managed to kill a couple of mages, and had shot a rain of arrows at the rest to slow them down.

Tallis suddenly appeared in an outcropping above the area where they were fighting and slid down, throwing her daggers at one of the mages who gurgled and slid to the ground.

"You didn't think I'd left you, did you?" she smiled as she ran forward to give Rhianna a hand. Soon the number of mages had dwindled down considerably and they quickly finished off the few that were still alive.

Fenris was still fighting Cahir and had been wounded. Both Tallis and Rhianna ran to help him, while Anders applied a healing spell on the elven warrior.

"Anders!" Rhianna shouted as the Chasind whirled around to face her. Anders grinned, casting a strong paralysis glyph at Cahir, which made it easy for Rhianna to pivot around on the spot, slashing his throat open in the process.

"Show offs!" Varric grumbled, eliciting a chuckle from Rhianna.

The Chasind slid silently to the ground and Rhianna's chuckle turned into a laugh as she bent over to wipe her blades clean on the grassy ground. Anders hurried forward to inspect Fenris's wounds, but Fenris's tattoos lit up and his eyes flashed angrily at the healer.

"I'm fine!" Fenris spit out angrily, moving away from the blond mage.

"All right! All right!" Anders held up his hands defensively. "Anyone else need healing?"

Rhianna walked up to him giving him that slow smile of hers that made his heart somersault.

"No, but I do need something else," she twinkled. Anders gave her a lopsided smile as he took her in his arms.

"And what might that be, I wonder?" he asked in a husky voice, his eyes locked on hers.

"Oh, brother!" Varric sighed. "At this rate, we'll never leave this place!"

Rhianna laughed as she turned to face the dwarf. "Fine, Varric! No need to get all grumpy on me. Let's keep going!"

…

A burst of sunlight was coming through an opening in front of them and Tallis turned to Hawke with a thoughtful expression.

"There's the way out. See? I told you I knew the way," the redhead elf said triumphantly.

"And it looks like the sun's shining!" Anders commented with a grin. "That means no rain! I hate traveling when I'm soaking wet!"

"So, you could go…but there are, however, other options," Tallis began, a wistful expression on her face.

"Coming on a bit strong there, Tallis," Rhianna joked. "We've only just met."

"But we've been through so much together," Tallis grinned. "Wyvern hunts, betrayals, daring escapes from prison…"

"You're right," Rhianna replied sarcastically, putting a hand over her heart. "I'm feeling so close to you right now."

The redhead assassin burst out laughing. "So everything they say about you is true!"

"Amazing, isn't it?" Anders interrupted with a hint of possessiveness in his voice. "Unfortunately, she's taken…"

"I – I know you'll probably say no, but I want to ask you to help me, Hawke," Tallis shook her head sadly with a sigh.

"You're asking for help? After you lied to me?" Rhianna frowned.

"Look, I said I was sorry about that. And I truly am. Prosper must not get his hands on what Salit is planning to give him," Tallis said sadly. "I came on a mission and I intend to stop Salit. The lives of thousands of innocents are in danger. Not only my people, but yours as well."

Anders chuckled. "You mean you want us to risk our lives to help the Qunari, don't you? Last I checked, they nearly killed us all in Kirkwall."

"It's my duty to stop Salit, but I can't do this alone…Not anymore…" Tallis said in a whisper.

"Explain what's so terrible about Salit's plan," Rhianna asked.

"I can't. Not completely. Yes, I know. That's a hard sell," Tallis sighed deeply, then looked directly at Hawke. "I know that after all that's happened, I shouldn't ask for help, but –" Tallis paused for a few moments, carefully choosing her next words. "Can you honestly tell me there is nothing in this world that doesn't need changing? Nothing you wish to strive for?"

Hawke frowned. "No, I can't."

"Don't you wish for a purpose in life? Something greater for all?" Tallis asked with a hint of a smile.

"I have a purpose. I protect the people of Kirkwall as Champion. Or is that not what you mean?" Rhianna cocked her head to the side, puzzled at Tallis' questions.

"That's not exactly it," the redhead replied with a sigh. "The Qunari have a vision of what life should be like. Free from pain, fear, and doubt. You see tyranny, and I see caring and interest in the welfare of all. Yes, it could be better. But so could human indifference and cruelty. Or do you disagree?"

"No, you…have a point," Rhianna agreed reluctantly.

"Then help me stop this before it goes too far," Tallis pleaded.

