Leigh could smell burning flesh and heard screams of the dying. She was covered in blood, but it was not her own. Her daggers dripped the dark liquid and she could see dead Templars and mages at her feet. She rounded a corner in Lowtown she knew well enough and skidded to a halt.

"You die for what you have done malificar." Sebastian stood behind Anders with a dagger drawn. His eyes filled with hatred and murder.

"Then I die, at least I will be free."

"Sebastian stop!" He turned slightly, but his eyes never left Anders' back.

"You can not stop me Hawke, he is a murderer and I will see justice done." Without another word Sebastian buried his dagger in the heart of the man Leigh loves. Her scream was deafening as she ran to catch Anders before his body hit the ground. She caught the last blue flash of Justice dying along with Anders and something in both her and Pash broke. With a very cold calm she closed the eyes of the man she would have given anything to save and stood up slowly. "It had to be done."

"So does this." Her blades lashed out and she sliced into the prince's flesh. His eyes went wide and he tried to defend himself. Leigh hit him with a frost spell at his feet making sure he could not escape. She could see the fear in his eyes and she felt a rush of pleasure from it. "You killed my soulmate, now I tear you apart." Her eyes glowed their hellish red and her skin cracked showing off a bright red glow.

"Hawke...pl...please..."

"Time to join your family." There was no emotion in her voice, it was dead. She began tearing her friend apart piece by piece. His dying screams faded away til all she could hear was the wet sound of limbs being rend from what was left of his body. The last thing Leigh remembered before her body twisted in agony was her hands covered in blood and gore.

"NO!" The room was still dark as the fire had died out. Her body violently shook and her heart threatened to beat out of her chest. Leigh's hands searched the other side of the bed for her lover, but he was not there. A cold dread filled her when her door flew open. Carver stood in the doorway, followed closely by Bethany and the house servants.

"Leigh, what is it? What's wrong?"

"Where is he?"

"Who?"

"Where is Anders?" Carver went to touch his sister and she cringed away from his touch. Orana lit a few candles to give the room some light. Leigh's eyes were wild and full of fear. "Where is he?"

"He went to his clinic my lady. He said there were things he need to take care of." She did not wait for Bodahn to stop talking she ran for the cellar door.

"Leigh wait!"

OoO

Anders went over the list again making sure he had the Clinic well stocked. Between Varric and Leigh this place was far better than it had been when he had first met them. Looking around he felt a small swell of pride, knowing he had saved so many lives here. It also made him sad for those he lost, but also the fact he was leaving it behind. The people down here were like a extended family to him. Some of the children he sees running around in front of the Clinic he brought into this world. Could he leave them behind? He knew he had to for his own sake as well as Leigh's. Kirkwall was making it harder for him to stay in control of his anger. Vengeance threatened to take both he and Justice over more and more everyday. He did not want to become a demon or make Leigh have to end him because of it.

"Well that is it, done with inventory for now. I will need to get Leigh to order some more elfroot from Sol and we will be set for the rest of the month." He placed the parchment on his desk and heard his door slam oppen with a great force. Wheeling around he expected a troop of Templars, not his love. Her eyes darted around the Clinic til they fell on him. She ran full force to him and almost knocked him over when she reached him. Love, what's wrong?" Leigh could only clutch at his shirt and sob openly. He saw her siblings run up to the door and stop before they got to close to them. "What happened?"

"Don't know, we heard her scream, then she asked where you were and she ran down here." Bethany rubbed her arms to keep out the chill that was creeping up her spine. Her sister who was always so strong looked so lost. It frightened her.

"She wouldn't even let us touch her to calm her down." A faint red glow took over Leigh's body and the sobbing stopped abruptly.

"Pash?"

"Yes,..."

"What happened?"

"She had a nightmare and is having a very hard time shaking it."

'Is that why your out?"

"No, she pushed me forward...I am not sure why."

"What was the dream about?"

"Her watching Prince Vael kill you."

"Maker..."

"She ripped him apart with her bare hands, before..."

"Before what?"

"Before twisting into an abomination. Her magic is so great that even I can not stop that if she so chooses to give into rage and despair. It is her greatest fear and your death is always the catalyst when she has nightmares."

