"Captain, that drunk down the docks-"

"That drunk? There's a good hundred down there." Aveline grunted, marching into the barracks, her head throbbing after yet another argument with Meredith about jurisdictions. You can't send half of Darktown to my jail so you can interrogate them to find apostates! The thought was enough to make a new pain jolt up her temples. Rubbing them, Aveline shook her head. "Where's Donnic?" I could do with his massage...

"He's at the north gate, Captain, you ordered him there to make sure the latest trade-caravan got in safely." The blond woman before Aveline was short, and looked tired. In fact, all the guards looked tired. No surprise, our pay comes from Hawke's good will after Meredith took over. We're arguing with templars as much as dealing with a public where unemployment and homelessness has spiked since the Arishok's attack...heroes, the lot of you.

Aveline found herself smiling at the woman, Gabrielle, patting her shoulder and making the blond blush. Still with the crush? Jeez... "Oh right, thank you, forgot about that. Now, what drunk?"

"The one that likes walking on roofs naked? And hanging from them when he slips?" Gabrielle answered, walking with Aveline deeper into the barrack. Within, there was a tired atmosphere as what few guards with enough time to sit down were having dinner along a long table, none having enough energy to notice the Captain passing. I'll let them off, poor sods...hopefully Garrett will agree to let me hire more hands...again... Aveline grimaced, she didn't like being dependant on the man, she was essentially in his pocket, however much she liked to claim independence and however much the man seemed to try and respect that.

"Ah, yes, the 'little dangler'." Aveline shared a chuckle with Gabrielle. "What about him?"

"He...erm...fell from a low wall."

"So? Is he hurt?" Aveline arched an eyebrow.

"Well, yeah, but he fell with one leg on each side of the wall and...erm...I'm not sure how to handle it." Gabrielle blushed furiously.

I'm sure you don't...eugh, Isabela is a bad influence on me. "Bring him to a healer and have them handle it?" Aveline rolled her eyes. "And I'd hurry, testicular damage can be pretty acute."

"Ohhh..." Gabrielle's eyes widened. "...going, going!" Turning, she began to run, making Aveline shake her head. Poor dangler...

With that, Aveline quietly snuck past her fellow guardsmen, not really willing to answer more questions or deal with any of the little decisions some always came to her with. Hanging up her cloak, the rain was pouring down outside, on a hook, she swiftly moved for the door to her office grumbling about the dampness of her uniform. Need to get a new cloak, bloody mugger and his stupid knife... The thought made Aveline smile though. Didn't expect to be robbing the captain of the guard though, nor breaking your jaw and finding yourself in the dungeon.

Inside, her office was dark, despite the light from a window pouring into it, illuminating the beautiful carpet in the centre of the room, but little else. Stupid clouds. Grunting, Aveline moved for the unlit oil-lamp hanging in the distance, weary eyes drawing across her large desk to her left, the many papers and scrolls strewn across it promising hours of work. I guess I should...wait...

Stopping, Aveline turned, her throat tight in surprise and fright at the sudden feeling of a foreign presence in her private area.

In the corner, near her closed door, the man covered from head to toe in a dark cloak was barely visible. What little shown of the face was pale white and covered in a frightening web of scars, pale blue eyes nearly glowing as they stared at the woman with a hint of hostility. With his hands lost in the sleeves of his robe, the man looked like some dark priest at prayer.

Aveline's shoulders slumped in relief, her head rolling back with a sigh, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment over her fright."Oh Maker...bloody hell, Anders, you scared me!" She straightened, glaring at the man. "And you shouldn't be here either, what the hell's wrong with you!?" A shake of her head. "And how did you even get in here!? No one would have let you in here...and how did you avoid the rain? You're as dry as overcooked nug-meat."

Anders let a tired chuckle escape. "I got in here without being stopped thanks to Hawke...how did you think he got into the Kirkwall keep back when we fought the Arishok? There's paths not even the great Aveline Vallen knows about."

Aveline narrowed her eyes at the man. "Paths? Or tunnels?" Her gaze swept over her room, eyeing bookshelves and walls with suspicion. "You need to show me this, you will show me this." This is my place, damn it! I can't believe Garrett hasn't told me about this.

