A/n: feedback always a plus, this story hasn't gotten too boring has it?
Hawke rubbed his head as they waited for Sebastian to open the door. It didn't hurt so much anymore, but he could feel a bump forming. I guess I get to see Anders tonight too, he thought glumly.
He still liked Anders, to a point. The mage had become almost as insufferable as his Uncle, although for completely different reasons. A part of him was glad that his sister couldn't see him anymore, what with Gray Warden business and all. He wasn't sure what he would do if he had to watch his sister watch Anders become the hateful, tiresome person that he had become. Bethany was different now, sure, but he knew that she would worry and stress over it. Even so, he almost wished she were there, it was very lonely in his mansion since his mother...Sandal, Bodahn, and Orana weren't the greatest company.
"I miss my sister." He muttered.
"At least she seems to be enjoying what she's doing." Nero told him, in an attempt at reassurance.
He pouted.
"I don't think you would want to be harboring an apostate in this city, Hawke. At least as a Gray Warden she's safe in that regard." Fenris said.
"Except for the whole Darkspawn and deep road thing. I don't know how she can handle being in those roads all the time. It's so dark!"
"Maybe Grey Wardens have night vision." Nero jested.
Fenris chuckled and Hawke found himself staring at the elf, he looked away quickly. It was always a little difficult not to get distracted by how ridiculously good-looking the man was. He was pretty, although not in the way most people were. His prettiness was sharp, jagged and dangerous. The kind that made you want to be associated with it, even though you knew it would slice you open and make you bleed. He didn't wish any longer that he hadn't slept with him all those years ago, like he did when he first found out that Fenris had skipped town. It was in the past and as far as he knew neither of them really thought much about it anymore.
Sometimes though, he would remember the times before, when they flirted. Fenris was stubborn then...he still was, but not quite in the same way. Back then the elf seemed to analyze and study each word before he said it, so that every sentence he spoke was calculated and bland. He used to smile on occasion, but it was small and never quite seemed to reach his eyes. And the anger, it emanated from him like a blistering heat. He was still angry, of this Hawke had no doubt, but it didn't seem to be as...potent. Or maybe he just thought that because Fenris was different, he spoke more, he smiled more, he laughed. He even walked differently, he wasn't as tense as he once was and if someone bumped into him or touched him he wasn't likely to try and rip their head off.
There was a small period of time that he had been jealous of Nero's ability to crack into Fenris' tough shell. He would wonder what Nero was doing or saying that seemed to be making Fenris so happy, and why he didn't induce the same response. Then he realized that he was being stupid, when he had gone after Fenris it was selfish. He did not want to have a relationship with the elf, Fenris was too tense and their views and opinions were too different. Hawke had gotten what he wanted, and despite the damage it may have caused the elf, afterwords it did drive him to make sure that the person he was aiming to bed after knew what he wanted.
But Nero seemed to have had a profound effect on Fenris, one that he never would have thought possible. Even after Nero and Fenris had broken up three yeas ago Fenris was still more lively and relaxed than he was when they had first met. It still baffled him even if it didn't bother him. He presumed at first that it had to do with thier similar past, but that didn't account for all of it. Maybe there was something between them that he was incapable of understanding. He hoped that he would be able to some day.
"Got it." Sebastian finally said, and pushed the door to the throne room open.
They didn't get very far inside before they were approached by three mages.
"So, even the divine fears us now." the only woman said with a smirk, "she should. Kill the spies!"
As she spoke a blue light enveloped her hands and she summoned several shades and two rage demons.
Hawke sighed, "why can't anything ever go smoothly in this damned city?"
"You would probably get bored." Fenris told him.
Hawke sighed, but agreed. He'd probably get fat too, Maker knew that the only workout he got was when he was killing things. He laughed out loud as he moved out of the way of a fireball and ended up having to smack a shade out of his way with his shield.
Unsurprisingly the shade didn't seem affected by this at all, but it did turn away from where it was facing Fenris to instead deal with him. Hawke smiled at it as Fenris' blade swung down on it, effectively splitting the shade down the middle before it dissolved into a cloud of smoke.
One of Sebastian's arrows whistled between them and hit one of the blood mages in the shoulder, effectively disrupting said mages incantation. He let another one fly, this one aimed for a kill, and it plunged into the mage's forehead.
"I could do this all day." He laughed.
Nero sighed loudly at the comment as he ducked and swung his leg out, causing the blood mage he was battling to fall to the ground. He slit his throat before turning to face the next one. He swore when he saw that she had erected a barrier around herself and instead he focused on a rage demon that seemed to suddenly have an interest in him.
Not liking to take the fiery monsters on too close he pulled the knife from his belt and threw it, it landed in what he considered the demon's cheek and cursed. He really needed to practice more.
Despite the knife in it's face the demon continued toward him and he readied his blades, trying to tell himself that he could kill this thing before it burnt him.
He didn't.
He held one blade in front of himself as a sort of shield as he swung the new one towards the demon. The dagger plunged into the thing's chest but that didn't seem to deter it. He figured out why when he pulled the blade free and he realized that the heat and fire from the rage demon had begun melting his dagger. Half of the blade was completely gone and the bit that was left was dripping metal onto the ground.
