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Flashes of light flickered through the stained glass windows of Kirkwall’s Chantry as the Campion of Kirkwall, Elanna Hawke, stood and looked at the tall statue of Andraste. She hadn’t come to pray, not really, but just standing in a quiet solstice place seemed to give her some peace from the trials of being ‘The Champion’.
Footsteps echoed across the stone flooring, and Hawke smiled. She didn’t need to look to know it was Sebastian; he always had the unique step, the finesse whenever he walked.
“You always find yourself back here,” he stated as he approached her.
“It’s quiet,” Hawke said as she closed her eyes. “An escape from everything,” then she chuckled. “Everyone.”
“Being the Champion is a hard burden to bear,” Sebastian nodded. “Believe me, I know.” Sebastian folded his arms behind his back. “So what brings you here on this dark and stormy night?”
“Things have been weighing on my mind, and I just needed to take a deep breath." Hawke let out a sigh. "Meredith and Orsino are still bickering like an old married couple, demanding that I lean towards the side of templars or mages."
"You are the Champion of Kirkwall. I do not envy the weight you carry," Sebastian paused. "You once told me that your mother believed in mercy, even when the world offered none. Let that guide you. No one should force you to choose between two failing leaders grasping for power, and most likely ending with our doom."
Hawke looked at her wise friend and nodded. "You're right, but then we have a similar problem with Anders." Hawke frowned. "Something is wrong, but he won’t open up to me. He used to believe in helping people; in healing them. Now, he talks like war is the only answer.”
“He is at war… with himself. He has lost his way; caught between Justice and Vengeance, or whatever the demon has become. He is no longer the person you met when you first arrived in Kirkwall,” Sebastian pointed out. “Additionally, it doesn’t help that he can’t have the one thing he desperately wants.”
Sebastian didn't need to elaborate. Hawke knew what he had meant.
"I know, but I don't see Anders that way. I'm still not over-" Hawke frowned.
"You’re still in love with Fenris.”
Elanna Hawke paused for a moment before nodding. "I can't stop thinking about him. Even after he walked away, he never truly let go. He has a hold on my heart and soul; I can't even sleep without hearing the loving whispers from the night we shared. And," Hawke exhaled, "everyone talks about Anders’ demons, but they neglect Fenris’. He is still battling the demons that Danarius placed upon him, even after Hadriana’s death."
“Some demons shout, while others whisper,” Sebastian nodded. “Fenris has lived with pain for as long as he can remember. Believe it or not, Ela, Fenris, and I have had conversations—not here in the Chantry, but we have talked. Fenris isn't like Anders; he won’t speak about his pain, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t there or that he doesn’t feel your absence like an open wound. Believe me when I say that he still loves you. He would burn the world for you, which probably should make us more worried about him than either Meredith or Orsino.
Hawke let out a small chuckle, then replied. "Thank you, I feel a lot better."
Sebastian reached out and grabbed Hawke’s hand, squeezing it gently. “You carry too much, and you need an outlet. I’m always here for you.”
Hawke let out a deep sigh before standing up from the bench. “Well, I should head to the Hanged Man. I promised Varric I would go over one of his story drafts. Are you coming?”
“No,” Sebastian chuckled. “I try to stay away from that place as much as I can. But please, tell everyone I said hello, and make sure to thank Merrill for the lovely flowers she picked for the altar's centerpiece.”
“I will, thanks for talking to me,” Hawke said with a smile as she put her cloaked hood over her head. “You’re a great friend.”
After hugging Sebastian goodbye, Hawke pulled her cloak tighter around her chest as she made her way down the stone steps of the Chantry. The rain pattered gently as she crossed Hightown. Suddenly, she stopped, hearing a clinking noise coming from behind her. She quickly drew her staff, her eyes narrowing as she scanned her surroundings.
"Who's there?" She swallowed.
Then, a figure came from the shadow, followed by another. It didn't take Hawke too long to realise that she was being surrounded.
“Elanna Hawke, Champion of Kirkwall, how lovely it is to finally meet you.”
“Who are you? What do you want?” she demanded.
“Why, you, of course,” the man said, shifting so that the lights of Kirkwall illuminated his face. “Please don’t make this more difficult. Lay down your weapon and surrender.”
Hawke noticed the Tevinter Imperial logo embedded in the man’s chestplate. Her eyes narrowed as she raised her staff, a spark from the lightning rune flickering to life.
