Author's Note: If you have NOT READ A BLIGHTED BEGINNING turn back now or proceed at your own risk. You can find the story under my profile page, The Laws of Unity: A Blighted Beginning. It's the first in this series.

I repeat THIS IS A SEQUEL.

But if you want to ruin it for yourself, that's cool too. You do you, my friends.

Happy reading!~

Ostagar, one year ago

Garret Hawke could see the Grey Warden stalking about campfires, her eyes sharp and hard as she seemed to stare everyone in the face before moving on, growing more and more agitated. He idly wondered why the young warden was away from her own and weaving between the King's army's campground. He was certain the woman had nearly no reason to be there—maybe someone had offended her and she was here to settle a score? He imaged several different instances. Perhaps she was looking for a lover? Someone who owed her money from one of the infamous card games that occur on this side of the camp.

All of them were wrong when the woman stopped at his fire and stared him down.

"You're Hawke, aren't you?" Her voice was soft yet held the cold authority of someone born to privilege.

Hawke stared at her blankly, not bothering to hide the way he sized her up, looking her form up and down. Her red hair was far too shiny for a soldier, armor too new to have seen battle. He was dubious of her, brow raising. "Depends on who is asking, I suppose," his voice rumbled, setting aside his polearm. The metal blade reflected the roaring fire, deadly yet holding the promise of so much more.

The woman nods, arms folding behind her. She didn't seem to be bothered with the way Hawke had stared. "My name is Rosalind Cousland."

Both of his brows raised at that. Everyone in Ferelden knew who she was, a family second only to the royals. Yet for her to be a Warden..?

"I wish to have a word with you. If you would join me?"

Hawke was standing before he'd decided to listen to what the lady had to say, lips curling into a satisfied smirk when he realized she was staring. "Lead on, my lady."

.

Hawke stared at the coin purse the Warden had forced into her hands. His eyes flew to the woman, brows furrowing over his ice blue eyes. "What you're telling me to do is treason!" He hissed under his breath, trying to give the coin purse back.

"What I'm telling you to do will save your family." Cousland's voice was cold, knowing. Hawke knew she didn't doubt her words in the slightest. "The battle here tomorrow will end horribly. You will lose Bethany in your escape."

The look he gave her should have caused the woman some fear, yet she showed none. "How do you know my sister's name?"

Bethany was his baby sister, one he would stop at nothing to protect from the Blight and Templars alike. Which is why she stayed at home with their mother.

"I am your ally, Hawke. I know you love your family dearly, your mother Leandra, Bethany and Carver. I know you strive to take care of them after Malcolm passed." The Warden's face grew softer, pleading. "I'm asking you to swallow your pride and protect your family."

There was something almost heartbreaking in her countenance that reminded him so much of his younger sister. "If you know this, why are you still here?"

The Warden had a strange look on her face, like she didn't quite know. "Because I have to."

The woman was strange, yes, but Garret knew he would follow her words. There was one thing that bothered him, however. "Rosalind."

She blinked at him, head tilting to the side.

"There is one thing that you've missed as you spoke of my family."

She blinked before her lips curled into a large smile. "Marian."

The strangest sensation came over him when he said his sister's name, like his heart was being squeezed. "Yes. My younger sister. You know of her as well then."

The Warden smiled sadly and his chest responded to it. "Make a life for your family in Kirkwall. Protect them."

"Why is it you are so insistent?"

"Because I couldn't save my family. But you will."

And then she turned and walked away.

Kirkwall, Present

It was the strangest sensation—one moment being free and unrestrained and the next being shoved viciously into a body not your own, you spirit twisting this way and that as it tried to settle or escape, whichever came first.

My first breath was full of pain and relief—it was weird to be alive and know that I had died what felt like moments ago. I didn't know how long I laid there, eyes closed as I became acquainted with my new body. It spasmed around me as my soul tried to slip into all the little crevasses. It felt as if it wished to reject me—and with the pain that blossomed in my chest, I wished it would reject me to.

I could still remember watching Alistair as he slept, unaware that I was about to sacrifice myself for his world and my freedom.

My eyes slowly opened, telling me what I already knew: I was alone.

Alone and unsure just where I was. Who I was.

My head lulled to the side, light hair falling into my eyes. The strangeness of it struck me—I was supposed to have dark red hair, not these curls of gold. I willed it to change, to take on the attribute of fire and burn but it denied me that comfort.

Slowly, the desire to lay there and waste away slipped from my grasp. Each time I blinked, I saw Alistair's face on the back of my lids, my promise still on my lips.

"I will come back to you."

I slowly pushed myself up, my body slow to respond to my commands. I pulled myself from the bed unsteadily, legs shorter than what I was used to. A new body meant a new reach. The problem now was.. who was I supposed to be pretending to be?

Memories slowly trickled in as I thought harder, familiar and fuzzy just like Rosalind's was once. The more I concentrated, the more clear they became. The more I remembered, the more likely I would be able to pretend to be someone I was not.

I glanced down, thanking my lucky stars that I hadn't accidentally become a man. That would have sucked.

"Finally awake, are you?"