"And when she didn't find me in bed she thought...shit."

"Her emotions are all over the place due to her pregnancy. Add that to the tensions in Kirkwall and with Sebastian...she can't control her dreams. It frightens her to lose control like this."

"Can't you help her?"

"I have tried Carver, but since she and I are one being her feeling are mine. I can help, but not when they overwhelm me like they did in her dream."

"So there is nothing we can do for her?"

"I did not say that, but it will have to be Anders to help her. He is the strongest of her mage friends and she trusts him."

"What do you need me to do?"

"You will have to go after her."

"Go after her?"

"She has retreated into her mind to protect herself."

"So I have to go into the Fade?"

"Sort of. It is complicated."

"But Justice..."

"Will not be going with you. I can bring you into her mind without him."

"How...?"

"Magic."

"I know that, but how can you do this?" Pash waved a hand over over his forehead and a symbol appeared.

"Anders what is that?" He saw Bethany point to his head and he gave her a questioning look.

"It is a symbol that was put on him when he first truly entered the Fade as a boy. It has protected him from demons all his life." Carver rolled his eyes a bit and stared at the symbol on the blonde mage's head.

"Tell that to Mister Grumpy who wanted to gut me a while ago."

"Justice is no demon, but the mixture of Anders' anger and Justice's inability to deal with it has made Vengeance. It is another entity all together."

"So he has three different...voices in his head?" Anders rolled his eyes at Carver and shook his head.

"It is hard to explain Carver. Vengeance is a combination of Justice and I, yet not."

"I'm sorry I asked. So how is he going to help my sister?"

"It is her guilt and fear that has petrified her. You must help her through it or she will not be ready for what will be coming."

"What's coming?" Pash sighed. She had said too much in front of Leigh's siblings.

"Becoming a mother is not easy and she does not need her emotional demons making it harder. She fears losing people she cares about, that was the premise of her dream. It is her mind acting against her."

"So we should get to this then." Anders shifted his weight uncomfortably from foot to foot. Not knowing what he was getting into. "I just have one question, if she happens to attack me and kill me in her head will it make me..."

"No it is will not make you Traquil. It is much like going into Fenyrial's dream."

"That makes me feel a little better. We should not do this here."

"At the estate then."

OoO

"Are you sure this is wise Bethany, this spirit could be tricking them?"

"Cullen if she wanted to hurt us she would have by now. Maker she saved your life back in that horrible place. Please trust she will not harm us."

"It just goes against everything I have been trained for."

"I know, but so is loving a mage and we see how well you stuck to that rule."

"You Hawke women are surely enchantresses. I always prided myself for never giving in, but you my dear lady have bewitched me." Bethany could not help but giggle at the face Cullen was making. To an outsider he would look socially awkward, but to Bethany he was perfect. "Anders really does love Leigh doesn't he?"

"I think he really does. My sister can be difficult to deal with as you well know and he takes her in stride. It took them three years of dancing around each other to finally be together. If I had not been in the Circle I would have smacked both of them for being stupid. Her for putting up with his stalling and him for making her wait."

"What I remember of Anders was he was the love them and leave them type. He was a flirt, and as lecherous as they come."

"Leigh would have killed him if he had done that to her."

"I know full well your sister is capable of killing someone, she tried with me."

"No she gave you a warning Cullen, if she wanted you dead you would be dead. Leigh does not miss her mark."

"I've seen. I just hope this is the right thing to do. I worry for both of them."

"So do I."

OoO

"Are you ready?"

"No, but..."

"You will be fine Anders."

"Will she be though?"

"I think so yes. You must get her to admit the root of her fear so she can heal and move on."

"And what is the root of her fear?"

"That is what you are there to find out."

"Pash can't you ever give me a straight answer?"

"If I gave you all the answers, how would you grow? I am a guide nothing more, I am not here to make it easy for either of you."

"Thanks for that." Pash pushed him into the room and they sat on the floor facing each other.

"You must relax Anders or this will be unpleasant for both of us." He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Pash gave one last glance to Leigh's family before closing her eyes and taking his hands. "Justice will be your link back to your body, he is your anchor."

