Sebastian woke with a start to someone shaking him, hard. He blearily opened his eyes, and wished that he hadn't as the harsh light from the window stung his eyes.
"Your Highness! Wake up! Your Highness!"
"...Who is that?" He slurred, tasting copper in his mouth. What had happened came back in a flash – how in the name of the Maker was he still alive? By all accounts he should be dead from the force of the attack Justice had launched on him. Justice!
Sebastian stood up unsteadily, his eyes struggling to focus, and with a terrible headache.
"It's Emma Brear, Ser." Sebastian didn't answer for a moment, so she carried on talking. "One of the lieutenants. Are you alright, Your Highness? I'm a bit worried you might have a concussion." He nodded at her.
"Most likely. And don't worry Brear, I know who you are. Glad to see you're still alive, more than I can say for your fellow guards..." He looked sadly over at what was left of their the charred bodies, and bowed his head in respect.
"Call for a priest, or an undertaker first, I presume. Let their families know, and... Yes, double their life insurance plans. I'll pay." Shaking his head wearily, Sebastian sighed. "Maker only knows the poor sods didn't sign up to fight abominations." Belatedly, he noted the absence of anyone else in the room. He turned to the lieutenant perhaps a bit too sharply, and staggered from the quick movement. Perhaps a seat would be in order?
"No..." he murmured to himself.
"Ser?" Brear inquired.
"Hawke. Where is Hawke?" Sebastian asked, pulling himself together somewhat. Brear's gaze narrowed.
"The blood mage? I sent him to the prison until we can work out what do to with him."
"Blood mage?" Sebastian exclaimed. The lieutenant nodded.
"We found him collapsed over you, unconscious from blood loss. Obviously not a very good blood mage. You were unconscious, and covered in his, and your blood. Two men were dead, and the body was nowhere to be seen. I assume he had tried to kill you, but luckily failed..." Emma's voice trailed off as Sebastian started to shake his head vigorously.
"No. Hawke wouldn't do that. The body of the other apostate, it was possessed by a spirit of vengeance. I watched the demon kill those men, with its bare hands. Hawke... Hawke's magic was drained, so he leapt in to try and help me. The last thing I remember was passing out, and now here I am, covered in blood... Hawke's blood.
A light of understanding dawned on Brear's face, and for a moment she looked troubled.
"Then he used blood magic to save your life... Admirable in some ways, but nothing excuses using forbidden magic."
"I think the fact that I'm alive and Starkhaven still has a ruler disproves that theory, don't you?" Sebastian snapped. Stop it... Don't lose your only templar guardsman over this. Sebastian visibly gathered himself, and sighed. "I'm sorry lietenant. I agree that blood magic is a foul thing. But in my time in Kirkwall, we met many blood mages. Some of them were desperate, and some of them were stupid. Others just wanted power. And yes, most of them were damned evil. But one that springs to mind, though naïve, was a sweet girl."
Brear raised an eyebrow, and Sebastian laughed.
"Aye. 'Sweet girl', and blood mage don't usually spring to mind in the same sentence. But my point remains – Hawke made her give up the blood magic, and she did. It took a lot to make her see, but she did it. And as far as I know from Varric, she's still not touched the stuff. Everyone deserves a second chance. I intend to at least talk to Hawke before we turn him into the templars – with you there to ensure there's no foul play. The templars can't know yet, I know they will execute him without a thought for the..."
"Serah." Brear interrupted quietly. "The prison we sent him to... it was Aeonar. I... would imagine he's halfway to Tevinter by now." Eyes wide, Sebastian set his jaw.
"Then we find him."