A Pirate's Charm

by The Sorrows of Arlathan

Hawke knows Isabela uses people for sex and discards them without any emotional attachment. So when the busty pirate turns her charms on her, she plays along, but keeps her at arms length. How far will Isabela go to get what she wants though? Could Hawke's family problems push her into making a decision she will regret? The game of seduction has begun, but only one can get on top.

45. Chapter 45

Isabela raced after Hawke, holding the pain in her side. Neither of them could put into words what they had just seen. It was like something out of one of Varric's tales. The Chantry burned ahead of them in the night, thick plumes of black smoke rising from its ruins, casting a shadow over Kirkwall. Buildings were set alight, debris littered the ground. Men, women and children ran through the streets of Hightown screaming and crying, desperately searching for loved ones. It was as though the world had come to an end. The pirate grunted in annoyance as she was pushed this way and that trying desperately to fight through the crowds and keep up with Hawke.

"HAWKE!"

Lana slowed as she neared the inferno, overcome with the fumes. She covered her mouth with the back of her hand and tried to get closer, fighting through the assault of smoke and searing warmth tearing at her skin. The heat from the flames lashed against her face, making her eyes water and causing her breath to catch in her throat, choking her. Suddenly Isabela skidded to a halt beside her, grabbing her arm.

"Leave it!" she yelled in a muffled voice, covering her face with her arm, "There's nothing you can do, Hawke!"

"But the Grand Cleric!" Hawke replied, staring desperately into her eyes. I can't just leave them all. "The orphanage..." Isabela frowned and shook her head. There was no one left to be saved, not even the children. They had all perished instantly.

"They're dead!" she shouted over the chaos, rubbing her arm comfortingly. "Come on! Let's get out of here! We need to get to down the Gallows. We have to find out what happened!"

Lana turned back to the scene, trying to figure out some way she could help...but there was none. Neither she nor Isabela had ever seen anything like this in their lives. Not even the Qunari gaatlok, a sting which Isabela herself had felt, could have created something this sinister. A flaming Chantry Sister fell from the rafters with an agonising scream, soaring to her death with a sickening crunch. Isabela slid her hand down Hawke's blackened arm and grabbed her hand tightly, dragging her away from the horrific scene towards Lowtown, away from the raging blaze. Lana stared after it regretfully, before eventually giving in to the pirate's gentle tugging on her arm. Damn Elthina! The stupid bitch, she couldn't help but think regretfully, seeing her face in her mind. She should have heeded my warning...Leliana's warning. Now others have died because she was too proud to leave for Val Royeaux and put the entire city at risk. Tearing her gaze away from the wreckage, Lana coughed and tightened her hand around Isabela's to make sure they weren't separated in the hysterical crowds, running with her towards the Gallows, dread rising from the pit of her stomach.

Once they had escaped the chaos and it became quiet again, Hawke began to speak.

"You...You don't think this has something to do with the mages do you?" she asked, worriedly, rubbing the ash from her blackened forehead. Isabela glanced back at her and squeezed her hand, knowing she was thinking of Bethany.

"It's possible," the pirate replied, leading them through a dark Hightown alleyway. "But let's not jump to conclusions just yet, Sweetness. We need to find out what's going on first."

Hawke tried to swallow her doubts as Isabela dragged her through the eerily quiet back-streets, down towards the ominous-looking Gallows. Everyone, it seemed, had ran in the direction of the flames, leaving only the sound of their own footsteps, echoing off the walls as they made their way through the alleys. As soon as they approached the steps leading into Lowtown they were almost knocked over by Templars, dashing past them left and right and frantically racing towards the devastation in Hightown. The two women slowed down to a walk then, for fear of losing each other (or falling down the now invisible steps when they eventually approached them).

"It's just a hunch...but I'm thinking they know what's happened?" Isabela joked, glaring after one of them after he shoulder barged her out of the way, pushing her into Hawke. Lana snorted and quickly placed a hand on her lower back, steadying her.

"Either that or they think The Maker's appeared to leave them a sign," she teased, holding her close until the others passed. "I've never seen them move so quickly, have you? Normally they're just lazy old bastards getting me to do all their dirty work."

