There were a lot of people in The Hanged Man. The kind of people who were drowning there sorrows or trying to forget. There wasn't a single man here who wasn't wasted to the point of collapse. Angelle had to ignore several men grapping her ass as she went passed them. Normally she would knock them down, but to night she needed not to draw attention to herself. She walked into Varric suite and closed the door.
"Hawke. I wasn't expecting you here considering what mess the city is in."
"Do you have time to talk Varric?"
"For you I have all the time in the world. What's on your mind?"
"You heard what Anders did?"
"Yes... I didn't know Blondie was that crazy. How are you holding up?"
"Oh you know same old. The whole city is paranoid. I have been harbouring a murderer and the love of my life is going to be killed or made tranquil."
She laughed bitterly.
"So... what are we going to do about it?"
"I am going to make a daring prison break and I could use some help. And an escape plan."
"You want to bust Blondie out of a prison full of templars?"
"Come on Varric. Where is your sense of adventure? What could possibly go wrong?"
"I hate it when you say that. Well, we are going to need some help."
"Yes... do you know anyone desperate enough for coin, with the right amount of insanity, has a ship and we can trust?"
"You know... I just might."
Varriic smiled went to the door and yelled out into the bar.
"Rivani! Get in here, there is someone I want you to meet."
Moments later a female pirate entered.
"Rivani this is Hawke. She has a job for you."
"Well hello. I am Captain Isabela."
They sat down and Angelle told them what she had in mind.
It was night. The Knight-commander had left hours ago. The plan was about to take off. Angelle felt anxious she had never done anything like this. Tonight she would be breaking every oath she ever took, throwing away everything she ever worked for. For the first time in her life she wondered what her parents would think of her. Would they be disappointed or proud? She had no way of knowing. All she knew was that her heart told her this was the right thing to do. Hopefully no one would die. She looked out the window. Isabelas ship was docked and she could see Isabela standing on the deck with one hand constantly on one of her daggers. Next to her was Conna. It knocked on the door and Cullen, Varric and Orsino entered.
"Are you ready Hawke?
"As ready as I'll ever be. Let us get this over with."
"Alright. The first enchanter and I will go together. I have given Varric the keys to the dungeon you should go with him. Go to the dungeons and wait for the signal."
"Not that we really need keys." The dwarf mused.
"Thank you Cullen. Thank you all."
It seems as if hours passed as Hawke and Varric stood in that dungeon. This waiting was killing her and she was beginning to feel frustrated. Then they saw a great flare outside the window and people started yelling. This was their signal. Angelle ran to Anders' cell and opened it.
"Angelle! What is going on?"
"Anarchy... Here take this."
She almost laughed as she gave him a bag with lyrium potions and bandages. Within minutes Angelle and Varric had freed the mages in the dungeon, while Anders did his best to heal the most severe injuries. One girl was too weak to walk even with healing, so Anders picked her up and carried her. They ran up the stairs and met with Cullen and Orisino. They were covered in bloodstains.
"First Enchanter... did you do it?"
"Yes, all the phylacteries have been destroyed."
Anders looked at Angelle with disbelief. She had convinced the Knight-Captain and First Enchanter to destroy the circles phylacteries. Every mage in circle was now an apostate. This was much bigger than just Angelle and Anders' freedom. This was about freedom for all of them. Anders' had made the declaration of war and Angelle was now leading the first assault. This was now a rallying cry that could shake all of Thedas. No one could stand back in silence and remain passive. Action was required and justice for mages could no longer be ignored. Justice rejoiced.
"Good we will have to get to the harbour. A ship is waiting for us."
"How did you get enough coin for a ship?" Anders asked with a look of surprise.
"I may have broken in to the Knight-commanders treasury with some help from Varric."
"It was surprisingly easy. You would think a Knight-commander could afford more decent locks... There was this one time..."
"Not right now Varric." Anders grumbled.
