"'The Champions of Huttsgalor,' that was the reward. A fine title. Every noble at the Keep owed the Champions their lives. They weren't just heroes; they were now the two most important people in the city, except for Knight-Commander Meredith, of course. With the Viscount dead, she stepped in to keep order. Things quickly got out of hand. The more she squeezed the mages, the more they resisted. The more they resisted, the tighter she squeezed. At the three years of that, it all came crashing down."

Lelya still couldn't believe it; she could still wander the streets. She had expected Meredith to wrap her in chains all the way to the Gallows and arrest her brother, but thankfully, the nobility were very grateful for their saving.

However, the title freedom now had strings attached; without the Viscount, it was now up to her and her brother to maintain the peace. They had hoped a new Viscount would have been appointed, but Meredith apparently was stonewalling any kind of appointment.

However, she and her brother had other duties today because today was Aveline and Donnic's wedding. They had more than graciously allowed the ceremony to be held at their estate. Since Aveline had no living male relatives, she had asked Dak to give away at the ceremony. Leyla had the honour, along with Merrill, to be her bridesmaid.

Aveline was adamant about having a quiet ceremony; no one was going to argue with that, not even Isabelle. That said, it didn't stop them from having a good time.; Sebastian even managed to get Grand Cleric Elthina to perform the ceremony herself.

Of course, with Aveline on her honeymoon in Asgard, Dak and Leyla had to cover for her for a few weeks until she returned.

Things would have been peaceful if it had not been for the rising tension between the mages and templars, which was more intense than usual. Meredith was not making many friends among the mages and even less with the nobility, as it felt that she was trying to usurp power and challenge anyone that dead stand against.

Then they saw Brennan running towards them. "Lord and Lady Hawke, we have a problem at the Keep."

Dak groaned. "What's the matter, guardsmen?"

"It's First Enchanter Orisno; he's giving a public speech against the Knight-Commander."

"Does she know?" Leyla asked.

"Yes, she sailing across from the Gallows as we speak."

"Knowing her, she'll consider this a rebellion," said Leyla.

Dak nodded. "Or tried smooth things over, but you need to inform the Grand Cleric she's the only one in the city that Meredith will listen to."

"Right away," Brennan nodded.

Another one of their duties as Champions was to be plain diplomats between the mages and templars. They were well-respected between the two factions, but Meredith had been cracking down hard in recent years, and it had caused the mages to strike back. Orisno was making things easy, constantly challenging Meredith every chance he got.

"If we're not careful, another war will break out in the city," said Leyla.

Dak nodded. "And the last one nearly tore the city apart."

They reached the Keep and saw that Brennan had spoken the truth. They saw Orsino on the stairs leading to the Viscount's Keep, with the crowd of people looking at him.

"I know you fear us," he said. "Knight-Commander Meredith uses that fear to take control of your city! She opposes every effort to a place Viscount Dumar, and you have seen the chaos of her reign! Will you allow it?"

Dak could tell that a few people, especially the nobility, agreed with him. However, he then noticed that Meredith had just arrived with several templars at her side. "Return to your homes. This farce is over."

Dak sighed and looked at Leyla. "Looks like we're up."

"For all the good it will do," said Leyla as they walked over.

Orsino was the first to notice their approach. "Wait! Perhaps there are some who might disagree with you, Knight-Commander."

Meredith shook her head. "The Champions has proven themselves Huttsgalorl's greatest defenders. I doubt that they favour sedition."

"It would be better if you both calmed down before this gets violent," he suggested. "I should remain calm while this mage provokes an uprising?" Meredith snarled as she narrowed her eyes at Orsino. "I think not."

"I think the Champions' views would be appreciated." Orsino walked down the stairs. "Or do you fear what they have to say?"

"Not at all. Do you agree with the first enchanter's accusations, Champions?"

"Only up to a point," said Leyla.

Dak nodded and turned to Orsino. "We don't like the notion that you're causing a rebellion."

"The people of this city need to know what is really happening," Orsino replied.

"And then what?" Meredith asked. "They tear down the Gallows with pitchforks and torches? That would be better?"

"It cannot be worse." Orsino glared at her. "Your refusal to listen to reason leaves me no choice."

"What I refuse to listen to are excuses!" She pointed a threatening finger at Orsino. "Perhaps you are ill-fit for your position if you cannot understand this."

"You're hardly receptive to whatever gets in your way," Leyla pointed out.

Meredith narrowed her eyes. "And I become less receptive each moment this nonsense continues."

Dak raised a hand in a calming gesture. "Your measures have become more extreme over the past few years."

