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They went across the harbor to the Gallows first thing the next morning, Aveline fired up to defend her honor. There was nothing in her life she was more proud of than the way she ran the guards, and nothing that struck her more sharply in the vitals than the implication that she might be doing less than her best.
When they arrived in the courtyard of the Gallows, they were met by a very agitated mage. "Oh, Champion, I'm so glad you've come."
Hawke sighed. What now? She said it aloud, too, not even bothering to pretend not to be annoyed. "What now?"
"The, uh …" The mage swallowed, looking nervously from Hawke's narrowed eyes to Aveline's hard stare to Fenris's stony face, finally settling on Varric's genuine curiosity. "The First Enchanter got into an argument with the Knight-Commander. A terrible argument. He stormed off to bring the matter before the Grand Cleric, but the Knight-Commander went after him. I fear there will be blood!"
There was really nothing Hawke would have liked more than to have the First Enchanter and the Knight-Commander take each other out. Unfortunately, if they did so, a lot of innocent people were going to get hurt. She was tired of caring … but she did still care, for all that.
"Back across the harbor, then," she said to the others. "Another argument to settle."
"Shouldn't we see Cullen first?" Aveline asked.
Hawke shook her head. "No, I think we might as well deal with the two spoiled toddlers shrieking at each other before we handle the rumor mill."
"Fair enough."
The ferryman was moved to his top speed by a judicious application of Hawke's coin, and they were able to catch up with the Knight-Commander and First Enchanter just at the top of the stairs up from the docks. It helped that they were, in fact, screaming at each other.
Hawke's heart sank into the pit of her stomach when she recognized the mage standing behind the First Enchanter. What was Bethany doing here?
"I will have the tower searched. Top to bottom," Meredith was announcing in her cold voice as Hawke and her team arrived.
Isabela was right behind them, having come up from her ship. Hawke was glad to see her; it was good to have as many of the team as possible at her back.
Incensed, Orsino made a sharp cutting motion with his hands, denying Meredith's authority. "You cannot do that! You have no right."
"I have every right. You are harboring blood mages, and I intend to root them out before they infect this city."
Behind Meredith, Hawke saw Merrill's face appear around a corner, and she resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Six years Hawke had been fighting blood mages and abominations in the streets and dark corners of Kirkwall. And where had Meredith been all this time? Locked up in her office, ignoring what was happening here.
Orsino threw his hands into the air. "Blood magic, again! Where do you not see blood magic? My people cannot sneeze without you accusing them of corruption."
"Do not trifle with me, mage. My patience is at an end," Meredith snapped.
"When did it have a beginning?"
Hawke pushed between them. "This needs to stop. You are acting like children." Over Orsino's shoulder she saw Bethany's face brighten with relief at the sight of her.
Meredith's jaw tightened. "This does not involve you, Champion." She spat the last word as if it tasted bad.
"I called her here," Orsino said. "I think the people deserve to know just what you've done."
"What I have done is protect the people of this city, time and again." A small smile played over Meredith's face. Clearly she was seeing herself as some kind of divinely ordained protectress, combatting evil in the streets. Which was all well and good, except that it was Hawke who had been in the streets protecting people. "What I have done," Meredith continued, "is protect you mages from your curse and your own stupidity. And I will not stop doing it. I will not lower our guard. I dare not."
While Meredith continued to march around in a circle, proclaiming her own accomplishments, Hawke said softly to Orsino and Bethany, "Is there any truth to what she's saying? Tell me, quickly."
"No. Her usual accusations, nothing more," Orsino replied firmly.
"And if she doesn't find what she's looking for, how much further will she go to root out something that isn't there? We're all frightened, sister."
Hawke squeezed her sister's hand even as Meredith whirled and pointed at her.
"The Champion knows better than anyone how deep the Circle's corruption goes. I must find the source!"
"You are both being ridiculous," Hawke said. "This does no one any good."
Meredith clutched at her arm, hissing, "Tell me, Champion, that you have not seen with your own eyes what they can do, heard the lies of mages that seek power."
In Hawke's experience, most mages turned to blood magic or let their guard down and became abominations only when they felt the most powerless—only when they were trying to save themselves or something they held dear. Meredith herself and her draconian policies had been responsible for so much of the destruction of the last several years.
"You can't use the actions of some to condemn them all," she said.
"Yes!" Orsino added. "You would cast us all as villains, but it is not so!"
Meredith looked at him, her face softening. Softly she said, "I know, and it breaks my heart to do it, but we must be vigilant. If you cannot tell me another way, do not brand me a tyrant."
"She's got a whole story written out in her head," Varric muttered at Hawke's side. "She may be more delusional than I am."
"This is getting us nowhere. Grand Cleric Elthina will put a stop to this," Orsino said, turning toward the center of Lowtown, on his way to the Chantry.
Meredith grabbed his arm. "You will not bring Her Grace into this!"
Behind them all, another voice cut into the argument. A voice that had been melodious and charming once, but was now hoarse and broken. "The Grand Cleric cannot help you."
"Blondie, what in the Void?" Varric whispered. The mage was skeletally thin, his clothes tattered.
"Explain yourself, mage," Meredith demanded.
"I will not stand by and watch you treat all mages like criminals!" He turned his burning eyes on Orsino. "While those who should be leading us bow to their Templar jailers."
"How dare you speak to—" Orsino began.
"The Circle has failed us, Orsino. Even you should be able to see that." The blue light of Justice glowed in Anders' eyes and through his skin, as though everything he once had been was breaking apart. "The time has come to act. There can be no half-measures."
"Anders, what have you done?" Bethany asked.
He looked at her, the light easing, his face returning to normal. "There can be no turning back," he whispered.
And from high above them, in the center of Hightown, came a booming thud, a crack, and the sound of stone falling from a great height. They could see the dust cloud where the Chantry had stood, mere moments ago, and they all stood, stunned, trying to make sense of what they were witnessing.