"You don't think you can finish all this alone? Truly?"

"Probably not," Tallis replied. "But some things are worth dying for…"

"You lied to me, why would I help you again?" Rhianna scowled.

Tallis smiled and approached Rhianna. In one swift movement, she flicked her hand over Hawke's nose, fisting it playfully. "Because I've got your nose!"

"The Qun taught you that?" Hawke sighed shaking her head.

"If I were following the Qun, I would actually have your nose," Tallis joked with a twinkle in her eyes.

Rhianna's eyes flashed with anger for a few moments and the atmosphere grew tense.

"I suppose that doesn't help at all, does it?" Tallis whispered, lowering her head in defeat. "If I had my way, you would never have been involved in all this in the first place."

"I should repay you for all you've done," Rhianna nearly growled. "With interest."

"I take it that's a no, right?" Tallis turned to leave. "I don't blame you. I deserve your denial to help me and I understand."

"What are my options?" Hawke called after her.

"Follow or don't. It's just that simple," Tallis turned to face Rhianna. "I don't want to test that threat you just made. But this is too important. I must see it through. I must stop Salit or die trying."

Rhianna turned to Anders with a sigh, glancing briefly at both Fenris and Varric as well. They were standing quietly to the side, but Fenris's look clearly said he'd much rather be away from all of this and back in Kirkwall. Anders was smiling, but Rhianna knew it was because she had just threatened Tallis.

The moments of silence grew unbearable, but Anders was the first to break it. He saw a flicker of doubt in Rhianna's eyes first, and then a ghost of a plea flickering within.

"What?" he finally protested, not daring to believe the truth. "You really want to help her after all she's done? I can't believe this!"

"Her cause is just and that is all that should matter," Rhianna countered, her shoulders sagging slightly.

"We're going to HELP the Qunari? After they nearly wiped us out in Kirkwall?" Fenris spat out angrily realizing what Rhianna intended to do. Varric, however, remained sullenly silent.

"Innocent lives," Rhianna shot back.

"And our lives weren't innocent when the Arishok declared war on us?" Anders countered.

"So we should punish the Qunari for as long as we live for the mistake of one Qunari? Is that the way it works? Death to all the innocents because the Arishok decided to invade? There are elven Qunari as well. Should we turn our backs on those elves because they chose the Qun?" Rhianna asked them all. "Why don't we just start hunting out and killing all the criminals all over Thedas for good measure, since they've attacked us in Kirkwall as well? All the crazed blood mages who've attacked us? All the power-hungered templar rapists? Death to all, right? Nobody deserves to live!"

"I wouldn't like to run all over the world killing every criminal I see," Varric chuckled.

"That's not a viable argument, Hawke," Fenris shook his head with a sigh. "You're taking it to the extreme now."

"But that's what you would be doing if we don't help," Rhianna argued back. "Taking the consequences to the extreme. Don't tell me you can't see that?"

"This wouldn't have anything to do with your mad death wish, would it?" Anders sighed.

"I don't have a death wish!" Rhianna protested vehemently.

"Says the rogue who must constantly place herself in death-threatening situations."

Anders's sarcastic comment also had a hint of resignation, which Rhianna caught immediately. Smiling coyly at him, she winked, earning a regretful sigh from her lover.

"Well, let's get a move on," Varric finally spoke. "Bianca's itching to kill."

Fenris said nothing but sighed, shaking his head. The three men followed Rhianna over to where Tallis was standing looking at them with one of the most grateful expressions on her face that Anders had ever seen.

"Thank you, Hawke," the elven assassin whispered softly. "I – thank you."

…

So now we're heading out to find an Avvar clan because Rhianna has this mad idea that the Avvarian mages can help me with the Taint. Life has never been so exciting, right?

Wrong.

Let me recapulate briefly.

We found the Duke with Salit just as Salit was handing him a scroll. Tallis disguised herself as one of the guards and took the scroll when the Duke angrily handed it to one of his guards. She quickly jumped away with it – that girl must be half grasshopper or something – and landed on the top of the ruins, staring down at everyone and then she and Salit exchanged words. By exchanging words, I mean they both threatened to kill each other. We made our dramatic entrance at this moment, so we were in the center of all the action. I was jumping up and down with joy because of this.

Then the duke pulled out a strange weapon and shot the Qunari traitor, aka Salit, with a green substance and that's when things got positively terrifying and a tad bit abnormal.

It turned out Duke Prosper kept a wyvern as a pet.