“Please, Champion, drop your weapon.”
But Hawke attacked, sending a bolt of lightning through the air that struck the man in the chest.
“Vae’nan!” Another man shouted in Tevene as they quickly launched their assault.
Hawke managed to take down three more of the Tevinter slavers before she felt a sharp pain ripple through her. She collapsed to the ground, rain dripping from the tips of her blue hair as she struggled to get back up. However, she cried out as her legs were ensnared by blood magic. Then a crimson tether lashed out from the shadows, coiling around her arms and pinning her to the wet, stone floor of High Town.
“No!” Hawke cried out as she struggled to free herself from the bindings, but it was futile.
“Keep the enchantment on her,” said the man Hawke had shot first, as he slowly walked toward her. A dark, burnt mark was embedded in his chest. “Danarius will want her unharmed, at least for now.”
Danarius? Oh no! Fenris!
Hawke tasted iron, and her vision began to blur. The last thing she remembered before everything went black was the rain falling harder, thumping against the metal armor and stone, and the echoing of sizzling magic.
The air at the Hanged Man was filled with the smell of ale and the sound of laughter from patrons who had indulged a bit too much. It was a rare night of peace in Kirkwall, at least for the time being. Everyone could sense that a storm was on the horizon—both the one already pouring over Kirkwall and the brewing tension between the city’s templars and mages. It was clear to all that the situation was reaching a breaking point.
“It’s bad enough that we just recovered from the Qunari attack; now Merideth wants to push harder on mages!” Anders growled, mostly talking to himself.
"Just because you believe the whole world is against mages doesn't mean they are. Besides, Hawke is keeping Merideth and Orsino in check for now. Your job is to avoid doing anything reckless and try to relax." Isabela smiled as she nudged an ale closer to Anders. "Here, drink up."
Anders looked at the potent ale and wrinkled his nose. “How can we relax at a time like this?”
Fenris was brooding next to Varric with an untouched mug in his hand. The elf's gaze was fixed on the door of the Hanged Man. Any minute now, Hawke would enter, joining them for their weekly night out. For some reason, Fenris felt uneasy this time.
Across the table from Varric and Fenris, Merrill squinted at her cards as if her intense concentration could somehow improve them.
“So,” Merrill took a deep breath, “if I have three matching cards, do I win?”
“Maker’s breath, Daisy,” Varric laughed as he just shook his head.
“These cards don’t like me! Can I get some new ones, maybe better ones?” Merrill huffed.
“They don’t like you because they know you’re cheating, Kitten.” Isabela smiled as she leaned over Merrill, her breasts bouncing slightly. “You’re giving yourself away. You need to be sneakier.”
“Sneakier? I can’t be sneaky!”
“That is the whole point of cheating at cards," Isabela pointed out. "If you can't be sneaky, you shouldn't be cheating."
Merrill let out a deep breath. "Alright, be sneaky."
"We are a bad influence," Varric laughed. "Hawke needs to get here quickly."
"Hmm, speaking of which," Isabela purred, "what kind of story are you making her read? Is it a thriller, an adventure, or maybe a sultry romance?"
"Sorry, Rivani, no spoilers," Varric then laid his cards down. "Five pairs, Daisy. I win."
"Fenedhis!" Merrill cursed in Elvish. "I’m not good at this."
"Practice makes perfect," Isabela smiled. "You'll get it next time."
As the noise of the Hanged Man continued to roar with poorly played music, Fenris sat in silence, his gaze slowly drifting across the crowded tavern before settling on the door once again. His thoughts, as always, drifted to her.
Elanna Hawke.
It had been days since Fenris actually talked with her. They had only exchanged passing glances and experienced awkward silences when their paths crossed in Hightown. He knew she was still upset with him and hadn't yet forgiven him for breaking her heart.
The door swung open with a loud slam, and Fenris shifted his stance, expecting to see Hawke. Instead, it was Aveline, escorted by a couple of her guards, and she looked troubled.
“Wow, way to make an entrance, Big Girl,” Isabela smirked. “Are you finally here to have some fun and loosen up a bit?”
Aveline ignored Isabela’s comment and turned her attention to Fenris. The moment their eyes met, he knew something was wrong.
“Fenris!” Aveline called out as she hurried towards him, causing him to rise from his chair. “Bodhan found this note nailed to the main door of Hawke's estate. He wasn't sure what to do since you weren’t at your estate, so he rushed over to the barracks for help.”
