Merrill

I heard the small sound coming from the dark back corner of the garden. I hurried towards it hoping that I had found her. Sure enough curled up in the corner was little Abby.

"Hey, lethallan. You gave us quite a fright." I said crouching down to look at her.

She looked up at me startled. She curled tighter to the wall as I came near her. "Stay away from me."

"Why don't you tell me why you ran away?" I asked and shifted so I could sit.

"Cause. No one wants me around. I'm bad." She said wrapping her tiny arms around herself tightly.

"No one thinks you're bad, Abby." I protested.

"Yes they do. Mother always says it. And so did Fenris."

"Lethallan, you are not bad. You are a sweet person. You don't remember it now, but you have saved my life on countless occasions. Helped me find purpose again. Does that sound like a bad person?"

"I've helped you? Like a hero?" She asked. I nodded to her. "Merrill, what's wrong with me? Why can't I remember any of you?"

"Well, a mage was afraid and cast a spell on you. She didn't realize you were trying to help her."

"Why was I helping? I'm too little to be doing that stuff." She protested.

"You weren't always so little, Abby."

"What?" She asked frowning at me.

"You were older before she cast the spell on you." I tried to explain.

She gave me a puzzled look and cocked her head. "That's weird."

"Yes, it is." I agreed. "You want to come inside now? Fenris is really worried about you."

"No he's not. He said they shouldn't have had more kids. He said I was bad enough. He said Mother was always angry at me cause I was too much trouble."

"Oh, lethallan! He didn't mean it. He's never been around children. At least that he can remember." I explained.

"He lost his memories too?" She asked. I nodded. "Was it the same mage?"

"No. He was a slave in Tevinter. His master was a mage who was very mean to him. He took his memories when he gave him the markings. He escaped his master, but he keeps hunting him."

"Then why does he stay here? Wouldn't it be better to run? That's what Daddy says we will have to do if the templars find us."

"He stays for you."

"Me?" She asked frowning at me.

"He's your knight, remember?" I smiled at her. Tears filled her eyes and she looked away.

"No, he's not." She curled tighter to herself. "Daddy says I have to learn to take care of myself. He says I have to be my own knight. Mother tells him to let me alone. But he's right, isn't he?"

"Lethallan…" I trailed off as the back gate was wrenched open. "Abby, run and find Fenris." I ordered as templars entered the gates. She jumped to her feet and took off. "You are trespassing." I said turning to block them.

"And you are an apostate. So seems we are going to be in luck. Two birds with one stone. Get the girl." Ordered the large angry man.

I was summoning my powers when I felt his. I stumbled as my mana was drained. I glanced back as I heard Abby scream. "Merrill!" She dodged the templar who reached for her and ran for me. I turned back as the man swung his sword. "No!" Abby screamed and threw herself at the man. It was too late though. I felt his blade sink into me. I jumped back, trying to minimize the damage, but it was a bad wound. I fell to my knees clutching my stomach. Abby punched at the templar, but he just laughed. He caught her arm and smiled at her coldly as he put up his sword.

"What do you want to do about the mage?" Asked the woman templar.

"Leave her. She's not the healer. She's as good as dead. We don't have time to waste. We have the prize we sought." He laughed and drug Abby away.

"Abby!" I cried trying to get to my feet.

"Merrill!" She screamed and struggled. The templar just jerked her up into his arms and stalked out.

"No! You can't do this!" I cried and stumbled as I took a step. I had to do something. I couldn't let them take her.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Ser Karras

I had the Champion in my hands. It was laughable how fate worked out. All those years ago she had made a fool of me. And now I would have my vengeance on her. Meredith would get what she needed and Hawke would get what she deserved.

The tiny girl screamed like a banshee, kicking and hitting me to no avell as she was thrown over my shoulder. My armor protecting me and probably bruising her. I didn't care. I hoped it hurt her.

"You stupid jerk! You hurt Merrill! You can't do this to me! I'm no mage! Let me go!" She kept up a stream of angry words. I wanted to laugh in glee. The others were starting to look nervous though.

"Shut up!" I snapped and jerked her up to look at her. I held her by her arms and shook her a bit. She glared at me.

"When my daddy finds out about this he will destroy you all to get me back." She said angrily.

"Sweet Maker! She doesn't remember anything! This is crazy. What sort of magic could do this?" Hugh said nervously.

"Blood magic." I snarled and then smiled coldly at the squirming girl. "You're father won't be coming to save you, Hawke. None of your family will. They're all dead." I laughed as her eyes widened.

"You're lying! They just had to go away for a while." She protested.

"Nope. You failed to save your own mother from a blood mage. And you killed your sister."

"Liar!" She shrieked and kicked at me. I laughed and threw her back over my shoulder.

"That wasn't necessary." Agatha said frowning at me. She was beginning to question far too many of the new orders lately. I hoped she wasn't going to start being a problem like that stupid Thrask.

"Not necessary, but satisfying." I laughed. I was enjoying Hawke's broken sobs. "Hurry up. We need to get back to the Gallows quickly."