Ever since Hawke and Anders had cast their protective spell over the group, Fenris had felt a vague throbbing running along the edges of his markings. It wasn't painful, exactly, but it was irritating. As Hawke led the group around yet another bend of the seemingly-interminable mountain path, the throbbing became more intense, and gradually segued into sharp stinging. With a glance to his left and right, he observed with dismay that Bethany and Merrill seemed to have entered a trance-like state, and, from his stiff, halting movements up ahead, it appeared that Hawke had done likewise. Fenris did not look back to check on the abomination.
Then, swiftly and silently, Hawke halted and held a hand up, and Fenris immediately felt his discomfort diminish. The rest of the group came to a stop behind Hawke, who pointed up and to his left, placing the index finger of his opposite hand against his lips.
"Got him, Hawke," Merrill muttered quietly, temporarily having left her trance. She closed her eyes, said a few words quietly under her breath, and Fenris felt his markings scream in protest for a second, before the pain subsided, giving way to throbbing. A moment later, a muffled crash was heard from up in the hills as a man fell, snoring, onto a spiky shrub, his bow dashed on the rocks below.
"Nice work," Donnic complimented her. "How long will he be out?"
"Ooh, bloomin' ages," Merrill boasted. "He won't wake up 'til it's dark, and I daresay he'll feel a bit prickly when he does," she tittered, proud of her joke.
Hawke gave Merrill a thumbs-up and the mages glanced around before resuming their slow trek up the trail. Fenris's markings again pulsated as his magi companions partially entered the Fade, using their altered states to detect the anima of any living creatures in the vicinity.
After a short while, Hawke called a halt again, and could be heard whispering to himself, as could Bethany. This time, the pain came sharp and fast along Fenris's markings, and he hissed and gritted his teeth, causing a concerned Sebastian to place a steadying hand on the elf's shoulder.
Two more sentries fell, and Fenris, freed from his pain, released a burst of breath.
"I'm going to tell Hawke," Sebastian whispered to him. Although Anders was behind them, and Sebastian knew he was a healer, the archer had his own reasons for preferring to speak to Hawke.
"No," Fenris insisted, grabbing Sebastian's arm to stop him. "No…I will be fine. Please."
"You're sure?"
Fenris forced a strained smile and nodded. Sebastian, although not entirely convinced of Fenris's assertion, released his shoulder but kept an eye on him as the trail became steeper.
A further three hidden sentries were incapacitated along the way, and, before long, the entrance to the mountain pass became visible up ahead. Hawke called another halt and turned to face the group.
"I want you all to be very careful from now on. We haven't encountered any-"
"Captain!" Hunter yelled, catching Aveline in the nick of time as her legs gave way.
"Fuck!" Hawke and Donnic shouted together as Bethany, Varric and Sebastian also crumpled to the ground.
"A mage?" exclaimed Fenris, looking up toward the mountain pass. "Why did none of you detect them?"
"Move them back! Fast!" Hawke commanded. He and Hunter quickly moved Aveline to a safe spot, while Donnic, Merrill and Clara ran over to assist Bethany and Varric. Fenris grabbed Sebastian under his arms and dragged him over to where Hawke and Hunter crouched over the unconscious Aveline, before running to help the others.
"Anders! Where are you going?" Hawke demanded angrily as the red-headed mage strode up the path without offering to help anyone. "Anders!"
Once Varric and Bethany were brought over, Hawke, after first checking them for injuries, attempted without success to dispel the sleep spell that had been put on them. Merrill stood a little away from the group, and Fenris could sense that she had once again entered the Fade.
"Hawke, I can't detect any mages nearby," said the Dalish mage. "They must be out of range."
"Out of range?" scoffed Fenris. "Then how did their spell reach them?" he demanded, pointing to their stricken companions.
"They must have just been caught in the sphere of the spell," Hawke explained with a grave glance at the others. "This is the work of a blood mage. That's why I can't dispel it, and, I think, why Anders has pissed off up the hill. Or Justice, I should say."
Merrill slipped a small knife out of her belt and knelt down next to Hawke. "I can dispel it, Hawke," she offered.
"No!" dictated Fenris vehemently. "You will not practise your foul arts, here!"
"Oh, and I suppose you think we should just leave them here to be nibbled on by wolves, then, do you?" she bit back, heedless of Fenris's incensed glower.
"There must be alternatives," Fenris insisted. "I do not think Sebastian would appreciate being revived by a demon, do you?" he snarled.
