Author's Note: I am so sorry for the delay in my writing. I am trying to finish the story but I am quite busy at college. These updates will be sporadic, but I am trying not to rush them.

Chapter 30:

He sat chewing a piece of bread as she came down. She seemed much more composed after her bath. It seemed like she had never been gone, or that she had slept forever. There wasn't anything about her that would cause grief to anyone, except him. He knew every movement, every stance she had and she was much too tense for his liking. He could tell she was in pain, but she was hiding it well. He thought the others would be fooled by it.

"Time to tackle Kirkwall." He swallowed the last bit of his food, thanked Bodhan and followed Hawke out as she grabbed her swords on her way out and easily put them by her side. It was odd to see her right arm fully wrapped in black bandages. She flexed it occasionally, showing Fenris that it still bothered her. He could smell the scent of the medicine under her rich scent of lavender. He wanted to tell her to go back to bed, but Hawke wouldn't listen to him.

She had walked in an eerie silence on the way to Aveline. He had never heard her so silent, she even talked in her sleep sometimes. He didn't dare broach a subject, as she seemed to be so engulfed in something. People were staring as she walked through Hightown, Fenris could see that they were debating about talking to her, some even walked closer but when they saw Fenris they backed off. He wondered if she was taking a mark out of Danarius' book. He had told her how people were often afraid of his markings, and Hawke had seen how Fenris had used that to his benefit… now she was using it. He knew she was calculating every step she took through Hightown today.

Aveline had been as surprised as Fenris had about Hawke being up and about today. She expressed much more concern than Fenris did, as Aveline seemed to have taken over the role of mother to Hawke. Hawke was all smiles as she put down Aveline's worries.

"Meredith said that when you surfaced she wanted to see you." Aveline had crossed her arms other her chest, not truly wanting to share this information with Hawke. What exactly had he missed that caused this animosity between Meredith and Hawke? Hawke had for the longest time allowed abuses to the mages to a large part, but she had always interfered when a mage's life was in danger. Was Meredith that much of a threat to mages? Fenris never felt that Hawke's lack of sympathy to the mage cause was because she didn't believe in it, but rather she wanted to distance herself from such a volatile situation. Hawke would run into a dragon's den, but she wouldn't stroke the flames of the mage versus templar debate. He remembered how rigid she would get when Anders would mention the plight of mages, how she bristled at the slightest mention that she wasn't doing enough…That was probably the true reason of the distant between her and Anders. Perhaps he had it all wrong though, he felt he knew her and he felt he didn't. Even after all this time she still held secrets.

Hawke narrowed her eyes at what Aveline said. "Now the Captain of the Guard is her messenger? That is quite presumptuous to make you her errand boy." Hawke shrugged it off though as she always seemed to do. "I will go from here then. I would prefer if you came with me but I understand you have other business."

Aveline tilted her head at Hawke for a moment before nodding. "I think it would be best… I might have to restrain you. Last time you went and saw her I thought the Templars were going to kill you."

"It is not my fault that my compliment sounded mildly like a threat.." Hawke held a firm smile on her face as she answered Aveline, almost as if she was gloating.

"You said… and I quote, 'I would love to rip your heart out, but I doubt it exists." Aveline was frowning at Hawke, but Hawke seemed to not care about her displeasure. She seemed slightly amused that Aveline remembered it so precisely. "Why in the name of the Maker would you say that to Meredith?"

"She said something about my mother. Let's go before I change my mind." Hawke turned and walked out right past Fenris. Fenris looked at Aveline who sighed and grabbed her sword and shield. Fenris followed slightly wary of the situation now. What had he gotten himself into?

"You know she is much less caring since her mother died. I don't truly blame her, but she wants vengeance for what occurred… She blames Kirkwall, and she blames herself. I don't think she is wrong, but I wish she would realize that her hatred won't save anyone."

Fenris shook his head. "No… I don't think it's that. I think she wants to protect everyone more now… She wants retribution to Meredith for what she's done… but that is a separate matter."

