A/N: Here it is! The final chapter. As I was wrapping it up, I had this beautiful idea that *might* turn into a sequel. No promises, though.
As always, reviews full of love/criticism/suggestions are much appreciated! Also, I'd like to know if you'd be interested in a sequel, or just an epilogue of sorts that wraps things up a bit more, or if this is plenty.
I hope you've enjoyed this, and thanks for reading!
"To the Void with your excuses! I want to know where my damn patrol is!" Uncharacteristically loud, the Warden-Commander surprised even herself with her harsh words. "Until you can provide me with that information, you're more useless than a recruit."
The two men in front of her cringed visibly. "Commander," one of the ventured timidly, "should we get Stroud?"
"No, you should get your patrol." Olivia glared at the men, waiting for them to leave. As soon as the door to her office was shut, she collapsed back into her chair with a loud sigh. "Lily, my dear," she mumbled to her Mabari, "we are overwhelmed." Her mind flooded with the news – or lack thereof – of her missing Wardens from her Kirkwall patrol, Olivia reached below her desk and ran her hand through Lily's rough fur. "You shouldn't be down there, you know," she chastised the hound lightly. "Do you know what the men would do if they knew I had a Mabari whimpering under my desk?"
At this, Lily flattened her ears and growled softly. Olivia chuckled, and Lily quit and licked the Commander's hand instead.
The door to the office flew open suddenly, catching Olivia off-balance. Lily leapt from under the desk, barreling past Olivia to greet the newcomer. As she struggled to right herself, the Commander saw that her visitor was none other than Marian Hawke.
"Where's Anders?" For the second time that night, Olivia's voice rose with more power than usual.
"I don't know," Hawke struggled between tears. "He… he left, after the battle."
"And you?" Olivia prodded, concern for Hawke making the words sharper than she intended. "You're unwelcome in the city?"
Hawke laughed – a hysteric giggle that rose in volume. "I spoke out against the Knight-Commander, aided the First Enchanter – a blood mage, mind you – and killed Meredith. If I'm welcome in Kirkwall, it would be a surprise to all of us."
"Orsino is also dead, though?"
"Yes."
Sighing, Olivia glanced around her office, hoping to find something that could help aid Hawke's return to Kirkwall. "I don't want to make you leave your home," she admitted, "but I think you're right." She stood, motioning for Hawke to stay put. Lily nuzzled the mage, giving her a comforting lick on the cheek. "Watch over her," she smiled to the Mabari before heading out into the Keep.
Vigil's Keep was empty. Three weeks of rain had kept most of the Wardens cooped up inside, but at the first sign of sunny skies, all training had been taken back outside. Olivia had to go out to the training yard to find anyone. "Nathaniel!" she called to her friend, waving him away from the archery lesson he was giving. "Send one of your men to find Alistair," she instructed as he jogged over to her. "And the Keep is all yours until I return. Take care of it."
His eyes lit up with concerned questions, but Olivia dismissed them with a wave of her hand. "I'll keep everyone safe," Nathaniel promised. "Just… come back in one piece, alright?"
Olivia wanted to joke with him, to tell him nothing stood a chance against the Hero of Ferelden, but she had a nagging suspicion it would be the last joke she shared with him. Instead, she just nodded. "Be safe, Nathaniel." Without waiting for him to answer, Olivia jogged back to her office, taking long, easy strides.
As she rounded the corner to the office, her eyes caught the open door and her ears picked up two hushed voices. "Hawke?" she called, immediately worried. "Hawke!" She sprinted into the office, nearly slamming into Fenris. "Oh…" Olivia sputtered, embarrassment coloring her cheeks. "Hello."
"We have to leave," Hawke insisted, skipping any pleasantries. "It isn't safe for us."
Olivia skirted around them to sit at her desk. "What about the others?" she asked, referencing the companions who would undoubtedly be held equally responsible.
Hawke looked up to Fenris, who shifted uncomfortably. "Varric was allowed to remain in Kirkwall," he revealed. "Cullen allowed Anders to escape with his life. Isabela was told to leave, as was Merrill. Aveline will remain Guard-Captain until Kirkwall is stable enough for her to step down."
"Cullen is a fine leader. Kirkwall will be in good hands, even without its Champion," Olivia mused. She had fond memories of Cullen from back when they were both in the Ferelden Circle; fond enough that, on a typical day, the memories brought a blush to her cheeks. Today, though, her face was pale with grim determination. The Warden-Commander pulled a thin folder from one of her desk drawers and rifled through the papers. "I have contacts in Antiva and Orlais. Zevran, you've already met. Leliana, I'm sure, would be an accommodating hostess." She pulled out the most recent reports from Antiva and Orlais, the ones documenting the whereabouts of her old companions. "You could also remain in Ferelden," she offered.