"And I don't think he'd appreciate starving or freezing to death on a mountain, either! Do you?" Merrill retorted with surprising vigour.
"I would find that preferable," Fenris snapped. "Do not presume to know what decent people would decide to do. You and your kind are as far removed from that as is possible to be."
Hawke almost flinched at Fenris's words, but kept his expression steady as they continued to argue.
"Well, remind me never to save your life, then!" Merrill huffed.
"With blood magic? I would sooner perish in agony!"
"Noted," she sniffed disdainfully.
Hawke squeezed his eyes closed for a second, trying very hard not to think of the inevitable conversation he would have to have with Fenris, and released a sigh. "Let's see what Justice has to say, shall we? That is, if he comes back. Bloody hell! Does he not realise that Anders's body is vulnerable? He may be an immortal Fade spirit, but Anders is human, and we need him!" He shook his head and took a deep breath, glancing down at his sister. "They're fine for now; they're just sleeping, but we need them awake. We can't just leave them here, and we can't take on Hadriana and her cronies without them, either. Where the bloody hell is he?"
"Wait," Merrill said, and, once again, Fenris felt his markings ache. "He's on his way," she told Hawke, who groaned in relief.
A few minutes later, Justice came stomping down the path and stopped a short distance away. "I have disabled two of their number, but more lurk within. Let us make haste," the spirit urged.
"Justice, can you help our friends?" asked Hawke. "They've been disabled by blood magic, and I can't reverse it."
An alarmed Hunter and Clara hastily made way for Justice, and, although Donnic had never before seen the spirit manifest itself, Fenris had told him about it, and he wasn't about to move from his captain's side. Fenris also stayed where he was, watching Justice carefully.
Justice squatted over the slumbering foursome and shook his head. "A crude technique," he opined, and held one of Anders's hands above them. A sharp gasp was heard from Fenris as Varric, Bethany, Aveline and Sebastian stirred, and Hawke rushed to his side.
"Fenris…oh, Fenris…" He placed a hand on the elf's shoulder, who held up his own hand to indicate that he was fine. "I'm so sorry," Hawke said quietly. "I've been so preoccupied with finding the sentries, it didn't even occur to me…you're surrounded by mages, all of whom are casting magic and slipping in and out of the Fade."
"I'm fine," Fenris asserted, vexed that he'd shown weakness in front of the group.
"No…you're not. How are you going to get on when we confront the other mages? Justice said there are more inside the mountain. With all of us casting at the same time…"
"I will manage," Fenris answered sharply, and then closed his eyes for a second, before opening them and looking at Hawke. "I will manage," he repeated in a softer tone. "I have awaited this day for three-and-a-half years, and I will not quail, now."
"I know…I just hate the thought of you being in pain," Hawke said quietly.
The bridge of Fenris's nose twitched and a dark scowl befell his features. "Any pain I am experiencing now is but a trifle compared to what I, and others, have endured at the hands of that… termagant," he uttered malevolently. "And I will repay her ten times over before the day is done, I swear it."
Hawke nodded silently, keeping his dismay firmly in check while giving Fenris's shoulder a gentle squeeze, and then walked over to their four companions, who had started to sit up.
"Son of a bitch!" exclaimed Varric, clutching his head. "Sunshine? Are you okay?"
Bethany nodded blearily, and the foursome checked on each other before being helped to their feet by the others.
"You have rested sufficiently," Justice said to the group. "We must waste no more time."
"Justice," Hawke said firmly, walking over to the spirit in Anders's body. "We'll leave when they're ready, and not before. They've just been knocked out cold."
"They could be devising all manner of fiendish schemes while we tarry here!" Justice argued, pointing up at the mountain's summit.
"My friends are not immortal, and neither is Anders," argued Hawke. "Your help is invaluable, Justice, but we cannot just go charging in without a thought for our safety."
"You have no need to do so. I will protect all," Justice declared haughtily. "These evil-doers will submit and will be delivered into Templar custody. I will see to it."
"They are not simply going to surrender to us, Justice," Hawke argued, determined that Hadriana die at Fenris's hands.
"All will face justice," the spirit insisted. "You will not interfere with jurisprudence, Hawke. I will not sanction it."
Hawke sighed inwardly, foreseeing a major problem ahead, but he nodded. "Fine. Just consider this: Fenris was badly wronged by the leader of these evil-doers. Should he not be the one to impose justice upon her?"
