Having determined that the boy, Feynriel, was being held at a location outside of Kirkwall, a fuzzy-headed Hawke and his eclectic group of companions decided to investigate the missing templars en route, and made their way to Darktown.
Unfortunately, though, this did not turn out to be the short detour they'd hoped for: as they neared the location provided by Idunna, the blood mage that Fenris had killed at the Blooming Rose, they were attacked by several undead creatures and abominations, the appearance of which had caused a panic among the residents of the Undercity.
As the charming Varric helped settle the stricken folk of Darktown, an agitated Fenris paced back and forth as he and the others waited for the dwarf to return.
"Is this what it means to work alongside mages?" he muttered to no one in particular, although he had the mages' full attention. "When we scoured Danarius's mansion, we were beset by abominations and inhabitants of the Fade. And now, as we investigate a flimsy account of missing templars, once again these…these creatures seem to be drawn to us!"
He turned to face Anders, Hawke and Bethany. "Do you people attract them? Are they made flesh by your connection to their realm?"
"Of course they're attracted to us," Hawke said matter-of-factly, folding his arms. "We're mages. We, however, did not summon them. The creatures that appeared in Danarius's mansion were summoned by him or one of his lackeys. As for the creatures here…"
"More blood mages are here, then," Fenris said heavily.
"Danarius is a blood mage?" asked Bethany.
"Yes," Fenris growled, and then softened his voice, not wishing to be impolite to a lady, mage or not. "The most powerful magisters all practice blood magic; it is in their interests to do so, for those who do not acquire such power are usually short-lived."
"You must have seen some terrible things," Anders commented, and Bethany and Hawke shot an incredulous glance at each other.
Surprised at his statement, Fenris looked at Anders warily, and considered his answer. "I have witnessed horrors you cannot possibly imagine, nor would I ever wish you to; any of you." He shook his head and stared at the ground. "I have no doubt that many mages have good intentions, but blood magic is a cancer that consumes them from the inside out and leaves nothing but an empty shell, waiting to be inhabited by the demon they bargained with."
"Couldn't agree with you more," Anders stated. "If that woman at the Blooming Rose really was a blood mage, then you did us all a favour. I, erm…I may have overreacted a bit to that. I do that sometimes, so I've been told," he admitted with a quick glance at Hawke.
A small smile crept along Bethany's face, but Hawke shifted his weight and fiddled with his belt distractedly. Detecting his discomfort, she took a step forward, addressing Anders and Fenris. "It's nice to see the two of you finally agreeing on something."
"Well, make the most of it, Bethany," replied Anders, grinning. "It won't last long."
"Undoubtedly," Fenris agreed with a neutral expression.
"Here's Varric," said Hawke, glad of the opportunity to change the subject to anything other than blood magic.
"Panic's over, folks," announced the dwarf. "I told them all to stay back and that we'd take care of the skeletons and...things." He grinned up at Bethany. "Several of the men shook my hand, and one lady even gave me a kiss," he boasted, stroking his left cheek.
"Did she really?" asked Bethany, leaning down a little. "Well, here's a matching one for you." She placed a chaste peck on his right cheek and straightened up; Varric chuckled to himself and flushed slightly.
"Sister," Hawke teased in a stern tone. "Kindly conduct yourself in a manner befitting a lady."
"Oh, like the manner in which you and Anders conducted yourselves in Hightown?"
"She's got you there, fellas," Varric pointed out, and Hawke rolled his eyes before winking at his sister.
"Only we're not ladies," Anders quipped. "Although Angus may disagree on that in your case, wouldn't you say, Hawke?"
"I'm sure I don't know what you mean, Anders."
"Let us not tarry," Fenris cut in. "We must seek out these blood mages without further delay."
"After you, my good elf," invited Varric, and the other four followed the warrior down to the lower levels.
Hawke and Bethany dropped back a little. "Do you get the feeling that things are going a little too well?" Hawke asked his sister, frowning.
"How do you mean, Brother?"
"Well, Anders and Fenris actually agreed on something, you snogged Varric…"
"I did not snog him!"
"Huh. Makes me wonder: if you're prepared to do that in public, then what do you get up to when I'm not around?"
"Hightown," Bethany said pointedly.
Hawke cast a sour glance toward her. "You get one more use of that word tonight, and then we're even!"
"One more? I'll remember that, Brother," she laughed. "Although I reserve the right to use it infinite times in front of Uncle Gamlen."
"On that, dear sister, you have my blessing."
"Hawke!" Varric frantically called from up ahead, and Hawke's head snapped up in time to see Varric place himself between Anders, who stood in a doorway with his back to them, and Fenris, who had stopped dead and was reaching for his sword.
"What's going on?" asked Hawke as he ran to join them.
"It's Blondie!" Varric hissed, pointing to Anders, who remained facing away from them in the doorway, his hands braced against the walls. "He's doing that…glowing thing he did in the chantry!"