Isabela chuckled and turned to her, giving her a wink. She was glad Hawke had taken the bait as she tried to keep her spirits up with a joke. Truth be told, Isabela herself had a feeling this was the work of mages, though she didn't dare speak of her suspicions to Hawke, lest she worry the woman more than was necessary.

After the bulk of the heavily-armored knights had passed, the two women felt it was safe to walk again. They sidestepped a few stragglers and headed down the long, now empty, staircase leading to the Lowtown Market District.

"You know, we could steal whatever we wanted right now and no one would be any the wiser," the pirate said, her eyes lighting up as she gazed at the stalls in the distance below them. Hawke rolled her eyes, making her way down the steps one at a time. Andraste's ass, she really is so one track minded sometimes.

"Isabela, isn't the whole point of stealing to enjoy the thrill of knowing you could be caught? Where's the joy in stealing from nobody?"

The Rivaini laughed. "Speak for yourself, Little Miss Rich. Sometimes it's good to know you won't get caught and end up in the brig. Maker knows I've had my fair share of trips there. It can get so repetitive sometimes."

Hawke chuckled, "So is that why you agreed to our relationship then? Because I'm good for it?"

Isabela sniggered. "You're good for many things, Sweetness, but believe me, coin is one of the last on my mind. I didn't try to seduce you so you could buy me a pint."

"So what did you try to seduce me for?" Hawke asked. The pirate grinned cheekily at her.

"I made a list," she joked.

"And does everything on that list involve sex?" Lana asked, grinning at her. Isabela smirked.

"Maybe..."

Hawke laughed, "Hmm, I think I should take a look at it sometime then..."

"Don't bother, you won't be able to handle half the stuff on it, Sweetness," the pirate teased. Lana snorted.

"I bet my own list is worse," she joked, throwing her a wink. Isabela chuckled. She stared at her for a second, her curiosity peaked.

"Alright, when this is all over we'll do swapsies," she said, skipping a few steps and jumping down on the same one as Hawke.

"Deal...Though we need your ship for number one on mine...So let's hope it doesn't get blown to pieces in the mean time."

"Perish the thought!" the pirate exclaimed, chuckling with her. Maker's balls, I can't lose another ship so soon! I love that big bitch.

Loud voices could be heard then, echoing amidst a small crowd at the bottom of the steps as a man and a woman tore the throats of themselves, screaming at each other from somewhere nearby. It only took Hawke a second to realise who they were both about to interrupt.

"...can't do that! You have no right!"

"I have every right! You are harbouring bloodmages and I intend to route them out before they infect this city even more than they already have!"

"Bloodmagic? My people can't so much as sneeze without you accusing them of Bloodmagic!"

Hawke and Isabela hovered on the final few steps, gazing over the crowd of Templars and mages who had gathered at the bottom. Lana crossed her arms, grinning cheekily at the two in the middle who she knew only too well (unfortunately).

"Aw, are the two lovebirds at it again?" she said loudly, breaking up the argument at once. Everyone jumped and turned to look at her. "You know Bela, I think they'd give us a run for our coin. So much passion there!" Isabela chuckled beside her, leaning her arm on her shoulder coolly.

"You know, I think they would, Hawke," she joked, grinning cheekily, "Maybe we should role-play them the next time we have sex...Forget those damn lists."

"Only if I can be Orsino," Lana said, turning to the pirate with a wicked grin. "You know how I feel about men, Beautiful. If I had to choose I'd rather be one than do one."

The two of them burst out laughing, hearing a groan from someone nearby and a recognizable wheezing laugh. Hmm, there must be a few familiar faces among this audience, Hawke thought to herself. Aveline held her face in her hand and shook her head, with Varric chuckling by her side somewhere, hidden from view by the many mages and Templars towering over him. There was no such thing as a time and a place where Hawke and Isabela were concerned. Meredith's face turned red with rage and she shoved a crowd of mages aside roughly, walking towards the two jokers.

"Serah Hawke," she greeted her, her eyes burning dangerously. She turned to Isabela then. "And her pirate whore."

Isabela laughed mockingly at her attempted insult. "Whore? The last I remember you were the one getting poked with a makeshift penis in a sex dungeon, not me. How's the eye, Meredith?"

