Author's note: This is the final chapter of Part I (which includes the original story from which this continues). Part II will be contained in this same document, just for ease of finding it and managing it. Hope you enjoyed it! Feedback is very much welcome, and be sure to leave a review!

It was mid-morning by the time Hawke and the others departed the Wildervale. They had managed to obtain space on a merchant's cart heading to Kirkwall. It was cramped, but it was preferable to yet another day spent on foot. It was hot again that day, but overcast with the scent of rain in the air. Hawke and Varric sat side by side on the back of the cart, letting their legs dangle over the edge. They were chatting about the events of the past week. Anders had climbed up in front to sit next to the merchant and Fenris was lounging against a crate behind Hawke.

"Do you think your brother will come back to Kirkwall?" Hawke inquired after a few moments of silence had passed.

"If only I were that lucky," he laughed, but Hawke could see the pain in his face.

"I'm sorry, Varric," she placed a hand on his shoulder. "I can't even imagine that kind of betrayal."

"I should have seen it coming. I'll find that maggot if it's the last thing I do." Varric clenched his fists as he stared off into the distance.

"You can't blame yourself," Hawke squeezed his shoulder, "As much of an ass as he was, I never thought he'd be capable of leaving his own brother for dead. He…didn't seem like himself once he caught sight of the idol."

"No, you're right. As bad as he was, I never thought him capable of that, either," Varric furrowed his brow and then shook his head as if trying to free the memory. "Anyway, enough about that. Despite Bartrand's best efforts, we're going to be very wealthy now. You can get your family home back."

Hawke smiled at the thought, "It is hard to regret what happened, knowing now that I can take proper care of my family. Mother will be thrilled to return to Hightown and be counted among the nobility again."

"And poor Gamlen will be all on his own again."

Hawke snorted a laugh as she gave Varric a side hug, "What would I ever do without my trusty dwarf to help me see the bright side."

A light mist was falling on Lowtown early that evening as Hawke, Varric, and Fenris headed toward Gamlen's house. Anders had gone directly to Darktown upon their arrival, anxious to see if anyone was in need of his help – though Hawke suspected he was trying to avoid seeing Bethany. Rather than stopping at the Hanged Man on the way, Varric opted to join Hawke and Fenris, as he was eager to check up on Bethany.

They were laughing at one of Varric's stories about Bartrand as they rounded the corner to Gamlen's house. Suddenly, Hawke's laugh stopped cold and she froze in place. Fenris and Varric followed her gaze toward the stoop of the hovel. Two templars stood on either side of the stairway.

"No…" Hawke whispered as her heart began racing. She broke into a sprint, pushing past the Templars as they tried to stop her. She flung the door open and slid to a stop as soon as she entered the house. Bethany and her mother were standing in the main room along with Knight-Captain Cullen.

"What's going on?" Hawke demanded, though she knew very well what the answer would be. She threw and icy gaze at Cullen as he stepped forward between her and Bethany.

"Please don't do anything," Bethany pleaded softly, noticing her sister raising her hands as if she was about to reach for her daggers.

Cullen took another step toward Hawke, "Mistress Bethany is being taken to the Circle of Magi in the Gallows."

Hawke felt as though a weight had slammed into her chest. Her legs suddenly grew weak as she let the reality of the situation sink in slowly. She glanced at her mother, whose eyes were red and swollen from crying. I've failed. I've completely and utterly failed my family, Hawke thought as she looked at the pained expressions on her mother's and Bethany's faces.

"You can't go there," her words to Bethany were weak, as if she was begging someone to stop what was happening.

"I have to," Bethany sighed bitterly. "That's where apostates go, isn't it?"

"Consider yourselves fortunate," Cullen spoke again as Hawke leveled an piercing gaze on him. "Your sister's cooperation allows us to spare you the punishment for harboring a dangerous mage."

Leandra turned toward Bethany and frantically grabbed her hand to squeeze it between her own, "Oh, Bethany…what will happen to you?" Tears began running down her cheeks.

"Don't worry, Mother," Bethany freed one of her hands and placed it on Leandra's cheek. "I'll be fine."

She slowly pulled away from her mother and turned to Hawke, "Look after her, Marian."

Hawke couldn't respond. She merely nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. She stood helpless as she watched Cullen escort Bethany out of the house. As the door opened she could hear Varric arguing with the Templars outside, clearly trying to get past them.

"Sunshine…" she heard Varric gasp as he saw her being led out of the house while Cullen pulled the door closed behind them.

As soon as the latch clicked into place, Leandra fell to the ground sobbing. Hawke dropped on her knees next to her trying to comfort her, but in too much pain to know what to do. Bethany was gone. After all those years of running and hiding, she had been caught. It all seemed so pointless. She felt powerless to stop what had happened, and that was a feeling she was very uncomfortable with. There was always a way out before, always someone or something to fight and gain victory over.

