Author Notes: I've been having a hard time writing the next chapter because I want to get it just right. Hopefully I have it out soon.

Chapter 26: Lay Me Down

Fenris had watched her disappear to remerge behind Danarius. He saw her glow before she dug her hand into his chest intimately. He couldn't tell if the others saw or not, they seemed a bit preoccupied but when the fireballs stopped sailing through the air they saw the culprit standing over Danarius' dead body. He felt something bitter in him as he saw her deal the death blow, like it should have been him standing there instead of her but she just stood there as still as stone as she stared at the body before turning to walk away. The other had started to rush towards her, calling her name but she seemed to not hear them. Something was off about this, the way she was walking… She had to be in a horrible amount of pain, he had tried to shut off those exact memories, but her blood… and how she killed Danarius, it was like he was staring at himself all those years ago.

He ran up to her, he was faster than the others and made better time. He saw her stumble before she was about to fall and he caught her to lay her down gently in his lap. He was cradling her body as she lay there unconscious while the others came up around them.

"She doesn't look good at all… Anders can you do something about this?" Varric was shaking his head, he had never seen the dwarf squeamish but Hawke was covered in a large amount of blood even if it wasn't all hers. This wasn't even counting how haggard she looked, and the bruise that covered half her face.

"No. Her wounds aren't bleeding… though that blood is fresh.. I think she just needs to rest honestly." Anders had crouched down and was examining her, the blood covering where he had torn the gauntlet hid the markings Fenris knew were there.

"I've never seen her this bad before…" Merrill seemed on the verge of crying as she looked down at Hawke, but Fenris didn't feel like crying as he looked at Hawke. He felt rage and shame and sorrow at this broken woman in his arms. It was all his fault she got into this mess in the first place.

"I'll just take her back to her place… Orana can clean her off…Bodhan is there to stay with her…" The whole plan seemed like a brilliant idea.. the others that swam in his head were to just take her to the Hanged Man and nurse her there or even take her to Anders hovel until she was better.

"You can't go alone, Fenris… We'll walk you back. " Aveline the guard, no one left behind. He sighed, as Aveline was right. He couldn't go alone carrying Hawke through the streets, it was such a red flag. She looked like a corpse after all in his arms. Maybe the Templars would make quick work of him though.

"Plus, I doubt she would want to wake up with just you there… and I have to admit my place is closer than hers… The place is made for the sick after all." Anders had some smart-ass tone to his voice, like he was the champion in all this. That he was right in whatever he had said to Hawke, or maybe he was just proving to Fenris that he was the better option all along.

If looks could kill, Anders would be dead. He would have maimed him if not for the fact that Hawke was in his arms. "I'm not going to take her to your sick bay."

"You can't leave her here." Fenris looked towards the voice to see his sister, the one who sold him out and hurt Hawke in the process.

"You dare to speak? I should kill you for what you've done."

"Surviving? You should kill me for surviving? Danarius promised to make me a Magister… What did you give me? You gave me freedom that was a boon." She shook her head. "I don't care what you do, Leto… but you have to take care of her." She was staring at Hawke with the same expression he had earlier, she was saddened by this broken woman. "You wanted those markings, you fought for them to get mama and I our freedom.. She? What did she do but walk into a trap set for you."

"Stop calling me that, Leto isn't my name…"He growled at his sister and everything she reminded him of. "So selling your family out is fine, but a stranger that upsets you? Don't spew your fake sympathies."

"It isn't now. You are much different now.. and when I look at you I think you got the better deal." All Variana did was shake her head to pull out a note from her pocket, and hand it to Anders. "This is a recipe for a salve that needs to go on her wounds… and I suggest ice on top of it. I watched what he did, and she stayed awake the whole time. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. You asked for it, and I could deal with that… it was your choice… but she? She was trapped like me.."She turned away from him, disappearing like all the memories he had recollected. "Goodbye, Leto. I am glad life has given you such fortunes as this woman."She turned and disappeared onto the ship that was boarded for Tevinter. Maybe she would take over Danarius' spot.. He didn't care. He wished she was dead, but then he didn't. It was his anger talking.

He lifted Hawke, cradling her in his arms like she was a invaluable treasure as he watched his sister leave. "We need to go now… I don't like touching her when I know it hurts her."

"What do you mean?" Varric piped up as Fenris started to walk Hawke back to her mansion. They were following him though he didn't want them to. He wanted to put Hawke to bed and sit there while she rested. He wanted to stay there alone with her and apologize for everything when she came to, but they would intrude on this. He knew why, they loved her. It wasn't the same way he loved her but it was enough love to wish to be by her side while she recovered.

"You heard, Variana. Hawke got what I wanted." He glowed a soft blue as he thought over that. Perhaps this was worse than Danarius killing her, maybe this was some punishment he had set for beyond the grave. He had to look at the pain he caused her, he had to watch as she went through everything he had. He wanted to run but he couldn't, he was tired of running anyways. He had always asked Hawke what one did when they stopped running, and she had just smiled at him and made a joke about him being tired. He sighed as he walked her home, letting everything sink in as they peppered him with questions, not truly understanding that Hawke and he had a connection greater than just feelings that seemed to be such an unknown quality.