“What note?” Fenris asked.
“Here,” Avaline handed Fenris the piece of paper, and he opened it.
Little Wolf,
Did you honestly believe that freedom was yours to keep? Did you think you could kill Hadreana and not face any consequences?
You will come alone. No tricks. No courageous rescues. You know the cost of defiance. You’ve paid it before, and you will pay it again. Or she will.
I will be at the cavern on the outskirts of Kirkwall, near the Waking Sea, where you killed those Nevarran thieves two years ago.
Come home, Fenris.
Now.
-D
Fenris' lyrium veins glowed as he clutched the note tightly in his hand.
"Fenris?" Merrill gulped. "What happened?"
"Danarius has Hawke," Fenris growled, his knuckles whitening from the pressure of scrunching the paper. "He will die."
"What’s the plan?" Anders asked as Fenris made his way to the door.
"There is no plan. I'm going by myself."
"What?" Aveline called out. "You can’t-" But the door slammed shut behind Fenris, cutting her off mid-sentence. "I hate it when he does that!"
"Well, shit. Everyone, get up to brainstorming something. I’ll go after Broody," Varric called out as he quickly wobbled his way out of the Hanged Man.
“Do we need a plan?” Isabela asked, sitting on one of the tables and crossing her legs. “We wait for the signal and barge in with weapons drawn, like we always do.”
“I mean, Isabela has a point,” Anders nodded. “We go in, get Hawke, and eliminate anyone who gets in our way. Mission accomplished.”
“But Danarius is from Tevinter; he will have backup, and they probably know blood magic,” Merrill replied.
“And since when are you afraid of blood magic?” Anders asked, his tone filled with disgust. “You use it all the time.”
Merrill shot Anders a glare. “I don’t use it all the time, and I don’t use it to hurt people!”
“Enough! We’re not here to argue with each other; we’re here to come up with a plan to save Hawke!” Avaline growled.
Isabela flipped her knives. “As I said, we should bust in with our weapons ready and eliminate anyone who stands in our way.”
“For once, I agree with the harlot,” Avaline sighed. “I will rally some of the guardsmen to conduct a random patrol along the coast, making it look like they’re searching for any qunari.”
“I’ll run up to Hawke’s estate and ask Sandal for help with some enchantments on the old runes I have in my pack,” Merrill volunteered.
“Good idea, Merrill,” Avaline nodded.
“Okay, I’ll return to my place in Darktown to fetch some medical supplies and potions. If Hawke is injured, she will need more than what I typically carry in my pack,” Anders stated.
“And I’m pretty sure Sebastian will want to know,” Isabela smiled. “I will head up to Hightown with Merrill and then go to the Chantry."
“Let’s all meet at Hawke's estate in about half an hour. It’s safer to make a plan there than it is here at the Hanged Man. I will stay until Fenris and Varric return and will let them know what we are planning,” Aveline said, turning to one of her guards. “Milly, go round up two patrols and start heading to the coast. I will send word once we are on the move.”
“Yes, Captain,” Milly replied with a bow before rushing off, while the rest of the team went their separate ways to prepare for the rescue of the Champion of Kirkwall.
Rain poured from the skies, prompting Varric to squint as he searched for any sign of Fenris. Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of the elf's glowing markings, and he quickly rushed to catch up with him.
"Fenris!" Varric called, quickening his pace, "Wait up! You can't do this alone!"
“He will kill her if I don’t, Varric!"
“You know damn well this is a trap!"
“Of course it's a trap,” Fenris snapped. “But what choice do I have? If I don't show up alone, he’ll kill her or, worse, make her his slave.”
“That’s why we need to come up with a plan,” Varric said as he quickly passed Fenris and then stopped in front of him, causing the elf to halt. “I understand this is a personal vendetta for you, however, we must be smart about this. Danarius wants you to be reckless and angry!”
Fenris fell silent, water dripping from the tips of his white hair.
Varric observed a panicked look on Fenris' face, something he rarely saw from the typically brooding elf. “Look, we will get her back, but we have to work as a team, we have to be smart about this."
Fenris stayed quiet for a moment, his hands clenching into fists. "Varric, I messed up. I need her to know, I need…” Fenris paused. “She is my everything."
Varric was a little surprised when Fenris confessed his feelings. Fenris wasn’t the type to open up to people, especially not to him. “I know, Broody,” Varric resting his hand on Fenris' arm. “That’s why you can’t do this alone.” His voice rose an octave to be heard over the roar of the storm. “Hawke would be furious if you went to rescue her without backup, so let’s try to stay on her good side, okay?”