"Justice will be done upon her. She will be incarcerated at the pleasure of the Templar Order," Justice asserted. "The elf does not hold her life in his hands."
"I disagree," Hawke stated emphatically. "She tortured and beat him, and caused him untold mental anguish and suffering. She deserves to die."
"That is not just!" argued the spirit.
"Maybe not, but is it just that someone like her is allowed to roam free to inflict torment upon others?"
"She will not be free!" Justice took a step closer to Hawke and glared at him menacingly. "Mark my words, Hawke: do not interfere in my righteous endeavour." Justice turned away and moved to the front of the group. "Make ready," he commanded. Several members of the group exchanged bemused glances.
"Justice," Hawke called over. "Aveline is in charge, and you'll take your orders from her. Otherwise, we have no need of you."
"No," Justice retorted. "You will all decease without me."
"We'll decease anyway, if everyone is confused over whom they're taking orders from! Now, fall into line, or wait here. As you said, Justice, there's no time to lose."
Only the rustling of the grass could be heard as the spirit and Hawke stared each other down. Justice slowly walked over to Hawke, and, for a moment, everybody in the group held their breath. Fenris quietly unsheathed his sword.
"You are valorous, Hawke," Justice told him. "That will serve you well. I will not, however, permit you, or any other, to commit an unjust act. Take heed." With that, Justice turned on his heel and stood beside Clara, who quickly widened the distance between them.
"Before we go any further, I should introduce you all to Justice," Hawke said for the benefit of those who had not yet encountered the spirit. "Justice is a spirit of the Fade who inhabits Anders's body. You have nothing to fear from him, provided you do not commit any act of injustice, as he has just so firmly reminded me. In fact, Clara, you're pretty much the safest of the lot of us with Justice at your side."
Clara looked up at Justice, who nodded curtly at her, while Hawke wondered how the hell Fenris was going to kill Hadriana if Justice disabled her before she could attack…and what would happen if he tried.
"Let's have a little change-around," Aveline announced. "Fenris, you'll drop to the rear with Hawke. Sebastian, Hunter and Varric, in front of them. Bethany, Merrill and Anders…I mean Justice, I want you behind me, Clara and Donnic. Let's go." She clapped her hands twice, and her companions moved into their new positions. "Fenris, a physical description of Hadriana, if you please."
A sour look came over the elf's face, and he practically spat his words out. "Tall. Thin. Long, dark brown hair. Huge blue eyes…like a bug. She paints her face and wears gaudy robes, but neither improves her appearance."
"Justice, did you hear that?" Aveline asked, and Justice, after a moment's pause, nodded once, slowly. "You are not to disable this woman. Instead, you will deal with any demons, blood magic or whatnot. That is your speciality, is it not?"
"You would have me allow her to attack us?" Justice demanded.
"As you are so fond of…justice, Justice, I think it's only fair that Fenris pays her back for some of the suffering she inflicted on him, before she is turned over to the Templars, don't you?"
Hawke bit his lip to suppress a shit-eating grin. Argue with that, then!
Justice turned around and looked at the elf, who met his gaze with a perfectly blank expression.
"I have only your word that she inflicted suffering upon you, Elf; however, you have kept your word in the past," replied Justice. "Very well. That sounds fair. You will not slay her, however, without just cause."
"I will not slay her without just cause," Fenris recited blandly.
Aveline and Hawke exchanged a brief but pregnant glance. "How many more of them are there, Varric?" she asked the dwarf.
"Seven, by my reckoning," he answered. "Our mages took out six sentries, and Justice, two of their mages. There were originally fifteen of 'em."
Aveline nodded grimly. "Now we outnumber them."
"Do not underestimate them," Fenris warned from the rear. "Or her. She is morally destitute, and her heart is black."
"We won't, Fenris," said Aveline. "Justice, how far inside are they?"
"They lie in wait a short distance within. It will not be long before we encounter them."
"Right, that's specific," mumbled Aveline. "Well," she said in a louder voice. "Let's get this done."
She led them through the entrance to the mountain pass, and Justice dropped back, placing wards at the cave mouth, before returning to the head of the group. The mages each summoned a tiny wisp to light their path, which, in combination with Justice's own lambency, surrounded the group in an eerie, pallid nimbus. No one spoke as they ventured further in, and only quiet breathing and the occasional drip of stagnant water could be heard, unnaturally loud against the yawning silence within the cave.
