Hawke ushered her companions into the Gallows courtyard, and ordered them onwards, while she stayed to help Isabela anchor the ship. When they were finished, the two of them jumped off it and began to make their way towards the Templar Hall together.
"I still haven't forgiven you, you know," Isabela said to her, breaking the tense silence. Hawke grinned to herself.
"I'll make it up to you when this is all over," she promised.
"If you bloody survive it," the Rivaini countered, still sulking, "If you do that to me again, Hawke, I'm going to hit you even harder next time."
Lana chuckled quietly to herself as they continued walking in between the massive cliffs. They traveled side by side for a few minutes, their quick footsteps the only thing breaking the silence.
"Doesn't this all sound a little...quiet to you?" the pirate muttered, glancing up at the giant slave statues above them anxiously. Hawke followed her gaze, staring up at the ancient faces of the tortured slaves, hearing nothing but their footsteps echoing off the high walls nearby. She strained her ears, trying to make out anything more sinister. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end then. It felt like they were being watched.
"You fear that something's about to swoop down upon us?" she murmured, thinking the same then.
"Yes..." Isabela breathed back, her hands tightening around her daggers. "And swooping is...bad...as we're all well aware at this point."
No sooner were the words out of her mouth when several Templars dropped from the shadows, leaving nothing but traces of silver in the night as they leapt from their hiding places. Hawke and Isabela froze, standing back to back as the six Templars circled around them.
"Why hello there," Lana greeted them, feeling the pirate press up against her from behind as they backed away from the oncoming threat.
"Flashy entrance," Isabela joked, grinning as she scanned the intimidating full-faced helmets they were wearing, with only slits for eyes. She swung her daggers threateningly, feeling a rush of wind as Hawke nervously did the same behind her.
"What do you think, Bela?" Hawke whispered in her ear, "Stab first, ask questions later?"
Isabela gave a cheeky chuckle then her expression became dangerous. "Always."
In complete synchronization the two women tossed one of their daggers in opposite directions, watching them fly through the air and catch two unfortunate Templars square in the forehead. Before the others had time to register what had happened, the two of them disappeared momentarily in a mysterious plume of smoke then reappeared behind another two, backstabbing them with their remaining blades.
"Copy cat!" Hawke shouted at the pirate. Isabela winked.
"You're just predictable, Hawke," she replied, after mirroring the woman's moves with her own. Lana snorted and they both turned their attention to the remaining two Templars. The fifth and sixth raised their swords to engage them in battle, enraged that their fellows had been cut down so easily after their carefully planned ambush. Hawke and Isabela were not so easily to take by surprise though.
Lana dodged the nearest Templar's attack, bashing the steel helmet with the pummel of her dagger, dislodging it. A head of thick brown hair was revealed, then a face, that of a woman. She hid herself behind her shield as Hawke's dagger lashed out over and over, creating sparks in the air. The young woman advanced on her then. Out of the corner of her eye, Lana saw Isabela slit the other Templar's throat.
"Too slow!" she yelled gleefully, seeing Hawke's opponent was still standing.
Lana groaned and attacked with an unstoppable combination of her own then. Her foe fell to the ground with a spray of blood and a gurgle of pain. She crouched down beside her, grabbing her by the throat where she lay.
"Where is the Knight-Commander?" she demanded, shaking her a little. The woman shook her head beneath her grasp. "Tell me!" Lana shouted. She held her dagger up over the woman's heart. "Tell me and I will ease your passing."
The woman's mouth gurgled more blood. "...Be here...soon..."
"Thank you," Hawke said coldly. Without another second she plunged the blade into the woman's heart, giving her a clean death, and got to her feet, dusting herself off.
"By the sounds of it we don't have much time," Isabela said seriously, "Come on, let's get moving. Maker, I hope Kitten's alright."
The two of them rushed through the empty courtyard up ahead, skipping over hundreds of bodies of mages and Templars alike, some having recently been killed by their companions. They approached the steps of the Templar Hall, finding groups of mages too scared to fight or who hadn't succumbed to Bloodmagic yet, covering together in fear. Lana felt for them. A lot of them looked quite young, barely old enough to even be classed as adults. Yet they were stuck here in the middle of this war like the rest of them. This wasn't right, killing an entire Circle of Magi for the crimes of a mage who wasn't even part of it. Damn Anders! This is all his bloody doing.
Suddenly there was a flash of magic at the top of the steps. A Templar recruit went soaring through the air with a scream and landed with a bone-crunching thump on the ground at Hawke's feet.
"First-Enchanter!" she shouted, recognising the mage at the top of the stairs.
"Champion!" he replied, unable to hide the fear in his voice, "Is it not enough that Templars are hunting us down like vermin. Now you're here to kill me too?"
He reached into a crowd of mages and dragged a familiar face forwards, holding his staff at her neck threateningly, taking her hostage.
"Isabela!" the elf screamed frantically.
"Kitten!" Isabela gasped, taking a step forwards. Lana placed a hand on her arm, cautioning her. It was clear the First-Enchanter was becoming unstable under the pressure of the day's events.
"Come any closer and your friend dies!" he yelled down at them. Tears were tripping down Merrill's cute little face as the First-Enchanter waved the rest of the mages behind him for protection. They quickly obliged, listening to their leader. A few of them came to his side for support, pointing their staffs down at Hawke and Isabela.
"Let her go, Orsino!" Hawke shouted furiously, "This is between me and you!"
"If you don't leave us be, I swear I'll kill her!" he replied, backing away slowly towards the entrance to the tower behind him. "I know you are on Meredith's side, Champion. I know you are here to carry out the Right of Annulment."
"No, she isn't!"
Bethany and the others emerged from around the corner, sweating after getting caught up in another battle. They ran to Hawke and Isabela's side.
"Let her go, First-Enchanter!" Aveline yelled, glaring up at him, "You are not a murderer."
"I wasn't, Captain," he replied, his voice shaking as he held Merrill tightly, "But I will kill anyone who aims to wipe this Circle off the face of Thedas!"
"We want to help you," Bethany cried, "We're not with Meredith...Please, Orsino, let her go and let us talk this out peacefully."
