Chapter 49

Gavin stood at the railing of the Soaring Eagle as she sailed away from Kirkwall. Even though the sun had not yet risen fully, he could still see some of the damage done to the city when the Qunari decided to rampage through it. Was it really only three days ago? So much had happened that it was hard to believe so little time had passed. And it had all started with Aveline's foolish notion of making the Qunari obey the laws of the city. She still hadn't learned that they didn't give a shit about Kirkwall, its people, or its laws. Her arrogance in the face of that started a chain of events that almost destroyed the city.

He hadn't meant to get involved. All he had wanted was to stay at home and wait for the next available ship to Ferelden. But when fighting had reached Hightown and Jethann had overheard the Qunari interrogating people about his whereabouts, he'd felt compelled to do something. He left his home and proceeded to battle them all the way into the Viscount's keep. There he had confronted the Arishok and discovered the true reason they'd stayed in Kirkwall.

Isabela and her damned relic. She'd known all along why the Qunari were in Kirkwall and she'd said nothing. Luckily, he'd been able to convince the Arishok that he'd not known about it. Isabela of course was long gone with the thing and he was left to deal with the consequences. The end result was that he'd agreed to duel the Arishok. Without magic. Yes folks, that's right. He'd stupidly agreed to make the fight more even. After all, he was a big man and did know how to wield weapons and fight without his magic. But, he'd almost paid the price for his folly. The memory caused him to touch his left side, which was still sore from a near fatal blow dealt him by the Arishok.

"You are in pain still," the low gravelly voice stated.

Gavin looked over at the elf as he joined him at the rail. "I almost died. Despite the spirit's intervention, such wounds do take time to fully heal."

"You're lucky to be alive Hawke," Fenris scowled. He turned to glare fiercely at the mage. "Don't ever put me through that again. Honor means nothing to the dead."

"I promise," Gavin told him, and he meant it. Never again would he be so stupid. He had defeated the Arishok, but it had almost been the death of him. As he lay on the floor of the throne room, his life's blood soaking into the carpet and Fenris over him begging him not to go, a warm glow had surrounded him. He'd heard a voice saying that his task was not yet finished and then his breathing had eased and his mind had started to clear. He opened his eyes to find his friends around him and the Knight Commander and First Enchanter standing over him. Their faces all exhibited the same shock and wonder.

"He is blessed by the Maker," Orsino whispered in awe. His words caused the crowd in the room to start babbling excitedly and then start chanting his name and cheering. Meredith had frowned, looking like she'd swallowed a hedgehog or something. She had reluctantly given in to the people and declared him Champion. He was no fool. He knew she only sought to tie him to the city in order to use him against those she deemed dangerous or an enemy. And so he had Varric book passage to Amaranthine for him that very same day.

"I still don't know why the spirit chose me, but I'm grateful to her," he said aloud.

"I never believed Anders or Merrill when they insisted that there were benevolent spirits in the Fade," Fenris said quietly, not wanting to be overheard. The sailors were nervous enough about a mage being on board without hearing them talk about spirits. "What did she say her name was again?"

"Hope."

"And you can still feel her?" the elf said doubtfully.

"Sort of, like an echo in my head," Gavin said in bemusement.

"Anders has a spirit in his head too," Fenris scowled.

"It's not the same thing," the mage reassured him. "She's not physically inside me. She stays in the Fade, but maintains a channel to me so that I can call upon her power to augment my own if necessary. I'm only a moderate healer, but with her help, I can do so much more. She will not leave the Fade, she doesn't need to. Justice was already trapped outside the Fade and he physically shares Anders' body."

Fenris was silent for a long time thinking. Finally he met his mage's concerned gaze. "I love you and will always love you, even if you become possessed like Anders."

"If I were to fall, I would hope you would do the right thing and end my life," Gavin replied. "Death is preferable to possession."

"I love you enough to spare you Anders' fate," the elf said solemnly.

They stood in silence watching Kirkwall fade behind them for some minutes before Gavin spoke again. "Sebastian promised to send me updates on what is happening there. As soon as we reach Lothering I will write to him."

"Varric told me that he would keep an eye on Anders and Merrill and try to keep them out of trouble," Fenris told him. "He'll also write to us about anything important. Especially if there's any sign of Danarius or his hunters."

"One good thing about you coming to Ferelden is that someone like Danarius would not only stand out like a sore thumb, but would also be highly unwelcome there," Gavin smirked. "Fereldens are very independant and stubborn and hate Tevinter only a little less than they do Orlais." He paused briefly and then continued, "I hope he does try to come at us there. I would dearly love to send him to his grave."