Fenris fell silent for a moment before he nodded. “Alright, let’s go get her and then end my old master once and for all.”
“That’s what I’m talking about!” Varric smiled as he and Fenris made their way back to the Hanged Man.
The first sensation Elanna Hawke felt as she began to regain consciousness was pain. She opened her eyes, wincing as a sharp pressure surged through her skull. When she tried to move her hand to her head, she realized she couldn’t. Looking around, Hawke noticed she was in a dimly lit room, her hands bound in metal cuffs that were chained to a rocky ceiling. She struggled to gather her bearings, squinting as the dim light from the torches provided little illumination to help her understand where she was.
Hawke could tell she was in a cave, and it smelled of mold, saltwater, lyrium, and magic. Catching her breath, she noticed at least ten Tevinter mages patrolling the area. She attempted to use her magic by flicking her wrists, but it was futile; the cuffs binding her were sealed with blood magic.
“Aww, so our little hawk is awake,” a voice whispered from behind her. She quickly tried to turn, the chains rattling in the cave as they clanked together. Hawke's eyes widened as she saw a man step out of the shadows, sending a chill through her body.
Danarius.
“Such trouble to capture you, but well worth it,” the Tevinter Magister smiled. “Soon, my little wolf will return to me.” Danarius stepped closer, running his hand over Hawke’s cheek before tucking a strand of her blue hair behind her ear. Elanna tried to pull away from his touch, but gasped as he grabbed her hair and dragged her closer. “Malcome Hawke was wise to hide you from your Chantry. You are remarkable. I can see why Fenris is so fascinated by you. Your power, it's raw."
Hawke stayed quiet as Danarius walked around her, his hands touching her, which caused her to squirm on the inside. If only she could get free.
"Little hawk, you are being awfully quiet. Do you not have anything to say?" Danarius asked as he faced Hawke once more. The Champion of Kirkwall said nothing, her eyes glaring into Danarius’. The magister let out a sigh. "Very well, stay quiet, it matters not." Danarius smiled and then grabbed a hold of Hawke's cheek, squeezing it so tightly that she let out a wince of pain. "My little wolf ran from me, but like all dogs, they come home, don't they? Especially when you dangle the right bone in their face." Danarius then released her sharply.
"He won’t fall for your trap, Danarius." Hawke spat just as the magister was turning to leave. "If he does come, it will be because he is here to kill you, not to save me.”
Danarius laughed. “Really? You think my precious little wolf would have the courage to fight me? No. He knows he belongs to me, and if he wants you alive, he will crawl back to me and beg for my forgiveness.”
Hawke chuckled at Danarius. “I can’t wait to see the look on your face when he rips your heart out of your chest.”
Danarius growled and, in one swift motion, backhanded Hawke, splitting her lip open. He then gripped her neck, squeezing just enough to make her gasp for breath.
"And I can't wait to see the fear in his eyes when I take away the most precious thing he cares about in this world: you." Danarius stepped back and, with a swift motion, ripped open Elanna's robes, exposing her breasts. "Beautiful," he smiled as he ran his crooked fingers over Hawke's exposed collarbone. "Once Fenris sees you like this, he will only see red, and that will be his downfall." The magister then took a step back, straightened his robes, and walked back into the shadows of the cave.
Tears filled Hawke's eyes as the Tevinter mages glanced at the exposed Champion for a moment, then quietly turned away. She blinked back the tears as she attempted to move her wrists again, but she was unable to do so. Her head was pounding, her wrists were raw from the cuffs, and she could feel blood trickling down the side of her lip from when Danarius hit her. Part of her hoped that Fenris wouldn't come; that he would stay as far away from here as possible. Yet, the other part, the selfish part, longed for her white-haired knight to come and save her from this place.
“Here,” Avaline tapped a spot on the Free Marches map. “This is where my patrols are scouting.”
“Hmm, your intuition never ceases to amaze me, Avaline,” Fenris said, placing his finger on the map almost exactly where Avaline had indicated. “Right here is the cave that Danarius mentioned.”
While Fenris and Avaline plotted a course to the cave, Merrill stood next to Sandal, assisting the dwarf with runes and enchantments.
“Sandal, these are beautiful!” Merrill exclaimed as she picked up a stunning lightning rune that glowed a purple hue, etched with a single flower, with swirls as its petals.
