"Hey!" Varric whispered to Hawke as they walked down a small slope toward the lone templar. "I thought I recognised him! That's the poor bastard whose daughter turned into a demon, or abomination, or whatever it was. The one I took the letter to?"
Hawke raised his eyebrows. "Really?"
"Yeah. He seemed a pretty good guy. What was his name? Thrush? Frisk? Gah, I'm terrible at remembering names!"
"He's spotted us," said Hawke as the templar turned towards the group and waited patiently for them to arrive alongside him.
"Ser Dwarf," he said to Varric with a small bow, which the rogue returned. "I am Ser Thrask," he said to Hawke, and Varric rolled his eyes in recognition. "I thank you for heeding my call; I was not certain you would come."
"What seems to be the problem, Ser Thrask?" Hawke asked.
At that moment, Anders walked down the slope and joined the group, and Hawke, immediately noticing his rigid posture and frozen expression, placed himself directly in front of Anders, suspecting that his friend was struggling to contain Justice.
"There has been an incident at the Circle in Starkhaven," explained Thrask, "during which several mages escaped. A group of them has been tracked to this locality." He lowered his voice. "I am the only one who knows of their exact whereabouts…"
"Oh, so you want us to go in there and capture them for you?" asked Merrill impertinently. "Well, you can forget it; isn't that right, Anders? Hawke?"
"I heard about that incident," replied Hawke. "The Starkhaven Circle was burned, wasn't it?" Ser Thrask nodded. "Let's just hear what he has to say, first." Anders gave no answer, and stared, unblinking, at the entrance to the cave.
Thrask cleared his throat. "A colleague of mine, Ser Karras, is bent on their destruction. I do not wish for this to turn into a massacre, and would have these mages surrender peacefully. I ask that you speak with them, Messere Hawke; were I to enter the caverns, they would surely slay me on sight. I am certain that you will be able to reason with them."
Hawke glanced around. "Is this Ser Karras anywhere around here?"
"He is in the vicinity, leading a search party," answered Thrask. "Should he arrive here before the mages have surrendered, he will not hesitate to execute each and every one of them."
"Is there any chance the mages have fled?" Hawke asked.
Thrask shook his head. "They are trapped within and have no chance of escape. Their only chance is for you to convince them to lay down their arms and surrender."
"Let us waste no time," Anders adjured solemnly, striding forward toward the cave.
"Yes…all right," agreed Hawke, quickly following him. "We'll do our best, Ser Thrask."
"That is all I can hope for," replied Thrask. "Thank you, and may the Maker watch over your path."
As they filed into the cave, Anders's head fell back, and an eldritch blue light filled the narrow chamber. Aveline and Isabela stepped back, Aveline unsheathing her sword.
"It's all right," Hawke told them, holding his hands up. "Put your sword away," he mouthed to Aveline. To his great relief, she nodded and complied. "They're blood mages then, Justice?" asked Hawke.
"Not all," answered the spirit. "Some innocents yet remain." He turned to face everyone and pointed at Fenris, Merrill and Hawke. "Warrior Elf, Female Elf, Mage: the weak and the innocent must be protected. Come with me."
"Hey! Who are you calling 'weak'?" demanded Isabela with one hand on her hip.
"Not now, Isabela!" Hawke hissed. "Just do as he says. Please."
Isabela shook her head and sighed.
Fenris followed just behind Justice as they walked on. "Do not presume that I am following your orders, Spirit; I would walk ahead without your direction."
"I am aware of that, dauntless one," replied Justice, "which is why you are in the vanguard."
As Merrill and Hawke followed, Hawke whispered to her, "whatever you do, don't use blood magic, Merrill, no matter how dire the need."
"Why?" she asked loudly, and Hawke shushed her. "Doesn't he like it, or something?" she whispered.
"No, he doesn't; he'll probably kill you if you do use it."
"Oh," Merrill said flatly. "He really doesn't like it, then. Oh, well! I seem to be in his good books at the moment; think I'd like to stay that way," she finished with a cute grin.
Hawke nodded, and then a frown settled over his features. Why had Merrill been given special favour by Justice? After all, she was a practising blood mage, one who would have a strong connection with her demon. Why had Justice not manifested himself during their first meeting with her? What was the difference between Merrill and the blood mages within the cave?