"His demon has shown itself," snarled Fenris, gripping his huge sword in readiness.
"Put that away!" Hawke commanded in a harsh whisper, pushing Fenris's sword down.
"And leave myself defenceless against a demon?"
"That is a Spirit of Justice," Hawke explained quietly, so Anders could not hear. "If you attack it, it will consider it just to defend itself, and believe me, Fenris, you're much better looking with your skin on the right way round!"
"He's right, Elf," Varric counselled. "Seriously, do as he says."
"He won't attack you without provocation," Hawke promised. "Please," he urged, gritting his teeth.
As Fenris and Hawke stared each other down, Varric cautiously walked over to Anders. Bethany stayed back.
"Fenris, I'm asking you to trust me," Hawke said in a grave tone.
"I hardly know you," replied Fenris. "Am I to take the word of…"
"Just do as I say," implored Hawke, grabbing Fenris's arms. The elf froze, his eyes bulging and his breathing quickening.
"I-I'm sorry," said Hawke, immediately releasing Fenris from his grip. "I didn't mean to…"
Fenris gulped and took a step back, his eyes still locked with Hawke's, the colour having drained from his face.
"Brother!" Bethany urged, pointing behind Hawke. He turned and started as he came face-to-face with Justice, who stood behind him.
"I will not harm you," Justice told Fenris in a booming voice. "Save your weapon for the minions of the Void that await us up ahead."
"Put it away," Hawke repeated, and this time, Fenris complied. Feeling humiliated at his show of vulnerability, however, his expression hardened and he cast a deadly glance at Justice.
"I am watching you, Spirit," he warned.
"Do what you will," replied Justice, apparently unconcerned. "Come," he ordered, walking back over to the doorway. "Foul creatures of the Fade are abroad. We must purge this realm of their loathsome influence."
"Sounds just dandy, Justice," Varric remarked, raising his eyebrows at the others, as they followed the spirit through the doorway and onto a landing with some steps leading down to yet another level of Darktown. Several makeshift beds and meagre belongings lay strewn about, having been hastily abandoned by the panicked residents.
"See there," commanded Justice, pointing downward as they stopped on the landing. His companions moved forward, keeping their distance from the spirit, and looked down.
"What in the Maker's name is that?" exclaimed Hawke, his mouth hanging open.
On the lower level below them, a young man hung suspended in mid-air, his body curled into the foetal position. A fine mist curled upward from the ground in a spiral, surrounding the young man; it moved very slowly and occasionally flickered with unnatural light.
"A vessel, awaiting inhabitation," explained Justice. "Perhaps we are not too late," he mused thoughtfully.
"Is he alive?" asked Bethany.
"He lives," Justice answered, and began to descend the steps, leaving the others to share uncertain glances. Fenris pushed ahead, positioning himself between Justice and the others as they followed the spirit down. Justice noticed this, and looked at Fenris approvingly. "With me, brave elf," he said, stalking ahead. "We are of a kind, you and I."
Fenris stopped dead. "We are nothing alike, Spirit!"
Justice slowed and turned his head to face the elf. "You are a warrior who seeks to protect the weak, are you not? You would protect your dear ones?"
"They are not my dear ones," Fenris said with a scowl, noticing from the corner of his eye that Hawke was trying to get his attention, "although I will protect them, yes, from all manner of creatures." His eyes lingered on Justice for a moment, and then moved to where Hawke stood.
"Maker's sake, Fenris, just agree with him!" Hawke communicated, sotto voce.
Fenris's scowl deepened, but he remained silent and caught up to Justice, who stood examining the trapped young man.
"Fletcher," Bethany whispered to her brother as they arrived next to Fenris, "do you think that man is a templar? With Justice here…"
"Shit!" Remembering his first encounter with Justice at the chantry, sudden panic gripped Hawke and he licked his lips. "Keep my sister safe," he ordered Varric.
"Brother! I'm not some…"
"Don't argue with me, Sister." Bethany knew from his tone and hard look that there would be no reasoning with him.
"Come on, Sunshine; better do as big bro' says," said Varric, who discreetly removed Bianca from his back and touched Bethany's arm, gently guiding her to a safe distance. She sighed and reluctantly acquiesced.
"What manner of magic is this?" Fenris asked Hawke as he joined him.
Hawke shook his head. "I've no idea, Fenris; I've never seen anything like this before."
"Have you not?" asked Justice. "That is surprising."
"Why…why would it surprise you?" Hawke stammered, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable indeed under Justice's piercing gaze.
Without answering, Justice turned back to the magical field that surrounded the young man and closed his eyes, outstretching an arm. Fenris looked at Hawke briefly, pondering the spirit's words, but his attention was soon diverted as the field dissipated, and Hawke ran forward as the young man fell to the ground with a thud.