He stared at it for a moment too long and the Demon grabbed the wrist that was holding the blade in it's claw/hand. Nero screeched and, using his other dagger, which had never melted in a rage demons flesh before, he decapitated it. He shook his hand painfully as the demon turned into ashes and watched as Hawke approached the last remaining mage.
As he got closer Hawke realized that the mage was straining to retain her shield and all he had to do was wait until she became too tired to keep it up. He twirled his blade menacingly in his hand as he did so, watching as she realized that she was going to die and her magic would not be able to save her.
Finally the barrier flickered out and she forced herself to stop gasping and stared at him, defiance in her eyes, as he decapitated her. Out of the corner of his eye Hawke saw two more mages appear in the doorway and he turned to deal with them only to find them enveloped in smoke. After the smoke cleared he saw the two men fall to the ground and a rather pretty redheaded woman sheath her daggers.
As she approached them, she said, "the resolutionists, I might have known they would be a part of this."
Hawke didn't usually care for Orlesian accents, he always thought they sounded quite funny. But with her voice it was almost...enchanting. She also seemed vaguely familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.
"Are you sister Nightingale?" He asked.
"I am. Or you may call me Leliana. The divine has sent me to investigate the possibility of a rebellion here in Kirkwall. I have...some experience in unconventional situations." She said with a smirk.
Hawke gaped, "The Leliana? The one who accompanied the Hero of Ferelden to slay the Archdemon?"
"Ah. I see it will be harder to remain anonymous so near the Fereldan border. Yes I knew the Hero of Ferelden, perhaps you have heard the songs I wrote of our time together."
"Actually, he's my cousin."
"Oh, I did not realize."
Hawke chuckled, "its alright, I've never actually met him."
Leliana smiled sweetly at him, "that...was many years ago. I am working for the Divine now. In Orlais. I had not thought to return to this part of Thedas."
"Life is full of unexpected surprises. You said something about resolutionists? Who are they?"
"An offshoot of a fraternity within the Circle of Magi. There have always been factions that support freedom from the Chantry and abolition of the circle. We have...tolerated them. But the resolutionists have become violent. They are likely behind the unrest here."
"Maybe..." Hawke said, thinking of Anders, he decided to change the subject " you know, I hardly imagined the Divine's secret agent looking like you."
She chuckled, "that is why I am effective. The divine has long suspected that Kirkwall's problems were spurred by an outside group. This attack proves she is right."
Hawke frowned, "are you saying you set this whole thing up, you knew they would attack?"
"I let word slip that an agent of the Divine was coming to investigate the mage troubles. It is how they chose to react, which condemns them."
"Will the Divine send soldiers?"
"Divine Justinia takes the situation here very seriously. She believes it is the worst threat to Thedas since the Qunari invaded."
"That's a little dramatic." Nero said.
Sebastian frowned, "a handful of apostates? How can that possibly-?"
"The whole word is watching Kirkwall. If it falls to magic, none of us are safe."
"It really isn't that bad." Hawke told her.
She shook her head, "tell Elthina to leave. There is refuge for her at the Grand Cathedral in Orlais. She will not be safe here."
As she was walking away Hawke called out, "that's it? You could have said that in a letter!"
She ignored him.
"These mages are out of control." Sebastian spat.
"They always are." Fenris drawled.
...
They decided to head to Anders' clinic before returning to the Chantry. Nero's wrist was blistering and Hawke's headache was getting worse, Sebastian agreed, but only because he wanted Hawke to return to Elthina with him - as she had asked both of them to see the sister. Fenris came along begrudgingly, he didn't look forward to seeing the mage, but he wanted to see to Nero's injuries.
Sebastian knocked on the door to the clinic and Nero considered taking his key out to let them in but he didn't think Anders would appreciate that. Their friendship might have turned to shit but he still respected the man's privacy. He'd stab the mage himself though, if he refused to heal them. He could hardly thing straight, the pain in his wrist was so intense.
"I don't think you're supposed to touch burns." Fenris muttered to him.
He scowled at the elf, "I'm trying not to but my hand keeps going to it as though it thinks it'll help."
Suddenly the clinic door opened and Anders blinked at them, confused.
"What?" He asked.
Hawke pointed to his head, "I need healing."
Anders frowned, "I don't think I can fix your psychosis, Hawke."
Hawke sighed and pushed his way into the clinic, summarizing what they had been up to despite a scowl he received from Sebastian. "anyway, I got hit on the head by the opposite end of an axe and my head hurts something fierce. Also Nero has a burn."
"A burn, he says, like its no big deal." Nero muttered, "it fucking hurts Anders," He held his hand out to the mage, "fix me?" he pouted.
Anders sighed his irritation but called upon his healing magic anyway.
"You seem very angry." Sebastian observed.
Anders rolled his eyes, "and here I thought the Chantry was against mind-reading."
"Did something happen to you in the Circle? I understand there were problems in Ferelden some years ago..."