The First-Enchanter seemed to falter at her words. Finally he released the elf. Merrill pulled herself free from his grip and stumbled down the steps towards them. Lana caught her at the bottom, feeling her collapse into her strong arms.
"Merrill!" she exclaimed, hugging the scared-looking elf, "Are you alright?"
"I-I'm fine, Hawke...Thanks for asking."
Isabela touched her tear-stained cheek. "Oh Kitten, you shouldn't have ran off like that. I was worried sick!"
"Sorry, Isabela," Merrill said guiltily, gazing at her over Hawke's shoulder, "I won't do it again, I promise."
"Did he hurt you?" she asked, stroking her hair. Merrill shook her head, though looked on the verge of more tears.
"N-no," she whimpered, "But I don't like him very much...Even if he is an elf...I want to go home, Isabela."
The pirate gave her a sympathetic stare, "I know, Kitten...We all do."
Hawke patted her on the back soothingly and released her, turning her attention back to Orsino. He made his way down the stone steps towards them warily.
"Let's get something straight, Champion," he said, stopping a few feet in front of her, "I had nothing to do with your mother's murder. Could I have prevented it...? Yes. I could have prevented all of those deaths if I had of spoken up about Quentin, and for that you have my apologies."
"Why didn't you?" Hawke asked angrily, "Why did you protect him? Are you another one of his students just like Garcard Du Puis?"
Orsino hesitated, "I...No," he muttered, avoiding eye contact with her, "Let us speak no more if it!" he yelled, waving his hand. "Meredith is on her way. You must choose a side, Champion."
"She's already here, Orsino!"
All of them spun around in shock. Knight-Commander Meredith and Knight-Captain Cullen had just entered the courtyard along with more than two dozen Templars. She looked positively gleeful that she had just discovered two of her main targets at the same time. The mages around them began to back away in fear again, as the Templar Order moved through the Gallows towards Hawke and her companions.
"Let us speak, Meredith," Orsino said, walking down the rest of the steps past Hawke, who then followed, "Before this battle destroys any more if this city that you claim to protect."
"I will entertain a surrender," Meredith replied coldly, "Nothing more."
A few of the braver mages lined up behind Orsino, facing the Templars. They stared threateningly at each other, with Hawke hovering in the middle, glancing nervously between the two. She felt like the referee at the beginning of a Grand Tourney, though a slightly more sinister one, which would have devastating results for the rest of Thedas.
"Speak if you have something to say," the Knight-Commander spat at the First-Enchanter, her patience running thin.
"Revoke the Right of Annulment, Meredith, before this goes even further," Orsino begged, trying to keep the spite from his voice. "Imprison us if you must, search the tower...I will even help you! But do not kill us all for an act we did not commit!"
"The Grand Cleric is dead," Meredith replied, "Killed by a mage. The people will demand retribution for the destruction here today, Orsino, and I will give it to them. Your offer is commendable...but it comes too late."
"It's not too late!" Hawke interrupted, desperate to save this situation from getting any more out of hand. She turned to the Knight-Commander. "We've never seen eye to eye, Meredith, and I know you and Orsino haven't either...But simple hatred is no reason to kill an entire Circle of innocent mages!"
"These mages should have been drowned as infants!" Meredith spat angrily, "They are abominations of birth!"
"You can't kill them all simply because of what they are!" Hawke countered, feeling furious. "Maker's Breath, how can you be so heartless? Some of them are only children!...The three of us fought side by side once against the Qunari, Meredith. I beg you, don't do this! The mage responsible for the Grand Cleric's death has already paid the price. Do not make the rest of the world suffer for his actions!"
Orsino sighed sadly, "It's no use. She won't listen, Champion...She's wanted this for years..." He looked the Knight-Commander dead in the eye then. "So what is it to be, Meredith? Shall we fight here and have it done?"
"Go," Meredith said firmly, seeing that their parley was over. "Prepare your people. I'm still waiting for my forces to arrive across the water. Expect no mercy when they do, Orsino...and that goes for you too, Champion, as well as those who travel with you. You have elected to share the fate of these mages... much to my delight. I will see you on the battlefield."
"Looking forward to it," Lana replied coldly, seeing there was no other way now. Her eyes narrowed as the Knight-Commander glared at her dangerously. She had really hoped that it wouldn't come to this. As much as she hated Meredith, she disliked siding with Orsino, staying her hand instead of killing him for the part he played in her mother's death. It was either him or Meredith though, and there was no way she was joining that old hag on her quest for spilling innocent blood.
The First-Enchanter turned away and led his people inside the Gallows, with Hawke and her companions in tow. She exchanged worried glances with them, seeing the reluctance in some of their eyes. None of them relished the idea of a headlong fight against the Templars. The giant gates shut loudly behind them, giving them a real sensation of being trapped now.
Hawke followed the mages through the giant hall of the Gallows tower that she had never seen before. She stared up at the massive stone columns on either side, hoping they would hold against the pending onslaught. The assorted party settled in the middle of the floor, some of the mages collapsing to the ground in terror. Apparently this would be where they made their final stand. Balls, and they've already started passing out before we've even began. Not that she could blame them mind. Very few of them looked remotely capable of fighting. The Circle was mainly compiled of ordinary, non-violent people, who were now being condemned to their deaths for the simple fact that there was magic in their blood. Lana felt sick as she noticed a little girl, no older than seven cower in the corner, shaking. Feeling a lump in her throat she turned away, not wishing to see anymore of the helpless she was now bound to protect. She hovered by Orsino, waiting for him to speak.
"You should talk with your companions, Champion," he said grimly, turning to her, "It will only take around a half hour for all of the Order to have made it here. This may be the final moments you have together."
"I think your people need a pep talk more than mine," Lana replied sadly, gesturing to the weak stomached mages behind him. The First-Enchanter nodded in agreement, then turned away and went to see to them.