"Why do I have this image of him holding a rope that is wrapped around my waist?"

"That sounds about right."

"Maker, why me?"

" Why not you?" Anders opened his mouth to answer and was stopped by a wave of magic. He felt like he was tipped forward. It was much like going through a Harrowing. He opened his eyes and found Pash had his hand. She looked like she did when he was child. "We are almost there." Looking around Anders saw some of Leigh memories. He marveled at how much she had changed for the round faced little toddler to the striking woman he knows now.

"So this is Leigh's mind?"

"Surprised?"

"Just a bit. Holy Maker!" He stopped and stared at an image of him. It was how he use to look, before Justice and the Wardens. He could see the sparkle in his eyes that was now gone. Washed away by so many years of abuse and rage. "She still thinks of me this way."

"She does, even though she does not know you are the same man. First loves we never truly get over. They mark us forever, even after death."

"You and Justice?"

"Me and Justice, we are bound together by a thread that will never be broken."

"I never stopped thinking of her, ever. It just with Justice it took a very long time to sort out which memories were mine and which were his."

"It is the same with her and I." Anders saw across from the old image of him the image of him now. They walked past what looked like doors and passageways. Some he could catch glimpses of her memories others were locked or to dark to see. Pash stopped when they reached a grotto, stone pillar shaped in a circle made the center. In the middle of the pillars sat Leigh hugging her legs to her chest. Her back was to them and he could see her shoulders shaking.

"This is where I leave you. The rest is up to you."

"I just hope I can help her. I hate seeing her like this." He watched Pash fade away leaving him alone, but he could still feel her presence near by. Watching and waiting for him to help the woman he loves. Anders swallowed hard and took a few steps into the grotto. The closer he got the more he wanted to run and hold her. Leigh must have heard him or sensed him because she lifted her head off her knee.

"I don't want to talk about it Pash, just leave me alone." Her voice was shaky and hoarse.

"I would, but I'm stuck here til you talk about what is bothering you." Leigh jumped to her feet and turned to face him. Her expression was a cross between utter rage and pain.

"Very funny Pash. You really think that using an image of Anders will work."

"Love, I'm not Pash."

"I don't believe you."

"Hmm, how do I prove it is me?" Anders crossed the distance between them and took a hold of her shoulders. She struggled as he bent his head to kiss her. At first she growled at him trying to push him away, but he did not let her win. He picked her up and pinned her to one of the pillars. Her eyes went wide and her struggling ceased. "Believe me now."

"What...how did you get here?"

"Pash, she is worried about you and thought I would be able to reach you when she couldn't." He let her move away from the pillar, but did not let go of her hand.

"I'm fine."

"Yes I can see you are. Is that why you almost ripped the door off my Clinic and threw yourself into my arms crying?"

"I had a nightmare."

"Look as someone who has chronic nightmares, I think there is more to it."

"It was just a stupid dream, just leave it alone."

"Then tell me about it."

"I...I don't want to."

"Love this is me, you know you can tell me anything and I will not judge you." She looked him in the eye and saw he was telling her the truth. He has never judged her. Even if he did not agree with some of the things she has done.

"The dream...I saw Sebastian kill you after calling you murderer. I held you in my arms and watched the light leave..." Leigh's voice caught and she bit back a sob. "I attacked him, ripped him apart with my bare hands. I showed no mercy. Part of me enjoyed it at least I did in the dream."

"Is that all?"

"No...I...I think at the end I turned into an abomination."

"Love you already are, at least by Chantry mandate. So am I. With Justice and Pash a part of us it is very unlikely we will become the twisted creatures we have seen and fought."

"I was just so angry at him. He took you away from me."

"Is this because of what I told you in the Deep Roads?"

"No, I don't think it is. I understand why you will have to leave me one day. I hate it, but I understand."

"What are you afraid of?"

"Nothing why?"

"Your dreams might be your fears trying to surface and work themselves out."

"I'm not afraid of anything!"

"Don't get defensive love, I am trying to help."

"I don't need help. This is my mess not...why is he punishing me?"

"Who?"

"The Maker."

"Leigh your not making sense."