“Enchantment!” Sandal beamed with pride.
Varric and Isabela found themselves on the basement level of the estate, where Hawke had accumulated many special weapons over the years. Varric whistled as he surveyed the area. The weapons were mostly arranged on racks, while some were stored in crates off to the side.
"Wow, I didn't realize Hawke was such a hoarder," Varric chuckled.
"Really? If it had a rune stone, was shiny, or even had a silly name carved on it, she kept it," Isabela replied with a laugh.
Varric opened a crate and peered inside. “Medium and heavy armor," the dwarf then shook his head. "All useless to her."
"But not for the rest of us," Isabela pointed out. "I'm pretty sure she is stocking these things just in case."
"In case of what?" Varric lifted a brow.
Isabela shrugged. "Hawke never admitted it, but I think she was prepared to flee Lothering so soon after the battle of Ostagar. If something like that happens again..."
"She'll be ready," Varric nodded in agreement.
"Yeah," Isabela stated as she pulled a dagger off one of the weapon racks. “An ebony dagger! Where on Thedas did Hawke manage to find this?”
“Probably from the Viscount,” Varric snorted. "After saving his son, he kinda was kissing her ass."
Isabela opened another chest and pulled out a couple of swords and another dagger, raising her brow slightly. “Whoa, she still has this?”
Varric glanced up from the crate he was digging through. “Have what?”
“I gave this to her after our first real mission together. I told her she should carry a knife as a backup because sometimes magic isn’t going to save her life.” Isabela smirked. “She tried to give it back, saying it clashed with her robes.”
“Fashion before survival,” Varric laughed. “That’s our girl.”
Isabela grabbed the dagger and flipped it in her hand. “I’m going to see if Sandal can put an enchantment on this thing, and then—”
Just then, a loud crash echoed through the estate, followed by Anders' voice. Isabela and Varric quickly made their way up the small set of stairs and into the main room to find Anders yelling at Fenris.
“We wouldn't even be here if it weren't for your cowardice." Anders yelled as Fenris remained silent, glaring at the pacing mage. “What does she possibly see in you? You've done nothing but hurt her!”
“Anders,” Sebastian warned, “this is not the time for this.”
Anders ignored the Prince of Starkhaven as his eyes began to glow a faint blue. “You left her broken and walked away when she needed you the most. And now, by being selfish and only thinking of yourself,” Anders' voice grew deeper, “she is captured by one of the most powerful magisters in all of Thedas.”
“Anders!” Sebastian called out. “We don’t need another storm on our hands. Stand down!”
The figure of Justice fully materialized, his voice deep and his eyes blazing a fierce blue. “He would see her chained if it meant proving his own pride.”
“Anders, please! We have to stop fighting!” Merrill cried out.
Fenris didn’t flinch, his eyes locked onto the abomination. Just then, Sandal walked between Fenris and Anders, and suddenly, the room fell silent.
Calm.
With a rune still in his hand, Sandal looked at the swirling storm of magic within Anders’ body. He then stepped forward, meeting Justice’s glowing eyes.
“Boom.”
Anders froze, his eyes widening as the magic began to falter. Something about Sandal made him recoil, filling him with uncertainty about who or what the little dwarf was doing.
“You’re loud. You hurt people when you’re loud,” Sandal said sadly. “She wouldn’t like that.”
Just then, Justice disappeared, and Anders stumbled back, breathing hard. His hands trembled as he noticed everyone was staring at him. He placed his hand on his forehead. Sandal approached and gently rested his hand on Anders' arm.
“She needs you to be brave. Not loud. Not broken.” Then Sandal turned to look at Fenris.
“You must forgive yourself.” Sandal tilted his head, then handed Fenris the rune. “She has forgiven you. No more chains.”
Fenris looked down at the rune Sandal had given him. The mixed colors of blue and green swirled together with a fog of white. It was stunning, featuring the etched figures of a wolf and a hawk embedded into its surface. He then looked up to see Sandal walking back to his workbench, humming happily, while Merrill watched the small dwarf in awe.
“Maker’s beard,” Varric whispered to Isabela. “Remind me not to get on the kid’s bad side.”
The storm continued to rage as the rescue team approached their destination. Aveline ducked down behind a rock, water dripping from her fiery red hair as she surveyed the scene. At least five Tevinter guards were patrolling the entrance of the cave.