Hawke walked over to the side of the hall and sat down on the floor, leaning her back against the cold wall. She exhaled shakily, curling her knees up to her stomach, hating the waiting game that they had to play now. In some ways it was worse than the actual battle. Some of her companions were talking quietly nearby, others simply watching the mages fall apart in front of their eyes. Bethany, Charade and Merrill were soothing a few of them, giving them encouraging words to summon the strength they needed for what was to come. Isabela and Varric's muttering travelled up the hall towards Lana then, from where they were sitting against the wall a short distance away.
"...just curious, does any of this make sense to you?" the dwarf said, holding Bianca on his lap and stroking her gently.
"What? This whole "everyone's waiting for the world to end" thing?" Isabela asked lightly.
"Yeah, that."
"Not remotely," she replied. The dwarf laughed quietly.
"Good. It's not just me, then."
Hawke chuckled, feeling her heavy heart lighten at their banter, and pulled herself to her feet, deciding to walk down and sit with her friends, sharing one final bit of humour before the battle. It beats moping around with only morbid thoughts for company. Nothing ever seemed to faze either Varric or Isabela. They always proved a good distraction for when things were looking dark. The pirate smiled up at Hawke, watching as she slid down the wall beside her. Lana tucked her arm around the pirate's lower back and rested her head on her shoulder, exhaling, feeling exhausted already even though there was much more to come. Isabela placed an arm around her shoulder and rested her chin on her head, running a hand through her brown hair gently.
"Nervous, Hawke?" Varric asked, leaning over Isabela to see her. Hawke glanced up at him and laughed quietly.
"Just about where we're going to go for victory drinks when this is all over, Varric. The Hanged Man was ruined! Did you see it?"
The three of them chuckled silently.
"So, now you're the target of an entire order of Templars?" Isabela asked, amused, "You do attract the strangest types, Sweetness."
"Yes. Like lust addled pirates," Lana replied, grinning.
Isabela and Varric laughed, "Ooh, touché," the pirate replied, kissing her on the head. "That's my girl."
Hawke ran a hand along the pirate's bare thigh comfortingly. She was glad they had finally come to their senses a while back and managed to admit their feelings for one another. This would have been so much harder without her around. Like many things in my life...I owe her a lot.
"By the way, Varric, I heard you were being fixed up with one of the Helmi daughters," Lana said then, suddenly remembering Bodhan telling her a few days ago of the latest rumours floating through the Merchant's Guild.
"What!? You kept that quiet!" Isabela exclaimed, turning to the dwarf and sniggering.
"Thanks, Hawke," he groaned, "I've been trying to forget about that all week. I don't even think I want to know how you found out."
Hawke and Isabela laughed.
"I live with two dwarves, Varric," Lana reminded him. He grunted.
"Bodhan...That nug-humping bastard."
"So... not love at first sight?" the pirate ventured.
"Dusana Helmi is easy on the eyes, Rivaini," he replied matter-of-factly, "Also, she's tried to kill me five times this year."
"Did she try again during the date?" Hawke asked. Varric snorted.
"Yes, but she at least waited until I paid for dinner. She is in the Merchant's Guild, Hawke."
The three of the burst out laughing then, unable to stop themselves, getting strange looks from the nearby mages. Aveline rushed over to 'sshh' them, as though they had offended someone. She was like an angry mother hovering over them where they sat.
"Maker's Breath, you three really have to learn the time and place for these jokes!" she scolded. "Not everyone is as confident as you that we're going to make it though this alive. Can you at least try to be serious for once?"
Isabela glanced around her, seeing some of the mages in tears. If only I was better at comforting people, she cursed, seeing Bethany and Merrill consoling a few of them nearby.
"Poor bastards," she said with a sigh.
"Showing concern for others, Isabela? Tongues will wag," Hawke teased, looking up at her. Varric sniggered.
"Oh, you can bet they will."
"What do you think, Av?" Lana asked cheekily, then, "Should we run around shouting at people like you just did, for trying to distract themselves from worrying about the upcoming battle, or should Isabela be released to try out her sensitive side on worried souls?"
The other two laughed again.
"Just...Just stop laughing, will you? This is serious!" Aveline hissed. This time though she realised she couldn't fault her friends too much for making their usual jokes. It had always been a comfort to them, even if she had never understood why.
"You don't want me as sour and dour as you, Av. You need a counterpoint," Lana replied, smiling innocently up at her. "How else have you stayed so young looking over the years?"
"I don't think I've asked to be the butt of all your jokes," the Guard Captain replied angrily.
"Donnic," Isabela interrupted pointedly.
Aveline paused.
"Okay, sometimes I have asked for it," she relented, making them giggle again, "Just...Just try to keep it down ok? Maker's Breath...I may know the reasons for your immaturity but this hall is filled with people scared out of their wits and they're looking to you all for hope. Try and take that into account..."
She rolled her eyes, not waiting for a response, storming away from the three of them as usual. Sometimes she wondered why she even bothered. It wasn't like they ever listened to her. They were more than likely going to bust some heads like the good old days anyway in this battle. Why should the build up be any different than before?
Hawke reluctantly pried herself away from Isabela then and got to her feet, staring after the Guardswoman, lost in thought. Aveline had a bit of a point. Maybe they shouldn't be joking so much in dire times such as this, but the woman didn't ever care to delve deeper than simply scolding them to uncover the reasons why the three of them did. It was a defence mechanism, a way to hide their fear and stop them from thinking about what they might lose in this upcoming battle. Their lives had always been dangerous, not knowing the stakes from one day to the next. Humour was just a way to deal with that. The stakes were so high this time. It was so unbearable to acknowledge that maybe not all of them were going to make it through this alive. If a few jokes helped them ignore their fears then who was she to judge?
"Where are you going?" Isabela asked, not wanting to be away from her.
"I need to speak to Bethany," Hawke said, seeing the disappointment on the pirate's face. She knew she was thinking along the same lines as her, not wanting to waste any of the precious few minutes they had left together. Isabela nodded and smiled though, understanding.
"Just make sure and come back to see me before the battle starts, Sweetness," she said, "We haven't got long now."
"I will," Hawke replied, giving her a wink. "I promise."
Seeing Bethany talking to one of her friends of the Circle, Lana walked towards them and interrupted politely, dragging her sister to the side so that they couldn't be overheard. Bethany looked at her questioningly.