An amused hum escaped Anders at that, but no agreement. Eugh, if I have to ask Hawke about this... "And nothing's wrong with me, I needed to talk to you in private, and it's hard to get a hold of you without using Hawke as a mediator."

"And why do you think that is?" Aveline asked sharply, annoyed with the man's insistent demands, as if he was entitled to her attention and help. "Anders, let me make this clear. I respect Hawke enough to treat you with politeness. I respect you for your continued helping of Fereldians in the city and for holding such high ideals. I think you are a good man."

Under the hood, Ander's scared face broke into a toothy grin. "Why thank you, that's very nice-"

"But." Aveline interrupted, raising a finger "You are, when it comes down to it, a criminal." Anders' grin died. "Your high ideals are mixed with an extremism and lack of will to compromise I find frightening and foolish in equal measure. The only reason I don't take you in is because I respect Hawke's will of me not to do so, and because you're technically the templar's jurisdiction and I'm loathe to help them." She moved to her desk, gaze moving to her papers, wondering if the mage had been riffling through them before she'd entered. "You are dangerous, and only by being more of an aid to the city than a hindrance, do I tolerate you."

"You think I should compromise on my ideals?" Anders asked, his voice surprisingly soft.

"I think you should do as Hawke, and compromise in an effort to achieve your ideals." Aveline grunted back. "Of course, you won't do that, that creature in you won't let you be smart about these things, it seems."

"I shouldn't have to be smart about doing what's right."

Aveline rolled her eyes, how Garrett endured speaking to Anders for more than five minutes was beyond her. "Sure, you shouldn't. Now, here in the real world though, you do."

Anders took a step forward, eyes intense under his hood. "So you do agree then? The world needs to change, the mages be freed!?"

Aveline groaned. "Fiiine, yes, yes I do, I guess." She shook her head at the eager-looking mage. "Doesn't mean I'm in favour of some anarchy where mages get to do as they please with their magic with no supervision though. I am a representative of the law after all, and know how such a thing would end." Ander's eagerness waned somewhat. "We've been over this already anyway, you know I'm more or less in Garrett's camp." Though I think he's a bit too lenient. "I don't see what your problem is."

"My problem!?" Anders gasped, taking a step back and shaking his head. "My problem is the slavery, torture and imprisonment of all mages of Thedas! My problem is that even here, with so many powerful figures favouring more leniency towards mages, none are doing anything!" His hands still lost in the sleeves of his robe, the man was still visibly clenching his fists in rage.

Aveline, unimpressed by the outburst, cocked an eyebrow. "If you're going to start shouting at me, you might as well leave. The way you came, if you please."

"Oh you'd like that, wouldn't you?" Anders snorted, shaking his head. "Let me help out when needed, but otherwise I should be quiet and let my people suffer."

"I don't think I've ever been around a quiet you." Aveline retorted with a shrug. "And your people? What are you, their messiah now? Do you speak for them all now?"

"I'm the only voice they have." Anders growled back, shaking his head. "Or do you think that groveling Orsino is helping them? All he serves is his own interests."

"Fine, fine..." Aveline sighed, rubbing her eyes. "Then what do you want us to do, exactly? Storm the Templar's keep and butcher them all and maybe put their heads on pikes and parade them all the way to Val Royaux and the Divine? Maybe set the entire Circle tower on fire and dance naked around it while we're at it?"

Not dissuaded by Aveline's tone, Anders reply was sharp. "I want you all to wake up and act!"

"Act...how? You want action, I know, but what action?" Aveline raised a hand, stopping the mage. "Actually, don't answer that, I know what you'll say and I'd hate to arrest you on charges of threatening with genocide or whatever one should call it. As Hawke says, compromise and negotiations-"

"Compromise, compromise, compromise...that's all you two ever speak of!" Anders snapped, walking back and forth in the office with narrowed eyes. "There shouldn't be a compromise! Worse, Meredith won't allow it, the Divine won't allow it, the Chantry won't allow it. And while you speak of something that can't be done, my people suffer!"

"Well I'm sorry if we prefer a solution where blood isn't running down the streets." Aveline snapped back, shaking her head as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Some of us use our reason."

"Reason won't free my people or stop those templars that have none!" Anders growled, stepping closer, eyes ablaze with rage.

Aveline cocked an eyebrow at the man. "Because you seem to have so much right now...?"