He had no time to consider this as the group were suddenly accosted by a frankly pathetic gaggle of skeletons, which rose from the ground and shambled towards Hawke and his companions, their insubstantial frames weighed down by the weapons they carried. They were quickly vanquished.
"They're raising the dead!" exclaimed Bethany.
"Well, if that's the best they can do, they should pose no threat to us," Aveline replied confidently.
"That was merely a warning, Human," said Justice, turning to face her. "You fight with the strength and heart of a lion; come, fight at my side."
Flattered, Aveline joined the head of the group along with Fenris, Hawke and Merrill. Hawke turned around and poked his tongue out at Varric, Bethany and Isabela. "How are you doing back there, weak ones?"
"Hey, we're just chilling, and letting you guys take all the heat," answered Varric with a chuckle. "Call us weak all you want; doesn't bother us none, does it, Sunshine?"
"Not at all, Brother; you go ahead and be brave. We'll just watch you from back here."
Hawke wrinkled his nose and turned away from them.
"Well I don't want to hang around on the sidelines," pouted Isabela. "When do we get to see some real action?"
"Well, as Justice has appeared, I guess you'll get your wish shortly," Varric answered her. "Although, saying that, Justice has appeared, so we might not get much of a look in. He's pretty impressive."
"He is, isn't he?" agreed the pirate.
"Oh, you must be joking," groaned Bethany, and Isabela burst out laughing.
As they ventured further into the cave, Justice came to an abrupt halt and motioned for the others to stop. A few seconds later, a young man wearing a cowled robe ran towards them, stopping in his tracks upon spotting them.
"Did the Templars send you?" he asked nervously.
Hawke, noticing that Justice paid no attention to him, guessed he wasn't a blood mage. "We are here on behalf of the Templars, yes, but we're not going to hurt you."
He nodded quickly. "Decimus has gone mad," he began, pointing behind himself.
"Who?"
"One of the mages that escaped with us. I suspected that he already knew blood magic, but he's started raising the dead, and said he'll kill anyone who enters the main chamber! I want no part of this!"
"Go to the entrance of the cave," Hawke directed him as Justice charged ahead along with Fenris and Aveline. "Ser Thrask awaits you there; you'll be safe with him."
"Hawke," suggested Varric, "why don't we go with him, just in case these templar reinforcements show up outside?"
"That's a good idea, Varric; yes, take Bethany and Isabela with you."
"What? We've got to go all the way back?" moaned Isabela.
"You'll get to see some men in shiny armour with big swords," Hawke reasoned.
Isabela frowned and watched as Fenris disappeared around a corner. "But what about my elf?"
"Just get going," Hawke snapped, a sudden frostiness imbuing his words. "We haven't got all bloody day." He turned and walked away.
"Come on, ladies," said Varric, and Bethany's eyes lingered on her brother for a moment before the two groups went their separate ways.
By the time Hawke had caught up to the others, they had already entered the main chamber and Justice was conversing with a group of approximately a dozen mages who were spread out throughout the chamber.
"Lay down your weapons and surrender immediately," he commanded. "If you comply, you will not be harmed."
"They're working for the Templars!" a voice called from atop a wooden platform.
"No, Decimus! There are mages with them!" argued a dark-haired female who stood next to Justice.
"I care not what shield they carry!" answered Decimus, and all turned to face him as he surrounded himself in a sphere of protective magic. "Destroy them all!" he ordered as an orb of crackling black energy left his hands and slammed into both Fenris and Hawke, sending them sprawling onto their backs.
Decimus's cohorts immediately dropped back and began casting upon themselves, while Merrill attempted to dispel their magic, and Aveline ran up the steps leading to the wooden platform upon which Decimus stood.
"Aveline!" Hawke groaned, trying to push himself up. "Don't!" He looked over at Fenris, who was struggling to his feet, fury etched on his face.
"Begone, hag!" Decimus called out, sweeping his arms out toward Aveline, who flew through the air, crashed through the wooden guard along the wooden platform, and fell more than twenty feet to the ground, where she lay in a crumpled heap. At the same moment, the chamber was lit up as several of Decimus's cronies began attacking Fenris, Merrill and Justice.