"I wanted to give you something," Lana said, fumbling with the collar of her jacket. She reached under the red bandana tied there that Isabela had given her during their first night as a couple, and unclasped the tiny locket underneath it. Taking it off, she pressed it into a stunned Bethany's hand. Her little sister gasped.
"Mother's locket," she whispered, feeling her heart warm as she stared down at it, remembering. Lana smiled, seeing the tears well in her brown eyes.
"I kept it for you all these years," she informed her, "Mother always did love you more...I..I just thought you'd like to have it. I'm sure that's what she would have wanted."
Bethany's face fell as she saw the hurt in her sister's eyes as she said those words. "Lana..." she breathed, sadly. She wanted to contradict her, to tell her she was wrong, but she couldn't. There was no doubt where Leandra's affections had lain since leaving Lothering ten years ago. She had loved only one of her daughters since the day she lost her son, and it was clear to them both who that was. Bethany reached up and caressed her sister's cheek with her free hand. She gave her a small smile and sighed.
I love you, Sister," she said gently, feeling as though she could never say it enough. "With Carver...I never got the chance to say goodbye. I don't want that to happen this time, Lana. If we...if we don't make, I..."
"We will," Hawke said, smiling at her. Suddenly Bethany felt like she was a little girl again, being reassured by her elder sister that everything was going to be all right. She never doubted her for a second back then, and was surprised at just how much hope looking into those chocolate-brown eyes still gave her even now.
"All these years," Bethany continued, shaking her head, "I've been trying to understand what it was that Andraste saw to made her feel as though she had to lock us mages up...But my powers come from The Maker, and I just cannot believe that this is His will...I hope you're right, Sister. I really hope we get through this in one piece."
"Me too, Bethany," Hawke said, "Of all we did, if you could change one thing...?"
"I'd have thrown Carver on his stupid ass so he couldn't attack that Ogre," she said firmly, sounding as though she wanted nothing more, "He was always such a show off. I'm so angry at him, even now. Everything just seemed to fall apart since that day, didn't it?"
"It did," Lana agreed grimly, "Between that and that bloody expedition. Do you think things would have been different if you had of come along?"
Bethany shrugged, letting her hand fall from Hawke's face, "If I did, who knows where I'd be now? I think it took being locked in the Gallows for me to finally find my place in this world, Sister...I'm still glad I got to grow up outside it though, with you...with our family."
Hawke smiled and placed a hand on her shoulder, "I couldn't ask for a better sister," she said, "Despite everything that happened between us...It was all just circumstance, Bethany. I realise that now."
"What do you suppose we'll do if we make it out of here alive?" Bethany asked. Hawke shrugged.
"The war will spread, I'm sure. We could go back to Lothering," she suggested. Bethany considered this.
"Hmm, that's an idea. I don't imagine it would feel much like home to us anymore, but it would be interesting to go back and see how much it has changed after the Blight...And what of you and Isabela? Have you spoken about it?"
"I think we're going to go sailing for a bit," Lana said, glancing over at the pirate who had now gotten to her feet and was waiting in the middle of the room with the others, getting ready for the battle.
"You really love her, don't you?" Bethany asked softly, seeing the tender way her sister was looking at Isabela. This was all so new to her. She never realised two women were able to have feelings for each other in that way, especially someone like her promiscuous older sister. But now that she knew about Lana's sexuality she found that it didn't bother her in the slightest, wishing Lana had of felt ready to tell her years ago instead of hiding it away. Isabela, crazy though she was, seemed to make her happy, and that was all that mattered in the end of the day. After all the pain Hawke had been put through, she deserved a bit of happiness for herself.
"More than anything, sister," Lana replied, smiling at her love, feeling a slight tug at her heart at the thought of the danger they were walking into. The pirate noticed her then and threw her a wink, sensing they were talking about her.
"Then I shan't keep you from her much longer," Bethany said, contented. Lana turned back to her then. "The battle's about to begin, Sister. Keep her safe. It's nice to see you happy for a change. May The Maker watch over you."
Lana threw her arms around her little sister, giving her what could possibly be the last hug they ever shared. She tried to put all unsaid things between them into one, warm gesture of love, and Bethany did the same, wishing they hadn't lost all those years previous.
"You've always made me proud, Lana," she whispered in her elder sister's ear, "Always...Now go get 'em. I'm right beside you."
Hawke chuckled and kissed her on the cheek. She released her, ruffling her hair affectionately before taking her leave and walking over to her pirate lover.
"Shouldn't you be half way to Trevinter or something by now?" she teased as she approached her. Isabela chuckled.
"If you insist on fighting for some principle or another, then I have no choice but to be right beside you unfortunately, even if I do think it's all a load of bollocks," she replied, feeling Hawke's hands slip around her waist. The pirate slid her arms around her neck, pressing the warmth of her body against hers and resting their heads together. "Plus, the victory sex is destined to be great," she murmured.
Lana chuckled lightly, her breath tickling Isabela's face. "I do still owe you for looking after me when I was injured," she muttered back, ignoring the gawking mages as the two of them held each other, lost in an intimate moment in the middle of the hall, "...are you ever going to tell me what you had planned?"
Isabela smirked, running a finger along her jaw line softly. "You'll just have to wait and see, Sweetness," she said, "We've still got a lot to live for, you know... those lists for example...Maker's Breath, it's so typical that when I finally find someone I want to be with the Templars decide to go crazy and kill everyone." She swallowed hard, fighting back the heartbreak she was feeling in that moment. She looked up into her eyes. "...Just tell me I'm not going to lose you, Hawke. I already thought I had once today, and it was too much for me to bear."
Lana saw the genuine fear in the pirate's eyes at the notion of being alone once more. "Who knows?" she teased, her eyes twinkling, "I could survive and you could die instead."
"Hmm, now that would make the sex very awkward," the pirate replied, smirking. "But seriously Hawke...I took a chance on love when every bone in my body was telling me to run for it...Don't let me down...Don't you dare..."