The voice was familiar in a way that I knew I had heard it before but I didn't really.. remember who it belonged to. I looked to the voice, blinking at the man that stood in the door way, leaning against the door frame as he eyed me.

Hawke. I had given him a pouch of coins in my last life, told him to desert. Seeing him now, did that mean it worked?

I inwardly cursed as I tried to force the memories to come—why was I with him? Who was I supposed to be? I prayed it wasn't that I was his sister. If there was one thing I knew about Hawke, he loved his family. He'd know if I wasn't.. Bethany?

Pain seared through my mind, causing my hands to quickly raise, catching my head. I tried to stabilize myself, but it only helped to send me to the bed, flopping over uselessly.

"Hey, take it easy," I heard the gruff man murmur worriedly as his hands rest on my head. It wasn't a moment later that I felt the soothing mana easing the pain, reminding me of Wynne. "You were passed out when I found you. Just rest."

As the pain cleared it became apparent that I didn't have many memories available from this girl. She boarded a boat from Ferelden but had nothing but the clothing on her back and..

I threw my gaze around the room, worry inciting anxiety.

..and a small bag that held everything that would ensure her survival in the Free Marches that was conveniently missing.

Well, that's great. She was robbed by the Lowtown low-lives.

"Shit," I muttered, eyes pulled to Hawke's as he raised his brows. I tried to get up, to no avail. Hawke held me down. "I need to kill someone—let me go."

"And here I was thinking you were going to be the sweet damsel in distress."

"You just want to get in my pants."

He let out a soft—and fake—gasp as he released me. "How crass! And completely true. Tell me, spitfire, how do you intend to kill whoever clearly got the drop on you?"

"You're just bored, aren't you?"
He shrugged, his hand dropping onto my head, ruffling my hair in a familiar manner. "Guilty, I suppose. I just can't let a little thing like you go off on an adventure without me."

I frowned up at him, probably looking as annoyed as a kitten. "I'm not little." At least, I wasn't in my last body. I quickly looked at the differences in our height and paled. "You're just a giant."

He let out a hearty laugh before leading me out of the room and down a large staircase. It took me longer than usual to notice that we were in a large manor, vast and spacious, bedrooms lining the halls. He took me into his study, directing me to sit in front of the fire in a large chair I recognized.

They'd already taken back the Amell manor. Did that mean he had already gone down to the deep roads?

"This isn't the front door," I pointed out, folding my arms.

"No, it's not. So glad you have working eyes."

"I said I needed to kill someone."

"You did. But I can also tell you've not eaten in quite some time. One moment." He took a deep breath before letting out a loud bellow, "BODAHN! FOOD, PLEASE!" He turned back to me, grinning widely.

But it wasn't just Bodahn, who's name pulled mixed emotions from me, that came into the room with trays of food. Leandra came sweeping into the room after him, looking far too happy to be returned to her previous social standing. She was adorned in silks that looked far too expensive, her hair pulled back in an elaborate up-do and a sneer pulling at her lips.

"I see your newest project has awoken."

I blinked up at her, brows pulling down over my eyes. Project? Who was she calling a project?

"Mother," Hawke signed, displeasure clear on the lines of his face as he frowned.

She didn't look chastised, staring at me like she thought I was no better than a flea on a dog's back.

She had no idea she was speaking to her benefactor, the reason she was even here in Kirkwall with hopefully all her children. And she was lowering her chances of surviving in this place.

"Is she not that? You've been dragging in the filth of Lowtown for weeks now. How is she any different?"

Garrett clearly looked like he'd handled this same argument time and time again but I didn't want to put up with some crotchity old woman trying to put me down. I was the Hero of Ferelden and while I couldn't shove that in people's faces.. Dammit! I was pissed. I shoved myself out of the chair, swiping one of Bodahn's sandwiches with a grateful look that was mingled with pain (it had been a year already, then) before I faced the old woman, trying my hardest to be the bigger person and pulling on Rosalind for the right words.

"You've been gone far too long, Leandra, you've forgotten that a noble's duty is to those lower than them." She sniffed at me, insulted, but I didn't care. "Thank you for your aid, Hawke. I am in your debt. I will be taking my leave now, however."

I kind of succeeded.

Turning on my heel, I made my way out of the manor, my feet knowing the way thankfully.

I only barely got outside into Hightown before someone was shoving me into an alleyway, their golden eyes flashing dangerously above me.

"How did you know our names?" Hawke growled.

I forgot he hadn't told me them. It had been quite a long time since I had to filter what I said. Welp, Hawke was going to have to deal with crazier things. He might as well know.

"Because it's what I do."

"What you do? Are you a spy?"

"No, knowing is what I do. I'm a seerer, Hawke. It's how I know who you are, who your family is, what you have done and what you will do. Probably. The future is rather chaotic."

He looked dubious, sneering down at me. "You expect me to believe that?"

He tightened his hold on me and it caused a flair of pain. My magic fizzled at the threat, coming alive under my skin in an effort to defend me. The knowledge that it was still there, that I had brought it with me, sent relief flowing through me.

"Would you believe me if I said I was the Hero of Ferelden?"