Reaching a junction, Justice indicated that the group take the left-hand fork, and Hawke heard a distinct intake of breath from Fenris as Hawke slipped in and out of the Fade.
"They're nearby," Hawke whispered to him, returning to the here-and-now. He caught the reflection of pale light in the elf's eyes as they turned to him, and Fenris sidled closer, his eyes moving forward. "Listen," Hawke counselled. "When we're in there, wait for an opening. We have to get you access to her without Justice interfering. I know you'll feel like disembowelling her as soon as you see her, but you must wait."
Fenris nodded, sighed and hung his head. "Whatever you see in there," the elf began, so softly that Hawke had to stoop to hear, "whatever you think of me…it must be done. You may never regard me in the same way again, but…I have to do it."
"I know." Hawke also moved closer to Fenris, his fingers brushing against the elf's hand. "Nothing is going to change the fact…nothing will change my opinion of you, Fenris. Do what you have to do. I won't judge you."
"Thank you," Fenris whispered, suddenly feeling bereft. For once, Hawke's words offered him no comfort, no hope: he knew, when this was done, that he may be dead or back in Danarius's clutches, or that Hawke would be dead; or, were they both to survive, that Hawke would see what he really was and would finally turn his back on him. Whatever happened, Fenris saw only blackness in his future, but, so long as she was dead, he would embrace that blackness with the same fervour he had embraced Hawke with not so long ago. For if Hawke died defending him, Fenris would deserve no less.
Allowing his hand to brush against Hawke's one last time, he swallowed down the lump in his throat and unsheathed his sword, hearing the others ahead do the same. Staves were readied, and arrows and bolts nocked.
Following Justice and Aveline, they rounded a corner and found themselves in a large, well-lit chamber. At one end stood five mages, flanked by two bodyguards. None of the seven seemed concerned at the group's arrival, and they waited patiently for Aveline and her companions to enter, making no hostile moves.
As soon as Hawke and Fenris entered, a female mage at the centre of the group who matched Fenris's description of Hadriana, raised her arms, one of which was bleeding from a fresh wound, and the entrance to the chamber crackled and fizzed with dark energy.
"Witch," barked Justice. "By using your corrupt and loathsome powers to bar our exit, you have only served to fashion your own gaol."
Hawke ventured a glance to his left, and noticed that Fenris fairly trembled with pent-up rage, his eyes drilling into the female magister. Hawke's eyes then flitted to where their enemies stood, narrowing as he spotted several sigils of red light on the ground in front of them.
"Fenris," he whispered. "Wait for an opening."
A throaty, mocking laugh echoed around the chamber. "You're a wordy one, aren't you?" Hadriana said to Justice, and looked to the end of the chamber. "Hello, Fenris!" she chirped, waving a hand, as though greeting an old friend.
Fenris's upper lip curled in a silent snarl, and Hawke laid a firm hand across his chest, pushing him back a little. "As much as we'd love to exchange pleasantries with a bug-eyed slagall day, we'd much rather see Fenris crush your throat," Hawke called over. Justice's head turned quickly in his direction, but he ignored the spirit's chastising glare.
Hadriana cocked her head and glanced at her fellow mages, who all laughed. "So, you're his latest beau, are you?" she mocked with a twisted smile. "Poor Danarius will be devastated. His bed is so cold and empty without you, Fenris."
Several quiet gasps were heard from Aveline's group, and Sebastian and Donnic exchanged a hard glance as cold realisation dawned on them. No longer able to contain his wrath, Fenris launched himself forward with a guttural cry, only to be grabbed by both Hawke and Justice.
"Cease your ingression, Elf!" Justice commanded as Hadriana's laughter reverberated around the chamber.
"Release me!" roared Fenris, his fury imbuing him with extraordinary strength.
"She's placed wards on the ground!" Hawke protested plaintively as he struggled to hold Fenris. "There's no telling what they'll do! We need time to dispel them!"
"Wards?" asked Bethany, frowning at the ground. "I can't see any wards."
"I can," Merrill uttered with a knowing glance at Hawke.
"Please, Fenris!" Hawke implored, grabbing him by the shoulders as Justice released the elf from his grip. "You will have your chance, I swear it," he whispered to the elf, who ceased struggling and stood, panting, in front of Hawke. Justice walked over where the wards had been placed, and carefully examined them.