"I won't," Lana promised sincerely, caressing her cheek with a shaking hand and staring deeply into her amber eyes. Without another word the pirate leaned in closer, placing one final kiss on her lips. Their tongues pressed together lightly, the kiss slow and passionate. Neither woman cared that the entire hall full of people was watching them in silence right now. Nothing else mattered in that moment. The battle could wait. Their impending death at Templar hands could wait. For in those brief few seconds as they held each other, they were the only two people in the world.
Isabela exhaled, as they broke apart. Their faces hovered together.
"Let's save the 'I love yous' for when we win, ok?" Lana joked in a nervous whisper.
"Deal," Isabela said, smiling up at her and running a hand along her chin as she reluctantly pulled away, "We're getting too soppy for our own good, Hawke."
"I never thought I'd see the day," Hawke teased back, straightening up. Their hands lingered together momentarily, before their fingers slipped free from each other as they let go. "Ready?"
Isabela grinned at her, giving her that familiar crooked smile that she so loved.
"Let's kick some ass, Hawke."
"Just like old times," Varric added, walking to their side with a huge grin on his face and Bianca resting in his arms. "It's been an honour to fight alongside you two fine people. You both know I'm not one for long goodbyes...Let's get this show on the road once and for all."
The entire hall full of mages and non-mages alike roared and took out their weapons, staring towards the doorway, anticipating the first bout of Templars to attack. Hawke took one final glance along the frontline, seeing the ashen faces of her companions beside her. Words couldn't describe their loyalty to her, and in that moment she was proud to have met every single one of them. The age of peace was well and truly over. The war of their age had finally begun. Soon, every wall in the Gallows began to shake with the rumble of battle as the Templars began to flood inside the hall, as merciless and brutal as they could have ever imagined.
"So...So much death...Why don't they just drown us as infants like Meredith said?"
Hawke eased a young mage's head to the floor gently after she had just died in her arms. She placed light fingertips on the little girl's eyelids and closed them, brushing a tear from her sweating face. May The Maker watch over you child. Sighing with despair, she got to her tired feet once more, looking up at Orsino.
"We knew this wasn't going to be easy," she replied gently, not wanting him to fall apart now. Every mage who had been there beside them merely a few hours ago had been slain. The hall was swimming in a pool of dark, red blood, seeping into their shoes and boots where they stood. Only Hawke and her companions remained, along with the First-Enchanter, who seemed to finally have cracked.
"I refuse to keep running!" he growled, "I won't wait for her to kill me like the others..."
"This is not helping, Orsino," Hawke said, picking the dried blood from her nails and flicking it onto the ground.
"I'm tired of helping!" he shouted, his eyes flashing at her dangerously. "Quentin's research was too evil, too dangerous, so I put it aside...But I see now there is no other way."
"What?" Lana asked, looking up and listening to him properly now, "What did you say?"
Orsino's face grew dark. "I lied, Champion...I was indeed a student of your mother's killer," he revealed, "I knew you wouldn't have spared me otherwise, but now I'm done caring. Meredith expects Bloodmagic? Then I will give it to her!"
"NO!" Bethany yelled. She instinctively cast a spell just as Orsino slit his wrists, calling upon a demon. He seemed to swell in the air, turning into something monstrous, dragging the dead bodies nearby towards him before growing to the size of the Pride Demon they had seen earlier today.
Lana backed off, staring up at him in shock, preparing to kill whatever he was becoming.
Suddenly, before the abomination Orsino could make a move to attack any of them, he exploded, bursting into tiny pieces of tainted flesh and showering them all in wave of black blood.
A tiny living abomination crawled towards Hawke, all that was left of the First-Enchanter now. She stamped her foot down on its head hard and watched it die with an ear-piercing scream that echoed throughout the hall.
Lana shook a bit of the thing's guts off her boot disgustedly and turned to her sister, amazed.
"What in The Maker's name was that?" she asked, confused at not having to battle an even bigger monster than the tiny insect-looking thing at her feet. Her sister wiped the blood from her eyes, looking just as shocked herself.
"I...Well, after mother died at the hands of a Bloodmage, I started learning counter spells," she revealed, sadly, staring down at Orsino's remains. "Or rather, prevention spells if you could call them that. I hated everything to do with it, Lana. I just wanted to be to be rid of anything demon related in magic. Bloodmages are the ones who give us all a bad name, the reason why the Circle is necessary in the first place...That was the only spell I could wield though. I didn't even think it would work!"
"Well, it did!" Lana said, in disbelief, seeing the look of amusement on her companions faces, "Good job, little sis...I think we should get out of here now though. Meredith is waiting outside for us I'm sure."
"Let's not keep the old bitch waiting," Isabela said with a smirk, swinging her blood-soaked daggers.
"Be careful, Lana," Bethany said worriedly, placing a hand on her arm. "She knows you're coming for her."
Hawke grinned, "I'm counting on it."
They gathered themselves once more and took a deep breath before exiting the tower, leaving the massacre behind them, and walking out into the courtyard, ready to end this once and for all. The cold air lashed at their throats, ridding them of the retching stench of blood from the Templar Hall. Hawke took a few deep breaths, steadying herself. This wasn't over yet. There was one final battle left.
As expected, Meredith was waiting at the bottom of the steps with her Templars, as though expecting them to come out eventually. She didn't look surprised to see that only Hawke and her companions remained.
"And here you are, at long last," she greeted them.
"Been waiting for this?" Lana asked, trying not to betray her fear as she and her companions walked down the steps towards them all. Her voice echoed eerily throughout the courtyard. "You're going to pay for what you've done here, Meredith. No one escapes retribution for the mass murder of innocents, especially when they carry out their actions under the guise of righteousness."
"I will be rewarded for what I have done here actually," Meredith countered. "In this world and in the next!"
"Then let my blade introduce you to the next and have done with it," Hawke spat, with an evil grin and a threatening swing of her dagger.
"You're a monster!" Bethany shouted angrily, distraught by the massacre of her friends which she had just witnessed.
"You are no mage like your sister Champion, but you chose to take her side and share the fate of her and her kind," Meredith said, "If this is truly what you wish, then I will give you the battle you seek. So be it."
"Finally," Hawke snarled, "I was afraid you were going to let everyone else do your fighting for you."