"Aveline!" Hawke stumbled onto all fours and groggily crawled over to the stricken warrior.
Justice raised his arms into the air and Merrill and Fenris felt their skin tighten and harden, their enemies' attacks fizzling into nothing before they reached them. Fenris took immediate advantage of this and charged toward a group of five mages who were clustered together. In a flash of steel, two of them fell; their comrades scattered, screaming, as Fenris gave chase, a guttural growl issuing from him as his markings blazed into life.
"I gave you all fair warning!" bellowed Justice, smiting the ground with Anders's staff. "Now, behold as justice is done!"
He raised a hand toward Decimus, and, with a flick of his wrist, the blood mage was propelled at high speed toward the far wall of the chamber, meeting it head first. A collective gasp sounded around the chamber, and the dark-haired female mage ran over to her lover's destroyed body as it fell to the ground. Justice then advanced on Decimus's underlings, who, having been rounded up by Fenris and Merrill, cowered together in a corner.
"Lay down your weapons!" Hawke yelled as he tended to Aveline. "He won't attack you if you're unarmed!"
The trapped mages quickly cast their staves to the ground, but still Justice advanced. "Discarding your weapons will not absolve you of your crimes!"
"Justice!" called out Hawke. "I need Anders back! This woman may die without his help! Please!"
Justice turned and could see that Hawke was struggling to revive Aveline. "These criminals must be punished! They must face justice!" the spirit insisted.
"They will, Justice! Please, just let me have Anders back."
"Spirit," added Fenris as he waved his sword at the terrified mages. "Bring the mage back; I will see to it that they do not go unpunished. You have my word."
"Very well," said Justice to both Fenris and Hawke. "I would not see the female expire needlessly. I will accept your word. See that you do not break it."
Anders felt control of his body being returned to him, and he glimpsed Hawke frantically beckoning him over as his senses slowly became his own again.
"Hawke…how bad is she?" he mumbled, trudging over to where Hawke knelt next to Aveline.
"She's broken her pelvis, her shoulder, and has been knocked out cold," Hawke told him. "I'm working on her head injury, first."
"Good," replied Anders, blinking hard to clear his vision. He dropped to his knees and removed a lyrium potion from his pack, downing it in one. "I'll start on her pelvis."
As they worked on Aveline, Fenris turned back to the captured mages and sneered at them. "The Templars are coming for you," he told them smugly.
"No," protested Merrill.
"No, what?" barked Fenris. "Your opinion is of no consequence here, Maleficar!"
"Don't you see?" she argued. "They were frightened of him! That young mage we met out in the tunnels was running away from him!"
"That is no excuse! They attacked us without provocation!"
"Will you two be quiet?" snapped Anders. "We're trying to concentrate, here!"
Merrill stared balefully at the elf, who glowered back at her in return, his lip curling into a sneer.
"Anders and Hawke won't allow the Templars to take them, you know," Merrill said quietly.
"What?"
"You heard me. You're outvoted, here; I know they'll do the right thing by their fellow mages."
"The right thing? And just how would someone who cavorts with demons know what 'the right thing' is?" snarled Fenris.
Hawke looked up angrily from his work. "Shut the fuck up, before I paralyse you both!"
The elves turned away from each other, and Fenris took a few steps closer to the two healers, watching as they worked on Aveline, all the while keeping one eye on the weeping mage who knelt down next to Decimus, as well as the group who stood in the corner.
"That should do it, Hawke," Anders said after a while. "Let's bring her round."
Hawke nodded, and they combined their energies to rouse the warrior. Aveline gasped and went to sit up, only to be gently but firmly held down by two pairs of hands.
"Don't move," Hawke instructed her. "You sustained some serious injuries. We're going to take it nice and slowly, all right?"
Aveline nodded weakly, and looked up at the platform from where she'd fallen. "Bloody hell," she murmured. "I'm lucky to be alive. Is everyone else all right?"
"Everyone except that Decimus and a couple of blood mages, yes," answered Anders. "Come on; let's sit you up. Slowly."