A few of the nearby mages chuckled nervously, unable to hold it in. The Knight-Commander silenced them with a vicious look then walked back towards Orsino, beginning to pace slowly, her fingers running along the faint scar on her face that Isabela's dagger had made there.

"So, here to try and save the day again, are we, Champion?" she asked, ignoring the pirate, a note of sarcasm in her voice. "This is nothing to concern you. This is my affair...my right as Knight-Commander."

"On the contrary," Hawke began, descending the stairs and walking through the crowd with Isabela in tow. She entered the circle of people, her tone serious now. "As long as my sister is under your 'care', Meredith, I make it my concern to interfere in your affairs." Lana turned to the left then, seeing her sister among the scared-looking mages. She threw her a little grin. "Hi, Bethany..."

"Sister..."

It was as though she was seeing a ghost. There was unmistakable relief Bethany's wide eyes as she stared into her elder sister's chocolate-brown ones, which for once were not looking at her with scorn or hurt. It reminded her of how Lana had been when they were little, always looking out for her no matter what. Where had that Lana been all these years? Kirkwall had changed her so. Bethany had never expected to see her again after watching her leave on The Wounded Coast, let alone have her come to fight in her corner once more against the tyranny of Meredith as though the last few years hadn't happened. No words could explain the joy that was surging through her right now, or the warmth in her heart, despite the horrible situation they now found themselves in. Finally her real sister had returned to her. Her big sister... Her eyes began to well up. She smiled back, overcome with emotions.

"Your sister is a mage," Meredith spat, causing Hawke to tear her gaze away from her, "I have done what I have to, to protect this city, nothing more. The Circle is harbouring bloodmages, I'm sure of it! I will not lower our guard just because someone like you tells us to. You have no authority here, Champion. As Knight-Commander of this city I have every right to invoke the Rite of Annulment and I have. The Grand Cleric has been slain by magic, the Chantry destroyed! Not even you can save the Circle now."

"The Champion has done more for this city than any of us! She has every right to oppose you," Orsino interrupted, taking a step towards Meredith. "We would all be speaking Qunari right now if it weren't for her and her companions."

"At least then you and your mages would be bound and gagged the way you should be!" She turned to Hawke then. "Champion, you know firsthand the danger that these bloodmages pose. You have seen it with you own eyes, have you not? Seen what they can do when given the freedom to think for themselves? ...Do you remember what she looked like? Do you remember the state you found her in, Champion?"

Hawke's jaw tightened at Meredith's harsh words. Her breath caught. She felt Isabela's hand quickly close around her arm firmly from behind, as the pirate sensed her anger building. Isabela could feel Hawke's muscles contract through her sleeve. She leaned in.

"Don't, Sweetness," she whispered desperately in her ear, so that no one else could hear. "She's just trying to provoke you...

"What? You don't remember?" Meredith teased, seeing she had hit a sore spot. "Poor Bethany cried herself to sleep every night for months afterwards."

A tear fell down Bethany's face. "You're vile!" she cried at Meredith, seeing the torture on her sister's face. "Stop tormenting her!"

Hawke had never went into detail about the events of that day, lest have someone taunt her with it. An uncontrollable fury was burning in her gut. She was glad Isabela had a hold of her, fearing what would happen if she was set loose.

"Yes," she replied through gritted teeth, glaring at Meredith. Like I could forget. "I do remember...And how dare you mention that to me!? If your wretched Templar's had not been so busy killing innocent mages then they would have been on the lookout for that necromancing bastard and his accomplice Garcard! Instead he got a letter of apology after you searched his home and found nothing...and few weeks later my mother ended up brutally disfigured at his hands, then lay dying in mine...I remember every detail from that day, you heartless bitch, and I also remember those responsible for letting it happen."

She glared at her pointedly. Meredith grinned back evilly then, as though she had heard exactly what she wanted.

"And yet you're going to side with First-Enchanter Orsino?" she asked slowly, waiting for her reaction as her words had effect. Hawke blanched.

"What...?"

Meredith's grin widened. She began to laugh, a deep throaty, deranged laugh that echoed all over Lowtown, throwing back her mane of bright blonde hair and looking up at the sky. A streak of lightening flashed across it then, reflecting off the massive ruby sword on her back, and the heavens opened up above them. Thick droplets of rain began to fall down upon the flaming ruin that was Kirkwall, clinking off all the Templar heavy armor nearby and soaking the mages, Hawke, Isabela and Varric to their skin within seconds.