"Oh that's nice, question my reason and sanity, the last argument out there. If someone's arguments can't be countered, call him insane." Anders snarled, face an ugly grimace. You had an argument...? "But of course, why wouldn't you? You're the city guard, obeying laws written by Chantry-idolizing fools, constantly hunting apostates only trying to scratch a living, practically in Meredith's pocket, as far as I'm concerned."

Aveline, glaring back, shook her head. "Don't be an idiot, I've been very clear on the guard's stance on mages and the law, in fact, I've been more on your side than against it. And insinuating I'm in Meredith's pocket is insane, she and I loathe one another."

"Oh, so now I'm insane and an idiot?" Anders snapped back, making Aveline groan aloud. "Well I'll tell you what, there will be blood by the end of this! There can't be reasoning or compromise between the slave and the slaver, no matter what you or Hawke thinks! The war is inevitable, and the sooner it starts, the sooner the bonds of my people can be cut and they'll be freed!"

Aveline, glaring back at the man, felt her patience run out. "Get out, I don't want to see you here again, or anywhere else. I will not tolerate such talk around me, there's been enough death and suffering in Kirkwall. There won't be a revolution, we won't allow it, accept that and try to work with us instead of against us."

Anders, blue eyes glittering as he glared back, snarled back. "Oh yes, there will be..."

That's when he punched Aveline in the stomach.

The woman hadn't been prepared, but Anders, while battle-hardened, was no warrior, and Aveline having taken more blows than she should during sparing and in combat, merely grunted in annoyance as she looked at the mage's ugly face. "What the hell do you think you're do...ing...?"

She blinked and took a step back, her legs bumping into her desk even as she looked down.

The dagger in Anders' hand was sliding out of her stomach, the blade long and broad, the burning emblem of Andraste on the hilt, now partially covered in the guard-captain's blood. Her hands, shaking, moved to the wound, only to come away, fingers covered in blood. What in...why...? She looked up at Anders, staring at him, horrified, a coldness setting into her limbs.

The man wore a grim look on his face, without a hint of sympathy or regret. "Yes, you've been against the Templars, almost as much as you've been against my people. There can be no neutral sides though, you're either with us, or against us." He spat at the little space between them, snarling at her. "And you're wrong, there won't be a compromise, there will be war. A Captain of the guard, dead..." The man raised his dagger, holding it up to her to see the fine craftsmanship stained with her blood. "...a templar blade killing a woman always at odds with the Knight-Commander, yet also arresting apostates will be but the first step. Accusations and suspicions will come down like a rain over Kirkwall, washing away the ragged remains of your efforts for peace."

Slowly turning her head, Aveline stared at the distant door, mouth opening in a scream, yet no words coming. They're just at the other side, I must...why can't I...speak!?

As if reading her mind, Anders snorted. "Terrifying, isn't it? Templar poison, making it impossible to speak or even move properly...to make sure mages do not sell their souls to demons or cast spells." A low growl, and Aveline doubled over again, feeling sharp pain lace up her spine as the blade once more entered her abdomen. "A cruel poison indeed...the templars truly are monsters."

And you...you're...no better. Aveline, her arms like lead weights, rose and pushed the mage aside, her vision dim as she pressed herself away from the desk and towards the door.

A single step, and she dropped onto one knee, white lights and dark spots dancing before her vision, her whole body numb. Must...we've got...healers who... She grasped the dagger stuck in her, trying to pull it out, only for her hands to slip on the handle slick with her blood. Donnic, I need...

Something pressed against her shoulder, and Aveline fell, rolling onto her back with a sigh, her lungs refusing to draw more air.

Above her, Anders towered over her, eyes cold, voice a deep growl, not the man's own. Justice...no...hate, Vengeance. "War will come. It will be glorious, justice will be served to all, you should feel honoured to be part of that."

Donnic...I want...I want to... Aveline, blinking, found tears trickling down the side of her face, her vision blurring as she yet again struggled to reach the blade lodged inside of her. This is madness...madness...

"Your sacrifice will not be forgotten, thank you."

Fuck...you..

A whimper, and Aveline's hands fell limp to her sides.

Donnic...

Darkness took her.

8

8

8

Thanks to Abydos Jackson, for all the fight left in her.