"Are you all right?" He knelt down and shook the young man's shoulder, who groaned and rolled over onto his back, his eyes snapping open, and he clutched at Hawke's arms in a panic.
"Mother! The lights!" he babbled.
"Shhh…it's all right; you're safe, now," Hawke said in a soothing voice, his eyes roaming over the handsome young man's bare chest. He then blinked and took a deep breath, scolding himself for having such thoughts.
He offered the lad a hand up, and helped him to his feet. "Are you…Keran?" he asked.
"Keran…yes, that's my name," he mumbled, bewildered. "Oh, thank the Maker! I thought he had abandoned me!"
"Just calm down," said Hawke. "What happened to you?"
"I-I don't know what they did to me…there were demons…my head…" He clutched his head and swayed; Hawke grabbed his shoulders.
"Clearly, he has succumbed," surmised Fenris, once again readying his sword.
"No," Justice countered, striding forward toward the terrified-looking recruit; Keran backed away quickly, almost stumbling over in his haste. "He is not possessed."
"We are to take your word? How do we know you speak the truth?" Fenris demanded.
"I have stated as such; that is sufficient," Justice replied, dismissing Fenris' concerns. He then walked behind Keran and peered down a tunnel leading off the main chamber. "They approach. Elf, I require your immediate assistance." He then turned to Hawke. "You as well, Mage. It is safe for you, but the female must be protected from their influence."
Justice's grave tone prompted Fenris to unsheathe his sword but Hawke hesitated, feeling a surge of heat though his gut. He blinked several times and readied his staff, but his mind was elsewhere as four mages entered the chamber. Their leader, a woman wearing garish make-up, gasped upon spotting them and held her hand up for her companions to halt. Her eyes wandered over to the terrified Keran and she glowered at his liberators.
"Tarohne, I assume?" asked Hawke, her name having been supplied by Idunna.
"You dare disturb our vessel? He was almost ready!"
Justice stepped forward and Tarohne took a step back, uncertainty in her eyes. "The vessel was never yours to claim, Witch. How many more innocents have you beguiled?"
"Beguiled?" muttered Bethany under her breath. "Looking like that?" Varric chuckled and shook his head.
"Innocents? That," Tarohne said, pointing at Keran, "is a templar, one who would keep my fellows and I in bondage!"
Hawke quietly placed himself between the mages and Keran, watching for Justice's reaction.
"It matters not," Justice stated. "You have unjustly immured this man and kept him from his duties."
"His duties?" Tarohne screeched with a maniacal laugh. "His only duty from now on will be to sew chaos and discord among his peers; a demon among the Templar ranks will be catastrophic! Soon, the Order will crumble, and my kind will walk freely among the great and good of Thedas!"
Fenris stepped next to Justice and held his sword ready. "She is obviously insane. Let us slay her and be done with this."
"No!" commanded Justice. "It would not be just to slay her, as she has slain no one. Stay your hand, Elf."
"It wouldn't be just?" Fenris asked in astonishment. "Who cares for what is just? These are blood mages who have attempted to infiltrate demons into the Templar ranks! They must be stopped!"
"They will be stopped," promised Justice, turning back to Tarohne. "You will yield and surrender yourselves to the Templars, as is just and right, as you intended to bring harm upon their Order."
Hawke's mouth gaped in astonishment, and even Fenris, who approved of such an action, frowned, confused.
Tarohne threw her head back and cackled. "Good! The demons like spirit!" She and her minions readied their staves and advanced on Justice and Fenris, who gritted his teeth and readied his own weapon.
"Silence, Witch," Justice uttered, and Hawke and Bethany felt a temporary disturbance in the Fade as radiant pools of light surrounded Tarohne and her companions, slowing their movements until they finally stopped, frozen like statues.
"Templar," Justice barked at Keran, who had retreated to the far side of the chamber. "Clothe yourself and summon your masters. Apprise them of what has occurred here."
Keran stayed where he was and looked nervously at Hawke.
"It's all right, Keran. Return to The Gallows and report to the knight-captain," Hawke said gently.
"He knows of me," Varric said, approaching them with Bethany at his side. "I helped him out with Wilmod. Tell him Varric's friends have found the culprits."
"I-I…" Keran looked around for his clothes, finding them in a crumpled heap in a corner. He quickly began to dress. Once fully clothed, he tentatively walked nearer to Hawke, his eyes fixed on Justice. "What-what are you?" he asked, his eyes wide.
"He saved your life, Keran," Hawke told him, "and quite probably your job. I don't think you need to mention him in your report, do you?"
"No…I won't, I promise," said Keran. "Th-thank you."
"Are you going to be all right?" Hawke asked.
"Yes; I'll go right away. Will-will your spell last until we return?" he asked Justice.