"So, how do we get past the Tevinter patrol?" Varric whispered.
"Easy, we just need to be creative and sneaky."
"I'm not very good at being sneaky," Merrill admitted.
"You'll be fine," Aveline said with a reassuring smile. She then pulled a mirror from her pack. "Go ahead, you've got this. Just a quick flick of light."
Merrill took a deep breath, exhaled, and then nodded. “Alright, let's do this. Be stealthy.” Merrill waved her hand, activating Sandal's lightning rune, which illuminated and reflected off the mirror.
The Kirkwall guards stealthily navigated the wet terrain, and within seconds, all the Tevinter guards lay unconscious on the ground. A flicker of light from Guardsman Milly signaled to Aveline that the coast was clear, allowing the team to proceed down the rocky path toward the cave entrance.
“Good work, Milly. Grab their uniforms and dispose of the bodies.”
“Yes, Captain.”
The mouth of the cave flickered with a small amount of light, indicating that it was inhabited. Avaline glanced over at Fenris, who was carefully observing the entrance.
"What’s our next move, Fenris? We follow your lead."
"We stick to the plan; nothing has changed," Fenris replied. "I’ll go in alone, without any weapons drawn, with Kobudera by my side."
"Right. Danarius won’t be suspicious of a mabari, hopefully," Varric whispered. "We’ll be right behind you; just wait for our signal. And Broody, don’t let your emotions get the better of you. We don’t know what Hawke’s state is, and-"
“We stick to the plan, I know,” Fenris said, letting out a deep sigh as he made his way into the cave, closely followed by two disguised Kirkwall guardsmen.
Inside the cave, Fenris' boots echoed against the dirt floor, while Kobudera padded silently alongside him. Fenris paused, drew his sword, and handed it to one of the guards before entering the main room of the cave, fully aware that his old master was waiting for him.
Elanna Hawke shivered against the cool air, her body still half-exposed for the Tevinter guards to see. She had tried repeatedly to break the magical restraints, but each effort left her physically and emotionally drained. Danarius had positioned her so that she was now chained next to his throne, likely a move intended to unsettle Fenris.
Hawke lifted her head slightly at the sound of footsteps approaching the main cavern. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw Fenris walk in, closely followed by two guards. She sucked in a breath, realizing that the guards had taken his sword from him. Then she noticed Kobudera, who was growling as usual, but it was nothing that seemed to make the guards wary of his presence.
“Ah, so my little wolf has returned, as predictable as always,” Danarius said, rising from his throne. “And you brought the dog,” he added with a cruel smile. “How poetic.”
Fenris glared at his former master. As his gaze shifted behind Danarius, he saw his beloved Hawke, chained to the ceiling. Her robes were torn, leaving her exposed from the waist up. Her face was bruised and swollen, and she had a split lip. When their eyes met, tears began to well in her gaze. Fenris let out a low growl and turned his attention back to Danarius, who was smirking.
“You will pay for hurting her.”
“Pay?” Danarius laughed. “Oh, little Fenris, you will do exactly as I say, or she dies. It’s your choice.” He snapped his fingers, and one of his blood mages quickly used his magic, causing Hawke to cry out in pain. “Get on your knees. Now. And beg for her life.”
One of the disguised guards pushed Fenris, causing him to stumble forward. He let out a hiss before dropping to his knees in front of the Tevinter magister.
“Let her go, Danarius,” Fenris growled. “You have me; you’ve won.”
Danarius approached Fenris and grabbed a handful of his white hair, a sneer on his lips. “The word is ‘master’. You will remember your place, slave.”
Just then, a rumble shook the cave, causing pieces of rock to tumble from the ceiling. Kobudera barked loudly, and before the Tevinter mages realized what had happened, a deafening ka-boom echoed through the area.
The explosion tore through the opposite end of the main cavern as one of Sandal’s enchanted runes flared with flashes of light and tremendous force, knocking the Tevinter hostiles to the ground. The two disguised guards quickly drew their weapons and handed Fenris his as the fight began.
Hawke's eyes widened in shock as she saw a figure flip out of the shadows. Isabela. She swiftly cut down the first mage, who hadn’t even seen her coming. Aveline charged through the room, executing an impressive shield bash to strike one of the Imperium warriors.
“Bianca, baby, let’s do this!” Varric shouted as he knelt on the ground and raised his crossbow, firing multiple bolts into the air. What goes up must come down, and the bolts rained down directly onto the Tevinter mages.