"Don't rise to her," Hawke urged, his eyes wandering over to the spirit. He lowered his voice so that Justice could not hear. "That's what she wants. Please, Fenris, we need to outsmart her. Then, she's all yours, I swear it."
Fenris gave no answer, but stared at Hawke's chest, his own chest rising and falling rapidly. Hawke ran a hand up and down Fenris's arm, comforting himself as much as the elf. From the corner of his eye he could see that Merrill was still watching him, and silently prayed that he hadn't just given himself away.
"How touching," Hadriana mocked, pretending to wipe a tear from her eye. "Well, now that the standard insults are out of the way, let us parley."
"We will not parley with a demon's puppet," Justice answered resolutely. "Your words have as little substance as your attempts to outwit us."
"You are rather arrogant for one who is trapped in here," Hadriana replied, pointing behind herself. What had previously appeared to be part of the wall flickered and shimmered in front of their eyes, revealing a doorway. "I believe I have the upper hand."
While this conversation had been going on, Varric, Sebastian and Hunter had all exchanged discreet nods, and held their weapons ready. Communicating with their eyes and barely discernible hand gestures, the three archers, with lightning speed, let fly their arrows as one, vociferating in alarm and frustration as the projectiles burst into flames and disintegrated before they reached Hadriana and her accomplices.
Hadriana rolled her eyes and tapped her foot. "Please don't do that again," she said in a bored tone, her eyes darting over to Fenris. The elf gasped in pain and dropped to his knees, howling and clutching his head, his markings flickering violently. "Danarius would be rather cross if I brought his pet home damaged."
"Stop it!" Hawke cried out in panic, kneeling down next to Fenris.
"Don't touch me!" wailed Fenris, swatting Hawke's hands away, his markings reacting even more strongly than usual to Hawke's mana field. Hawke immediately withdrew his hands but remained at the elf's side as he was slowly released from Hadriana's crippling spell.
"You'll die for that, bitch!" Hawke bellowed at the magister. His eyes moved over to Justice, and he was surprised that this time the spirit didn't react to his threat; instead, Justice seemed preoccupied with the magical sigils.
"Now that we understand each other," Hadriana said smugly, "here is what you are going to do. You will release Fenris to me, and I will allow you all to live. Is that not a fair deal?"
"We will not listen to your lies, harridan!" Sebastian exclaimed angrily.
"If you think we'll release him to you, you're badly mistaken," seethed Donnic. "And, if you think we believe you'll just allow us to go merrily on our way, then you're as stupid as you are pig-ugly."
"Hey, Justice," Varric muttered to the spirit. "How's progress on those ward thingamajigs? Justice? Hey!"
To Varric's consternation, Justice gave no reply, and appeared to have entered a similar trance-like state as the one he'd seen in Bethany earlier. Deciding not to call attention to it, he glanced over at Hawke, who slowly rose to his feet along with Fenris while Sebastian and Donnic traded insults with Hadriana.
As Fenris rose to his full height, his markings pulsed and he sensed that one of the mages had again entered the Fade. He quickly glanced at Hawke, whose eyes were rolling in his head, and he grabbed the mage's arms to keep him steady.
"Anders?"
Hawke's eyes blinked open, and he found himself standing in a colourless place with no walls or ceiling that stretched infinitely in all directions. His friend stood before him.
"I don't have much time," Anders said quickly. "Justice knows how to dispel the wards; he needs a few seconds to do it, though. You need to create a distraction, something that will divert Hadriana's attention. All of her energies are being put into those defences of hers. Distract her, and they'll waver, leaving her vulnerable for a short time. Watch her, though, Hawke; she's not stupid."
"A distraction? Like what?" Hawke demanded.
The image of Anders melted away and the chamber slowly bled back into his reality. From a long way off, he could hear Fenris calling his name. Suddenly, the elf's voice was loud, strident, and blood rushed through Hawke's ears.
"Hawke? Hawke? Speak to me!" Fenris's hands were digging into Hawke's shoulders as he came to.
Hawke blinked and gaped as Fenris's anxious face came into focus. "Fenris…it's…okay. I'm fine."
Fenris exhaled and relaxed his grip slightly. Hawke turned to face Justice, who had also come to. Hawke nodded at the spirit, who nodded back, and Hawke's eyes darted around the chamber, looking for anything he could use as a distraction.