"What are you talking about?" Hawke demanded, through the thunder, trying to shake out of Isabela's grasp to get to Meredith. The pirate tightened her hands around her, knowing only too well of her irrepressible rage. Meredith simply stared. "ANSWER ME!" Lana screamed angrily, feeling the icy rain plaster her face. A few mages nearby jumped back in fright, hearing her voice echo menacingly in the street.

The Knight-Commander turned to Orsino then. "Should I tell her? Or would you like to do the honours? Either way Orsino, she's going to help me kill every last one of you...You've lost."

First Enchanter Orsino glanced nervously from the Knight-Commander to Hawke, who was glaring at him dangerously. Suddenly Hawke saw the truth in his eyes. He was involved in some way. A crazed scream of anguish, betrayal and injustice tore from her throat as she wrestled against Isabela's restraint. Meredith's laugh could be heard faintly in the night along with her raging cry, egging her on. She had heard of Hawke's fit of rage when her Templars took Bethany away all those years ago, but had never had the pleasure of witnessing it firsthand. It invigorated her.

Suddenly Orsino turned on his heel and began to run back towards the Gallows, followed by his group of mages. Hawke broke free from Isabela and started to give chase, wanting answers of his involvement. All of a sudden she was tackled to the ground painfully by heavy armor, having only made it a few feet. Aveline pinned her down as she thrashed around furiously, a blood rage overcoming her.

"LET GO OF ME, AVELINE!" she yelled, growling furiously, "I'M GOING TO KILL THAT TWO-FACED BASTARD IF HE HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH MY MOTHER'S DEATH!"

"Calm it, Hawke! He's gone. I'm not letting you up until you stop," Aveline scolded. After several seconds, Lana gave up trying to escape, feeling her daggers press uncomfortably into her back. She lay under the Guard-Captain, breathing heavily.

"Hey! Only I'm allowed to straddle her like that," Isabela exclaimed, feigning jealousy. Aveline rolled her eyes and groaned, then seeing she had finally regained composure, pulled Hawke to her feet. Hawke straightened her jacket out, pulling it down and rounded on the Knight-Commander and her Templars once more.

"Why didn't you do anything about it?" she demanded angrily. "If you knew he was involved in some way, why did you let him roam freely?"

"I knew he was a bloodmage," Meredith said angrily, "But Orsino had gained a lot of support in opposing me. I wanted to act on it, but the Grand Cleric forbade it, believing I was deranged."

"You are bloody deranged!" Isabela joked, walking to Hawke's side once more, along with Bethany and Varric, joining Aveline when she stood. Bethany placed a hand on her sister's arm.

"Don't do this, sister. It's in the past... Let it go," she said gently. Lana turned to her.

"But he...he could have stopped it," she said sadly, "He's part of the reason Mother was taken from us, Bethany."

"So forgive him," Bethany said, smiling at her reassuringly. "Let your grief go for good, Sister. You may not get another chance after this..."

"Bethany..." Lana stroked her cheek, brushing away a tear from her sister's already wet face. "I'm so sorry for everything. I've been an idiot."

"I'm sorry too, Lana," she whispered, "I never stopped loving you, Sister...I just want you to know that. I've hurt you so much over the years...Can you ever find it in your heart to forgive me?"

Hawke felt tears in her own eyes then. "There's nothing to forgive, Bethany..." she whispered breathlessly, pulling her into an embrace and holding her tightly for the first time in years. She closed her eyes, exhaling. Bethany buried her face in her sister's shoulder like she used to when they were little, wrapping her arms around her waist.

"I love you, pretty thing," Hawke said, using her pet name she had for her when they were younger. I can't believe I have her back in my arms again. She kissed her lovingly on the cheek, feeling tears sting her own eyes. "I won't let Meredith and her Templars hurt you."

"We can't fight this, Sister," Bethany said sadly, pulling back then, more tears spilling down her face. "Even you would have difficulty opposing them...I'm just happy that you finally forgave me for everything...That you still love me...I can die peacefully knowing that."