"Knight-Commander! I thought you intended to arrest the Champion," Knight-Captain Cullen interjected from beside her as the two women glared at each other, on the verge of a duel. He lowered his sword, reluctant now.
"You will do as I command, Cullen!" Meredith ordered angrily. Cullen glanced at Lana, then at Bethany.
"No!" he yelled firmly, finally having reached the end of his tether. "I defended you when Thrask started whispering you were mad, but this is too far, Meredith."
"I will NOT allow insubordination!" Meredith screamed menacingly, withdrawing her giant sword and pointing it at him. The blade glowed an unnatural ruby red, stirring up something in Hawke's memories. The Knight-Commander turned back to her, smirking. "You recognise it do you not, Champion? Pure lyrium, taken from The Deep Roads."
"Andraste's dimpled butt-cheeks!" Varric exclaimed, wide-eyed, "The idol...The one that my idiot brother stole from us during the expedition."
"The dwarf charged a great deal for his prize."
"It killed him in the end, Meredith, drove him mad," Hawke said, shocked to find that it was the exact same one. Somehow this couldn't be good. "Turning the idol into a fancy sword won't save you."
"He was weak, whereas I am not!" the Knight-Commander replied, gazing at the blade intently, a deranged look in her eyes. "All of you! I want her dead!" She pointed the massive red blade at Hawke then.
"ENOUGH!" Cullen yelled, with a wave of his hand, "This is not what the order stands for! Knight-Commander, step down! I relieve you of your command."
Meredith turned red with rage. Hawke realised Cullen's words had finally pushed her over the edge. She rounded on him, the ruby blade reflecting in her eyes.
"Relieve me? The Bloodmages reach is strong in deed. My own Knight-Captain falls prey to the influence of blood magic. You all have!" Meredith spun around, waving her massive sword at her own Templars, who backed away warily now. "You're all weak...allowing the mages to control your minds, to turn you against me! But I don't need any of you. I will protect this city myself!"
"Balls, she's lost it, just like Varric's dear brother did," Isabela muttered to Hawke, her hands sweating on her golden daggers.
Suddenly Meredith pointed her sword at Lana, ready to attack. "Time to die, Hawke!"
Cullen intercepted, jumping in front of her as she made to attack. He raised his sword protectively, guarding Hawke and her companions from danger. "You'll have to go through me first!"
"Idiot boy! Just like all the others!" the Knight-Commander screamed hysterically, "I'll have all your heads!"
Meredith stabbed the giant sword into the ground, showering them all with sparks. Raging beams of red light erupted from the concrete, much like that which had blown up the Chantry earlier. Her Templars retreated, confused, just like Hawke and her companions. Aveline placed a hand on Lana's shoulder, making sure she didn't attack. What in the Maker's name is that? she wondered, her mouth falling open. To their surprise, the Knight-Commander bowed her head began to pray.
"Is she using some weird Templar power?" Isabela asked, screwing up her face and shielding her eyes form the light. Cullen shook his head, wide-eyed.
"None that I've ever seen."
"Blessed are those who stand before the corrupt and the wicked," Meredith muttered, "...and DO NOT FALTER!"
With barely a second to react, Hawke and her companions were swept off their feet along with Knight-Captain Cullen and the remaining Templars as Meredith flew towards them at full speed, knocking them to the ground. Hawke looked up from where she lay, her mouth hanging open as she realised the Knight-Commander was flying.
"What the-"
"Oh, come on!" Isabela shouted in disbelief somewhere beside her. "Did you see that!?"
Fenris was the first to his feet, closely followed by Aveline and Cullen. The three of them charged down the abomination Meredith and began to attack. Their blades seemed to have little effect on her. Isabela got to her feet and dragged Hawke to hers, then both of them followed, daggers in hand, joining the fray. The Templars around them followed their Knight-Captain, turning their blades not on Hawke and her companions, but on the crazed Knight-Commander who just didn't seem to be human anymore.
Bethany watched them go, casting spell after spell from range, finally seeing her sister somehow make it through the crowd of allies and plunge one of her daggers deeply into Meredith's metal-plated chest. The deranged woman screamed like a fade demon, her eyes glowing red, sparks flying from her as the corruption from the idol her sword was made from spread throughout her body. Suddenly Hawke and her companions were lifted from their feet and blasted back across the courtyard, temporarily deafened.
Meredith fell to her knees, "Maker!" she gasped, panting heavily, "Your servant begs you for the strength to defeat this evil!"
Before anyone could reach her on time, she launched herself into the air to an impossible height and flipped backwards, landing at the top of a stone plinth between the white marble steps to the tower.
"Ho-ly shit!" Varric exclaimed, picking up Bianca and getting to his feet.
"What is she?" Bethany gasped, staring up at her. None of them had ever seen anything like it before.
The Knight-Commander thrust her two-handed sword into the ground once more. The marble opened up like an earthquake, flaming red beams shining through the cracks and travelling up through the gigantic, stone slaver statues nearby. Hawke looked up from where she lay, watching the scene unfold as though it was a terrible nightmare. The statues began to come to life before their very eyes.
"LOOK OUT!" Isabela yelled, scrambling upright and dashing forwards. She pushed Bethany to the side just in time as a statue swiped at her from behind. The pirate knocked her to the ground, taking the full blow herself, square in the chest. Hawke watched in horror as the pirate flew through the air and landed harshly on the stone ground, still.
"ISABELAAA!"
She jumped to her feet and made to run towards the unconscious pirate, when Cullen came out of nowhere and tackled her to the ground, just as another statue went for them. Its long limb collided with the stone floor beside them and smashed into tiny pieces, showering them with rubble. The entire courtyard was alive with action now.
"Leave her!" Cullen yelled, flattening Hawke to the ground once more as a spear came soaring towards them. "Get Meredith! We can't hold out against such evil, Champion."
Lana watched in dismay as her companions fell one by one, Aveline and Bethany the only ones left standing now. Fenris lay bleeding a few feet away, impaled by a large stone spear, beside him, a pile of unconscious Templars. Varric was face down in a pool of his own blood, Bianca squashed underneath him. Merrill and Charade were trapped in the hands of a massive statue, screaming their lungs out for someone to save them. Hawke watched helplessly as they were cut free by the remaining Templars only to fall to the ground and lie still.