"All I want is a life with you and to give you a family."

"I thought that was the reason we were leaving Kirkwall. So our children do not have to be raised in a place with so much violence and hate."

"It is, but...there might be another problem."

"Whatever it is we will face it together Leigh. I am not letting you go through anything alone. Talk to me, please love. I want to help, I want you to be happy."

"You are making this harder on me."

"What? Are you leaving me behind? Are you done with me?" The hurt look on his face broke her resolve.

"Never! But I...if I tell you what my fear is, you might be done with me."

"Not likely. Did you sell your soul to a demon? Kill a litter of kittens? Side with Meredith?"

"No."

"Then why would I be done with you?"

"For the fact I...you said that you thought I am about two months into this pregnancy. Well almost two months ago I..." The pieces of the puzzle clicked into place and Anders knew why she was afraid.

"Your wondering if the babies are mine or his." She nodded not wanting to speak. She turned away from him so she did not have to see the look on his face. To his credit as much as that realization hurt he did not let it show. He knew deep down there might have been this chance the children she carried were not his, but in his heart he hoped they were. "Have you told him your pregnant?"

"I can't. He'll...he'll demand I stay here til they are born to see. I can't stay here anymore. This place is ripping you apart and it is killing me to see you lose yourself everyday to the fight between mage and Templar. The Templars have taken enough from me, I will not let them take you as well. I won't survive it."

"Leigh, I can't tell you it will not hurt if they are not mine, but I can tell you even if they are Sebastian's children, I won't love you or them any less."

"Do you mean that?"

"Yes I mean it. Your the only woman I have ever loved. You are my soul mate. Don't you remember what I called you before we went after Corypheus?"

"Mo Aman Cara, my soul mate."

"Then know I will not leave you because of this, but if they are his, does he not have a right to know?"

"Yes. I just...I don't want...ugh, this is frustrating."

"We will get through this together. Until these precious little ones make their debut there is no reason to say anything to him."

"When did you become the level headed one?" He gave her a wry smile and put his forehead to hers.

"Who said I was level headed?"

OoO

Raven entered the Hawke estate and was met by Bodahn and Sandal. She saw Cullen and Ori sitting on the stairs up the to the master bed room, both looking a bit worried. The Warden talked quietly to the dwarves to find out what was going on. Tovis Leigh's Mabari hound paced the floor and whined a bit.

"So he went after her with the help of the spirit?"

"Apparently, I know nothing about magic messere."

"Where are they?"

"Up in their room. Master Carver and Mistress Bethany are up there watching." Raven nodded and went to the stairs. She place a hand on Cullen and Ori's shoulders. She gave them a reassuring smile and went up to the room. She found Carver pacing and Bethany was sitting in a chair near the fire. Raven entered the room quietly and was not prepared for what she saw. On the floor sitting crossed legged was Anders and Leigh. Their hands were intertwined and their bodies were glowing.

"Maker's breath!" Carver stopped pacing and Bethany's head popped up.

"Warden Commander, what are you doing here?"

"I came to talk to Anders, to discuss his return to Ferelden. Bodahn filled me in on some of what happened this morning. I...I have seen many things in my life, but this...this is new."

"They have been like this for over an hour now." Bethnay got up from her chair and leaned against her brother. Raven went a knelt by her fellow Warden. She saw his head turn just slightly to look at her.

"Justice?"

"Yes, Commander."

"Are they...?"

"They are fine. It should not be much longer."

"I thought you and he are fused, one?"

"I am his anchor to his body. He had to help Hawke."

"I understand." The glow from both of them started to fade. Anders blinked a few times at seeing the concerned blue eyes of Raven. "Welcome back."

"Raven? Maker my head hurts."

"Not as much as mine does." Leigh groaned and leaned into Anders. She caught the figures of Carver and Bethany out of the corner of her eye and turned her head to face them. "Why do you two look like someone died?"

"We were worried about you. You need to stop doing this to us."

"Bethany I...I am so sorry. I am just all over the place with my emotions."

"Why?"

"Pregnancy and Kirkwall." Bethany snickered a bit and went over to hug her sister. "Hopefully once we leave here it will get a little better."