Hawke and Anders assisted Aveline to sit, and she covered her eyes with one of her hands, feeling light-headed. "It'll pass," Hawke told her. "I'm afraid you're not going anywhere, tonight; there's no way you can travel back to Kirkwall in this condition."
"No, I must!" she protested. "Those thugs are going to attack Donnic, and that bastard Jeven will get away with it!"
"We'll sort something out," promised Hawke. "Don't worry, a few of us will go back to Kirkwall and we'll take care of it. You must rest for now, Aveline; that's not negotiable."
Aveline's body sagged in relief. "Thank you, Hawke. I knew you wouldn't let me down."
The two healers stood and aided Aveline to stand, leading her over to a small ledge upon which she could sit. Anders stayed with her while Hawke walked over to the group of mages. "Get going," he ordered them, pointing to the exit of the chamber. "The Templars are waiting outside for you."
Just as Merrill began to protest, the female mage that had stayed with Decimus walked over to Hawke. "Please," she entreated, wiping tears from her eyes, "we didn't know he was a blood mage; we tried to stop him, I swear to you."
"Stop him?" spat Hawke. "Oh yes, I remember that! They tried to stop him by attacking us as Aveline lay dying on the ground! Give us some credit, will you?"
"We were scared of him!" one of the captured mages called out. "We're sorry about your friend; we just want to leave here, peacefully."
"You cannot leave," countered Fenris in a commanding voice. "There is no other way out of here, and, even if there were, I would not allow it."
Anders left Aveline's side and strode over to the group. "And who put you in charge?" he snapped at the elf.
"Anders," said Hawke, "we both promised Justice that they would not get away. Besides, they should be punished; they're dangerous…"
"Dangerous? Why, Hawke? Because they freed themselves from their jailors and want to make new lives for themselves?"
"No, Anders! They're dangerous because their leader almost killed Aveline and the rest of them attacked us after we gave them a chance to talk and surrender peacefully! That's why!"
"They were clearly under his thrall, Hawke!" Anders pointed to the group of cowering mages. "Look at them! Do they look dangerous, to you?"
"I don't care what they look like!" Hawke argued fiercely. "If it hadn't been for Justice, I have no doubt they would have killed the lot of us! They didn't even care that we were here to help them! The fact they're mages has nothing to do with it!"
"There must be another way besides turning them over to the Templars, Hawke," protested Anders, unable to find an argument against Hawke's words.
"You're right," answered Hawke. "Aveline, I hereby turn these mages over to the city Guard. Happy now, Anders?"
"But the Guard will hand them over to the Templars!" Anders blustered as a grim smile settled over Fenris's face.
"Too bloody right, we will!" Aveline called over.
"All right then," said Hawke. "Never let it be said that I'm not fair. Let's put it to the vote: Anders, Merrill, your opinion is quite clear. Fenris?"
"Templars."
"Aveline?"
"Templars, Hawke."
"You're outvoted, Anders," Hawke began.
"You call that fair?" he protested. "The numbers are odd!"
"Well, then, let's ask Justice," answered Hawke. "That'll make the numbers even, won't it?"
Anders stared at Hawke and shook his head.
"Wait," said the dark-haired female mage, stepping forward. "Perhaps there is another way."
Hawk folded his arms and cocked an eyebrow. "Well?"
"My name is Grace," she said nervously. "Your friend is correct; we only want to get away from here and start a new life. We were trapped in here with little food or water and we've been expecting the Templars for days. When we saw you, we panicked. I am so sorry for what Decimus did to your friend, and also for attacking you. Please don't make us go back; if you release us, you will never hear from us again, I swear to you."
"No!" Fenris insisted, his hand slicing through the air. "These mages must be confined. I gave my word to the spirit, and I will see it done, no matter what."
Hawke groaned and covered his face with his hands; a look of hope crossed Anders's face as he watched his friend carefully.
Sensing that Hawke was uncertain, Grace continued. "Look; there is a lone templar standing guard outside. All you have to do is eliminate him, and we can leave."
"What?" Hawke spun around to face her.
Anders nodded. "It makes sense, Hawke; he's only one against all of us. The Templars need never know. We can…"
"Have you taken leave of your senses?" asked Hawke in dismay. "You want us to kill the man who was trying to help these people?"