The Knight-Captain didn't wait for Lana to answer. He hauled her to her feet once the coast was clear and dragged her with him towards the steps in the direction of Meredith on the plinth, who seemed to have become some type of God now.
"Go Hawke! Now!"
He bent down at the base of the stone platform she stood on and beckoned Hawke towards him. Lana ran up the steps at full speed, planting a carefully placed foot in his hands and allowing him to heave her up into the air and scale the small black metal fence surroundingthe Knight-Commander on her makeshift pedestal. She landed roughly at Meredith's feet, almost losing her balance, and straightened up before her, daggers in hand.
"It's over, Meredith...Time to meet your Maker."
Before the woman could utter a final word of hate, Hawke lunged forwards with both her daggers, stabbing the Knight-Commander in the chest over and over, hearing her blood-curdling scream echo in the night. Red beams of flame and sparks spilled out of her as her skin began to crack, much like the ground had earlier. Hawke could feel her hands burning as the red lyrium essence licked at her arms and hit her face like a heat wave. Soon her screams of agony joined the Knight-Commanders in the night.
"ARRGGGHHHH!"
All of a sudden, the sword in Meredith's hand shattered and blew into smithereens. Hawke was instantly catapulted backwards through the air as Meredith burned from the inside, out, and fell to her death, her ear-piercing scream chilling them all to the bone. She turned to stone before their eyes. Bethany and Aveline yelled hysterically as they saw Lana fall through the air and slam into the ground at the bottom of the steps, hearing her head crack off the stone. There was a final explosion as the Knight-Commander was obliterated and the enchanted statues crumbled to the floor with her, defeated once and for all.
The night seemed to come to a standstill. A deafening, apocalyptic silence overcame Kirkwall, plunging the city into darkness. It was completely ruined in its entirety, with the bodies of its former citizens littering the now eerie, abandoned streets. The only sound that broke the silence was that of a girl screaming her sister's name as though her life depended on it. Bethany Hawke fought her way through the wreckage of the dilapidated Gallows, seeing blood trickle from the Champion of Kirkwall's crumpled and broken body. The young woman fell to her knees at her side, tears streaming down her face as she lifted Hawke's limp form in her arms and held her tight.
"Sister!" she gasped, staring down into her face, "Lana! Wake up... Lana, please!"
A little way off, trapped under a heavy metal fence, a pirate opened her eyes, finding herself lying flat on her back on the cold, hard stone. The weight of the fence was suddenly removed and standing over her was Aveline. The Guardswoman held out her hand.
"You did good," she said simply in her businesslike tone.
Isabela gave her a sad smile then placed her hand in hers, allowing the big girl to help her to her feet.
"Thanks," she replied, nodding at her.
The two of them stared, amber eyes piercing green ones, finding a new sense of respect for the other. They shook hands tightly. Aveline gave the pirate the first sincere smile since she had known her and patted her on the shoulder proudly.
"I guess you're not just a pirate whore after all," she said, having seen her sacrifice herself for Bethany.
"And I guess it doesn't matter if you're a prude," the Rivaini replied, grinning at her. "I can live with that."
The Guardswoman snorted, though her expression remained soft. Isabela wasn't so bad after all, was she?
Bethany's cries interrupted them then.
"Lana! Lana?...Blood of Andraste, you're alive! Oh, thank The Maker!"
Aveline walked away to help the others then, leaving Isabela searching through the ruins of the Gallows to find her love. She stumbled over a piece of marble that had been blasted away from the staircase and followed a flash of blue light that was shining from behind a giant broken slaver statue. Holding her side, the pirate heaved herself up onto it and stared over the side. Bethany chucked her staff to the side and pulled a rather bloody-looking Hawke to her feet, having just revived her.
Isabela's heart filled up at the sight of her. Without a word she jumped off the statue and ran towards her. Lana turned around just in time to see the pirate approach, before she was swept off her feet and spun around in strong arms that claimed her for their own. She hugged her back tightly, burying her face in her shoulder, sheer relief overcoming her. Neither of them could speak, just thankful for the other to have survived.
Suddenly they were surrounded by a crowd of Templars. Isabela released Lana and the three of them huddled together, having not one weapon between them (apart from Bethany's magic which was useless against so many Templars). They were trapped among the rubble, unable to escape. Hawke pushed her sister behind her protectively, shielding both her and Isabela from harm. The Templars began to move in, weapons drawn, reigning down on them, ready to administer the final blow.
"No!"
Knight-Captain Cullen suddenly appeared atop one half of the stone plinth that Meredith had been standing on before, which now lay a short distance away in the middle of the courtyard. The Templars turned to him in shock. Cullen glanced up at the smoking remains of Knight-Commander Meredith behind them, swallowing hard, and then stared down into Hawke's eyes. After several tense seconds, he gave her a slight nod then waved his hand, ordering the Knights to back away.
Cautiously, Hawke took a step forwards, bringing Bethany and Isabela along with her. Aveline and the others followed, all of them keeping careful eyes on the Templars surrounding them, in case they disobeyed their orders. Lana ushered her companions towards the docks without a word until she was the only one that remained. Cullen eyed her respectively as she passed, receiving a curt nod in return, and then she was gone. What remained of the Templar Order watched after the Champion of Kirkwall and her companions as they walked off into the distance, never to be seen again for a very long time.
Epilogue
Lana Hawke stood at the front of the ship, the gentle early morning breeze rippling against her white shirt, causing it to cling to her curves. She leaned her hands on the wooden rail, gazing out into the sunrise, thinking about all that had happened in Kirkwall a few months back. Word of the mages' slaughter had spread quickly throughout Thedas, her own name becoming a rallying cry as one by one the Circles rose up against the mighty Templars that imprisoned them. Word had also reached them telling of more Knights that had arrived in Kirkwall to restore order, but she and her companions were already long since gone, thanks to Knight-Captain Cullen's mercy, and she doubted any of them would be returning so soon, if ever, to that damned, forsaken city.