Once he felt his sword in his hand, Fenris took action. He moved with precision, charging at Danarius before the magister could react. The binding magic of Danarius intertwined with the glow of Fenris’ lyrium, causing a crackle of energy to burst between them.
“Fenris!” Hawke shouted, but the sound of fighting drowned out her voice. She struggled to free herself, but the binding spells held her tight.
“Hawke, I’m here!” Merrill called as she rushed over, dodging a firebolt that Anders had just hurled at a group of Tevinter mages. “Are you hurt?”
“Just pissed off,” Hawke replied, trying to move her wrists. “I think these restraints are bound by blood magic. I can’t get free.”
As smoke and chaos enveloped them, Merrill ran her hand over the chains and nodded. “Yes, but it’s not just that. This is ancient, very dark magic, but I think I can-”
“Watch out!” Elanna cried as a Tevinter battlemage charged towards the girls. Just as the warrior raised his magical sword to attack, a fiery arrow flew past Merrill and struck the guard in the head. His eyes widened in shock before he collapsed dead to the floor. Merrill turned around to see Sebastian smiling at her before he grabbed another arrow from his quiver and aimed it at another Tevinter soldier.
As Merrill tried to free Hawke from the bloodmagic restraints, the others continued to fight. Aveline held the line alongside Varric, while Anders unleashed powerful fire magic, his eyes slightly glowing from the rage that was Justice.
Kobudera growled, darting from side to side, attacking the enemies, holding them down while Isabela followed behind to finish them off. Varric would soon call the duo: "The Fast and The Furry."
And at the center of the chaos was Fenris, locked in a final clash with Danarius.
“You are mine!” Danarius hissed. “You will always be mine!”
Fenris growled, and in one final movement, he drew back his lyrium-glowing hand and drove it into Danarius's chest. The magister gasped for breath, his eyes widening as blood began to seep from his body. Fenris' eyes darkened as he declared, "You are no longer my master!" Then in one bloody move, Fenris ripped Danarius' heart out, as he fell dead to the ground.
Merrill pulled her hands away as a burst of red light erupted from Hawke's restraints, causing them to loosen and fall to the ground with a dull thunk. Quickly, Merrill removed her cloak and draped it over Hawke, ensuring that the Champion of Kirkwall wasn't exposed.
Hawke nodded her thanks, then turned to lock eyes with Fenris. They stared at each other for a moment, as if time had stopped. Then, with a soft whimper, Hawke dashed to Fenris and flung herself into his arms, not caring that her wrists were raw from the mental contraptions.
"You came for me," Hawke said, nuzzling her nose into Fenris' neck.
Fenris held her head gently, holding her as if she were his lifeline.
"I will always come for you," he whispered.
Hawke pulled away gently, gazing into her elf's green eyes before she kissed him. It wasn't soft or hard, but filled with desperation.
The moment was interrupted when Varric let out a cough. "Hey, are we chopped liver or something?"
"Of course not," Hawke said, pulling away from Fenris to look at her dwarven friend. "Thank you, all of you."
"You’d do the same for us, Hawke," Isabela stated. "We’re not just a team; we’re a family. A misfit family, but a family nonetheless."
"Couldn’t have said it better myself, Rivani," Varric replied with a smile. "Now, I suggest we loot these bastards and get the hell out of here."
Later that night
At Hawke’s estate, everyone had gathered around the fireplace, laughing and celebrating their victory. Hawke sat propped up on her couch, her lip stitched, and her arm wrapped in bandages. She leaned her head against Fenris' arm as her fingers intertwined with his. They would need to have "the talk" soon, but for now, she felt happy and content.
“Attention, please!” Varric called out, standing up and raising his glass. “Let it be known that when an ugly tyrant from Tevinter took Kirkwall’s Champion, it wasn’t an army that went to rescue her; it was a bunch of fools with too much heart—something they’ll probably never learn not to do. As Isabela stated earlier, we are misfits. And I couldn’t be prouder to call you all my friends.”
“Here, here,” Hawke agreed as she raised her glass, then winced. “Ow.”
“Don’t overdo it, Hawke. You need rest, and you’re dehydrated,” Anders stated, trying to take her glass as he pulled out a vial. “Here, drink this instead. It will ease the soreness in your wrists and—”
“I’m fine,” Hawke said, pulling her glass away from Anders. “You’ve poked, healed, and mother-henned me more than enough.” She winced again. “Well, mostly fine.”