"I hope so sister. Papa never prepared me on how to deal with this."

"I know Carver. I don't think he was prepared either."

"At least he knew what it is like to be a mage, I have no clue what it is like."

"I am still learning what it is like Carver. I have only had my full magic for three years and most of the time I still just use my daggers." The siblings talked and Anders made his way over to Raven.

"Somethings wrong isn't it?" He whispered in his Commanders ear. She motioned for him to follow and she led him to the study. She shut the door and they kept their voices down.

"I had a very interesting visit from Sebastian Vael. He had a lot to say about you and Hawke. He is very jealous of you."

"So he has shown, did he say anything else?"

"He confessed to me that he...slept with Hawke when they both were drunk." Ravens hand went to Anders forearm in comfort.

"I know about it. It was my fault for being a prig. I hurt her and she tried to drown her hurt in whiskey."

"It still hurts, trust me I know."

"I remember you telling me about that. How did you...how did you deal with it?"

"I was the one who asked him to do what he did to save us. I hated myself for it and part of me still does. Having Duncan helped ease that hate, but there is a child of his out there that is not mine. It hurts I will not lie to you, it feels like being run over by an ogre."

"Ouch."

"Yes, ouch, but I love him and he loves me. That is all that matters. People make mistakes Anders don't let one misstep tear you apart."

"I'm not, I love her more than life itself. More than freedom and you know how much I love being free. I am putting aside the plight of mages for her so we can go back to Ferelden to raise our children. I know it is safer there for us than here or anywhere for that matter. I want to keep her safe."

"You really have changed haven't you?"

"I have and it is all thanks to her."

"What of your plans?"

"I really don't know. Everything is set, but I can't do that to her. She would never forgive me."

"Thank the Maker, you have come to your senses."

"Raven, you know why I have to do this. It has to stop. They treat us like a disease, locking us away so they can quell our numbers. Hoping if they get us all under lock and key they can do away with us in a few hundred years or less. You can't tell me if it was you or your family you would not strike them where it hurts."

"I would, and that is why I have not tried to stop you. If it was me I would bring a blood bath to rival the Blight, but I am a bitch like that."

"You will never hear me call you that."

"Not to my face anyway. I know what you all use to say behind my back when I first made you Wardens. You hated me."

"I did not. You saved my sorry ass. I just hated the forced runs and the training you put us through. I was a soft flabby mage, we don't run with full packs on our backs."

"And where would you be if I hadn't made you do all that?"

"Dead, I would be dead. Without those runs I never would have made it in time to help Leigh and the others when they went to find Nathaniel."

"So is that a thank you?"

"Yes, thank you for everything. I will never understand why you saved me back then or even now, but thank you."

"I told you before Anders, you are a good man. You stayed to help in Vigil's Keep when I told you to run. You impressed me with your courage and heart. You are everything I wanted in a fellow Warden."

"Stop it Commander you are making me blush." Raven gently smacked his arm, but the smile near left her face. "You are a true friend Ash."

"As are you Anders."

OoO

Later in the afternoon Varric came to the estate to help Leigh draw up the papers to transfer the home over to her cousin. Anders had gone back to the Clinic to go over the running of it with Lirene and the other women who have helped him run the place for years now. Raven had gone with him making sure Addler could not do anything to the mage. The mood was much lighter than it had been in the beginning of the day. The nightmare Leigh had was almost a distant memory.

"So Hawke have you and Blondie thought of any names yet for the kids yet?"

"Not yet Varric. I have a few in mind, but he and I have to agree on them."

"Varric is always a good name." Leigh smiled at her friend and leaned down to kiss his forehead.

"There is only one Varric." A very red blush flashed up his cheeks. "You have been such a good friend Varric. I do not know what I would have done with out you all these years. When we leave your the one I will miss the most."

"I will visit the two of you so much you both will be sick of seeing me."

"I will never get sick of seeing you." Leigh signed the last of the documents and handed them to Varric. "All done. Maker I don't remember having to write this much out when I got this place."

"Times have changed since then Hawke. It is all in order though."

"I know Charade will be grateful for that. She is excited to move her and Gamlen in here."