Angelle smiled and the group divided into smaller groups and took different paths towards the harbour. Orsino would get the youngest apprentices to safety, while Cullen would close of other sections of the Gallows to prevent too many templars from joining the onslaught. Anders handed over the girl in his arms to one of the mages going with Orsino.
When they got to courtyard mages and templars where fighting. Several were already badly injured... on both sides. Her eyes met Anders' and he immediately started to heal the wounded. Angelle began to throw herself between one injured mage after another, pacifying and incapacitate their attackers. She turned around when she heard Anders' cry out in pain as an arrow stuck in his shoulder. He began to imitate that all too familiar colour of blue. He pulled out the arrow and a white shinning fog started to rise from the wound healing it. Between her own fighting she kept an eye on him. The last thing the needed was for him to get utterly out of control. But this Justice was far different than what he used to be. His attacks and spells were used with accuracy and focus instead of blind rage. When he struck down an enemy it was quick and efficient. The carnage that Justice usually left behind was replaced by intact bodies lying on the ground. Even his movements seemed different, controlled, and there were no cries of furious rage.
Even so it was turning into a bloodbath. She didn't want any more death. Angelle was trying to think of a way to prevent more bloodshed as Cullen and his group came running into the courtyard. She grabbed Cullen arm and twisted on to his back while holding a dagger to his throat. He gave a cry of surprise.
"What are you doing?"
"Trust me." She whispered.
"If another templar as much as sneezes it will be the end of your Knight-Captain!"
Both the mages and templars stopped. When Cullen nodded the templars laid down their weapons on the ground and stepped back. Angelle and the mages walked slowly to the harbour, while she kept a dagger at Cullen's throat. When they arrived Angelle turned towards Orsino, who was ensuring the youngest apprentices were safe.
"You will all be able to come aboard the ship, but when we reach Kirkwall we will need to spread out. I'm sorry I can't do more for you."
"We are apostates now. We can't expect things to be easy. We can try to find refuge in the other circles in Thedas or hope that they will rise up with us. We will find support nowhere else. I have arranged ship from Kirkwall to Jadar for the children. The Ferelden circle will give refuge to those who are too young to run. "
Orsino gave a sign to the mages to go aboard the ship. Anders was greeted by one happy, slobbering, mabari and he tried to seem indifferent. Angelle couldn't help noticing that even so Anders' eyes smiled as he stroked Conna. Cullen was still standing on the harbour looking at her. He loved her even if she could not return it. Had he let Anders be executed or made tranquil maybe he could have been the one to hold her. But then his heart would always have been full of doubt, as they evening were he kissed her. Would it be him or Anders' she would be making love to, when those beautiful eyes of hers closed. What he wouldn't give to see her smile for him as she did Anders. But he was willing to sacrifice a lot more to see her happy, than fulfilling his own desires.
"Aren't you coming?"
"My place is here, Angelle. Someone needs to take care of this mess."
"What about the Knight-commander?"
"I will have to convince her that I was under the influence of bloodmagic. And after your little stunt it shouldn't be too hard to convince her that I am innocent. I just hope this wasn't a mistake."
Angelle ran towards him threw her arms around him and kissed him. When she let go she whispered in his ear:
"Thank you... May the Maker smile on you."
She boarded the ship and they were off. Anders came up to her and gave her a serious gaze and she responded with a teasing smile.
"What was that about?"
"You are adorable when you're jealous."
"Angelle?"
"It was payment for your freedom... I am quite an expensive whore."
"You didn't...?"
"No, I didn't. I was far too busy trying to save you."
She laughed, wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. Then she noticed a subtle white fog coming from him.
"How are you and Justice doing?"
"He seems sated and at peace. He seems like his old self, but I will need to be very aware of my thoughts and feelings. If I'm not he might become a force of Vengeance again. I cannot risk becoming an abomination... and corrupting him. There is too much at stake."
Anders held her close taking in the scent of her hair and kissed her. He never wanted to let her go. This time he would not risk losing her.