Finding nothing of use, he left Fenris's side for a moment and moved directly behind Varric. "We need a diversion," he whispered to the dwarf while Justice vainly entreated the blood mages to surrender. Varric nodded almost imperceptibly and sidled over to Sebastian. After a very brief discussion, Sebastian moved over to Hunter while Hawke returned to Fenris's side.
"Fenris, those three are going to distract Hadriana, which will give Justice time to remove the wards. You might have a few seconds, at best, to get to her. Justice has instructions not to touch Hadriana so we'll throw everything we can at her, which will hopefully stop her casting on you. There's going to be a lot of casting going on, Fenris; will you be all right?"
Fenris nodded, his eyes fixed ahead, feeling detached from his surroundings. Hawke sounded so confident, so assured of their victory, but Fenris could feel the spectre of death at his back. It didn't matter. So long as he took her with him. That was all he cared about.
"I'm with you, Fenris."
He nodded again, unable to look Hawke in the eye. If he did, he would be reminded of what else he cared about and he couldn't afford to do that. Not now. He was so close he could almost smell the coppery tang of her blood.
"Well, it seems we are at an impasse," Hadriana announced, bringing Hawke back to grim reality. To his side, he noticed brief nods pass between the three rogues and he steeled himself. "Perhaps I need to be a little more persuasive?" Hadriana questioned, producing a small blade and looking at Hawke's group.
"Hey, nice ass for an evil blood-witch, or whatever the hell you're supposed to be."
"What?" Hadriana spun round, finding a grinning facsimile of Varric standing behind her. "How did you…?" She fired a disabling spell at the image of the dwarf and exclaimed in frustration when it disappeared before her eyes.
"Magister Hadriana!" one of her lackeys cried in panic. She wheeled round to find that Sebastian and Hunter had crossed her wards and stood before her, taking direct aim at her bodyguards who froze, signalling their surrender.
"You bloody fools!" she screeched. "It's a trick!" she stepped forward and struck the double of Sebastian, which faded into nothing at her touch. Fenris felt his markings resonate as the blood-powered sigils waned and guttered courtesy of Justice. With a glance ahead, he noticed that the real Varric, Hunter and Sebastian were nowhere to be seen.
"I offered you all a fair deal, and you repay me with chicanery!" spluttered a clearly-unnerved Hadriana, and she plunged her knife into her arm, grimacing and panting as she twisted the blade. "Lillith, heed my call!"
Recognising the name, Fenris readied his sword, his eyes flashing angrily. "Yes, Hadriana: call upon your demon when your wits have deserted you! Have you no courage?" he taunted.
"Kill them!" ordered Hadriana, who backed away towards the door to her rear. Her underlings immediately inflicted wounds upon themselves, preparing to cast. With the wards now dispelled by Justice, Donnic wasted no time and tackled one of the armoured bodyguards to the ground, while Aveline and Clara engaged the other, Hawke imbuing all three of them with protective magic.
"Don't fight anyone!" Hawke ordered Fenris. "Watch for an opening!" The elf, while eager to help his companions, saw the wisdom of Hawke's words and waited, although he remained vigilant in the event that anyone needed his help.
Donnic and Aveline, with Bethany and Merrill's help, vanquished the bodyguards, while, to Hadriana's left, two of her flunkeys were paralysed by Justice before they'd had a chance to cast. Of the other two, one attempted to undo Justice's magic while the other, under Hadriana's whispered directions, sent a blast of red energy slamming into Hawke's chest, forcing him against the rear wall, and he slid down to the ground, gasping.
"Hawke!" Fenris yelled, racing to his side.
"No, Fenris!" croaked Hawke, his breathing irregular and harsh. "You have to…watch…" His eyes flickered closed and Fenris's face became contorted with murderous rage. His head snapped around to see two of Hadriana's lackeys fall, their throats cut from behind by Sebastian and Hunter, who had emerged from stealth. A further one was knocked off her feet by a blow from Clara's shield, and finished off with a bolt between the eyes from a stealthed Varric.
"Lillith!" screamed Hadriana, a shrill note of panic in her voice.
"Oh, I'm sorry, darling. I was busy," a languorous, disembodied voice spoke.
All eyes turned to the scantily-clad figure that appeared from nowhere in one corner of the chamber. "Want me to take care of these…annoyances?" Lillith purred.
"Yes, but don't harm Fenris!" ordered Hadriana.
"And what's in it for me?" asked the demon, running a talon down the side of one of her breasts.
Hadriana pushed her remaining accomplice forward. "Take her!"