Shaking her head, Hawke insisted, "We have to leave. Far away. I don't want to risk being caught." With a barely-noticeable frown, she added, "I don't want to be running, either. I want to be safe."
"I understand. I can accompany you until—Alistair?" Olivia nearly jumped out of her seat as Alistair strode into the room and slammed a few papers down on the desk.
"Reports," he grimaced, his eyes dark. "From the missing Kirkwall patrol. They came in a few minutes ago with a report saying you are responsible for blowing up the Chantry and murdering the Grand Cleric."
Never before had Olivia been afraid of Alistair, not until this very moment. Every muscle in his body was tensed with anger, his face contorted with something that landed between worry and fury. "Alistair…" she began, but she couldn't say anything else; her mouth was dry and her hands shook.
"I'm not a fool, Olivia." His voice was strained. "I know you didn't do it. But Kirkwall thinks you played a part in the destruction of the Chantry."
And in that moment, Olivia lost everything. No longer was she the Warden-Commander, or the Hero of Ferelden, or even a Circle mage. She was a fugitive. "I have to leave." Olivia began pacing, taking quick, frustrated steps as she contemplated what to do next. "Hawke and Fenris will come with me. Orlais won't be safe. We'll go to Antiva and find Zevran. Alistair, find Isabela. Track her down. She can take us to Rivain. We'll be safe there, for now. After that—"
Alistair grabbed her arm roughly, breaking her concentration. "Olivia, I swear," he began, locking his eyes with hers, "I will never let these accusations stand. You don't have to leave."
"Yes, I do," she argued flatly, her voice that of a woman with nothing left. "Ferelden needs a Commander, Alistair, and it can't be me. Keep Lily safe. Don't let Nathaniel do anything foolish. And whatever you do, please," she pleaded, her voice cracking, "please don't follow us. I'll come back. I promise."
"Olivia, I—"
She shook her head and silenced him by placing a single, slender finger on his lips. "This is my fault. It started the day I asked Anora to free the Ferelden Circle. Then I let Anders escape—twice. Once from the Circle, and again from the Wardens. And in Kirkwall, I helped him; I didn't know what I was helping him do, but I trusted him and it led to this." Without another word, Olivia tore herself away and fled down the hallway. She grabbed her pack on the way out, but left with no armor and no weapons. Hawke and Fenris were close behind her, following silently.
When Olivia reached the gates, she allowed herself to look back. There were so many things she wished she could do right then; turn back, apologize to Alistair, and never leave the Keep again. But she couldn't.
Anders had made sure of that.
Motioning for Hawke and Fenris to follow, Olivia took off, not sure where she was running and not certain she cared. Away is all her mind screamed.
After those reports, all she'd had left was Alistair. And now, she had given him up, too. She was no longer the Hero, she was an apostate wanted for murder. She had nothing to her name except the clothes on her back and a few sovereigns, with only an apostate and escaped slave to accompany her on the trip to Antiva.
Olivia Amell—Circle mage and Grey Warden, a survivor of Ostagar, the Fifth Blight, and the Ferelden Civil War, the slayer of the Archdemon, the Hero of Ferelden, and the Warden-Commander—took one last look at her home. Despite what she'd told Alistair, Olivia knew she wouldn't be coming back to Vigil's Keep.
She'd played her part in starting the Mage-Templar war, and by the Maker, she was going to play her part in ending it.
It was nearly sunset before he could even see the Keep. He expected to be met by guards, or a patrol, but that wasn't the case.
Standing near the gates of the Keep was a man with sandy hair and drooping shoulders. Beside him sat a Mabari, whose mournful howls echoed through the still air. The man had a hand on the Mabari's head, slowly, mechanically rubbing behind the hound's ears.
Neither one noticed as he walked up, both the man and Mabari focused on the horizon. He cleared his throat, and the man slowly turned his head. "Yes?"
"I'm looking for someone," he explained.
"The… the Warden-Commander isn't here," the man whispered after a moment, turning his empty gaze back to the horizon. "She's gone."
Dread slowly rose up in him. He wasn't looking for the Warden-Commander, but it didn't matter. If she was gone, then his search was hopeless. He sighed. But, he hadn't come all the way from Kirkwall just so he could trudge back; there was nothing left there for him, anyway. No, it was time he did something relevant with his life.
"My name is Carver Hawke. I'd like to join the Grey Wardens."
At this, the man's eyes flared with a spark of something akin to inspiration. "Tell me, Carver. How would you feel about a little trip to Antiva?"