"Perhaps you are right. I would much rather see the old Hawke back. She is much too cold now."

Fenris didn't see that side except when she was out of her mansion. Perhaps he was the only one seeing past her barriers now that her mother was gone. He remembered visiting her mansion for reading lessons, and how Hawke had been so open and warm to her mother. How most of the time when he had come over she was sitting listen to a tale her mother was saying, or how she was just sitting there with her. He could only imagine how her whole family had been. She refused to talk about Carver even with him, so all he could picture was Bethany, Hawke and their mother. It was a happy picture though pieces were missing, one that blood magic had shattered.

"I don't blame her for how she acts… I would be bitter too." Hawke looked back at them, ending their conversation the rest of the way.

Hawke stopped abruptly though. Her eyes narrow as she looked at the large crowd forming in front of the Chantry. He thought he heard her curse under her breath as she pushed through the crowd that all but cleared a path when they saw it was her. Fenris and Aveline followed through the gap a slight distance behind her to see the spectacle before them. The First Enchanter was arguing with Meredith again. It seemed more like begging, however. He saw them stop to regard Hawke; Meredith in a hostile manner while Orsino seemed to welcome her sight.

"This does not involve you, Champion." Meredith was seething as she stared at Hawke who seemed less than interested.

"You wanted to see me today anyways, it just seems I wasn't at your convenience." Hawke was looking between them. "If you both continue in this manner people will start to talk."

"How dare you get that tone of voice with me, you wretched, social climber! I have done everything to protect the people of this city time and again."Meredith seemed to whirl away from Hawke back to Orsino. "What I have done is protect you mages from your curse and your stupidity. I will not lower the guard, I dare not."

"You can't keep pressing the mages like this." Hawke was getting in Meredith's face. She was becoming volatile as she pushed back at Meredith who was already past Hawke's tolerance. Aveline had been right to want to come.

Aveline moved forward, pulling Hawke away from Meredith for Hawke to curse at Aveline and push her off. She crossed her arms watching Meredith as she backed down and transformed to someone who seemed passive. Hawke had never said that Meredith didn't care, that she was just misguided, too paranoid.

"What other option do we have? Should we look the other way? Tell the poor victims of a possessed mage that we meant no harm? Tell me, Champion, that you have not seen with your own eyes what they can do, heard the lies of mages that seek power?" Meredith seemed on the verge of tears, or some breakdown as Hawke started to pace.

Fenris had to admit that he agreed with Meredith. How many times had he seen the horrors of blood magic traveling with Hawke? How many times had a mage turned on Hawke when she was trying to help them? How many times had Hawke herself been injured by mages, not enough grazing the subject of what mages had done to him. He stayed silent through as she formed her next words. Hawke seemed beyond agitated as she formed her next words, trying to draw time out until the grand cleric appeared.

"They are not all like that. You will condemn them all for the actions of a few." Hawke seemed to have composed herself as she faced Meredith again. He could see she didn't like not being in control of the situation, not knowing where it was going.

"You will cast us all as villains, but it is not so!" Orsino screamed up, wanting to not be lost in the banter between Meredith and Hawke.

"I know and it breaks my heart to do it, but we must be vigilant. If you have no other way than do not blame me a tyrant."

"I will not stand by and watch you treat all mages like criminals while those who will lead us bow to their Templar jailors…" Anders had appeared from the crowd. Hawke seemed like she had been struck by his voice.

"How dare y-" It was getting chaotic as Orsino moved towards Anders. Fenris didn't know what to do as he watched Hawke place herself between the two. Why was she protecting Anders?

"The Circle has failed us, Orsino.. Even you should be able to see us. The time has come to act. There can be no half measures."

"Anders… What have you done" He could see the shock on Hawke's face at his words. He could see the recognition on her face as she realized something none of them could have foresaw.