Anders rolled his eyes. “Why do I even bother?”
Merrill cheered loudly as she laid down a surprisingly good hand of cards on the nearby coffee table. “Three pairs!”
Aveline, pretending not to notice that the dalish elf had been cheating, let out a small sigh. “Of course you do, and you win again. I only have two pairs.”
“Eee!” Merrill smirked. “I’m finally getting better at this!”
“Clearly,” Varric laughed. “Remind me not to bet my shirt with you, Daisy.”
Merrill happily picked up the silver coins and placed them in her pack as Isabela passed by and headed over to Kobudera, who was in his dog bed, chewing on a Tevinter mage's shoe.
“Here you go, boy. For a job well done protecting our broody hero,” Isabela said as she handed Kobudera a piece of mutton. The mabari looked up at her, sniffed the delicious meat, and happily tossed the shoe aside to enjoy his tasty snack.
Sebastian approached Hawke and placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’d better get going. Tomorrow, I have a missionary meeting with Elthina.”
Elanna turned to face the charming prince of Starkhaven. “Please tell her I said hello. I haven't gotten around to seeing her much lately. And thank you for coming to my rescue."
"I am always here," Sebastian smiled, then he made his way out of Hawke's estate, quietly, like he always does.
The Next Morning
Elanna Hawke fluttered her eyes open as sunlight streamed gently through the window. She realized she was lying naked in her bed, the memories of her passionate night with Fenris flooding back to her mind.
After everyone had left, Fenris carefully lifted Hawek into his arms and carried her up the stairs to her bedroom. There, without exchanging words, they slowly undressed each other, their passion reigniting for the time that had been lost.
A small smile appeared on Hawke's face as she remembered the gentle touches of her broody elf and his whispers. Just then, a surge of panic rose within her, and she quickly turned to her side. There he was, his beautiful olive-green eyes locking onto hers, a slight smile playing on his lips.
“You’re here,” Hawke whispered, running her hand over his face. “You didn’t leave.”
“No,” Fenris replied, shaking his head. “I will never leave you again.” He pulled her gently into his arms. “I almost lost you last night."
“But you didn’t,” Hawke said, snuggling closer to her brooding warrior. “I’m here, and I’m safe. I know your past haunts you and that you think I deserve better than what you have to offer, but I don’t care about any of that, Fenris.” She fumbled with a strand of his white hair. “There is no one else but you.”
Fenris closed his eyes, his heart racing as he buried his face in her beautiful blue hair. "I would have burned Thedas to find you, Ela."
"I know you would, but now Danarius can't hurt anyone again."
"The magisters will come for us, you realize this, right? Danarius wasn’t at the top of their ranks, but he was significant. They don’t take kindly to outsiders interfering with their plans."
"Let them come. We will be ready."
Fenris placed a kiss on her forehead. "Wait here, I have something for you." He got out of bed, completely naked, and pulled something from his coat pocket. Then he returned to the bed, crawled in beside Hawke, and handed her the rune that Sandal had given him.
"Wow, this is beautiful. Where did you get this?" Hawke asked.
"Sandal gave it to me. He said I wasn’t in chains anymore and he was right; I am not in chains, but I am bound." Fenris ran his hand over Hawke's bare shoulder. "I am bound to you for eternity, Ela. I never want to be apart from you again."
Hawke smiled as she reached out and took the stone, her fingers tracing the outline of the wolf and the hawk.
"Forever bound. I love you, Fenris."
"And I love you, Elanna. I am yours, always."
Anders stood in the shadow of the Chantry, gazing up at the large building that towered over Hightown. He then looked down and brushed his fingers over a piece of torn fabric from Hawke’s robe.
A deep pain filled his heart as Anders ran his hand over the cloth. Hawke was safe and alive, but she was not his. If he couldn’t stand by her side and if she couldn’t love him the way he loved her, then he would find another way to protect her. He would tear down the walls that confined people like her and like him. He would fight for every mage still shackled and for every voice silenced by fear.
Even if she never forgave him.
“Even wars have their innocent casualties,” a voice whispered deep within him, cold and absolute. The turmoil burned inside him, where fury and unbearable sorrow intertwined so tightly that he could no longer tell which was Justice and which was Vengeance.
Anders dropped the piece of cloth and turned his back on the Chantry, facing the rising sun.
The time for peace had passed.