"As would I." Fenris saw the mage rubbing his side again and took his arm to lead him from the rail. "You should get some rest. Having a relapse out here would not be good."

Gavin allowed himself to be led across the deck and down the stairs to the small cabin below deck he'd been given. There had only been the one available and he had managed to get the captain to agree to allow Jethann and Orana to share it with him and Fenris. Although it made things very cramped, it was the only way to keep the elven woman from going into panic mode. It also didn't give them much privacy and so any intimacy was out of the question for the two weeks they would be at sea. Jethann wouldn't care because he was an exhibitionist at heart. Bur Orana would die of embarassment.

The two elves in question looked up as the door to the cabin opened and Fenris led Gavin in. Orana saw how pale the mage was and all her mothering instincts took over. "You look like you are about to fall over," she exclaimed as she helped him lie down on bed. "You shouldn't be exerting yourself so much. Just three days ago you almost met our Maker. It is a miracle that you're alive."

"Orana, he is much tougher than you give him credit for," Jethann soothed. "After all, he took on a magister and lived. How many people have you known who could claim the same?"

"He is still just a mortal man and as vulnerable as the next to illness," she retorted sharply.

"He is a mage and thus much tougher than you give him credit for dear," he reminded her and got only a sniff as she turned back to fuss over the man she still considered her master.

"I make mistakes, same as everyone else," Gavin shook his head. "Being a mage doesn't makeone immune to stupidity. If fact, it can actually make you more careless if you let it."

"What do you mean?" Jethann frowned at him. Orana looked at him in puzzlement too.

Fenris had some idea what his mage was getting at. "Being able to wield magical power can make one arrogant and overconfident. That can make one careless and a smart opponent can use that carelessness against them."

"I was overconfident that my size and strength was enough to give me the ability to go toe to toe with an opponent who outmatched me in skill with physical weapons," Gavin nodded. "I forego using my power to show that I wasn't afraid of the Arishok. Something I'm sure the Arishok had guessed at before our fight. He was a lot smarter than most everyone gave him credit for."

"It wouldn't have even come to that if Aveline hadn't forced his hand," Fenris snarled.

"It's not all her fault," Gavin shook his head. "The Arishok could have told the Viscount why they were in Kirkwall, but he allowed pride to rule his actions. Isabela also knew, but her greed kept her mouth sealed. Petrice's egging on her people to harass the Qunari deepened the mistrust. Aveline's blind adherence to the law was merely the final spark that lit the fire that almost burned the city down."

"Don't forget the centuries of oppression the elves have suffered," Jethann reminded him. "Humans have made elves the perfect tool for revolutionists and fanatics to use. Penning them in Alienages and denying them the same rights as other races is the best way to insure the Qunari will always find willing supporters throughout Thedas."

"I heard rumors that life is a little better for elves in Ferelden, that the King and Queen had passed laws giving them more freedoms and rights," Orana interjected.

"According to Varric, the rumors are only half true," Gavin clarified. "If they pushed too hard, too soon, then the nobles would balk. But, at least the elves are now allowed to freely seek employment outside of the Alienages and even to sell their wares in the lower markets like any other Ferelden citizen."

"How did this come about?" Fenris couldn't hide his surprise.

"Apparently when the Darkspawn invaded Denerim, an elven woman in the Alienage, one Shianni by name, saved King Alistair's life," Gavin told them. "As a reward, he promised to do all he could to make life better for them."

"It's a start at least," Jethann nodded happily. "And it bodes well for our making a home in Ferelden."

"Hopefully Lothering has recovered somewhat from the Blight," Gavin frowned slightly. "If not, then I will have to find farmland that I can buy elsewhere."

"And any such land would, by definition, cost more than normal," Fenris put in. Seeing the suprise on the mage's face he smiled, "Varric made sure to educate me on such things during the three days you were recovering."

"How far is Lothering from Amaranthine?" Orana asked, knowing nothing about maps or geography.

"I think about two weeks," Gavin answered.

"That's an awful long way to walk," Jethann shuddered at the thought. "Hopefully there will be a caravan or something heading south that we can hitch a ride with."

"We'll just have to see when we get there," Fenris shrugged.

"We will won't we," Gavin chuckled. "At any rate, we'll be away from all the nonsense of the past few years. I look forward to a nice, quiet life of farming once more."

The others smiled and nodded agreement before going to see about breakfast, promising to bring something back for Gavin. He watched them leave and then sent a silent prayer to the Maker that it would be as he had just said.