Hawke's sorrow began to turn to rage as she thought of all they had been through to prevent this exact scenario. I will not give up this easily, not while I still breathe. She stood without a word to her mother and, with fresh determination, made her way swiftly to the door.

Fenris and Varric were standing at the bottom of the steps watching Bethany and the Templars leave when they heard the door slam. Hawke unsheathed her daggers as she made her way down the steps.

"Marian, don't," Fenris grabbed her arm as he realized what she was about to do. She tried to pull away but he only tightened his grip. "You'll doom her to tranquility if you do this. And you'll likely be killed yourself."

"I can't just stand here and do nothing!" Hawke cried, tugging against Fenris' grip again.

"We all knew this day would come, Hawke," Varric spoke up, softly. "No one could have prevented it. You couldn't hide forever."

Hawke stared as Bethany disappeared around the corner. Once she was out of sight, Hawke dropped her daggers in the dirt and fell to her knees. She was overwhelmed with sorrow, anger, frustration, and fear – but the tears wouldn't come. Fenris sat down next to her, unsure of what he could say that might comfort her. He felt helpless. He wasn't used to seeing her in such a vulnerable state and he didn't know how to react. So he sat in silence next to Hawke and began gently rubbing her back as she stared quietly at the corner where Bethany had vanished.

Varric gave Hawke a pat on the shoulder and simply said, "You know where to find me if you need me." He slowly headed to the Hanged Man, shoulders slumped.

"I should go back to Mother," Hawke finally spoke after what seemed like hours of silence; she had grown cold and damp in the light rain that was falling now. Fenris said nothing as he stood up and offered her his hand. She turned to head up the steps when Fenris spoke.

"I – I don't know how I can help, but if there's anything you need please let me know," he smiled weakly.

"Thank you, Fenris. I don't know what I need right now, but I know my mother needs me."

Fenris simply nodded and watched her as she entered the house.

Hawke found Leandra lying in her bed, curled up, and clutching one of Bethany's scarves. Hawke removed her boots and slid into the bed next to her mother, wrapping her arms around her.

"I'm sorry, Mother," she whispered, kissing her on the forehead. "I'm so sorry."

"Why did you have to go to the Deep Roads? Why did you leave us?" Leandra began crying again. Her accusation stung Hawke as she squeezed her mother closer.

"I'm sorry." It was the only thing she could think to say. She stayed there with her mother until night fell and the room grew dark. Finally her mother's sniffles turned to heavy, slow breathing as she finally fell asleep. Hawke heard Gamlen enter the house and she went to speak to him, careful not to wake her mother. She explained everything that had happened and was surprised to see true sadness in his face; he never seemed concerned for other people before, but Hawke could tell he was now.

"I need to get out of here, get some fresh air," Hawke rubbed her forehead, "Can you—"

"Do what you need," he cut her off, giving her an awkward squeeze on the shoulder – clearly trying to show affection. "I'll take care of Leandra."

Hawke was astonished but did not reply for fear of ruining the moment. She merely nodded a thank you and slipped her boots back on, heading out of the house. She didn't know where she would go; she just needed to move, to get out of the stuffy hovel. As she wandered toward Hightown she recalled Fenris' words from earlier that day. She did not want to burden him, but she also did not want to be alone.

Fenris woke from his sleep to the sound of a knock at his door. It was still dark, the room lit only by the soft glow of embers still burning in the fireplace. He grabbed up his sword as a precaution and headed downstairs, opening the door to a very tired, red-eyed Hawke.

"Mother's sleeping now," she said quickly, before he had a chance to react. "I can't…I just don't want to be alone right now. I'm sorry if I woke you up, but I didn't know where else to go and you said if I needed anything—"

"Slow down," he smiled as he interrupted her rambling. "I told you I'm here if you need me. Come in." It was nice to be able to be there for her, for a change – despite the circumstances. He took her by the elbow and guided her up the stairs and sat her down on one of the velvet chairs in his room. He took the chair opposite her. Hawke curled her legs up under her and stared at the fire.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Fenris ventured after a few minutes had passed.

"I don't even know what to say at this point, I'm exhausted," she sighed, and then looked at him. "Could you talk? About, I don't know, anything. I just need a distraction."

"All right," he agreed, giving it some thought. "Do you know about Shartan?"

"A little. He was the elf who fought for the freedom of the elven slaves of Tevinter. I know the Chantry considers him a heretic, so I don't know much more than that."

"Well, let me tell you about him, then," he smiled as he began telling Hawke the story, remembering the rare moments he had with some of the slaves at court, as they had once told Fenris the story. It was dangerous, but it was something the slaves had that could not be taken from them. He continued talking well into the night until at last, Hawke was sleeping. Carefully and quietly, he scooped her up from the chair and laid her down in the bed, removing her boots and covering her with a blanket. Although she was asleep, her brow was still furrowed with worry and pain.

He brushed a stray strand of hair from her face and leaned to place a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Don't worry, amatus," he whispered. "Things can only get better from here." And for once in his life, he believed it himself.