"At least you didn't leave the place to Gamlen."

"Not after he lost this place in the first place."

"True, I am sorry Hawke, but your uncle is an idiot."

"No need to apologies, I know."

"Well you two are seeming to be having too much fun in here."

"Hello Blondie, Hawke and I were just finishing up the documents to transfer the estate."

"Is it all in order?"

"All in order."

"Good, so is the Clinic. It looks like we can leave sooner than we thought." Leigh had a shocked look on her face.

"We can leave with Carver and Bethany?"

"Yes love, we can leave in the morning. I guess we'd better pack up our belongings." Leigh squealed and jumped up from her seat to embrace Anders.

"Thank you, thank you. I...Maker we need to go pack. Varric can you gather the others. We have to..." Tears of joy and sorrow slide down her face.

"I'll get them Hawke, you and Blondie get packing." With that Varric took his leave. He waited til he got outside of the home to let the tears he had been holding back to come. He was not ready to say goodbye to them, especially Leigh. He quickly wiped the tears away and headed off to gather the eclectic group that had been family to Hawke. Inside Anders followed Leigh up to their room and started packing up their belongings.

"Maker when did I accumulate all this stuff?"

"Money does that love."

"I just want to take what we need. Armor, some clothing, my mother's jewelry and my father's things. Anything else we can get in Ferelden."

"Agreed, I just have the clothes on my back, my staff, and some books."

"Don't forget to take your old coat. I will see about getting the feathers redone."

"It has seen better days love it might be time to just burn the thing."

"Don't you dare, I will get it fixed."

"I won't argue."

"Good, hand me those books over there." He looked at the titles and groaned.

"Why are you taking these?"

"Something to remember Varric and Isabela by when they are not with us."

"You actually read this trash?"

"It isn't half bad, if you look passed the bullshit."

"That leaves the word the love."

"More packing less talking. We have a lot to do so we can leave tomorrow."

"I will have Carver and Cullen help me bring the rest of the trunks up from the cellar. Be right back." Leigh went to her wardrobe and took out a small box. It held an earring that had long ago lost it's mate. Part of her wanted to get rid of it, but her heart would not let her. She held the little golden hoop in her palm and let her mind slip back. She did not notice Anders and Cullen had brought up a trunk. "What is that love?" Leigh jumped and the earring went flying. Anders caught it before it hit the ground.

"You should not sneak up on me like that."

"We made enough noise to wake the bloody dead love, you looked deep in thought."

"I was, sorry just thinking." Anders handed it back to her. His face a mask of neutrality, but inside his stomach flipped. He knew this earring, he still had it's mate tucked away in side a pouch he always carried.

"Here, where is it's mate?"

"Gone."

"Then why keep it?" Cullen looked over her shoulder and frowned.

"It has sentimental value Cullen. I gave the other to a person I will never forget."

"Then it is not really gone now is it." A loud bang from behind made them all turn as Carver dropped another two trunks into the room.

"Stop flapping your lips and pack. I want to make sure we get all this stuff on the ships before morning."

"Alright Carver we get the hint you want to go home."

"Damn right I do. Kirkwall is...a fucking nightmare. I'd rather deal with dog shit and mud than Templars and nutcases." Leigh couldn't help herself and broke out into a laughing fit. "it's not funny Leigh."

"Oh yes it is, I have had to deal with it for over seven years Carver, you only about a month."

"Get packing Leelee. Come on Cullen we need to go down to the docks and get some hands to move this stuff."

"We'll be back." Anders shut the door behind them and pulled Leigh against him.

"Everything will be alright Leigh."

"I know, as long as I have you it will be."

We'd better get this done. This time tomorrow we will be on a ship bound for Ferelden."

"I can't wait."

"The funny thing is neither can I."

OoO

"You can do this to us Meredith, we have rights!"

"No mage you don't I will have this tower searched top to bottom. I know you have blood mages in your ranks and I will find them. You have one hour to gather your people in the main room so we can conduct the search." Orsino growled at the retreating form of the Knight Commander. He turned to one of his top enchanters and handed them a note.