Lillith cocked her head as she appraised the startled blood mage. "I suppose she'll do," she murmured, and, with a flick of her hand, the betrayed lackey crumpled to the ground.
Justice, who so far had observed the fight for any signs of unjust acts, placed himself between the demon and his companions. "You will not harm them," he said.
Hadriana, emboldened by the presence of her demon, once again cut into her arm, preparing a spell, while Justice was distracted.
"Get her!" cried Bethany. "But don't kill her! Save her for Fenris!"
A clamour broke out in the chamber as several things happened at once. Justice engaged the demon while Bethany, Merrill, Hunter and Sebastian threw everything they had at Hadriana, who had erected a protective forcefield around herself. Fenris, who still knelt at Hawke's side, didn't take his eyes off the magister for a second, even as Donnic arrived next to him.
"How is he, Fenris?" asked the concerned guard, for once not using Fenris's nickname.
"I do not know what was done to him," Fenris answered thickly. "He yet lives, but who knows what foul magic has been used upon him?" He grimaced in pain as Lillith was slammed against a wall by a powerful spell of Justice's.
"He's a strong 'un, Fenris," replied Donnic. "This will all be over, soon. Hadriana can't win."
"Fen," Hawke whispered, struggling to open his eyes. "I-I'm fine. Donnic's right. You have to finish this." Hawke reached for Fenris's hand and squeezed it. Fenris squeezed it back and pushed himself to his feet, his resolve hardening.
Her forcefield waning, Hadriana, in desperation, inflicted another grievous wound to herself, although she could feel her physical strength ebbing away from blood loss. Relentlessly, her aggressors pressed home their assault, and, once again, Hadriana sensed her forcefield losing its power.
"No!" she cried.
"The forcefield's down!" Merrill called triumphantly.
Hadriana's trembling hand brought her dagger up again, but, before she could cut herself, a bolt from Bianca slammed into her arm, and the knife fell from her hands as she sank to her knees, hastily grabbing it. Immediately, Aveline ran forward and placed her sword at the magister's throat.
"Lillith! Help me!" gasped Hadriana.
"Your demon is in no position to help you now," Justice boomed, stepping away from the broken body of Lillith.
With a piteous wail, Hadriana collapsed onto all fours. "Fenris…I never meant it to happen like this, I swear," she pleaded in a pathetic attempt to save her own hide. "Danarius forced me…I-I didn't want to c-"
Her words were rudely cut off as a gauntleted hand closed around her throat and she was lifted clean off the ground. "Ack! F-Fe…"
"Does it hurt?" Fenris snarled, bringing his other hand around the magister's throat.
"Have a care, Elf," warned Justice. "You will not slay her; she is unarmed."
"She tried to kill us all!" Aveline argued hotly.
"No; she ordered her subordinates to kill us. She made no such move," Justice countered.
"It's the same bloody thing, and you know it!" Donnic exclaimed, who, having helped Hawke to his feet, slowly walked forward with his arm around the mage's waist. Hawke clutched at his belly, gritting his teeth, but used all of his strength to stand, wanting to see Fenris have his revenge.
As Fenris's grip on Hadriana tightened, she began to choke.
"I asked you a question!" Fenris growled. "I said, does it hurt?"
Hadriana could only gurgle in reply.
"What is going through your mind, now, I wonder?" Fenris, his tone deadly, asked Hadriana, who was turning blue from the relentless pressure. "Do you now regret the times you would wake me with magic, leaving me in agony for hours? Or perhaps you rue each and every insult, each and every time you spat in my face, beat me, beat the children, spoiled our food, then went simpering to your master for a pat on the head like a dog? Do you regret that now?"
Hadriana, who had by now passed out, could not answer.
Fenris's markings vibrated as gentle energy flowed from Hawke's direction into the magister. Revived, her eyes shot open and she choked again, her fists weakly pounding the elf as Fenris's thumb pushed against her windpipe. Out of Fenris's sight, Hawke's legs buckled, his strength failing him, and Donnic helped him to sit on the ground, squatting next to him.
"We could keep you alive like this indefinitely," Fenris rasped with a malicious smile. "I could have you as my slave, a plaything to be tortured when my sense of failure demands it, just as I once was to you!" His skin became illuminated with a blue tint and his markings blazed fiercely.
Sebastian took a step forward. "Fenris, please…" he urged gently. "You're a good man and I know you will derive no pleasure from this course of action."