"There can be no turning back…"

The ground started to shake violently as the sky darkened. Fenris was looking between all of them, his eyes fixed on Hawke as she stared back at him in horror. She turned to make a run for the Chantry, to stop whatever was going to strike but Anders grabbed her, pulling her back as she thrashed against him.

It seemed the world was rushing past as the beam of red light struck through the Chantry, sending it to pieces. It seemed to collect in the sky before exploding and sending chunks and a wave of soot across Kirkwall that turned everything black or a moment. Hell had opened and sucked the Chantry into the abyss.

His eyes adjusted to see Hawke shove Anders back as he loosened his grip on her. She was stumbling away as she seemed to distance herself from the situation. Fire was raining down from the sky around them.

Orsino was the first to turn on Anders. They all seemed defeated, the great three of Kirkwall: Hawke, Meredith and Orisino. "Why… Why would you do such a thing? You've doomed us all." It was easy to almost forget how close all three were to the Grand Cleric. The tears seemed to be stuck in Orsino's voice, there was no rage… just defeat.

"There can be no peace. I removed the chance of compromise, because there is no compromise. It was either this, or die slowly. I would rather die fighting than die a slow death." Even Anders, the monster, seemed sorry for his actions.

"The Grand Cleric… the Chantry… All destroyed by magic."It seemed Meredith was on the verge of something akin to sorrow, but her heart seemed to strike to flame again as the rage took over. "As Knight-commander of Kirkwall, I hereby invoke the Right of Annulment. Every mage in the Circle is to be executed—immediately."

"The Circle didn't even do this! Champion, you can't let her! Help us stop this madness!" Orisino wasn't looking just to Hawke but to the whole crowd, pleading for peace.

"And I demand you stand with us! Even you must see this outrage cannot be tolerated." Meredith dripped hatred at the word you. Even Hawke, the one who stood for justice had to see that the mages weren't just in this.

She just stood with her back to them, staring at the hole that once was the Chantry. They were all bombarding her with their opinions on the situation. What Hawke should do, what was just of Hawke to do. She knew justice, and this wasn't justice. She had always questioned why that spirit was still around after Anders had her help him acquire those ingredients. She hadn't thought to ask him about it as it seemed rude. Anders would have told her in time. It all fell into pieces as she stood here, with bits of the Chantry falling through the sky like snowflakes.

All their words were deaf onto her ears as she covered her face with her hands, taking in a deep breath to collect herself. Merrill said "We have to side with the mages, how could we let them die?" Aveline said "We have to side with the Templars to stop the chaos." Varric said he was tired of the situation. Fenris kept oddly silent, the only one who understood her mind. She was completely out of her element here. She couldn't broker peace. The citizens would want blood. She just didn't want that blood to be innocent blood. She would bring down all of Kirkwall to protect Bethany, and it seemed that was what had to happen.

"It can't be stopped now. You have to choose." How dare Anders even say that. How dare he tell Hawke to choose when he put her in this situation. She turned her gaze in a slow, deliberate motion to look at Anders. He seemed to shrink at her gaze, seemed to become engulf in repetence and sorrow.

"Was this your plan all along? You made me distract her so you could kill her." She closed her eyes, not even wanting to look at Anders.

"I didn't want to make you an accomplice. Your sense of honor would have made you stop me, but this couldn't have been stopped." He was trying to move towards her but she kept her distance from him, one step away for every step he made towards her. Anders seemed to get the hint and folded into himself.

"You have done something horrible, Anders… but I won't see any more innocents killed because of your actions." Hawke's eyes shifted from Anders to Meredith. She had the gaze she did when she stood before the Arishok. Hawke wasn't going to back down now, she never backed down. "I won't see all of the mages killed because you deem it necessary to appease the masses."

"You have made a foolish decision, Champion." Meredith turned to walk away, giving the order that she would rally the troops, and for the few Templars with her to take care of Hawke. Orsino made rushed commands to the mages to get to the gallows as Hawke slowly took her blades off her back.