"And you could do better?" She shook her head. "How well did you two guard your own mother? Did she not die at a blood mage's hands?"

Dak had to admit she had a point. "You're right. We are hardly the ones to bear that grief."

Meredith nodded. "Precisely. As long as that's true, Huttsgalor needs its templars more than it needs a new ruler."

"And when will that end?" Orsino asked. "When will you stop seeing evil in every corner?"

"When it's no longer there." Meredith's eyes were ice.

"Meredith, like it or not, Orsino does have a valid point," said Leyla. "You have prevented the city from appointing a new viscount for the past three years. To many, it looks as if you're trying to take over the city."

"The city!" Meredith spat. "I'm trying to keep order until there is a new ruler capable of succeeding where Dumar failed."

"And if not? Will the templars rule Huttsgalor forever?" Orsino asked.

"We will not stand idle while the city burns around us," said Meredith firmly.

"The Templar Order exists to guard the Chantry and the Circle," Orsino reminded. "I suggest you let the nobility rule the city."

Meredith glared at him. "I do not need you or anyone to tell me what my duty is, mage."

"The first enchanter is right. You should be ruling Kirkwall," said Dak.

"And yet I shall continue until such a time as the city is safe," said Meredith firmly.

Orsino looked at them. "Do you see? She is incapable of reason!"

Dak knew that Meredith had insisted on having her templars guard the halls within the Keep. In the beginning, this was because the guards had taken quite several losses during the Qunari attack, but most of the templars believed that the guard served them.

Leyla quickly stepped in. "Look at the last thing that Huttsgalor needs, which is a conflict between the mages and templars."

"I do not wish a conflict, but the Knight-Commander clearly feels differently," said Orsino.

"I will fulfil my duty no matter what," said Meredith stubbornly. "And I will have no one question my authority!"

It really did look as if the two of them were about to go to blows, but at that precise moment, the crowd parted to allow Grand Cleric Elthina through. "My, my, such a terrible commotion."

"This mage incites rebellion, Your Grace." Meredith gestured. "I am dealing with the matter."

Elthina nodded, her expression serious. "Ah, Orsino. So frustrated. Do you think this is truly wise?"

"I…" And the man finally found his sense of self-preservation. "No, Your Grace."

"Of course not." She turned to the templars. "Young men, would you show the first enchanter back to the Circle? Gently, if you please."

"Your Grace." Meredith shook her head in protest. "He should be clapped in irons, made an example—"

"That's enough, Meredith." The Grand Cleric's voice was firm and sharp. "This demeans us all; surely you can see that? Go back to the Gallows and calm down like a good girl." Elthina waited until Meredith had stalked off before turning to them. "You have my thanks for stepping in, Champions. If you had not…"

"Short of putting those two in cells, I doubt anything will keep them from each other," said Leyla grimly.

Elthina sighed. "Sadly true." She then turned to the crowd. "Gentle people of Huttsgalor… return to your homes, I implore you. This will not be resolved today."

The crowd began to disperse, and Dak and Leyla looked at one another.

"With the ever be peace between mages and templars?"Leyla sighed.

"Not with those two in charge, no," said Dak. "That said, I can't disagree with what Orsino said; Meredith is usurping power and tightening her grip on the Gallows."

"And, of course, every single time the mages resist, she tightened her grip," said Leyla.

"It'll just take one spark in, and the entire city will burn," said Dak.

"Not if we have anything to say about it," said Leyla.

"I am surprised that Knight-Commander Meredith allowed Leyla to walk around free?" said Cassandra.

"Oh, she wasn't happy about it, but she did help save the lives of the nobility, and the common people saw her as a big hero," said Varric. "If she had taken Leyla into custody, everyone would have seen her as the villain. After all, no one wants to see their hero imprisoned."

"And she truly prevented the appointment of a new Viscount?"

Varric nodded. "She stated that she was waiting for the right candidate to appear, one that could keep the city safe. Personally, I think she was looking for a candidate that was more in line with her views. Many people did advocate for Dak to be named Viscount. He, after all, did save the city, and he was not born in Huttsgalor, but his mother and her family helped practically found the city."

"And yet Knight-Commander Meredith did not allow it?"

"That's right, even though the Champions were the main reason the other city-states did not send troops to take over the city."

"So you saying the First Enchanter was right, that all she craved was power?"

"I think, in her own way, she was doing what she believed was her duty, but she took way too far."

"Are you indicating that she had and what happened at the Gallows?" Cassandra asked curiously. "Our information led us to believe that the Champions had been at the centre when things went south."

"Oh, they were there, just not in the manner you thinking."

Cassandra then leaned in closer. "Tell me more."