You heard me. A wyvern – cousin to the mighty dragons – as a pet. P. E. T. Pet. The fact that this creature could spit deadly poison or that its bite could kill a man meant nothing to this person whatsoever. So it follows that the duke was not only Orlesian (which made him particularly unattractive in my opinion – have you seen the way they dress?), but also mildly insane.

I mean, who in their right mind would keep a poisonous creature as a pet?

Duke Prosper. That's who.

Add that to the fact that he NAMED his wyvern Leopold, and you have a person that should be spending the rest of his days in a mental asylum.

That battle was not at all fun, but Rhianna laughed throughout it all. Her cheeks were red and her eyes were shining by the time we finally managed to kill all the bad guys. The duke and his wyvern included.

They actually went over the side of the cliff that surrounded the ruins and fell to their deaths. Well, the wyvern fell, the duke bounced off all the large rocks on the way down. So I guess I could write that the duke BOUNCED to his death.

He was holding onto the side of the cliff, but instead of asking for help, he started to insult Rhianna. Bad move, if you ask me, since the love of my life is a killing machine. However, in this particular instance, Rhianna did not have to lay a finger on him. Call it poetic justice, or whatever you want to call it, but the duke's hand must have gotten all sweaty from holding on and he let go. As he fell to his death, he bounced off the large boulders below. Excuse me for being repetitive here, but I've never seen anyone bounce like that before. He was a true bouncer. I'd fashion a medal for him, but he's…dead.

At the end, Tallis gave Rhianna a jewel that she called 'The Heart of the Many', and thanked her profusely for helping her out with the duke. She took the scroll and left, but not before saying that she was a little jealous of me. That made me smile. It doesn't take much to make me happy.

Time to go home now, right?

Wrong again.

As we made our way into the duke's hunting grounds in order to leave the place, we ran across some kind of an altar in a secluded area. The stillness around us made me uneasy and as it turned out, I was right to be uneasy. As a matter of fact, if I had heeded the alarm bells going off in my brain or its whereabouts, I might have suggested we turn away and leave, but I knew better. Rhianna would never agree to leave a place just because I think it's dangerous.

Just give me a few moments to sigh here and then turn to watch her sleeping peacefully on her bedroll next to the fire. It's just that she looks so innocent and peaceful when she sleeps!

Anyway, we found the altar, and Rhianna went up to it and touched it, even though I warned her against doing that. In an instant, we were surrounded by angry spirits. We immediately fought back, but even as we wounded a great many and killed a few, we wouldn't make it out of there anytime soon because an arcane horror stood directly in front of exit, barring the way out.

So suddenly, we were fighting for our lives. What's one more life and death battle anyway? Looks like death battles will follow Rhianna wherever we go, so no big deal. I imagine I'll get used to them eventually.

I'm not going to give any details about the fight here, because you all are probably sick and tired of all the violence. (Or maybe it's just me). But I'll hurry past that to say we won the battle, and I healed everyone that needed to be healed, and we all ended up exhausted. Rhianna turned to inspect the altar and found some scrolls next to some skeletal remains.

She read aloud what was written on the scrolls and we discovered that people had lived near the site and worshipped the Lady of the Skies.

At this point Varric interrupted with a smile. He told us that he knew about the Lady of the Skies. She was a goddess worshipped by the Avvar. He said that the Avvar – a nomadic tribe that lived in the Frostback Mountains – regularly visited Orzammar and participated in the Provings there. He told us that the dwarves had even helped the Avvar build all the great fortresses in Ferelden such as Kinloch Hold and Vigil's Keep. He also said that aside from being good warriors, the Avvar had some fantastic mages and the rumor was that there was nothing they couldn't heal. At this point, Fenris chimed in saying that he remembered that Danarius had spoken once only about the Avvar barbarians with disgust. It seemed that the Avvar had fought against the Tevinter Imperium when they tried to take their land. Varric ended up telling us that Maferath, Andraste's husband, was an Avvarian leader. He also said there were rumors that some of the Avvar had settled even here in the Vinmark Mountains, far from their brethren that lived somewhere in the Frostback peaks.

After Varric finished supplying us with all the information he knew about the Avvar, Rhianna turned back to the scrolls and finished reading them. When she was done, I noticed a glint in her eye and that could only mean one thing.

So that's why we're now traveling around this inhospitable land. Rhianna firmly believes the Avvarian healers can cure me of the Taint.

Good luck with that!

…