"He's only a templar, Hawke…"
Hawke's mouth fell open and he stared at Anders in disbelief. "The man outside is the one you felt so sorry for when his daughter died! Where's your compassion, now? What's wrong with you?"
"This is different, Hawke!"
"We are not killing him!" Hawke turned to Grace, pointing an accusing finger. "And you have just proved me right; there's nothing you lot wouldn't do. You are dangerous, and you're going to the Templars!"
"I'm surprised at you, Hawke," Anders said bitterly, his words loaded with meaning. "I thought you of all people would sympathise with them and what they've had to turn to in order to free themselves!"
As a furious look came into Hawke's eyes, Anders realised his mistake. "…Being a fellow mage, I mean. With you being a fellow mage."
"Fenris," said Hawke coldly, still glaring at Anders. "Round them up. We're taking them out."
"With pleasure," answered the elf. "Move!" he commanded them, and they began shuffling toward the exit.
"No," said Grace. "If we're going to the Templars, then so are you!" she said to Hawke and Anders.
"We're working for the Templars, genius," Hawke retorted.
"And do they know that your friend here is possessed?"
"Hey!" Anders blustered. "I've just been sticking up for you lot!"
"As you stated," she said to Hawke, "there's nothing we won't do for our freedom."
"Just you try it," threatened Hawke. "If you want another fight, we'll give you one, and, believe me, with Justice on our side, you'll end up like your boyfriend over there. Your choice."
The two mages stared at each other for a moment before Grace turned away and joined the other mages, angrily shaking her head and muttering under her breath.
"Merrill, stay with Aveline until we get back," ordered Hawke in a tone that would suffer no argument. "Fenris, go on ahead; we'll catch you up. I need to speak with Anders."
Fenris nodded, his eyes lingering on the two mages for a few seconds. He then began barking orders and threats at the captured mages as he led them out.
Hawke walked forward a short distance, with Anders following, until he was certain Aveline and Merrill couldn't hear.
"Hawke…" Anders began.
Hawke slowly turned to face Anders, his brown eyes almost black with fury. "What are you trying to do, Anders? Get me killed, or something?"
"Look, I'm sorry; I was just trying to convince you…I didn't actually say it, did I?"
"You almost did! You were that close!" hissed Hawke. "I trusted you with this, Anders! Do I have to live in fear now that it will just slip off your tongue at an inconvenient moment?"
"What are you afraid of, Hawke? Is it Fenris you don't want to know? He knows about Merrill, doesn't he? He hasn't killed her or turned her over to the Templars, has he?"
"The reason I don't want him to know is my business, Anders! The fact is I told you in confidence, and you almost…"
Anders nodded quickly. "Well, it all makes sense now. No wonder you've been spending so much time with him."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"You're not fooling anyone, Hawke," Anders snapped, walking away from him. "It's pretty obvious to me what's going on. Well, on your head be it."
"Is that what this is all about, Anders? Your concern for me earlier on? All this 'you know who your real friends are'? You're jealous, aren't you?"
"Jealous?" Anders turned and gaped at Hawke. "I'm trying to be a friend to you! Fenris hates mages: look at the way he herded them through the cave like cattle! They're nothing to him, and yet you've hardly left his side over the last few days!"
"We were doing jobs together! And, in case you'd forgotten, he was injured!" Hawke shook his head. "Wait…why am I explaining myself to you?"
"Yes, why, Hawke? Perhaps you feel you need to explain yourself?"
"You know something, Anders?" Hawke said in a quieter voice. "I've seen a different side to you today, and I'm not sure I like it."
"Well that makes two of us," sniped Anders, and he turned and walked off, leaving Hawke seething.
Hawke remained where he was for a few minutes, willing his stomach to stop churning, and for his hands to stop shaking. Having no success, he pressed ahead; with the way he felt about Anders at that moment, he wouldn't put it past him to waylay Fenris and free the mages. Remembering that Bethany was at the entrance to the cave, he picked up his pace.
Eventually reaching the mouth of the cave, Hawke found the corralled mages standing outside, where more templars had also arrived. Anders was nowhere to be seen.
Varric turned toward Hawke and winked hard at him. "Ah, First Enchanter; there you are!"