"Take this to the Champion. She has been a great friend to the mages here and I hope she can help us again. Hurry!" The enchanter nodded and took off running, before the Templars could notice he was gone. "Maker help us." The mage made his way through the Gallow's courtyard and to the docks without notice. Once he reached the docks he ran head long into Cullen and Carver.

"Sim what are you doing down here?"

"Kn...Knight Captain, I'd heard you were gone."

"Not yet, I leave in the morning. What is wrong?"

"Meredith she's gone mad. She thinks we are hiding blood mages in the Gallows. She wants to search all the rooms and we fear she will..."

"Enact the Right of Annulment. She can't possibly think it has come to that."

"She is mad Ser Cullen. The First Enchanter has sent me to fetch the Champion. Hopefully she can stop Meredith." Raven had come out of the ship and overheard most of the conversation. She looked over to Velanna and nodded. The elf ran and headed for Hightown. It seemed the time had come and the plans they set into place had better work.

"I will go try to talk to her. Carver can you make sure this good man gets to your sister. I will see you soon."

"Be careful Cullen. Bethany will kill me if you get hurt or worse."

"I will friend."

"Well come on mage let's get to Hightown." "Why can't anything be simple. Maker, I have a very bad feeling about this."

OoO

"I have everyone here Hawke and most of your trunks have been taken to the docks."

"Thank you Varric. You didn't tell them why I wanted them here did you?"

"No that is your job. I don't think I could take the pouting face of Choir Boy and keep a straight face."

"Varric!"

'What? It's true, he is not going to be happy."

"I know, I really don't want to go out there."

"Courage Hawke it is not like we can't come visit you and Blondie. Ferelden is not that far away."

"Better get this over with." Leigh stepped out of her room and met her friends in her dining room. They were all gathered around the table like so many times before. Lump formed in her throat as she went and sat in her seat next to Anders. His hand found hers under the table and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"It's alright love."

"Thank you all for coming at such short notice. We have something important to tell you."

"Can you make it sound more ominous Hawke? What is it?"

"Anders and I are going back to Ferelden...tomorrow."

"To visit?"

"No Aveline for good. I want to go back home."

"But tomorrow?"

"I know it is short notice, but I want to make sure Bethany is alright when she goes to Denerim. I also want to spend time with Carver. We have seven years to catch up on."

"It is just so sudden." Leigh saw the pain on everyone's faces and wanted to cry. They all looked so lost, Merrill especially.

"I know, I was planning it for a month from now, but we finished all we had to do so much sooner then planned. I have been honored to call each one of you family. It hurts to leave you."

"Then don't." She sighed knowing Sebastian would tell her to stay.

"I have to. I need to go home. It had not been for the Blight I never would have come here. I would still have been in Ferelden."

"So you leave in the morning then?'

"Yes Fenris."

"Hawke...is there anyway to talk you into staying?"

"No, we have decided this is what is best for us. I need to do this." Fenris got to his feet and walked over to her. She stood to meet him and was shocked when he hugged her.

"We will miss you."

"I will miss you too. I know with Danarius gone your safe. If you weren't I wouldn't dream of leaving."

"You have been a true friend."

"Then tonight is the last time we will all be together then. I say we got to the Hanged Man and drink ourselves into a oblivion."

"Sounds good Isabela. One last night of fun before leave. Drinks are on me."

"Be careful Hawke we might just make you broke before you even leave the city."

"It would be well worth it."

"So we will meet after sunset. Give you and Blondie a proper send off." Leigh smiled and saw all but one of her friends was smiling back at her. Sebastian just stared at the table. Leigh got up to talk to him, but the sound of the front door opening stopped her. She went to get Cullen and Carver to join them and found only Carver had returned with a mage in tow.

"Carver?"

"This mage has a message for you from Orsino. I think you'd better read it Leigh." She took the note and began reading. Her boil began to boil at every word. She set the letter down on her desk and leaned over it. Her entire body shook. "Sister?"

"She can't do this to them." Anders took the letter from her under her hands. He read it and slammed his fist down on her desk.

"Leigh we have to stop her. She will kill them."

"I know and I won't let her. Where is Cullen?"