Lana shook her head, determined to the last.

"I'm not just going to let her kill you, Bethany!" she exclaimed, "Right of Annulment or no! You've already been stolen from me once before. I'm not going to let it happen again."

"The Circle must pay for what it has done!" Meredith yelled, interrupting the tender moment between the two. "Stand down, Champion!"

"The Circle didn't do this."

Everyone turned around and looked up towards Hightown. Fenris began to descend the steps into Lowtown, a dirty, blonde mage dangling from his arms, bound by the hands. Merrill cowered over his shoulder, looking anxious. Fenris threw the mage down the steps uncaringly, watching him roll to the ground painfully. He landed with a groan, lying in an ash-covered heap. Hawke's mouth fell open.

"Anders...?"

"We found him outside the Chantry," Merrill squeaked.

Anders glared up at Hawke, looking gleefully deranged.

"Surprised?" he asked, laughing to himself. This time it was Isabela who needed to be restrained. Lana reached out an arm across her path as she tried to get to the apostate, remembering the promise she had made Lana back when the mage had almost strangled her to death as she slept.

"You greasy bastard, I should have killed you years ago," the pirate spat angrily, staring at him from behind Hawke. Anders snorted.

"And how would you have gotten rid of all those diseases you picked up?" he mocked.

"She didn't. You are the disease," Varric interjected. He, Hawke and Isabela chuckled, the tension rolling off them all at once. It was like a reflex. Bethany and Aveline gave each other a look, both rolling their eyes and sighing. They were so used to this persistent, inappropriate joking by now. They'd had almost ten years of it. It was just like old times...in other words, always at the worst time.

"They weren't diseases, you prude. It was one bloody rash, that's all!" the Rivaini said defensively. Hawke smirked at her, raising an eyebrow.

"Too much use of those 'sexual artefacts'?" she teased.

"No, it was actually something I ate," Isabela joked, "I mean something that ate me...or... someone."

Hawke and Varric burst out laughing.

"Pirates really do tend to dock in unsavoury places," Varric joked, sniggering. "Face first it would seem."

"Hey, he had a beard!" she replied, "I thought it was a good idea at the time...Then it started to...itch. Hawke is so much better at it, you know."

Hawke and Varric laughed even harder then. Bethany felt like she should have blushed. Isabela shrugged uncaringly, even though at the time she was regretting her actions with that infamous pirate named Hairy Pete. Maker, it was years ago now, who gives a damn? Suddenly something dawned on Hawke. The smile slid from her face instantly then, and she turned back to Anders.

"Wait a minute...those ingredients I helped you find...?" she shook her head in disbelief, "Anders...why?" she asked in a whisper. Anders got to his feet then. Suddenly he began to glow blue and Justice emerged on the surface. He broke free from the bonds around his wrists at once and his hands flared with pearly blue magic. The other's laughter subsided at once.

"If you'd have known what they were for you wouldn't have helped me. I did what I had to do, Hawke!" he said, self-righteously, "The Grand Cleric had to die. The Circle is an injustice. There must be no more compromise. The world needs to see the mage's plight for what it is!"

"You fool!" Bethany cried, "You've doomed us all...after everything I did for you. I gave up my family for you!...My sister..."

Justice turned to her. "We were already doomed, Bethany. A quick death now or a slow one later, I'd rather die fighting."

"You may have turned everyone against the mages now though," Aveline said disappointedly, shaking her head. "Maybe I should have let Hawke kill you all those years ago when Bethany was taken by the Circle."

"Can I do it now?" Lana ventured jokingly, turning to Aveline for permission. The Guardswoman frowned at her, stern as ever.

"Hawke, you promised me back then that you wouldn't," she scolded. Maker, the woman just loved killing too much for her own good sometimes. Hawke sighed. Damn it, she's right.

"Well, I'm still not going to stand by and let the Circle be punished for what this idiot did," she said, stating at Anders/Justice with disgust. This bastard has been a thorn in my side from day one.

"Think carefully, Champion," Meredith interrupted dangerously, after observing their conversation. She could see that her revelation about Orsino had backfired now. "Stand with the mages and you share their fate."