Keeping his expression neutral, Hawke stepped forward. "What's going on here?" he asked.
"I was just explaining to Ser Karras, here," said Varric, pointing to a templar with bushy sideburns, "about the work you're doing for the Circle in Starkhaven. Another job well done, First Enchanter Hawke!"
Ser Karras stepped forward and eyed Hawke suspiciously. "Aren't you a bit young to be First Enchanter?"
Hawke rolled his eyes. "Where have you been, man? In case you hadn't heard, the Circle in Starkhaven burned to the ground! There aren't that many of us left!" He glanced over at the group of mages, his eyes daring them to contradict him.
"And you say you're from Starkhaven?" asked Karras. "You sound Fereldan, to me."
Ignoring Karras, Hawke turned to Varric. "I really don't have the time to explain myself to rank-and-file templars. I'll speak with their knight-commander when we get back to Kirkwall."
"There's no need to bother the knight-commander with this," insisted Karras, holding his hands up in appeasement. "Well, we have the mages back, that's the main thing." His eyes narrowed slightly at Hawke, and then he turned to his men. "Come on, then; let's get this lot back to The Gallows."
The templars moved the mages into another small group and surrounded them. As they departed, Ser Thrask whispered to Hawke and Varric, "Thank you, my friends; I will ensure that you are well-compensated for your trouble." He then quickly joined the templar/mage party, and Hawke and the others waited until they'd disappeared from sight.
Once they'd gone, Hawke slumped against the cave wall.
"Hawke, I'm proud of you," said Varric. "You've now graduated from the Varric Tethras School of Bullshit!" Glancing at Bethany, he cleared his throat. "Sorry, Sunshine!" Bethany laughed, shaking her head.
"Where's Anders?" asked Hawke.
"He said he had to get back to the clinic," answered Bethany.
Hawke nodded and released a long breath. "We need to decide what we're going to do; Aveline is not fit to travel back today…" Hawke explained what had happened inside the cave. "…but some of us need to go back to Kirkwall to finish this job of hers." He fell silent for a few minutes, deep in thought; leaving certain combinations of people together would not be a good idea. "Does anyone have to be back in Kirkwall tonight?" he asked, and his companions either shook their heads or said no.
"Right. I'll take Fenris and Merrill with me. Bethany and Varric, you stay here, and I'll come back for you tomorrow. Is that all right with everyone?" They nodded.
"And what about me?" demanded Isabela.
Hawke sighed inwardly; he didn't think Bethany would welcome her presence, but neither did he particularly want her accompanying his group. He paused for second as he asked himself why, and then quickly brushed that thought aside. "Of course, Isabela; you'll come with us."
"Don't forget to let Mother know that I won't be home," said Bethany.
"I won't," Hawke promised. "The mages left some of their belongings behind," he told Varric and Bethany, reaching into his pack. "Everyone, give what food and water you have to them." Isabela, Fenris and Hawke handed their rations over to the couple. "We'd better get going before the sun starts to set," said Hawke.
"We'll be fine, Brother," Bethany said with a smile.
"Will you send Merrill out to us? We'll wait here for her," requested Hawke.
"Sure thing, Hawke," said Varric as he and Bethany walked in.
Hawke grabbed the dwarf's arm and stopped him. "I expect my sister to be in one piece when I return in the morning," he teased.
"You should be more concerned for your friend, here," muttered Varric, pointing at himself. "I'll be spending an entire night with two women, who'll probably spend the entire time saying stuff like, 'ooh, where did you get that adorable hairpin?' and such. I'm gonna have to chug a few beers and kill some bandits when I get back, just to restore my manliness to its natural levels."
"The sacrifices we have to make, eh, Varric?" joked Hawke. "See you in the morning."
Varric shook his head and laughed, and led Bethany into the cave.
Aware that Fenris had been watching him, Hawke turned to the elf. "Something the matter, Fenris?"
Fenris shook his head. "No. I am merely surprised that you allowed the mages to be taken by the templars. I did not expect you to do that."
"I didn't do it to impress you, Fenris," replied Hawke, turning his back on the elf. He walked a short distance away, feeling troubled. Not so long ago, he had promised himself that he would not turn on his own kind.
So why had he done it, then?