"He went to see if he could talk her down."

"He will be lucky if she doesn't kill him too. We need to move."

"We are with you Hawke."

"Good, I need to go get my armor on, I will be back in a moment." She quickly changed into the set of mage armor her father had made for her years ago. She had made some improvements to it to protect vital areas. It gave her a better range of movement without messing with her ability to cast. Once she had ever strap in place she ran back down the stairs to the others who were ready to go. Anders had a distant look on his face, but she chalked it up to him trying to keep Justice is check. She silently walked passed her friends and headed out the door. She prepared herself that this was not going to end well, but Meredith had to be stopped before she hurt a lot of innocent mages.

"Hawke are you sure this is the right thing to do? Meredith must have her reasons for thinking there are blood mages in the Tower."

"It still does not mean she should have the right to kill all the mages for a the choice of a small few. It would be like killing every elf who was thought to be Dalish Sebastian."

"It is not the same thing."

"I am not going to fight with you right now about this. If you don't want to help then just go back to the Chantry. I am not in the mood today." Her tone and words stung, but Sebastian stayed with the group. The made it to the Gallows in record time only to have a mage run up to Leigh and tell her that Orsino went to see the Grand Cleric and Meredith followed to stop him. She had a feeling the two would end up tearing the city apart. Leigh hurried back toward Lowtown hoping she was not too late.

OoO

"Out of my way Meredith, the Grand Cleric will hear of this." The Knight Commander roughly grabbed the First Enchanter's arm and pulled him back.

"You will not involve her in this. I will search the Gallows, as is my right as Knight Commander." Leigh and her group ran up and the Templars with Meredith all turned swords drawn.

"What in the name of Andraste are you two doing?"

"This is no concern of yours Champion."

'Really, I seem to remember the safety of Kirkwall was my concern. If you two don't stop fighting, you will tear this city apart." The older woman let go of Orsino and stood toe to toe with Leigh. She tried staring the younger woman down, but Leigh did not even blink. "You don't scare me Meredith."

"I am trying to protect this city and her harbors blood mages in his ranks. I will not let them take their hold on Kirkwall."

"Blood magic it is all she sees. My people can not sneeze without her thinking there is blood magic is involved."

"You go to far Meredith. I will go and speak to the Grand Cleric on behalf of the mages. This has to stop. All the problems that have plagued this city of late are your fault. If you would treat the mages like people and not monsters you might not have so many turn to blood magic just to get away."

"It is clear which side you have taken."

"It had always been clear. My sister is a mage, my father was a mage. It does not work the way it is now. You blame the mages for their weakness...the weakness is yours and those like you."

"Then tell me another way to do this. It breaks my heart to have to be this hard on them, but they leave me know choice. I have to protect the people of Kirkwall from their curse." Leigh growled and stepped forward.

"It is not a curse. It is a gift, just like any other. It can be used to the best of it's possibility or can be wasted by using it for evil. Everyone else gets the choice why not mages?"

"Normal people do not destroy a place with just a thought or wave of the hand."

"I've seen plenty of people able to do just that without being mages."

"We could talk this in circles forever it does not change the fact that it is Chantry law that mages must be kept away from normal people."

"The Chantry is wrong!" The two women just glared at the other neither ready to back down at all. Anders felt Justice push and he knew it was time. Things had to change and change was a violent thing. With a deep breath he pulled his staff from his back and stepped forward. He sent a pulse of magic through the staff as he tapped it on the ground. Leigh spun around having felt the surge of power. The look on her face almost made him stop, but he couldn't. There was no turning back.

"Mages must have justice! We will not be held under the Chantry's heel anymore!" His staff forcibly tapped the ground a few more times and the blue glow of Justice shown through his skin.

"What have you done?" Orsino being a mage also felt the magic surge through the ground. His eyes went wide with confusion seeing the glowing in his eyes and skin.

"The Circle has failed us Orsino!"

"Anders what have you done?" He met Leigh's eyes and closed his eyes. The ground began to rumble beneath their feet. Everyone looked around and a red column of light tore through the middle of the Chantry. "Oh love what did you do?" Leigh closed her eyes not wanting to see what was coming next.