"You sure about this, Hawke?" Varric asked, a little uncertainly, "Sunshine's right, even you might not win this fight."

"Hawke, I...If you do this, I don't know if I can follow," Aveline said, unsure of what to do. Technically her duty was to the City Guard.

"Nor me," Fenris said stiffly, his hatred for mages not having lessened any over the years.

"I believe in you, Hawke," Merrill said happily, smiling at her. She turned to the others. "We all should. Hawke's never led us astray, has she?"

"Err...sometimes," Aveline said reluctantly, remembering back to all the dangerous situations running with Hawke had gotten her into. She was surprised to have even lived this long, truth be told.

"Quite a few times actually," Varric added with a chuckle, staring at Lana with pride. "Always led to a good old story though... Or several."

"Is that why your stories are the strangest I've ever heard, Varric?" Merrill chimed in, "The Hahren told stories back at the clan...but none of his ever started with, "No shit, there I was.'"

Every one of Hawke's companions, bar Aveline and Anders, burst out laughing as the little elf's deep impression of the dwarf's voice.

"Maybe I should give him better stories then, Daisy," Varric replied, still chuckling. "Or maybe he should have joined us so Hawke that could lead him astray too. She has a rare talent."

Isabela smirked, "She's led me astray more than any of you," she joked, turning to Lana and smiling at her. "And I bloody love her for it."

Hawke gave her a cheeky grin.

"So you're with me on this?" she asked, knowing Isabela hated intervening in the business of others, especially if it put her in danger and there was no profit to be had. The pirate leaned in and caressed her face. She stared intensely into her chocolate-brown eyes, taking Hawke's breath away.

"I'm with you 'til the end of the world, Sweetness," she replied in the most sincere voice Hawke had ever heard her use. The pirate leaned in and kissed her deeply, not caring that the others were watching (not to mention about twenty Templars and the Knight-Commander herself).

As everyone of Hawke's party watched them, their own loyalties strengthened, doubts falling to the back of their minds.

"I'll stand with you, Hawke," Fenris relented, "Even though I don't like this one bit."

"You know I'm in," Varric chirped, smiling at his two friends, kissing unashamedly for what might be the last time. Everyone turned to look at Aveline then.

The guardswoman looked at Bethany, seeing the helpless situation she was caught up in. She was a sweet girl. It was never right to kill an innocent, and Meredith would kill many in this fight. She turned to Hawke then, still caught in two minds: Duty to her, or duty to the Guard? Suddenly as she watched her best friend in the world, holding the woman she loved in her arms, both of them staring lovingly into each other's eyes now and caressing each other's face, she realised she had to place her life in Hawke's hands. If Hawke could gain, not only the trust of someone as notorious as Isabela, but also her love, then how could she ever doubt her? Lana Hawke was the strongest person any of them knew. If anyone could get them out of this alive, it was sure as hell going to be her.

"I'm in," Aveline said firmly, nodding her head.

Hawke turned to her then, relieved.

"Are you sure about this, Av?" she asked, surprised at her decision, "You have a home here, a job...a husband. What about Donnic?"

Aveline smiled wryly. "I only ever had what you helped me to get, Hawke. None of this would have been possible without you. Donnic will understand my decision. I will explain it to him later if we live through this...My place is with you, by your side. It always has been. How can I ever turn my back on you now?"

Lana gazed into the absolute loyalty in her friend's eyes and smiled, her heart warming. Maker's Breath...

"Thank you," she said sincerely, knowing what she was sacrificing for her. She turned to the rest of them then. "All of you. This means a lot...But enough with this soppy bullshit...Let's kick some Templar ass!"

Hawke's companions cheered appreciatively and they all turned to face the Templars, withdrawing swords, daggers, staffs and crossbow.

"KILL THEM ALL!" Meredith ordered to her Templars, backing away from the danger, "Bring me the Champion's head! I'll go rouse the others!"

She turned and ran away with a few of her most trusted knights, leaving the others to clean up the mess. Hawke and her companions began to cut them down, one by one, relishing every swing. War cries filled the air, echoing in the night as the Right of Annulment was invoked.

Suddenly a giant fireball erupted from nothing. Everyone fell to the ground, thrown back by the sheer force of the spell. Rubbing her head, Hawke straightened up. Andraste's tits! Justice was standing in front of the people he had once called friends, his hands outstretched, the ground at his feet littered with the bodies of charred Templars.