Warm hands slid around Hawke's waist then, making her quiver. She smiled to herself as she felt Isabela press her body up against hers from behind, feeling the shape of her massive breasts cushion against her spine. The pirate leaned in and kissed the side of her neck softly, caressing her fingers across her abdomen. Lana touched her hands, leaning back into her embrace, sighing with content. She turned to her left, feeling Isabela's lips graze hers gently then.
"Good morning," the pirate breathed, resting her head against hers and holding her close. The two of them stared out at the horizon together, inhaling the fresh, clean air of the open seas.
"Beautiful morning," Lana corrected, closing her eyes then, caressing the pirate's arms which were wrapped around her midsection. She had never felt more at ease in her life.
"It's so quiet without the others," Isabela said gently, smiling. The only two people who remained on the ship with them now were Bethany and Charade, asleep in the crew's quarters still, the others having departed into the wilderness only yesterday.
"It's nice, isn't it?" Hawke replied, rubbing her cheek against the pirate's affectionately. They both watched a seagull fly by majestically in the distance, holding a fish in its beak.
"I could get used to it," Isabela teased, her fingers tickling across Hawke's abs through her thin shirt. She felt her chuckle.
"So could I," she agreed, sighing, "Saying goodbye to Varric was hard though. I'm really going to miss that dwarf."
"Me too, Sweetness," Isabela whispered in her ear, sadly. She closed her eyes as well then and inhaled deeply, breathing in Lana's gorgeous scent, feeling the gentle swaying of the ship as it glided through The Waking Sea, which was as calm as she had ever known it. They stood in silence for what seemed like hours, breathing freely and enjoying a rare moment of alone time which had been few and far between since leaving Kirkwall.
"Have we got a plan yet?" Lana asked then, finally breaking the silence. They both opened their eyes, Hawke spinning around slowly in the pirate's arms and staring into her amber eyes, which looked even more beautiful, reflecting the golden rays of the early morning sunlight. Isabela caressed her cheek.
"Where do you want to go, Sweetness?" she whispered, smiling at her.
Hawke shrugged, "I'm not sure," she replied, "Ferelden's on the list I suppose. I promised Bethany...and I'd maybe like to see where you're from, Bela."
Isabela chuckled, "You want to visit Rivain?" she asked in disbelief, "I didn't have much of a life there, Hawke. I'm afraid you might be disappointed."
"It's a part of who you are, Isabela," she said kindly, "And if it's part of you then I want to know everything there is to know about it."
The pirate smiled, "Everything?" she teased.
"Everything," Hawke repeated, smiling back. "We still have a lot to learn about each other, my love."
Isabela sighed, "You're right...I'm... just afraid you won't like everything you hear, Hawke."
Lana placed a hand on her face, caressing her cheek softly, "Even if I don't," she replied, staring deep into her eyes, "I'll always love you, Isabela."
"Promise?" the pirate asked with a smirk. Hawke chuckled.
"I Promise," she said, nodding. Isabela sighed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. She gazed into her eyes, mesmerized .
"What did I do to deserve you, Hawke?" she wondered, shaking her head.
Without waiting for a response she leaned in then and kissed her deeply, never having ever believed it was possible for her to love someone this much. She wasn't such a cold-hearted pirate raider anymore. There was just something about being with Hawke that made her feel accepted for the person who she really was, all titles and reputations aside. She didn't notice it up until that point, but it had been something she had been searching for her entire life, and now she had finally found it.
Lana pulled her lips away from the pirate's and took her by the hands.
"Come on," she said, leading her back towards the Captain's Quarters, "The others will be awake soon...and I want you all to myself."
Isabela chuckled and scanned her body in one sweeping glance, feeling herself become aroused.
"Only if I can be on top," she teased, grinning wickedly. Hawke shook her head, biting her lips seductively and walking backwards as she pulled her along, staring into her eyes.
"Not this time, Isabela...Because in case you hadn't already noticed...I won in the end."
Isabela pursed her lips, shaking her head and staring at Lana dangerously, as she smiled back at her cheekily, waiting for her reaction. Memories of their games of flirtation flashed through the pirate's mind then. Without warning she backed Hawke up against the door to the Captain's Quarters roughly and pinned her hands over her head, stealing a demanding kiss from her, taking both their breaths away. She bit down hard on her bottom lip, dragging her teeth along it as she pulled away. A soft groan of pleasure escaped Lana's lips. Isabela stared deep into her chocolate-brown eyes.
"You don't think I'm going to give up that easily do you?" she breathed harshly, a hint of danger in her voice. Hawke's heart was beating frantically in her chest. She chuckled nervously and fumbled with the doorknob, dragging the pirate inside by the scruff and slamming it closed behind them with a snap.
Both women had been through a torrent of emotions over the last nine years they had known each other, sharing many ups and downs and tears and tantrums, kissing each other one minute then cursing each other the next. Yet here they were, finally together, with nothing else to get in their way. They tore each other's clothes off like there was no tomorrow, lips pressed together, kissing each other hungrily for what was sure to be a rough tumble between the sheets. The feelings they had for each other were unstoppable. It was something that neither of them could put into words. It was something that could never be described no matter how hard they tried... and to be completely honest, it was the best bloody feeling in the world.
Well, there you have it! I can't believe I've finally finished :'( I had a lot of fun writing this and hope you all did while reading it. When it first began I did NOT imagine writing over 200,000 words :P After speaking to quite a few of you I have decided that there WILL be a sequel to A Pirate's Charm, following Isabela and Lana on their next journey (along with a few more familiar faces :P) I haven't started writing it yet though as I need to take some time away and plan it properly, but I do have a few interesting ideas as to how its going to go. My next project after this will be a short Leliana/Lana prequel, delving into their 'relationship' back in Lothering before the Blight. The writing process has already begun so I hope you Leliana lovers out there will stick around for that. Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed this story. I loved listening to your opinions and your reactions. I'm sad that it's finally over but unfortunately all good things must come to an end sooner or later. Muchas gracias a todos y Adioooos TSOA ;)