"It will last until it is broken by one of your brethren," Justice answered. "Have a care when doing so."
Keran nodded rapidly, and quickly made his way toward the steps leading up. "Goodbye, and thank you again."
"Take care, Keran," Hawke said, watching the recruit as he departed.
"All right, pervert; you can stop ogling the templar, now."
Hawke gasped and spun around. "Anders? Is that you? You're back?"
Anders frowned a little and nodded.
"Are you all right? Do you remember anything?"
Anders glanced over at the frozen blood mages. "Yes, I think so…it's coming back to me, now."
"Anders, I'm confused. I thought Justice hated the Templars? After what happened in the chantry…"
"No, Hawke, you're wrong. Justice hates injustice; what happened at the chantry was unjust, and what happened here was unjust."
"But what he did to those templars…"
"They tried to kill us, Hawke. I heard you warning Fenris not to attack him, so I think you know that already. The blood mages didn't attack us, or rather they didn't get a chance to; it would have been unjust to attack them without cause."
"You heard me speaking to Fenris?"
Anders sighed. "Yes…I was aware of everything that was going on, I just couldn't…interact."
"You have no control over the spirit?" asked Fenris, his eyes narrowing.
"Well, no…he obviously deemed it necessary to appear; he must have sensed the blood mages."
"He can sense blood mages?" exclaimed Hawke, beads of sweat forming on his brow.
"Of course," explained Anders. "Each blood mage has a connection to a demon in the Fade; as a spirit, Justice resides partially in the Fade, and is aware of their presence." He stepped closer to Hawke. "Look, I've told you: he's a good spirit, and not a demon. I know he's capable of causing huge destruction, but that's because his powers are amplified through me. You may consider what happened at the chantry excessive, but it was just; you said so yourself, Hawke."
Hawke nodded distractedly, his eyes darting to Bethany; she held his gaze for a second, before averting her eyes.
"He likes you, Fenris," Anders said to the elf.
"He…likes me?"
"He thinks you're brave, and have strength of conviction." Fenris's nostrils flared in disgust, but he held his tongue.
"Should be interesting, having a third party in on their arguments," quipped Varric. "Well, it's getting late. Can this Feynriel kid wait until tomorrow?"
"No," said Fenris and Anders in unison.
"I was afraid of that," the dwarf grumbled, his shoulders slumping.
"Why don't you and Bethany call it a night?" Hawke suggested as his sister yawned. "If you walk her home, I'll give you the rest of the night off," he said with a wry smile.
"Such a good boss to have!" laughed Varric. "You have a deal. Sunshine, may I escort you home?"
Bethany yawned again. "Yes please, Varric. Will you three be all right without us?"
"Hey, with Justice around, I doubt Blondie needs any of us. Come on," he said to Bethany, hooking his arm.
"Bethany, I'd like to speak to you for a moment," said Hawke quietly.
Varric nodded. "Any other takers?" he asked Fenris and Anders, offering his arm.
"No thank you," Fenris answered flatly, and Anders shook his head and laughed. The three of them walked ahead, giving Hawke and Bethany some privacy.
"What's wrong, Brother?"
Hawke watched the others and made sure they were out of earshot. "Justice knows."
"What? You mean…?"
Hawke nodded, his expression grim.
"Are you sure, Fletcher? How do you know?"
"Anders said Justice could sense blood mages, and Justice dropped a few hints of his own. It's bloody lucky that Fenris didn't pick up on them."
Bethany looked puzzled. "But…Anders doesn't seem to know, does he?"
"No, and that's what I don't understand. It's obvious that Justice can share his thoughts with Anders, or rather Anders can read them in some way; Anders knew that Justice admired Fenris, for example. So why hasn't he told Anders about me? Why would he keep that to himself?"
"Perhaps he feels it's not his place? That it would be unjust to reveal your secret? Perhaps he knows that you haven't used it for years; maybe he admires that?"
Hawke shook his head. "I don't know, Sister; I don't think I like the idea of Justice knowing and not Anders. I don't want Justice letting it slip at some inopportune moment."
"What are you going to do, then?"
"I'm going to have to tell him," Hawke said in a heavy tone.
The two of them continued on in silence for a few minutes.
"Shit," grumbled Hawke after a while. "I told you things were going too well, didn't I? There were even glimpses of Anders and Fenris getting on a bit; now, I might lose Anders as friend." He shook his head.
"Take heart, dear brother," said Bethany, slipping her arm around his. "I believe Anders to be a good man. He may be shocked at first, but if he's a true friend, he'll understand. You just have to explain that although you are a blood mage, you turned your back on it several years ago."
"Oh, Bethany, don't you see? The very thing that caused Anders and Fenris to agree in the first place was that Fenris killed a blood mage. He's not going to take it well."
Bethany squeezed her brother's arm, and, having no answer for him, the two of them walked on in silence.