Stunned, Lana got to her feet, pulling Bethany to hers. The others slowly followed, looking just as dazed. Justice turned back to them. Suddenly his eyes stopped glowing and Anders reappeared. He fell to his knees in front of Hawke, offering himself at her feet.

"There's nothing you can say to me that I haven't already told myself," he said, staring up at her.

"You sold my sister to the Templars when she was only nineteen," Hawke spat, shaking her head. The mage nodded. "You waited until I was out of the way then you manipulated her into doing your bidding..."

Ander's head dropped. "I know...But I'm not going to apologise for my actions. I did what I had to."

"You tried to kill me," Hawke continued, "After everything I'd done for you, you tried to strangle me in my sleep...Is that what you had to do?"

Anders said nothing this time. No, that had definitely been solely his rage getting the better of him. He stared at the ground in silence, waiting to hear his sentence.

"And now this?" Hawke asked, disgusted, holding out her arms and glancing around at the now ruined city. "You've started a war here today, Anders...I don't think I could let you walk away even if I wanted to."

"Then get it over with..." he said hoarsely. "My purpose here is fulfilled. Justice deserves to be free from my corruption."

"I just have one question," Lana said, her hand sweating on the handle of her dagger. "Did that spirit tell you to do all this?"

Anders looked up at her then. He shook his head. "Justice and I are one. We merged...and now I can no longer sit back and watch the injustice that mages have had to face. I can no longer control it, and I no longer want to. I'm not trying to prove a point, Hawke. I'm not doing this out of glory or spite...I'm trying to change the world."

Hawke's jaw tightened. "Well, you've certainly done that," she said with a shudder.

"Then whatever you have decided, just do it," Anders said, hanging his head again.

Hawke turned to the others.

"Any objections?" she asked.

No one spoke in Anders' defence.

Hawke stared at Isabela then, silently asking her to do what she could not. My head is in this too much...I can't kill him without bringing back up all of my regrets. I'm simply washing my hands of him...

The pirate nodded her head, having expected this. I promised her I would kill him anyway, for her. She caressed Hawke's face, giving her a reassuring smile, then slid her hands down along her body, withdrawing the hidden knife from Lana's belt. She slid it out of the scabbard slowly, then walked behind the mage, grabbing a fist full of his blonde hair and yanking his head up.

"Any last words?" she breathed in his ear. Anders swallowed hard, staring up at them all. He scanned their faces one by one, his eyes then lingering on Hawke. She had done so much for him and he had thrown in back in her face, time and time again. However it was too late to change the past. Only the future mattered now, but it was a future he had destined himself not to see.

"The sooner I die the sooner the world will remember my name and what I stood for here today," he said. "Just get it over with, Isabela."

Without hesitation, Isabela pressed the cool knife up to his throat and slit it open with one flick of her wrist. Anders began to choke, gurgling, deep-red blood pouring from his neck, running down his green robes and staining the ground. Hawke watched the life disappear from his eyes, knowing that no matter how much she hated him, no matter how much pain he had caused her, she couldn't have done it. Anders gave one final gurgle, and then he was gone. He fell to the ground, face down, with a final, definitive thump.

Isabela walked back to Hawke slowly then and slid the knife back into her belt. She tucked her fingers under Lana's chin and tilted her face up to look at her. The two women stared at each other for several seconds, before the pirate leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on Hawke's lips.

"From now on, I kill for you," she whispered, seeing the conflict in Hawke's eyes and realising she was already blaming herself for how this had turned out. "No more guilt, Hawke, do you hear me?"

Hawke nodded and sighed deeply, lost in the pirate's amber eyes. Anders' face slipped out of her thoughts then, along with everything she had felt towards him, to then be replaced by Isabela's. The pirate smiled her favourite crooked smile, and then nodded reassuringly. She turned, standing shoulder to shoulder with Hawke and the rest of her companions, looking up at the Gallows in the distance, and breathing the last few seconds of peace before the storm hit. It was now or never. Who knew if any of them would make it out of this alive? One thing was for sure though, won or lost, this would be a fight that went down in history.