"Are you saying a mage can only be unhappy in the Circle if demons were involved?" he snapped, then sighed heavily before continuing "no, it's not about Uldred. It's not about being beaten or raped by a templar— that does happen, but I've been fortunate. It' s a larger principle: the freedom every man, woman, and child born in Thedas have as a natural right."
"You were given to the Circle. I was given to the Chantry. Hawke was driven away from home by the Darkspawn. Fenris and Nero are still pursued by people that claim to own them. None of us are free." He told him.
"The maker is benevolent indeed," Anders said sarcastically before changing the subject "how can you have so much faith? Does nothing bother you?
Sebastian scowled, "you're bothering me."
"You came here, to my home, remember." Anders reminded him before returning to his point "the Maker left us to our own devices generations ago. He's never going to step back in, start listening to our prayers again. He's gone. Doesn't that bother you?" he finished off Nero's wrist and turned to heal the bump forming on Hawke's forehead.
"He's a merciful lord. He could have destroyed our world when we failed Him, but instead He gave us a chance at redemption. Should we not be joyful?"
"Didn't you just say none of us are free? What kind of a redemption is that?"
"Oh, good lord."
Anders pulled his hand away from Hawke and asked, "better?"
Hawke smiled at him sweetly, and for a moment Anders was reminded of Bethany. He frowned and turned away to check Nero's wrist. He had not thought of Bethany in a long time, and had stopped replying to her letters a year and a half ago till she stopped sending them. He did not want her to be associated with what he needed to do, it would not be good for her reputation.
"You've made no secret of your intent to lead the mages here in revolution. I can't help but wonder if you weren't behind the attack tonight." Sebastian pointed out.
"Well, I've tried not to shout it from the rooftops. You've just been around when I talk with my friends." he paused. "If I was behind the attack, it wouldn't have failed...there also wouldn't have been demons."
"Look at that, Hawke. He just admitted that he would have killed you." Sebastian smirked.
"That is not what I meant. I didn't even hear anything about this 'agent of the divine' coming to Kirkwall, so I had nothing to do with it."
"Well, in the event you ever get crazy ideas, and as we have mutual friends—who for some reason don't want you to get hurt—let me tell you this: If you go forward with this revolt, the Chantry will bring its full might to bear. They will kill you."
"Andraste was killed. That doesn't mean she failed."
"Do not compare yourself to Andraste." Sebastian hissed.
Anders was about to respond when Hawke interrupted him, "we should probably go back to the Chantry now, Elthina will want to know what happened."
"Yes. She makes for much better company." Sebastian said, shooting a dirty look at the mage.
The mention of the Grand Cleric in addition to the look made Anders outright angry.
"How can you stand up for her?" He demanded to know
"Who?" Sebastian asked
"That doddering old biddy of a Grand Cleric." He replied, disgust evident in his voice
"How dare you!" Sebastian snapped, "Elthina is everything a grand cleric should be. She's holy, wise—"
"Spineless... hesitant. She's clay in Meredith's hands."
"In the face of danger, sometimes the bravest thing is to stand back and trust that the Maker will see justice done."
Anders laughed in his face, "well if doing nothing sums up your religion, then Elthina is perfect. Personally, I'd prefer a Chantry that favors action over sloth."
"Alright, time to go, chop chop." Hawke said, ushering the others out the door, "have a good one Anders, thanks for the help. Here," he tossed the man a few sovereigns, "buy something to eat, you're too skinny."
Anders held the sovereigns in his fist, and glared at the door as it shut. Sebastian was so ignorant, and blindly devotional and it made him sick with anger. He couldn't understand how anybody put up with it. With a snarl he tossed the sovereigns at the door and turned towards his desk, with the intention of turning his rage towards something useful. He had plans and he needed to work out the kinks.
...
Back at the Chantry Hawke told Grand Cleric Elthina what had happened.
"Sister Nightingale says you must leave Kirkwall."
Elthina seemed shocked, "what?"
"You were right. The Divine will be taking action against Kirkwall, though the sister didn't say what. You must take the holy relics from the Chantry and leave for safety." Sebastian pleaded.
"Sebastian! I am surprised at you. Andraste would not thank me for saving a few dusty finger bones and my own skin at the cost of people's lives."
"Wait a second." Hawke interrupted, "you keep dead people here?"
"The Kirkwall Chantry has guarded the remains of the martyr Deverina for eight hundred years. They must be protected." Sebastian told him.
"When I became Grand Cleric, I took a vow to the people of Kirkwall and the Free Marches. I will not leave my flock." Elthina said sternly.
"Would you let yourself die?" Sebastian asked sadly.
"'There is no greater devotion than to lay one's life at the Maker's feet. There is no better death than to take the blow for another.'" Elthina said.
"You don't hear that one quoted very often, do you?" Nero said.
Once again, Sebastian ignored him, "please, your grace. Sister Nightingale thinks there will be war."
"Then I must make peace. Settle yourself, Sebastian. I'm in no personal danger. I am Grand Cleric - who would dare attack me?"
"If you will not shield yourself, then I will be your shield. You will come through this safely, by the maker's name, I swear it." Sebastian declared.