"Release her," Justice commanded. "She has been sufficiently punished."
Fenris's posture slumped and he lowered Hadriana slightly. For a moment, his companions thought he would relent, but Hawke and Donnic exchanged a quick glance, knowing better.
Fenris brought his mouth to Hadriana's ear. "Await your master in the Void, bitch."
With a sickening snap, Hadriana's head twisted at an odd angle, and she was cast to the ground like so much detritus.
"That female was unarmed and defenceless!" bellowed Justice, charging forward. "You murdered her in cold blood! You will pay the price!"
"No!" several people cried out, and Aveline, Merrill, Bethany and Sebastian all piled into Justice, straining to hold him back.
"Unhand me!" the spirit commanded. "I will have justice!"
Fenris slowly bent down and reached for one of Hadriana's hands, uncurling her fingers. Her palm, which was freshly cut, held a small dagger. Fenris looked up at Justice.
"She was never defenceless, Spirit."
The companions who held Justice back looked at him hopefully, relaxing their grip slightly as doubt crossed his face. After a fraught moment, the spirit nodded silently, and the companions cautiously released him.
Fenris stood up and looked down upon the magister's body, saying no more. An uncomfortable silence filled the chamber, and no one was certain of what to do or say.
"Help me up," Hawke said to Donnic, who slung his arm around Hawke and slowly pulled him to his feet. With a nod to Donnic, who then released him, Hawke walked with difficulty over to Fenris and stopped a short distance away.
"Fen…let's go back," he whispered, lightly touching the elf's hand, his insides stinging when it was pushed away.
Fenris was alive. Hawke was alive. The people that had selflessly risked themselves to help Fenris were unharmed. Hadriana was dead, finally.
Where, then, was the relief, the sense of triumph? Why hadn't Hadriana's death made everything better? Why did Fenris still feel empty, disconnected, disquieted? Was Hawke's sympathy and care genuine, or was he secretly revolted at Fenris's actions?
"Leave me be," Fenris said quietly. "I do not…I need to be alone."
Aveline beckoned Clara, Hunter and Donnic towards the front exit and quietly instructed them to start gathering the bodies for burning.
Anders, whose senses had been returned to him, walked over to Hawke and clutched his arm. "He said he wants to be alone, Hawke. Let's go. Some of us need healing after fighting for him, after all."
"A-are you sure, Fenris?" Hawke asked shakily.
With a silent nod, Fenris turned and walked towards the rear entrance.
"Where are you going to go?" asked Hawke, but Fenris continued without answering.
"Well, that's gratitude for you!" Anders huffed.
"Don't, Anders, please," Hawke implored quietly.
"Oh, I-I'm sorry," Anders replied, wrapping an arm around Hawke's shoulders. "Come on. You need to get some rest."
He guided the dazed Hawke towards the front exit, followed by Bethany, Varric and Merrill. Before they left, Sebastian approached Hawke, laying a hand on his shoulder.
"I'll make sure he's safe, Hawke," he promised.
"Thank you," Hawke replied shakily, before being guided out by Anders.
Sebastian watched them leave, and became aware that Donnic had moved to his side.
"You saw it, too, didn't you?" asked the guard gruffly.
"Saw what?" Sebastian asked, confused.
"When we were outside. You saw the look that Anders gave Fenris while he was healing Hawke. You heard him just now. You're thinking exactly the same as I am."
Sebastian's brow furrowed, and he turned to face Donnic. "Which is?"
"That mage has got it on for Fenris, and he's manipulating Hawke. Don't deny it, Sebastian."
Sebastian sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Perhaps we're misjudging him. Maybe he's just being protective towards Hawke."
"Your chantry schooling may make you see the good in everyone, Sebastian, but I was educated at the school of life, and I know when someone's up to no good," Donnic answered firmly.
"I can't really say," answered Sebastian. "I don't know Anders well enough."
"Well, neither do I," said Donnic, "but I have a month's stint to do in Darktown, and I think I'm going to make an effort to get to know him a little better, see what he's about."
"If you feel that's best," answered Sebastian with a glance to the rear exit. "I should check on Fenris."
"I would go with you, but I wouldn't want him to feel crowded," Donnic said quietly, shaking his head. "I have a feeling he'll be all right with you." He held out his hand to Sebastian. "We'll still be here when you get back."
Sebastian nodded, shook Donnic's hand, and left the guards to their work as he slipped out of the rear exit.